Written Answers of 15 December 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last Session of Parliament were not answered on the grounds that the information sought was not held centrally by the Department.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Six.

  Immigration Appeals Authority
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total cost in 1993–94 to the immigration appeals authority of hearing application for bail by persons detained under Immigration Act powers.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The costings for the immigration appellate authorities are based on the total work load; they make no distinction between different types of hearing. The information requested is not therefore available.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has from Camelot with regard to the printing of lottery tickets and other items in connection with the national lottery; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This is an operational matter for Camelot group plc. I have therefore asked Peter Davis, the Director General of the National Lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to the hon. Member, placing copies of his responses in the Library of the House.

  Building Refurbishment
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. Dorrell
  Between April 1992, when my Department was established and the end of the 1993–94 financial year, £519,000 was spent refurbishing a building on the government estate for use as part of my Department's headquarters. In the same period, the Historic Royal Palaces agency spent £432,203 on refurbishment of staff accommodation. The Royal Parks agency spent £1.47 million on refurbishment projects in 730
  the same period, which included conversion of an old police house into its headquarters offices, and various works on parks lodges and visitor centres thoroughout its parks in London.

  Satellite Television
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, if he will make a statement about the BBC's plans to launch two commercial satellite television services in Europe.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I welcome the BBC's plans to launch these two services, in partnership with Pearson plc. These plans are fully in line with the proposal in our White Paper on the future of the BBC, that the BBC should exploit international commercial opportunities, in co-operation with private sector partners.

  Following consultation with the Independent Television Commission, I have today laid before Parliament an order under section 13(2) of the Broadcasting Act 1990, providing that the services may legally be provided without a licence from the ITC.

  I have also placed in the House Library copies of an approval under clause 3(u) of the BBC's royal charter, approving the setting up of the two companies involved in the provision of the services. The approval includes conditions requiring the BBC to operate the ventures on a clear arm's-length accounting basis from its public services, and on the basis that the services are for reception in mainland Europe, not in the United Kingdom. The approval also ensures that programmes on the two services will be subject to broadly the same regulatory regime as other commercial non-domestic satellite services, and will comply with the relevant ITC codes. The BBC is required to report on its compliance with the terms of the approval in its annual report which will be laid before both Houses.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, 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. Tony Newton
  The Privy Council Office has no plans to use the Internet.

ENVIRONMENT

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities in England whose area is represented in whole or in part by a Liberal Democrat hon. Member of Parliament that bid(a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully for funds from the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Curry
  The relevant local authority districts are:
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  Successful Single Regeneration Budget Bids

  Rochdale

  Southwark

  Liverpool

  Alnwick/Berwick upon Tweed/Castle Morpeth

  Cheltenham

  Carrick

  North Devon

  Unsuccessful Single Regeneration Budget Bids

  Southwark

  Liverpool

  Alnwick/Berwick upon Tweed/Castle Morpeth

  Cheltenham

  Christchurch/East Dorset

  Yeovil

  North Devon

  North Cornwall

  Truro

  Homelessness
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many organisations are currently receiving grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985; how many of these grants are due to(a) expire or (b) be reduced for March 1995; and what proposals he has to assist these organisations to secure replacement funding.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  One hundred and fifty six voluntary sector projects are receiving grant in 1994–95 under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to assist single people in housing need. Organisations are aware that grant is normally given for up to three years on a tapering basis while they seek other sources of funding. For 1995–96, I will consider applications from the 106 projects which are part way through their cycle of funding and, on their individual merits, bids from the 50 schemes which are approaching the end of their funding.

  In addition, as part of the rough sleepers initiative in central London, 28 organisations are currently funded under section 73 powers.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment when he intends to publish formally the material included in the supplement to the homelessness code of guidance for local authorities issued earlier this year; and what plans there are for further revisions of the code.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretaries of State, in conjunction with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health and for Wales, is publishing today a revised third edition of the homelessness code of guidance for local authorities. This new publication consolidates the body of the third edition of the code, issued in 1991, with an amendment about assessing people from outside the United Kingdom, and supplementary guidance on applications from asylum seekers. That amendment and supplement were issued jointly by my Department and the Welsh Office in typescript form in February of this year. No other changes have been made to the code, and we have no present plans to make further revisions.

  Housing (Service Personnel)
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from 732
  local authorities in England about the demand for housing from applicants leaving the armed forces.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Advice to local authorities on dealing with applications for housing from people leaving the armed forces is contained in circular 14/93 "Housing for People Leaving the Armed Forces" issued on 16 November 1993. Since then, my Department has received one letter from a local authority about housing for ex-service personnel.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) allocations of council housing and (b) nominations to housing association homes have been made in the course of each of the past five years by local authorities in England to applicants whose applications arose from them leaving the armed forces.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Community Care
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the future contribution by local authority housing in meeting the Government's community care objectives;

  (2) what plans he has to allow local authority housing departments to be more involved with the provision of community care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Advice to local housing authorities on their role in community care is contained in my Department's circular 10/92 "Housing and Community Care", issued jointly with the Department of Health. The two Departments work closely together to ensure that housing is fully integrated into community care.

  Local authorities should take account of the need for housing and its availability in preparing their local housing strategies and community care plans. I expect authorities' housing strategy statements to set out how they approach their responsibilities under community care and the way in which they co-operate with other agencies in the planning and delivery of services.

  M25 Link Road
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that the public inquiry into the M25 link road between junctions 12 and 15 should precede the public inquiry into Heathrow terminal 5.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No, the timing of the Heathrow terminal 5—T5—inquiry is not dependent on the timing of the inquiry into the M25 link roads. I have already announced that the T5 inquiry will open in May 1995.

  European Commission Grants
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total value of grants from the European Commission given for bricks and mortar projects in the last financial year.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State for the Environment was responsible for administering the majority of European regional development fund programmes which operated in England between 1989 and 1993. My officials are liaising with colleagues in other Departments, who had similar responsibilities for
  733
  other European Community programmes and grant regimes during this period, in order to provide my hon. Friend with a full answer. I shall write to him with this information as soon as possible.

  In the meantime, I can provide figures for the programmes administered by this Department. I have interpreted "bricks and mortar" projects as those which included building and construction costs as part of their total eligible expenditure. Our records show that, from 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994, claims from the European regional development fund totalling £119,490,056.48 were paid for projects of this type. This figure includes claims for a number of projects approved under the structural funds regime which operated before 1989.

  Disabled People
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to include disabled households in council tax band A in the disability reduction scheme; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assistance is available to a person who is substantially disabled and lives in a property included in band A of the council tax system and applies for a tax reduction; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We have no plans to change the reduction for disabilities scheme. The scheme ensures that disabled people do not pay more council tax as a result of their special needs than would otherwise be the case. Households in band A are already paying the lowest possible level of tax. Disabled people on a low income may be entitled to council tax benefit.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the duration of the trips referred to in his answer of 28 October,Official Report, column 863, which were undertaken by Ministers in his Department and on which they were accompanied by their spouses and paid for at public expense.

  Mr. Gummer
  Four days.

  Rent-to-mortgage Scheme
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of publicity and administration of the rent-to-mortgage scheme.

  Mr. Robert B Jones
  Paid publicity by the Department on the rent-to-mortgage scheme cost £315,000. A further £99,000 was spent on printing and distributing leaflets. The Department has no estimate of the administrative costs of the scheme.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses have been received by his Department from residents of Hampshire since the Local Government Commission published its preferred options for reorganisation; and how many supported the proposed changes and how many rejected them.

  Mr. Curry
  As at 5 pm on 14 December, we had received 1,821 letters form members of the public, of which 178 support the Local Government Commission's final recommendations for Hampshire. In addition, Hampshire county council encouraged residents to 734
  forward pre-printed leaflets expressing their views. Some 10,202 leaflets have been returned, with 607 expressing support for the recommendations.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the changes in financial arrangements, both revenue and capital, for local authorities made since 1979 and their implications.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  As one would expect, over so long a period there have been many changes in financial arrangements, some of which are now of historical interest only. The present legislative regime is contained principally in the Local Government Finance Acts 1988 and 1992 as regards recurrent expenditure and the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 as regards capital.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many "Dear Accounting Officer" letters his Department has written to his non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1984.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  "Dear Accounting Officer" letters are issued by the Treasury. Since 1984, they have issued 174. Where appropriate my Department has drawn these to the attention of the non-departmental public bodies which it sponsors.

  Housing Expenditure
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to make an announcement about the distribution of housing resources for 1995–96.

  Mr. Curry
  I am today announcing decisions about the distribution of resources for housing in 1995–96.

  Councils will receive housing investment programme allocations totalling over £1.27 billion for 1995–96. Under the competitive HIP process, we have again been able to direct resources to those councils who are best able to make use of them.

  Within the HIP programme £994 million is for general purpose allocations, or housing "annual capital guidelines". As last year these have been allocated 40 per cent on the basis of a statistical assessment of local housing needs and 60 per cent. on a discretionary basis related to performance.

  As part of the assessment of their performance, each local authority is required to submit a housing strategy statement, setting out a comprehensive framework for the housing programmes for at least the next three years, covering not only the plans of the local authority but the contribution to be made by the private housing sector. The strategy is prepared in consultation with all those interested in the local housing scene, including the Housing Corporation, housing associations, tenant's groups and the private sector. Once again, there is a continuing improvement in the performance of the great majority of local authorities, with most of them now producing good quality housing strategies.

  In addition to these annual capital guidelines, £278 million has been allocated for private sector renewal and housing defects in the form of "specified capital grant". Once again, 40 per cent. of these resources have been

  735
  distributed on a statistical assessment of local needs, and 60 per cent. on a discretionary basis.

  I am depositing tables in the Library of the House showing each authority's annual capital guideline and specified capital grant allocation for 1995–96. Together, these comprise the HIP allocations. In addition, £314 million for continuing estate action commitments is being provided with the single regeneration budget next year. In addition, I am depositing a list of the authorities whose performance is assessed as being well above the average for their region.

  The Housing Corporation's approved development programme provides for gross capital expenditure of nearly £1.2 billion in 1995–96. Some £870 million of this is available for homes for rent and some £280 million will be available for sale and incentive schemes which make effective use of the stock to house families in serious housing need much more quickly than would otherwise be the case. In addition some £35 million is available for housing association schemes which are part of city challenge and the rough sleepers initiative.

  The Housing Corporation estimates that this programme should allow housing associations to provide some 52,000 new lettings in 1995–96. Over the three years to 1997–98, lettings from the Housing Corporation's approved development programme of some 135,000, together with output of some 45,000 from other sources such as housing association schemes supported by local authorities and cash incentive schemes, should mean that an estimated 180,000 new lettings will be produced over this period.

  One of the key aims of the 1995–96 approved development programme is to make the most efficient use of the existing housing stock. Resources for short-life housing—mini housing association grant—have been increased to their highest level ever; do it yourself shared ownership will continue to be targeted principally at local authority and housing association tenants while resources for the tenants' incentive scheme increase steadily over the three years to 1997–98. Both DIYSO and TIS are efficient and cost-effective means to enable people to move into home ownership and vacate dwellings for others in housing need. A further key aim of the 1995–96 ADP is to focus increasingly on regeneration, both urban and rural. Some 40 per cent. of the resources for new approvals will be for regeneration purposes and will include rehabilitation schemes, schemes in city challenge and renewal areas, and short-life housing schemes. The Housing Corporation has also been asked to direct some 6 per cent. of the main rental and conventional sale programmes towards rural housing schemes.

  The tables I am depositing in the Library of the House also contain details of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1995–96.

  Almshouses
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend the home energy efficiency scheme to allow residents of almshouses to qualify as householders.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Some people who live in almshouses are at present ineligible for HEES grants because they cannot be tenants and, therefore, fall outside the definition of householder in the regulations. Following representations, I propose to amend the regulations to 736
  enable people in this position to qualify for HEES grants provided they meet the other eligibility requirements. I also propose to extend HEES eligibility to protected occupiers and statutory tenants under the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, assured agricultural occupiers and cottars. The necessary statutory instrument to amend the regulations will be laid before the House as soon as possible.

  Going for Green Committee
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, and the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the Going for Green Committee, since its inception.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Going for Green Committee, which is an advisory body, has held three meetings since it was established on 1 August 1994. It has a running costs budget for 1994–95 of £150,000, of which some £53,000 has been spent to date, and its secretariat consists of two full-time civil servants on secondment from the Department. The committee is not required to produce reports but is required to plan a public campaign for 1995–96 on individual responsibilities towards the environment. It has commissioned research to help guide its work.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenants of private landlords are receiving housing benefit in each local authority in England; and what percentage this represents in each case of the total number of tenants of private landlords in that area.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I have been asked to reply.

  The available housing benefit information has been placed in the Library. The percentages requested cannot be given as information on the number of tenants of private landlords in each local authority area is not available. However, the percentage of tenants of private landlords who receive housing benefit in England is 49 per cent.

  Source:
  Housing Benefit management information statistics May 1994 and housing and construction statistics June 1994.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the allowance per animal in real terms for the hill livestock compensatory allowance in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement as to his proposals for future levels of the allowance.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is available in tables 5.2 and 5.3 of the statistical tables which formed the basis of the recently completed annual review of economic conditions in the hills and uplands. Full details of these statistical tables are available in the Library.
  737
  Future levels of the allowance will continue to be decided following the annual review which takes place each autumn.

  Electricity Charges
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the price charged for electricity in pence per kilowatt hour to standard tariff domestic consumers for each year since 1990; what was the percentage change in average household electricity bills for each year since 1990; and what was the average annual household electricity bill for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows:

  Standard domestic tariff 1(pence per kwh)

  Average household electricity bills £

  Change in average household electricity bills Per cent.

  1990

  6.84

  305.76

  —

  1991

  7.41

  312.52

  +2.21

  1992

  7.71

  341.12

  +9.15

  1993

  7.87

  376.48

  +10.37

  1994

  7.75

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Tariff effective from 1 April.

  Company Directors
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated number of company directors in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  Some 32,500.

  Agricultural Wages Board
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The future of the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland is still under consideration.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) republicans and (b) loyalists have been charged with terrorist offences in each of the last 12 months.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Month

  Loyalist

  Republican

  December 1993

  11

  8

  January 1994

  19

  8

  February

  19

  24

  March

  30

  17

  April

  21

  4

  May

  31

  7

  June

  29

  27

  July

  11

  12

  August

  15

  15

  September

  15

  1

  October

  14

  4

  November

  8

  6

  Total

  223

  133

  If the same individual is charged on more than one occasion, he/she will be added to the statistics each time.

  Public Expenditure Survey
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to arrange for the annual public expenditure survey to be formally announced in the House and then subject to a subsequent debate in Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  My right hon. and learned Friend sets out the allocations to individual programmes within the Northern Ireland programme in a written answer. There are no plans at present to change this practice.

  Mr. Dermott Nesbitt
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the respondents to the fair employment actions commenced by Mr. Dermott Nesbitt.

  Mr. Ancram
  The respondents in the first of two applications to the fair employment tribunal made by Mr. Dermot Nesbitt are the Queen's university of Belfast and Professor T.F. Barrett and in the second is the Queen's university of Belfast. This information is in the registers which are available for inspection by members of the public without charge at the Office of the Industrial Tribunals and the fair employment tribunal, Long Bridge house, 20–24 Waring street, Belfast BT1 2EB.

  Single Programme Monitoring Committee
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the members of the Northern Ireland single programme monitoring committee, indicating the interests each represents.

  Sir John Wheeler
  In addition to Government and European Commission officials, the Northern Ireland single programme monitoring committee also includes outside members drawn from various key sectors. These are Mr. Sean Curran, industry sector, Professor Wallace Ewart, training sector; Mr. Desmond Mitchell, district councils; Mr. Norman Shaw, agriculture sector, and a member to be drawn from the voluntary sector.

  Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in implementing the report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on legislative procedures for Northern Ireland.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The Government's response to the commission's report was published in July 1993. The Government continue to consider carefully all proposals for legislation for Northern Ireland so as to choose the most appropriate legislative route and allow sufficient time for consultation. It remains the Government's policy to promote the return of responsibility, including responsibility for legislation, to a locally accountable body which would command widespread support in the community and take account of the wider relationships.

  Water
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to identify sensitive areas as required by the urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement.
  739
  Mr. Moss
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a map of the two areas in Northern Ireland, namely Upper and Lower Lough Erne and Lough Neagh, which, on the advice of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, have been identified as sensitive areas on the basis of their eutrophic status. I have also placed in the Library a list of the sewage treatment works in these areas at which the installation of phospherous removal plants will be required by the end of 1998 in accordance with the directive. These decisions will make a significant contribution to safeguarding Northern Ireland's fresh waters.

  The map and list will also be available for inspection at the headquarters offices of the environment service and water executive of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to identify high natural dispersion areas—less-sensitive ares—as required by the urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moss
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a map showing three areas in Northern Ireland identified as high natural dispersion areas. The map shows the location of these areas, at Portrush, County Antrim; Bangor, County Down; and Kilkeel, County Down. On the basis of the information available, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland considers that the provision of primary treatment for the named discharges into these areas will be sufficient and that no further environmental benefit will accrue from the provision of additional levels of treatment. I have accepted this advice.

  Comprehensive studies will now be carried out at each location. The Department must be satisfied that the study demonstrates that the proposed discharge of primary treated effluent will not adversely affect the environment. The comprehensive studies will have to take into account the proximity of bathing waters identified under the EC bathing water directive.

  These decisions will ensure that sewage will continue to receive proper treatment and the quality of Northern Ireland's coastal waters and estuaries will improve in accordance with the directive's timetable.

  The map will also be available for inspection at the headquarters offices of the environment service and water executive of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

  "Policing in the Community"
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responses he has received to the consultation document "Policing in the Community"; and if he will make a statement.

  Full-time employees Male

  Self employed

  Total male population3 full-time and self employed per cent.

  September 1984

  245,600

  51,700

  39.1

  September 1987

  239,500

  58,900

  38.6

  September 1989

  244,300

  59,900

  39.1

  740
  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The consultation paper "Policing in the Community" was published on 29 March, and widely distributed. More than half the bodies which received copies responded. Ministers and officials held constructive meetings with representatives of some 30 organisations, including the representatives of members of constitutional political parties.

  The process of consultation on policing issues was warmly welcomed. The consultation paper was necessarily cast in general terms, and some respondents called for more detail on major proposals. There was a clear agreement on the need for some reform and an evident wish for the continuation of a tripartite structure, with attention addressed to the respective roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of State, the Chief Constable and of the Police Authority. The operational independence of the Chief Constable was valued, and the integrity and efficiency of the RUC was widely recognised.

  Respondents stressed the importance of responsive, effective, impartial and fair policing in the development of a peaceful and harmonious society. The need for a balanced and careful approach to this end in a changing society was widely recognised.

  These responses and the widening of the debate since the cessation of violence by the IRA and the loyalist paramilitaries have reinforced the need for reform, approached in a careful and measured way. In particular, I consider it important to strengthen the statutory protection for the impartiality, integrity and freedom from partisan influence of the police, and to create stronger and more effective statutory accountability mechanisms. These will encourage dialogue between the police and the community, as well as give the Chief Constable greater freedom to manage and deploy efficiently the considerable resources devoted to policing.

