Written Answers of 19 January 1994

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Loans
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for each scheme operated by his Department under which loans are available, the objectives of the scheme, the number of unrecovered loans, the total value of unrecovered loans, the average number of unrecovered loans for each year since 1990, the average value of unrecovered loans for each year since 1990 and the annual cost of recovering loans.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The diplomatic service operates five loan schemes for staff. In all cases, beneficiaries sign an undertaking to repay, and unless otherwise stated officers repay by deduction from salary.

  The schemes and their objectives are as follows:

  (i) Housing Assistance Scheme

  DS officers returning from service overseas to an appointment in the United Kingdom are faced with the problem of needing to find rented accommodation, or buy a property at a time not of their own choosing: officers are eligible for a salary-related advance, subject to a maximum of £10,500. Repayments are deferred for the first three years, and then repaid over a maximum of nine years.

  (ii) Overseas Allowances

  In order to assist staff in purchasing equipment and establishing their household overseas, advances of allowances are available to officers which are repayable over two years. Advances of up to one month's cost of living allowance—COLA—may be taken by staff who have completed a posting in the United Kingdom: for some difficult postings a three-month advance of COLA is available. Advances of six months representational allowances are available to heads of mission and other senior grade staff.

  (iii) Car Loans

  Officers need private cars overseas for domestic and operational reasons. A salary-related advance is available to officers appointed overseas after a tour of duty in the United Kingdom, repayable over two years.

  (iv) Recreational Advances

  This is a small advance made available to junior staff by our missions overseas to help them with the initial cost of joining a local sports club. The loan is repaid to the accountant at the overseas mission within one year.

  (v) Season Ticket Advances

  This advance is available to staff in the United Kingdom to purchase an annual season ticket for home to office journeys. This enables the Department to widen the recruitment catchment area, and alleviates recruitment and retention problems.

  The following loans have not been paid by the due date and recovery action is in hand:
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  Scheme

  Year

  Number of loans

  Amount £

  Housing

  1989

  1

  1,279

  Housing

  1991

  1

  3,000

  Car

  1993

  1

  531

  TOTAL

  —

  —

  4,810

  The Overseas Development Administration operates three loan schemes, the objectives and the arrangements for which are similar to those for the diplomatic service.

  (i) House Purchase

  To assist staff who are transferred to a new location in UK at the Department's behest.

  (ii) Overseas Salary Advance

  Available to staff and technical co-operation officers on first taking up an overseas appointment to purchase a new vehicle and to stock up on essential equipment.

  (iii) Season Ticket/Bicycle Advances

  To assist staff with home to office travel.

  The following staff loans were not repaid. In both cases, staff resigned without prior notice. ODA initiated recovery action, but on the basis of legal advice, this was not pursued.

  Scheme

  Year

  Number of Loans

  Amount £

  Season Ticket

  1990

  1

  547

  Season Ticket

  1991

  1

  213

  Total

  —

  —

  760

  Two overseas salary advances paid to aid personnel—technical co-operation officers—have failed to be recovered since 1990. One officer has agreed to repay £7,848 over a three-year period. The other has an outstanding balance of £3,400 and recovery action is being pursued by the Treasury Solicitor.

  The outstanding loans due to the Department are a minute proportion of the total advanced and recovered without difficulty. Outstanding loan recovery forms a very small part of the responsibilities of a number of officers: it is not possible to quantify in financial terms the amount of manpower expended on pursuing loans with a disproportionate amount of research.

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) staff of Government agencies working in or to his Department or the Overseas Development Administration; and how much these cards cost (i) to buy, (ii) to post and (iii) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A total of 2,410 Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by Foreign and Commonwealth Ministers. The cards cost £778·25. The other information is not centrally recorded or readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  EC Development Council
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 6 December,Official Report, column 76, what were the voting figures recorded in the meeting of the European Community's Development Council held on 2 December.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The resolutions of the Development Council on 2 December were adopted by consensus, as is the normal practice.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Iraq note prepared in the summer of 1990.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave in reply to a question from the Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 11 January 1994, Official Report, column 154.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Global Commission on Population and Development
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who are the members of the global commission on population and development; how many meetings the commission has held; what is the proposed timetable for its work; and what is the Overseas Development Administration's contribution to its work.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Two meetings of the Independent Commission on Population and Quality of Life have been held. The commission will conduct regional consultations and other activities during 1994 and aims to launch its final report in June 1995. The ODA is providing a grant of £150,000. This includes covering the costs of seconding an ODA population adviser to the commission secretariat for two years. The commission members are:

  President Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo—Former Prime Minister, Portugal.

  Montique-Begin—Dean of Health Sciences University of Ottawa, Canada. Former Minister of National Health and Welfare.

  Ruth Cardoso—Professor and researcher in anthropology at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

  Karina Constantion-David—President of the coalition of 3,000 development NGOs in the Philippines (CODE-NGO) Manila. Former Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and Development.

  Eleanor Holmes Norton—Congresswoman USA.

  Bernard Kouchner—Founder and chairman of the Foundation for Humanitarian Action. Former Minister of Health and Humanitarian Affairs, France.

  Ewa Letowska—Law professor, Polish Academy of Sciences. Former ombudsman Warsaw, Poland.

  Hannan Mikhail—Ashrawi official spokesperson of the Palestinian delegation in the peace negotiations, Jerusalem.

  Vina Mazumdar—National fellow of the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research, New Delhi.

  Taro Nakayama—Member of the House of Representatives, Tokyo, Japan. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs.

  Olusegun Obasanjo—Founder and chairman of the African Leadership Forum. Former Head of State of Nigeria.

  Jan Pronk—Minister of Development Co-operation, Netherlands. Former Member of the Brandt Commission.
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  Augusto Ramirez Ocampo—Special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in El Salvador. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Colombia.

  Pu Shan—President of the Chinese Society of World Economy, Beijing.

  Juan Somavia—Ambassador of Chile to the United Nations, President of the United Nations, President of the United Nations ECOSOC.

  Aminata Traore—Social science researcher. Formerly regional co-ordinator UNDP water resources initiative, Cote d'Ivoire. Former President of the Population Council, Mali.

  Beate Weber—Mayor of Heidelberg, Germany. Former Member of the European Parliament.

  Anders Wijkman—Director General of the Swedish Agency for Research Co-operation with Developing Countries (SAREC).

  Alexander N. Yakovlev—Vice-president of the international fund for socio-economic and political research, Moscow.

  Ex-Officio, Pierre de Senarclens, Executive Secretary of the Commission, professor of international relations, Lausanne university, Switzerland.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions for 1994 are being made to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the United Nations Population Fund and the World Health Organisation Human Reproduction Programme.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Decisions on the 1994 contributions to these agencies will be made shortly. I will write to my hon. Friend once the agencies have been informed.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have taken place with United Kingdom and other non-governmental organisations on constructing an EC policy on family planning projects in developing countries; and how many and which non-governmental organisations in the United Kingdom and in other member states have been consulted.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  ODA officials have participated in initial discussions with officials of the European Commission and other member states on the need for an effective consistent EC policy on reproductive health and family planning. The Government would welcome the views of United Kingdom non-governmental organisations once discussions start on substantive issues of policy and strategy.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the total bilateral disbursements on population activities, and to which countries, for 1993.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  New bilateral commitments totalling £11·2 million were made to Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Malawi in 1993. The figures for bilateral disbursement in 1993 are not yet available.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have taken place with United Kingdom non-governmental organisations on the issues to be considered by the April 1994 third preparatory committee meeting for the international conference on population and development.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Since the second preparatory committee meeting for this conference, there have been five meetings of the NGO forum convened to engage
  591
  United Kingdom NGOs in United Kingdom preparations for the conference and three workshops. The Government are, as a result, well informed of the views of United Kingdom non-governmental organisations on issues to be considered by the third preparatory committee meeting.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and which budget lines in the EC development budget are allocated for expenditure on population and family planning projects in developing countries; what was the budget allocation in 1991, 1992 and 1993 for population and family planning projects; and what is the projected budget for 1994.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  One EC budget line, B7–5050 "Financial assistance to family planning programmes in developing countries" is expecially devoted to financing of population projects. In addition, another budget line B7–5047 "Mother and Child Health" includes family planning. A number of other EC budget lines for co-operation with developing countries also finance family planning projects, but it is not possible to disaggregate spending from those lines.

  The allocation—in million ecu—for budget line B7–5050 was 1.5 in 1991; 2 in 1992; and 4 in 1993. Five million ecu has been allocated in 1994.

TRANSPORT

  MV Braer
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the report of the marine accident investigation branch on the loss of the Braer will be published.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The report of the marine accident investigation branch's investigation into the loss of the Braer will be published tomorrow, 20 January. Copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The report of my Department's marine pollution control unit on the loss of the Braer and the lessons to be drawn from it, which has already been made available to Lord Donaldson's inquiry, will also be published tomorrow and copies of it, too, will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Bob Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what agreement has been reached with Eurotunnel concerning the extension by 10 years of the channel tunnel concession period.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have today placed copies of the agreement in the Library of the House.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether surplus BR freight assets will be made available to companies wishing to operate their own rail freight services.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail's freight businesses will need to retain sufficient assets to enable them to operate safely, effectively and economically and to discharge their obligations to customers.
  592
  However, where assets are identified as surplus to operational requirements, these will be offered for sale by British Rail on a competitive basis. Companies or individuals interested in purchasing such assets should register their interest with British Rail's vendor unit.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much money his Department has set aside in its 1994–95 budget for making freight facilities grants under the Railways Act 1993; how much of this sum has been allocated to date; and who has been told to date that they will receive such grants;

  (2) how much section 8 grant was paid to encourage the transport of freight by rail in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93; how much it is estimated will be paid in 1993–94; and how much is budgeted for such grants in 1994–95.

  Mr. Freeman
  Expenditure on freight facilities grants under both section 8 of the Railways Act 1974 and section 36 of the Transport Act 1981 has been as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1990–91

  3·500

  1991–92

  1·239

  1992–93

  1·718

  As grant can be claimed only on receipted invoices submitted during the construction of the rail or inland waterway facilities, it is too early to estimate how much will be expended in 1993–94.

  Under the Railways Act 1993 both the existing rail and inland waterway freight facilities grants will be considerably enhanced and a new track access grant for freight service operators introduced. All three measures will be effective from the commencement of the new fiscal year on 1 April 1994 and administered from a single budget which, in 1994–95, has been set at £13·3 million with a present estimate of £43 million over three years. As formal applications cannot be considered until after this date it is too early for my Department to award any grants under the new provisions and I am not in a position to say how the funds will be taken up. Any commitments falling in 1994–95 as a result of previous awards under section 8 of the 1974 act would be met from the new single budget but the amount due will be determined largely by the timing of claims.

  Stratford International Station
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had on the case for Stratford international passenger station being developed; what work his Department has done on the transport implications of such a station for Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I have received representations from the promoters of the station at Stratford, from Ipswich borough council and Norwich city council, and from a number of other organisations, individuals and hon. Members. The comparative analysis in Union Railways' October report includes forecasts of patronage at each prospective intermediate station on the rail link, taking into account likely origins and destinations and the results of detailed transport modelling. We are considering Union Railways' report, together with the representations received, and will announce our decisions shortly.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on the route of the high-speed channel tunnel rail link and the stations to be built along the new line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend expects to make a statement in the next few weeks.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if a condition will be imposed on companies obtaining franchises to run rail services to provide facilities for through ticketing with providers of other rail services.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if a condition will be imposed on companies obtaining franchises to run rail services to collaborate with other providers of rail services to offer cheap fares at off-peak times.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. We expect franchise operators to offer discounted off-peak travel as British Rail does now, because it will be in their commercial interest to do so.

  Newcastle Bypass
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the diagramatic representations of starting and end points for journeys based on road traffic surveys in respect of the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme, set out in the same format as the published documentation contained in annex B of the Newcastle city council's case for the Newcastle western bypass scheme.

  Mr. Key
  The Cradlewell bypass is a local road scheme promoted by Newcastle city council from which the required information should be sought. The Newcastle western bypass was promoted by my Department as a trunk road proposal.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the key assumptions underpinning the cost-benefit analysis for the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the conformity with his Department's guidelines of the cost-benefit analysis for the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme prepared by Newcastle upon Tyne city council.

  Mr. Key
  It is not practicable to organise a comprehensive check on the background information supporting every application for transport supplementary grant—TSG. The standard of the Cradlewell bypass submission was within the normal parameters for schemes of this type. The system relies on good practice by local highway authorities. The Department operates a series of scheme audits by independent consultants. It will eventually look into all aspects of TSG submissions, including the reliability of cost and other information and whether the forecast scheme benefits have been realised. This is done on the basis of a sample cross section of schemes. Any significant shortcomings that this initiative throws up will be addressed by refining the control the Department applies, and the advice it offers.
  594
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the key assumptions underpinning the cost-benefit analysis for the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme;

  (2) if he will place a copy of the cost-benefit analysis for the Newcastle upon Tyne Cradlewell bypass scheme in the Library; and if he will provide the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East with a copy.

  Mr. Key
  This information is held by Newcastle city council as the scheme promoter.

  Bypass Guidelines
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines are given by his Department to local authorities in respect of the publication of the cost-benefit analysis for bypass schemes.

  Mr. Key
  The Department gives no guidance to local authorities about the publication of cost-benefit analysis on any of their road improvement schemes. This is a matter to be decided by the authorities themselves. There is no requirement for authorities to publish any background information to their schemes outside the statutory framework of current legislation.

  The annual transport policies and programme submissions which the Department invites authorities to make are available to the public. They contain considerable detail about each major scheme for which the authority seeks transport supplementary grant—TSG. The Department specifies the information it needs to assess applications for TSG in an annual circular issued both to local highway authorities and to district councils that do not have that status. The circular is on sale to the public. The latest edition is local authority circular 2/93, issued on 29 April 1993.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines are given by his Department to local authorities when preparing cost-benefit analysis for bypass schemes.

  Mr. Key
  All local highway authorities are expected to familiarise themselves with the Department's cost-benefit analysis—COBA—system. They are advised in annex B to the annual transport policy and programme—TPP—circular to consult the COBA user manual. There is no specific advice on the application of COBA to bypasses.

  Medway Bridge
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what statutory power a rail and road bridge over the Medway could be planned and constructed currently.

  Mr. Freeman
  Parallel bridges over the Medway are being planned for the M2 widening scheme and the channel tunnel rail link; the bridges can be built sequentially or at the same time. It is possible to provide for both approaches either through joint approval in a hybrid Bill, or with separate approval of the road scheme under Highways Act order procedures.

  A1(M)
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to delay any current or further plans for the expansion of the A1(M) in Hertfordshire and conduct an assessment of road schemes on an equal basis with other modes of transport.
  595
  Mr. Key
  Our aim is to achieve a balance between the various modes of transport so that each can make its proper contribution to a safer, more environmentally friendly and more efficient transport system. We therefore seek to ensure, for example, that road and rail projects are assessed on a consistent basis using, where relevant, a common set of assumptions about the value people attach to improvements in their journey times.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's strategy, planned timetable and traffic forecasts for widening the A1(M) from junctions 6 to 8 to four lanes in each direction and the future of the section from junctions 4 to 6; and what assessment has been made of whether the proposed expansion of junctions is necessary to facilitate connections with the planned east-west route.

  Mr. Key
  The priority of the schemes to widen the A1(M) in Hertfordshire is being considered in the current review of the road programme and the timetables for widening will reflect the outcome of the review. Our proposals for the section between junctions 6 and 8 were the subject of public consultation in October last year. They are designed to cater for traffic flows in 2012 ranging from 85,000 to 115,000 vehicles per day. The junction arrangements which were shown are not dependent on the proposed east-west route but account has been taken of possible options for it. Responses to the consultation are being considered.

  Aircraft Movements
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of annual aircraft movements that take place over the east London area including the boroughs of Redbridge, Newham, Barking and Dagenham and Havering.

  Mr. Norris
  No such estimates are made by my Department, nor by any other body as far as I am aware.

  Metropolitan Trunk Roads
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much transport support grant was allocated for expenditure on metropolitan trunk roads for each year since 1979 for use by(a) local authorities and (b) the former Greater London council until its abolition.

  Mr. Key
  Local authorities are not allocated TSG for national trunk roads, whether or not in metropolitan areas.

  Coaches
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allow the running of coaches to a weight limit of 18 tonnes while retaining the existing rear axle load; what maximum tyre load is permitted where the front axle tyres fitted are standard 156 rate; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which that effective load distribution is ensured in those circumstances.

  Mr. Key
  No. The maximum load for a tyre with load index 156 is four tonnes. Correct load distribution, which is critical to ensure axles are not overloaded, is largely determined at the initial design of the vehicle when axle weight limits are set by the manufacturer in compliance with legislation. These weights are enforced by the vehicle inspectorate at weighbridge and other checks.
  596
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the possibility of allowing coaches with a weight limit of 18 tonnes to use a limited network of trunk roads and motorways where the strengthening of bridges is not required.

  Mr. Key
  I have considered the possibility of permitting certain operations, including motorway coaches, to be allowed higher weights. Until the bridge assessment programmes currently being carried out by my Department and local authorities are completed there remains the problem of feeder roads to motorways. Few journeys can be completed entirely on motorways and it is difficult to envisage how a scheme for higher weights on motorways alone could be effectively enforced to protect potentially vulnerable roads.

  Thames Transport
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the working party exploring the Thames transport potential has met; what reports it has published; and if he will name its current members.

  Mr. Norris
  The River Thames working group which I chair has met twice. It is currently analysing the substantial number of responses received from a wide-ranging consultation exercise and expects to produce a report of its findings and recommendations in the summer.

  The current members of the group are David Bayliss, director of planning, London Transport; David Jeffery, chief executive, Port of London authority ; Eric Sorensen, chief executive London Docklands development corporation; and Robin Clement, deputy chief planner, London Planning Advisory Council. Dick Barker represented London First until recently; I hope to make an announcement shortly about his successor. Officials from the Departments of Transport and of the Environment also attend.

  Inner City Transport Investment
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to publish the study carried out by Dr. Margaret Grieco of Oxford university on the impact of transport investment on the inner-city economy.

  Mr. Freeman
  None. I understand that the author is making her own arrangements for the report to be published.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessments his Department has carried out into the costs of highway maintenance attributable to use by heavy goods vehicles.

  Mr. Key
  Heavy vehicles using the trunk road network are continually monitored in order to evaluate the wear and tear on the roads. The need for maintenance results primarily from traffic wear and tear although other aspects such as climatic effects and aging of road materials have an influence.

  The vast majority of road wear and tear is caused by vehicles over 15kN unladen vehicle weight such as heavy goods vehicles—HGVs—and buses—PSVs. No precise breakdown of the cost of heavy goods vehicle related

  597
  maintenance is readily available but in 1993–94, of the £700 million that we expect to spend on maintaining the trunk road network, less than half is attributable to traffic wear.

  A6(M) Stockport Bypass
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the line of route of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass.

  Mr. Key
  Although the line is fixed, revised proposals were published in November 1991 to take account of the forecast of increased traffic and changes recommended by the inspector in his report of the 1987–88 inquiry. In February 1992 a draft compulsory purchase order was published. The revised proposals included a modification of the junction with the A6(M) and the A627 Offerton road which has provoked substantial opposition from the local authority and local residents.

  As a result, we have reviewed our proposals in this area resulting in further changes. The draft orders will need to be withdrawn and fresh ones published. Our review is almost complete and we expect to publish the fresh orders this summer.

  Excessive Loads
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to prevent commercial vehicles entering England with excessive loads.

  British Rail punctuality (Yorkshire and Humberside area)

  Four-week periods

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Service group

  11

  12

  13

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  TransPennine Express

  90

  94

  96

  93

  87

  89

  91

  94

  92

  92

  89

  88

  91

  South Yorkshire/Humberside (Long)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  95

  92

  84

  87

  91

  91

  90

  88

  84

  83

  South Yorkshire/Humberside (Short)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  West Yorkshire (Long)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  West Yorkshire (Short)

  91

  94

  93

  96

  93

  95

  94

  95

  94

  93

  90

  91

  92

  InterCity Cross Country

  82

  86

  86

  86

  78

  80

  82

  83

  85

  83

  73

  77

  79

  InterCity East Coast Main Line

  82

  86

  87

  84

  90

  84

  91

  89

  91

  88

  86

  87

  85

  Notes:

  1. The passengers charter target for punctuality has been set at 90 per cent. throughout the period for all regional railways and InterCity routes.

  2. Some early figures are unavailable because of changes in route definitions.

  3. Punctuality results are rounded to the nearest whole number.

  British Rail punctuality (Yorkshire and Humberside area)

  Four-week periods

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Service group

  11

  12

  13

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  TransPennine Express

  93

  93

  92

  90

  89

  87

  90

  87

  93

  91

  81

  83

  86

  South Yorkshire/Humberside (Long)

  91

  93

  89

  91

  95

  92

  89

  91

  94

  92

  89

  90

  91

  South Yorkshire/Humberside (Short)

  91

  91

  87

  87

  89

  92

  86

  85

  85

  80

  82

  82

  90

  West Yorkshire (Long)

  96

  95

  95

  95

  95

  94

  95

  94

  95

  95

  85

  89

  91

  West Yorkshire (Short)

  92

  91

  92

  93

  90

  89

  91

  91

  93

  90

  81

  85

  89

  InterCity Cross Country

  80

  87

  83

  84

  84

  84

  87

  89

  87

  86

  84

  86

  81

  InterCity East Coast Main Line

  82

  89

  91

  89

  89

  92

  94

  92

  92

  92

  87

  70

  83

  598
  Mr. Key
  Enforcement against overloading of commercial vehicles will continue to be undertaken at ports, with the agreement of port authorities, and at other inland sites within the vicinity of ports. Where driver self-weigh equipment is available operators and drivers are encouraged to use the facility to check-weigh and to help avoid vehicles leaving ports in an overloaded condition.

  International goods vehicle traffic will also continue to be routinely checked at inland enforcement sites. Arrangements are currently being negotiated with Eurotunnel for checking channel tunnel traffic prior to leaving France.

  British Rail
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing the targets and performance against targets in respect of(a) punctuality and (b) reliability of each of the divisions of British Rail serving the (i) South Yorkshire, (ii) Humberside, (iii) North Yorkshire and (iv) West Yorkshire areas in each month from January 1992.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows. British Rail performance data are published on a four-weekly, rather than a calendar month, basis. The following tables run from period 11 of the 1991–92 financial year—commencing 29 December 1991—to period 10 of the 1993–94 financial year ending 1 January 1994.
  599

  British Rail reliability (Yorkshire and Humberside area)

  Four-week periods

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Service group

  11

  12

  13

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  TransPennine Express

  98·6

  98·8

  99·3

  97·9

  98·2

  98·6

  99·1

  99·7

  98·7

  99·4

  99·5

  99·0

  98·7

  South Yorkshire/Humberside (Long)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  98·5

  98·4

  97·7

  98·7

  98·6

  99·1

  98·5

  98·3

  98·0

  99·3

  South Yorkshire/Humberside (Short)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  West Yorkshire (Long)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  West Yorkshire (Short)

  99·0

  99·6

  99·6

  98·7

  99·8

  99·5

  99·6

  99·5

  99·5

  99·7

  99·6

  99·5

  99·5

  InterCity Cross Country

  99·6

  99·6

  99·2

  99·6

  99·5

  99·4

  99·5

  99·5

  99·6

  99·8

  99·3

  98·7

  99·5

  InterCity East Coast Main Line

  98·5

  98·8

  99·0

  99·3

  99·5

  97·8

  99·3

  99·5

  98·2

  99·5

  98·6

  98·5

  98·6

  Note: The passengers charter target for reliability has been set at 99 per cent. throughout the period for all InterCity and regional railways routes.

