Written Answers of 13 January 1994

ENVIRONMENT

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are made to ensure that special advisers to Ministers in his Department do not have access to the kind of information, and are not involved in the type of business, that would be likely to create suspicion of impropriety in relation to subsequent employment.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday 14 December 1993 at column 561.

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who, other than Ministers, have individually allocated cars from the Government car service; and at what cost for each person.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government car service currently provides some 30 cars which are made available to Departments for first call use by individuals, in addition to the cars on which Ministers have first call. A number of these cars are provided for security reasons, but the majority are used by senior officials of Permanent Secretary or equivalent rank.

  The cost per car varies according to the level of service provided. The average annual cost per standard car and driver is some £47,000.

  Water Mains
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of water mains are planned to be replaced by each of the water companies in England in 1994 because of poor water quality.

  Mr. Atkins
  The length of water mains which water companies plan to replace for water quality reasons in England during 1994 is estimated to be 1,100 miles. In addition, companies plan to reline approximately 1,380 miles. Replacement or relining may be carried out for reasons other than improvement in water quality, such as the structural condition of mains and to improve water pressure; replacement for those reasons usually also results in an improvement in water quality.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on local government finance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend announced his proposals for the local government finance settlement for 244
  1994–95 on 2 December. During the consultation period on those proposals, which ended on 10 January, we received representations from 134 local authorities and their associations and from 18 hon. Members. In addition, we have met some 30 local authorities to discuss the settlement and will be seeing further authorities this week. My right hon. Friend will present his final decisions shortly.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to the option of permanent monitored dry storage of spent nuclear fuel as a nuclear waste management option in arriving at his judgment on THORP.

  Mr. Atkins
  The dry storage of spent nuclear fuel was addressed in the waste management section (paragraphs 98–108) of the decision by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in respect of an application from British Nuclear Fuels for authorisations to discharge radioactive wastes from the Sellafield site. Copies of the decision document are in the House Library.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the basis for his conclusion set out at paragraph 131 of his decision document on THORP of 15 December that the increase in costs of the Nirex waste repository would not jeopardise the economic viability of THORP.

  Mr. Atkins
  An estimate of the impact of a 10-year delay to the Nirex repository is given in section 6 of appendix 3 to the BNFL document, "The Economic and Commercial Justification for THORP", which was made available for public consultation. It is evident that such a sum would not jeopardise the commercial gains shown in that appendix.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of the advice notes and other information made available to his Department, along with interdepartmental correspondence, by(a) the Department of Transport, (b) the Department of Trade and Industry, (c) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (d) the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee and (e) the National Radiological Protection Board as part of the consultation process on THORP referred to at paragraph 20 of his decision document on THORP of 15 December.

  Mr. Atkins
  No, other than copies of the advice from the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee and the National Radiological Protection Board which have already been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, when British Nuclear Fuels made available to his Department or to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, a full version of the Touche Ross accountants report on the projected profitability of THORP; and what assessment was made of the robustness of the report in coming to the conclusion on the economic prospects for THORP as set out as paragraph 133 of his decision document on THORP of 15 December.

  Mr. Atkins
  No such report is, or has been, in our possession.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against council tax valuations in each district council area in North Yorkshire have been(a) received and (b) settled; and of those settled how many resulted in a reduced council tax valuation.

  Mr. Baldry
  As at 31 December 1993, receipts and settlements of proposals to alter the valuation list for each billing authority in North Yorkshire are as follows:

  Billing authority

  Received

  Settled

  Craven

  2,621

  374

  Hambleton

  2,724

  496

  Harrogate

  4,745

  872

  Richmondshire

  1,613

  210

  Ryedale

  2,980

  509

  Scarborough

  2,775

  488

  Selby

  2,702

  498

  York

  1,425

  484

  Statistics relating to settlements which have resulted in a lower council tax banding are not available centrally.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will introduce legislation to protect hedgerows.

  Mr. Atkins
  When parliamentary time permits.

  Sweetloves Reservoir
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to investigate whether North West Water Ltd. is acting in accordance with its statutory duties in relation to Sweetloves reservoir.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 11 Janaury 1994]: North West Water does not consider that its plans for the redevolopment of Sweetloves reservoir are in conflict with its statutory duties in respect of conservation and recreation. I will write to my hon. Friend about the case.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  EC Budget Contributions
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his best estimate of member states' net contributions to the EC Budget, after the United Kingdom rebate, in respect of the calendar year 1993; and what is his best estimate, in respect of calendar year 1994, of member states' net contributions to the European Union budget for that year, on the basis of the latest draft proposed EU budget, after taking account of the latest estimate of the United Kingdom's rebate for 1994.

  Mr. Nelson
  EC budgets provide estimates of member states' gross contributions including the abatement of the United Kingdom's contributions. They do not, however, give a breakdown of each member state's expected receipts from that budget: this information becomes available only after the year in question, in the annual Court of Auditors' report on the implementation of the budget. The latest report, covering 1992, was published on 16 November 1993.

  Civil Service (Management Functions) Act
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what delegations have been made since the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act received royal assent on 17 December 1992; to whom those delegations were made; and what were the main conditions that were attached to them.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table lists delegations made under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 to date. In some cases, for staff appointed by statutory office holders, Ministers were statutorily required to give consent to terms and conditions of service. For such staff, delegation has been effected by waiving that requirement, subject to the conditions attached to the delegation.

  The first five delegations in the list apply generally across the civil service. The delegations relating to pay apply only to particular departments and agencies as shown in the table.

  In total, Departments and agencies employing over half of all civil servants will have assumed responsibility for their own pay and grading by April 1994. I expect other such delegations to follow in 1995 as further Government agencies and Departments bring forward proposals for their own pay and grading arrangements.

  247

  List of Delegations made under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992

  Delegation

  Nature of Delegation

  Recipients

  Main Conditions

  1. Delegation of Minimum Recruitment Criteria

  Authority to set appropriate eligibility criteria (so far as they relate to knowledge, ability, professional attainment, aptitude or potential) for recruitment to non-scheduled grades in respect of members of the Home Civil Service.

  Ministers in charge of departments and statutory and certain other office holders.1

  Managers must: (i) ensure that their recruitment systems consistently deliver recruits who are appropriate to their needs and who are able to do the work required in the grade to which they are appointed;

  (ii) maintain and make use of adequate records of their recruitment activities and the performance of successful candidates to demonstrate that (i) continues to be met; and

  (iii) observe Civil Service Management Code rules on age limits.

  2. Delegation of Personnel Management: Travel

  Authority to determine in respect of Home Civil Servants:

  Ministers in charge of departments and statutory and certain other office holders.1

  Departments must ensure that the most efficient and economic means of travel is used, taking into account the cost of travel and the cost of subsistence and savings in official time.

  (a) the class of travel that maybe given to staff traveling on official business in the United Kingdom and overseas, and to staff and members of their household where departments have discretion to offer concessionary travel in the United Kingdom and overseas; and

  All costs arising from the exercise of this delegation must be met from within agreed resources.