  Accordingly, work is in hand to develop ideas, with the benefit of continued consultation, for legislation which will meet these objectives, clarify and strengthen the respective roles of the Secretary of State, the Police Authority and the Chief Constable, and help to enhance the provision of an efficient, effective and responsive police service, enjoying the wholehearted support and partnership of the entire society it exists to serve. I look forward over the coming months to further valuable and wide-ranging dialogue.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) males and (b) females were in full-time employment in the latest month for which figures are available and for the same month in each of the last 10 years indicating, in each case and for each year, the proportion of this figure as a percentage of the total population.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: The information requested is as follows:
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  Full-time employees Male

  Self employed

  Total male population3 full-time and self employed per cent.

  September 1991

  244,300

  63,500

  39.4

  September 1993

  238,300

  62,400

  37.8

  September 1994

  239,200

  n/a

  n/a

  Full-time employees1 Female

  Self employed2

  Total female population3 full-time and self employed per cent.

  September 1984

  147,300

  9,100

  19.8

  September 1987

  149,300

  11,500

  20.1

  September 1989

  154,000

  12,200

  20.6

  September 1991

  158,300

  13,400

  20.9

  September 1993

  157,400

  12,100

  20.3

  September 1994

  157,100

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes to Tables:

  1 Prior to December 1992, a full-time/part-time breakdown of employees in employment is only available from the Northern Ireland census of employment which from 1979 was conducted only every two or three years.

  2 Self-employment figures are at June of each year and are not available on a full-time/part-time basis. Self-employment estimates for Northern Ireland in respect of June 1994 are not yet available.

  3 Gneral register office mid-year population estimates are not yet available for 1994.

EMPLOYMENT

  Legal Minimum Wage
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries have a legal minimum wage; and what has been the rate of job creation of each for the periods(a) 1970 to 1980, (b) 1989 to 1990 and (c) 1990 to the present day.

  Type of coverage

  Rate of employment growth (percentage)

  Average unemployment rate (percentage)

  1970–80

  1980–90

  1990–93

  1970–80

  1980–90

  1990–93

  Belgium

  Legally binding central agreement; lower rates for 16–20 year-olds

  2.1

  1.8

  N/A

  4.5

  10.9

  9.4

  France

  SMW—single adult rate

  4.8

  3.4

  -1.7

  4.0

  9.0

  10.0

  Greece

  Statutory central agreement

  7.1

  10.9

  N/A

  2.4

  6.7

  7.4

  Luxembourg

  SMW

  12.7

  19.8

  N/A

  0.6

  1.4

  1.1

  Netherlands

  SMW; reduced rates for 15–22 year-olds

  6.0

  N/A

  N/A

  3.8

  9.6

  7.1

  Portugal

  SMW

  N/A

  17.3

  -5.6

  4.9

  7.1

  4.6

  Spain

  SMW—single adult rate

  -7.4

  7.3

  -5.9

  5.3

  17.4

  18.1

  United States

  SMW—single adult rate; state minimum wages; low levels

  24.8

  18.4

  1.2

  6.2

  7.0

  6.5

  Canada

  SMW—set provincially; low levels

  34.6

  17.4

  -1.4

  6.7

  9.2

  10.2

  Australia

  Federal/state minimum wages; low levels

  15.3

  25.4

  -2.6

  4.1

  7.4

  9.5

  New Zealand

  SMW

  16.8

  N/A

  1.1

  0.7

  4.8

  9.4

  Japan

  System of minimum rates; low levels

  8.7

  12.9

  3.3

  1.7

  2.5

  2.2

  Notes:

  SMW = statutory minimum wage; final column gives average unemployment rate for 1990 to 1993 except for Belgium and Netherlands 1990 to 1992—and Greece and Luxembourg—1990–1991.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the proportions of full-time adult manual workers, full-time adult non-manual workers and all full-time adult workers with earnings, including overtime, less than £208.53 per week in (i) Great Britain, (ii) west midlands region, (iii) West Midlands metropolitan County, (iv) Hereford and Worcester, (v) Shropshire, (vi) Staffordshire and (vii)
  742
  Mr. Oppenheim
  The following table gives Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries which have some minimum laws at a national level, and their rate of employment growth and average unemployment for the periods concerned. It should be noted that some of the countries quoted have very low levels of minimum wages, well below national average wage levels; and in some cases the minimum levels vary between administrative areas and different industries.

  Warwickshire for 1994; and if he will break down the figures into those for (a) male and (b) female workers;

  (2) if he will publish a table giving proportions of full-time adult manual workers, full-time adult non-manual workers and all adult workers with earnings, excluding overtime, less than £208.53 per week in (i) Great Britain, (ii) west midlands region, (iii) West Midlands metropolitan county, (iv) Hereford and Worcester, (v) Shropshire, (vi) Staffordshire and (vii)

  743
  Warwickshire for 1994; and if he will break down the figures into those for (a) male and (b) female workers.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information available from the new earnings survey showing the proportions of employees with earnings below the amount requested at April 1994, is given in the following tables:Full-time employees on adult rates—pay unaffected by absence: April 1994.
  Proportion with gross weekly earnings including overtime below £208.53.

  Per cent.

  Manual men

  West Midlands Region

  27.0

  West Midlands MC

  23.8

  Hereford and Worcester

  34.4

  Shropshire

  31.0

  Staffordshire

  31.9

  Warwickshire

  20.6

  Great Britain

  26.0

  Non-manual men

  West Midlands Region

  12.8

  West Midlands MC

  11.4

  Hereford and Worcester

  12.8

  Shropshire

  15.5

  Staffordshire

  17.6

  Warwickshire

  10.8

  Great Britain

  11.5

  All men

  West Midlands Region

  20.0

  West Midlands MC

  17.5

  Hereford and Worcester

  24.2

  Shropshire

  24.1

  Staffordshire

  25.2

  Warwickshire

  15.4

  Great Britain

  18.0

  Manual Women

  West Midlands Region

  75.0

  West Midlands MC

  71.8

  Hereford and Worcester

  79.0

  Shropshire

  81.2

  Staffordshire

  76.2

  Warwickshire

  76.9

  Great Britain

  73.4

  Non-manual women

  West Midlands Region

  43.4

  West Midlands MC

  41.8

  Hereford and Worcester

  40.7

  Shropshire

  52.4

  Staffordshire

  46.7

  Warwickshire

  43.2

  Great Britain

  34.7

  All women

  West Midlands Region

  50.4

  West Midlands MC

  47.6

  Hereford and Worcester

  49.9

  Shropshire

  59.1

  Staffordshire

  54.5

  Warwickshire

  51.4

  Great Britain

  41.5

  Manual adults

  West Midlands Region

  36.0

  West Midlands MC

  32.1

  Hereford and Worcester

  43.3

  Shropshire

  40.1

  Staffordshire

  41.4

  Warwickshire

  32.8

  744

  Per cent.

  Great Britain

  34.7

  Non-manual adults

  West Midlands Region

  26.8

  West Midlands MC

  25.2

  Hereford and Worcester

  25.8

  Shropshire

  33.0

  Staffordshire

  31.2

  Warwickshire

  24.9

  Great Britain

  22.2

  All adults

  West Midlands Region

  30.6

  West Midlands MC

  27.9

  Hereford and Worcester

  33.3

  Shropshire

  36.2

  Staffordshire

  35.7

  Warwickshire

  28.0

  Great Britain

  26.5

  Full-time employees on adult rates - pay unaffected by absence: April 1994.

  Proportion with gross weekly earnings excluding overtime below £208.53.

  Per cent.

  Manual men

  West Midlands Region

  41.6

  West Midlands MC

  36.6

  Hereford and Worcester

  49.9

  Shropshire

  51.7

  Staffordshire

  48.5

  Warwickshire

  34.4

  Great Britain

  39.5

  Non-manual men

  West Midlands Region

  15.4

  West Midlands MC

  13.5

  Hereford and Worcester

  15.4

  Shropshire

  19.8

  Staffordshire

  20.7

  Warwickshire

  13.3

  Great Britain

  13.6

  All men

  West Midlands Region

  28.6

  West Midlands MC

  24.9

  Hereford and Worcester

  33.6

  Shropshire

  37.5

  Staffordshire

  35.6

  Warwickshire

  23.2

  Great Britain

  25.2

  Manual women

  West Midlands Region

  81.9

  West Midlands MC

  79.2

  Hereford and Worcester

  92.4

  Shropshire

  87.5

  Staffordshire

  80.7

  Warwickshire

  79.5

  Great Britain

  79.9

  Non-manual women

  West Midlands Region

  45.6

  West Midlands MC

  44.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  42.5

  Shropshire

  56.2

  Staffordshire

  48.3

  Warwickshire

  44.9

  Great Britain

  36.8

  745

  Per cent.

  All women

  West Midlands Region

  53.6

  West Midlands MC

  50.9

  Hereford and Worcester

  54.5

  Shropshire

  63.5

  Staffordshire

  56.9

  Warwickshire

  53.3

  Great Britain

  44.4

  Manual adults

  West Midlands Region

  49.2

  West Midlands MC

  44.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  58.4

  Shropshire

  58.2

  Staffordshire

  55.4

  Warwickshire

  44.2

  Great Britain

  46.9

  Non-manual adults

  West Midlands Region

  29.2

  West Midlands MC

  27.4

  Hereford and Worcester

  28.1

  Shropshire

  37.1

  Staffordshire

  33.6

  Warwickshire

  27.0

  Great Britain

  24.2

  All adults

  West Midlands Region

  37.3

  West Midlands MC

  33.8

  Hereford and Worcester

  41.0

  Shropshire

  46.5

  Staffordshire

  43.2

  Warwickshire

  33.7

  Great Britain

  32.1

  Source:

  New Earnings Survey

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants have been transferred to training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies on a three-year secondment; how many were at grade(a) senior information officer, (b) higher information officer, (c) higher executive officer and (d) senior executive officer; how many in each grade returned to the civil service upon completion of their secondment; how many of those in each grade have since left the civil service on early retirement, voluntary redundancy or similar schemes; and how many of those remaining in the civil service by grade are below the age of 58 years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Approximately 4,000 staff volunteered to second to training and enterprise councils and local companies on three-year secondments, including some 21 SIOs, 144 HIOs, 855 HEOs and 178 SEOs. About 10 SIOs, 77 HIOs, 526 HEOs and 128 SEOs returned to the Department. Some five SIOs, 43 HIOs, 71 HEOs and 12 SEOs left on early retirement schemes. Most of those remaining are below 58 years of age.

  Pesticide Monitoring
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people within the Health and Safety Executive are employed in connection with its pesticide monitoring function; and at what locations.
  746
  Mr. Oppenheim
  No Health and Safety Executive staff are employed specifically to monitor pesticides. HSE inspectors based in a national network of 20 area offices undertake a programme of preventative inspection, including premises where pesticides are used, and investigate reported incidents. Trends are monitored and summaries of investigated incidents are published annually.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what flexibility he allows in the 21-hour per week rule for those engaging in education or training while claiming benefit.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I have been asked to reply.

  The 21-hour rule is itself a special concession to the normal availability for work conditions, which enables income support claimants who are unemployed to spend their time usefully in part-time study whilst continuing their search for work. They must continue, however, to make a sustained effort each week to find a job and be prepared to leave the course immediately a suitable vacancy becomes available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Foreign Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female foreign inmates were held in prisons in England and Wales on 8 December.

  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.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 15 December 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many (a) male and (b) female foreign inmates were held in prisons in England and Wales on 8 December.
  The latest available provisional information is for 30 September 1994. On that date there were 3,850 non-British citizens (3,535 males and 315 females) in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. This includes 620 male and 30 female nationals from the Irish Republic. A further 440 persons had no nationality recorded.

  Immigrant Detainees
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were being held in either prisons or immigration detention centres in England and Wales on 8 December.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  On 9 December 1994, there were 48,512 males and 1,927 females held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. A further 110 males were held in police cells. Information on immigration offenders relates to those detained on 12 December and shows that there were 382 males and 49 females detained in immigration service accommodation. A further 32 males and four females were held in police cells for immigration offences on that date.

  Pepper
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research he has(a) undertaken and (b) commissioned into pepper foam and pepper spray;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the dangers of the public use of pepper foam and pepper spray.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office police scientific development branch has reviewed all the available information about the effects of incapacitant products containing oleoresin capsicum. My right hon. and learned Friend has commissioned research into the possible carcinogenic effects of oleoresin capsicum's main incapacitating ingredient, capsaicin. He expects to receive the final results of the research very shortly.

  Immigration Officers (Airports)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those United Kingdom airports receiving schedules flights from abroad open to the public for normal ticket purchase which are not covered by immigration service staff on arrival in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The airports are as listed in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 29 November 1994, column 553.

  Sexual Offences
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to enable the prosecution in United Kingdom courts of British nationals and residents for sexual offences against children abroad.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government consider that it should be the responsibility of the country where the alleged offence has occurred to enforce its own law.

  Unlike some countries which claim a wide extra-territorial criminal jurisdiction over their citizens, the United Kingdom is willing to extradite its nationals to stand trial in the places where they are alleged to have offended, subject to the usual safeguards. We are also willing to provide legal assistance to other countries under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990. We are currently considering ways in which it may be possible to improve liaison between our police and foreign enforcement agencies.

  Criminal Damage and Violence
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to police authorities on whether incidents of criminal damage or violence should be recorded as crimes.

  Mr. Maclean
  When recording offences, police consult Home Office rules for classification and counting of crimes which are standard for all the police forces in England and Wales. The classification of crimes is determined by precise statutory definitions. It includes all offences of criminal damage, as well as offences of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery, as defined in Appendix 3 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1993", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Domestic Violence
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the co-ordinated Government strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Coventry, South East (Mr. Cunningham) on 1 December,Official Report, column 841.

  Working groups have been set up at both official and ministerial level to enhance inter-departmental co-operation in tackling all facets of domestic violence.

  Immigration Policy
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 November,Official Report, column 716, when the Government will allow qualified majority voting provided for in article K, otherwise than in subsection (9) on matters that affect immigration policy.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  There is no provision for qualified majority voting in article K, except under article K3.2(b) in relation to measures implementing joint action. No joint action requiring implementing measures has been adopted on matters of immigration policy. When such joint action is proposed, we shall consider on their merits both the substance of the proposal and whether it would be appropriate to adopt the implementing measures by a qualified majority.

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

  Mr. Howard
  Twenty-two.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost in 1993—94 to the Prison Service of holding persons detained under Immigration Act powers.

  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.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 15 December 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the total cost in 1993–94 to the Prison Service of holding persons detained under Immigration Act powers.
  Most detainees are held in local prisons and remand centres, in which the average annual cost per place in 1993–94 was £21,373. We do not collect details of the costs for different types of prisoners.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers were held in Prison Service established in 1993.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison
  749
  Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 15 December 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question asking how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers were held in Prison Service establishments in 1993.
  Provisional information shows that in 1993 1,840 persons were received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales under Immigration Act powers.
  On average 430 such persons were held in Prison Service establishments during the year.

  Erlestoke Prison
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions he has intervened with the governor of Erlestoke prison to suspend day release arrangements in the case of prisoners.

  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.

  Letter from Derek Lewes to Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours, dated 15 December 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about temporary release arrangements for prisoners from Erlestoke Prison.
  The Home Secretary has not intervened with the governor of Erlestoke prison to suspend day release arrangements in the case of any prisoners.

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to facilitate the use of the British Telecom caller identification initiative to preventing telephone tapping and to use similar technology at telephone exchanges to detect third party connections.

  Mr. Howard
  None. I understand that the BT caller display facility could not support such applications.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the Official Secrets Acts to ensure that an individual disclosing possible unethical or illegal actions, including telephone wire tapping, would be allowed a public interest defence.

  Mr. Howard
  We have no such plans.

  Police Resources (Wales)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide details of the calculation used by his Department in determining appropriate provision for the Dyfed-Powys police; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The calculation used by the Home Office determined allocations of police grant for 1995–96. Details of that calculation are provided in the draft "Police Grant Report (England and Wales 1995–96", a copy of which was placed in the Library by my right hon. and learned Friend on 1 December.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that Welsh police forces are able to maintain funding levels 750
  comparable with those of similar English forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 1 December,Official Report, columns 544–45, his provisional police grant allocations to police authorities in England and Wales for 1995–96. The provisional standard spending assessment allocations to Welsh police authorities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the cost of pension provision to the budget of the Dyfed-Powys police for each year from 1987 to date; if he will give an estimate of the commensurate figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Net pension payments by the Dyfed-Powys police authority, as derived from the annual police revenue grant claim forms submitted by the authority, for the period 1987–88 to 1993–94 were as follows.

  Year

  £

  1987–88

  3,008,079

  1988–89

  2,693,674

  1989–90

  3,528,776

  1990–91

  3,509,717

  1991–92

  4,222,518

  1992–93

  4,025,892

  1993–94

  5,253,417

  Figures for 1994–95 are not yet available. It will be for Dyfed-Powys police authority, in setting their budget requirements for 1995–96 and 1996–97, to decide the appropriate provision to be set aside to meet pension costs.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the officer establishment for the Dyfed-Powys police; how many officers are in post; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The approved establishment for Dyfed-Powys police is 972 officers. At the end of September, the actual strength was 971. As from 1 April next year, formal approval of establishments will end, and complement levels will be entirely for local decision.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the cost of the DNA provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to the Dyfed-Powys police in a full accounting year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The new power we have given the police to take non-intimate samples without consent from anyone charged or reported for caution for a recordable offence is permissive. The police are not required to take samples in every case. Costs will therefore depend upon what use Dyfed-Powys police make of this new power. That will be a decision for the chief constable, who must decide on the most effective use of the resources available to him.

  Samuel Clayton Hill
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer the case of Samuel Clayton Hill for review by the Court of Appeal; and if he will make a statement.
  751
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to take a decision about this case shortly.

  "Maltese Double Cross"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been sought by the Dumfries and Galloway police from the Metropolitan police in relation to the film "Maltese Double Cross".

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police have provided assistance to and maintained regular contact with the Dumfries and Galloway constabulary throughout the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing.

  Policing, Humberside
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has decided the future policing arrangements for Humberside.

  Mr. Howard
  I announced on 25 October,Official Report, columns 512–13, that I would consult the forces, police authorities and local authorities in the area on the future policing arrangements for Humberside and also ask Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary to report on the viability of a police force based on the boundaries of the four unitary authorities which will replace the county of Humberside.

  The majority of those who responded favoured the retention of a separate Humberside police force. Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary considers that a force based on the boundaries of the four unitary authorities would be viable and efficient.

  I have therefore decided that the Humberside force will be retained on those revised boundaries, with the area around Goole in the present district of Boothferry transferring to North Yorkshire.