  British Rail reliability (Yorkshire and Humberside area)

  Four-week periods

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Service group

  11

  12

  13

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  TransPennine Express

  99·0

  99·0

  99·3

  98·8

  98·7

  97·2

  98·3

  97·1

  98·9

  98·0

  98·3

  95·8

  96·9

  South Yorkshire/Humberside (Long)

  99·1

  99·4

  99·0

  98·6

  99·1

  98·4

  97·0

  98·3

  98·8

  93·2

  98·1

  97·3

  98·7

  South Yorkshire/Humberside (Short)

  99·5

  99·6

  99·7

  99·2

  99·9

  99·2

  98·3

  98·6

  97·8

  98·8

  98·9

  98·2

  98·9

  West Yorkshire (Long)

  98·6

  99·6

  98·9

  99·9

  99·6

  98·8

  98·5

  98·7

  99·7

  99·1

  96·7

  95·7

  97·4

  West Yorkshire (Short)

  98·8

  99·1

  99·0

  99·1

  98·2

  99·5

  99·4

  99·2

  99·4

  99·1

  98·0

  96·1

  96·7

  InterCity Cross Country

  99·2

  99·8

  99·2

  99·3

  98·2

  99·7

  99·7

  99·7

  99·7

  99·4

  99·5

  99·8

  99·0

  InterCity East Coast Main Line

  97·5

  99·2

  99·2

  99·1

  99·4

  99·3

  99·6

  99·0

  99·0

  99·4

  99·6

  97·4

  95·2

  Year of Older People
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) in which programmes and events for the European year of older people and solidarity between Generations he has been directly involved;

  (2) what contribution his Department made to the European year of older people and solidarity between generations in terms of financial support, practical support for particular events and the provision of information.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department has a continuing programme of initiatives to improve services, facilities and information for older people as pedestrians, public transport users and motorists. These initiatives were promoted by the Department at national and local events throughout the year.

  During 1993 the Department published an information leaflet aimed at older drivers with practical advice on continuing to drive safely. Two million copies were distributed with the help of the Saga group and through doctors' surgeries. A "stuffer" leaflet on the same topic was also distributed to 30 million car owners with their vehicle excise duty reminders.

  In addition, the Department continued to promote, through research, guidelines and advice to local authorities, operators and individuals, the needs of older people for improved bus design and access to bus services and the safety of older pedestrians.

  Motor Cycling
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the method of enforcement will be for the proposed stage II noise limits of motor cycles.

  Mr. Key
  There will be two aspects to the enforcement of the stage II noise limits. In the case of new motor cycles, the manufacturer will have to seek and obtain a valid type 600
  approval certificate to the noise directive prior to sale and registration. The date of mandatory application of these limits has yet to be agreed by the EC Council of Ministers.

  As far as in-use enforcement is concerned, on 10 January I made regulations which require that both original and replacement silencers for motor cycles be marked as complying with a relevant EC directive or—for replacement silencers—an equivalent British standard. I am also now drawing up regulations to control the supply of replacement silencers at point of sale.

  Heavy Vehicles
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many bridges on the trunk road system are not capable of supporting a gross vehicle weight of 18 tonnes;

  (2) how many bridges on the motorway system are not capable of supporting a gross vehicle weight of 18 tonnes.

  Mr. Key
  Our records show that there are three underbridges on motorways and 65 underbridges on all purpose trunk roads in England in which parts of the structure have been assessed as having inadequate capacities for carrying vehicles of 18 tonnes gross weight with the required margins of safety.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish for each service that has been market tested in his Department in 1993(a) the cost of the testing process, including consultancy costs, (b) the result of the test, (c) the name of the successful contractor, (d) the value and duration of the contract, (e) the number of staff involved, (f) estimated annual cost reductions and (g) whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were deemed to apply.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department is currently analysing the outcome of the 1992–93 competing for quality programme with the efficiency unit in the Cabinet Office. Much of the
  601
  information requested in the question will, once it has been finalised, be published in aggregate form in the "Citizens Charter Second Report".

  Airport Security
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has received from the communications and transport deregulation task force to justify its statement on the cost and cost-effectiveness of airport security.

  Mr. Norris
  The statement to which the hon. Member refers is in his recent report "Deregulating Disaster". He quotes an early draft by the task force which suggested that the Department approaches airport security with an "overly belt and braces approach at huge cost to industry".

  In its final report, to be published shortly, the task force recommend that security measures must be commensurable with the level of threat and that the aviation industry should be fully consulted in the measures adopted. We accept this view.

  A590
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has, and over what time scale, for improvements to the A590 road between the M6 and Barrow.

  Mr. Key
  The Secretary of State announced last August a review of the road programme to establish more clearly defined priorities within it. The review is now in progress and the aim is to announce the conclusions in time for the launch of the Highways Agency in April.

  The timing of any schemes in the programme for improvements to the A590 between the M6 and Barrow is dependent on the outcome of this review.

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) staff of Government agencies working in or to his Department; and how much these cards cost (i) to buy, (ii) to post and (iii) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes.

  Mr. Norris
  This information is not held centrally and could be given only at disproportionate cost.

  Loans
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, for each scheme operated by his Department under which loans are available, the objectives of the scheme, the number of unrecovered loans, the total value of unrecovered loans, the average number of unrecovered loans for each year since 1990, the average value of unrecovered loans for each year since 1990 and the annual cost of recovering loans.

  Mr. Norris
  There are three loans outstanding on the votes of my Department. They are:Humber bridge—built under provision of the Humber Bridge Act 1959, as amended. As at the 30 September 1993, the total debt outstanding is £359,307,192.
  Second Mersey tunnel—built under provision of the Mersey Tunnel Act 1965, as amended. As at 30 September 1993, the total debt outstanding is £24,388,785.
  602
  Tyne tunnel—built under provision of the Tyne Tunnel Act 1964, as amended. As at 30 September 1993, the total debt outstanding is £13,162,996.

  Payments against these loans are made regularly in two instalments each year. The administrative costs of such payments are less than £300 per year.

  My Department also makes loans to staff under their terms and conditions of service. These include loans covering the cost of season tickets, and assistance with house purchase where staff are moved under compulsory terms.

  M62 Relief Road
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations have been received from the Bury, South constituency against the proposed M62 relief road.

  Mr. Key
  So far, some 2,500 representations have been received from Bury, South, from a total in excess of 5,000. These figures include an element of duplication.

  Vehicle Reverse Alarms
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he has plans to review the present 2,000 kg weight limit below which reversing alarms may not be fitted unless that vehicle is a bus, a works truck or engineering plant;

  (2) how many representations he has received concerning regulation 99 of the Vehicle Construction and Use Regulations 1985 in respect of vehicle reverse alarms; and if he will provide a statement on the future of this provision.

  Mr. Key
  During 1992 and 1993, 15 letters were received on this subject. Eight of these were requests for information or from those with a commercial interest, two were complaints about noise nuisance and the rest questioned whether the provision should not be made compulsory and/or extended to other categories of vehicles.

  I shall be reviewing this matter when I come to consider certain other amendments to the Construction and Use Regulations on vehicle noise.

  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used in arriving at the 2,000 kg weight limit below which a vehicle reversing alarm may not be fitted unless it is a bus, a works truck or engineering plant.

  Mr. Key
  Reversing alarms are permitted to be used as an aid to safety on those vehicles where we consider the driver's vision might be obscured by the shape or size of the vehicle. The prime responsibility for ensuring that reversing is carried out safely rests, however, with the driver; and he or she should follow the advice of the highway code.

  Minibuses and Coaches (Safety)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the British Government's current position on the statutory introduction of passenger seat belts on coaches manufactured within the European Union;

  (2) what progress he has made in asking the other members of the European Union to introduce the statutory

  603
  installation of passenger seat belts on coaches manufactured within the European Union; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations he has received on improving the safety of passengers travelling on minibuses or coaches; what the Government's current position is on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  We have been discussing with the European Commission for some years the desirability of amending the directives which deal with the fitting of seat belts in coaches. To date, however, there has not been the support necessary front EC member states for the Commission to make seat belt fitment on all seats a mandatory requirement.

  We have received a great number of representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals, making various suggestions which they feel would improve the safety of minibus and coach travel.

  We are currently reviewing the full technical and cost implications of seat belts in coaches. Until this review is complete and we have full reports on the tragic accidents which happened last year, it would not be wise to consider making further regulations in this area.

  St. Avon
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take to seek to ensure that the circumstances leading to the incident in Much St. Avon ran aground at Browndown, Gosport on 21 July 1993 do not recur.

  Mr. Norris
  Following consideration of the grounding of the steam tanker Avon and other accidents, advice on preventive measures has been drafted and will be issued shortly in the form of a merchant shipping notice.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all statements made by Ministers in his Department, and/or press notices issued by his Department, which referred to a possible start and/or completion date for refurbishment of the west coast main line, the date on which each such statement was made, and the possible start and/or completion date which was mentioned.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]On 1 December 1993, my right hon. Friend announced the Government's decision that the modernisation of the west coast main line would be taken forward as a privately financed project. Railtrack would invite expressions of interest from the private sector to work with it in devising new performance standards for the route. At the same time, he announced plans for a competition in late 1994 to select a private sector consortium to modernise the line and maintain it for a defined period.

  Marine Accident Investigation Branch
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each report of the marine accident investigation branch concluded in 1993; and which of those were published.

  Mr. Norris
  Investigations carried out by the marine accident investigation branch, and reports published on its 604
  behalf by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, are listed in the summary of investigations which is produced three times a year. A copy of each summary is placed in the Library.

  Crossrail
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all statements made by Ministers in his Department, and/or press notices issued by his Department, which referred to a possible completion date for the crossrail project, the dates on which each such statement was made and the possible completion date which was mentioned.

  Mr. Norris
  The then Secretary of State wrote to the chairmen of British Rail and London Transport on 9 October 1990 about crossrail and the Chelsea-Hackney line. The associated press notice said that crossrail was expected to open in 1999.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all statements made by Ministers in his Department, and/or press notices issued by his Department, which referred to a possible completion date for the channel tunnel rail link, the dates on which each such statement was made, and the possible completion date which was mentioned.

  Mr. Freeman
  The list is as follows:18 May 1990
  The Minister for Public Transport, in debate on private Members' motion, at column 1179
  "I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe), who sought to put this debate in the context of the channel tunnel opening in three years' time and a rail link being a decade away, even with the fastest possible agreement on the route, and its design and structure."
  9 October 1991
  Press Notice—from text of a letter by the right hon. and learned Member for Edinbugh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) to Sir Bob Reid
  "Inevitably, the start of a construction of the rail link is some way ahead. On present forecasts, existing capacity is not expected to be exhausted until around 2005. It means account can be taken of demand for rail services through the Channel Tunnel once it opens. This will help to give a more precise view of when the extra capacity of the new line might be needed."
  14 October 1991
  Statement by the right hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands, at columns 25–26
  "Inevitably, the start of construction is still some way ahead; but so is the need for the line. BR's own forecasts are that the capacity of the existing network is expected to be sufficient to meet the demand until around 2005. It will be possible to take account of the actual demand for rail services through the Channel Tunnel, once it opens. Overall, the choice of the eastern route rather than the southern route will not have any material effect on when the new line might come into operation. Suggestions that a decision has been taken not to begin construction before 2000 are incorrect. No such decision has been taken."
  22 March 1993
  Statement by Secretary of State for Transport, at column 611

  605
  "Provided that we press ahead quickly, it should be possible for the railway to be completed by around the turn of the decade."
  23 November 1993
  PQ by hon. Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims)
  Q: "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he now expects construction of the Channel Tunnel Fast Link to commence."
  A: "Construction is expected to begin shortly after the enactment of a hybrid Bill, which the Government aim to have ready by autumn 1994; the Bill's introduction will depend upon the parliamentary timetable and the private sector's views."

  Deregulation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a list of all organisations with which his Department has held meetings regarding the deregulation initiative as it affects his Department, together with the dates on which such meetings were held and the persons present.

  Mr. Norris
  It would not be possible to publish such a list. The Department holds a large number of meetings about legislation with a wide range of people. Deregulation is a central plank of the Government's legislation policy. It is a consideration in all meetings about legislation.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish a list of all material sent to his Department by the communications and transport deregulation task force, together with the dates on which such material was received by his Department;

  (2) if he will publish a list of all meetings held between Ministers or officials in his Department and the communications and transport deregulation task force, the dates on which each meeting took place and those who attended each meeting.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department has had a large number of dealings, both oral and written, with the task force. The task force's recommendations, along with those of all the other task forces, will be published shortly.

  Roads
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a list of all potential DBFO-design build finance and operate—road projects which have been identified by his Department; and when construction of each project is planned to begin.

  Mr. Key
  We shall announce the first DBFO schemes as soon as possible.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all organisations with which Ministers or officials have held meetings to identify potential DBFO road projects, the dates on which each meeting took place; and what future meetings are planned.

  Mr. Key
  We have held a number of meetings with construction companies and others to help to identify potential DBFO schemes. The meetings have been conducted on a confidential basis.

  Airport Safety
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to act on the conclusions of the air accident investigation branch that airport safety is threatened by confusion between his Department, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Health and Safety Executive over responsibility for vehicle safety and staff safety training;

  (2) what action he is taking to ensure that a mechanism is in place at every airport to take immediate action on staff complaints about serviceable vehicles; and that vehicles used at airports are checked regularly for roadworthiness and have appropriate vehicle test certificates;

  (3) what steps he is taking to ensure that all staff at airports have proper safety training;

  (4) what response he has made to the report of the air accident investigations branch published on 7 January on the fatal accident affecting a member of the ground staff at Edinburgh airport, and what action he is taking to ensure that its recommendations are implemented at every airport without delay.

  Mr. Norris
  These questions relate to a tragic accident at Edinburgh airport on 11 March 1993 in which a tractor driver was killed by the propeller of a stationary aircraft. The air accidents investigation branch has made safety recommendations to the CAA, BAA plc and the Airport Operators Association—AOA. Appropriate action has been taken, or is in hand, by those organisations.

  The CAA initiated an aerodrome apron safety management working group with members drawn from BAA, AOA, the British Air Transport Association and the British Airline Pilots Association, with the following terms of reference:

  i. To determine the best practice in safety management and procedures and their application in apron safety management.

  ii. To establish model safety management standards and procedures from which airport operators can prepare the systems and procedures for their airports.

  iii. To determine the most appropriate measures to effect audit control over the safety management systems and procedures at airport.

  The working group is meeting on a monthly basis to expedite its progress. The CAA is also in active discussion with the Health and Safety Executive.

  BAA plc advises me that it has remedies in place or in progress relating to the detailed points emerging from this accident and these will apply equally to all its airports. It took action where possible at the earliest moment. The AOA has already brought these matters to the attention of its members.

  M2 Widening
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the increase in the cost of widening the M2 between junctions 1 and 4; and if he will reconsider the proposal and the necessity for the project.

  Mr. Key
  Since the scheme for widening the M2 between junctions 1 and 4 entered the roads programme, the cost has increased from £43 million to £156 million. This increase has been mainly due to an increase in standard from dual three lanes to dual four lanes over most of the length, the addition of a second Medway bridge, strengthening of the existing bridge, major remodelling at
  607
  junctions 2 and 3, and further structures. The scheme has also been extended 1·5 km to the west of junction 1 to include a short length of the A2.

  The M2 widening scheme is part of the current road programme review.

EDUCATION

  Pupil Costs
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost per pupil at(a) Nun Monkton school near York and (b) Green Hammerton school.

  Mr. Forth
  For the financial year 1993–94, the budget shares allocated to Nun Monkton Church of England primary school and Green Hammerton Church of England primary school under North Yorkshire local education authority's scheme for the local management of schools amounted to £3,446 per pupil and £1,779 per pupil respectively.

  Primary Education
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list local education authorities in order of spending per primary pupil with the actual amount spent per pupil for the last available year; and what spending per primary pupil represented as a percentage of spending per secondary pupil in each case.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is shown in the table for 1991–92, the latest year for which figures are available.

  Cost per pupil 1991–92

  Nursery and Primary £

  Percentage of spending on secondary pupils

  City of Westminster

  2,902

  89·5

  Corporation of London

  2,609

  n/a

  Islington

  2,328

  79·2

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,287

  71·5

  Tower Hamlets

  2,253

  76·5

  Wandsworth

  2,212

  67·5

  Hackney

  2,176

  77·7

  Lambeth

  2,083

  70·0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,047

  74·7

  Camden

  1,943

  79·9

  Haringey

  1,927

  72·7

  Isles of Scilly

  1,849

  44·4

  Greenwich

  1,830

  79·7

  Southwark

  1,828

  74·3

  Ealing

  1,754

  61·9

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,738

  82·2

  Merton

  1,723

  65·7

  Lewisham

  1,717

  72·3

  Barnet

  1,674

  72·0

  Newham

  1,671

  67·7

  Brent

  1,670

  67·0

  Harrow

  1,661

  70·0

  Hillingdon

  1,661

  63·3

  Bradford

  1,652

  92·0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,646

  79·7

  Leeds

  1,642

  83·0

  Enfield

  1,636

  70·5

  Oxfordshire

  1,635

  77·6

  Waltham Forest

  1,625

  62·0

  Nottinghamshire

  1,625

  65·2

  Croydon

  1,593

  67·1

  Oldham

  1,582

  70·0

  Calderdale

  1,570

  78·1

  Hounslow

  1,567

  72·5

  608

  Nursery and Primary £

  Percentage of spending on secondary pupils

  Gateshead

  1,562

  73·8

  Wolverhampton

  1,554

  66·0

  Barking

  1,550

  68·8

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,543

  62·4

  Sandwell

  1,540

  67·6

  Lancashire

  1,535

  69·0

  Bedfordshire

  1,511

  74·2

  Berkshire

  1,506

  69·8

  Leicestershire

  1,498

  66·5

  Shropshire

  1,497

  63·7

  Wakefield

  1,494

  70·7

  Redbridge

  1,489

  64·5

  Isle of Wight

  1,488

  76·9

  Hertfordshire

  1,482

  66·3

  Northumberland

  1,477

  75·2

  Sheffield

  1,476

  67·7

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,473

  75·1

  Norfolk

  1,465

  69·2

  Rotherham

  1,465

  68·1

  Cumbria

  1,460

  67·1

  Surrey

  1,460

  66·3

  Hampshire

  1,457

  68·4

  Derbyshire

  1,452

  66·0

  Bromley

  1,443

  59·1

  North Yorkshire

  1,442

  67·0

  Sutton

  1,437

  66·5

  South Tyneside

  1,435

  70·3

  Avon

  1,435

  70·1

  Knowsley

  1,432

  62·3

  Sunderland

  1,427

  69·7

  Gloucestershire

  1,425

  81·1

  Kirklees

  1,423

  69·2

  Humberside

  1,422

  68·9

  East Sussex

  1,421

  70·4

  Manchester

  1,421

  62·2

  Tameside

  1,419

  67·6

  Cambridgeshire

  1,417

  70·0

  Dudley

  1,411

  66·3

  Dorset

  1,410

  73·4

  Wiltshire

  1,408

  72·3

  Cornwall

  1,403

  71·7

  North Tyneside

  1,402

  67·6

  Walsall

  1,400

  66·4

  Staffordshire

  1,397

  68·3

  Havering

  1,396

  61·9

  Devon

  1,394

  69·6

  Durham

  1,386

  68·6

  Liverpool

  1,386

  58·8

  Bolton

  1,380

  64·8

  Barnsley

  1,374

  67·3

  Bexley

  1,371

  66·6

  Birmingham

  1,370

  63·7

  Cheshire

  1,364

  64·7

  Buckinghamshire

  1,358

  64·8

  Northamptonshire

  1,355

  68·8

  Solihull

  1,352

  63·6

  Somerset

  1,349

  69·1

  Lincolnshire

  1,348

  64·8

  St. Helens

  1,341

  63·7

  Warwickshire

  1,338

  64·0

  West Sussex

  1,338

  64·2

  Wirral

  1,325

  62·7

  Doncaster

  1,323

  66·2

  Stockport

  1,319

  61·8

  Sefton

  1,313

  65·1

  Rochdale

  1,310

  61·4

  Bury

  1,302

  68·6

  Coventry

  1,300

  61·4

  Salford

  1,299

  59·3

  Trafford

  1,281

  60·8

  Cleveland

  1,271

  60·2

  Kent

  1,263

  60·9

  Essex

  1,261

  55·5

  Wigan

  1,257

  54·9

  Suffolk

  1,250

  73·6

  609
  Notes to the table:

  1. Figures are in outturn prices and are derived from local education authorities' returns of their net institutional expenditure to the Department of the Environment and of their pupil numbers to the Department of Education.

  2. Net institutional expenditure covers the direct costs in schools of salaries and wages, premises and certain supplies and services. It does not include the costs of school meals, home to school transport, LEA central administration, and financing costs of capital expenditure. Figures include unspent balances held by schools at the year end under local management of schools schemes.

  3. "N/A" indicates not applicable; Corporation of London LEA has no secondary schools.

  Mr. Tim Brighouse
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assistance is being given from public funds or by involvement of Government personnel to him in his defence against the legal action launched by Mr. Tim Brighouse in relation to remarks made by him about Mr. Brighouse in October 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Patten
  This is being treated as a personal, not a Government, matter.

  Higher Education (Drop-out Rate)
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research has been commissioned by his Department on the drop-out rate from higher education both before and after the introduction of student loans; and what account this research takes of drop-out rates in different socio-economic groups, and parental income brackets.

  Mr. Boswell
  Higher education drop-out rates are published in the Department's annual report. Table 26 in the last report—Cm 2210—showed that drop-out rates have remained broadly steady over the period from 1982–83 to 1990–91. The figure for 1991–92 is 17 per cent.

  Information about the socio-economic group or parental income bracket of students who drop out is not collected centrally. No specific research has been commissioned on drop-out rates before and after the introduction of student loans.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education in which local education authority areas grant-maintained schools now educate(a) more than 10 per cent. but less than 75 per cent. of primary or secondary pupils, (b) more than 75 per cent. of primary or secondary pupils and (c) less than 10 per cent. of primary or secondary pupils; and if he will give the current percentage figures for each area.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The estimated proportions of maintained school pupils attending self-governing—grant-maintained—schools in each local education authority area in January 1994 are as follows.

  Table A

  Percentage of primary pupils in self-governing schools by local education authority area

  Per cent.

  i. 10 per cent, to 74 per cent.

  Essex

  11·6

  Hillingdon

  13·3

  610

  Per cent.

  Lincolnshire

  11·4

  ii. Less than 10 per cent.

  Avon

  0·0

  Barking

  0·0

  Barnet

  3·3

  Barnsley

  0·0

  Bedfordshire

  1·5

  Berkshire

  3·7

  Bexley

  2·4

  Birmingham

  0·4

  Bolton

  1·3

  Bradford

  0·5

  Brent

  2·2

  Bromley

  4·6

  Buckinghamshire

  3·5

  Bury

  1·3

  Calderdale

  0·4

  Cambrideshire

  3·3

  Camden

  0·0

  Cheshire

  0·5

  Cleveland

  0·0

  Cornwall

  0·0

  Corporation of London

  0·0

  Coventry

  0·0

  Croydon

  3·2

  Cumbria

  3·8

  Derbyshire

  2·0

  Devon

  0·4

  Doncaster

  0·0

  Dorset

  0·9

  Dudley

  1·4

  Durham

  0·0

  Ealing

  4·4

  East Sussex

  0·0

  Enfield

  0·6

  Gateshead

  0·0

  Gloucestershire

  3·2

  Greenwich

  0·0

  Hackney

  0·0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  0·0

  Hampshire

  3·0

  Haringey

  0·0

  Harrow

  0·0

  Havering

  0·0

  Hereford and Worcester

  0·0

  Hertfordshire

  1·0

  Hounslow

  0·0

  Humberside

  0·3

  Isle of Wight

  0·0

  Isles of Scilly

  0·0

  Islington

  0·0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  5·2

  Kent

  3·3

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1·8

  Kirklees

  0·0

  Knowsley

  0·0

  Lambeth

  6·6

  Lancashire

  0·2

  Leeds

  0·1

  Leicestershire

  0·0

  Lewisham

  1·8

  Liverpool

  0·0

  Manchester

  0·0

  Merton

  0·0

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  0·0

  Newham

  0·0

  Norfolk

  4·0

  North Tyneside

  0·0

  North Yorkshire

  0·0

  Northamptonshire

  6·1

  Northumberland

  0·0

  Nottinghamshire

  0·0

  Oldham

  0·0

  Oxfordshire

  0·2

  Redbridge

  0·0

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  0·0

  Rochdale

  4·0

  611

  Per cent.