  (b) the conditions under which financial assistance with overseas journeys is given in respect of staff and members of their household.

  3. Overseas Accountable Entertainment Allowance

  Authority for determining the hospitality allowances to assist members of the Home Civil Service serving overseas.

  Ministers in charge of departments and statutory and certain other office holders.1

  All costs arising from the exercise of this delegation must be found from within existing cash and running costs limits.

  4. Delegation of United Kingdom Relocation Expenses.

  Authority to determine the rules on the expenses that may be paid to members of the Home Civil Service who permanently transfer to another office (or move on appointment) within the United Kingdom and who move their homes, or who incur additional travelling costs, as a result.

  Ministers in charge of departments and statutory and certain other office holders.1

  The terms offered in exercising this delegation must be cost effective compared with the alternatives and the expenditure must be found from within existing running costs and cash limits.

  The expenses must be based on reimbursement, must not provide for betterment and must not go beyond what is provided by other employers. There are limits on advances of salary and equity loss compensation.

  5. Delegation of Rent for key staff who occupy government owned residential properties.

  Authority to determine a departmental/agency rent.

  Ministers in charge of departments and statutory and certain other office holders.1

  The rent must be consistent with the market rent that the key member of staff and his or her family would reasonably be expected to pay at the same or similar location for accommodation which met their normal requirements.

  The rent may be adjusted if it is necessary to encourage staff to transfer to a key post, or attract new staff to a key post, or to retain existing staff.

  Any additional expenditure which results from exercising this delegation must be found from within existing running costs and cash limits.

  248

  249

  Delegation

  Nature of Delegation

  Recipients

  Main Conditions

  6. Delegation of pay and certain pay-related conditions of service.

  Authority to determine pay and certain pay-related conditions of service of civil servants below the Senior Open Structure (with the exception of retirement and redundancy, the reinstatement and re-employment of persons in the service and the redeployment of staff between departments). Agency Chief Executives are also excluded from the scope of the delegations.

  Ministers in charge of departments and statutory officeholders,1 as appropriate, for the following organisations:

  (i) The recipient must continue to comply with certain sections of the Civil Service Management Code.

  Employment Service Fire Service College Inland Revenue Ordnance Survey Valuation Office Agency

  (ii) Changes made to terms and conditions must provide value for money and be made in a way which does not jeopardise essential public expenditure safeguards.

  1 The statutory and certain other office holders are:

  First Parliamentary Counsel

  Government Actuary

  Director General of Fair Trading

  Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies

  National Debt Commissioners/National Public Works Loan Commissioners

  Director General of Telecommunications

  First Crown Estate Commissioner

  Director, Office of Gas Supply

  Director, Office of Electricity Regulation

  Director, Office of Water Services

  Director, Serious Fraud Office

  Chief Inspector, Office for standards in Education

  Director, Intervention Board

  Commissioners for the Board of the Inland Revenue

  Commissioners for Customs and Excise

  Director of Public Prosecutions

  Registrar General, Office of Population Censuses and Surveys*

  Chief Charity Commissioner, Charity Commission*

  Registrar General, General Register office (Scotland)*

  Executive, Health and Safety

  The Service, Advisory and Conciliation

  Those marked with a * received only the delegation in respect of Minimum Recruitment Criteria.

  Enterprise Zone Buildings
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about schemes which enable investors to get up-front tax relief on investments in enterprise zone buildings which they can subsequently sell without any clawback of that relief.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Capital allowances are available to the owners of buildings in enterprise zones and of industrial buildings elsewhere. Where a building is sold within the first twenty-five years of its life, a balancing adjustment is made which brings the tax relief into line with the actual depreciation. In this way any excess tax relief given can be recovered. There is, however, a defect in the capital allowances legislation which enables the owner of a building effectively to dispose of his interest through the granting of a long lease without triggering any recovery of excess allowances. This is a weakness of which some taxpayers are aiming to take advantage.

  We propose to bring forward legislation at Committee stage of the Finance Bill which will rectify this defect by imposing a balancing charge when a building on which capital allowances have already been claimed is leased for a capital sum. The new rules will apply to capital sums received by a taxpayer in respect of a relevant interest in a building which he has acquired on or after today.

  European Investment Bank
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government guarantees loans received by the private sector from the European investment bank.
  250
  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 16 December 1993]: The Government do not operate a guarantee scheme for private sector borrowers from the EIB. However, the Government do have a residual responsibility in respect of guarantees which it provided under a former scheme, which was discontinued in 1985. The residual contingent liability resulting from this scheme is now diminishing, and will ultimately disappear, as the loans guaranteed are progressively repaid.

WALES

  District Elections
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in which areas elections will take place during 1994 for those district councils in Wales which hold elections by thirds.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Elections will take place in Swansea, Newport, Port Talbot and Rhondda on Thursday 5 May 1994.

  Domestic Gas
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the estimated number and proportion of homes in Wales connected to gas mains supply.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information provided by British Gas, Wales, is published in table 5.13 of the Digest of Welsh Statistics No. 39, 1993. The number of domestic customers was estimated as 807,300 at December 1991. This represented 68 per cent. of dwellings in Wales.

  Housing Revenue
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to make his housing revenue account subsidy determinations for 1994–95.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I made the determinations on 12 January and have placed copies in the Library of the House.

  I have confirmed an average guideline rent increase of 7.5 per cent. (3.5 per cent. in real terms), with a minimum increase of £1.50 and a maximum of £2.90 per week. I estimate that the average guideline rent increase will be £2.19 per week and the resulting average weekly guideline rent £31.30.

  For management and maintenance allowances, I have confirmed an average increase of 4 per cent. per dwelling overall, which will continue to be distributed through a system of targets reflecting authorities' relative need to spend. I estimate that this will raise the average allowance to £824 per dwelling, an increase of £31.

  The rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances are the assumptions to be made for subsidy purposes. It is for councils themselves to set their rents and decide how much to spend on management and maintenance within their legal obligations.

  I have placed in the Library of the House estimates of the rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowance for each authority.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to include provisions within the prospective legislation on deregulation which would alter the current powers available to local authorities to impose restrictions on the night-time movement of heavy goods vehicles within their area.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Details of the contents of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill will be made available in the usual way when the Bill is introduced later this month. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has been considering whether restrictions on the night-time movement of heavy goods vehicles can be administered in a less bureaucratic way without reducing the environmental protection the restrictions offer.

  THORP
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what basic technical characteristics of the THORP reprocessing line and associated facilities have been submitted to EURATOM; what particular safeguards provisions for the THORP reprocessing line and its asssociated facilities have been agreed with EURATOM; and on what dates in each case(a) information was first provided to EURATOM and (b) those agreements entered into force.

  Mr. Eggar
  Such documents on safeguards arrangements are confidential to the parties concerned. A general description of the interaction between BNFL and Euratom in agreeing safeguards arrangements for THORP was given in the paper, "THORP: The Route to a252
  Safeguardable Plant", presented at the 15th European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA) symposium in Rome in May 1993.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the methodology adopted, including reference to any expert sources outside his Department, by which he came to the conclusion to offer the departmental advice on the economics of THORP to the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, referred to at paragraph 128 of the decision document on THORP of 15 December.