  The necessary provisions to give effect to this decision will be included in the order for the reorganisation of local government in the area.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Energy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information has been recently provided to him by Nuclear Electric regarding operational risks at the Dungeness B and Heysham nuclear plants.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Nuclear Electric plc has recently informed my Department and the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate of the discovery of cracks in steam pipe welds during the statutory outage of reactor 21 of Dungeness B. The station will be brought back into operation only after a satisfactory safety case has been made by the operator to the NII.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels plc since April on the legal requirements relating to the level of insurance against nuclear accidents.
  752
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  DTI officials are in regular contact with British Nuclear Fuel plc on a range of matters.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to end the 30 years restriction on claiming of compensation under the existing nuclear insurance arrangements by anyone developing adverse medical problems attributable to contamination from a nuclear accident.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None. The 32-year time limit for claims in the United Kingdom legislation is longer than is required by international conventions.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements exist under the nuclear insurance provisions to provide for compensation to pay for environmental restoration in the event of a nuclear accident involving the significant release of radioactivity; and what plans he has to extend them.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Under United Kingdom law, the cost of environment restoration would be recoverable, where there is damage to property, in accordance with normal civil law principles as to the assessment of damages.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to reassess the level of insurance arrangements covering third party liability for compensation in the event of an accident at a nuclear facility.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The level of insurance for third party liability required to be held by nuclear operators is kept under review. The limit was most recently increased on 1 April this year to meet the internationally agreed target limit for parties to the Paris convention.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has held since April with the insurance industry as to the adequacy of the present upper limits of insurance cover in connection with liability for nuclear accidents.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The limits are kept under review. DTI officials have contact with the insurance industry from time to time.

  Public Telephones (Unauthorised Displays)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 8 December,Official Report, columns 295–96, what is his policy on the continued allowing of unauthorised displays at public telephones, what representations he has received from telephone companies in regard to their inability to disconnect lines advertised in unauthorised displays at public telephones; and what legislation other than telecommunication legislation could be amended to allow the disconnection of lines advertised in unauthorised displays at public telephones.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I share my hon. Friend's concern at the nature of some of the displays of unauthorised material to be found in public telephone boxes. Although I have not received any formal representations from telephone companies on this matter, my Department has discussed it with other interested Departments and Oftel. However, I am not convinced that disconnecting the lines displayed in unauthorised advertisements is an appropriate remedy.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many days since it was started the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield has operated at full capacity; and what quantities of(a) plutonium, (b) depleted uranium and (c) each category of radioactive waste arising have been separated in the THORP to date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Operations at the THORP plant are a management matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc. The Commissioning programme for the plant is being implemented subject to the appropriate regulatory requirements.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many "Dear Accounting Officer" letters his Department has issued to his non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1984.

  UK Trade with Libya—1989–93 (£ Thousands)

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Imports

  104,545

  151,605

  121,219

  162,899

  156,542

  Exports

  239,191

  244,849

  255,718

  228,273

  274,051

  Source:

  UK Overseas Trade—business monitor MA20.

  Theatre Tickets
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to prevent consumers from being misled when they buy tickets for the theatre and other forms of entertainment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Following public consultation, my noble Friend Earl Ferrers has today made the Price Indications (Resale of Tickets) Regulations 1994. Under the regulations, those who resell tickets will have to disclose specified information about a ticket before making a sale. This will include any original price printed on the ticket and known information about the rights which it confers, such as the location and quality of the seat or space. The regulations will come into force on 20 February 1995.

  A compliance cost assessment, which was prepared by my Department, concluded that this significant improvement in consumer protection will impose little, if any, additional costs on traders. Copies of the compliance cost assessment have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Trade Fairs
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will announce the results of the evaluation of his Department's trade fairs support scheme.

  Mr. Needham
  The evaluation of the trade fairs support scheme was undertaken for the DTI by KPMG Management Consulting. They surveyed a cross-section of exhibitors from 15 sectors of industry representing two thirds of all supported firms, trade associations, chamber of commerce, exhibition organisers and other interested parties. KPMG's report to the Department and the
  754
  Mr. Heseltine
  "Dear Accounting Officer" letters are issued by the Treasury. Where appropriate, my Department draws the contents of "Dear Accounting Officer" letters to the attention of the non-departmental public bodies which we sponsor. We do not keep records of the precise numbers which are brought to the attention of individual non-departmental public bodies.

  Libya
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the loss to British engineering firms of exports to Libya as a result of UN sanctions.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The British Government neither promote nor discourage trade with Libya. We are unable to assess any actual loss of trade to British engineering firms. I can tell the hon. Member however, the legitimate exports of general industrial machinery and equipment constitutes the bulk of our exports to Libya. Figures for United Kingdom trade with Libya over the past five years are given in the table.

  Department's response are being published today. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

  The TFSS is designed to encourage UK exporters to move into new markets. Last year, the Department spent £14 million on the scheme in support of some 6,500 to 7,000 firms at around 300 events. The scheme is based on grants which are delivered to exhibitors through "sponsors" such as trade associations or chambers of commerce. Eligible applicants receive 50 per cent. grants towards the main costs of exhibiting. Outside western Europe, a travel grant is also paid for up to two people to man the stand.

  I welcome the evaluator's report, which shows that there is a clear justification for retaining the scheme.

  The Department agrees with KPMG's conclusion that the rule under which companies are only eligible for support for three trade fairs in any market, the so-called "three times rule", should be retained. The survey provided strong evidence that the three times rule increases value for money by removing from eligibility regular exhibitors at a single event, ensuring that for a given budget more firms benefit from the TFSS support.

  In response to suggestions that some companies might find support more helpful in this form, the Department will however be prepared to offer firms who opt for it a variant on the three times rule, under which support is offered at half the normal rates, over twice as many events.

  The report recommends that international events, currently known as "flagship" events, should no longer attract support for more than three participation as they do at present, but should cease to be subject to individual country quota. The Department accepts this recommendation in principle and will consult sponsors on

  755
  which events will constitute a new "international" category.

  The present scheme restricted government assistance for overseas trade fairs by requiring that a minimum number of participating firms be eligible for support. The report recommends that minimum numbers for these events should not be based solely on those eligible for grant. The Department accepts that the benefits of attendance depend on the numbers in the group, not on whether they are all supported.

  The Department has not accepted KPMG's recommendation that priority be given to emerging markets with above average exports prospects, or which have significant entry barriers, by allowing five, not three, supported participation. The Department, however, accepts the need to improve the scheme's coverage of such markets. We consider the annual priorities exercise, which selects the trade fairs which are to be supported, a more appropriate way of improving the scheme's coverage of emerging markets. In addition, the Department will increase assistance to sponsors in the selection and promotion of fairs by providing greater information on new markets and fairs with above average exports prospects.

  The Department does not accept, as a general rule, the recommendation that individual company participation be grant-aided where there is no group participation arranged. However, the Department will consider claims for treatment as a special case from unrepresented or self sponsored small industries.

  KPMG's research indicated that the sponsor system was in principle the most appropriate way of delivering trade fairs support. Their report however suggested ways of improving sponsor performance. The Department has proposed revised criteria for sponsorship and will step up its monitoring of sponsor performance and produce a code of practice for sponsors. The Department is not in general in favour of introducing competition between sponsors, but sees advantages in opportunities for greater co-operation between sponsors and the private sector.

  The changes I have announced will take effect from the 1996–97 programme. All in all this was a positive evaluation of the Government's support for overseas trade fairs.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the compliance cost assessments published during the past year.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Since April 1993, the Government have required Departments to prepare and publish compliance cost assessments with all proposed legislation presented to Parliament to assess their impact on business costs. This includes a special test of the impact on small businesses. CCAs are central to the Government's deregulation initiative and are a vital part of the decision making process. They are used to help Parliamentary consideration of regulatory proposals and to give business the opportunity to respond to proposals.

  A Command Paper listing those CCAs published between November 1993 to June 1994 has been presented to Parliament today by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. Copies of the CCAs listed are available in the House Library. Further Command Papers
  756
  listing CCAs published in the preceding six-month period will be published at six-monthly intervals.

  Accreditation Services
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the outcome of his review of the status of the national measurement accreditation service and the National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My Department published a consultation document in April on the future provision of accreditation services in the United Kingdom. In the light of the response to this consultation, which favoured a merger of NACCB and NAMAS, the Government propose that a new company limited by guarantee be established during 1995 to take on the current functions and staff of NACCB and NAMAS. This will involve the transfer of around 60 posts out of DTI.

  The company will carry out, under a memorandum of understanding with DTI which will recognise its national status, the assessments currently carried out by the two organisations covering laboratories, test houses and certification bodies. It will also cover environmental verifiers and inspection bodies and, as appropriate in future, others in related fields. The new body will make recommendations to the DTI which will grant accreditation. As a consequence accredited organisations will continue to be entitled to use marks incorporating the royal crown.

  I expect a single, integrated private sector organisation to achieve efficiency savings leading to lower costs for industry. The organisation will also be in a strong position to promote United Kingdom interests in the rapidly developing international markets for certification and testing services in both the voluntary and regulatory spheres. With this in mind, the Government have decided that the body should be open to applications from non-United Kingdom organisations seeking accreditation.

  British Telecom
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans he has to introduce regulations requiring British Telecom to meet minimum technical quality standards for voice, fax and data transmission in remote or rural areas;

  (2) what plans he has to introduce regulations requiring British Telecom to meet minimum technical quality standards for voice, fax and data transmission.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I do not believe that it would be justified at present to introduce regulations on minimum technical quality, either generally or specifically in relation to remote or rural areas. BT's investment programme in digital exchanges is already raising transmission standards, and increasing competition in the telecommunications market means consumers are offered a wider range of service levels and tariff packages.

SCOTLAND

  Clyde Tunnellers
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take to ensure that former
  757
  tunnellers who worked on the Clyde tunnel between 1959 and 1964, and who subsequently contracted bone necrosis as a result of this work, will be able to pursue compensation claims.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend need take no action in this matter. Current legislation allows claims to be raised within three years of the date on which the injuries were sustained. This period can be extended where the claimant did not realise at the time how serious the injuries were or where he was unaware that the injuries were attributable to an act or omission of his employer. Furthermore, where the pursuer is not entitled to such an extension, the court has discretion to admit a claim if it seems equitable to do so.

  Fatal Road Accidents
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the provision of information to the victims' relatives concerning the investigation of fatal road accidents in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Procurators fiscal are authorised to provide the next of kin with information about the circumstances of the death. Where a fatal accident inquiry is to be held, procurators fiscal will discuss the evidence with solicitors for interested parties and will provide them with copies of autopsy reports and, if appropriate, with statements of witnesses. A working party is reviewing the guidelines on the provision of information to the next of kin.

  Hospices
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of hospice expenditure is publicly funded.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Under the hospice funding initiative, which began on 1 April 1990 and ends on 31 March 1995, 13 hospices in Scotland which meet the eligibility criteria receive 50 per cent. of their current running costs from public funds, by grant and/or in kind. From the start of the 1995–96 financial year, the initiative will be replaced by a system of contracts between hospices and health boards.

  Forestry
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 24 November,Official Report, column 337, if he will place in the Library a list of the co-ordinates of the exact boundaries of each tract of land disposed of by the Forestry Commission in 1993, as noted on the title deed map for each sale.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Forestry Commission does not hold this information centrally and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Regional Development Funding
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those public projects which received European regional development funding and were subsequently privatised over the last 10 years, indicating(a) the level of funding and (b) the dates when it was received.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 24 November 1994]: As the information the hon. Member requires is rather
  758
  lengthy, I shall arrange for copies of the lists to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Rent Acts Convictions
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since the creation of the offence(a) the number of prosecutions for unlawful eviction and harassment of occupiers and (b) the number of convictions sustained under (i) section 30 of the Rent Act 1965 and (ii) section 22 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 December 1994]: The available information is set out in the table.

  Number of Persons proceeded against and charges proved where the main charge is section 22 of the rent (Scotland) Act 1984, 1989–92

  Persons proceeded against

  Persons with charge proved

  1989

  9

  7

  1990

  11

  9

  1991

  6

  3

  1992

  8

  6

  Health Care International
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to public funds of making the site in Clydebank ready for use by the Health Care International hospital.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 7 December 1994]: The Scottish Development Agency—Scottish Enterprise incurred expenditure of around £10 million under its land renewal powers on the site now occupied by the company at Clydebank. This work was required to deal with the effects of industrial dereliction, including particularly the presence of asbestos. The expenditure was not specific to the HCI project and would have been required in any case to render the site safe and capable of development for any future use.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will tell the Scottish Affairs Committee how much regional selective assistance was made available to Health Care International in Clydebank and the terms under which it was made available.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 7 December 1994]: Yes. The company received an offer of £22 million in regional selective assistance. The grant was to be paid in instalments related to capital expenditure on construction of the hospital and—in respect of later instalments—in respect of numbers of direct jobs created.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will make available to the Scottish Affairs Committee the detailed information on which he made his decision to give public support to Health Care International in 1987;

  (2) what considerations led to his decision to classify 1987 information about the market for the treatment of overseas patients in Clydebank as being currently commercially confidential, as indicated in his answer of 3 November, Official Report, column 1315, and his subsequent letter.
  759
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 7 December 1994]: The documents relating to the appraisal of the company's application for regional selective assistance and the detailed market evaluation studies undertaken in connection with the project contain commercially confidential information which, if disclosed, could harm the competitive position of Health Care International (Scotland) Ltd. or of any other organisation which takes over the operation of the Clydebank facility.

  Local Authority Officials (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has from local authorities about the number of applications for early retirement for senior local authority officials for any convenient period in 1994.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 13 December 1994]: This information is not held centrally.

  Air Ambulances
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much has been spent on a communications system in the Scottish ambulance service control room in Aberdeen; what contact can be made with air ambulances once they are airborne with the communications system; and if he will make a statement about the expenditure.

  (2) what assessment he has made of the reason that the new emergency communications computer in the Scottish ambulance service control room in Aberdeen is not compatible with the radios on air ambulances in the north of Scotland; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what plans he has to upgrade the emergency communications computer in the Scottish ambulances service control room in Aberdeen to enable adequate communication with the air ambulances in the north of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: The general manager of the Scottish ambulance service has advised that £8 million has been spent on providing a new radio system for the Scottish ambulance service in the north of Scotland, this includes the ambulance controls in Aberdeen and Inverness.

  The new system, which has recently become fully operational, is meeting fully its designed performance in providing for effective communication between road ambulance and ambulance control. Communication with aircraft was not part of its specification, nor is it suitable for his purpose.

  Air ambulances are tasked and controlled from a dedicated air desk at Aberdeen ambulance control. These aircraft are fitted with radios that enable them to talk to air traffic control and to their company base location. However, communication with any aircraft flying at low level in hilly or mountainous terrain poses particular problems. The Scottish ambulance service has successfully introduced the practice of using a message pager to pass urgent messages to an air ambulance when flying in such areas. Means of achieving fully two-way radio communication for helicopters supporting the emergency service throughout the United Kingdom are being investigated.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what restrictions have been placed on air 760
  ambulance operations in the north of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: The general manager of the Scottish ambulance service has advised that no restrictions have been placed on the use of the air ambulance service in the north of Scotland or elsewhere in Scotland. Air ambulances are deployed where the circumstances make it appropriate to do so. The decision is taken by the air ambulance control desk based on the medical advice at the time.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Executive Search Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use his Department has made of executive search agencies in filling vacancies within his Department and executive agencies administered by his Department during the last year; and how much these services have cost his Department.

  Mr. Goodlad
  None.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the duration of the trips referred to in his answer of 2 November,Official Report, column 1205, which were undertaken by Ministers in his Department and on which they were accompanied by their spouses and paid for at public expense.

  Mr. Baldry
  The list gives details of the duration of the trips referred to in my answer of 2 November.

  Date

  Place

  Minister

  15–21 November 1993

  Pakistan

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd

  3–7 January 1994

  Lebanon, Israel, OTs, Jordan, Malta

  Secretary of State

  3–8 January 1994

  Kenya, Tanzania

  Lady Chalker

  24–28 February 1994

  Portugal, Spain, Greece

  Secretary of State

  4–11 April 1994

  Brazil, Falklands

  Secretary of State

  18–19 April 1994

  Luxembourg, Paris

  Secretary of State

  8–10 July 1994

  Naples, Economic Summit

  Secretary of State

  27 July 1994 to 19 August 1994

  Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, India

  Mr. Goodlad

  2–5 September 1994

  Ecuador

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

  11–20 September 1994

  Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan

  Secretary of State

  26–29 September 1994

  New York/Canada UNGA 48

  Secretary of State

  2–10 October 1994

  Dependent Territories, Canada

  Mr. Baldry

  17–21 October 1994

  Russia, Estonia, Finland

  Secretary of State

  Energy Charter Treaty
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will sign the energy charter treaty.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom will sign the energy charter treaty when it is opened for signature in Lisbon on 17 December. The Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Energy will sign on behalf of the Government. We welcome this very important agreement, which represents the result of lengthy and complex negotiations between 50 countries, including the European Union, the G7, all the states of the former Soviet Union, Western, Eastern and Central Europe, and Australia. We believe that the treaty will make a valuable contribution to the economic reform processes in the economies in transition, as well as improve the conditions for foreign investors in those countries. Details of the treaty were communicated to both Houses in explanatory memoranda on 20 December 1993 and 6 October 1994.

  The text of the treaty will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses 21 sitting days before the United Kingdom deposits an instrument of ratification with the depositary of the energy charter treaty, the Government of the Portuguese Republic.

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to clarify the Intelligence Services Act 1994, with regard to telephone wire tapping.

  Mr. Hurd
  None.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances the term wireless telegraphy in the Intelligence Services Act 1994 is taken to include telephone wire tapping.

  Mr. Hurd
  None. The Interception of Communications Act 1985 deals with the interception of telephones and is unaffected by the Intelligence Services Act.

  Turkish Kurds
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish Government against the prison sentences imposed on eight Kurdish Members of Parliament recently jailed by the Turkish authorities in Istanbul.

  Mr. David Davis
  Our views were reflected in a statement issued by the German presidency of the EU on 9 December, on behalf of all EU member countries, expressing concern at the harsh prison sentences imposed on these elected members of the Turkish Parliament, and seeking an explanation from the Turkish Government. We await the outcome of the appeal against the sentences we understand will be made.

  Burundi
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the international community in strengthening democratic government in Burundi following the recent visit of the Minister for Overseas Development to Burundi.
  762
  Mr. Baldry
  My noble Friend the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey visited Burundi in August. She made clear our strong support for the efforts of the UN, in particular the UN Secretary-General's special representative, as well as the Organisation for African Unity, in their attempts to promote national reconciliation and stabilise the situation. We continue to do so. We welcome the recent agreement on power sharing and urge all parties in Burundi to continue to look for a lasting solution to the country's problems.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Attorney-General how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last Session of Parliament were not answered on the grounds that the information sought was not held centrally by the Department.

  The Attorney-General
  Twenty-four, 17 of which were grouped for answer on 21 April 1994,Official Report columns 632–33.