  Rotherham

  0·0

  Salford

  0·0

  Sandwell

  0·0

  Sefton

  0·0

  Sheffield

  1·2

  Shropshire

  0·9

  Solihull

  2·3

  Somerset

  0·7

  South Tyneside

  0·0

  Southwark

  5·2

  St. Helens

  0·0

  Staffordshire

  0·0

  Stockport

  0·0

  Suffolk

  0·0

  Sunderland

  0·0

  Surrey

  2·4

  Sutton

  6·2

  Tameside

  0·0

  Tower Hamlets

  0·0

  Trafford

  0·0

  Wakefield

  0·0

  Walsall

  2·0

  Waltham Forest

  0·0

  Wandsworth

  3·0

  Warwickshire

  0·0

  West Sussex

  0·0

  Westminster

  0·0

  Wigan

  0·0

  Wiltshire

  3·3

  Wirral

  0·0

  Wolverhampton

  0·0

  Table B

  Percentage of secondary pupils in self-governing schools by local education authority area

  Percentage

  i.

  75 per cent, and above

  Hillingdon

  83·6

  ii.

  10 per cent, to 74 per cent.

  Barnet

  48·6

  Bedfordshire

  19·6

  Berkshire

  16·0

  Bexley

  19·6

  Birmingham

  21·8

  Bolton

  16·6

  Bradford

  11·1

  Brent

  65·8

  Bromley

  63·4

  Buckinghamshire

  25·3

  Calderdale

  34·1

  Cambridgeshire

  37·5

  Camden

  22·3

  Croydon

  25·5

  Cumbria

  26·0

  Derbyshire

  26·8

  Dorset

  21·8

  Dudley

  25·4

  Ealing

  44·6

  Enfield

  32·1

  Essex

  63·6

  Gloucestershire

  60·8

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  20·6

  Hampshire

  19·2

  Havering

  25·7

  Hertfordshire

  26·6

  Hounslow

  15·0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  19·6

  Kent

  45·6

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  37·6

  Lambeth

  53·0

  Lincolnshire

  44·2

  Norfolk

  21·4

  Northamptonshire

  20·7

  Shropshire

  14·3

  612

  Percentage

  Southwark

  30·3

  Surrey

  25·5

  Sutton

  59·6

  Tameside

  18·1

  Trafford

  25·4

  Walsall

  29·0

  Waltham Forest

  17·3

  Wandsworth

  72·8

  Warwickshire

  16·6

  Wiltshire

  32·4

  Wolverhampton

  14·9

  iii.

  Less than 10 per cent.

  Avon

  2·9

  Barking

  0·0

  Barnsley

  0·0

  Bury

  0·0

  Cheshire

  3·8

  Cleveland

  0·0

  Cornwall

  0·0

  Corporation of London

  0·0

  Coventry

  0·0

  Devon

  80·

  Doncaster

  0·0

  Durham

  0·0

  East Sussex

  0·0

  Gateshead

  0·0

  Greenwich

  0·0

  Hackney

  0·0

  Haringey

  0·0

  Harrow

  6·1

  Hereford and Worcester

  7·6

  Humberside

  0·0

  Isle of Wight

  0·0

  Isles of Scilly

  0·0

  Islington

  0·0

  Kirklees

  5·1

  Knowsley

  8·0

  Lancashire

  8·0

  Leeds

  2·6

  Leicestershire

  5·5

  Lewisham

  0·0

  Liverpool

  7·6

  Manchester

  0·0

  Merton

  0·0

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  0·0

  Newham

  4·1

  North Tyneside

  0·0

  North Yorkshire

  0·0

  Northumberland

  2·2

  Nottinghamshire

  2·9

  Oldham

  0·0

  Oxfordshire

  0·0

  Redbridge

  7·4

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  0·0

  Rochdale

  8·3

  Rotherham

  0·0

  Salford

  3·6

  Sandwell

  3·7

  Sefton

  0·0

  Sheffield

  7·1

  Solihull

  0·0

  Somerset

  1·4

  South Tyneside

  0·0

  St. Helens

  0·0

  Staffordshire

  6·3

  Stockport

  0·0

  Suffolk

  0·0

  Sunderland

  0·0

  Tower Hamlets

  7·8

  Wakefield

  0·0

  West Sussex

  0·0

  Westminster

  0·0

  Wigan

  0·0

  Wirral

  9·8

  Footnotes to tables:

  1. The percentages in the tables are based on provisional date derived

  613
  from the DFE's January 1993 schools census.

  2. The self-governing schools included in these calculations are those operating by 5 January 1994.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what materials have been distributed to schools during the last year to promote grant-maintained status; and what is the cost of the preparation, production and distribution of this material.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department has not distributed any materials promoting grant-maintained status. It does, however, provide booklets containing factual information to help parents and governors make informed decisions about whether grant-maintained status is right for their schools and to tell them how to acquire it. A total of 2·9 million such booklets have been distributed over the last five years, mainly to schools. Expenditure on these in the first nine months of this financial year included £164,000 for production and £8,000 for their distribution. The identification of all preparation costs would entail disproportionate expense.

  FE College Corporations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will introduce a compulsory register of members' interests for members of the governing bodies of further education college corporations.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend sees no need for such a register. The instruments of government for further education corporations provide that, except with the approval in writing of the Secretary of State, no member shall take or hold any interest in any property held or used for the purposes of the institution. Further, a member who has any financial interest in the supply of work or goods for the institution, any contract or proposed contract concerning the institution, or any other matter relating to the institution, and is present at the meeting of the governing body at which such a matter is to be considered, is required to disclose his or her interest and is precluded from taking part in the discussion or vote on the matter.

  Examination Papers (Access)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to allow parents and schools access to marked external examination papers on written request.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The GCE and GCSE examination bodies are independent of Government. It is for them to decide whether to alow external access to marked examination papers. Where candidates are dissatisfied with their results they may appeal through their school or college to the relevant examination body and, if necessary, to the Independent Appeals Authority for School Examinations.

  Outdoor Activity Centres
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his Department's estimate of the number of commercial outdoor activity centres currently operating in England and Wales.

  Mr. Forth
  Precise figures are not available, and the exact number of centres is likely to vary from time to time. It is estimated that about 3,000 are currently in operation.
  614
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many outdoor activity centres will be inspected by the Health and Safety Executive over the next two years.

  Mr. Forth
  As part of the special programme of inspections announced by my right hon. Friend on 11 November 1993, the Health and Safety Executive are planning to inspect about 100 centres over the next two years.

HEALTH

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many orders have been made using the powers of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, section 5(10); which trusts have been given such additional powers; and what was the nature of those additional powers.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make arrangements for the Data Protection Registrar to inspect relevant contracts with suppliers of information technology services that involve the use of personal data held by his Department in order to check whether all appropriate arrangements in relation to the Data Protection Act 1984 have been made, and whether such contracts make provisions for the registrar to make random inspections in order to check the suppliers' compliance with the eighth data protection principle.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Data Protection Registrar has a wide range of powers, under the Data Protection Act 1984, to ensure that all individuals and organisations holding personal data on computer systems are registered and observe the data protection principles as required by the Act. When information technology services are contracted out by a data user, the contractor and the user will be subject to the application of the data protection principles, and to the registrar's powers to promote compliance with them, as provided for in the Act. It is for the registrar to decide how he will use his powers under the Act, and I do not consider that any further arrangements are necessary for him to discharge his duties effectively.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health where information assembled by the Centre for Mental Health Services Development about the costs of current mental health services in the nine authorities considered to be providing a comprehensive community-based service is available in published form.

  Mr. Bowis
  I am arranging for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.

  Surgical Dressings
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list NHS expenditure in the latest available year on surgical dressings and bandages, broken down into country of manufacture.
  615
  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Peter Savage
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will order an independent inquiry into the death of Mr. Peter Savage in Doncaster royal infirmary.

  Mr. Sackville
  As a result of Mr. Savage's death, the trust asked Mr. Philip Gill, a former district coroner in west Yorkshire, to undertake an independent inquiry into the procedures followed by Doncaster royal infirmary for admission, investigation and treatment of confused patients. His report was published in December 1993, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  Alder Hey Hospital
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current waiting time for children needing orthopaedic treatment at the Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Alder Hey hospital is part of the Royal Liverpool childrens hospital national health service trust. Information on this trust's waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", which is published twice yearly. The latest published figures are for September 1993 and copies are available in the Library.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the population for each county in the United Kingdom, according to the census taken in each year in(a) 1971, (b) 1981 and (c) 1991; and what are the absolute and percentage differences between the 1971 and 1991 figures.

  Mr. Sackville
  Census figures for each county of England and Wales are published in the report "1991 Census, Historical Tables, Great Britain", copies of which are available in the Library. However, these census figures are affected by people missed from the census and by other factors. The most satisfactory comparisons are those based on the Registrar General's mid-year population estimates of resident population. These figures will be placed in the Library.

  Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement concerning the funding arrangements of the Medicines Control Agency listing all external agencies or companies that supply funds.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Medicines Control agency—MCA —has, since it was established in 1989, been funded by fees from applicants for and holders of product licences, wholesale dealers licences and manufacturers licences. The MCA also receives fees for inspections of manufacturers and wholesale dealers premises. Ministers review MCA 616
  fee levels annually and widespread consultation takes place on the Government's proposals for the following year. The proposed fee levels, amended as necessary in the light of consultation, are then laid before Parliament for approval. Over 2,700 companies and external agencies paid fees to the MCA in 1992–93, a list of them will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the orders made under sections 5 to 11 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 for the NHS trusts in the Northern region.

  Mr. Sackville
  Copies of orders made under section 8 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 will be placed in the Library. All other orders made under sections 5 to 11 for NHS trusts in the northern region have been made under statutory instrument and are therefore already in the Library.

  Press Office
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of staff and the cost of the Department's press office for each year since 1988.

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of staff employed in the main press office for each year since 1989 is as follows:

  Number

  1989–90

  14

  1990–91

  15

  1991–92

  14

  1992–93

  15

  1993–94

  14

  The cost of the press office and staffing figures for 1988–89 are not available in the form requested.

  Workload Supervision
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what routine supervision is exercised by her Department over hospital and health authority workload and caseload performances in England.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The National Health Service Management Executive—NHSME—holds regional health authorities—RHAs—to account for their performance on the basis of agreed corporate contracts. Corporate contracts reflect both national and regional priorities and purchasing plans agreed by district health authorities, family health services authorities and, where appropriate, general practitioner fundholders. Performance is monitored through formal submissions—corporate contracts and quarterly returns—and continuous reviews between the NHSME's performance management teams and regional managers. This review process culminates in annual meetings held between the chief executive of the NHSME and each regional general manager and chairman. Issues outside corporate contracts are also raised with RHAs as appropriate to ensure performance is satisfactory.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish for each service that has been market tested in her Department in 1993(a) the cost of the testing process, including consultancy costs, (b) the result of the test, (c) the name of the successful contractor, (d) the value and duration of the contract, (e) the number of staff involved, (f) estimated annual cost reductions and (g) whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were deemed to apply.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is currently analysing the outcome of the 1992–93 competing for quality programme with the efficiency unit in the Cabinet Office. Much of the information requested will, once it has been finalised, be published in aggregate form in the "Citizens Charter Second Report". On an individual contract basis, much of the information is commercially confidential.

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the £300,000 public funds loaned by Mr. M. Davies while director of finance to West Midlands regional health authority to the company HP has been recovered; and what interest on that sum was paid by FIP

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The loan to the financial information project is being repaid to West Midlands regional health authority by instalments on a quarterly basis. The first payment of £50,000 is due on 28 February. Interest on the loan is being charged in line with the health service prices index.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to instigate prosecutions for corruption in respect of the affairs of the West Midlands regional health authority as discussed in the 57th report from the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 1992–93, HC 485.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is for West Midlands regional health authority and the police to determine what action needs to be taken over alleged corruption in the affairs of the authority.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid to Mr. M. Davies when he resigned from his post as director of finance of West Midlands regional health authority; how much of this was performance related; and what were the reasons for these payments.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  When Mr. Davies resigned from West Midlands regional health authority, he had a contractual entitlement to six months notice, and was paid two months extension of contract for untaken leave, a total of £36,702. He also received £6,222 for cumulative performance-related pay.

  Influenza Vaccine
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made as to the adequacy of supply of inflenza vaccine in the London area; what steps she is taking to ensure adequate supplies; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information about the supply of influenza vaccine to particular areas is not available 618
  centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 17 January at columns 391–92, for details on the general supply of vaccine.

  Child Resistant Closures
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she proposes to take to speed the pharmaceutical industry's development of a child resistant closure for liquid medicines.

  Mr. Sackville
  Some liquid medicines are already in child resistant containers. There are, however, technical difficulties in developing a closure which is effective for all types of liquid medicine containers and which could be adopted across the pharamaceutical industry and by pharmacists. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry are in discussions to help speed up the development process.

  Mental Illness Grant
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding will be available for the mental illness specific grant for the year 1994–95; and what are the planning figures for the following years;

  (2) what plans she has to extend the mental illness specific grant beyond 1995.

  Mr. Bowis
  On 28 December 1993, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced that the mental illness specific grant will be increased to £36 million in 1994–95, supporting expenditure of over £51 million, and that it is planned that the grant will continue for at least another three years.

  The 1993 public expenditure settlement provided for planning figures of £37·262 million and £38·262 million for 1995–96 and 1996–97 respectively. The planning figures are subject to discussion in future public expenditure rounds.

  AIDS
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Government will be giving to London boroughs for their work in HIV and AIDS in 1994–95 and beyond; and what conclusions she has arrived at in reviewing this assistance.

  Mr. Sackville
  Funds will again be available in 1994–95 through the AIDS support grant scheme as a contribution towards local authorities' expenditure on HIV and AIDS. There are planning figures for the two subsequent years, which are subject to discussion in future public expenditure rounds.

  The grant has made a valuable contribution to fostering joint co-operation in supporting people with HIV or AIDS and to limiting the spread of the virus.

  Young People, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds there were in the Doncaster area in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Sackville
  The population estimates requested, relating to Doncaster metropolitan district, are shown in the table.
  619

  Estimated mid-year resident population of Doncaster: Persons aged 16 to 17

  Thousands

  Year

  Age 16

  Age 17

  1988

  4·1

  4·3

  1989

  3·9

  4·1

  1990

  3·7

  3·9

  1991

  3·6

  3·8

  1992

  3·6

  3·6

  Source:

  Population Estimates Unit, Office of Populaton Censuses and Surveys.

  Abortion
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of terminations of pregnancy in(a) the North Devon health authority and (b) the East Berkshire health authority were carried out under the NHS in the last year for which figures are available; what would be the additional cost if the North Devon percentage applied nationwide; and what steps she is taking to establish reasons for geographical differences on the proportion of terminations of pregnancy carried out under the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  The proportion of terminations of pregnancies for the two health authorities concerned for 1992 is as follows:

  1Total

  1NHS funded

  Per cent.

  East Berkshire HA

  1,157

  120

  10·4

  North Devon HA

  307

  292

  95·1

  1 These statistics are based on the (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Abortion Monitor (AB 94/2) due to be published on 20 February 1994.

  The cost of a termination of pregnancy in the national health service varies according to factors such as gestation and length of stay. It is not therefore possible to provide any meaningful estimate of the additional cost if the North Devon percentage applied nationwide. Arrangements for purchasing abortion services under the NHS are the responsibility of individual district health authorities in the light of their assessment of local needs and priorities.

  Pain Clinics
  Mr. Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pain clinics are at present being operated by the NHS; and what is the average waiting time before patients are treated.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Social Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to encourage social care professionals to raise concerns about bad practice; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  It is the responsibility of both employers and professionals to ensure that any evidence of bad practice or misconduct is investigated appropriately and without delay.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to commission work on the 620
  definition of national standards in social care; who is undertaking the work; when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  We intend to issue a tender specification for a study of possible standards in the delivery of social care. We expect to do so before Easter.

  Smoking
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount was spent by Government on discouraging smoking in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The table shows the amount spent by the Health Education Authority on discouraging smoking over the last five years on behalf of the Government.

  Financial Year

  Amount spent on discouraging smoking £

  1988–89

  1,318,000

  1989–90

  4,151,000

  1990–91

  3,435,000

  1991–92

  4,175,000

  1992–93

  5,438,000

  Overall figures for spending within central Government on discouraging smoking could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Special Hospitals
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she intends to allow special hospitals to apply for trust status.

  Mr. Bowis
  We will decide on this in the light of our conclusions on the proposals in the Reed working group report.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish the Reed report on special hospitals.

  Mr. Bowis
  It will be published when we have completed our consideration of its proposals on the future of high security psychiatric services.

  Ashworth Hospital
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instruction was given to doctors following the Swann report into over-use of drugs at Ashworth hospital and on the reduction of drug levels; how this instruction was implemented; and what were the results.

  Mr. Bowis
  This is a matter for the Special Hospitals Service Authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority, Mrs. Anne-Marie Nelson.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who are the members currently appointed to the national health service Supplies Authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  The chairman is Sir Robin Buchanan, and the other non-executive members are Mrs. Alison
  621
  Cook, Mr. Eric Greenhalgh, Mr. James Hammond, Mr. Fred Hoult and Miss Catherine McLoughlin. The executive members are Mr. Terry Hunt, Mr. Evan Sutherland, Mr. Richard Chantler, Mrs. Roxanne Sutton and Mr. Chris Uden.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who are the members currently appointed to the registered homes tribunal.

  Mr. Bowis
  The members currently appointed to registered homes tribunals are:

  CHAIRMEN

  Mr. P. Hughes QC

  Mrs. O. B. Jones

  Mrs. M. Rutherford

  Mr. P. Singh

  Mr. J. W. Tinnion

  EXPERT MEMBERS

  Residential care/children's homes:

  Mr. R. Bessell

  Mr. D. Browne

  Mr. M. Burrell

  Mr. J. Churchill

  Mr. K. Coleman

  Mr. G. Dunn

  Mr. F. Edwards

  Mr. J. Fisher

  Mr. B. Garner

  Mrs. L. Gladwin

  Dr. B. Gray

  Mr. J. Hanson

  Mr. R. Humphries

  Mr. G. Harper

  Mr. D. James

  Mr. M. Jobbins

  Miss M. Joynson

  Miss S. Mathieson

  Miss S. Poupard

  Mr. J. Regan

  Miss J. Reynolds

  Mr. J. Stephens

  Mr. G. L. Thomas

  Ms J. Tunstill

  Mr. P. Tyndall

  Mr. D. Wakefield

  Mrs. J. Waldron

  Mr. F. Watts

  Mr. K. White

  Miss M. Woodier

  Nursing homes:

  Dr. A. Admani

  Dr. A. Banerjee

  Dr. J. Cox

  Dr. G. Hall

  Dr. M. Hildick-Smith

  Dr. G. Jones-Davis

  Dr. D. Kerr

  Dr. S. Moreton

  Mr. R. Marcus

  Mr. B. Maurice

  Dr. N. Merali

  Dr. P. Tiplady

  Mrs. S. Adams

  Mrs. C. Alford

  Mr. K. Dainty

  Mrs. R. Doidge

  Mrs. T. Gallety

  Miss P. Jenkins

  Mrs. N. Kelly

  Mrs. M. McGregor

  Mr. J. Sharp

  Mrs. M. Wilson

  Written Questions
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost of answering a written parliamentary question in her Department.

  Mr. Sackville
  The current average cost of providing an answer to a written parliamentary question is estimated at £97. This information was provided in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) on 30 November 1993 at column 391.

  Administrators
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many administrators worked in the NHS and trust hospitals five years ago and the latest available year; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 2 December 1993:] The information available is shown in the table. Many of the administrative and clerical staff directly support medical and other professional staff. The figures for managers need to be treated with caution because much of the increase arises from the reclassification of existing staff. The number of managers has been deliberately increased since the mid-1980s—not just since the reforms —because the service was previously undermanaged.

  Administrative and clerical (A&C) staff and general and senior managers (GM/SM) at 30 September each year, England (hospital and community health services, excluding family health services authorities and other statutory authorities): Whole-time equivalents

  1988 total

  1992 total

  No. included in 1992 total in NHS Trusts

  A&C

  106,990

  122,990

  (37,760)

  GM/SM

  1,230

  14,980

  (3,820)

  Source:

  1988 Non-Medical Manpower Census.

  1992 DH form Km49.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  2. There were no trusts in 1988.

  3. Figures for 1992 are the latest available.

WALES

  Enterprise Zone
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made towards establishing an enterprise zone in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Local authorities in the area are preparing an outline case for an enterprise zone.

  Institute of Welsh Affairs
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet representatives of the Institute of Welsh Affairs to discuss their recent proposals for the future of Wales; what new measures he is considering in the light of these proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I met representatives of the Institute of Welsh Affairs in July to hear of developments since the
  623
  publication of its report, "Wales 2010: Creating Our Future". My officials continue to keep in close touch with the institute on further developments.

  Schools Inspection
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total value of tenders placed in the financial year 1993–94 for the inspection of secondary schools in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The responsibility for school inspection rests with the office of Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools in Wales. I am informed that the total price of contracts let by OHMCI for the inspection of secondary schools in Wales so far this financial year is £1,510,617, including VAT.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make arrangements for the Data Protection Registrar to inspect relevant contracts with suppliers of IT services that involve the use of personal data held by his Department in order to check whether all appropriate arrangements in relation to the Data Protection Act 1984 have been made, and whether such contracts make provisions for the registrar to make random inspections in order to check the suppliers' compliance with eighth data protection principle.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Data Protection Registrar has a wide range of powers to ensure that all holders of personal data on computer are registered and observe the data protection principles as required by the Act. When IT services are contracted out, the data protection principles and the registrar's powers to promote compliance with them, apply to both the owner of the personal data and the service provider. It is for the registrar to decide how he will use his powers under the Act.

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will quantify the cost of the factors which led to an increase in the cost of cars for Ministers in his Department since 1990–91.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since 1990–91 the running costs of Ministers' official cars have increased by 12 per cent.—including the VAT increase in April 1991—resulting in additional costs in 1993–94 of £13,000. Further minor increases are attributable to changes in patterns of usage.

  Strategic Planning Guidance
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding strategic planning guidance in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have received representations from various organisations about strategic planning guidance in Wales both in correspondence and at meetings.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each service that has been market tested in his Department in 1993(a) the cost of the testing
  624
  process, including consultancy costs, (b) the result of the test, (c) the name of the successful contractor, (d) the value and duration of the contract, (e) the number of staff involved, (f) estimated annual cost reductions and (g) whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were deemed to apply.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department is currently analysing the outcome of the 1992–93 competing for quality programme with the efficiency unit in the Cabinet Office. Much of the information requested in the question will, once it has been finalised, be published in aggregate form in the "Citizens Charter Second Report". On an individual basis, much of the information is commercially confidential.

  Badgers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by county the number of badgers shot and gassed in each year since 1988; and what percentage of those badgers were subsequently shown to have tuberculosis.

  Mr. Redwood
  The number of badgers killed, following trapping during state veterinary service badger removal operations, in Wales since 1988 is as follows:

  Year

  Number of Badgers killed

  Number positive

  1988

  32

  0

  1989

  5

  0

  1990

  9

  1

  1991

  22

  0

  1992

  —

  —

  1993

  10

  0

  The figures relate to the county of Dyfed. No badgers have been killed by the state veterinary service in any other county in Wales since 1988. The legal gassing of badgers ceased on 26 June 1982.

DEFENCE

  Artillery Shells
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the trading relationship between Allivane International Ltd., Allivane International Group or Aerotechnologies Ltd. of London and Glasgow, with the Chartered Chemical Industries Pte. Ltd. of Singapore in regard to the sale and manufacture of artillery shells.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department holds no information on any trading relationship between these companies and the Chartered Chemical Industries Pte. Ltd. of Singapore.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the trading relationship between Royal Ordnance and the Chartered Chemical Industries Pte. Ltd. of Singapore in regard to artillery shells.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department holds no information on any trading relationship between Royal Ordnance and the Chartered Chemical Industries Pte Ltd. of Singapore.