  Mr. Eggar
  The advice given by my Department to my right hon. Friends was prepared by reference to materials contained in the publicly available consultation documents.

  Superconductivity
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research into superconductivity is currently being sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department is currently supporting four collaborative industrial research projects in high temperature superconductivity. Total costs are £3,215,231 and grant of up to £1,607,615 has been offered.

  Structural Funds
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet able to inform the House of the final outcome of the negotiations with the European Communities on the designation under the structural funds of objective 2 and 5(b) areas.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Commission announced on 21 December its proposed list of areas for objective 2 and the proposed population ceilings for objective 5(b).

  For objective 5(b) areas, the Commission proposes to designate areas with a population coverage of 2.816 million in the United Kingdom. The precise geographical boundaries are expected to be finally determined by the Commission by the end of next week, but will certainly include large parts of South West England, East Anglia, Northern England, Wales and Scotland. Once the Commission's final decision is known I will provide the House with a list of the areas.

  For objective 2 areas, the Commission announced a proposed initial list of areas. The United Kingdom area on this list are listed at the end of this answer. The Commission will announce its final decision shortly, but it is unlikely to differ from the initial list. The definitive list will be published in the Official Journal and will give a fully detailed breakdown of the eligible areas, down to ward level where necessary.

  The Commission's decisions mean that more areas of the United Kingdom than before will now be eligible for European funding. More than 24 million people live in areas that will be able to claim under objectives 1, 2 and 5(b) of the structural funds and the United Kingdom continues to have the highest population coverage under objective 2. Despite this advance, however, the Government regret the Commission's failure fully to reflect our national priorities in its final decisions for objective 2 areas—in particular, the case for much greater coverage of urban areas.
  253
  United Kingdom areas on Commission's list for objective 2 County/Region and Eligible travel-to-work area (TTWA)
  Central

  Alloa (part)

  Falkirk (part)

  Glasgow (part)

  Stirling (part1)

  Cheshire

  Liverpool (part)

  Widnes and Runcorn

  Wirral and Chester (part1)

  Cleveland

  Whole county

  Cumbria

  Barrow-in-Furness

  Whitehaven

  Workington

  Derbyshire

  Chesterfield

  Mansfield (part)

  Worksop (part)

  Devon

  Plymouth (part1)

  Durham

  Bishop Aukland

  Darlington (part1)

  Durham

  Hartlepool (part)

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne (part)

  Sunderland (part)

  Dyfed

  Llanelli

  Swansea (part)

  Fife

  Alloa (part)

  Dundee (part)

  Dunfermline (part)

  Kirkaldy

  Gibraltar

  Whole territory

  Greater London

  London (parts of the Boroughs of Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest)

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton and Bury (part)

  Manchester (part1)

  Oldham

  Rochdale (part)

  Wigan and St. Helens (part)

  Gwent

  Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenney (part)

  Merthyr and Rhymney (part)

  Newport

  Pontypool and Cwmbran

  Humberside

  Doncaster (part)

  Grimsby (part)

  Hull (part1)

  Scunthorpe (part)

  Kent

  Thanet

  Lancashire

  Accrington and Rossendale

  Blackburn

  Bolton and Bury (part)

  Burnley (part1)

  Liverpool (part1)

  Pendle (part1)

  Rochdale (part)

  Wigan and St. Helens (part1)

  Lothian

  Bathgate

  Edinburgh (part1)

  Falkirk (part)

  Mid Glamorgan

  whole county

  Northumberland

  Alnwick and Amble (part1)

  Morpeth and Ashington

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne (part1)

  254
  Nottinghamshire

  Mansfield (part)

  Nottingham (part1)

  Worksop (part)

  Powys

  Aberdare (part)

  Swansea (part)

  Shropshire

  Telford and Bridgnorth (part1)

  Wolverhampton (part)

  South Glamorgan

  Cardiff (part1)

  South Yorkshire

  whole county

  Staffordshire

  Birmingham (part1)

  Burton-on-Trent (part1)

  Stafford (part1)

  Stoke (part1)

  Walsall (part1)

  Wolverhampton (part1)

  Strathclyde

  Ayr

  Cumnock and Sanquhar (part)

  Dumbarton

  Girvan

  Glasgow (part)

  Greenock

  Irvine (part1)

  Kilmarnock

  Lanarkshire

  Tayside

  Arbroath

  Dundee (part)

  Dunfermline (part)

  Tyne and Wear

  whole county

  Warwickshire

  Birmingham (part1

  Coventry and Hinckley (part1)

  West Glamorgan

  whole county

  West Midlands

  Birmingham (part1)

  Coventry and Hinckley (part)

  Dudley and Sandwell (part)

  Walsall (part)

  Wolverhampton (part)

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford (part1)

  Castleford and Pontefract (part)

  Wakefield and Dewsbury

  1 Denotes those areas where only part of the TTWA within the county-region is designated. Elsewhere the designation of part of a TTWA refers to the whole of the part of the TTWA falling within that county-region. Note that many TTWAs straddle county-region boundaries.

PRIME MINISTER

  GCHQ
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with trade union leaders on 20 December 1993 regarding trade union recognition of GCHQ

  The Prime Minister
  I met representatives of the civil service unions to discuss trade union membership at GCHQ at their request, following a series of discussions they had held with officials. I explained that the Government's overriding objective remained to ensure the maintenance of continuous operations at GCHQ necessary for the protection of national security. In that context it was necessary also to ensure that the staff were not subject to potential conflicts of loyalty.
  255
  Against that background, however, I indicated that the Government were prepared to enable the Government Communications Staff Federation, the registered trade union for GCHQ staff, to affiliate to the Council of Civil Service Unions, subject to conditions to guarantee its continuing independence. This would have allowed the staff of GCHQ to be represented in discussions between the Government and the unions on matters affecting the civil service generally in a way in which they are not at present. The national trade unions have indicated that they do not regard this as acceptable. There are no plans for further meetings, but the Government remain willing to discuss any further proposals that the unions may wish to put forward.

  Engagements
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what were his official engagements for Wednesday 12 January.

  The Prime Minister
  I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, in addition to my duties in this House.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 13 January.

  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.

  Petitions
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of responses to parliamentary petitions; and if he will review current practice.

  The Prime Minister
  Individual Departments respond as they see fit to parliamentary petitions. I have no plans to review current practice.

TRANSPORT

  Worcester Parkway Station
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail or Railtrack about the possibility of establishing a Worcester Parkway station in the light of the decision to run additional Birmingham to Cardiff trains without stopping at Worcester, Shrub Hill.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am aware of the idea of a Parkway station for Worcester but I have had no direct discussions with British Rail or Railtrack on the subject. This is a matter for those organisations to consider and any detailed proposals should be sent direct to them.