  Brendan Smyth
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Attorney-General if his office contacted officials in the Irish Attorney-General's office about the then outstanding warrants for Father Brendan Smyth in September, October and November 1993.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to my written replies to the hon. Member for Thurrock of 21 November 1994,Official Report, columns 37–38, and 28 November 1994, Official Report, column 512.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 5 December,Official Report, columns 17–18, if he concurs with the statement contained in the Irish Attorney-General's report of 1 December to the Taoiseach in respect of the Brendan Smyth extradition case on the timings of contacts between the United Kingdom authorities and the Irish Attorney-General regarding the matter and the conclusions drawn on whether the matter was considered urgent; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to my written replies to him of 21 November 1994,Official Report, columns 37–38 and 28 November 1994, Official Report, column 512.

  In cases such as this, documentation is supplied to the Irish authorities from which they are able to assess the urgency and importance of the case. In so far as the matter is the subject of specific time constraints, it is the practice to draw attention to them.

PRIME MINISTER

  Ministers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of members of the House are now in ministerial office or employed as parliamentary private secretaries; and what was the figure in 1978.
  763
  The Prime Minister
  Nineteen per cent. of Members of this House are parliamentary private secretaries or hold ministerial office, which is broadly similar to 1978. The information is a matter of public record.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the number of Ministers in the Government by rank currently and in 1978; and if he will explain the reasons for the differences;

  (2) how many Ministers there are currently in the Cabinet; how many there were in 1978; and what are the reasons for the difference.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is a matter of public record. The reasons for any differences will depend on the reasons for allocations of ministerial portfolios in 1978 by the then Prime Minister, now Lord Callaghan of Cardiff.

  Parliamentary Private Functions
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to provide a full reply to the question from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton concerning parliamentary private functions.

  The Prime Minister
  I have done so.

  Economic Community
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government consider themselves bound by the undertakings given at the time of the 1975 referendum on EEC membership.

  The Prime Minister
  It is not clear which undertakings the hon. Member has in mind.

  Ministerial Travel (Spouses)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions in the past year his spouse has travelled abroad to accompany him at public expense on public duties; what has been the total cost of this to public funds; on how many occasions such travel has been undertaken at own cost; and what was the destination and the duration of these foreign trips.

  The Prime Minister
  During the past year, my wife has accompanied me on overseas visits on two occasions, as follows:

  Date

  Visit

  13–15 February 1994

  Russian Federation

  18–22 September 1994

  Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa

  On both occasions, costs attributed to my wife were minimal because she travelled on charter aircraft and stayed as "Guest of Government" or at residences.

  There have been no occasions when such travel was undertaken at own cost.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 December.
  764
  The Prime Minister
  This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Lockerbie Bombing
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek discussions with the Prime Ministers of Malta and Sweden about the implications of clothing found in the wreckage of Pan Am 103.

  The Prime Minister
  The investigation of clothing found in the wreckage of Pan Am flight 103 is the responsibility of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and Dumfries and Galloway constabulary, acting where necessary in co-operation with the authorities of other countries concerned, which have included Malta and Sweden.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what documentary evidence is in the possession of Her Majesty's Government in respect of baggage loaded on to Pan Am 103 at Frankfurt in December 1988.

  The Prime Minister
  As the hon. Member is aware, it would not be appropriate to reveal details of the evidence against the two persons accused of the Lockerbie bombing while criminal charges are pending.

  Security Vetting
  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the procedures for security vetting within government.

  The Prime Minister
  As I announced to the House on 23 March,Official Report, columns 259–60, to ensure that security measures and procedures reflect current threats, the Government have recently completed a fundamental review of their arrangements for the management of protective security in Departments and agencies. In the area of personnel security, the review concluded that the vetting process served a worthwhile purpose, not only in disclosing circumstances which might lead to breaches of security but as a deterrent to those who might otherwise seek to undermine that security. The review recommended, however, that there should be a streamlining of the procedures that made up the vetting process. That work has now been completed.

  The new framework should ensure that personnel security objectives are properly defined and that responsibility for achieving them is clearly established. There will be a greater emphasis on ensuring that personnel security resources are targeted on, and proportionate to, the threat and add necessarily and cost-effectively to the protection of government assests. Between 1 January and 31 March 1995, the existing arrangements will be replaced by a new personnel security regime which will consist of two levels of vetting, a security check and developed vetting. A security check will be similar to the current PV(S)—positive vetting (secret)—clearance, but will in addition include a check on the financial status of the individual. Developed vetting will replace the present PV(TS)—positive vetting (top secret)—and EPV—extended positive vetting—levels of vetting. The current system of counter terrorist checks will remain unchanged, but will be subject to review.
  765
  As at present, all candidates for security vetting will be asked to complete a security questionnaire which will explain the purpose of the procedure and invite them to provide the personal details required for the necessary checks to be carried out. Vetting will then be carried out on the basis of the statement of policy set out below.

  Statement of HM Government's vetting policy
  In the interests of national security, safeguarding Parliamentary democracy and maintaining the proper security of the Government's essential activities, it is the policy of HMG that no one should be employed in connection with work the nature of which is vital to the interests of the state who:
  is, or has been involved in, or associated with any of the following activities:

  —espionage,

  —terrorism,

  —sabotage,

  —actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means; or

  is, or has recently been:

  —a member of any organisation which has advocated such activities; or

  —associated with any organisation, or any of its members in such a way as to raise reasonable doubts about his or reliability; or

  is susceptible to pressure or improper influence, for example because of current or past conduct; or

  has shown dishonesty or lack of integrity which throws doubt upon their reliability; or

  has demonstrated behaviour, or is subject to circumstances which may otherwise indicate unreliability.

  In accordance with the above policy, Government departments and agencies will carry out a Security Check (SC) on all individuals who require long term, frequent and uncontrolled access to SECRET information or assets. A Security Check may also be applied to staff who are in a position directly or indirectly to bring about the same degree of damage as such individuals or who need access to protectively marked material originating from other countries or international organisations. In some circumstances, where it would not be possible for an individual to make reasonable progress in their career without clearance to SECRET level, it may be applied to candidates for employment whose duties do not, initially, involve such regular access.

  An SC clearance will normally consist of:
  a check against the National Collection of Criminal Records and relevant departmental and police records;
  in accordance with the Security Service Act 1989, where it is necessary to protect national security, or to safeguard the economic well-being of the United Kingdom from threats posed by persons outside the British Islands, a check against Security Service records; and
  credit reference checks and where appropriate, a review of personal finances.
  In some circumstances further enquiries, including an interview with the subject, may be carried out.
  Individuals employed on government work who have long term, frequent and uncontrolled access to TOP SECRET information or assets, will be submitted to the level of vetting clearance known as Developed Vetting (DV). This level of clearance may also be applied to people who are in a position directly or indirectly to cause the same degree of damage as such individuals and in order to satisfy the requirements for access to protectively marked material originating from other countries and international organisations. In addition to a Security Check, a DV will involve:
  an interview with the person being vetted; and
  references from people who are familiar with the person's character in both the home and work environment. These may be followed up by interviews. Enquiries will not necessarily be confined to to past and present employers and nominated character referees.
  766
  It is also the Government's policy that departments and agencies will carry out Counter Terrorist Checks (CTC) in the interest of national security before anyone can be:
  authorised to take up posts which involve proximity to public figures at particular risk of attack by terrorist organisations, or which give access to information or material assessed to be of value to terrorists:
  granted unescorted access to certain military, civil and industrial establishments assessed to be at particular risk of attack by a terrorist organisation.
  The purpose of such checks is to prevent those who may have connections with terrorist organisations, or who may be vulnerable to pressure from such organisations, from gaining access to certain posts, and in some circumstances, premises, where there is a risk that they could exploit that position to further the aims of a terrorist organisation. A CTC will include a check against Security Service records. Criminal record information may also be taken into account.
  Departments and agencies generally assure themselves, through the verification of identity, and written references from previous employers, that potential recruits are reliable and trustworthy. Such Basic Checks (BC) are already standard procedure for many departments and agencies. Where access needs to be granted to Government information or assets at CONFIDENTIAL level, departments, agencies and contractors engaged on government work are required to complete such checks. In some cases, at the CONFIDENTIAL level, where relevant, the Basic Check may be augmented with some of the checks normally carried out for security clearances.

  "Maltese Double Cross"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has had from President Clinton about the showing of the film "Maltese Double Cross" in the White house, Washington, on the morning of Sunday 4 December; and whether he has offered to the White house all evidence pertaining to the Pan Am 103 destruction over Lockerbie in the possession of Her Majesty's Government.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: I have received no such representations. The investigation into the Lockerbie bombing has been carried out in conjunction with the United States authorities, with whom all evidence has been shared.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of Alan Fancovitch's film, "Maltese Double Cross", in relation to sanctions against Libya and loss of United Kingdom-Libya trade.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: The content of the film is being considered by the Crown Office and Dumfries and Galloway constabulary.

TRANSPORT

  International Civil Aviation Organisation
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how often his Department evaluates the performance of the United Kingdom's permanent representation on the International Civil Aviation Organisation in Montreal.

  Mr. Norris
  Evaluation is continuous, since the Department is in constant touch with the United Kingdom representative to the ICAO over the representation of the United Kingdom's interests on a variety of aviation subjects. The Department also formally evaluates the
  767
  performance of the United Kingdom representative to the ICAO council using standard annual reporting procedures.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new steps his Department is planning to ensure the more effective representation of United Kingdom interests at the International Civil Aviation Organisation in Montreal.

  Mr. Norris
  The United Kingdom's permanent staff at ICAO have been successful in representing the United Kingdom's interests in the work of the ICAO council and the Air Navigation Commission, and their work is highly regarded among the international aviation community. In recent months, our United Kingdom representatives have played a major part in influencing ICAO action in the fields of future global air traffic management systems and the oversight of aviation safety.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how often senior staff in his Department meet colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to discuss the work of the Britain's representation at the International Civil Aviation Organisation in Montreal.

  Mr. Norris
  Staff at all levels meet whenever necessary to discuss aviation issues of common interest which might be, or are being, pursued at ICAO. In particular, the DOT is represented at meetings held twice yearly by the FCO to discuss the United Kingdom's policy interests in the UN specialised agencies, for which ICAO is one.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to visit the International Civil Aviation Organisation in Montreal to evaluate the effectiveness of Britain's presence there.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans. Senior officials from my Department are in close touch with our representation at ICAO, and have recently visited it; they report as necessary to me and my ministerial colleagues on issues that arise.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) United Kingdom and (b) Canadian staff are employed in the British office supporting United Kingdom membership of the International Civil Aviation Organisation in Montreal.

  Mr. Norris
  There are four staff in the British office at ICAO in Montreal. Two, the United Kingdom representative and his deputy, the air navigation commissioner, are outposted in Montreal from the Department of Transport in the United Kingdom. The remaining two are locally recruited support staff, one a United Kingdom and the other a Canadian national.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the annual cost to his Department of the United Kingdom's representation on the International Civil Aviation Organisation in Montreal;

  (2) what is the annual cost to his Department of the United Kingdom's representatives' office to the International Civil Aviation Organisation in Montreal.

  Mr. Norris
  The outturn cost for 1993–94 of the United Kingdom office, including staff pay costs, was some £270,000. All these costs were borne by the United Kingdom Department of Transport; none accrued to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Network SouthEast
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current subsidy per head for commuters on Network SouthEast.

  Mr. Watts
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, Government support for Network SouthEast in 1993–94, the last year of its operation, amounted to some 36p for every pound the passenger paid.

  A(M) Roads
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the criteria used for the designation of trunk roads as A(M): if he will list all trunk roads currently classified as A(M); and what plans he has to upgrade the A38 Exeter-Plymouth trunk road as A38(M).

  Mr. Watts
  The decisions to build or improve sections of trunk road to motorway standards, thereby attracting motorway style signs and legal requirements, are taken in consideration of the traffic needs of the particular route and the increased safety which results from higher geometric standards. The way in which a motorway standard length would fit into the wider trunk road network is also relevant.

  Trunk roads currently classified as A(M) are:

  A1(M)—several sections

  A66(M)—Darlington

  A194(M)—near Newcastle upon Tyne

  A3(M)—near Portsmouth

  A40(M)—London area

  A102(M)—London area

  A423(M)—Maidenhead

  A study of the future needs of the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth is under way which includes consideration of motorway status, but serious problems could arise in upgrading the road to motorway.

  Road Programme Director
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the present road programme director to leave his service; what severance terms and conditions have been agreed; and what assurances the director has given about subsequent employment by companies with a present or planned commercial interest in road design, build or management contracts.

  Mr. Watts
  I expect the present road programme director to leave the Highways Agency in summer 1995. The severance terms will be those provided for in the principal civil service pension scheme for staff who leave on early retirement. Any proposals from the current road programme director regarding subsequent employment will be subject to the terms of the business appointment rules as they apply to officials at grade 3 level in the civil service.

  New Drivers
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has regarding the percentage of drivers involved in fatal accidents who(a) have passed their driving test in the previous year and (b) are under 21 years of age.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not available.
  769
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has regarding the percentage of accidents on motorways involving drivers who(a) have passed their driving test in the previous year and (b) are under 21 years of age.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not available.

  Roads Expenditure
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce the allocation of capital resources for expenditure on local roads and transport in England for 1995–96.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This year, a total of £960 million is to be allocated to local highway authorities and passenger transport authorities in England for capital expenditure on their local transport infrastructure in 1995–96. This consists of £278 million in transport supplementary grant and £682 million in annual capital guideline, supplementary credit approval, grant under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 and grant under section 13 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. With the help of capital reserves and developer contributions, I therefore expect authorities to be able to spend over £1,000 million in total.

  In this year's settlement, I am funding 37 packages of measures proposed by local authorities outside London to encourage public transport, cycling and walking and to offer attractive alternatives to car use. I am also providing funding for a number of measures in London, including the London bus priority network and the London cycle network.

  I am setting aside resources for 10 new major public transport schemes which are expected to begin construction in 1995–96. They include the Croydon tramlink and Midland metro light rail schemes subject to satisfactory terms being agreed.

  I am also accepting 28 new road schemes for funding for the first time. These include bypasses and relief roads designed to take traffic away from congested areas, and schemes designed to provide access to the national road network from key industrial areas.

  Table 1 sets out the national totals for different types of expenditure. Table 2 shows the total amounts of grant, credit approval and gross approved expenditure for each of the 108 local highway authorities, and the six passenger transport authorities. The Department's regional offices are notifying them today of their allocations. Table 3 contains the package allocations, and table 4 lists the new major road and public transport schemes accepted this year. Table 5 contains comparable information for London.

  Road safety remains a high priority. Within the overall total, the level of funding for local safety schemes has been maintained at the record level of £50 million allocated in each of the past two years.

  Some £117 million is being allocated for assessment, strengthening and maintenance of local authority bridges, and £141 million is for the structural maintenance of principal roads.
  770

  Tablel 1

  £ million

  Grant eligible

  Existing commitments

  428.713

  New major TSG road schemes

  22.702

  New major public transport schemes

  16.750

  Maintenance of principal roads

  141.039

  Bridges

  117.000

  IDA grant

  4.000

  Non-grant aided

  Local safety schemes

  50.000

  Packages

  64.000

  Block SCA for minor works

  64.167

  ERDF SCA

  22.000

  Scheme specific SCA

  29.629

  Total

  960.000

  Key:

  TSG-Transport supplementary grant

  IDA-Industrial Development Act

  SCA-Supplementary credit approval

  ERDF-European regional development fund

  Local authority capital expenditure 1995–96

  Government grant (TSG) £ million

  Total borrowing approval £ million

  Gross approved spending £ million

  London boroughs

  City of London

  0.248

  2.623

  2.871

  Barking and Dagenham

  0.314

  1.160

  1.474

  Barnet

  0.133

  3.062

  3.296

  Bexley

  5.213

  6.181

  11.681

  Brent

  0.618

  2.517

  3.135

  Bromley

  0.503

  2.012

  2.515

  Camden

  1.342

  2.390

  3.732

  Croydon

  0.584

  1.903

  2.664

  Ealing

  0.000

  1.498

  1.759

  Enfield

  1.847

  2.694

  4.541

  Greenwich

  2.457

  3.386

  5.861

  Hackney

  0.207

  1.261

  1.854

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  0.743

  3.533

  4.395

  Haringey

  0.000

  1.768

  2.370

  Harrow

  0.812

  4.399

  8.319

  Havering

  0.227

  0.768

  0.995

  Hillingdon

  1.140

  3.273

  5.357

  Hounslow

  1.563

  2.822

  4.574

  Islington

  1.127

  2.662

  3.863

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0.000

  1.139

  1.314

  Kingston upon Thames

  1.924

  5.957

  8.272

  Lambeth

  0.532

  1.597

  2.362

  Lewisbam

  0.880

  2.223

  3.475

  Merton

  0.000

  1.052

  1.198

  Newham

  1.815

  5.010

  7.772

  Redbridge

  0.383

  0.837

  1.220

  Richmond upon Thames

  0.308

  2.730

  3.038

  Southwark

  0.705

  2.464

  4.278

  Sutton

  0.234

  1.431

  1.854

  Tower Hamlets

  0.000

  1.707

  2.609

  Waltham Forest

  0.169

  1.470

  2.090

  Wandsworth

  0.535

  2.040

  2.575

  Westminster

  0.979

  3.110

  4.824

  Note:

  Gross approved expenditure exceeds the sum of grant and borrowing approval if an authority holds unused grant from previous years.
  771

  Local authority capital expenditure 1995–96

  Government grant (TSG) £ million

  Total borrowing approval £ million

  Gross approved spending £ million

  Metropolitan Districts

  Bolton

  1,827

  2.770

  5.130

  Bury

  0.556

  1.162

  1.718

  Manchster

  5.564

  7.940

  13.504

  Oldham

  1.783

  2.630

  4.566

  Rochdale

  1.283

  2.034

  3.317

  Salford

  4.205

  5.145

  9.350

  Stockport

  1.235

  1.876

  3.336

  Tameside

  0.395

  1.180

  1.812

  Trafford

  0.000

  3.666

  6.995

  Wigan

  0.503

  0.994

  1.553

  Knowsley

  4.632

  9.788

  18.365

  Liverpool

  0.325

  3.746

  5.445

  St. Helens

  1.025

  1.617

  2.652

  Sefton

  0.563

  2.149

  2.812

  Wirral

  1.202

  2.871

  4.430

  Barnsley

  4.122

  5.133

  9.596

  Doncaster

  2.629

  3.897

  7.069

  Rotherham

  0.564

  1.607

  2.638

  Sheffield

  1.311

  9.852

  16.329

  Gateshead

  0.000

  1.336

  1.908

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  3.688

  4.618

  8.752

  North Tyneside

  0.415

  1.102

  1.601

  South Tyneside

  0.358

  0.807

  1.165

  Sunderland

  1.449

  2.116

  3.629

  Birmingham

  12.298

  20.112

  34.979

  Coventry

  2.016

  7.300

  13.350

  Dudley

  1.753

  3.960

  5.713

  Sandwell

  1.831

  3.760

  6.028

  Solihull

  0.898

  1.789

  2.732

  Walsall

  0.919

  2.779

  4.166

  Wolverhampton

  5.596

  8.974

  10.059

  Bradford

  1.675

  4.302

  6.253

  Calderdale

  1.156

  3.132

  4.288

  Kirklees

  1.845

  3.329

  5.174

  Leeds

  5.373

  12.593

  18.716

  Wakefield

  4.452

  5.666

  10.242

  Note:

  Gross approved expenditure exceeds the sum of grant and borrowing approval if an authority holds unused grant from previous years.