  Nuclear Proliferation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on matters in regard to the proliferation of plutonium and other nuclear materials discussed at the NATO summit in Brussels on 10 and 11 January.

  Mr. Hanley
  The NATO summit declaration, to which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister referred in his statement of 12 January,Official Report, columns 177–79, sets out in paragraph 17 the alliance policy on proliferation. A copy of the declaration has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department prepared proposals for the second preparatory committee meeting for the fifth review and renewal conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty held in New York from 17 January.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department continues to be closely involved with the United Kingdom's participation in the work of the second preparatory committee.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is currently being conducted by his Blacknest verification laboratory into establishing a robust verification procedure to monitor a comprehensive nuclear test ban; and what resources are committed annually to such verification research.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Atomic Weapons Establishment, of which the Blacknest laboratory is a part, has been contracted by the Ministry of Defence to carry out work on the verification procedures necessary to monitor a comprehensive nuclear test ban. Expenditure on unclassified work in this area is likely to be about £1·5 million per annum.

  Landing Platform Helicopter Carrier
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to the best and final offer accepted from VSEL in respect of the landing platform helicopter carrier since 11 May 1993; and what is the reason for any subsequent adjustments.

  Mr. Aitken
  VSEL has contracted to provide a vessel which meets the Department's requirements as set out in the procurement specification. As the design progresses, it is normal for alterations to the details of the specification to be discussed. These discussions are still ongoing and any changes to the specification will be rigorously controlled to ensure that cost estimates are not exceeded and value for money is achieved. My Department is not renegotiating the contract with VSEL.

  Royal Naval Engineering College
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of recarpeting work carried out at the Royal Naval engineering college in Plymouth during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total cost of recarpeting work carried out during the last 12 months is £10,000.
  626
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of replacing and installing perimeter fencing and lighting at the Royal Naval engineering college in Plymouth since 1990.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total cost of replacing and installing perimeter fencing and lighting since 1990 is £330,000.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of building, maintenance and refurbishment work carried out at the Royal Naval engineering college in Plymouth during the last two financial years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total cost of building, maintenance and refurbishment work carried out during the last two financial years is £1,557,000 in financial year 1991–92 and £2,798,000 in financial year 1992–93.

  Royal Navy (Visits to South Africa)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made recently for Royal Navy ships to visit South Africa; what was the purpose of each of those visits; and which of those visits has been in connection with the sale of arms.

  Mr. Aitken
  The only visit of Royal Navy ships to South Africa to have been arranged in recent years is that of HMS Norfolk and the tanker RFA Grey Rover. This visit will take place later this month. The purpose of the visit is to re-establish relations between the Royal Navy and the South African navy.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) staff of Government agencies working in or to his Department; how much these cards cost (i) to buy, (ii) to post and (iii) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes.

  Mr. Hague
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the total cost to the Benefits Agency in 1993 of those Christmas cards sent out by senior executives in their official capacity.

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

  Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 18 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the total cost to the Benefits Agency of Christmas cards issued by its senior executives in an official capacity.

  The senior executives of the Benefits Agency (BA) are myself, as the Chief Executive, and my Directors, who form the Benefits Agency Management Team.

  A number of greetings cards were issued by myself and my Directors to managers, staff and outside organisations, but the cost of these cards and any postage costs incurred were funded, in the main, by the individual concerned.
  627
  The Agency also produced "official" Christmas cards which appeared in two designs and were of a functional nature, carrying a number of Freeline and Helpline telephone numbers, which are on the reverse of the card. These cards were available to all staff within BA and their intended purpose was one of liaison and information. It was felt that there was a good opportunity at Christmas, by way of a simple greetings card, to issue a reminder to the organisations with which the Agency has contact.

  A number of these "official cards" were issued by myself and my Directors, to government officials and outside bodies and organisations. Where possible such cards were distributed, along with other items of official mail, within the internal courier system at no extra cost to the Agency. Where postage costs were incurred these were restricted to second class postage.

  The cost to the Agency of Christmas cards issued by myself and my Directors in an official capacity, including postage, was £48·96.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Job Seeker's Allowance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to what extent the job seeker's allowance will be financed by the national insurance fund.

  Mr. Burt
  Payments of the job seekers allowance which are made on the basis of national insurance contribution records will be met from the national insurance fund.

  Young People
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds in the Doncaster area applied for severe hardship payments in each year from 1988; and what percentage of applicants were successful.

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

  Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 18 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about Severe Hardship Payments to 16 and 17-year-olds in the Doncaster area.

  The information requested in this question is not available in the format required and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. This is because the statistics kept cover the number of applications, rather than the number of individuals who have claimed. Some customers may have made more than one application. Also, the statistics collected do not distinguish between 16 and 17-year-olds.

  However, I have provided figures from the earliest date available, 1989, in the attached appendix, relating to successful applications for Severe Hardship Payments.

  I should point out that the statistics relate to Benefits Agency Districts and are not routinely collected to show the number of claims specific to a town. The statistics given for Doncaster relate to the Benefits Agency's Doncaster East and Doncaster West offices.

  16/17-year-olds severe hardship applications—Doncaster district office

  Year

  Total applications

  Number successful

  Percentage successful

  1989

  97

  64

  66

  1990

  103

  68

  66

  1991

  349

  263

  75

  1992

  541

  382

  71

  1993

  650

  543

  84

  Disability
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are receiving(a) attendance allowance, (b) disability living allowance, (c) family credit,(d) income support, (e) invalidity benefit and (f) sickness benefit in (i) Barking and Dagenham and (ii) Redbridge.

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

  Letter from Mr. M Richard to Mr. Mike Gapes, dated 18 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about benefit recipients in Barking, Dagenham and Redbridge.

  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because Benefits Agency District boundaries do not correspond with county or borough boundaries. However, I have provided figures relating to Barking Benefits Office, which covers the Barking and Dagenham area, and Ilford District Office, which covers the Redbridge area. I should point out that both those offices deal with areas other than Barking, Dagenham and Redbridge. The statistics provided, therefore, include a small number of people who do not live in those areas.

  I should also explain that Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are centrally administered benefits. To obtain figures for specific areas would result in disproportionate cost.

  Statistical data for each of the benefits is collected and collated over different periods and timescales. The figures provided are the latest available for each benefit.

  The numbers of people receiving Income Support, at November 1993, are as follows:

  Number

  Barking Benefits Office

  38,230

  Ilford District Office

  60,239

  The numbers of people receiving Family Credit, at 24 December 1993, are as follows:

  Number

  Barking Benefits Office

  934

  Ilford District Office

  992

  The numbers of people claiming Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit, at the last working day of December 1993, are as follows:

  Number

  Barking Benefits Office

  Sickness Benefit

  2,025

  Invalidity Benefit

  4,083

  Ilford District Office

  Sickness Benefit

  2,766

  Invalidity Benefit

  4,529

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled persons are employed on(a) a full-time basis and (b) a part-time basis in Benefits Agency local offices in the Doncaster area; and what
  629
  Mr. Burt
  The responsibility for Benefits Agency staff is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 18 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of disabled people employed in the Benefits Agency's offices in the Doncaster area.

  There are 320 staff employed in the two offices in the Doncaster area: Doncaster East and Doncaster West. Of the 245 who work full time, nine are registered disabled, and this represents 2·81 per cent. of all staff. Of the 75 staff who work part time, none are registered disabled.

  Information is not available for disabled staff who are not registered.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security where is the weather station which provides the recordings to enable cold weather payments to be made to citizens resident in Doncaster; what reviews he is currently carrying out to change the location of the weather station in relation to Doncaster; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the Library. There are currently no plans to change the weather stations covering the Doncaster area.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Investors Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from hon. Members since January 1990 on the operaton of the investors compensation scheme; what discussions he has had with the officers of the scheme arising from such discussions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have received a number of such representations. The Securities and Investments Board has recently consulted about the funding of the scheme and is currently consulting about a number of minor changes to the rules. While the rules are a matter for SIB and decisions in individual cases are matters for the board, I am very conscious of the valuable work carried out by the scheme.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise officers have been in post each year since 1979, solely involved in the detection of the illegal import of drugs; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  The only customs staff whose duties are solely involved in the detection of illegal imports of drugs are those who work in the customs investigation division and local collection investigation units. The relevant numbers are:

  Year

  Number

  1979–80

  121

  1980–81

  133

  1981–82

  152

  630

  Year

  Number

  1982–83

  183

  1983–84

  201

  1984–85

  212

  1985–86

  262

  1986–87

  297

  1987–88

  376

  1988–89

  395

  1989–90

  420

  1990–91

  568

  1991–92

  576

  1992–93

  582

  11993–94

  591

  1 estimate

  In addition, all staff employed on anti-smuggling duties at ports and airports have a prime responsibility in the detection of the illegal importation of drugs as well as of other prohibitied and restricted goods.

  Non-elected Authorities
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product was spent by central and local government and within central Government by non-elected authorities, for each year since 1979–80.

  Mr. Nelson
  Information on gross domestic product and central and local government expenditure is readily available on the CSO database in the following series—identified by their database code:

  EBAO: GDP at market prices adjusted for the distortion caused in the abolition of domestic rates

  ABAC: Central government contribution to general government expenditure

  ABAD: Local authority contribution to general government expenditure.

  The database can be accessed on-line by the House of Commons Library.

  Information on non-departmental public bodies is available in the annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies".

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount corporation tax receipts have been reduced in each of the last five years by the offsetting of costs associated with tobacco advertising, including sponsorship, against taxable profits.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Income Tax
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would have been the average percentage loss of income due to an increase of 7p in the pound in income tax, instead of the measures imposed in the March and November 1993 budgets, for the 10 per cent. lowest income group and the 10 per cent. highest income group.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The distribution of income tax can be analysed using the annual survey of personal incomes which records information about individuals who have some tax liability. On the basis of a projection to 1994–95 of the 1991–92 survey the income net of income tax of the top 10 per cent. of taxpayers would fall by about 4·1 per
  631
  cent. as a result of a 7p increase in the basic rate of income tax. The bottom 10 per cent. of taxpayers pay tax only at the lower rate and would be unaffected by a change in the basic rate.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish for each service that has been market tested in his Department in 1993(a) the cost of the testing process, including consultancy costs, (b) the result: of the test, (c) the name of the successful contractors (d) the value and duration of the contract, (e) the number of staff involved, (f) estimated annual cost reductions and (g) whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were deemed to apply.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer's departments are currently analysing the outcome of the 1992–93 competing for quality programme with the efficiency unit in the Cabinet Office. Much of the information requested in the question will, once it has been finalised, be published in aggregate form in the "Citizens Charter Second Report". On an individual contract basis, much of the information is commercially confidential.

  Tax Relief
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend extra-statutory concession A25, claims for tax relief, to include taxpayers restrained by the time limit relating to the setting back of retirement annuity relief and similar statutorily imposed time limits.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have no plans to extend extra-statutory concession A25. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, he may wish to write to me.

  English Courses (VAT)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the revenue raised from levying value-added tax on fees paid by students undertaking English as a foreign language course in the United Kingdom.

  Sir John Cope
  No estimates are available.

  Unofficial Economy
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to estimate the size of the unofficial economy; and what this represents as a percentage of gross domestic product.

  Mr. Nelson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Caernafon (Mr. Wigley) on 26 January 1993 at column 618.

  Public Sector Debt
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give in cash terms the level of the net public sector debt for each year since 1979 together with his forecasts using the prediction contained in the Red Book for each year until 1999 using either end of financial year dates or other convenient dates.
  632
  Mr. Nelson
  The table shows data for net public sector at end-March for each year from 1979 to 1993, plus projections for 1994 and 1995 consistent with the Budget forecast.

  Net public sector debt (end-March figures)

  £ billion

  Per cent. GDP

  1979

  92·0

  49·50

  1980

  100·6

  45·50

  1981

  115·2

  47·00

  1982

  126·1

  47·00

  1983

  134·0

  45·75

  1984

  146·5

  46·50

  1985

  160·3

  46·75

  1986

  166·4

  44·75

  1987

  172·3

  42·50

  1988

  171·1

  38·00

  1989

  157·2

  31·50

  1990

  151·0

  28·00

  1991

  155·3

  27·50

  1992

  164·9

  28·00

  1993

  201·7

  32·75

  11994

  253·0

  38·50

  11995

  292·0

  41·75

  1Forecast.

  Projections for 1995–96 to 1998–99 for net public sector debt as a percent of GDP are shown in chart 2.3 of the 1994–95 "Financial Statement and Budget Report". These projections show net public sector debt peaking at around 44 per cent. of GDP at end-March 1997, and falling thereafter. They are illustrative and depend on the assumptions made about growth of the economy.

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To 'ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) staff of Government agencies working in or to his Department; and how much these cards cost (i) to buy, (ii) to post and (iii) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes.

  Mr. Nelson
  A total of 1,175 official Christmas cards were sent by Ministers and 2,497 by civil servants in the Treasury in 1993. These cards cost £1,028·16 to buy. No record is available of the methods used to deliver the cards which would enable an accurate assessment to be made of postage costs. Equally no record is available of staff time involved in signing, addressing and placing the Christmas cards in envelopes.

  Sporting Services (VAT)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for finalising legislation which would exempt from value-added tax sporting services supplied to people taking part in sport or physical education by non-profit-making bodies and local authorities.

  Sir John Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 12 January, at column 189.

  Taxation
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) of 15 December 1992,Official Report, columns 120–26, and provide latest

  633
  estimates of the burden of direct and indirect taxes for 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95, including figures for the community charge and council tax as appropriate.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 14 January 1994]Updated figures for 1992–93, including estimates of community charge payments, and the latest estimates for

  Income tax, National Insurance contributions and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings

  1992–93

  Multiples of average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Single

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  24·98

  46·71

  68·44

  111·90

  181·37

  320·45

  459·53

  598·61

  876·77

  1,294·01

  2,684·81

  NICs

  11·87

  19·69

  27·51

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  Income tax and NICs

  36·84

  66·40

  95·95

  144·57

  214·04

  353·12

  492·20

  631·28

  909·44

  1,326·68

  2,717·48

  VAT

  —

  14·43

  19·24

  29·75

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  18·89

  23·33

  33·02

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge

  —

  7·19

  7·53

  8·20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  106·91

  146·05

  215·54

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  14·4

  17·9

  19·7

  21·5

  26·1

  30·7

  33·0

  34·4

  36·0

  37·2

  38·6

  NICs

  6·8

  7·6

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·3

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  21·2

  25·5

  27·6

  27·7

  30·8

  33·9

  35·4

  36·3

  37·4

  38·2

  39·1

  VAT

  —

  5·5

  5·5

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·2

  6·7

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge

  —

  2·8

  2·2

  1·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  41·0

  42·0

  41·3

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  16·71

  38·44

  60·17

  103·63

  168·14

  307·22

  446·30

  585·38

  863·54

  1,280·78

  2,671·58

  NICs

  11·87

  19·69

  27·51

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  Income tax and NICs

  28·57

  58·13

  87·68

  136·30

  200·81

  339·89

  478·97

  618·05

  896·21

  1,313·45

  2,704·25

  VAT

  —

  13·35

  18·59

  30·03

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  21·11

  25·61

  35·43

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge

  —

  11·13

  11·47

  12·16

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  103·72

  143·35

  213·92

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  9·6

  14·7

  17·3

  19·9

  24·2

  29·5

  32·1

  33·7

  35·5

  36·8

  38·4

  NICs

  6·8

  7·6

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·3

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  16·4

  22·3

  25·2

  26·1

  28·9

  32·6

  34·4

  35·6

  36·8

  37·8

  38·9

  VAT

  —

  5·1

  5·3

  5·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·1

  7·4

  6·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge

  —

  4·3

  3·3

  2·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  39·8

  41·2

  41·0

  Married, two children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  -0·74

  20·99

  42·72

  86·18

  150·69

  289·77

  428·85

  567·93

  846·09

  1,263·33

  2,654·13

  NICs

  11·87

  19·69

  27·51

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  32·67

  Income tax and NICs

  11·12

  40·68

  70·23

  118·85

  188·36

  322·44

  461·52

  600·60

  878·76

  1,296·00

  2,686·80

  VAT

  —

  13·33

  19·27

  32·23

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  20·74

  24·28

  32·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge

  —

  11·47

  12·15

  13·51

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  86·22

  125·93

  196·59

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  -0·4

  8·0

  12·3

  16·5

  21·7

  27·8

  30·8

  32·7

  34·8

  36·3

  38·2

  NICs

  6·8

  7·6

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·3

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  6·4

  15·6

  20·2

  22·8

  26·4

  30·9

  33·2

  34·5

  36·1

  37·3

  38·6

  VAT

  —

  5·1

  5·5

  6·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·0

  7·0

  6·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge

  —

  4·4

  3·5

  2·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  33·1

  36·2

  37·7

  Married, both working, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  1·65

  19·97

  41·68

  85·15

  128·61

  226·15

  349·51

  488·59

  766·75

  1,183·99

  2,574·79

  634
  1993–94 and 1994–95 for direct and indirect taxes excluding local taxes are given in the tables on a similar basis to that provided to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 15 December 1992. No estimates of council tax payments for specimen households in 1993–94 can be provided until the 1993 family expenditure survey is published.
  635

  Multiples of overate earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  NICs

  8·09

  15·91

  23·73

  39·38

  53·92

  65·34

  65·34

  65·34

  65·34

  65·34

  65·34

  Income tax and NICs

  9·74

  35·88

  65·42

  124·53

  182·53

  291·49

  414·85

  553·93

  832·09

  1,249·33

  2,640·13

  VAT

  —

  17·17

  22·86

  34·23

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  25·58

  29·47

  37·26

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge

  —

  11·85

  12·23

  13·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  90·48

  129·98

  209·02

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  1·0

  7·7

  12·0

  16·3

  18·5

  21·7

  25·1

  28·1

  31·5

  34·1

  37·0

  NICs

  4·7

  6·1

  6·8

  7·6

  7·8

  6·3

  4·7

  3·8

  2·7

  1·9

  0·9

  Income tax and NICs

  5·6

  13·8

  18·8

  23·9

  26·2

  27·9

  29·8

  31·9

  34·2

  35·9

  38·0

  VAT

  —

  6·6

  6·6

  6·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9·8

  8·5

  7·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge

  —

  4·5

  3·5

  2·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  34·7

  37·4

  40·1

  Income tax, National Insurance contributions and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings

  1993–94

  Multiples of average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Single

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  26·02

  48·51

  71·01

  118·67

  190·65

  334·61

  478·57

  622·53

  910·45

  1,342·33

  2,781·93

  NICs

  12·28

  20·37

  28·47

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  Income tax and NICs

  38·30

  68·89

  99·48

  152·55

  224·53

  368·49

  512·45

  656·41

  944·33

  1,376·21

  2,815·81

  VAT

  —

  14·71

  19·64

  30·16

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  19·87

  24·45

  34·23

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  103·47

  143·57

  216·94

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  14·5

  18·0

  19·7

  22·0

  26·5

  31·0

  33·2

  34·6

  36·1

  37·3

  38·6

  NICs

  6·8

  7·5

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  21·3

  25·5

  27·6

  23·3

  31·2

  34·1

  35·6

  36·5

  37·5

  38·2

  39·1

  VAT

  —

  5·5

  5·5

  5·6

  —_

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·4

  6·8

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  38·3

  39·9

  40·2

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  17·75

  40·25

  62·74

  107·73

  177·42

  321·38

  465·34

  609·30

  897·22

  1,329·10

  2,768·70

  NICs

  12·28

  20·37

  28·47

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  Income tax and NICs

  30·03

  60·62

  91·21

  141·61

  211·30

  355·26

  499·22

  643·18

  931·10

  1,362·98

  2,802·58

  VAT

  —

  13·51

  18·87

  30·57

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  22·31

  27·00

  37·22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  96·44

  137·08

  209·40

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  9·9

  14·9

  17·4

  20·0

  24·6

  29·8

  32·3

  33·9

  35·6

  36·9

  38·5

  NICs

  6·8

  7·5

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  16·7

  22·5

  25·3

  26·2

  29·4

  32·9

  34·7

  35·7

  37·0

  37·9

  38·9

  VAT

  —

  5·0

  5·2

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·3

  7·5

  6·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  35·7

  38·1

  38·8

  Married, two children

  Amounts, £per week

  Income tax

  -0·35

  22·15

  44·64

  89·63

  159·32

  303·28

  447·24

  591·20

  879·12

  1,311·00

  2,750·00

  NICs

  12·28

  20·37

  28·47

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  33·88

  Income tax and NICs

  11·93

  42·52

  73·11

  123·51

  193·20

  337·16

  481·12

  625·08

  913·00

  1,344·88

  2,784·48

  VAT

  —

  13·41

  19·48

  32·73

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  22·09

  25·77

  33·80

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  78·01

  118·36

  190·04

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  -0·2

  8·2

  12·4

  16·6

  22·1

  28·1

  31·1

  32·9

  34·9

  36·4

  38·2

  NICs

  6·8

  7·5

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  6·6

  15·8

  20·3

  22·9

  26·8

  31·2

  33·4

  34·7

  36·2

  37·4

  38·7

  636 637

  Multiples of average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  VAT

  —

  5·0

  5·4

  6·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·2

  7·2

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  28·9

  32·9

  35·2

  Married, both working, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  2·87

  21·60

  43·77

  88·76

  133·75

  237·63

  368·07

  512·03

  799·95

  1,231·83

  2,671·43

  NICs

  8·36

  16·45

  24·55

  40·75

  55·87

  67·76

  67·76

  67·76

  67·76

  67·76

  67·76

  Income tax and NICs

  11·23

  38·05

  68·32

  129·51

  189·62

  305·39

  435·83

  579·79

  867·71

  1,299·59

  2,739·19

  VAT

  —

  15·57

  21·42

  33·06

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  25·88

  29·92

  37·96

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  79·51

  119·67

  200·52

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  1·6

  8·0

  12·2

  16·4

  18·6

  22·0

  25·6

  28·5

  31·8

  34·2

  37·1

  NICs

  4·6

  6·1

  6·8

  7·5

  7·8

  6·3

  4·7

  3·8

  2·7

  1·9

  0·9

  Income tax and NICs

  6·2

  14·1

  19·0

  24·0

  26·3

  28·3

  30·3

  32·2

  34·4

  36·1

  38·1

  VAT

  —

  5·8

  6·0

  6·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9·6

  8·3

  7·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  29·5

  33·3

  37·1

  Income tax, National Insurance contributions and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings 1994–95

  Multiples of average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Single

  Amounts, £per week

  Income tax

  27·34

  50·73

  74·13

  126·83

  201·69

  351·41

  501·13

  650·85

  950·29

  1,399·45

  2,896·65

  NICs

  14·16

  23·51

  32·87

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  Income tax and NICs

  41·50

  74·25

  107·00

  165·27

  240·13

  389·85

  539·57

  689·29

  988·73

  1,437·89

  2,935·09

  VAT

  —

  16·78

  22·21

  33·74

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  20·86

  25·68

  35·87

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  111·89

  154·89

  234·88

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  14·6

  18·1

  19·8

  22·6

  26·9

  31·3

  33·5

  34·8

  36·3

  37·4

  38·7

  NICs

  7·6

  8·4

  8·8

  6·8

  5·1

  3·4

  2·6

  2·1

  1·5

  1·0

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  22·2

  26·4

  28·6

  29·4

  32·1

  34·7

  36·0

  36·8

  37·7

  38·4

  39·2

  VAT

  —

  6·0

  5·9

  6·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·4

  6·9

  6·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  39·9

  41·4

  41·8

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  20·73

  44·12

  67·51

  120·21

  195·07

  344·79

  494·51

  644·23

  943·67

  1,392·83

  2,890·03

  NICs

  14·16

  23·51

  32·87

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  Income tax and NICs

  34·88

  67·63

  100·38

  158·65

  233·51

  383·23

  532·95

  682·67

  982·11

  1,431·27

  2,928·47

  VAT

  —

  15·38

  21·27

  33·76

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  23·24

  28·16

  38·57

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  106·25

  149·81

  230·99

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  11·1

  15·7

  18·0

  21·4

  26·1

  30·7

  33·0

  34·4

  36·0

  37·2

  38·6

  NICs

  7·6

  8·4

  8·8

  6·8

  5·1

  3·4

  2·6

  2·1

  1·5

  1·0

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  18·6

  24·1

  26·8

  28·3

  31·2

  34·1

  35·6

  36·5

  37·5

  38·2

  39·1

  VAT

  —

  5·4

  5·7

  6·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·3

  7·5

  6·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  37·8

  40·0

  41·1

  Married, two children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  2·27

  25·67

  49·06

  101·76

  176·62

  326·34

  476·06

  625·78

  925·22

  1,374·38

  2,871·58

  NICs

  14·16

  23·51

  32·87

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  38·44

  Income tax and NICs

  16·43

  49·18

  81·93

  140·20

  215·06

  364·78

  514·50

  664·22

  963·66

  1,412·82

  2,910·02

  VAT

  —

  15·21

  21·92

  36·12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  638

  639

  Multiples of average earnings

  50

  75

  100

  150

  200

  300

  400

  500

  700

  1,000

  2,000

  Other indirect

  —

  23·13

  27·03

  35·29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  87·53

  130·88

  211·62

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  1·2

  9·1

  13·1

  18·1

  23·6

  29·1

  31·8

  33·4

  35·3

  36·7

  38·4

  NICs

  7·6

  8·4

  8·8

  6·8

  5·1

  3·4

  2·6

  2·1

  1·5

  1·0

  0·5

  Income tax and NICs

  8·8

  17·5

  21·9

  25·0

  28·7

  32·5

  34·4

  35·5

  36·8

  37·7

  38·9

  VAT

  —

  5·4

  5·8

  6·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·2

  7·2

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  31·2

  35·0

  37·7

  Married, both working, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  4·31

  25·25

  48·07

  94·85

  141·64

  257·97

  396·76

  546·48

  845·92

  1,295·08

  2,792·28

  NICs

  9·60

  18·95

  28·31

  47·03

  63·82

  76·88

  76·88

  76·88

  76·88

  76·88

  76·88

  Income tax and NICs

  13·91

  44·21

  76·38

  141·88

  205·46

  334·85

  473·64

  623·36

  922·80

  1,371·96

  2,869·16

  VAT

  —

  17·58

  24·03

  36·82

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  27·19

  31·44

  39·86

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  88·97

  131·85

  218·56

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  2·3

  9·0

  12·8

  16·9

  18·9

  23·0

  26·5

  29·2

  32·3

  34·6

  37·3

  NICs

  5·1

  6·8

  7·6

  8·4

  8·5

  6·8

  5·1

  4·1

  2·9

  2·1

  1·0

  Income tax and NICs

  7·4

  15·7

  20·4

  25·3

  27·4

  29·8

  31·6

  33·3

  35·2

  36·7

  38·3

  VAT

  —

  6·2

  6·5

  6·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9·7

  8·4

  7·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  31·7

  35·2

  38·9

  Notes to tables:

  1. Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and only have income from employment. All earners, including wives, are assumed to pay class 1 national insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate.