  THORP
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the information provided to the Secretary of State for the Environment assessing the criticisms made of the safety of nuclear transport, indicated at paragraph 135 of the decision document on the thermal oxide reprocessing plant, published on 15 December.
  256
  Mr. Key
  It is not Government practice to publish such inter-departmental correspondence.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he proposes that British Rail's accumulated debt due to the construction of Waterloo international station and the other infrastructure works carried out to provide for the operation of international rail services through the channel tunnel should be paid off.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are at present considering how British Rail's existing debt liabilities should be allocated to the successor bodies which are to be created in the restructuring of the railway.

  MOT Test
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the date on which he intends to re-introduce the smoke emission test as part of the annual MOT test for motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the ways in which the new test differs from the previous one.

  Mr. Key
  The metered check of smoke is to be reintroduced into the MOT test on 1 February 1994. The procedure has been revised slightly to reduce the number of test cycles to which each engine is subject, and to reduce the amount of time that an engine spends at maximum revolutions.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Exhibitions
  Mr. Dixon
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what consideration he has given to an application relating to an exhibition on "A Voice For Laryngectomees," to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 7 March to Friday 11 March.

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Globe theatre to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall, during the week commencing 7 February.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 7 February to Friday 11 February.

HEALTH

  Referrals
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances it is permissible for a trust hospital to give general practitioner fundholders a discount on NHS prices in return for private patient referrals.
  257
  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the target percentage for registered disabled employees within the Department of Health and NHS management executive; and what is the actual percentage of registered disabled employees.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The national health service, in common with other employers, is subject to the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts of 1944 and 1958. No specific target has been imposed on NHS employers supplementary to the provisions of these acts.

  The latest figures, relating to June 1992, are in the April 1993 edition of the Employment Gazette, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  NHS Communications Network
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to establish a new NHS national communications network service; and what costings have been made.

  Mr. Sackville
  In March 1993 the national health service management executive and regional general managers agreed a strategy for implementing NHS-wide electronic networking facilities. Up to 1996 this comprises a common policy for the management of data exchange between computers, telecommunications in the NHS and

  Central Fund—Expenditure on Fluoridation 1985–86 to 1992–93

  Regional Health Authority

  Financial Year—Figures are in £'000s

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Northern

  —

  3

  38

  —

  55

  —

  —

  113

  Trent

  —

  105

  —

  8

  —

  245

  54

  535

  North West Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  75

  —

  —

  —

  Oxford

  —

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  —

  251

  385

  936

  300

  —

  —

  135

  North Western

  20

  —

  10

  10

  —

  —

  42

  11

  Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  —

  Mersey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  102

  Note: Figures include funding towards feasibility studies, reports and or capital costs of schemes.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those water companies that have no fluoridated potable water supplies 'Within their geographical boundary.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  All water supplies contain some natural fluoride.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she received the report of the departmental advisory group on the medical aspects of air pollution episodes; when and how she expects it to be published; what requests for it have been declined; and if she will place a copy of it in the Library.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 15 December 1993 at column 720. No requests for the report have been declined.
  258
  the rationalisation of mobile radio communications, principally those used by the ambulance services. From 1996 it is expected there will be increasing technical integration of all apsects of NHS-wide electronic communications.

  The business case for implementing a national spine to connect regional data networks has been approved. Work is in hand to connect all regionwide data networks by late 1994.

  Agreements have been made with Mercury Communications and British Telecom which will provide immediate multi-million pound savings to their NHS customers. Further analysis of telephone usage and requirements locally in the NHS is planned for 1994. Preliminary work indicates this should lead to additional significant savings.

  A study examining the business case for the provision of mobile communications in the NHS is planned to report in April 1994.

  Water Fluoridation
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the schemes of water fluoridation that have resulted from Government encouragement; and what forms that encouragement took in each case.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information is not available centrally in the form requested. Since 1985 the Government have provided financial assistance for fluoridation schemes to the regions shown in the table.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Injuries at Work
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to reconsider the rules on repayments to his Department by workers in receipt of injuries at work awards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  The compensation recovery scheme will be amended to take account of the statutory sick pay changes announced on 1 December. No other amendments to the scheme are planned.

  Occupational Diseases
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the Government propose to respond to the European Commission recommendation of 22 May 1990 concerning the adoption of a European schedule of occupational diseases.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government's response to the recommendation was sent to the Commission recently.
  259
  Copies have been placed in the Library. We are pleased to take the opportunity to explain arrangements for compensating, reporting and preventing occupational disease.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will announce how housing benefit transitional payments will be treated in April.

  Mr. Burt
  We have always made it clear that housing benefit transitional payments, which were introduced in 1988, will be reduced as increases in other benefits make them less necessary. We have therefore decided on a flat rate reduction of £1.00 per week in these payments for the year from April 1994. As a result, the vast majority of recipients will still gain overall in cash terms from the April uprating of other social security benefits.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the additional amounts payable in housing benefit resulting from the reductions in planned spending under the heading "DOE Housing" in table 5B.3 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994–95".

  Mr. Burt
  [holding answer 17 December 1993]: Expenditure on housing benefit is influenced by a wide range of factors not all in the control of the Government. Owing to this, no estimate has been made of the effect on housing benefit expenditure arising specifically from the changes in planned spending under the heading "DOE Housing" in tale 5B.3 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994–95, although there is expected to be an overall reduction in housing provision of £250 million and £100 million in the years 1994, 1995 and 1996.

SCOTLAND

  Perinatal Mortality
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of perinatal mortality in each of the last 10 years; and what plans he has to commission research into reasons for variations.

  Mr. Stewart
  Perinatal mortality figures for the years 1983–1992 are as follows:

  Number

  Rate per 1,000 births (live and still)

  1983

  696

  10.6

  1984

  718

  11.0

  1985

  656

  9.8

  1986

  673

  10.2

  1987

  594

  8.9

  1988

  594

  8.9

  1989

  553

  8.7

  1990

  574

  8.7

  1991

  582

  8.6

  1992

  597

  9.0

  The introduction of the Stillbirth (Definition) Act 1992 on 1 October 1992 reduced from 28 to 24 weeks the gestational age at which a baby is officially recognised as stillborn. Early terminations of pregnancy between 24 and
  260
  28 weeks, which were formerly treated as "miscarriages" for statistical purposes, are now being classed as stillbirths and have been included in the statistics for 1992.

  Compiled on the same basis as the figures for 1983 to 1991 the number of stillbirths in 1992 would have been 562, representing a rate of 8.5 per 1,000 births and demonstrating a continuing downward trend.

  Research into the causes of perinatal deaths has been continuous since 1977 when the Scottish perinatal mortality survey was set up. In 1982 the Scottish perinatal mortality review advisory group was established to look into the causes of perinatal deaths on an ongoing basis and to offer advice on ways in which the incidence might be reduced further. Its work will be enhanced shortly with the appointment of a professional co-ordinator.

  Patients
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland of the in-patients discharged in 1992–93, how many went straight into(a) nursing homes, (b) supervised residential accommodation, or (c) were looked after by a member of their family.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is not centrally held. During the period between April 1992 and March 1993 there were 788,857 discharges from NHS care in Scotland. Of that number 644,105 were home discharges. This figure includes transfers to sheltered housing, eventide homes, residential and nursing homes for which no separate figures are available.