  Local authority capital expenditure 1995–96

  Government grant (TSG) £ million

  Total borrowing approval £ million

  Gross approved spending £ million

  Counties

  Avon

  2.169

  8.687

  12.224

  Bedfordshire

  5.606

  7.629

  13.235

  Berkshire

  0.967

  5.823

  9.880

  Buckinghamshire

  2.143

  3.965

  6.108

  Cambridgeshire

  2.270

  6.436

  9.080

  Cheshire

  12.435

  13.749

  26.212

  Cleveland

  0.179

  4.791

  7.531

  Cornwall

  4.105

  6.928

  11.135

  Cumbria

  1.336

  2.755

  4.129

  Derbyshire

  3.575

  5.449

  9.024

  Devon

  2.468

  7.856

  11.764

  Dorset

  1.701

  3.911

  5.612

  Durham

  1.006

  3.880

  6.230

  East Sussex

  4.526

  7.285

  12.224

  Essex

  2.661

  8.402

  11.063

  Gloucestershire

  2.697

  4.321

  7.693

  Hampshire

  9.681

  14.222

  23.903

  Hereford and Worcester

  1.893

  3.135

  5.028

  772

  Local authority capital expenditure 1995–96

  Government grant (TSG) £ million

  Total borrowing approval £ million

  Gross approved spending £ million

  Hertfordshire

  5.626

  8.340

  13.966

  Humberside

  3.470

  7.316

  11.798

  Isle of Wight

  0.370

  3.609

  3.979

  Kent

  34.803

  44.879

  86.623

  Lancashire

  4.921

  11.518

  17.529

  Leicestershire1

  3.665

  8.179

  12.069

  Lincolnshire

  1.920

  5.261

  7.181

  Norfolk

  5.663

  9.059

  15.371

  Northamptonshire

  3.775

  5.526

  9.494

  Northumberland

  3.875

  4.730

  8.605

  North Yorkshire

  5.468

  7.564

  13.215

  Nottinghamshire

  4.682

  8.433

  13.115

  Oxfordshire

  1.007

  4.509

  6.314

  Shropshire

  1.462

  4.023

  5.542

  Somerset

  4.371

  6.856

  12.521

  Staffordshire

  6.668

  9.204

  15.872

  Suffolk

  4.141

  9.329

  13.470

  Surrey

  11.380

  16.121

  28.513

  Warwickshire

  1.352

  3.084

  4.444

  West Sussex

  0.816

  2.846

  4.254

  Wiltshire

  0.747

  3.295

  5.048

  Note:

  Gross approved expenditure exceeds the sum of grant and borrowing approval if an authority holds unused grant from previous years.

  1 Includes £746,000 public transport grant (s56).

  Local authority capital expenditure 1995–96

  Government grant (s56) £ million

  Total borrowing approval £ million

  Passenger Transport Authorities

  Greater Manchester

  0.000

  4.000

  Merseyside

  0.000

  8.626

  South Yorkshire

  4.919

  51.610

  Tyne and Wear

  0.000

  2.370

  West Midlands

  0.000

  8.870

  West Yorkshire

  0.000

  0.100

  Package minor works allocation 1995–96

  £ millions

  Current packages

  West Midlands—all boroughs inc. Centro

  14.520

  Leeds

  3.800

  Bournemouth and Poole

  0.550

  Brighton and Hove

  0.850

  Canterbury

  0.250

  Exeter

  0.650

  Hull

  1.100

  Ispwich

  1.450

  Oxford

  1.350

  Shrewsbury

  0.850

  Staines

  0.400

  Swindon

  0.500

  Winchester

  0.750

  New packages—funded for the first time in 1995–96

  Bradford

  1.600

  Calderdale

  1.400

  Kirklees

  0.950

  Greater Manchester—inc. PTA

  8.000

  Merseyside—inc. Merseytravel

  10.250

  Wakefield

  0.750

  Ashford

  0.250

  Avon

  2.350

  773

  Package minor works allocations 1995–96

  £ millions

  Bedford/Kempston

  0.300

  Cambridge

  1.650

  Dartmoor

  0.110

  Central Leicestershire

  1.900

  Macclesfield

  0.200

  New Forest

  0.120

  North Staffordshire

  0.750

  Norwich

  0.400

  Greater Nottingham

  1.600

  Plymouth

  1.000

  Preston and South Ribble

  0.500

  Reading

  0.400

  Southampton

  0.250

  Teesside

  1.100

  Warwick, Leamington and Kenilworth

  0.350

  York

  0.600

  Grand total

  63.800

  New major transport supplementary grant schemes (excluding London)

  Authority

  Scheme

  Buckinghamshire

  A413 Wendover Bypass

  Hampshire

  A325 Woolmar Road Link

  Kent

  B2006 Staplehurst Road Link, Sittingbourne

  Oxfordshire

  A421/B4031 Tingewick to A43 Improvement

  West Sussex

  A2300 Burgess Hill—A23 Link

  Devon

  A381 Salcombe Dip to Inverteign Drive, Teignmouth

  Gloucestershire

  A430 Gloucester South West Bypass

  Somerset

  A37 Improvements, Yeovil to Dorset Boundary—phase 1

  Sandwell

  A4034 Churchbridge Improvement, Sandwell

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  A422 Worchester Western Bypass and Link Roads

  Staffordshire

  A50 Victoria Place Link, Stoke on Trent

  Oldham

  A62/A627 Oldham Way Improvements

  Cheshire

  A534 Wheelock Bypass

  Cumbria

  A595 Dalton in Furness to Askam in Furness

  Lancashire

  A6 South Ribble/M65 Interface Improvements

  Sefton

  Aintree Park Lane Improvement

  Northumberland

  A189 North Seaton Duplication Stage 1

  Leeds

  Leeds City Centre Loop Phase 1

  Wakefield

  A655 Normanton Bypass

  North Yorkshire

  B1228 Peasholme Green Bridge

  Lincolnshire

  A57/B1003 Ropewalk to Carholme Road, Lincoln

  Northamptonshire

  A605 Warmington Bypass and Improvements at Tansor

  Nottinghamshire

  A608 Improvement, Ml to A611, Annesley

  Cambridgeshire

  A15 Werrington to Glinton Phase 2

  Norfolk

  A149 Ormesby Bypass

  Other schemes, non TSG (excluding London)

  Cleveland

  A179 Improvement, Hartlepool

  Sheffield

  Inner Ring Road, Northern Section, Stage 1

  Suffolk

  A604 Haverhill Bypass Stage 2

  774

  New major public transport schemes (excluding London)

  Authority

  Scheme

  Avon

  Filton Abbeywood Station

  Calderdale

  Halifax-Huddersfield Railway Line

  Merseyside PTA

  Conway Park Railway Station

  West Midlands PTA

  Midland Metro, Line 1

  Other public transport measures (excluding London)

  East Sussex

  London Road/Brighton Station Bus Priority

  Hampshire

  ENTRANCE-EC project

  Avon

  Avonmouth/Ashton Vale Park and Ride

  Norfolk

  Norwich Park and Ride— Cringleford

  New major road and public transport schemes in London accepted this year

  Local authority

  Scheme

  All London authorities

  The London Cycle Network

  Barking and Dagenham

  Choats Manor Way Link Road

  Bexley

  Bexleyheath Town Centre Traffic Management

  Haringey

  Spouter's Corner improvement

  Brent

  New stations, West London rail

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  line

  Kensington and Chelsea Wandsworth

  Clyde Port Authority
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the financial implications of the bid by Regis and Regis for the Clyde port authority.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: There are no financial implications for the Government arising from these bids.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money was paid to Clydeport Holdings by the Clyde port authority after the payment of the levy to his Department following the sale of the port authority.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: The sale proceeds were £26.0 million; the levy £11.6 million. The Clyde port authority retained the remainder, £14.4 million. After the relevant expenses and liabilities had been met, all sums held by the authority were by virtue of section 7(2) of the Ports Act 1991 transferred to the successor company, Clydeport Holdings, upon the dissolution of the authority.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if Clydeport Holdings will have to pay a clawback on the proceeds of the Braehead site; and how much it will be.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: Yes. The amount has yet to be settled.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what grounds he paid the costs of the Clyde
  775
  port authority's expenses for promoting a privatisation Bill; and what were those costs.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: Some £528,593 was allowed after careful consideration of the authority's claim under section 13 of the Ports Act 1991.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from 776
  residents in the Coventry and the Warwickshire areas regarding aircraft noise.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: From January 1992 to date, the Department has received 23 representations from residents in the Coventry and Warwickshire areas regarding aircraft noise. These include 13 representations direct from members of the public, a further five representations forwarded by hon. Members on behalf of their constituents, and three from hon. Members themselves.

HEALTH

  Hospital Beds (Closures)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds have closed in London since the Tomlinson report was published.

  Mr. Malone
  The Tomlinson report used data for 1990–91. Provisional examination of the 1993–94 bed data for London suggests that the reduction in the number of available acute sector beds, excluding day beds, over the period 1990–91 to 1993–94 has been 1,896.

  Pensioners
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) in rank order and (b) by county (1) the total number of people of pension age and above in each constituency;

  (2) the percentage of the population of pension age and above in each constituency.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information requested has been taken from the 1991 census of population for England and Wales and will placed in the Library.

  Breast Cancer
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the rate of breast cancer in Israel following the banning of the use of lindane; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  In the 1970s, Israel had a high level of breast cancer compared to other countries. This fell during the period 1976 to 1986. Researchers and scientists in Israel suggested that a cause might be the withdrawal of louse powder containing lindane, used on cattle: they noted that before 1986 the Israeli population had been exposed to very high levels of lindane in milk. Levels reported in milk in Israel were up to 1,200 times higher than the highest residues observed in the United Kingdom as reported in the 1993 annual report of the working party on pesticide residues, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research projects she has commissioned which are investigating the links between exposure to lindane and the incidence of breast cancer; and if she will list them.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. 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 MRC is an independent body deciding what research to support on its own expert judgement. The Department of Health expert committee on carcinogenicity has been asked to advise on any relationship between organochlorines, including lindane, and breast cancer when it next meets in March 1995, and will consider the latest available research.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has made to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning the banning of lindane.

  Mr. Sackville
  The approval and review of pesticides is the joint responsibility of six Government Departments, including the Department of Health. Ministers are advised by a body of independent experts, the Advisory 778
  Committee on Pesticides. This committee last reviewed the non-agricultural uses of lindane in 1992. It found a very substantial body of evidence indicating that lindane presents no unacceptable risk to human health when used in accordance with statutory directions. Furthermore, there was no epidemiological evidence to suggest that lindane causes an increased risk of cancer, even among those who work with the compound. It therefore advised that approvals should continue.

  The Advisory Committee on Pesticides is currently reviewing lindane's agricultural uses and its review should be completed by spring 1995. Additionally, the Department of Health expert committee on carcinogenicity will consider the latest available research on any relationship between organochlorines, including lindane, and breast cancer, when it next meets in March 1995.

  Blood
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to ensure that a change to fewer and larger blood collection sessions will not lead to a substantial drop in the number of donors;

  (2) what plans she has to ensure that the closure of five regional blood transfusion centres will not lead to a shortage of blood supplies throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is the responsibility of the National Blood Authority to ensure that an adequate supply of blood is available to meet the needs of hospitals. The authority has made it clear that, under its proposals, whatever services hospitals receive now they will receive in future. With regard to blood collection, the authority's proposals envisage an increase in the number of collection team bases to provide more effective coverage of the country.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) where she proposes to site the new blood stockholding units; and what facilities they would provide;

  (2) what is her estimate of (a) the number of jobs which will be lost by the closure of five regional blood transfusion centres and (b) the cost in redundancy payments to those made redundant;

  (3) what criteria were used to decide which five of the present 15 regional blood transfusion centres should be closed.

  Mr. Sackville
  These are matters for the National Blood Authority to consider in the light of its thorough and widespread consultation. The results of the consultation will be carefully considered before decisions are made.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to estimate the annual budget required by the National Blood Authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  As part of the business planning process, the National Blood Authority estimates the running costs of the Blood Transfusion Service, the Bio Products Laboratory and the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory, and takes account of income from blood handling charges, and sale of manufactured blood products.

  Community Care
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how she will seek to ensure that community psychiatric nurses and other members of community teams focus on the needs of people with severe mental illness and long-term problems following the recommendation by the Audit Commission.

  Mr. Bowis
  By issuing good practice guidance and by focusing the mental illness specific grant on the severely mentally ill.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider how bridging finance could be made available for the reprovision of community care in place of some hospital care following the recommendations of the Audit Commission.

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. member to the reply I gave the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 12 December,Official Report, column 470.

  Replacement Funding
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organisations are receiving grants under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968; how many of these grants are due to(a) expire or (b) be reduced from March 1995; and what proposals she has to assist these organisations to secure replacement funding.

  Mr. Bowis
  There are some 382 voluntary organisations due to receive 523 grants from the Department under our section 64 general scheme during 1994–95; 238 of these are due to expire on 31 March 1995. Many will be core grants, eligible for consideration for renewal. The general presumption is that all core grants will be subject to a degree of tapering, particularly in their later years.

  Mentally Ill People
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consult the Home Office and the Department of the Environment to develop solutions to the problems of housing for mentally ill people, including mentally ill offenders, following the recommendations of the Audit Commission.

  Mr. Bowis
  Officials meet regularly with colleagues from other Departments to discuss a wide range of issues concerning mentally ill people, including housing.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency departments it is currently proposed to close.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. It is the responsibility of each health authority to ensure that there is an accident and emergency service available to all people in its area.

  Low Birth Weights
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the percentage of babies born in each(a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority who weighed less than 2.5 kg at birth in the latest year for which figures are available.
  780
  Mr. Sackville
  The latest year for which information is available is 1992 and was published in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys annual monitor DH3 93/1 "Infant and Perinatal Mortality 1992: RHAs and DHAs"; comparable data for 1993 will be published on 21 December 1994 in the annual monitor DH3 94/2 for 1993. Copies of the monitor will be available in the Library.

  Hospital Developments
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances health authorities or trusts are told that they will not be allowed to go ahead with agreed schemes of new hospital development without there first being a guarantee of parts of the capital cost being funded from the private sector; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  When health authorities and national health service trusts seek approval from the NHS executive for new capital schemes, they now are required to explore the option of private finance.

  NHS Research and Development
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she accepts the recommendations of the report of the NHS research and development task force chaired by Professor Anthony Culyer; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Since Professor Culyer's report "Supporting Research and Development in the NHS" was published on 14 September, we have had valuable discussions about it with the academic and research communities and beyond. The broad thrust of the report has been welcomed.

  I have now decided to introduce a new system of funding and supporting research, based largely on the report's proposals, to come into effect from 1996–97. The key points are:
  —The introduction of a "single funding stream" for NHS research and development, service support for Research and Development and research facilities.
  —The intention to raise Research and Development funds by a levy on purchasers of health care.
  —Changes in the advisory structure for Research and Development, including revised terms of reference and membership for the Central NHS Research and Development Committee (CRDC). The CRDC will have a new role advising the NHS to invest its Research and Development funds.
  —The creation of a new national forum to bring together the major health-related research funders to provide advice for the NHS and the Government.

  I am also announcing today that an extra £8 million will be available in 1995–96 for research commissioned by the NHS.

  The intention is to set a framework for funding and supporting research in the NHS for the long term and to provide a clear focus for future discussions about the detail of implementation.

  These decisions follow my recent announcement of a £40 million increase for 1995–96 in the earmarked funds dedicated to meeting the NHS costs of medical and dental education and research. Together, they underline the Government's strong commitment to the NHS research base and using it to develop further a knowledge-based service.
  781
  A note giving further details of the new funding system has been placed in the Library.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that the national health service continues to support undergraduate medical education following the recommendations made by the NHS research and development task force chaired by Professor Culyer.

  Mr. Malone
  I have asked Dr. Graham Winyard, national health service executive health care director, to chair an advisory group to make recommendations by March 1995 on future arrangements for allocating funds and contracting for NHS service support and facilities for teaching medical undergraduates. The aim is for the new arrangements to take effect, after appropriate consultation, in April 1996.

  Membership of the advisory group will be drawn from a range of interests in the NHS and in education. A copy of the terms of reference will be placed in the Library.

  Capital Funding
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list(a) NHS trusts and (b) directly managed units which have received funding from (i) the Department of Health and (ii) the private sector for capital projects in each of the last four years, showing in each case the amount of funding involved.

  Mr. Sackville
  I shall let the hon. Member have such information as is available as soon as possible.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is spent on dental treatment of the molars as a proportion relative to the remaining 20 teeth.

  Mr. Malone
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes she plans to the chairmanship for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Following consultation with my colleagues in the Scottish Office, the Welsh Office and the Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland, I am pleased to announce that from 16 December the chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will be Ruth Deech, who is principal of St. Anne's college, Oxford.

  Professor Sir Colin Campbell steps down after four years as chairman of the authority.

  I would like to place on record the Government's appreciation of Sir Colin's unstinting commitment to the demanding work of the authority and to the aims of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Under his leadership the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has become an internationally respected regulatory body which enjoys the confidence of the public, Parliament, the professions and the research community.

  Management Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the estimated annual savings in NHS 782
  management costs arising from the Health Authorities Bill arising from (a) the abolition of the regional health authorities, (b) the elimination of overlapping functions between regional health authorities and the Department of Health, (c) reductions in the number of health authorities and (d) merger between the family health service authorities and the district health authorities.

  Mr. Malone
  We estimate that, when the Health Authorities Bill is fully implemented, it will lead to annual savings in national health service management costs of approaching £150 million. Of this, over £100 million per year will arise from the abolition of regional health authorities and the remainder from the replacement of family health services authorities and district health authorities with unified health authorities, including savings from the reduction in the number of DHAs in preparation for the creation of HAs.

  Savings from the elimination of overlapping functions between RHAs and the NHS executive have not been separately identified but, as well as forming part of the savings at regional level, will contribute to the savings of some £50 million to be made in the running costs of the Department of Health by 1997–98.

  All these savings will be put into patient care.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) surpluses and (b) deficits were recorded by each district health authority in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 12 December 1994]: The information will be placed in the Library.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Biwater Group Ltd.
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for aid and trade provision finance have been made by the Biwater Group Ltd. since 1983; to which country these applications pertained; what were the costs of the contracts and amount of aid and trade provision sought; and which of the applications were(a) granted and (b) refused, giving details of the dates, countries and contracts involved and the amount requested or granted.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Sir M. Lennox-Boyd) on 17 February,Official Report, column 937, and to his reply to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 14 February, Official Report, column 568. In addition to the projects listed, the Biwater Group Ltd. currently has one ATP project under offer and subject to negotiation and one under consideration; given their status, both these projects are commercial in confidence. Information on unsuccessful applications is not maintained centrally in either ODA or DTI and such information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Population Control
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds have been made
  783
  available in the current financial year to the United Nations Population Fund; and for what purpose.