  2. Since 1990–91, husbands and wives have been taxed independently. Previously the tax liability of couples depended on their joint income. To permit comparisons with earlier years, the table therefore shows income tax and national insurance contributions paid by a married couple as a proportion of their joint income, assuming, as in the earlier years, that where both partners are earners, the husband and wife share the relevant multiple of earnings in the ratio 60:40.

  3. In order to provide comparability with 1978–79, when support for children was given partly through child tax allowance, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax for the married couple with two children.

  4. Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are assumed to be £347·70 a week in 1992–93, £359·90 a week in 1993–94 and £374·30 a week in 1994–95, based on illustrative earnings growth assumptions of 3½ per cent. in 1993–94 and 4 per cent. in 1994–95.

  5. The estimates of most indirect taxes are based on equations derived from the 1985 family expenditure survey, uprated to later years using forecasts of aggregate tax receipts. Estimates of VAT on domestic fuel and power are based on equations using results from the 1991 family expenditure survey, uprated using a similar methodology. These estimates are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. There are wide variations in spending patterns between households with the same composition and similar incomes and estimated payments of VAT and other indirect taxes are therefore approximate, even within the income range for which figures are shown. Outside this range, the margin of error is even higher and reliable estimates cannot be made. Because of sampling variation, there can be substantial differences between estimates obtained from family expenditure surveys for different years.

  6. Estimates of the burden of the community charge has been derived from the 1991 and 1992 Family Expenditure Surveys. All respondents were assumed to pay the community charge to which they were liable. The calculations include water charges in order to put the estimates on a comparable basis to the estimates for earlier years. Community charge payments are net of transitional relief and community charge benefit. Since community charge payments vary widely between households with similar incomes, estimated charge payments are only approximate.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a full list of all statements made by Ministers in his Department, and/or press notices issued by his Department, which referred to a possible completion date for the channel tunnel rail link, the dates on which each such statement was made, and the possible completion date which was mentioned.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: My right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont), in his Budget statement of 16 March 1993, Official Report, column 194, said that he hoped to see the new line completed around the end of the decade.

  Crossrail
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a full list of all statements made by Ministers in his Department, and/or press notices issued by his Department, which referred to a possible completion date for the crossrail project, the dates on which each such statement was made and the possible completion date which was mentioned.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]I am not aware of any such statements or press notices.

  Private Pensions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the 10 companies included in the survey commissioned from KPMG Peat Marwick by the
  641
  Securities and Investments Board recently, on the transferring of assets from occupational to private pension schemes.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: The survey was commissioned by SIB. I understand that the firms included in the survey—10 LAUTRO regulated firms, eight IMRO regulated firms and 43 members of FIMBRA—were chosen as firms representative of those involved in the selling of personal pensions. Because the study was intended to establish the extent of compliance in the industry as a whole it would be unfair and misleading to single out those firms included in the survey by publishing their names.

  Air Passenger Duty
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigation his Department intends to undertake into the effect of air passenger duty on air fares within the United Kingdom; what estimate he has made as to the impact on business and leisure use of air transport, particularly to the airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports; and what evidence he has received from other European countries as to the impact of such taxation on transport.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: Air passenger duty is expected to increase return air fares within the United Kingdom and to other EC countries by £5; and to other destinations by £10. For the purpose of analysing the effects of the duty we have assumed airlines will fully pass on the duty to passengers in the form of higher fares. The price elasticity for business journeys is estimated to be -0·3; for non-business journeys to be -1·25. Overall, the tax is expected to reduce demand for air travel by around 2½ per cent. There is insufficient information available to estimate the impact of the tax on airports operated by Highland and Islands airports. No information has been received from other European countries on the impact of the introduction of such taxation on transport.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  DAF Leyland
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the 1990, 1991 and 1992 accounts of DAF Leyland were filed at Companies House.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  This matter is for Companies House. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Mr. D. Durham to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 17 January 1994:

  You tabled the following Parliamentary Question:
  "To ask the President of the Board of Trade, when the 1990, 1991 and 1992 accounts of DAF Leyland were filed at Companies House."

  As this is a matter which is my responsibility as Chief Executive and Registrar of Companies House, I am writing to you direct.

  There is no company currently registered under the name of DAF Leyland. I presume that the company in which you are interested is Leyland DAF Limited. I should point out that there are in fact 13 companies on the register with the name Leyland
  642
  DAF in their title, but for the purposes of this reply I have concentrated on the two major companies within the group, Leyland DAF Limited and Leyland DAF Holdings Limited.

  Leyland DAF Limited and Leyland DAF Holdings Limited both delivered accounts for the period ending 31 December 1990 on 10 October 1991. Failure of the directors of these companies to deliver accounts for the period ended 31 December 1991 were followed up with the companies in accordance with normal procedures.

  I was subsequently notified that an administrative receiver had been appointed for both companies on 3 February 1993. The receiver submitted the relevant receivership documents. The companies will not now be pursued for statutory documents but the receiver has an obligation to send me accounts of the receipts and payments to cover the first 12 months of the receivership and six monthly periods thereafter. A report from the receiver was delivered to Companies House for both companies on 2 September 1993.

  Should the companies survive the receivership and emerge as active and wishing to remain on the register, the directors will be obliged to deliver outstanding statutory documents including those which became outstanding prior to the appointment of the receiver.

  I hope this reply has covered the points tabled in your question. If you are interested in any other company within the Leyland DAF group please do not hesitate to let me know.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will update to the present the answer given to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 17 October 1990,Official Report, column 837, on export credits to Iraq.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is contained in the answer that I gave to the hon. Gentleman on 12 January at column 236.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what benefits have accrued to United Kingdom business from exhibitions at the Baghdad international arms fairs.

  Mr. Needham
  I assume the question refers to the international exhibition for military production held in Baghdad in 1989 in which a number of British companies participated. It is for the companies themselves to say what commercial benefits accrued as a result.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date the most recent United Kingdom-Iraq joint committee on trade was held; what matters were discussed; and what was decided.

  Mr. Needham
  The most recent UK-Iraq joint commission was held from 27 to 30 November 1989. It reviewed the implementation of the agreement on economic and technical co-operation signed on 24 June 1981. A financial protocol was signed for ECGD supported medium-term credits, up to a value of £250 million, in respect of the export of capital goods and services to Iraq by United Kingdom companies. In the event, however, loan agreements in respect of this sum were not signed and none of the £250 million, therefore, was utilised by Iraq.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has sent a copy of the Kemp report on the ECGD to the Scott inquiry.
  643
  Mr. Needham
  A copy of the Kemp report which reviewed the status options for ECGD has not been sent to the Scott inquiry since it does not fall within the categories of documents requested by the inquiry.

  Export Credits Guarantees Department
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the nature of his Department's responsibility for and oversight of the ECGD since it was sold.

  Mr. Needham
  The short-term business of ECGD, formerly operated by its insurance services arm, was privatised on 1 December 1991. The privatised company has to meet the regulatory requirements of the DTI pertaining to private sector insurance companies. ECGD continues to be a separate Department of the Secretary of State, principally concerned with credit insurance support for capital goods and project exports, typically sold on medium and long terms of credit. The Government have agreed to provide various supplemental reinsurance facilities to the private sector through ECGD to ensure that sufficient capacity is available to meet the needs of United Kingdom companies exporting on short terms of credit.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department retains records of ECGD activities prior to its privatisation.

  Mr. Needham
  The Secretary of State retains the right of access to records held by NCM Credit Insurance Ltd. to satisfy ECGD's requirements in terms of its trading and appropriation accounts, its public accountability obligations and to ensure the company complies with the terms of agreements entered into with ECGD in the context of the privatisation.

  British Coal
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what total amount of subsidy towards the cost of production has been paid by the Department to British Coal since the 1993 coal White Paper;

  (2) what conditions need to be met in order to claim a subsidy from the Government to British Coal towards the cost of production from a particular mine;

  (3) how many requests his Department has received from British Coal since last March for a subsidy to a mine or group of mines; and how many have been accepted.

  Mr. Eggar
  The coal subsidy is available to both British Coal, and private sector producers, in support of genuinely additional sales of deep mined coal for electricity generation, at world market related prices. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account a range of factors including, the price paid for the coal, which should be related to world market prices, current and projected production costs at the pit, the financial performance of the pit and the position of competing producers, as it is important to ensure that United Kingdom opencast producers are not unfairly disadvantaged.

  The Department of Trade and Industry has received a number of bids for subsidy since March 1993. Details of individual applications are commercially confidential, but so far, two offers of subsidy have been made to British Coal, in support of sales from Ellington colliery. Both offers are subject to EC clearance.
  644
  The subsidy is payable in arrears in line with actual deliveries made. To date, no subsidy has been paid to British Coal. Details of the total amount of subsidy awarded will however be made available to Parliament in the normal way.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the consultants commissioned by him to report on the restructuring and privatisation of British Coal; what are their terms of reference; when each piece of work was commissioned; and when it was completed.

  Mr. Eggar
  Details of consultants appointed by the Department on privatisation and associated restructuring are as follows:

  Consultant

  Date

  Scope of work

  NM Rothschild

  30 May 1991

  Provision of financial advice in connection with the privatisation of the coal industry.

  Clifford Chance

  19 June 1991

  Provision of legal advice in connection with the privatisation of the coal industry.

  John T. Boyd

  5 August 1991

  Provision of advice on technical matters related to evaluating the potential for improvements in mining productivity and costs in the United Kingdom coal industry and other similar matters that may be specified in connection with the privatisation of the coal industry.

  Touche Ross

  12 June 1991

  Provision of accounting and regulatory advice in connection with the privatisation of the coal industry.

  RPS Consultants

  12 July 1993

  Identification of and advice on environmental liabilities.

  Dewe Rogerson

  28 July 1992

  Provision of marketing advice for privatisation.

  Wardell Armstrong

  5 August 1991

  Provision of advice on technical matters related to minerals leasing and licensing.

  Peter Williams

  7 January 1992

  Provision of advice on coal mining safety matters in connection with the privatisation of British Coal.

  The consultants' work is continuing as work on privatisation progresses.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost including expenses of all consultancies he has commissioned on the restructuring and privatisation of British Coal.

  Mr. Eggar
  Expenditure on consultancies in connection with the privatisation of British Coal for 1991–92 and 1992–93 was £3·3 million, including VAT, and £3·5 million, including VAT, respectively. Provision for 1993–94 is £13·5 million, including VAT. The consultancies budget for 1994–95 has still to be decided.

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) staff of

  645
  Government agencies working in or to his Department; and how much these cards cost (i) to buy, (ii) to post and (iii) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department did not have an official Christmas card last year. The use of Christmas cards by the Department's executive agencies is a day-to-day operational matter for their chief executives, but I understand that in 1993 the following DTI agencies sent out official cards: Accounts Services Agency, Companies House, Laboratory of the Government Chemist, National Engineering Laboratory, National Physical Laboratory, National Weights and Measures Laboratory, Patent Office, Radiocommunications Agency and Warren Spring Laboratory. Details of these and any other mailings of Christmas cards are not held centrally.

  Consultancies
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the(a) accountancy firms and (b) merchant banks to which his Department awarded private consultancy work in 1992 and 1993, together with a list of the consultancies concerned and the amount paid.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department does not classify consultancy contracts in terms of the type of organisations awarded them and the information requested cannot be provided other than at disproportionate cost.

  AKZO-Nobel Industrier
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the proposed merger between AKZO and Nobel Industrier to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  No. This merger falls to be considered under the EC merger regulation. I understand the concerns that my hon. Friend has expressed about this transaction and I can assure him that these were taken into account in the full comments which the United Kingdom has passed to the EC Commission. A decision as to whether a detailed investigation should be undertaken is a matter for the Commission.

  Ofwat Customer Services Committees
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are used in determining nominations for the chairmanship of regional Ofwat customer services committees.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services.

  Jetstream Aircraft
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of the agreement of GATT on the future prospects for the sale of Jetstream aircraft overseas.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No new agreement on civil aircraft —a category which includes aircraft of all sizes, aero-engines and equipment—was concluded at the end of the Uruguay round. The parties involved agreed to retain the status quo, and to continue negotiations for a further year on the basis of a text drafted by the chairman of the 646
  relevant GATT sub-committee. It is therefore unlikely that Jetstream's sales prospects will be affected in the short term.

  In the long term, our aim is to put into place an agreement which controls all forms of government support to the aerospace industry in a balanced way. Such an agreement would be of benefit to Jetstream as well as to the rest of the United Kingdom aerospace industry.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he will take to recover the levy paid to Nuclear Electric in the current financial year following the publication of the most recent figures regarding the cost of decommissioning nuclear power stations;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect on costs of decommissioning power stations recently published by the nuclear industry on the validity of the estimates on which the fossil fuel levy was based; and what plans he has to reduce or end the levy.

  Mr. Eggar
  The fossil fuel levy enables the full costs of nuclear generation in England and Wales, including making provision for the costs of decommissioning Nuclear Electric's stations, to be met. The suMs to be raised by the levy over the period 1990–1998 were determined in 1990 in the light of Nuclear Electric's best estimates at that time of the full costs of its stations and in the light of reductions in these costs which Nuclear Electric aimed to achieve. This is reflected in the fact that the amount raised for Nuclear Electric from the levy is schedule to decline in real terms up to 1998, providing the company with an incentive to reduce its costs. The levy arrangements in respect of nuclear power are due to end in 1998.

  The House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee made certain recommendations in respect of the levy in its report "British Energy Policy and the Market for Coal" (HC 237). The Government will take account of these recommendations in their review of the future prospects for nuclear power.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how GATT will affect the ability of Rolls-Royce in Coventry to compete with other aero engine manufacturers.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  no new agreement on civil aircraft—a category which includes aero-engines—was concluded at the end of the Uruguay round. The parties involved agreed to retain the status quo, and to continue negotiations for a further year on the basis of a text drafted by the chairman of the relevant GATT sub-committee. Thus, the competitive position of Rolls-Royce will not be affected immediately.

  In the long term, our aim is to put into place an agreement which controls all forms of government support to the aerospace industry, in particular the high levels of indirect support which the United States aero-engine industry receives. Such an agreement would help Rolls-Royce to compete on an equal basis in world markets.

  Rolls-Royce
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what request he has received from Rolls-Royce for launch aid.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not our policy to confirm or deny whether applications for support have been received from particular companies, as any such applications are treated as commercially confidential.

  Digital Audio Broadcasting
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has been reached on the allocation of radio frequency spectrum to allow the introduction of digital audio broadcasting into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government have decided to make available the frequency band 217·5 MHz to 230 MHz to enable terrestrial digital audio broadcasting—TDAB —services to begin in the United Kingdom. Broadcasters and equipment manufacturers will now be able to make plans for sound broadcasting services and for the production of receivers with more certainty.

  The various interests which were brought together by the President of the Board of Trade in February in a DAB forum, which has the aim of promoting plans for the introduction of this important new development into the United Kingdom, will also now be better placed to take investment and other decision, taking into account factors such as the benefits to listeners and the potential for business opportunities which will be created within and outside the United Kingdom.

  The DAB forum has enabled the various interests to make significant progress in planning for the introduction of DAB including the technical details, the business issues and the regulatory environment. This has built on the success of the Eureka project in which the United Kingdom —(notably the BBC—played a leading role, and has helped the United Kingdom remain in the vanguard of this exciting new challenge and opportunity for broadcasters and manufacturers.

  The Government's decision to make available scarce frequencies in a prime location in the radio spectrum to allow services to start up is a further demonstration of our commitment to play a full part in enabling the devolopment of DAB in this country for the benefit of United Kingdom industry as well as United Kingdom listeners.

  Regulations (Impact Costs)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how the cost impact of complying with proposed regulations is to be assessed with regard to small businesses.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Government are introducing today a small business litmus test as part of the compliance cost assessment procedure to ensure that the cost impact of proposed regulation on small businesses is fully taken into account. The test will normally take the form of a requirement for departments to consult two or three small firms typical of the sector affected by the regulation and discuss with them what the impact would be. Departments may apply an alternative test if this would give a better and 648
  clearer picture of the impact. The results of the test are to be included in the compliance cost assessment on the proposed regulation.

  I am arranging for a note of the full terms of the small business litmus test to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  EC Aid Programmes
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place a copy of his response to the European Commissioner's consultative document on the future of Rechar and other EC-wide aid programmes in the Library.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 12 January at column 240.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether he will make arrangements for the Data Protection Registrar to inspect relevant contracts with suppliers of IT services that involve the use of personal data held by his Department in order to check whether all appropriate arrangements in relation to the Data Protection Act 1984 have been made, and whether such contracts made provisions for the registrar to make random inspections in order to check the suppliers' compliance in with the eighth data protection principle.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Data Protection Registrar has a wide range of powers, under the Data Protection Act 1984, to ensure that all individuals and organisations holding personal data on computer systems are registered and observe the data protection principles as required by the Act. When IT services are contracted out by a data user, the contractor and the user will be subject to the application of the data protection principles, and to the registrar's powers to promote compliance with them, as provided for in the Act. It is for the registrar to decide how he will use his powers under the Act, and I do not consider that any further arrangements are necessary for him to discharge his duties effectively.

  Unicorn Heritage plc
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the reasons for his decision to declare as unrecoverable the grant made to Unicorn Heritage plc to promote the royal heritage exhibition.

  Mr. Sproat
  The writing-off of debts relating to grants paid under the section 4 grant scheme is an administrative procedure that does not require the intervention of the Secretary of State. In the case of Unicorn Heritage plc, the English tourist board was informed by the company's liquidators that there was no prospect of the debt being paid. The board accordingly recommended to my Department that the debt should be written off. My Department accepted the board's recommendation and once Treasury approval had been granted, the debt was
  649
  duly written off. Unicorn Heritage plc was treated in exactly the same way as any other company would have been in the circumstances.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are the practices and criteria used to write off grants made by the English tourist board; and if he will make a statement with regard to the write-off of the £200,000 grant for Unicorn Heritage plc awarded in December 1988.

  Mr. Sproat
  The English tourist board has discretion to seek repayment of any grant made under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 if there is a breach of the grant conditions. Having raised a debt, the board will investigate the likelihood of repayment. If, following these investigations, the board judges that the debt is irrecoverable, it will formally recommend to my Department that the debt should be written off. My Department has authority to write off debts up to a value of £100,000. Debts over £100,000 can be written off only with Treasury approval.

  In the case of Unicorn Heritage plc, I am satisfied that the English tourist board investigated thoroughly the possibility of repayment, and that the write-off procedures were correctly applied. Unicorn Heritage plc was treated in exactly the same way as any other company would have been in the circumstances.

  Royal Palaces
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what the accommodation at the occupied royal palaces consists of for(a) Princess Margaret, (b) the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, (c) Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, (d) the Duke and Duchess of Kent and (e) Princess Alexandra.

  Mr. Sproat
  The information is as follows:

  HRH the Princess Margaret

  Kensington Palace

  3 principal bedrooms

  4 principal reception rooms

  TRH the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

  Kensington Palace

  4 principal bedrooms

  7 principal reception rooms

  TRH the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent

  Kensington Palace

  5 principal bedrooms

  5 principal reception rooms

  TRH the Duke and Duchess of Kent

  St. James's Palace

  4 principal bedrooms

  6 principal reception rooms

  HRH the Princess Alexandra

  St. James's Palace

  5 principal bedrooms

  4 principal reception rooms

  In each case, apart from HRH the Princess Alexandra, there is associated staff and ancillary accommodation.
  650
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the occupants of the grace and favour accommodation at the occupied royal palaces and of the offices most recently held by each of them.

  Mr. Sproat
  Occupants of accommodation at the occupied royal palaces are as follows:

  Occupants

  Number

  (i)

  Members of the Royal Family—Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, The Prince of Wales, The Princess of Wales, The Princess Margaret, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke and Duchess of Kent, Princess Alexandra and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

  8

  (ii)

  Private Secretaries and officials in The Queen's Households.

  46

  (iii)

  Private Secretaries and officials in other Households.

  9

  (iv)

  Domestic staff in the Queen's Household.

  34

  (v)

  Domestic staff in other Households

  13

  (vi)

  Stables staff looking after the Civil List carriages and carriage horses.

  34

  (vii)

  The Queen's private staff and staff who work on the Royal Farms at Windsor.

  7

  (viii)

  Chauffeurs in the Queen's Household.

  9

  (ix)

  Chauffeurs in other Households.

  4

  (x)

  Staff in The Queen's Household responsible for the maintenance of the Occupied Palaces Estate.

  16

  (xi)

  Gardeners in the Queen's Household.

  6

  (xii)

  Gatekeepers and security staff in The Queen's Household.

  7

  (xiii)

  Firepatrolmen in The Queen's Household.

  5

  (xiv)

  Craftsmen and Porters in The Queen's Household.

  23

  (xv)

  Royal Collection Enterprises Limited staff.

  4

  (xvi)

  Crown Estate staff.

  3

  (xvii)

  Military Knights at Windsor Castle—pensioners.

  13

  (xviii)

  Pensioners.

  27

  Total

  268

  Twenty-three of the pensioners are retired employees of the royal household or their widows. The remaining four pensioners were granted accommodation in the past on a grace and favour basis.