  Housing
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much from(a) grant, (b) consent to borrow and (c) capital receipts, will be devoted next financial year to the eradication of dampness and condensation in (i) council housing stock, (ii) owner-occupied stock and (iii) housing association/Scottish Homes stock.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Under the housing plan system introduced earlier this year central resource planning assumptions totalling £400 million on the housing revenue account and £123 million on the non-HRA were advised to local housing authorities to assist them in planning their capital programmes for investment in public and private sector housing in 1994–95. Authorities were asked to give priority to tackling condensation and dampness, as well as below tolerable standard housing and homelessness, within their capital programmes. These capital programmes are currently under consideration. Scottish Homes is also giving priority to tackling condensation and dampness in both housing association and their own stock. It is for local authorities and Scottish Homes to determine how to allocate the resources made available to them.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how long it will take at the current rate of funding of district councils' housing revenue account and non-housing revenue account of capital programmes to(a) eradicate dampness and condensation and (b) refurbish to modern standards housing in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  All local housing authorities have been asked in preparing their housing plans and housing capital programmes for 1994–95 and
  261
  beyond, to develop a strategy for tackling damp housing in their areas, including setting quantified targets which can be used as a basis for assessing progress. The resource planning assumptions advised to local authorities provide them with a framework within which to plan for tackling dampness, condensation and refurbishment.

  However, housing capital allocations are generally not earmarked for specific purposes and it is for local authorities themselves to decide how best to deploy the resources available to them to meet local housing needs, including the need to deal with dampness and condensation and to refurbish houses to modern standards.

  Acute Services Strategy, Tayside
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has completed his consideration of Tayside health board's acute services strategy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  Like other health boards in Scotland, Tayside has had to review its long-term requirements and pattern of future service provision in the light of new developments in clinical techniques and technology and of improvements in efficiency.

  An estimated £30 million will be needed to achieve the changes proposed by the board for the extension of Ninewells, new community hospitals in Forfar on the Whitehills site to replace the outdated facilities at Forfar infirmary, and Montrose to replace Montrose infirmary.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has considered the proposed changes for services in Tayside and has approved the health board's proposals in total.

  In Dundee, trauma services are currently split between the Ninewells and Dundee Royal infirmary sites and people are transferred between the sites. By extending Ninewells hospital it will be possible to accommodate all services on one site and replace the functionally unsuitable accommodation at Dundee Royal infirmary. The transfer of services to Ninewells and the subsequent closure of Dundee Royal infirmary is supported by all medical staff, and is an opportunity to allow all trauma services to be provided on one site, alongside the support specialty and diagnostic services that are required by trauma patients, therefore avoiding the need for individuals to be transferred between the two hospitals, to receive appropriate care. The Dundee General Hospital Trust is currently examining the level of capital investment which will be required to effect this change. My right hon. Friend expects to be able to approve the required capital investment in the near future.

  In Perth and Kinross, Tayside health board has sought approval to close Meigle cottage hospital. In this case my right hon. Friend has listened carefully to the arguments put forward by Tayside health board and others who have commented. The board has argued that by concentrating resources in this area at Blairgowrie, which has a larger site and wider range of facilities, it will be able to offer an enhanced level of patient care than it can at present. Local concerns focus on accessibility and loss of a valued local service.

  It will, however, be possible to maintain local services and improve their integration by transferring services from Meigle cottage hospital to the Blairgowrie site. Moreover
  262
  the transfer of services from Meigle to Blairgowrie will allow the health board to apply resources more effectively to enhance patient care.

  The boards proposals for Angus focus on the establishment of new community hospitals in Forfar and Montrose. In Forfar the proposed hospital is on the Whitehills site and would allow the centralisation of services in Forfar on one site. Services currently at Forfar infirmary and the Fyfe Jamieson maternity home would transfer to Whitehills and these hospitals would close. In Montrose the new hospital would replace services currently at Montrose infirmary.

  My right hon. Friend supports these proposals and has therefore asked the health board and Angus Trust to prepare proposals for a community hospital at Whitehills to replace the outdated facilities at Forfar infirmary; together with proposals for a new Montrose infirmary. In the meantime Tayside health board has sought approval to transfer maternity services from Fyfe Jamieson maternity home to Whitehills with immediate effect; and to close Fyfe Jamieson. The service available to women will be the same as that available currently at Fyfe Jamieson. It will however operate from fewer beds because current occupancy rates are lower and will be staffed mainly by community rather than hospital midwives; 24-hour midwife care will continue to be available when required.

  My right hon. Friend will announce his final decisions on the proposed new hospitals at Forfar and Montrose, and on the capital investment to be made at Ninewells, once detailed costings are available. Taken together these developments represent a major investment in health care in Tayside and an opportunity to ensure that the future pattern of care is appropriate to new developments in clinical techniques and technology.

  Quangos
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names of all former hon. Members who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: No former Members of Parliament who ceased to be Members of the House in 1987 and 1992 currently hold appointments on bodies for which my Department has responsibility. The information held centrally by my Department does not show whether appointees were Members of this House during earlier Parliaments.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names of all former British representative members in the European Parliament who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: The information held centrally by my Department does not show whether appointees were former Members of the European Parliament.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names of all individuals who are or were
  263
  members of the House of Lords who since 1979 have been appointed to any quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: The information covers the Scottish Office bodies listed in the Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies''. The information is at 1 September 1993 and does not include appointments as justices of the peace, appointments to children's panels or appointments which expired before that date, details of which are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information covers appointments held by present Members of the House of Lords. The following members of the House of Lords hold appointments on Scottish Office bodies: Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden is a member of the board of trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland; his appointment runs from 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1994. The right hon. the Lord Cameron of Lochbroom is the Chairman of the Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee; his appointment runs from 1 February 1991 to 31 January 1996. Lord Goold is a member of the Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust; his appointment runs from 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1996. Viscount Thurso is a member of the Central Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace (Scotland); his appointment runs from 30 May 1991 to 15 May 1995. The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres is chairman of the board of trustees of the National Library of Scotland. The appointment runs from 14 November 1990. All these appointments are unsalaried.

  Mr. Laurence Peterken
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on how many occasions the solicitor to the Secretary of State for Scotland was present at meetings involving Greater Glasgow health board or its chairman and the NHS Scottish Executive when the subject of Mr. Laurence Peterken was discussed.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: The solicitor to the Secretary of State for Scotland or a representative from his office was present at three such meetings.