  Mr. Baldry
  Our contribution for the 1994–95 financial year to the United Nations Population Fund's core programme was £8.5 million. This included an exceptional grant of £1.5 million to assist with follow-up work to the international conference on population and development.

  Additional sums have been made available for specified purposes from bilateral programmes.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds have been made available to the International Planned Parenthood Federation in the current financial year; and for what purpose.

  Mr. Baldry
  Our contribution for the 1994–95 financial year to the International Planned Parenthood Federation's core programme was £7.5 million with an extra £0.45 million for its sexual health programme. Additional funds have been available for specified purposes from bilateral programmes.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money Her Majesty's Government pledged at the Cairo Conference on population and development to a programme to promote reproductive health and an improved quality of life and if it is his policy that this will be money additional to the existing budget and no taken from other projects that fall into the category of social development.

  Mr. Baldry
  At Cairo, we said we expect to commit £100 million for population and reproductive health programmes in 1994 and 1995. Funds to meet the spending against these commitments will be made available from within the overall aid programme in the relevant years. These commitments will not be at the expense of other on-going projects in the social field.

  Crown Agents
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to change the external financing limit for the current year for the Crown Agents.

  Mr. Baldry
  The external financing limit for the Crown Agents as set out in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1994–95—Cm 2519—has been increased from zero to £3.5 million. This is due to a classification change and has no consequence for public expenditure.

TREASURY

  Utility Company Securities
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the effect on the valuation of utility company securities in(a) the national balance sheet and (b) the corporate sector balance sheet if a windfall profits tax was introduced on utility company pre-tax profits at a rate of (i) 10 per cent. and (ii) 20 per cent.

  Mr. Nelson
  Although it is not possible to estimate the precise impact, such a tax would hit significantly the value of utility companies, reduce investment and limit the scope for price reductions.

  Motor Fuel
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how many years he intends to increase duty on motor fuel.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The commitment remains to increase duty on road fuels in future Budgets by on average at least 5 per cent. in real terms.

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on how VAT on domestic fuel will impact on households at differing income levels.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on how VAT on domestic fuel will impact on households at differing income levels.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer to the oral answer that my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) earlier today.

  Incomes
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on income distribution.

  Sir George Young
  Real incomes have risen on average for all economic status groups since 1979—risen 50 per cent. for pensioners, risen for the unemployed, risen for those in full-time work and in part-time work and risen for the self employed. Sound finance and sustained growth are the only way to raise living standards for all, rich and poor alike.

  Taxation (Retired People)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of his recent tax proposals on retired people who have savings over £3,000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The increase in the personal income tax allowance for the aged announced in the Budget is worth over £2 a week for most basic rate paying pensioners. This is on top of a rise in pensioners' real income after tax averaging about 50 per cent. between 1979 and 1992.

  Living Standards
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on living standards.

  Sir George Young
  I refer to the oral answer that my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) earlier today.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to reduce the basic rate of VAT during the life of the current Parliament.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  As my right hon. and learned Friend made clear in his Budget, he has no plans to reduce the standard rate of VAT.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) at what financial threshold the decision is taken in
  785
  respect of the prosecution of an individual or organisation for value added tax avoidance;

  (2) what is his estimate of the level of value added tax avoidance.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 13 December 1994]: Tax avoidance is not an offence. There are no comprehensive, reliable estimates for the total of VAT avoided.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when, in the past five years, he or his predecessors have announced increases in the level of child benefit.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information is in the table.

  Date of Announcement

  Effective Date

  Announced by

  24 October 1990

  8 April 1991

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  19 March 1991

  7 October 1991

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  21 October 1991

  6 April 1992

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  12 November 1992

  12 April 1993

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  1 December 1993

  11 April 1994

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  30 November 1994

  10 April 1995

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Budget Representations
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received following his Budget statement.

  Sir George Young
  Since my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement on 29 November, we have received a number of representations from organisations and individuals, on a wide range of Budget-related issues.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to renegotiate the timetable for a single currency at the forthcoming intergovernmental conference.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No. The United Kingdom protocol to the treaty of European Union, negotiated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Maastricht, provides that the United Kingdom is not obliged to join a single currency. Any notification of United Kingdom intention to do so would require a prior Act of Parliament.

  Macro-economic Policy
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he plans for macro-economic policy.

  Mr. Aitken
  Macro-economic policy will continue to be set to achieve permanently low inflation and sound public finances. Chapter 2 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1995–96 sets out the framework of the Government's macro-economic policy.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect interest rate changes since October 1990 have had on industry's interest rate bill.

  Mr. Nelson
  It is estimated that interest rate changes from October 1990 to date, when fully passed on, will have lowered companies' interest bills by at least £10.5 billion a year.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about interest rates levied by the main clearing banks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  My ministerial colleagues and I continue to receive letters from clearing banks' personal and business customers about interest rates, but their number is diminishing, with rates now at levels well below those of a few years ago.

  Balanced Budget
  Mr. Liddington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to achieve a balanced budget.

  Mr. Aitken
  In the Budget, the public sector borrowing requirement was projected to fall rapidly over the next few years, and to be in small surplus by 1998–99.

  Executive Pay
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has in respect of excessive executive pay rises.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to curb excessive executive pay rises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government believe that companies should exercise restraint in setting remuneration packages for their executives and that they should reflect performance. The Government do not consider that its proper role is to set levels to pay for executives of private companies. The salaries and other remuneration of any private company are a matter for the company and its shareholders.

  Investment
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect his Budget will have on investment levels in the United Kingdom economy.

  Sir George Young
  I refer to the oral answer that I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Miller).

  Public Bodies (Underwriting Activities)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Wales to the hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Sweeney) of 12 December 1994,Official Report, columns

  787
  515–16, which Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies other than the Welsh Development Agency have taken part in the underwriting of (a) Government privatisation share issues and (b) private share issues; and if he will list the share issues and in which year each underwriting activity occurred.

  Sir George Young
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Vehicles
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total loss of revenue to the Treasury if the number of vehicles using Britain's roads were to be reduced by 1 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  Assuming that a 1 per cent. reduction in the number of vehicles on the roads was accompanied by a 1 per cent. reduction in the use of road fuels, then the loss of revenue would be around £200 million. This takes account of reduced receipts of vehicle excise duty, road fuel duties and consequential VAT. It takes no account of any increased receipts that might arise from increased spending on other items.

  Tax Exemption Certificates
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many 714 tax exemption certificates were issued in each of the last five years;

  (2) what estimate he has as to the loss of revenue resulting from the non-payment of national insurance contributions arising from both employer and employee contributions exempted under 714 tax exemption certificates;

  (3) what estimate he has of the loss of revenue arising to the Exchequer from abuse of the SC60 self-employed taxation system;

  (4) what estimates have been made of the loss of revenue resulting from work being done under 714 tax exemption certificates relative to the position that would obtain if those same employees worked within PAYE.

  Sir George Young
  The numbers of certificates issued or renewed were as follows:

  Numbers

  1989–90

  273,357

  1990–91

  224,830

  1991–92

  240,459

  1992–93

  213,010

  1993–94

  203,735

  It is not possible to make any meaningful estimate of revenue loss resulting from the particular tax treatment of self-employment workers in the construction industry.

  Gift Aid
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of donations to charity were made through gift aid for each year since its introduction.

  Sir George Young
  Information is not available on total donations to charities. The numbers and amounts of donations made under the gift aid scheme are shown.
  788

  Number of donations

  Amount of donations (£ million)

  1990–911

  10,270

  32.2

  1991–92

  55,160

  163.3

  1992–93

  81,150

  218.3

  1993–94

  123,850

  245.6

  1 From 1 October 1990.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the value of sterling against the ecu since its lowest point in 1993; and what is the forecast effect of such a change on imports and exports of manufactures after one, two and three years in terms of volume.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 14 December 1994]: Figures for the sterling ecu exchange rate are available on the Central Statistical Office, which can be accessed through the House of Commons Library. Export and import volumes are affected by a number of factors, including world trade, growth in United Kingdom export markets, export profit margins, domestic demand and competitiveness. A forecast of the growth in non-oil trade volumes taking into account all relevant factors was published in chapter 3 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

  Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive a report from the retail prices index advisory committee.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have today received two reports from the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee. It makes recommendations on the treatment in the RPI of owner-occupiers' housing costs and cars. The full reports are being published this afternoon as Cm 2717 and Cm 1716 respectively and copies are available in the Vote Office.

  In due course, I will announce my response to the recommendations. The committee has now completed its consideration of the topics in its current terms of reference.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Advisory Committee
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of the reports and submissions produced by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee in each of the last three years.

  Mrs. Browning
  The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee has held three meetings each year since 1992. The secretariat is provided by this Department and the Department of Health. The budget for the SEAC is shared between MAFF and DH but the DH provision is not separately identified within an overall committee
  789
  budget. Overall expenditure by the two Departments in the past three years was:

  1992—£9,271

  1993—£6,995

  1994—£7,089

  The committee regularly provides advice to Ministers, and where appropriate, this is put in the public domain, as in the reply given to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 30 June 1994, Official Report, columns 657–58. SEAC produced an interim report in 1992 which has been placed in the House Library, on research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. A further report is in preparation.

  Consumers Committees
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of the reports and submissions produced by each of the consumers committees in(a) 1992, (b) 1993 and (c)

  Mr. Jack
  The consumers committees for Great Britain and for England and Wales met as one body five times during 1992, six times during 1993 and twice during 1994. The Scottish committee last met in 1975. Secretarial and advisory duties are part of the responsibilities of three officials in this Department.

  Figures of expenditure are as follows:

  Financial year

  Budget £

  Actual expenditure £

  1992–93

  7,000

  5,682

  1993–94

  6,435

  4,940

  1994–95

  6,000

  1,826

  —expenditure to 12 December 1994

  In accordance with the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958, the views of the committees on the effects on consumers of agricultural marketing schemes are made known to Ministers in writing from time to time.

  Badgers
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of the reports and submissions produced by the Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis in each of the last three years.

  Mrs. Browning
  The Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis met once in 1991 and twice in both 1992 and 1993. The Ministry provides secretarial support to the panel and consistently draws on the panel1s advice in determining its policies on badgers and bovine tuberculosis. The budget for each of the last three financial years was £4,728, £5,000 and £10,000 respectively with actual expenditure of £2,777, £2,558
  790
  and £6,720. The increase for 1993–94 reflected one off costs for a scientific seminar in November 1993 to review research with leading experts from the United Kingdom and Ireland. There have been no reports or submissions published by the panel during the last three years.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring there is of active badger setts along the route of the new A30 in east Devon; how many licences have been issued to disturb badger setts in this area; to whom they were issued; when they were issued; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  English Nature is the appropriate licensing authority and issued one licence in August this year to environmental consultants who have surveyed 14 badger setts, including outlier holes, along the new A30 in east Devon. Monitoring of all setts is continuing throughout the coming winter to determine their current status of occupation. Under the Data Protection Act 1984, identification of individual licence holders is confidential.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the functions and objectives of(a) the Sugar Beet Research and Education Committee, (b) the Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis and (c) the Salmon Advisory Committee.

  Mr. Jack
  The functions and objectives of the three bodies are described in their terms of reference. These are:

  (a)The Sugar Beet Research and Education Committee
  "The Committee is appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales to advise on an annual programme of research and education in matters affecting the growing of home-grown sugar beet."

  (b)The Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis
  "i) To keep under review the evidence relating to bovine tuberculosis in badgers, including its distribution, its prevalence and its relationship to bovine tuberculosis in cattle;
  ii) to advise on operations to be undertaken by the Ministry in order to limit the transmission of tuberculosis from badgers to cattle;
  iii) to recommend research appropriate to the problem of badgers and bovine tuberculosis."

  (c) The Salmon Advisory Committee
  "To examine and report on those matters relating to the conservation and development of salmon fisheries in Great Britain which are referred to it by Fisheries Ministers."

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of the reports and submissions produced by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides in each of the last three years.

  Mrs. Browning
  The Advisory Committee on Pesticides met on six occasions during 1994 and 1993 and five times in 1992. Details of the secretarial and
  791
  advisory arrangements along with details of matters discussed and recommendations made by the committee are published each year in the Advisory Committee on Pesticides annual report. Copies of the report are held in the House Library. The committee has an annual budget of £40,000. Expenditure for the last three years was £32,889–1993–94, £26,022–1992–93, and £30,606–1991–92.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the Sugar Beet Research and Education Committee in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Jack
  The committee met four times in the financial year 1991–92, four times in 1992–93, and five times in 1993–94 excluding open days and special sub-groups. Secretarial support to the committee is provided by MAFF, and the committee1s advice is given to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Expenditure on committee members1 attendance fees, and on travelling expenses for the Committee and its secretariat was as follows:

  Year

  Total expenditure on agriculture in the United Kingdom £ million1 Current Prices

  Expenditure on agriculture as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product £ million 1 1993 Prices

  Household expenditure on food as a percentage of Personal Disposable Income Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1964

  264

  2,736

  0.77

  20.5

  1970

  259

  1,998

  0.49

  18.2

  1980

  1,012

  2,083

  0.43

  14.8

  1990

  1,910

  2,178

  0.34

  11.0

  1993

  3,015

  3,015

  0.47

  10.0

  1 Financial years.

  Sugar Beet
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much per tonne is given to European farmers for growing sugar beet; and what is the value on the world market of sugar per tonne.

  Mr. Jack
  In the 1994–95 marketing year, European growers should receive, from those to whom they sell, at least the Community-established minimum prices of 38.69 ecu/tonne—£36.89/tonne1—and 23.89 ecu/tonne£2.78/tonne1—respectively, for sugar beet contributing to A and B quota sugar.

  Currently, quota sugar is being sold on the world market, with the aid of export refunds, at around 340 ecu/tonne—£324.22/tonne1. The cost of the refunds is largely offset by production levies on growers and processors.

  Although the facility for intervention exists within the regime, no sugar is currently intervened, processors are paid storage aids on the tonnage they hold, the costs of the scheme being covered by a levy at point of first sale.

  11 ecu = £0.953575

  Coastal Protection
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people within his
  792

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  Budgeted

  9,075

  9,710

  13,000

  Actual

  7,649

  10,213

  17,861

  1 Subject to audit.

  The Sugar Beet Research and Education Committee advises Ministers on the annual research and education programmes required by section 68 of the Food Act 1984. Details of the programmes are set out in the annual Sugar Beet (Research and Education) Orders—S.I. 1992/405, S.I. 1993/397 and S.I. 1994/407.

  Agricultural Support
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the overall cost to the Exchequer of support to United Kingdom agriculture in each of the years 1964, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 1994 in actual and 1994 prices: if he will show each figure as a percentage of gross domestic product; and what was the percentage of net disposable income spent on food in each of these years.

  Mr. Jack
  The available information on total expenditure on agriculture in the United Kingdom and household expenditure on food is given in the table.

  Department are employed in connection with its coastal protection function; and at what locations.

  Mr. Jack
  Currently, 61 people are employed in the Ministry1s flood and coastal defence division, dealing with food defence matters as well as coast protection. They are based in London, Cambridge, Lincoln, Taunton, Tunbridge Wells and York.

  Political Affiliation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he seeks information on the political affiliation of candidates for appointment to paid or unpaid posts for which he is responsible(a) from within his Department or (b) from outside sources.

  Mr. Jack
  The Minister does not seek information on the political affiliation of candidates for either paid or unpaid posts.

  Agricultural Council
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the outcome of the Agricultural Council held in Brussels from 12 to 14 December; and if he will make a statement.
  793
  Mr. Waldegrave
  I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting of the council, which lasted from 12 to 15 December. The council1s major achievement was agreement on ground rules for implementing the general agreement on tariffs and trade Uruguay round agreement on agriculture. This package, including the framework agreement on bananas, will now pass to the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 and 20 December for formal adoption along with all other GATT implementation texts. This is a very important agreement for Britain in itself. In addition, I am glad to report that I achieved a range of measures designed to meet specific British interests, notably in relation to cereals, bananas, and commitments of benefit to the processed food industry. I also made clear to the Commission that the eventual arrangements for rice, which are not yet in place, must not disadvantage United Kingdom millers of high quality rice.

  The council also discussed a Commission proposal to revise the agrimonetary regime. In the absence of an opinion from the European Parliament, no formal decision could be taken. But it was established that a qualified majority of the council existed in favour of a presidency compromise proposal which the Commission was prepared to support. I voted against this revised proposal because, although it abolished the potentially expensive and inflationary switchover mechanism which I strongly welcome, it also introduced unduly complex and potentially costly replacement arrangements to protect farmers in strong-currency countries against currency-induced falls in incomes. Denmark also voted against. The Commission tabled a proposal to prolong the present regime until 31 January 1995 pending a European Parliament opinion on the substantive proposal.

  The council held a further discussion of the Commission1s proposal on the welfare of animals in transit but was unable to reach agreement. I shall continue to press for strong and effective Community measures. But meanwhile I am introducing improved national measures to help fill the gap resulting from the absence of agreement by the council.

  I voted against a council decision to continue the moratorium on bovine somatotropin until 31 December 1999 as this was without scientific justification. The decision was, however, adopted by qualified majority.

  The Agriculture Commissioner, Rene Steichen, tabled a report supporting the case, for which the United Kingdom has long argued, for allowing land entered into environmental set-aside or woodland to be counted, under certain conditions, against the farmer1s compulsory market set-aside requirement. The council committed itself to taking an early decision on this matter.

  The council adopted unanimously proposals providing for continuation of New Zealand butter access to the United Kingdom and for continuation of sheepmeat imports from various third countries under existing voluntary restraint agreements. In both cases, these regulations apply until 30 June 1995 when they will be superseded by the GATT Uruguay round provisions.

  Directive amending the fresh meat hygiene directive and milk hygiene directive, were agreed by qualified majority. On meat hygiene, I abstained, whilst the Dutch and Portuguese delegations opposed. The outcome on milk hygiene was generally highly satisfactory; however, I abstained because there were no provisions to permit the continued double pasteurisation of skimmed milk.
  794
  Finally, I am particularly delighted to report that the council agreed unanimously a new directive on minced meat and meat preparations directive which protects traditional British products including the British banger.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual savings in a full year to social security expenditure from withdrawing income support assistance with mortgage interest payments from new mortgages after October 1995 for nine months assuming that(a) all income support claimants with new mortgages are affected, (b) all income support claimants except lone parents are affected, (c) all income support claimants except lone parents and pensioners are affected and (d) all income support claimants except pensioners are affected.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Details are set out in the table.

  IS claimants affected

  Savings October 1995 to October 1996 £ million

  (a) all IS claimants with mortgages

  18

  (b) all IS claimants with mortgages except lone parents

  15

  (c) all IS claimants except lone parents and pensioners

  14

  (d) all IS claimants except pensioners

  17

  Notes:

  (1) Savings are based on information from the 1993 annual statistical inquiry, uprated to 1995–96 levels.

  (2) Savings have been estimated for a 12-month period from October 1995 to October 1996.

  (3) Assistance with mortgage payments is withdrawn for the first nine months of a new claim from October 1995 for cases with new mortgages.

  (4) Savings estimates exclude any estimates of behavioural effects.