  Stately Homes
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received from English Heritage about the effect on the future upkeep of stately homes of the financial situation of their owners.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have received no recent representations from English Heritage on the general issue of the effect on the future upkeep of stately homes of the financial situation
  651
  of their owners, but various aspects of English Heritage's on-going work bear on this issue. For instance, English Heritage's tax review panel is considering the impact of current taxation on owners of historic property, including stately homes. My Department is kept in close touch with that work.

  National Lottery
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy that all capital building projects financed by revenue from the national lottery will include access and facilities for people with disabilities.

  Mr. Brooke
  It will be for the bodies identified in section 23 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 to consider applications for national lottery funds. I shall be encouraging them to ensure that capital projects financed from the national lottery take account of the needs of people with disabilities, as required by the building regulations.

  Windsor Castle
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the National Heritage what damage has been caused to medieval wall paintings at Windsor castle by contractors; and if he will review the application of listed building controls to inhabited royal palaces.

  Mr. Sproat
  One chase approximately 8 ft high was made alongside a door architrave for the insertion of wiring, before the evidence of some paintwork concealed behind panelling and limewash was identified. The damage was localised and represented a fraction of an extensive area. Remedial conservation work has been undertaken.

  The occupied royal palaces are not statutorily subject to scheduled monument consent or listed building consent because they are Crown property. However, in the case of Windsor castle and Kensington palace, which are scheduled ancient monuments, any proposed development is subject to a similar non-statutory procedure known as scheduled monument clearance. It is also the practice of the royal household to comply with listed building consent requirements at the other occupied royal palaces which are listed but not scheduled. There are no plans to alter these arrrangements.

  British Library
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what additional costs have been incurred following the problems with wiring at the new British library building in St. Pancras.

  Mr. Sproat
  I expect the additional costs incurred in the employment of expert consultants, the direct costs of remedial works and the indirect cost of delay and disruption to be borne by the parties who have contributed to these costs, and not by the Exchequer. It is too early to estimate what the sum involved is likely to be.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish for each service that has been market tested in his Department in 1993(a) the
  652
  cost of the testing process, including consultancy costs, (b) the result of the test, (c) the name of the successful contractor, (d) the value and duration of the contract, (e) the number of staff involved, (f) estimated annual cost reductions and (g) whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were deemed to apply.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department is currently analysing the outcome of the 1992–93 competing for quality programme with the efficiency unit in the Cabinet Office. Much of the information requested in the question will, once it has been finalised, be published in aggregate form in the "Citizens Charter Second Report". On an individual contact basis, much of the information is commercially confidential.

  Geese
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many geese, of what species and in which locations, have been culled on the authority of his Department; and if he will give similar details for any proposed future culls.

  Mr. Sproat
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from David Welch to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 17 January 1994:

  Mr. Ian Sproat, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number and types of geese that have been culled in the Royal Parks.

  We sought licences from the Department of the Environment last year, under the Countryside and Wildlife Act, to cull 100 Greylag and 200 Canada geese. In the event, we culled 61 Greylag and 107 Canada geese.

  We will continue to monitor the situation, in the light of which we may apply for further licences in the future.

  Year of Older People
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what contribution his Department made to the European year of older people and solidarity between generations in terms of financial support, practical support for particular events, and the provision of information.

  Mr. Sproat
  Almost all of my Department's executive functions are carried out by its two executive agencies and by its 43 non-departmental public bodies which operate at arm's length from Government. My officials wrote to the chief officers of those bodies in 1992 to advise them that 1993 had been designated European year of older people and solidarity between generations so that they could consider what contribution could be made by their respective bodies within the programmes funded through the Department.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage in which programmes and events for the European year of older people and solidarity between generations he has been directly involved.

  Mr. Sproat
  None; the chief officers of the 43 non-departmental public bodies through which my Department's programmes are delivered and which operate
  653
  at arm's length from Government, were asked to consider what contributions could be made in support of the year by their respective bodies.

  Television, Wales
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will discuss with S4C the feasibility of securing satellite television air time to ensure that all residents within Wales are able to receive Welsh language television programmes.

  Mr. Brooke
  No. Responsibility for coverage of television services lies with the broadcasters, including S4C, which determine their priorities in the light of the resources available to them.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which communities within Wales which are at present unable to receive a reasonable reception of programmes transmitted by S4C and at least one English language television channel based in Wales could technically be served by a system of low power local relay masts; how many residents could be served by each mast; and how 'much each mast would cost to erect and maintain.

  Mr. Brooke
  Information about reception of television services by communities in Wales was given in my replies to questions from the hon. Member on 14 December 1993,Official Report, columns 577–78. The additional information about coverage could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The broadcasters estimate that the average cost of building a low-power television relay station is about £40,000, with maintenance costs of about £3,000 a year.

  "Big Story" Broadcast
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what discussions he has had with the Independent Television Commission regarding the espousal of burglary, surveillance and war on the water by Greenpeace in pursuit of the making of Carlton television's "Big Story" broadcast on 6 January;

  (2) what action he intends to take following the illegal forced entry to premises by Twenty Twenty Television during the making of Carlton television's "Big Story" broadcast on 6 January.

  Mr. Brooke
  I do not intend to discuss this with the Independent Television Commission. It would be for it to decide whether any action should be taken. The Broadcasting Complaints Commission can also examine complaints about unwarranted invasion of privacy. Ultimately, it would be for the courts to determine whether criminal activity had taken place.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what recent representations he has received concerning incentives for investment in film production; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans he has to issue a consultation document on the introduction of incentives to encourage investment in film production; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) when he last met representatives of the British film industry to discuss the prospects for that industry; with whom he met; and what action he proposes to take as a result of that meeting.
  654
  Mr. Brooke
  I regularly receive representations concerning possible measures to increase investment in film production. In December, I discussed the prospects of the British film industry with representatives of the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television and the film producer Mr. Edward Simons. So far as possible future Government action to help the industry is concerned, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 11 January,Official Report, column 70.

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) staff of Government agencies working in or to his Department; and how much these cards cost (i) to buy, (ii) to post and (iii) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes.

  Mr. Sproat
  Some 2,500 Christmas cards were purchased by the Department of National Heritage at a cost of £628·76. Of these, some 1,100 were supplied to Ministers. The remaining cards were available for use by civil servants. Cards were dispatched at normal second class postal rate, or were sent via the Government inter-departmental service. It is not possible to quantify the cost in staff time to sign, address and envelope the cards.

  I have asked the chief executive of the Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Parks agencies to write to the hon. Member about the practices in their agencies.

ENVIRONMENT

  London Policy
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he has had to the consultation document on London policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  So far over 9,000 completed questionnaries from "London: Making the Best Better" have been returned and I have also received over 200 letters in response to the publication. I will publish a digest of the response in March when replies have been analysed by my Department. All completed questionnaires received by mid-February will be taken into account in this analysis.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the Government's current attitude to local government reorganisation.

  Mr. Curry
  We are committed to the Local Government Commission's reviews of shire counties in England, which should lead to more convenient and effective local government reflecting the identities and interests of local people.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in favour of local government reorganisation in England.

  Mr. Curry
  Since issuing our consultation paper on the structure of local government in April 1991 we have received many representations in favour of reorganization
  655
  from local authorities, individuals and representatives of the business community, as well as Members of the House. It is not possible, however, to produce a definitive list of all the representations we have received except at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress to date made by the Local Government Commission.

  Mr. Curry
  The Local Government Commission's reviews are proceeding on schedule. It has submitted final reports on the Isle of Wight, Derbyshire, Cleveland, Durham, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset. Its final recommendations on Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire are clue on 23 January. It began on 13 December 1993 reviews of all the remaining shire counties in England and has been directed to submit final recommendations on these counties by the end of 1994.

  Local Authority Debt
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current extent of local authority debt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  At 31 March 1993, the total outstanding debt of local authorities in England was £37·6 billion. We shall continue to encourage authorities to reduce their debts.

  Affordable Housing
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received over the shortage of affordable rented accommodation.

  Sir George Young
  I and my Department continue to receive a regular flow of representations about the quality and quantity of rented housing. I am glad to tell the hon. Member that we are on course to exceed our commitment to providing 153,000 homes through housing associations over the first three years of this Parliament; the Housing Corporation now estimates that on the latest plans some 178,000 will have been completed by the end of 1994–95.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to increase the amount of affordable housing in inner London.

  Sir George Young
  The Housing Corporation recently announced the allocation of £285 million of resources to Housing Association projects in inner London. This will provide over 5,000 additional homes to rent and over 2,000 additional lettings through the tenant incentive and sale programmes.

  Local authorities can increase the supply of available housing for rent by reducing the number of vacant and squatted properties. Inner London has made good progress in the last five years, reducing by 7,500 the number of vacant and squatted council dwellings, but there is more to be done.

  We expect to provide about £358 million in 1994–95 to assist the repair and regeneration of inner London estates through HIP, estate action and housing action trusts. We will also be funding cash incentive schemes which increase the number of council homes available for letting and we will provide £86 million over the next three years through the rough sleepers initiative, largely to provide homes for single homeless people.
  656
  We also have initiatives such as flats over shops, housing associations as managing agents and tax incentives to take in lodgers which increase the supply of affordable housing through private renting.

  Bathing Water Quality
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what standards he wishes to see implemented for the regulation of the quality of bathing water at Britain's beaches.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government wish to see bathing water quality standards which are based on good scientific and medical advice. The forthcoming review of the EC bathing water directive will be an opportunity to ensure that the Community focuses on essential quality and health parameters.

  Housing, Birmingham
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his assessment of the impact of the Budget on housing in Birmingham.

  Sir George Young
  Birmingham housing has done extremely well from the Budget. Resources totalling over £78 million have been allocated in 1994–95 to renovate existing housing and build new. In addition, very large investments have been targeted to renovate some of the worst council estates through the estate action, city challenge and housing action trust initiatives, amounting to a further £60 million.

  Respiratory Disease
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he is carrying out into the links between air pollution and respiratory disease.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government sponsor a substantial body of research on links between air pollution and respiratory disease. Last July the Institute for Environment and Health was established to act as a focal point for research into the links between health and environmental quality generally, including air pollution.

  Birds Directive
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites the United Kingdom have been designated under the EC wild birds directive.

  Mr. Atkins
  Seventy-seven special protection areas have been designated in the United Kingdom. Further designations are expected shortly.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with his opposite number in the Commission of the European Communities in relation to the designation of the lower Severn estuary special protection area under the 1979 wild birds directive.

  Mr. Atkins
  None.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about local government finance since July.
  657
  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle).

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will calculate the total potential spending by all local authorities in England in 1993–94 if they all spent to the maximum of the capped levels, and the similar total potential spending for 1994–95 according to the provisional figures so far announced.

  Mr. Baldry
  The aggregates of the maximum budget requirements which could be calculated by English local authorities within the capping principles adopted for 1993–94 and the provisional capping criteria for 1994–95 which my right hon. Friend has announced are respectively:

  £ billion

  1993–94

  36·790

  11994–95

  38·097

  1 Provisional.

  These figures exclude the receiver for the Metropolitan police district—which is not subject to designation for capping under the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1992—local precepts, and appropriations from reserves.

  Spending Plans
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reduction there is in the spending plans for 1994–95 to 1995–96 compared with his Department's plans in the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Changes from the spending plans for my Department in the 1992 autumn statement were set out in table 5B.3 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994–95", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimate for spending in 1994–95 and 1995–96 contained in the 1992 autumn statement; what is the current spending plan for those years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department's spending plans for 1994–95 and 1995–96 were contained in table 2A.5 of the 1992 autumn statement. The latest plans are in table 5B·3 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994–95". Copies of both documents are in the Library.

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the operation of current legislation on the operation of incinerators for the burning of waste material.

  Mr. Atkins
  Operators of waste incinerators are required by part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to apply for authorisation of the process and must demonstrate the use of best available techniques not entailing excessive cost—BATNEEC—to prevent or minimise pollution before the authorisation is issued. Guidance is given to local enforcing authorities by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and for Scotland, and to the national 658
  inspectorate—HMIP and HMIPI in Scotland—by the chief inspectors. Both guidance notes and authorisations will be reviewed by the enforcing authorities at not more than four-yearly intervals.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the critical loads advisory group can assist with decisions on the provision of incineration of industrial and domestic waste.

  Mr. Atkins
  Critical loads maps are published by my Department, and these may be used by the relevant pollution control authorities. The critical loads advisory group is currently investigating methods of improving the resolution of the maps.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in his plans to extend compulsory competitive tendering to councils' professional services.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department is currently consulting local authorities and other interested parties on detailed proposals for extending CCT to local authority legal services. We will begin consulting on other white collar services in the course of this year. I anticipate that legislation will take effect in a phased programme beginning in October 1995.

  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in putting out local services to compulsory competitive tendering.

  Mr. Baldry
  Many blue collar services are already subject to CCT and are coming up for their second cycle of tendering, comprising approximately £2 billion-worth of contracts. CCT will be introduced for further blue collar services and a wide range of white collar services, starting with on-street parking and vehicle management from 1 April 1995 and legal and construction services from 1 October 1995. These are further large areas of council activity involving services amounting to well over £4 billion in value.

  Water and Sewerage Charges
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's policy in relation to the preferred method for the charging for domestic water and sewerage services.

  Mr. Atkins
  The basis of charging is a matter for the water companies. We have said that in our view there is a case for selective use of meters chiefly in areas of significant potential water shortage.

  National Parks
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made with the implementation of the Edwardes committee recommendations for national parks in England and Wales.

  Mr. Atkins
  In 1992 we issued a major policy statement setting out our proposals for the national parks, including a commitment to legislate to establish independent authorities for all 10 parks. Unfortunately
  659
  pressure on the parliamentary timetable has not allowed us to secure a place in the current session. However, Lord Norrie has recently announced his intention to introduce legislation in the House of Lords to establish independent authorities for all the parks and I am optimistic that the Government will be able to support it.

  Minerals Planning Guidance
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will have completed his review of minerals planning guidance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We published revised mineral planning guidance for coal mining and colliery spoil disposal for public consultation on 14 December 1993. Comments are required by 18 March 1994. When the comments have been considered we would hope to make any necessary revisions and publish final guidance in the summer.

  Standard Spending Assessment, Bournemouth
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the standard spending assessment for Bournemouth for 1994–95.

  Mr. Baldry
  Within the proposals for revenue support grant in 1994–95 announced on 2 December 1993, the provisional standard spending assessment for Bournemouth is £18·18 million. We have consulted local authorities on these provisional figures and will reach final decisions shortly.

  Housing Quality
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the Government's policies to improve the quality of housing in outer ring areas of cities; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  Housing in outer ring areas of cities benefits in the same way as housing in other areas from the Government's policies to secure better value for money from the use of public funds; to encourage investment in the private rented sector, widening choice for tenants and increasing the supply of homes for rent; to promote the growth of owner occupation; and to direct public expenditure more effectively towards those people and areas that most need support.

  As far as council housing is concerned, we aim to direct a larger share of spending power to those local authorities with the greatest needs, so outer ring areas with the most

  3.2 Land with outstanding planning permission for pirvate housing development by region and type of authority1: 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92

  Thousand/thousand hectares

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Region

  Dwellings

  Area

  Dwellings

  Area

  Dwellings

  Area

  North

  42·4

  2·0

  247·7

  22·2

  45·9

  1·9

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  67·1

  2·9

  271·1

  23·0

  71·7

  2·3

  East Midlands

  92·3

  4·2

  299·7

  24·5

  100·3

  4·6

  East Anglia

  72·3

  3·5

  74·6

  3·5

  72·3

  3·5

  South East

  Greater London

  62·1

  1·0

  254·3

  20·8

  57·7

  0·9

  Rest of South East

  217·6

  8·6

  2207·2

  28·6

  200·2

  9·1

  South West

  110·7

  4·1

  2110·0

  24·2

  110·8

  4·3

  West Midlands

  72·9

  3·1

  272·1

  3·6

  69·0

  3·0

  North West

  70·4

  3·0

  277·2

  3·3

  77·7

  3·2

  660
  serious housing needs will receive greater help. Where local authority estates face particular difficulties, estate action helps local authorities to tackle their management and social and economic problems as well as their physical problems. For a few of the most severely run-down estates housing action trusts have been established to secure comprehensive regeneration—for example, in Castle Vale. The resources for both estate action and housing action trusts for 1994–95 were increased in the Budget; both will be included in the single regeneration budget, which will come into operation from April.

  Litter
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of Chelmsford borough council's use of the power in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to enforce the law against litter.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Tidy Britain Group, which monitors local authorities performance under the Environmental Protection Act, tells me that Chelmsford borough council continues to make good use of the powers available to it. By employing litter wardens, adopting the fixed penalty scheme, and fining offenders, it is providing a strong deterrent to prospective litter louts.

  Housing Land
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's latest estimate of available housing land broken down by region and estimated in terms of the number of properties.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is not available.

  The Department does collect information on land in England with outstanding planning permission for residential development, which represents one component of land available for housing. The latest results, for 1991–92, relate to private sector development only and were published in "Development Control Statistics: England 1991–92" which is available in the Library. The table, showing the area of land with planning permission for private housing development in each region of England, and the corresponding number of dwellings, is taken from that publication.

  Since 1992, the Department has collected information on outstanding planning permissions for all residential development in England, public as well as private sector. The 1992–93 results will be published by the Department this summer in "Development Control Statistics: England 1992–93".
  661

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Region

  Dwellings

  Area

  Dwellings

  Area

  Dwellings

  Area

  England

  807·8

  32·4

  2813·9

  233·7

  805·6

  32·8

  of which:

  Metropolitan Districts and Greater London

  154·7

  24·7

  2152·5

  24·8

  151·8

  4·5

  Non-Metropolitan Districts

  653·1

  227·7

  2661·4

  228·9

  653·8

  28·3

  1 All figures are estimates based on available figures for 92·3 per cent, of English local authorities in 1989–90, 94·8 per cent, in 1990–91 and 91·3 per cent, in 1991–92.

  2 Figures refer to the stock of sites with outstanding planning permission at the end of each financial year.

  Lancashire (Pollution)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received on the pollution arising from the pollution incident off the coast of Lancashire on 2 January.

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit was first informed of the incident on 1 January. Samples of the substance recovered from the Fylde and Cumbrian coasts have been analysed by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, and indicate that the source of

  Local authority housebuilding, excluding purpose-built dwellings for the elderly and disabled

  (numbers of dwellings)

  Starts

  Completions

  England and Wales

  City of Manchester

  England and Wales

  City of Manchester

  1979

  43,123

  801

  61,336

  738

  1980

  24,692

  861

  65,164

  913

  1992

  1,140

  6

  1,922

  2

  12-month period to November 1993

  1773

  —

  11,078

  6

  1 These cover 76 starts and 96 completions of local authority house building in Wales which include dwellings purpose-built for the elderly and disabled.

  (numbers of dwellings)

  Starts

  Completions

  England and Wales

  City of Manchester

  England and Wales

  City of Manchester

  1979

  12,098

  62

  15,472

  365

  1980

  12,473

  227

  19,360

  94

  1992

  26,044

  553

  20,209

  238

  12-month period to November 1993

  134,906

  606

  129,170

  477

  1 These cover 3,070 starts and 2,410 completions of housing association house building in Wales which include dwellings purpose-built for the elderly and disabled.

  House building is only part of housing associations' provision of additional social housing. Homes are also provided through a variety of other means including purchases for rehabilitation and, the tenants incentive scheme.
  662
  the pollution is likely to be a commercial lubricant additive. Further tests are being carried out to establish the precise cause of the pollution.

  Council Housing
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority dwellings, excluding those purpose-built for the elderly and disabled, were(a) started and (b) completed in the latest 12-month period for which figures were available and how many were (i) started and (ii) completed in the comparable 12-month period for 1979–80, for (1) England and Wales and (2) the City of Manchester.

  Sir George Young
  The available figures for local authorities are as shown:

  Housing associations now have the main responsibility for new building in the social sector and the figures equivalent to those for local authorities are as follows:

  Local Authorities (Northamptonshire)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by each local authority in Northamptonshire(a) full time and (b) part time in each year since 1983.

  Mr. Baldry
  The available information is given in the table:
  663

  Numbers employed in Local Authorities in Northamptonshire at June of each year

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Authority

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Northamptonshire

  11,784

  9,751

  11,832

  9,735

  11,857

  10,254

  11,890

  10,934

  Corby

  527

  122

  550

  112

  582

  108

  572

  141

  Daventry

  268

  48

  268

  43

  275

  53

  287

  54

  East Northamptonshire

  263

  70

  266

  73

  264

  73

  265

  72

  Kettering

  509

  92

  494

  105

  486

  103

  485

  108

  Northampton

  1,606

  172

  1,608

  159

  1,599

  183

  1,606

  178

  South Northamptonshire

  261

  35

  263

  34

  257

  34

  252

  37

  Wellingborough

  386

  67

  389

  73

  384

  77

  376

  79

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Authority

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Northamptonshire

  11,594

  11,223

  11,819

  11,477

  11,536

  11,295

  11,005

  12,365

  Corby

  583

  170

  580

  135

  613

  134

  667

  153

  Daventry

  298

  59

  311

  73

  N/A

  N/A

  314

  106

  East Northamptonshire

  261

  69

  260

  80

  267

  78

  213

  57

  Kettering

  478

  109

  478

  96

  468

  104

  464

  105

  Northampton

  1,482

  216

  1,431

  235

  N/A

  N/A

  1,554

  192

  South Northamptonshire

  255

  43

  255

  26

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Wellingborough

  378

  83

  384

  90

  388

  93

  388

  105

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Authority

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Northamptonshire

  10,943

  10,966

  10,752

  10,409

  10,015

  9,362

  Corby

  621

  135

  613

  133

  N/A

  N/A

  Daventry

  312

  118

  315

  86

  312

  89

  East Northamptonshire

  200

  57

  203

  57

  N/A

  N/A

  Kettering

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Northampton

  1,602

  281

  1,518

  151

  1,429

  255

  South Northamptonshire

  N/A

  N/A

  342

  43

  336

  74

  Wellingborough

  392

  100

  383

  119

  346

  116

  * Provisional data

  N/A: Data not available

  Source: Joint Staffing Watch for England.

  Notes:

  (i) Education, highways, fire services, law and order and social services are administered by Northamptonshire county council. The other authorities shown are district councils which, amongst other services administer housing, planning and refuse collection.

  (ii) Polytechnics and higher education institutions were transferred from the local authority sector in April 1989.

  (iii) Further education institutions became the responsibility of the Further Education Funding Council in April 1993.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make arrangements for the Data Protection Registrar to inspect relevant contracts with suppliers of IT services that involve the use of personal data held by his Department in order to check whether all appropriate arrangements in relation to the Data Protection Act 1984 have been made, and whether such contracts make provisions for the registrar to make random inspections in order to check the suppliers' compliance in with the eighth data protection principle.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Data Protection Registrar has a wide range of powers, under the Data Protection Act 1984, to ensure that all individuals and organisations holding personal data on computer systems are registered and observe the data protection principles as required by the Act. When IT services are contracted out by a data user, the contractor and the user will be subject to the application of the data protection principles, and to the registrar's powers to promote compliance with them, as provided for in the Act. It is for the registrar to decide how he will use his 664
  powers under the Act, and I do not consider that any further arrangements are necessary for him to discharge his duties effectively.

  Rates (Transitional Relief)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment if he will list for each district council the actual and percentage reductions in transitional relief from 1993–94 to 1994–95.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not available at individual authority level. The total cost of transitional relief in England in 1993–94 is £399 million; the estimated cost in 1994–95 is £130 million.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many outstanding planning applications by local authorities are yet to be decided upon by him.

  Mr. Baldry
  Seventeen.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the Housing Corporation budget is dedicated to(a) shared ownership schemes, (b) tenants incentive schemes and (c) do-it yourself shared ownership for each year from 1987 to the percent.