EMPLOYMENT

  Access to Work
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the estimated first year budget set aside by his Department for authorising the new access to work scheme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The 1994–95 budget allocated to the first year of access to work is £12,600,000.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the proportions of full-time male manual workers, full-time male non-manual workers and all full-time male workers with earnings, excluding overtime, of less than £203.07 per week in (i) the West Midlands metropolitan county, (ii) Hereford and Worcester, (iii) Shropshire, (iv) Staffordshire and (v) Warwickshire for 1993;
  264
  (2) 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, of less than £203.07 per week in (i) the West Midlands metropolitan county, (ii) Hereford and Worcester, (iii) Shropshire, (iv) Staffordshire and (v) Warwickshire for 1993;

  (3) if he will list the proportions of full-time male manual workers, full-time male non-manual workers and all full-time male workers with earnings, including overtime, of less than £203.07 per week in (i) the West Midlands metropolitan county, (ii) Hereford and Worcester, (iii) Shropshire, (iv) Staffordshire and (v) Warwickshire for 1993;

  (4) if he will list the proportions of full-time female manual workers, full-time female non-manual workers and all full-time female workers with earnings, excluding overtime, of less than £203.07 per week in (i) the West Midlands metropolitan county, (ii) Hereford and Worcester, (iii) Shropshire, (iv) Staffordshire and (v) Warwickshire for 1993;

  (5) if he will list the proportions of full-time female manual workers, full-time female non-manual workers and all full-time female workers with earnings, including overtime, of less than £203.07 per week in (i) the West Midlands metropolitan county, (ii) Hereford and Worcester, (iii) Shropshire, (iv) Staffordshire and (v) Warwickshire for 1993.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is as follows:

  Full-time employees on adult rates—pay unaffected by absence Proportion with gross weekly earnings below £203.07 at April 1993

  Including overtime (per cent.)

  Excluding overtime (per cent.)

  Manual men

  West Midlands MC

  21.9

  34.7

  Hereford and Worcester

  36.8

  51.2

  Shropshire

  30.2

  49.8

  Staffordshire

  31.1

  46.3

  Warwickshire

  24.0

  35.1

  Non-manual men

  West Midlands MC

  12.9

  14.2

  Hereford and Worcester

  13.2

  14.8

  Shropshire

  15.8

  18.5

  Staffordshire

  17.5

  20.7

  Warwickshire

  13.0

  16.8

  All men

  West Midlands MC

  17.4

  24.4

  Hereford and Worcester

  25.4

  33.7

  Shropshire

  23.9

  36.1

  Staffordshire

  25.0

  34.7

  Warwickshire

  18.1

  25.4

  Manual women

  West Midlands MC

  76.9

  80.9

  Hereford and Worcester

  78.7

  87.2

  Shropshire

  81.5

  86.2

  Staffordshire

  74.0

  79.6

  Warwickshire

  77.0

  85.1

  Non-manual women

  West Midlands MC

  40.4

  42.6

  Hereford and Worcester

  44.5

  46.0

  Shropshire

  54.9

  56.3

  Staffordshire

  51.2

  52.4

  Warwickshire

  44.4

  46.7

  265

  Including overtime (per cent.)

  Excluding overtime (per cent.)

  All women

  West Midlands MC

  47.2

  49.7

  Hereford and Worcester

  52.0

  55.0

  Shropshire

  61.3

  63.5

  Staffordshire

  57.7

  60.1

  Warwickshire

  51.7

  55.3

  Manual adults

  West Midlands MC

  30.8

  42.2

  Hereford and Worcester

  44.6

  58.0

  Shropshire

  39.7

  56.6

  Staffordshire

  40.5

  53.6

  Warwickshire

  34.6

  45.1

  Non-manual adults

  West Midlands MC

  25.4

  27.1

  Hereford and Worcester

  27.9

  29.5

  Shropshire

  34.6

  36.7

  Staffordshire

  33.1

  35.3

  Warwickshire

  26.5

  29.7

  All adults

  West Midlands MC

  27.5

  33.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  34.8

  41.2

  Shropshire

  36.8

  45.6

  Households where the head of household or their wife is claiming unemployment related benefits1

  Standard regions

  Spring 1989

  Spring 1990

  Spring 1991

  Spring 1992

  Spring 1993

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  South East

  225

  3.3

  202

  2.9

  297

  4.3

  452

  6.4

  508

  7.0

  Greater London

  131

  4.8

  115

  4.2

  155

  5.7

  214

  7.7

  250

  8.8

  Rest of South East

  94

  2.3

  87

  2.1

  142

  3.3

  238

  5.5

  258

  5.8

  East Anglia

  20

  2.5

  23

  2.9

  33

  3.9

  36

  4.2

  51

  5.8

  South West

  57

  3.0

  48

  2.6

  82

  4.3

  116

  5.9

  134

  6.7

  West Midlands

  115

  5.6

  80

  3.9

  137

  6.6

  162

  7.8

  170

  8.2

  East Midlands

  81

  5.2

  62

  3.9

  88

  5.5

  96

  5.9

  94

  5.8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  120

  6.1

  93

  4.7

  110

  5.5

  140

  6.9

  128

  6.3

  North West

  166

  6.6

  139

  5.4

  150

  5.9

  178

  6.9

  175

  6.7

  North

  98

  7.9

  83

  6.6

  84

  6.6

  83

  6.6

  89

  7.1

  Wales

  65

  5.7

  55

  4.8

  64

  5.6

  70

  6.0

  68

  5.7

  Scotland

  137

  6.9

  109

  5.3

  124

  6.0

  128

  6.2

  125

  6.0

  Northern Ireland

  62

  11.8

  65

  12.4

  57

  10.8

  58

  11.0

  58

  10.3

  UNITED KINGDOM

  1,147

  5.1

  960

  4.2

  1,226

  5.3

  1,519

  6.5

  1,599

  6.8

  Not seasonally adjusted.

  Source: Labour Force Survey.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will list for each London borough the number of households and the proportion of all households claiming unemployment benefit for each year since 1989.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available since, the only source able to provide this information at household level would be the Labour Force Survey, and this is unable to provide estimates for London boroughs due to its sample size.

  Start-up Scheme
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of entrants to the business start-up scheme who were receiving income support immediately previous to entry remained in business for at least 18 months.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 16 December at column 858.
  266

  Including overtime (per cent.)

  Excluding overtime (per cent.)

  Staffordshire

  36.4

  43.7

  Warwickshire

  29.6

  35.6

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will list for the United Kingdom and by standard region, including Greater London, the number of households and the proportion of all households claiming unemployment benefit for each year since 1989.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is individuals who claim unemployment benefits. Estimates from the Labour Force Survey of the number and proportion of households where the head of household or their spouse is claiming unemployment related benefits are given in the table, for each spring since 1989. Those claiming unemployment-related benefits consist of those claiming unemployment benefit, income support on account of being unemployed, or national insurance credits.