  (5) Figures are rounded to the nearest £1 million but are not accurate to this degree of rounding.

  Family Credit
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the proposed family credit ceilings in 1995–96 for(a) a married couple with one child under five years, (b) a married couple with two children under 11 years, (c) a married couple with two children aged over 11 years, (d) a married couple with three children under 11 years, (e) a married couple with three children aged over 11 years and (f) a married couple with two children under 11 years and two children over 11 years.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  At the new benefit levels proposed for April 1995, the family credit ceilings represented by the highest amount of net earnings and other relevant
  795
  income a family can have and still qualify for family credit at the minimum payment of 50p will be as follows:

  £

  Married couple with one child under 5 years

  153.00

  Married couple with two children under 11

  169.29

  Married couple with two children over 11, but under 16

  190.71

  Married couple with three children under 11

  185.57

  Married couple with three children over 11, but under 16

  217.71

  Married couple with two children under 11 and two children over 11, but under 16

  223.29

  Relevant income excludes child benefit, which is disregarded for Family Credit purposes. Therefore, in addition to the amounts above, a one-child family will have £10.40 child benefit a two-child family £18.85, a three-child family £27.30 and a four-child family £35.75. Relevant income also excludes the first £15 of any maintenance received.

  Since October 1994, up to £40 a week per family in respect of formal child care charges incurred can be offset in the calculation of normal earnings for family credit. It applies where the care is for a child under 11 in the family of a lone parent, a couple where both are working, or where one is working and the other is incapacitated. This increases the potential ceilings still further.

  National social fund summary statistics by client group 1992–93

  Pensioners

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Applications received (000)

  0

  15

  106

  61

  9

  Decisions (000)1

  0

  18

  129

  67

  8

  Awards (000)1

  0

  15

  79

  27

  7

  Awards as per cent, of decisions1

  0

  83

  61

  40

  82

  Refusals (000)

  0

  3

  50

  34

  1

  Gross Expenditure £ million

  0

  12

  20

  6

  0

  Recoveries £ million

  0

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Net Expenditure £ million

  0

  12

  20

  0

  0

  Average Award £1

  0

  786

  254

  211

  61

  Unemployed

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Applications received (000)

  85

  10

  323

  499

  498

  Decisions (000)1

  91

  11

  371

  554

  480

  Awards (000)1

  82

  10

  66

  298

  402

  Awards as per cent, of decisions1

  90

  91

  18

  54

  84

  Refusals (000)

  9

  1

  305

  238

  76

  Gross Expenditure £ million

  8

  8

  14

  61

  23

  Recoveries £ million

  0

  0

  0

  52

  18

  Net Expenditure £ million

  8

  8

  14

  9

  5

  Average Award £1

  101

  805

  214

  205

  57

  1992–93

  Disabled

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Applications received (000)

  6

  3

  113

  111

  27

  Decisions (000)1

  6

  3

  141

  125

  27

  Awards (000)1

  5

  3

  65

  68

  22

  Social Fund
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications were made to the social fund for (i) community care grants, (ii) budgeting loans and (iii) crisis loans for each quarter since 1988–89; and if he will give the reasons for the refusals.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Quarterly information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Information on an annual basis is provided in the Secretary of State1s annual reports on the social fund, copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will reproduce the tables in annexes 6, 10 and 14 of the annual report on the social fund 1993–94, Cm 2598, on the basis of expenditure by application purpose in a form identical to that used in the annual report on the social fund 1992–93, Cm 2274.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information requested is not available. The introduction of the social fund computer system means that the data used to produce the annual report on the social fund for 1993–94 is held in a different form from that used for previous annual reports.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing annexe 1 of each annual report on the social fund, broken down according to client group definitions in annexe 4 of the annual report on the social fund 1993–94, Cm 2598.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information requested is not readily available for years prior to 1992–93. The available information is set out in the tables.
  797

  1992–93

  Disabled

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Awards as per cent, of decisions1

  90

  92

  46

  54

  83

  Refusals (000)

  1

  0

  76

  50

  4

  Gross Expenditure £ million

  1

  3

  18

  15

  1

  Recoveries £ million

  0

  0

  0

  11

  1

  Net Expenditure £ million

  1

  3

  18

  3

  0

  Average Award £1

  101

  840

  279

  215

  52

  Others

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Applications received (000)

  180

  57

  642

  827

  303

  Decisions (000)1

  169

  46

  546

  760

  284

  Awards (000)1

  140

  34

  112

  443

  240

  Awards as per cent, of decisions1

  83

  74

  20

  58

  84

  Refusals (000)

  28

  12

  434

  284

  42

  Gross Expenditure £ million

  14

  26

  38

  100

  19

  Recoveries £ million

  0

  1

  0

  85

  15

  Net Expenditure £ million

  14

  25

  38

  15

  4

  Average Award £1

  101

  784

  338

  226

  80

  National social fund summary statistics by client group 1992–93

  Pensioners

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Decisions (000)1

  <1

  21

  116

  63

  8

  Awards (000)1

  <1

  19

  71

  25

  6

  Awards as per cent, of decisions1

  97

  90

  61

  39

  80

  Refusals (000)

  0

  2

  45

  31

  1

  Gross Expenditure £ million

  0

  16

  19

  5

  0

  Recoveries £ million

  0

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Net Expenditure £ million

  0

  n/a

  19

  n/a

  n/a

  Average Award £1

  101

  859

  261

  219

  60

  Unemployed

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Decisions (000)1

  86

  14

  374

  553

  508

  Awards (000)1

  82

  13

  63

  310

  413

  Awards as per cent. of decisions1

  95

  96

  17

  56

  81

  Refusals (000)

  4

  1

  311

  222

  90

  Gross Expenditure 1 million

  8

  12

  13

  66

  23

  Recoveries 1 million

  0

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Net Expenditure 1 million

  8

  n/a

  13

  n/a

  n/a

  Average Award 11

  101

  894

  207

  212

  56

  1993–94

  Disabled

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Decisions (000)1

  9

  5

  192

  176

  45

  Awards (000)1

  9

  5

  83

  96

  36

  Awards as per cent, of decisions1

  96

  96

  43

  54

  79

  Refusals (000)

  0

  0

  110

  69

  9

  Gross Expenditure £ million

  1

  5

  24

  21

  2

  Recoveries £ million

  0

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Net Expenditure £ million

  1

  n/a

  23

  n/a

  n/a

  Average Award £1

  101

  915

  280

  222

  56

  Others

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Decisions (000)1

  154

  42

  570

  786

  299

  Awards (000)1

  139

  35

  112

  471

  241

  798 799

  Others

  MP

  FP

  CCG

  BL

  CL

  Awards as per cent. of decisions1

  90

  83

  20

  60

  81

  Refusals (000)

  15

  7

  458

  278

  53

  Gross Expenditure £ million

  14

  30

  38

  112

  20

  Recoveries £ million

  0

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Net Expenditure £ million

  14

  n/a

  38

  n/a

  n/a

  Average Award £1

  101

  866

  335

  237

  81

  1 Included in the number of awards is the number of awards after review.

  Key:

  MP = Maternity Payment

  FP = Funeral Payment

  CCG = Community Care Grant

  BL = Budgeting Loan

  CL = Crisis Loan

  n/a = Not available by client group.

  —Excluded from the tables is information on cold weather payments as this cannot be broken down by the client groups requested.

  —The tables for 1993–94 do not include the number of applications as they cannot be broken down by client group under the new computer system.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how his Department will determine average rents in an area following his changes to housing benefit.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We are considering options and will be discussing these with, for example, the local authority associations and the Institute of Rent Officers.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what safeguards will exist to ensure that availability for work criteria are properly matched to the capability of the claimant in respect of people being transferred from disability living allowance to unemployment benefit.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The Government have no proposals to transfer people from disability living allowance to unemployment benefit. However, regulation 7B of the Social Security (Unemployment, Sickness and Invalidity Benefit) Regulations 1983 currently provides that disabled people who are capable of some work may impose restrictions on their availability and receive Unemployment benefit where the restrictions are reasonable in view of their physical or mental condition.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make arrangements with the agency overseeing disability living allowance to ensure that offices holding claimant1s files retain those files following an adverse decision on an application for disability living allowance for the period within which an appeal could be made.

  Mr. Hague
  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 15 December 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the retention of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) files at the office where an adverse decision was made.
  The main responsibility of Disability Benefits Centres (DBC) is the processing of initial claims to both DLA and Attendance Allowance, before the centralised units in Blackpool take over the case.
  Since the introduction of DLA in April 1992 the Benefits Agency has looked carefully at the question of holding files at the office
  800
  where the initial decision is made. Our research has shown that the three month period following the initial decision is the period of high activity and this also represents the prescribed time limit for applications for a review on any grounds.
  A pilot exercise is currently being carried out at Newcastle DBC where the file is retained and almost all of the activity that arises in the three month period following the decision on a new claim is dealt with; some work done by specialist sections, such as Motability agreements, is retained at the DLA Unit in Blackpool. If the pilot at Newcastle successfully demonstrates efficiency and an improved customer service, consideration will be given to extending the practice to other DBCs.
  This pilot exercise is part of the Benefits Agency1s strategy to improve customer service and to work towards the introduction of a One Stop service.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further measures he is taking to protect those on low incomes from the effect of the imposition of VAT on domestic fuel in(a) in the current year and (b) from 1995 onwards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The help that was given in the April 1994 uprating will remain in place as a permanent addition to benefit rates. In addition, VAT on domestic fuel has raised the indices on which the 1995 uprating will be based and benefit levels will be higher from next April as a result. Further, social fund cold weather payments, which increased from £6 to £7 in November 1994, will rise again to £8.50 in November 1995.

  Funding of the home energy efficiency scheme will be raised to £100 million per annum, £30 million of which will be over and above that announced in 1993. The total extra help made available for home energy efficiency since the levy was introduced will amount to £65 million.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much will be saved under the proposed contributory jobseeker1s allowance through the abolition of the adult dependent allowance in each financial year from 1 April 1996.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  It is estimated that, benefit expenditure will be reduced by £10 million in 1996–97 and by £20 million in 1997–98.
  801
  Notes:

  1. Assumes 2.4 million unemployed; 500,000 unemployment benefit cases.

  2. All estimates rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  3. Estimates in cash prices.

  4. Estimates are net of any effects in other benefits.

  5. Based on 1993 annual statistical inquiry, 1993 and 1994 unemployment benefit statistics, and the policy simulation model using 1990–91–92 family expenditure survey data.

  6. Assumes contributory entitlement lasts six months.

  7. Transitional protection in operation in 1996–97.

  Child Maintenance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate has been made of the extent to which interim maintenance assessments are made under the Child Support Act 1991 which are lower than the maintenance an absent parent would pay after a full assessment;

  (2) what procedures exist to ensure the accurate revision of incorrectly low interim maintenance assessments made under the Child Support Act 1991;

  (3) whether the consent of the absent parent is required in order to rectify errors made in the calculation of interim maintenance assessments under the Child Support Act 1991;

  (4) what arrangements exist for the compensation of families which have received an incorrectly low interim maintenance assessment under the Child Support Act due to error on the part of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  Interim maintenance assessments are imposed where an absent parent has failed to provide sufficient information about his circumstances to enable a full maintenance assessment to be made. It is not possible to estimate whether an IMA is lower than a full maintenance assessment would otherwise be, since without information on the absent parent's circumstances it is not possible to determine the level of his eventual liability.

  Interim maintenance assessments are set at 1.5 times the maintenance requirement—the amount calculated to represent the basic maintenance needs of the child—and, in the vast majority of cases, are higher than the amount the absent parent would be required to pay under the normal assessment.

  In cases where IMAs have been incorrectly calculated, child support legislation currently requires that absent parents make a written application before an IMA can be cancelled and a correct IMA imposed. We propose to bring forward amendments to the regulations at the earliest opportunity, to ensure that defective IMAs can be reviewed or cancelled as appropriate at the instigation of a child support officer and without a written application from the absent parent.

  The Child Support Agency has made its checks on IMAs more stringent to ensure that they are calculated correctly. These checks include a requirement that all IMA decisions are authorised at management level.

  Claims for compensation are considered under the departmental general guidance. Each case is considered on its own merits.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Sittings of the House
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has for implementing the report of the Select Committee of Sittings of the House—HC 22(1991–92).

  Mr. Newton
  Following discussions over a considerable period, initially with the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) and more recently with the hon. Members for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) and for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor), agreement has been reached on a number of measures to achieve the objectives of the report. These are set out below, and where the proposals involve changes to the formal procedures of the House, the relevant motions appear on the Order Paper for 15 December, and are scheduled for debate on Monday 19 December.

  1. The changes in practice and procedure will be implemented as an experiment for Session 1994–95 by sessional order—in the case of proposals marked*—rather than Standing Order amendments.

  Bills

  2. Voluntary timetables for Bills will be agreed through the usual channels. Guillotines will be used only when voluntary timetables cannot be agreed or break down.

  3. Greater use will be made of Second Reading Committees by agreement.

  *4. Law Commission Bills will be referred automatically to Second Reading Committees, but they may be de-referred on a Government motion. The Government will accede to any reasonable Opposition request for de-referral.

  *5. The Committee stage of consolidation Bills may be dispensed with on a Government motion, and the question on Third Reading will be put forthwith.

  Statutory instrument

  *6. All affirmative statutory instruments will be referred automatically to a Standing Committee, but they may be de-referred on a Government motion. The Government will accede to any reasonable Opposition request for de-referral.

  7. The arrangements for debates on "prayers" will be settled by agreement through the usual channels.

  *8. Debates on de-referred affirmatives, any "prayers" taken on the Floor, and de-referred EC documents will be limited to 1½hours even if started before 10pm.

  9. Debates on "prayers" will continue to finish at 11.30 pm if started at or after 10 pm.

  Sittings

  10. The Government will use their best endeavours to avoid late sittings wherever possible.

  11. The Government will use their best endeavours to avoid taking highly contentious business on Thursdays, especially on the Thursdays before "constituency Fridays"—see 16.

  12. The Government will use their best endeavours to give early notification of dates of recesses.

  13. The Government will use their best endeavours to give early notification of some major debates.

  803
  Wednesdays/Fridays

  *14. The House will sit every Wednesday morning for private Members' debates on the Adjournment until 2.30 pm.

  *15. In exchange, the following time for private Members will be discontinued:

  —Private Members1 motions on 10 Fridays and 2 Monday afternoons.

  —Adjournment debates following the Consolidated Fund Bill. —Debates on motions fixing dates of recesses—which will instead be decided forthwith.

  —Adjournment debates on the last day before each recess.

  *16. The former private Members1 motions Fridays will become "constituency Fridays" on which the House will not sit.

  * 17. Subjects for debates on Wednesday mornings will be chosen by Speaker1s ballot. One or two general debates will be held between 10 am and 1 pm, and three short debates between 1 pm and 2.30 pm.

  Money and Ways and Means resolutions

  *18. Money and Ways and Means resolutions taken immediately after the Second Reading of the Bill to which they relate will be decided forthwith.

  *19. Debates on free-standing Money and Ways and Means resolutions will be limited to three quarters of an hour.

  Short speeches

  *20. The Speaker will have wider discretion to limit speeches by backbenchers to 10 minutes.

  21. Front Benchers will strive to limit opening speeches to 30 minutes and their closing speeches to 20 minutes.

  Miscellaneous

  22. Second Adjournment debates will be discontinued.

  23. The Procedure Committee will be asked to consider the arrangements for "set-piece" debates.

  24. Where appropriate, the time allowed for debates will be regulated by business motions agreed through the usual channels and approved by the House in advance.

WALES

  Air Quality
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what studies he has sponsored concerning air quality and lung disease triggered by(a) vehicle emissions and (b) chimneys of large scale industrial buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Research into air pollution and health is a priority for the Government, who are taking an active part in a wide range of relevant research. The Welsh office has not sponsored any separate studies of this kind.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has attended a cultural or theatrical event in Wales since his appointment as Secretary of State; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have attended three such events since I have been Secretary of State for Wales. They are as follows:804

  a. July 1993: International eisteddfod

  b. July 1994: International eisteddfod

  c. March 1994: Animated opera exhibition

  Hip Replacements
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were on waiting lists for hip replacement surgery in each year from 1983 to 1993 in Wales.

  Mr. Richards
  Information on the total number of patients on waiting lists for hip replacements is not held centrally. However, since the introduction of the patients charter in 1992, information has been collected on the numbers of patients waiting over 18 months, as shown in the following table.

  At 30 September 1992

  1993

  1994

  Number of patients waiting over 18 months for hip replacement surgery

  71

  27

  1

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his assessment of the number of jobs created by British Coal Enterprise in (i) Clwyd and (ii) the south Wales coalfield in each of the years since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of the State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of British Coal Enterprise in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government and British Coal are currently exploring options for the services provided by British Coal Enterprise. No final decisions have been taken about its future.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet leaders of the Coalfield Communities Campaign from Wales to discuss the future of British Coal Enterprise.

  Mr. Redwood
  I would be pleased to consider a request for a meeting.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has had concerning the future of British Coal Enterprise in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have met with representatives of British Coal Enterprise on a number of occasions this year but have received no other representations.

  Railtrack (Land)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from local authorities and the Welsh Development Agency regarding land sought to be purchased from Railtrack; if he will discuss the projects with Railtrack; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Vale of Glamorgan borough council wrote about the release of land required for access
  805
  to the Barry marine development. The council was informed that the matter was one for the British Railways Property Board.

  Public Authorities (Rent)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to collect information regarding the headquarters rent paid by public authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No. I expect all public bodies to achieve the best possible value for money in their accommodation.

  Health Authorities Bill
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the reduction of public sector manpower in Wales arising from the provision of the Health Authorities Bill.

  Mr. Redwood
  I shall expect liaison committee in due course to submit detailed assessments of likely staffing requirements for my approval.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the estimated annual savings in NHS management costs from the Health Authorities Bill in Wales from(a) the merger of family health services authorities and district health authorities and (b) the geographical mergers of the health authorities.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have set a target of at least £3 million per year savings from the simultaneous DHA/FHSA and geographical mergers.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many "Dear Accounting Officer" letters his Department has written to Welsh non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1984.

  Mr. Redwood
  "Dear Accounting Officer" letters are issued by the Treasury. Where appropriate, my Department draws the contents of "Dear Accounting Officer" letters to the attention of the non-departmental public bodies which it sponsors, and has done so in respect of the following number of letters in each year since 1984: 1984–22; 1985–18; 1986–17; 1987–40; 1988–9; 1989–9; 1990–3; 1991–8; 1992—20; 1993–10; 1994–7;

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 12 December,Official Report, column 515, to the hon. Member for the Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Sweeney), if he will list those companies in whose flotations or shares sales the Welsh Development Agency took part in share underwriting; if he will give the name of the merchant bank effecting the arrangements in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to strengthen the guidelines for the 806
  care of those sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983, transferred to out-patient psychiatric care and care in the community prior to the ending of the time period covered by the section order.