  Sir George Young
  The percentages of the Housing Corporation's gross approved development programme —ADP—going to(a) conventional shared ownership schemes—LCHO—(b) tenants incentive schemes—TIS —and (c) do-it-yourself home ownership—DIYSO—from 1987–88 to 1993–94 are as follows:

  LCHO, TIS and DIYSO as percentage of gross ADP

  LCHO

  TIS

  DIYSO

  1987–88

  11·3

  —

  —

  1988–89

  11·4

  —

  —

  1989–90

  8·8

  —

  —

  1990–91

  6·1

  —

  —

  1991–92

  35·5

  2·4

  —

  11992–93

  4·6

  3·0

  2·5

  21993–94

  4·3

  3·1

  5·4

  1 Including housing market package.

  2 Estimated outturn.

  3 Includes DIYSO pilot scheme.

  Standard spending Assessments
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the material deprivation index devised by the School of advanced Urban Studies at the University of Bristol in the context of his review of standard spending assessments.

  Mr. Baldry
  The measurement of social and economic deprivation proposed for use in standard spending assessments arising from the review is based on detailed statistical analysis discussed with the local authority associations. The proposed assessments use a wider range of indicators than that devised by the school of advanced urban studies including some outside the census, such as unemployment.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to further amend the formula for the calculation of standard spending assessment.

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend has consulted on the provisional revenue support grant settlement for 1994–95 including his proposals for standard spending assessments. All the representations which have been received and any other relevant information will be carefully considered before final proposals are brought before the House shortly.

  County Hall
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the latest value placed on London's county hall prior to the London residuary body selling it to the Shirayama Corporation of Japan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Prior to its sale, any valuation of the riverside building of County hall would have been a matter 666
  for the London residuary body and potential purchasers. The terms of the contract for the sale of the riverside building were confidential between the LRB and the Shirayama Corporation. But the LRB was required by law to obtain the best price.

  Social Index
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment was made of the possible impact on local authorities of the changes to the ethnic definition within the social index.

  Mr. Baldry
  A wider definition of ethnicity was felt to be more appropriate for the measurement of social deprivation within the revised all ages social index. No assessment has been made of the separate effect of this change within the context of a number of changes proposed as a result of the review of standard spending assessments.

  Audit Commission
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members currently appointed to the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the national health service in England and Wales.

  Mr. Baldry
  Audit Commission: Members serving at 17 January 1994.

  Chairman

  Sir David Cooksey

  Deputy Chairman

  Murray Stuart

  Sir Peter Bowness CBE

  Alan Brown CBE

  Anthony Christopher CBE

  Lawrence Eilbeck

  Sir Terence English

  Sir Donald Irvine CBE

  Kate Jenkins

  Sir Peter Kemp

  Jeremy Orme

  Clive Thompson

  Tony Travers

  Sir Robert Wall OBE

  Chris West

  Clive Wilkinson

  Peter Wood

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the members currently appointed to each housing action trust.

  Sir George Young
  The names of the board members of each of the housing action trusts are as follows:

  North Hull—

  Lord Bellwin (Chairman)

  Cllr. John Black (Deputy Chairman)

  Prof. Peter Arnold

  Mr. Chris Fenwick

  Mrs. Maureen Foers

  Mr. Ray Ford

  Mrs. Joan Maginn

  Mrs. Jill Sowersby

  Mr. David Urquhart

  Cllr. Dennis Woods

  Waltham Forest—

  Mr. John Chumrow (Chairman)

  Mr. Simon Bartlett (Deputy Chairman)

  Mr. Roger Baker

  Mrs. Wendy Chapman

  667

  Mr. Roy Evans

  Ms Jacky Flanders

  Mr. Clive Landa

  Mr. Howard May

  Ms Melinda Phillips

  Mrs. Sharwar Sadeque

  Mr. David Shepherd

  Liverpool—

  Mrs. Paula Ridley (Chairman)

  Mr. Michael Appleton (Deputy Chairman)

  Mrs. Irene Clark

  Cllr. Margaret Clarke

  Mr. Rodney Dykes

  Mrs. Marjorie Gallimore

  Mrs. Susan Last

  Mr. Edward McGonagle

  Mrs. June Roberts

  Mr. Jack Sheridan

  Castle Vale—

  Mr. Richard Temple Cox (Chairman)

  Cllr. Ken Barton (Deputy Chairman)

  Cllr. Stan Austin

  Mrs. Joyce Curtis

  Cllr. Pat Forester

  Mr. Horace Gillis

  Mrs. Valerie Lawrie

  Mr. John Newton

  Miss Pat Niner

  Mr. Alfred Owen

  Mrs. Carole Rafferty

  Mr. Robert Wharton

  Tower Hamlets—

  Dr. Michael Barraclough (Chairman)

  Cllr. Janet Ludlow (Deputy Chairman)

  Ms Susan Angoy

  Ms Sheila Drew Smith

  Mrs. Jackie Harris

  Mrs. Doris Lewis

  Rev. Andrew Mawson

  Mr. Rory Moore

  Mr. Barry Shaw

  Ms Tricia Zipfel

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the members currently appointed to the Housing Corporation.

  Sir George Young
  The current members of the Housing Corporation board are:

  Sir Christopher Benson (Chairman)

  Stella Clarke JP DL

  David Cochrane OBE FCA

  Peter Cooke

  Dermot Gleeson

  David Kleeman

  Lady Montgomery

  Robin Thompson

  Julia Unwin

  Wilfred Wood

  Anthony Mayer (Chief Executive)

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the members currently appointed to the Property Advisory Group.

  Sir George Young
  The current members of the Property Advisory Group are as follows:

  Mr. Hugh Jenkins (Chairman)

  Chief Executive of Prudential Portfolio Managers and Director, Prudential Corporation plc.

  Mr. Roger Aldridge

  Executive Director, Marks and Spencer plc.

  Mr. Robin Broadhurst

  International Chairman, Jones Lang Wootton.

  668

  Mr Harold Couch

  Partner, Hillier Parker May and Rowden.

  Professor Lyn Davies

  Professor of Planning at the Department of Land and Development, University of Reading.

  Mr. David Doubble

  Assistant General Manager (Estates), Friends Provident Life Office.

  Mr. Stuart Lipton

  Chief Executive, Stanhope Properties plc.

  Mrs. Lesley MacDonagh

  Managing Partner, Property Sector of Lovell White Durrant.

  Mr. Anthony Pender

  Chief Executive of English Estates.

  Mr. Martin Shaw

  Director of Planning and Transportation, Norfolk County Council.

  Mr. Anthony Solomons

  Chairman, Singer and Friedlander plc.

  Mr. Alan Tate

  Consultant, Healey and Baker.

  Mr. James Tuckey

  Managing Director, MEPC plc.

  Mr. William Wells

  Chairman, Chesterton International Ltd.

  Mr. Derek Wood QC

  Principal, St Hugh's College, Oxford.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the members currently appointed to each valuation tribunal.

  Mr. Baldry
  There are 56 valuation tribunals in England which in total have around 2,500 members.

  The tribunals are independent bodies. Their members are appointed by local authorities. Detailed information about membership is not held centrally.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the members currently appointed to the Building Regulations Advisory Committee.

  Sir George Young
  The current members of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee are:

  Professor J. M. Anderson (Chairman)

  Mr. K. W. G. Blount

  Mr. N. J. Bright

  Mr. J. W. Carter

  Mr. B. A. Cox

  Mr. H. J. Dawson

  Mr. R. A. Dibben

  Mr. M. D. Finn

  Mr. D. C. Goodsir

  Mr. R. A. Graham

  Mr. S. J. Ham

  Professor Sir Edmund Happold

  Professor P. O'Sullivan

  Miss P. R. Tindale

  Professor T. J. Wiltshire

  Ms R. Wyles

  Westminster City Council
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which currently implement a designated sales policy of the type referred to in Mr. John Magill's report on the accounts of Westminster city council; and what action he plans to take.

  Sir George Young
  The Department does not collect information on voluntary sales undertaken by local authorities in a way which would permit the identification of policies of the type mentioned.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards are in place to prevent abuse of the right-to-buy scheme by people who are not council tenants; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The right to buy only gives public sector tenants the right to purchase, at a discount, the home in which they live. The tenant purchaser is required to repay all or part of the discount to the vendor authority if, within three years of purchase, the freehold of the property is conveyed, the lease assigned or a new lease granted, or an option to purchase is given to a third party. Any question about the repayment of discount in an individual case is a matter for the vendor authority.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority owned homes were sold in each year since 1989–90.

  Sir George Young
  Details of sales and transfers of local authority dwellings in England in the years 1989–90 to 1992–93 are given in the table.

  To owner occupiers

  To Housing associations 1

  Other sales and transfers 1

  1989–90

  141,832

  15,068

  —

  1990–91

  81,236

  37,453

  8,029

  1991–92

  51,961

  10,862

  2

  21992–93

  40,404

  26,488

  17

  1 Includes block transfers to housing associations and the private sector. Transfers to housing action trusts are excluded.

  2 Provisional.

  Homelessness, Durham
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are currently homeless in Durham.

  Sir George Young
  Figure for households accepted as homeless by individual local authorities are given in the supplementary table to the quarterly information bulletin "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act 1985: England"; copies of both are in the Library. The latest available statistics are for the third quarter of 1993.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what improvements he has in mind for building regulations in relation to the energy efficiency of building.
  670
  Mr. Baldry
  Last January the Government issued for consultation proposals for strengthening part L of the building regulations relating to energy conservation. These included:

  increasing the standards for fabric insulation;

  improving building air-tightness whilst ensuring adequate ventilation;

  improving the control and insulation of heating and hot water systems;

  the provision of energy ratings for new dwellings using the Government's standard assessment procedure;

  new requirements for non-domestic buildings aiming to ensure the provision of efficient lighting with effective means of control, and the provision of air conditioning systems only where they are reasonably necessary—and, where they are necessary, provision for their effective control.

  As a result of the responses to this consultation the proposals for air conditioning have been revised and a further consultation exercise ended on 14 January. We are continuing to consider the responses to the other proposals for part L and those to the inter-related proposals for improving part F—ventilation—which were also issued for consultation last year. The intention is to lay revisions to both parts of the regulations before Parliament in the first half of this year and to bring them into force by the end of the year.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of green belt have been covered with(a) housing and (b) other buildings in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Information is not available centrally in the form requested. Individual local authorities may be able to provide information about green belt decisions in their areas. Government policy is set out in planning policy guidance note 2, published by HMSO in January 1988. Recently completed research has demonstrated that green belts are effective in containing urban sprawl—"The Effectiveness of Green Belts", HMSO, July 1993.

  Housing
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was(a) the level of housing grants, (b) the number of council houses built, (c) the size of the council housing stock, (d) the number of families legally accepted as homeless, (e) the number of such families housed in local authority housing and (g) the number of such families housed by nomination to housing associations or other housing for the years 1979–80 to 1993–94 for each local authority in England.

  Sir George Young
  The available information on housing stock, households accepted as homeless, homeless households housed in local authority dwellings and homeless households housed by nomination to housing associations or in other ways can be found in the annual "HIP1 All Items Print", copies of which are in the Library. The column reference numbers in the prints are as follows:

  Local authority dwellings at 1 April

  Within local authority's own area—Column A11

  Outside local authority's own area—Column A16 (only available for 1987 to 1993)

  Households accepted as homeless in the year ending 31 March

  1980 and 1981—Column C5

  1982 to 1984—Column B5

  1985—Column B6a

  1986 to 1989—Column C1a

  1990 to 1993—Column C11

  671

  Homeless households housed by LAs in the year ending 31 March

  Secure lettings only

  1980—Column D4b1

  1981—Column E4b1

  1982—Column E8b

  1983—Column E9b

  Secure lettings, non-secure lettings and mobility scheme lettings

  1984—Columns D5a + D9b + D10a

  1985—Columns D5b + D9b + D10b

  1986 to 1988—Columns E5b + E9b + E10b

  1989—Columns E5a2 + E5b2 + E5c2 + E7 + E9b + E10b

  1990—Columns E5a21 + E5b21 + E5c21 + E81 + E9b1 +E10b1

  1991 to 1993—Columns E5a21 + E5b21 + E81 + E9b1 + E10b1

  Homeless households taking up LA nominations to housing associations in the year ending 31 March

  1980—not available

  1981 and 1982—Column D1b

  1983—Column C1b

  1984—Column C1a

  1985—Column C1b

  1986 to 1990—Column D1b

  1991 to 1993—Column D1b1

  Homeless household taking up LA nominations to bodies other than housing associations or taking up LA or housing association tenancies in other local authorities in the year ending 31 March

  1980 to 1989 not available

  1990—Columns D2b+D3b+D4

  1991 and 1992—Columns D2b1+D3b1+D41

  1993—Columns D2b1 +D3b1 +D51

  Details of the housing investment programme—HIP —allocations, which give an indication of what the Government consider are the relative resource requirements for capital expenditure on housing, for each local authority in England for the years since 1979–80 are also available in the Library.

  Figures for house building by individual local authorities are published on a calendar year basis; the publications in which they can be found, which are again available in the Library, are as follows:

  1979

  Local Housing Statistics Issue No. 59 Table 4(b)

  1980–84

  Housebuilding in England by local authority areas Tables 1.1–1.5

  1985–90

  Local Housing Statistics Issue No. 103 Tables 1(a)-(f)

  1991

  Local Housing Statistics Issue No. 105 Table 1(b)

  1992

  Local Housing Statistics Issue No. 106 Table 1(b)

  1993*

  Local Housing Statistics Issue No. 107 Table 1

  * January to June only

  Figures for financial years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Traffic Levels
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for which local authorities the figures to be used for calculating the standard spending assessments assume a reduced level of traffic; and what evidence exists that the traffic levels have actually reduced there since the previous figures were calculated.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 14 January 1994]: The authorities with a reduction in annual average traffic flows on principal roads as calculated for the purposes of 1993–94 and 1994–95 provisional standard spending assessments respectively are listed in the table. The figures used in the calculation of SSAs are estimates of the annual average flow of all motor vehicles on principal roads—excluding principal motorways—for which the authority is the highway authority. They are based on data from the Department of Transport's traffic census.
  672
  Authorities with a reduction in traffic flow data between 1991 and 1992

  Manchester

  Oldham

  Rochdale

  Salford

  Stockport

  Tameside

  Trafford

  Knowsley

  Liverpool

  St. Helens

  Sefton

  Wirral

  Barnsley

  Doncaster

  Rotherham

  Sheffield

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  North Tyneside

  South Tyneside

  Sunderland

  Birmingham

  Coventry

  Dudley

  Walsall

  Wolverhampton

  Bradford

  Calderdale

  Kirklees

  Leeds

  City of London

  Camden

  Greenwich

  Hackney

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Islington

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Lambeth

  Lewisham

  Southwark

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barnet

  Bexley

  Brent

  Bromley

  Croydon

  Enfield

  Haringey

  Harrow

  Havering

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Merton

  Redbridge

  Richmond upon Thames

  Sutton

  Waltham Forest

  Isles of Scilly

  Avon

  Berkshire

  Buckinghamshire

  Cumbria

  Derbyshire

  Devon

  Dorset

  East Sussex

  Essex

  Gloucestershire

  Hampshire

  Hertfordshire

  Humberside

  Kent

  Northumberland

  Somerset

  Surrey

  West Sussex

  Wiltshire

  673

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact of the changes to statutory sick pay provision upon his departmental budget for the financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: The abolition of the 80 per cent. statutory sick pay reimbursement rate will be offset in the same way as for all employers, by a reduction in employers' national insurance contributions. Any additional costs will be absorbed within the Department's existing running costs baseline.

  Noreast Building Management
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out(a) the proceeds from the sale of Noreast Building Management, (b) the amount of money set aside to cover possible redundancy costs and (c) on the latest available figures, the total number of redundancies and the cost involved.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: The vendor will receive proceeds of £8 million from the sale of the Noreast Building Management business. The agreed limit to the Department's liability for severance payments to Noreast Building Management staff is £29·5 million, covering staff made redundant in the first five years post sale. The Department shares liability pound for pound with the purchaser for severance costs in excess of £25 million—until the cap of £29·5 million is reached. The total number of staff made redundant since sale is 222, at an estimated cost of £9·1 million; of these only one was a transferred member of staff made redundant by the purchaser.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is her latest estimate of the effect of common agricultural policy reform upon the cost of the CAP on the average European Union citizen in(a) tax transfers and (b) consumer transfers as indicated by the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) on 12 June 1992, Official Report, column 555.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The estimates provided by my predecessor at the time of the CAP reform agreement still stand. To provide revised estimates, revised assumptions would need to be made about the situation if the reform had not taken place. There is no basis for making any such assumptions.

  Birds (Imports)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when her Department will publish the mortality statistics for imports of birds for 1993; and what plans have been made for the publication of these statistics in future years.

  Mr. Soames
  We aim to publish the 1993 importation of birds mortality statistics by the middle of this year. Arrangements for publication of future studies will be kept under review.
  674

  Tied Cottages
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) male and (b) female agricultural workers live in tied cottages in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No official figures are available for the number of agricultural workers living in tied cottages. However, the results of the sample survey of earnings and hours of agricultural workers indicate that 38 per cent. of male regular hired workers and salaried managers and 7 per cent. of female regular hired workers and salaried managers in England and Wales in 1992 received a house or cottage as payment of wages in lieu of payment in cash.

  Horses (Exports)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what measures there are to ensure that horses exported live to the Republic of Ireland are not subsequently exported to other EC member states for slaughter;

  (2) how many cases are known to her of horses being exported to (a) the Republic of Ireland, (b) other EC states and (c) elsewhere for slaughter, in each of the last three years; how many horses were involved; and how many of these horses had false documents;

  (3) what tonnage of horse meat was exported from Britain to (a) the Republic of Ireland, (b) other EC states and (c) elsewhere in each of the last three years;

  (4) how many horses were exported live from Britain to (a) the Republic of Ireland, (b) other EC states and (c) elsewhere in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Soames
  Welfare regulations made under the Animal Health Act 1981 require all horses exported to the continent of Europe, except race horses certified by the Jockey club, to be licensed. The Ministry does not license horses exported for immediate slaughter. Any trade in animals from the Republic of Ireland is a matter for the Irish authorities. I am not aware of any horses travelling with false welfare documents.

  No horse meat was exported to the Republic of Ireland in 1991–92. Exports of horse meat to other member states were 1,069 metric tonnes in 1991 and 1,010 metric tonnes in 1992. In 1992, seven metric tonnes were sent to other destinations.

  The number of horses exported to the Republic of Ireland were 3,042 in 1991 and 2,538 in 1992. Exports of horses to other member states were 2,786 in 1991 and 2,844 in 1992. Exports to other destinations were 2,717 in 1991 and 3,765 in 1992. In 1992, three horses were exported to the Republic of Ireland for slaughter.

  Trade data for 1993 are not yet available.

  Source: H M Customs and Excise.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the requirements for IACS applications in England and Wales in 1994.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Following the 1993 IACS exercise, I have consulted closely with the industry to ensure that the IACS requirements for 1994 are kept as simple as possible in line with the Government's policy to
  675
  keep any necessary regulation to a minimum. The arrangements to apply this year reflect the conclusion of those consultations.

  A guidance note to enable applicants to prepare the necessary mapping and field information is being sent out; copies should be received next week. The main explanatory booklets should be issued in March. The documentation is designed to be as helpful and easy to follow as possible given the complex nature of the system.

  The mapping booklet makes it clear that no maps will be required where applications relate only to forage area and that they will not be required for arable area as long as the land was registered as eligible for future arable payments in 1993 and has not changed significantly since then.

  Applicants will need to supply the national grid reference number of each field and the Ordnance Survey map sheet reference in order to comply with the basic area requirements of the EC regulation. Estimates will continue to be accepted, but if areas are over-declared, we are required to apply strict penalties. I strongly urge all farmers to begin obtaining any necessary maps, field numbers and area measurements as soon as possible so as not to risk missing the application deadline.

  MAFF argued strongly in Brussels for a United Kingdom deadline later than 31 March 1994 for submitting IACS applications; and will be applying the latest possible date of 15 May.

  Suckler Cow Premium
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total payment made under suckler cow premium to United Kingdom farmers up to the last available date in the current financial year; and if she will express this as a percentage of the full payment available in the current financial year.

  Mr. Jack
  The total payment made to United Kingdom farmers under the 1993 suckler cow premium scheme up to Friday 14 January was £11·66 million. This is about 17 per cent. of the amount to be paid in the current financial year.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make arrangements for the Data Protection Registrar to inspect relevant contracts with suppliers of information technology services that involve the use of personal data held by his Department in order to check whether all appropriate arrangements in relation to the Data Protection Act 1984 have been made, and whether such contracts make provisions for the registrar to make random inspections in order to check the suppliers' compliance with the eighth data protection principle.

  Mr. Jack
  The Data Protection Registrar has a wide range of powers, under the Data Protection Act 1984, to ensure that all individuals and organisations holding personal data on computer systems are registered and observe the data protection principles as required by the Act. When IT services are contracted out by a data user, the contractor and the user will be subject to the application of the data protection principles, and to the registrar's powers to promote compliance with them, as provided for in the Act. It is for the registrar to decide how he will use his 676
  powers under the Act, and I do not consider that any further arrangements are in fact necessary for him to discharge his duties effectively.

  Lambs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average percentage mortality figure for(a) upland lambs, (b) lowland lambs and (c) all ewes during the lambing season; and what are the main reasons for mortality.

  Mr. Soames
  Mortality figures for sheep are not collected. Mortality of young lambs varies considerably depending on the weather and other factors but is likely normally to be about 10 per cent. Hypothermia in the first two days of life is likely to be the main cause. For adult ewes, annual mortality is estimated at about 4 per cent. for which there is no single predominant cause.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to undertake research to identify the incidence of subclinically infected BSE cattle.

  Mr. Soames
  Research into the incidence of subclinically infected BSE cattle would require the development of a practical test to identify the presence of the infective agent in live cattle and this Ministry is already supporting a substantial volume of research aimed at developing such a test.

  Fruit
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the safety of fruit which has been waxed or sprayed with fungicide.

  Mr. Soames
  Fruit which has been waxed or sprayed with fungicide may be sold in the United Kingdom only if it complies with the relevant legislation. Such treatments are carefully evaluated by independent expert committees to ensure they are safe, and the evaluations are subject to review as approriate.

  Milk Marque
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she plans to initiate the operations of Milk Marque; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Under the Agriculture Act 1993 it is for the Milk Marketing Board to decide what date to propose for the ending of the milk marketing scheme in its reorganisation scheme. The board has agreed that a 1 April date, as it originally proposed, is not now possible. It is considering what later date now to propose. My right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales will decide on its eventual proposal along with the rest of its reorganisation scheme in accordance with the terms of the Act.
  677

  Badgers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list by county the number of badgers shot and gassed in each year since 1988; and what percentage of those badgers were subsequently shown to have tuberculosis.

  Mr. Soames
  The number of badgers shot in each year since 1988 in England, and the numbers of badgers that were subsequently shown to be positive for tuberculosis —M.bovis—are listed by county.

  Gassing has not been used as an official means of controlling badgers since 1982.

  County

  Number shot

  Number positive for M.bovis

  1988

  Avon

  110

  38

  Cornwall

  100

  20

  Devon

  193

  36

  Dorset

  77

  15

  Gloucestershire

  242

  102

  Somerset

  23

  1

  Wiltshire

  6

  —

  TOTAL

  751

  212 (28·2 per cent.)

  1989

  Avon

  129

  35

  Cornwall

  176

  27

  Devon

  180

  18

  Dorset

  13

  4

  Gloucestershire

  206

  37

  Somerset

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  18

  1

  TOTAL

  722

  122 (16·9 per cent.)

  County

  Number shot

  Number positive for M.bovis

  Number of results awaited

  1993

  Avon

  123

  24

  6

  Cornwall

  360

  67

  38

  Devon

  127

  37

  13

  Dorset

  49

  8

  —

  Gloucestershire

  161

  38

  43

  Somerset

  130

  48

  5

  Wiltshire

  131

  50

  6

  TOTAL

  1,081

  272 (28 per cent.)