  Retail Staff (Violence)
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Health and Safety Executive guidance on violence to staff in the retail sector will be published.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: The expected date of publication is June 1994. This date is dependent on the result of an external consultation exercise which is shortly to be undertaken.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the reasons for the Health and Safety Executive's failure to produce guidance on risk assessment and other publications on electricity at work in hotels, violence to staff in the retail sector and the cost to the British economy of work accidents and work-related ill health.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: The Health and Safety Executive has produced

  267
  considerable guidance on the principles and practice of risk assessment. General guidance on testing of portable electrical equipment has been available for some time and specific guidance for the hotel industry is due to be published shortly. Guidance on violence to staff in the retail sector is due to be published in June and a detailed report on "The Costs to the British Economy of Work Accidents and Work Related Ill-health" will be published in February 1994.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated total cost to the Health and Safety Executive of the review of health and safety regulations being conducted by the Health and Safety Commission.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: Estimates of the total cost could only be provided at disproportionate cost, but the costs are being met from within the Health and Safety Executive's overall resources within the context of the Health and Safety Commission's role in rationalising and modernising health and safety legislation.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many letters have been received from businesses complaining about the cost of complying with health and safety legislation, in response to the open invitation issued by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission on 28 October.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: The Health and Safety Commission has issued an open invitation, primarily through the trade press, for evidence on both the benefits and costs of health and safety regulations to be submitted by the end of January 1994. The Commission had by 11 January 1994, received 70 contacts from businesses. Businesses and other organisations are also playing an active role in the review of regulation by taking part in case studies and surveys.

  Workstart
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of how positive outcomes under the workstart pilot schemes compare with those achieved by TECs.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Evaluation of the workstart pilot schemes is continuing. It is however already clear that those pilots run by training and enterprise councils need to work closely with the local employment service to maximise positive outcomes under workstart.

DEFENCE

  Reserve Forces
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to begin a survey of the ethnic origins of members of the reserve forces.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no firm plans, at present, to survey the ethnic origins of members of the reserve forces. In the light of experience gained from the present survey of members of the regular forces, the possibility of extending ethnic monitoring to members of the volunteer reserve forces will be considered.

  Racial Discrimination
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints of racial discrimination have been made by armed services personnel in respect of service in the armed forces in each year since 1976; and how many of those complaints were upheld.

  Mr. Hanley
  Information about complaints of racial discrimination by Army and Royal Air Force personnel is available from central records only from 1988 and is given in the table. Complaints of racial discrimination by naval personnel are not recorded centrally at present, but the Royal Navy plans to introduce a recording system early this year.

  Complaints made

  Complaints substantiated

  1988

  4

  1

  1989

  4

  1

  1990

  3

  0

  1991

  3

  0

  1992

  8

  2

  11993

  27

  1

  1 1 January 1993 to 20 December 1993.

  2 2 Four complaints remain under investigation.

  Equipment Contracts
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he proposes to take to cancel contracts with Gebrǘder Junghans of Germany, AS Raufoss of Norway and Fratelli Borletti of Italy, following the evidence given at the trial of Mr. Gordon Foxley.

  Mr. Aitken
  [holding answer 24 November 1993]: As I announced on 23 November at column 309–10, no new contracts will be placed with the companies implicated in the Foxley case until all the facts have been investigated. The scope for recovering money paid by the firms to Foxley is also under investigation. We do not propose to terminate the small number of existing contracts with the companies, which were all placed some years after Foxley's retirement from the Ministry of Defence.

  Orders
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total value of orders placed by his Department in the last 10 years with(a) the firm Fratelli Borletti, (b) the firm Gebrǘder Junghans and (c) the firm AS Raufoss; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  [holding answer 26 November 1993]: The value of orders placed by MOD in the last 10 years with the companies concerned is:

  £ million

  Fratelli Borletti

  2.1

  Gebrǘder Junghans

  16.7

  AS Raufoss

  15.0

  Total

  33.8

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agricultural Support
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the EC plans to spend in the current financial year on its agricultural policy; and by what percentage this has changed over the past five and 10 years.

  Mr. Jack
  The 1994 budget for the common agricultural policy (EAGGF guarantee) has been set at 36,465 mecu (£27,703 million), some 53 per cent. of the EC budget as a whole. This represents increases of 41 per cent. and 99 per cent. over expenditure in 1989 and 1984, respectively. As a proportion of total EC expenditure in 1989 and 1984, the CAP (EAGGF guarantee) represented 63 per cent. and 67 per cent. respectively.

  Allergic Reactions
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made of the operation of the regulations for the labelling of food products containing peanuts and other foodstuffs known to be capable of causing fatal allergic reactions.

  Mr. Soames
  I am, of course, aware of the tragic circumstances that lie behind my hon. Friend's question and would like to express my sympathies to the family concerned in his constituency and to all other families who have suffered accidents of a similar nature.

  People who are affected by allergies or are intolerant to certain foods know what to avoid and generally do so successfully. In this, the food labelling rules help them since pre-packed foodstuffs have to carry a list of ingredients on the label which they can consult. But for very real practical reasons the detailed labelling rules do not apply in catering outlets. A simple tightening of the application of the labelling rules is therefore not the real solution to this problem and we must seek other answers.

  I have therefore today written to the chairmen of the principal trade associations involved in the manufacture and retailing of foodstuffs containing nuts, including the caterers, to ask them to meet urgently with my officials to discuss practical ways of ensuring that all involved are aware of the significance for some consumers of the use of nut ingredients in products and to establish a system whereby information about the use of such ingredients flows down the food chain so that it cyan be made available to consumers especially at catering outlets..

  I will keep my hon. Friend in touch with the progress and results of these discussions.

  Days at Sea
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for a new decommissioning scheme following the judicial decision in respect of the days at sea restrictions.

  Mr. Jack
  I would refer the hon. Member to the written reply that I gave on 14 December at column 596 to my hon. Friend the Member for Cornwall, South- East (Mr. Hicks). As I explained then, decommissioning formed part of a package of fisheries conservation measures upon which, following our decision to suspend implementation of
  270
  controls on days at sea, we are having to review the way forward. I am not yet able to announce the outcome of the review.

  Sheep Dips
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received on the health risks of organophosphate sheep dips.

  Mr. Soames
  I have received a number of representations on this subject. On 1 December my right hon. Friend the Minister announced the steps that would be taken by the Government, following recommendations from the veterinary products committee.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she expects to announce her decision on organophosphate sheep dips.

  Mr. Soames
  My right hon. Friend the Minister announced on 1 December the Government response to advice from the veterinary products committee on the use of organophosphate sheep dips. This reponse identified a number of recommendations from the committee which would be followed up. Further announcements will be made in due course.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Witnesses
  Brandreth
  4. Mr. To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the intimidation of witnesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have received a number of representations on this issue. I am determined that witnesses should be properly protected. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill will add to the remedies provided in the existing law by creating a new offence of witness intimidation with a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss with police organisations and police authorities the present policies and arrangements in regard to the work of the Crown Prosecution Service.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. Friend the Attorney-General and I have accepted the proposal of the recent study on administrative burdens on the police that a joint performance management mechanism should be established to monitor the performance of the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, so far as they are related. Discussions have recently taken place on how best to implement the proposal. The police and the Crown Prosecution Service will participate in this work.

  Illegal Drugs
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department is undertaking to ascertain the link between illegal drug use and crime.
  271
  Mr. Maclean
  My Department is currently examining the results of a number of recent studies. These include the 1992 British Crime Survey which contained questions on drug misuse and a separate study of the lifestyles and economic behaviour of drug misusers. Further research on drug misuse and crime is planned for later this year.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made by the Metropolitan police in the war against drugs.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Metropolitan police give a very high priority to the fight against drugs and it has had a number of notable operational successes. For example, operaton Welwyn in the King's Cross area and operation Tean, in the Stoke Newington area, specifically targeted at some of the worst affected areas of London, have resulted in the arrest of more than 300 drug dealers to date.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from magistrates on his proposed changes to the criminal justice system.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no formal representations from the Magistrates Association following the announcement that he made on 6 October, but some magistrates have written to me as individuals indicating their support for that package or particular elements in it.