  Mr. Redwood
  Guidance already exists under the Mental Health Act Code of Practice, pursuant to section 118 of the Act, the most recent revision of which was published in 1993. Chapter 27 of the code details the responsibilities of those involved in the possible discharge from hospital of a patient who has previously been detained under the Act. In particular, section 117 of the Act places a statutory duty upon health and social service authorities to provide aftercare.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of 16 and 17-year-olds not in full-time education and without a job or training scheme(a) in spring 1994 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Redwood
  Reliable estimates are not available for spring 1994. The most recent information available is for autumn 1992 when the Welsh social survey estimated that approximately 4,500—with a confidence interval of 3,200 to 5,900–16 and 17-year-olds in Wales were not in full-time education and without a job or youth training scheme.

  Share Issues
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for the Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Sweeney), 12 December,Official Report, column 515, on what dates the Welsh Office sought approval for the underwriting of share issues in (a) Government privatisation stocks and (b) private share flotations; and on what dates approval was given.

  Mr. Redwood
  The acquisition of shares by the Welsh Development Agency is covered by the agency1s investment guidelines. No specific approvals have been sought.

EDUCATION

  Student Expenditure
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the level of average per student expenditure on(a) maintenance awards, (b) student loans and (c) Higher Education Funding Council for England recruitment grant in 1993–94; and what are the projected levels for 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Boswell
  The average net expenditure per student on maintenance grants paid as part of mandatory awards for students domiciled in England and Wales was £1,630—provisional—in the 1993–94 financial year, and is expected to be around £1,540 in 1994–95 and £1,410 in 1995–96. The net expenditure on student loans taken out by students similarly domiciled as an average of those taking out loans was £720—provisional—in 1993–94, and is expected to be around £970 in 1994–95 and £1,230 ire 1995–96.

  The average per student expenditure on recurrent grant and tuition fees for the higher education sector in England

  807
  was £4,480 in 1993–94, and is expected to be around £4,490 in 1994–95 and £4,500 in 1995–96.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. Boswell
  The POLIS database records 50 answers given to parliamentary questions by the Department during the last session as including a reference to the information1s requested not being held centrally, was 50.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the original cost in 1990 of the property formerly owned by the National Curriculum Council which was sold at auction on 7 December at the NCC warehouse, Kettlestring lane, Clifton Moor, York, and the amount of money paid for this property at the auction.

  Mr. Forth
  Some 80 per cent. of the furniture and equipment of the former National Curriculum Council, including nearly all items of value and in good condition, was transferred to the Department, the Funding Agency for Schools and the Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority. The residue, consisting of items for which the Department had no use, many of them in poor condition, was offered for auction on 7 December, and realised just over £12,000. The auctioneers estimated its value at purchase as £90,000 plus VAT.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Dias
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which further education colleges have been found to be mismanaged by the Further Education Funding Council; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  On 17 November the Further Education Funding Council for England published reports on the governance and management of Derby tertiary college, Wilmorton and St Philip's Roman Catholic sixth form college, Birmingham. The funding council has recommended that my right hon. Friend should exercise her power under section 57 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 to remove all the governors from both institutions and replace them with new governors. There is no evidence to suggest that the problems of mismanagement, identified as affecting these two colleges by the reports are widespread.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if she will make a statement on the funding for primary school provision;

  (2) what additional financial assistance is given to areas of social deprivation to help with primary education; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) what representations she has received on the future funding for nursery and primary school education; and if she will make a statement;

  (4) what advice she gives to local education authorities on the formula for the funding for primary education; and if she will make a statement.
  808
  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations concerning the future funding of nursery and primary school education. An announcement on the further development of nursery education will be made once the work of the task force is complete.

  Within the education standard spending assessment, some 20 per cent. of grant is distributed through the additional educational needs index, which reflects the higher cost of providing education in areas of relative deprivation.

  At local level, the allocation of resources to individual schools will be determined by the local education authority's local management of schools funding formula, and the proportion of funding allocated to primary schools will depend substantially on the relative weightings assigned by the formula to pupils of different ages—which are a matter for the LEA to determine. LEA's formulae may make special provision for schools affected by social deprivation, provided that the factors used for this purpose are sufficiently objective and the formula as a whole complies with certain requirements as to the overall proportion of funding which must be distributed according to pupil numbers. Guidance to LEAs on these matters is contained in the Department's circular 2/94.

  Reading Recovery Schemes
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions she(a) has had, or (b) plans to have, with those local education authorities which have failed to secure funding for existing reading recovery schemes through the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to discuss individual single regeneration budget bids with local education authorities. Unsuccessful bidders have been invited to contact their regional Government office, if they have queries.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking to ensure the completion of training courses by existing reading recovery teacher trainees in local education authorities which have failed to secure funding for existing reading recovery schemes under the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is for local education authorities to take steps to ensure that teachers complete their reading recovery training course. Authorities are aware that funding for the three-year national pilot of reading recovery will end as planned in March 1995.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking to ensure the spread of good practice in reading recovery schemes to local education authorities which have had no previous involvement in the scheme.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department is funding the reading recovery national network team at the institute of Education, university of London to provide information and advice on reading recovery to all LEAs.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment has been made by her Department of the long-term financial implications of reading recovery schemes for schools operating such schemes.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The reading recovery national network team at the institute of education, university of
  809
  London, estimate that the cost of reading recovery to schools is £1,000 per child. An independent research project, sponsored by the Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority, is also looking at the cost of reading recovery.

  It is for schools and local education authorities themselves to consider, in the light of their own circumstances, whether long-term savings resulting from successful reading recovery schemes are sufficient to offset those costs.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make arrangements for all reports produced by the Office for Standards in Education inspection teams under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Forth
  These are matters for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, who heads the independent Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

  University Students
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students commenced university in the current year; what was the figure five years ago; and what is his estimate for next year.

  Mr. Boswell
  Full statistics for this year are not yet available, but new entrants to full-time undergraduate courses in Britain have been projected at some 308,000. This compares with 197,000 in the academic year 198990. It is for universities and colleges to decide on how many new entrants to admit next year, in the light of the number of students continuing from the present academic year and the current need to consolidate total student numbers. But the Government's plans allow for the proportion of young people entering full-time higher education in Britain to remain above 30 per cent., compared with 17 per cent. in 1989–90.

DEFENCE

  Equipment (Contracts)
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many light dumpers his Department will be purchasing from A/S Hydrema of Denmark under contract No. EM and DIA/92; how many United Kingdom contractors tendered for this contract; what consideration was given to lease of the equipment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Twelve light dumpers will be purchased from A/S Hydrema under contract No. EM and DIA/92. One United Kingdom contractor was invited to tender for the contract but declined to bid. Leasing was not considered appropriate in this instance but will be considered for equipment and components on a case-by-case basis.

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department is proposing to re-paint certain RAF VC10s; to what extent contractors will be involved in the proposed (i) structural corrosion 810
  survey, (ii) major maintenance and (iii) rectification of corrosion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The paint finish on military aircraft serves two functions. The colour scheme and type of paint are selected to camouflage the aircraft. In addition, the surface finish protects the underlying structure from the damaging effects of the environment and, in particular, acts as an anti-corrosion treatment. As paint deteriorates with age, it is necessary to repaint aircraft routinely.

  The repaint contractor will not be involved in either the structural corrosion survey, which will be undertaken by RAF technicians, or the major maintenance, which is completed by the RAF at RAF St. Athan with the assistance of a contractor's working party. Corrosion identified by RAF technicians will be rectified during major maintenance.

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline current arrangements for repair and overhaul of marine diesel engines used by the Royal Navy, showing the extent of contractor involvement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Except for minor repair and maintenance work, the repair and overhaul of marine diesel engines used by the Royal Navy is undertaken by contractors, mostly appointed through competition.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the contract for the ocean survey vessel will be awarded on the same basis as the landing platforrn, helicopters; and what differences there will be in the criteria used.

  Mr. Freeman
  As with the award of the contract for the design and build of the landing platform helicopter, the outcome of the current competition for the ocean survey vessel will be based on best value for money for the defence budget.

  Royal Logistics Corps, Hereford
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to make an announcement as to the future of the regional depot, Royal Logistics Corps, Hereford.

  Mr. Soames
  I am considering the proposals for the rationalisation of the Army's non-explosive storage facilities, including regional depot Hereford, and will be making an announcement in the near future.

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

  Mr. Soames
  Less than 1 per cent.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 25 November,Official Report, column 459, what consideration Her Majesty's Government are giving to the possibility that the Western European Union should become a formal pillar of the Eli on the same basis as the Foreign Affairs Council and the common foreign and security policy.
  811
  Mr. Soames
  The Government's policy is to develop the Western European Union in the role defined for it in the declaration of WEU Ministers at Maastricht in 1991, and described in my reply to the hon. Member for South Shields.

  Combat Reconnaissance Equipment
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military aircraft are fitted with electronic combat reconnaissance equipment; what programme he has to extend the use of such equipment; and what assessment he has made of the capacity of British manufacturers to provide and fit such equipment.

  Mr. Freeman
  Some Tornado GR1 and Nimrod aircraft are equipped to undertake electronic combat reconnaissance tasks. We are currently considering a number of proposals to enhance existing equipment. We maintain regular contact with British industry to monitor developments in this area.

  Salisbury Plain
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) civilians and (b) military personnel are currently employed (i) on Salisbury plain training area and (ii) at Otterburn; and whether he expects these numbers to rise.

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  Civilians

  Military

  Salisbury Plain

  240

  11

  Otterburn

  124

  7

  There are no plans to increase the numbers on Salisbury plain, although it is possible that up to 15 additional civilian staff will be required at Otterburn in the future.

  Nuclear-powered Submarines
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which docklands each of the strategic submarine nuclear, SSN, and strategic submarine ballistic nuclear SSBN, nuclear-powered submarines have been earmarked for storage afloat when they are withdrawn from operational service.

  Mr. Freeman
  The location of each nuclear-powered submarine that has left Royal Navy service is provided in the following table. All these submarines, except HMS Valiant and HMS Resolution, have completed the process of defuelling, de-equipping and lay-up preparations and are stored afloat in suitable berths. It is not our practice to reveal in advance details of decommissioning plans for nuclear-powered submarines currently in service.

  HM Submarines

  Location

  Dreadnought

  Roysth

  Warspite

  Devonport

  Churchill

  Rosyth

  Conqueror

  Devonport

  Swiftsure

  Rosyth

  Courageous

  Devonport

  Revenge—SSBN

  Rosyth

  Valiant

  Devonport

  Resolution—SSBN

  Rosyth

  Departmental Dwelling
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vacant dwellings are owned by his Department in Plymouth.

  Mr. Soames
  As at 30 September my Department owned 302 vacant dwellings in Plymouth in the following categories:

  Service married quarters—281

  Former married quarters in the process of sale—16

  Civilian houses—5

  A large number of the vacant service married quarters were undergoing or awaiting major maintenance, held for future deployments, or formed part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the number of dwellings owned by his Department and (b) the number of dwellings owned by his Department which are currently unoccupied for (i) Devon and (ii) Cornwall.

  Mr. Soames
  As at 30 September, my Department owned the following dwellings in Devon and Cornwall:

  Stock

  Vacant

  Devon

  Service married quarters

  3,040

  342

  Former married quarters in the process of sale

  16

  16

  Civilian houses

  9

  0

  Former civilian houses in the process of sale

  0

  0

  Cornwall

  Service married quarters

  1,138

  259

  Former married quarters in the process of sale

  2

  2

  Civilian houses

  0

  0

  Former civilian houses in the process of sale

  1

  0

  A large number of the vacant service married quarters were undergoing or awaiting major maintenance, held for future deployments, or formed part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings are currently owned by his Department.

  Mr. Soames
  As at 30 September my Department owned 74,686 dwellings in the following categories:

  Service married quarters—70,851

  Former married quarters in the process of sale—2,744

  Civilian houses—581

  Former civilian houses in the process of sale—510

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former wives of service personnel have been evicted from Ministry of Defence properties in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Soames
  All former wives of service personnel are allowed to remain in their married quarter for at least 93
  813
  days and are not normally evicted unless alternative accommodation is available to them. Figures for evictions are not held in a uniform format by the services. The figures give the number of actual evictions in respect of the Army, but for the Navy and RAF represent the number of warrants issued for the repossession of a married quarter. In most cases no eviction results, because alternative accommodation becomes available.

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Navy

  13

  19

  12

  33

  29

  123

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  RAF

  23

  8

  47

  19

  44

  117

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Army

  6

  9

  12

  14

  5

  111

  Note:

  1 To date.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of providing maintenance and security on the vacant dwellings owned by his Department for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Soames
  The cost of providing maintenance and security for surplus dwellings in the process of being sold was as follows:

  Financial year

  1993–94—£231,000

  1994–95—to date—£124,000

  Service married quarters

  Civilian houses

  Former married quarters in the process of sale

  Total

  North Devon

  43

  0

  0

  43

  Exeter

  7

  0

  0

  7

  Honiton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Plymouth Devonport

  215

  5

  16

  236

  Plymouth Drake

  8

  0

  0

  8

  Plymouth Sutton

  58

  0

  0

  58

  Torridge and West Devon

  11

  0

  0

  11

  Falmouth and Camborne

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Cornwall

  158

  0

  2

  160

  St. Ives

  88

  0

  0

  88

  South-east Cornwall

  13

  0

  0

  13

  A large number of the vacant service married quarters were undergoing or awaiting major maintenance, held for future deployments, or formed part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings owned by his Department are currently unoccupied.

  Mr. Soames
  As at 30 September my Department owned 11,995 vacant dwellings in the following categories:

  Service married quarters —9,715

  Former married quarters in the process of sale —2,014

  Civilian houses —209

  Former civilian houses in the process of sale —57

  The majority of the vacant service married quarters were undergoing or awaiting major maintenance, held for future deployments, or formed part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families. Of the vacant civilian houses, 68 were leased properties awaiting return to Dumbarton
  814
  Figures for previous years are not available. Security for empty dwellings which are not surplus to requirements is provided by the Ministry of Defence police and military patrols and costs are therefore not separately identifiable.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings owned by his Department have been sold to(a) local authorities and (b) housing associations since 1992.

  Mr. Soames
  The following numbers of dwellings have been sold to local authorities and housing associations since 1992:

  Financial year

  Local authorities

  Housing associations

  1992–93

  24

  235

  1993–94

  27

  97

  1994–95—to date

  Nil

  237

  In addition, 120 flats at Rowner were sold to Barratts (Builders) in 1993–94. These will form part of a scheme involving a housing association.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vacant dwellings are owned by his Department in each parliamentary constituency in Devon and Cornwall.

  Mr. Soames
  As at 30 September, my Department owned the following vacant dwellings in each parliamentary constituency in Devon and Cornwall:

  district council, 91 were houses recently taken over from the United States air force awaiting occupation by Ministry of Defence police staff and the remainder were mainly properties in secure areas which could not be sold for security or safeguarding reasons.

  HMS Sirius
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure was made by his Department on the refit of HMS Sirius; and when this work was carried out.

  Mr. Freeman
  The last refit of HMS Sirius was undertaken between October 1989 and May 1991 at a total cost of about £25 million.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for using HMS Sirius for missile target practice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Following her decommissioning in 1993, HMS Sirius was marketed extensively as an operational vessel to foreign navies. No such purchaser has, however,
  815
  been found, and we are currently considering the best alternative route for her disposal, including her possible use as a target for weapon development. No decisions have, however, been taken.

  Ships (Target Practice)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which ships his Department has used for target practice during the past five years.
  816
  Mr. Soames
  Three decommissioned warships were used as targets and sunk in live firing exercises between 1990 and 1994. It is common practice for navies to test weapon effectiveness on surplus vessels which have had all reusable spares and equipment removed. Testing the effectiveness of a weapon against a realistic target is of particular value in the course of weapon development, which is an extremely expensive process. Such use of targets also provides valuable training.

  NATO SCIENCE RESEARCH WORKSHOP, ARAL SEA
  NATO SCIENCE RESEARCH WORKSHOP, ARAL SEA
  CYPRUS
  CYPRUS
  OVERSEAS AID: GOOD GOVERNANCE CRITERION
  OVERSEAS AID: GOOD GOVERNANCE CRITERION
  MALAWI: DEBT REDUCTION
  MALAWI: DEBT REDUCTION
  ENERGY CHARTER TREATY
  ENERGY CHARTER TREATY
  CROWN AGENTS: EXTERNAL FINANCING LIMIT
  CROWN AGENTS: EXTERNAL FINANCING LIMIT
  ARMS EXPORT LICENCE REFUSALS
  ARMS EXPORT LICENCE REFUSALS
  TICKET RESALE: REGULATIONS
  TICKET RESALE: REGULATIONS
  HMSO COMMERCIALISATION STUDY
  HMSO COMMERCIALISATION STUDY
  BBC: COMMERCIAL SATELLITE SERVICES
  BBC: COMMERCIAL SATELLITE SERVICES
  NHS: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
  NHS: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
  UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
  UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
  WELSH HEALTH COMMON SERVICES AUTHORITY
  WELSH HEALTH COMMON SERVICES AUTHORITY
  JOBSEEKERS BILL: SAVINGS ESTIMATES
  JOBSEEKERS BILL: SAVINGS ESTIMATES
  CHILD SUPPORT ACT: RESPONSE TO COMMONS SELECT COMMIT-FEE REPORT
  CHILD SUPPORT ACT: RESPONSE TO COMMONS SELECT COMMIT-FEE REPORT
  SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD
  SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD
  CIVIL SERVICE AND ARMED FORCES: NATIONAL EXTRACTION
  CIVIL SERVICE AND ARMED FORCES: NATIONAL EXTRACTION
  HUMBERSIDE: POLICING ARRANGEMENTS
  HUMBERSIDE: POLICING ARRANGEMENTS
  SINGLE PARENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES: ACCOMMODATION AND ALLOWANCES
  SINGLE PARENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES: ACCOMMODATION AND ALLOWANCES
  RCDS VISIT TO KASHMIR AND BANGLADESH
  RCDS VISIT TO KASHMIR AND BANGLADESH
  DEFENCE CONTRACTS PAYMENTS TO COMPANIES
  DEFENCE CONTRACTS PAYMENTS TO COMPANIES
  SATELLITE INTELLIGENCE: PROVISIONS TO INTERNATIONAL BODIES
  SATELLITE INTELLIGENCE: PROVISIONS TO INTERNATIONAL BODIES
  FORMER UK (ARMED SERVICES) OFFICERS: EMPLOYMENT IN DEFENCE FIELD
  FORMER UK (ARMED SERVICES) OFFICERS: EMPLOYMENT IN DEFENCE FIELD
  UK AIRSPACE AND US EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT
  UK AIRSPACE AND US EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT
  EMU STAGE 3: GOVERNMENT POLICY
  EMU STAGE 3: GOVERNMENT POLICY
  EC EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS: PARLIAMENTARY CONTROL
  EC EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS: PARLIAMENTARY CONTROL
  TAX FRAUD
  TAX FRAUD
  ANTI-FRAUD PROGRAMMES: EC SUPPORT
  ANTI-FRAUD PROGRAMMES: EC SUPPORT
  FRAUD, CRIME AND WASTE: TOTAL COST
  FRAUD, CRIME AND WASTE: TOTAL COST