  Jury-nobbling
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plan to deal with jury-nobbling.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Couchman).

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on wheel clamping on private land.

  Mr. Maclean
  In considering what, if any, action it may be appropriate to take our aim is to ensure that any measure introduced to prevent or deter irresponsible and heavy-handed wheelclamping on private land does not prevent sensible measures being taken to control genuine parking problems.

  Police
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the changes in police establishment levels since April 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is contained in the replies given to questions from the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 24 November 1993 at cols.54–56 and from the hon. Member for Warwickshire, North (Mr. O'Brien) on 16 December 1993 at col. 788.

  Sheehy Report
  Mr. Ottoway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding his response to the Sheehy report on police pay and responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given at column 152 on 25 November to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton-Brown).

  Car Thefts
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of car thefts recorded(a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In 1979 there were 309,245 recorded thefts of motor vehicles in England and Wales.

  In the latest 12-month period for which figures are available—July 1992 to June 1993—the number of thefts was 614,560.

  Bail (Crime)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to deal with those who commit crimes while on bail.

  Mr. Maclean
  In last year's Criminal Justice Act we required the courts to consider the fact that an offence had been committed on bail as an aggravating factor when passing sentence. The current Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill contains a range of measures to reduce the risk that such offences will be committed, including the removal of the presumption in favour of bail in all cases where a person is charged with an offence triable on indictment which was allegedly committed on bail.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of Government policy in relation to juvenile offenders.

  Mr. Maclean
  The legislation necessary to implement our policies for juvenile offenders is before the House in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill.

  Political Parties (Funding)
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he is considering for changes in the law concerning the funding of political parties.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no such proposals.

  Lenient Sentences
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to lay an order concerning the Attorney-General's right of appeal against lenient sentences.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer given to the hon. Member for Amber Valley (Mr. Oppenheim) earlier today.

  Young Criminals
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the custodial arrangements for children under the age of 12 years who are convicted of murder or other criminal offences.

  Mr. Maclean
  Children under the age of 12 who have been convicted of murder are subject to the mandatory sentence of detention at Her Majesty's pleasure under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Children of this age convicted of manslaughter may also be detained under section 53. My right hon. and learned Friend, who has responsibility for the placement of all children detained under section 53, makes the decision about where such children should be placed. In practice, children of this age are invariably held in secure establishments within the child care system.

  Justice and Home Affairs Co-operation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when, by what means and to whom he has made proposals for future parliamentary oversights of matters discussed at an inter-governmental level arising from title VI and articles K.1 to 9 of the treaty on European Union; and if he will publish them as a Command document.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government's proposals for parliamentary oversight of work carried out under title VI of the treaty on European union are set out in memoranda in similar terms submitted to the Home Affairs Committee and to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities in February and March 1993 respectively. My right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) gave oral evidence on this subject to the Home Affairs Committee on 21 April 1993, and I gave oral evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities on 15 June 1993. The memorandum to the Home Affairs Committee was placed in the Library of the House by the Committee on receipt. The House of Lords Committee has now published its report and the memorandum which I submitted to it.

  Life Sentences
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been released for each year since 1969 after serving sentences of life imprisonment for murder; and how many have reoffended.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is drawn from the offenders index and is shown in the following table.

  Table: Persons first released on life Licence1 after a conviction of murder, 1972–1991, and the number of these who have been reconvicted of a 'standard list'2 offence by the end of 1991

  Year

  Number of persons first released

  Number of those released who were reconvicted by end 1991

  Total 1972–91

  1,068

  229

  1972

  23

  7

  1973

  25

  10

  1974

  34

  6

  1975

  37

  14

  1976

  59

  21

  274

  Year

  Number of persons first released

  Number of those released who were reconvicted by end 1991

  1977

  50

  16

  1978

  73

  20

  1979

  64

  21

  1980

  31

  11

  1981

  60

  16

  1982

  82

  26

  1983

  86

  17

  1984

  54

  10

  1985

  54

  11

  1986

  40

  5

  1987

  48

  8

  1988

  57

  4

  1989

  71

  6

  1990

  64

  —

  1991

  56

  —

  1 More information is published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin, the most recent being HOSB 3/93, Life Licensees and restricted offenders reconvictions: England and Wales 1990.

  2 Mainly indictable offences but includes some summary offences such as assault on a constable and cruelty to or neglect of children.

  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which persons sentenced to life imprisonment for murder have themselves been murdered either in prison or after release since 1969.

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

  Letter from Mr. D. Lewis to Dr. Robert Spink, dated 13 January 1994:

  INMATES SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT WHO HAVE THEMSELVES BEEN MURDERED

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about which persons sentenced to life imprisonment for murder have themselves been murdered either in prison or after release since 1969.

  The information available from centrally held records relates only to deaths in custody from 1988 to date. One such death in 1993 was found at the coroner's court to be an unlawful killing and is still under investigation. There were no others during the period 1988 to 1992.

  Prisoner Escorts
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers and (b) prisoner officers will be freed from escort duties in the Metropolitan police district as a result of the service being contracted out to Securicor Custodial Services Ltd.; and how the time of the officers so released will be used.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Approximately 335 full-time equivalent prisoner officer posts are engaged on court escort and custody duties in the Metropolitan police district. The phased loss of a total of 250 prison officer posts is planned during the first year of the court escort and custody service in the Metropolitan police district. These posts will be those currently employed on court or escort duties at the prison establishments affected. The aim is that posts will be lost through natural wastage and transfer and that there will be no redundancies.

  The remaining 85 posts will be retained at London prisons where they should enable regime improvements to

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  take place. The Metropolitan police will similarly have a phased reduction in staffing of 271 police officer posts and 47 civilian staff posts by 1996–97. It is for the Metropolitan police to decide on the use of the time of its officers freed from this responsibility.

  Deported Jamaicans
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a full inquiry into the events surrounding the detention of passengers from Kingston, Jamaica, at Gatwick airport on 21 December 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No, but I have written to the hon. Member and placed a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the means of redress available for those refused temporary entry as visitors, following the abolition of the right of appeal against visitor's refusals in the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A passenger who holds a current entry clearance at the time of refusal of leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor has a right of appeal before removal. It is open to a passenger without such an entry clearance to seek judicial review of the decision to refuse him leave to enter.

  WELSH OFFICE: MENTAL HANDICAP STRATEGY
  WELSH OFFICE: MENTAL HANDICAP STRATEGY
  FISHERIES COUNCIL, 20–21 DECEMBER 1993
  FISHERIES COUNCIL, 20–21 DECEMBER 1993
  EC: VOLTAGE HARMONISATION
  EC: VOLTAGE HARMONISATION