  111

  RAF Aston Down
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 3 December,Official Report, column 852, if she will define the operational role of her Department at Royal Air Force station Aston Down; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies of 26 October at columns 563–64 and 6 December at column 101.
  678

  County

  Number shot

  Number positive for M.bovis

  1990

  Avon

  55

  13

  Cornwall

  385

  63

  Devon

  188

  45

  Dorset

  7

  2

  Gloucestershire

  109

  27

  Somerset

  17

  —

  Wiltshire

  3

  —

  TOTAL

  764

  150 (19·6 per cent.)

  1991

  Avon

  55

  17

  Cornwall

  422

  75

  Devon

  159

  20

  Dorset

  49

  2

  Gloucestershire

  75

  12

  Somerset

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  178

  34

  TOTAL

  938

  160 (17 per cent.)

  1992

  Avon

  159

  38

  Cornwall

  470

  68

  Devon

  162

  35

  Dorset

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  96

  38

  Somerset

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  141

  30

  TOTAL

  1,028

  209 (20·3 per cent.)

  Yorkshire and Humberside Base Area
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will publish the figures in hectares for(a) set-aside, (b) pulses, (c) oilseed rape and (d) cereals for each year since 1988 which were used to calculate the base area in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 3 December 1993 to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh), regarding the calculation of the base area in England,Official Report, column 850. There is no separate base area for Yorkshire and Humberside.
  679

  Cats and Dogs (Transport)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what system of permanent identification will be used for cats and dogs transported between member states under the provisions of the Balai directive from 1 July.

  Mr. Soames
  The Standing Veterinary Committee of the European Commission is currently discussing what system will be used to identify traded dogs and cats moving between member states under the provisions of the Balai directive after 1 July this year.

  Hunting
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will provide details of the terms and conditions of the licences issued by the Forestry Commission to the Badsworth hunt allowing it to hunt on its lands; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Forestry Commission has not issued a licence to hunt over its land to the Badsworth hunt.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the names of the hunts which have been given licences to hunt on Forestry Commission land in the county of Essex; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Forestry Commission has issued licences to hunt over its land in Essex to the following hunts:

  East Essex hunt

  Essex hunt

  Puckeridge hunt

  Suffolk hunt

  Thurlow hunt

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which hunts have been given licences to hunt in Epping forest.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  The hon. Member may wish to contact the City of London corporation which acts as conservators of Epping forest.

  Sewage Sludge Disposal
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 1 December,Official Report, columns 589–90, when the hon. Member for Don Valley can expect to receive the fourth report of the marine pollution monitoring management group's co-ordinating group on monitoring of sewage sludge disposal sites.

  Mr. Jack
  Our records show that a copy of the report was sent to the hon. Member in early December last. A further copy has now been sent to the hon. Member, together with a copy of the recently published fifth report of the co-ordinating group. Copies of both publications have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish for each service that has been market tested in his Department in 1993(a) the
  680
  cost of the testing process, including consultancy costs, (b) the result of the test, (c) the name of the successful contractor, (d) the value and duration of the contract, (e) the number of staff involved, (f) estimated annual cost reductions and (g) whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were deemed to apply.

  Mr. Jack
  The Department is currently analysing the outcome of the 1992–93 competing for quality programme with the efficiency unit in the Cabinet Office. Much of the information requested in the question will, once it has been finalised, be published in aggregate form in the "Citizen's Charter Second Report". On an individual contract basis, much of the information is commercially confidential.

  Sheep Quotas
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether she will set up a tribunal to consider applications for sheep quotas from the national reserve which do not easily fit into the categories defined by the Government but merit consideration; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: The categories of producers eligible to claim on the national reserves reflect the requirements of Community legislation. They were drawn up extremely carefully following extensive consultation, bearing in mind that availability of reserve quota will be restricted. The fullest consideration was given to defining hardship cases. There are no plans to set up tribunals to consider claims of producers falling outside these categories.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value at 1980 and 1992–93 prices of hill livestock compensatory allowances in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Expenditure on HLCAs (£ million)

  Financial years

  Current prices

  1980 prices (a)

  1992–93 prices (a)

  1980–81

  95·0

  96·0

  192·1

  1981–82

  84·5

  76·2

  153·0

  1982–83

  88·3

  72·8

  149·4

  1983–84

  91·5

  72·5

  148·0

  1984–85

  93·8

  70·7

  144·3

  1985–86

  104·9

  73·9

  152·5

  1986–87

  121·7

  83·2

  171·3

  1987–88

  121·0

  79·4

  163·9

  1988–89

  112·6

  71·1

  143·8

  1989–90

  122·4

  71·5

  145·0

  1990–91

  130·4

  69·7

  140·9

  1991–92

  160·9

  80·8

  166·0

  1992–93

  139·4

  67·1

  139·4

  (a) Deflated by the retail prices index—all items.

  Livestock Premium Quotas
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will set out the reasons why the judicial review on livestock premium quotas is being carried out by the European Court of Justice; and if she will make a statement.
  681
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: This case turns on the interpretation of Community legal provisions relating to ewe premium and suckler cow quotas. Article 177 of the Community treaty provides that, where a national court considers that a decision on such a question is necessary to enable it to give judgment in a case before it, it may request a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice; and must do so if the court is one from which there is no appeal. In this case, both parties to the case agreed with the court that a reference was necessary and the terms of the reference were also agreed. The national court will determine the issue when it has the European Court's response.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Union Flag
  Mr. John D.Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to provide a Union flag for the hospital at Tower Hill, Armagh; what arrangements have been made to fly the Union flag at these premises on the designated dates; why it was not flown on 1 January; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Union flag is normally flown at Tower Hill hospital on the designated dates. A breakdown in the local arrangements for flying the flag resulted in the flag not being flown on 1 January.

  Cattle Premiums
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will make payments of the beef special premium and the suckler cow premium; why these payments have been delayed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to press release No. 5/94 dated 11 January 1994 from the Department of Agriculture—Northern Ireland—which sets

  Glenshane Co Londonderry

  Belraugh Co Londonderry

  Glenwherry Co Antrim

  Acreage restricted in September 1987

  10,744

  2,248

  8,620

  Acreage derestricted 14 January 1991

  247

  943

  —

  Acreage derestricted 11 December 1991

  568

  —

  —

  Acreage derestricted 14 January 1993

  —

  —

  1,112

  Acreage to be derestricted 19 January 1994

  —

  —

  618

  Approximate acreage still under restriction

  9,929

  1,305

  6,890

  The highest levels of contamination measured in the restricted areas in vegetation, peat and mineral soils were 2367,1566 and 651 becquerels radiocaesium per kilogramme, respectively. The levels of contamination in peat and mineral soils have reduced by approximately 15 to 20 per cent. Variable changes have been seen in herbage with reductions of up to 50 per cent. depending on location and species. The soil—plant—animal transfer of radioactivity is complex and is influenced by many factors. Hence, it is not possible to predict when the remaining restrictions will be removed.

  Measurements of caesium levels in sheep are the best way of monitoring the change in caesium status of the soils and vegetation.
  682
  out the current position on payment of claims under these and other livestock premium schemes. A copy has been sent to the press notice desk in the House of Commons Library.

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will quantify the cost of the factors which led to an increase in the cost of cars for Ministers in his Department since 1990–91.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The increase in the cost of providing cars for Ministers in 1990–91 and 1992–93 was around £177,000. Some £72,000 was in respect of cars provided by the RUC for Ministers in Northern Ireland and the remainder in respect of cars provided by the Government car service—GCS.

  There are two main factors that have led to an increase in the cost per GCS car. The first is the effect of inflation on GCS costs, particularly pay, vehicles and fuel. The second is that, during this period, the GCS restructured its charges to reflect the fact that it had been under-recovering its full costs in 1990–91.

  Radioactivity
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by date of change of status the various areas and locations of those parts of Northern Ireland which came under Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) Orders as a result of the Chernobyl incident; what were the highest levels of contamination measured in each of those areas in(a) vegetation, (b) peat and (c) mineral oils; what are the levels in each area now; when he expects, at the present rate of decline of radioactivity in each area, to be able to lift the remaining restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  The change of status of those parts of Northern Ireland subjected to restrictions as a result of the Chernobyl incident is as follows:

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the radioactive substances found in(a) peat, (b) mineral soils and (c) vegetation in Northern Ireland as a result of the Chernobyl incident; for what period of time the various plants found in hill forage retained such substances with particular reference to heather; and what has been the uptake of such substances by deer in the affected areas.

  Mr. Ancram
  The radioactive substances found in peat, mineral soils and vegetation in Northern Ireland as a result of the Chernobyl incident are isotopes of caesium—caesium-137 and caesium-134. Hill forage, including heather, in the restricted areas in Northern Ireland still contains these substances. The uptake of these isotopes measured in deer in the affected areas has been very low.
  683

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make arrangements for the Data Protection Registrar to inspect relevant contracts with suppliers of IT services that involve the use of personal data held by his Department in order to check whether all appropriate arrangements in relation to the Data Protection Act 1984 have been made, and whether such contracts make provisions for the registrar to make random inspections in order to check the suppliers' compliance in with the eighth data protection principle.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Data Protection Registrar has a wide range of powers under the Data Protection Act 1984, to ensure that the individuals and organisations holding personal data on computer systems are registered and observe the data protection principles as required by the Act, unless the data are exempt. When IT services are contracted out, the data protection principles and the registrar's powers to promote compliance with them, apply to both the owner of personal data and the service provider. It is for the registrar to decide how he will use his powers under the Act, and I do not consider that any further arrangements are necessary for him to discharge his duties effectively.

  Wildlife Numbers
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary for Northern Ireland what recent studies he has made into the number of(a) badgers, (b) foxes, (c) hares, (d) rabbits, (e) grey crows, (f) magpies, (g) otters and (h) feral mink in Northern Ireland; what information he has as to whether each species is increasing, diminishing or stable in population; and what is the impact of each species on farm animals and fish stocks in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Badgers—The Department of Agriculture(NI) is currently funding a study, by Queen's university Belfast, of the distribution and abundance of the badger in Northern Ireland. The results of the investigation are not expected to produce any conclusive evidence about the impact of badgers on farm animals but should provide useful information on badger numbers and habitat.

  (b) Foxes—I am not aware of any recent studies into the number of foxes in Northern Ireland.

  (c) Hares—I am not aware of any recent studies into the number of hares in Northern Ireland. However, the Department of the Environment(NI) is part-funding a postgraduate student at Queen's university Belfast to undertake a three-year study into the distribution of hares, commencing January 1994.

  (d) Rabbits—I have no information on any recent studies into the number of rabbits in Northern Ireland.

  (e) and (f) Grey Crows and magpies—The only information the Department of the Environment(NI) has on the numbers of these birds is from the British Trust for Ornithology's common bird census. In the UK as a whole these species increased in numbers by 168 per cent.—magpies—and 164 per cent.—grey crows—during the period 1968–91. The only data for Northern Ireland specifically relate to magpies during the period 1983–92. This revealed an increase in numbers of 27 per cent.

  I am not aware of any studies on the impact of each species on farm animals and fish stocks in Northern Ireland.

  (g) Otters—Studies completed on an all-Ireland basis in 1981 and 1991 showed that this species is widespread in Northern Ireland, but recorded the presence of otters and made no attempt to assess their abundance.

  I am not aware of any studies into the impact of otters on farm animals and fish stocks.

  (h) Feral Mink—I am not aware of any recent studies into the number of feral mink in Northern Ireland or the impact of
  684
  feral mink in Northern Ireland or the impact of feral mink on farm animals and fish stocks. It is, however, generally believed that mink are now present throughout Northern Ireland wherever there is suitable habitat.

EMPLOYMENT

  Work Leavers
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his best estimate of the number of people who leave the work force each year; and if he will differentiate between those who leave due to retirement, ill health, unemployment and other reasons.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Of those people classified as economically inactive—not employed or International Labour Organisation unemployed—in the spring 1993 labour force survey for Great Britain, 1,050,000 said that they had been in employment a year earlier. Reasons given for leaving their last job were: retirement—23 per cent.; ill health—14 per cent.; redundancy, dismissal or temporary job ending—17 per cent.; other reasons—45 per cent. Further, of those people classified as ILO unemployed in spring 1993, 950,000 said that they had been in employment a year earlier. The reasons given for leaving employment were redundancy or dismissal—39 per cent.; temporary job ending—16 per cent.; other reasons—45 per cent.

  Economically Active Population
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of(a) men and (b) women are economically active at age (i) 55, (ii) 56, (iii) 57, (iv) 58, (v) 59, (vi) 60, (vii) 61, (viii) 62, (ix) 63, (x) 64, (xi) 65 years and (xii) over 65.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Estimates from the labour force survey of economic activity rates by age, for Great Britain in summer 1993, are given in the table:

  Economic activity rates by age Summer 1993 (not seasonally adjusted) Great Britain

  Per cent.

  Age (years)

  Males

  Females

  55

  81

  61

  56

  79

  58

  57

  79

  56

  58

  70

  47

  59

  68

  45

  60

  66

  34

  61

  56

  30

  62

  53

  21

  63

  46

  21

  64

  40

  17

  65

  17

  8

  over 65

  6

  3

  Special Aids to Employment
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people in the Doncaster area currently benefit from the special aids to employment scheme; and how many disabled people he expects to lose their jobs once employers have to pay 50 per cent. of the cost of special aids in the workplace.
  685
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the current financial year, since 1 April 1993, there have been eight disabled people in the Doncaster area helped by the special aids to employment scheme.

  In reaching final decisions about the details of the access to work scheme, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend Lord Henley are considering carefully a range of representations made by disability and employer groups including representations about the proposed employer contribution. My right hon. Friend hopes to announce decisions soon.

  Bridging Allowances
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds in the Doncaster area were in receipt of a bridging allowance at the latest available date, and on that date in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about bridging allowance.

  The information you have requested, taking 16 and 17 year olds together, is provided in the attached table. Unfortunately, separate figures for each age group are not available, nor are the December 1988 and 1989 figures for Doncaster. However, the table provides figures for Yorkshire and Humberside for these dates, together with comparable figures for following years.

  Bridging allowance can be paid to young people as long as they are registered at a Careers Office for Youth Training (YT) and have left or lost a job or YT place. Youth Training Bridging Allowance was introduced at the same time as YT to allow a young person to find another YT place if their existing one proved unsuitable. Bridging Allowance is available to young people outside the child benefit extension period.

  It is a short term allowance paid for up to 40 days in any 52 week period while a young person finds another job or YT place.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Numbers in receipt of bridging allowance in Doncaster and Yorkshire and Humberside: December 1988–December 1993

  Doncaster

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  December 1988

  —

  1,224

  December 1989

  —

  841

  December 1990

  38

  917

  December 1991

  43

  777

  December 1992

  39

  672

  December 1993

  28

  475

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the current average length of time males aged(a) over 55 years, (b) over 35 years and under 55 years and (c) over 16 years and under 35 years remain unemployed in the Doncaster area;

  (2) what is the current average length of time females (a) over 55 years, (b) over 35 years and under 55 years and (c) over 16 years and under 35 years remain unemployed in the Doncaster area.
  686
  Miss Widdecombe
  Information is given in the table on the "median" durations of unemployment, with respect to computerised records only—the vast majority of all claims —of those claimants whose spell of unemployment was completed in the period between 11 November 1993 and 9 December 1993. At this small area level information on the "mean" duration of unemployment of these claimants is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Median Durations of claimant unemployment in the Doncaster Travel-to-work Area

  Median Duration of Unemployment (weeks)

  Age

  Male

  Female

  17–34

  12·0

  12·0

  35–54

  12·6

  19·5

  55 and over

  36·8

  156·0

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of adults(a) male and (b) female registered unemployed in the Doncaster area in December (i) 1979, (ii) 1983 and (iii) 1993.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Figures for comparable travel-to-work areas are available only from June 1983 and are given in the table:

  Unadjusted Claimant Unemployment for the Travel-to-Work area of Doncaster

  Male

  Female

  December 1983

  12,258

  5,857

  December 1993

  11,856

  2,928

  Youth Employment
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds in the Doncaster area who entered full-time employment in each year from 1988.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list for the last five years the number of disabled individuals in the Doncaster area who have benefited from the Government's present provision of assistance towards(a) special aids to employment, (b) adaptation to premises, (c) fares to work and (d) the personal reader scheme;

  (2) what has been spent in the last five years in the Doncaster area on disabled individuals on assistance towards (a) special aids to employment, (b) adaptation to premises, (c) fares to work and (d) the personal reader scheme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  687
  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 January 1994:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of disabled individuals and what has been spent in the last five years in the Doncaster area on assistance to people with disabilities on the Special Schemes; (a) special aids to employment (b) adaptation to premises (c) fares to work and (d) the personal reader scheme.

  The information you have asked for is not held centrally and I have asked my people to investigate the availability of the details you request. I will send details to you as soon as they are available.

  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for the Doncaster area the companies that currently display the two-tick symbol denoting them as positive about disabled people and are complying with the criteria required.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question requesting a list of companies in the Doncaster area who currently display the disability symbol (the "two-tick symbol") denoting them as positive about disabled people.

  Unfortunately I am unable to enclose the list you request with this reply. As you may know, the disability symbol was first introduced in 1990. It was reviewed towards the end of 1992 and, in order to clarify its meaning and improve its impact, we have introduced changes to the initiative which came into effect on 1 June 1993.

  These changes have meant that the earlier symbol users needed to re-examine their practices and, in some cases, to introduce changes before confirming whether or not they would continue to use the symbol. My field disability service has been working to contact all symbol users, discuss the new commitments and confirm which employers would continue under the new arrangements.

  Although we have recently compiled a draft list of symbol users throughout the country, we are not yet satisfied that older users of the symbol who are not continuing as symbol users have been fully weeded out. It is, of course, very important that we are able to provide a full and accurate list of organisations using the symbol and we are reluctant to release it, or any parts of it, until we have had a further opportunity to check its accuracy.

  The checking process is now in hand and I would hope to write to you again within the next few weeks with a list of current symbol users in the Doncaster area. The national list of symbol users will also be included.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the current measures he is taking to reduce youth unemployment in the Doncaster area; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  All young people aged under 18, who are not in a job or full-time education, are guaranteed the offer of a suitable youth training place if they want one. On 9 December, the latest date for which information is available, there were five young people in the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council area wire were covered by the guarantee and had been waiting for a place for eight or more weeks. This is 86 per cent. fewer than in March last year.
  688
  The Employment Service and the TEC deliver an extensive programme of employment, enterprise and training initiatives to help employment prospects for unemployed people. In addition to this mainstream provision, the following schemes are available specifically for young people in the 18 to 25 years age group: the Doncaster education business partnership; the careership programme; pre-release courses involving the Employment Service, the careers service and the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders; a mentoring programme; and workshops advising on job search and careers.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish for each service that has been market tested in his Department in 1993(a) the cost of the testing process, including consultancy costs, (b) the result of the test, (c) the name of the successful contractor, (d) the value and duration of the contract, (e) the number of staff involved, (f) estimated annual cost reductions and (g) whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were deemed to apply.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department is currently analysing the outcome of the 1992–93 competing for quality programme with the efficiency unit in the Cabinet Office. Early results have shown some significant savings, and much of the information requested in the question will, once it has been finalised, be published in aggregate form in the "Citizen's Charter Second Report". On an individual contract basis, many details are commercially confidential.

  Scientists
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what data he holds on the numbers of scientists at postgraduate and postdoctoral level leaving their profession for(a) other employment and (b) employment abroad.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department does not collect statistics on this subject. However a recent report by the Science and Engineering Policy Studies Unit on "The Migration of Scientists and Engineers 1984 to 1992", shows that, while 0·6 per cent. of university staff in these disciplines emigrated in 1992, the rate of recruitment of staff to the United Kingdom from other countries was higher at 1·3 per cent.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many youth training scheme or youth training places there were in the Doncaster area in each year since 1988.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is unavailable prior to 1991; however, since the opening of the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council in 1991 the number of YTS or youth training places in the Doncaster area have been as follows:

  Year

  Places

  1991–92

  2,348

  1992–93

  2,464

  1993–94

  2,394

  689
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17 year-olds are currently on waiting lists for youth training places in the Doncaster area; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As at 9 December 1993, in the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council area, there were five young people who had been waiting more than eight weeks for a place on youth training. This is due to constant co-operation between Barnsley and Doncaster TEC, Doncaster careers service and Doncaster training suppliers.

  Science Postgraduates
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of science postgraduates who successfully complete their doctorates within British universities have found employment in the United Kingdom within(a) six months and (b) one year for each of the last five years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The percentage of those gaining science doctorates in 1991 who were in employment at the end of that year was as follows:

  Per cent.

  Biology

  76

  Physical Sciences

  63

  Mathematical Sciences

  74

  Engineering and Technology

  78

  These statistics are based on a special analysis of the annual "First Destinations Survey of Graduates" carried out by the universities.

  Statistics are not available for other years or on the definitions requested.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in manufacturing industries in the Yorkshire and Humberside region on 1 December(a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1989 and (d)

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is shown in the table:

  Employees in manufacturing: Yorkshire and Humberside

  Number

  December 1979

  698,800

  December 1983

  510,400

  December 1989

  501,000

  September 19931

  437,600

  1 Latest available date.

  Investors in People
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for the Doncaster area, the name of the employers who have been given the Investors in People award and the names of the employers who have made a commitment to meeting the standards; and if he will make a statement.
  690
  Miss Widdecombe
  Employers in the Doncaster area who have achieved the Investors in People award are as follows:

  Bridon Ropes Ltd.

  Bullseye Motorist Centre

  J I Case (UK) Ltd.

  Reed Northern Newspapers

  Rockware Glass

  Weldricks

  Employers who are committed to Investors in People status are as follows:

  Doncaster MBC Personnel and Catering Services Directorate

  Doncaster/Rotherham Group Training Association

  L J Monks

  The Aucklands Nursing Home

  ACE Conveyors Equipment Ltd.

  David Hall Partnership

  DBL Associates

  Rossington Comprehensive School

  Walkers Solicitors

  Benton House Nursing Home

  Norwell Structural and Site Services

  Danite Hard Metals

  South Yorkshire Training Trust

  Mr. Tony (HairDressing)

  Frigoscandia Ltd.

  Miller Brother (Doncaster) Ltd.

  Doncaster College

  DEYT (Training Provider)

  Hexthorpe First School

  Colbear Dixon

  Roger Worth Training

  DONBAC

  Yorkshire Training Centre

  G P Holdings

  ESL (Training Provider)

  Darfen

  BLP Group

  RFS Engineering

  Lindholme Prison

  Wages
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the median, highest decile/lowest decile, upper quartile, lower quartile and mean weekly and hourly earnings of(a) male, (b) female, (c) manual, (d) non-manual and (e) all full-time workers on adult rates in Yorkshire and Humberside, the north and Great Britain for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested can be found in part E of the new earnings survey for each year since 1979. Details of decile, median and quartile earnings are published in table 116 and average earnings in tables 122 and 123. Copies of the report can be found in the Library.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average weekly and hourly earnings of(a) manual, (b) non-manual and (c) all part-time workers on adult rates in Yorkshire and Humberside, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Humberside, the North and Great Britain.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is provided in the table:

  Average gross weekly earnings of part-time employees on adult rates— pay unaffected by absence: April 1993

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  73·1

  105·8

  92·5

  West Yorkshire

  71·2

  109·9

  94·4

  South Yorkshire

  73·1

  101·3

  89·7

  691

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Humberside

  73·3

  104·2

  91·5

  North Yorkshire

  78·3

  —

  92·8

  North

  70·6

  98·3

  87·1

  Great Britain

  75·1

  109·8

  97·0

  Average gross hourly earnings of part-time employees on adult rates— pay unaffected by absence: April 1993

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  3·90

  5·35

  4·76

  West Yorkshire

  3·88

  5·42

  4·82

  South Yorkshire

  3·89

  5·28

  4·72

  Humberside

  3·76

  5·24

  4·58

  North Yorkshire

  4·15

  —

  4·87

  North

  3·77

  5·04

  4·54

  Great Britain

  3·96

  5·67

  5·03

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  Mesothelioma
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions his Department has given to the Health and Safety Executive in the light of the Peto report on the projected increase in the number of deaths from mesothelioma.

  Mr. Michael Forsythe
  I have given no specific instructions; Professor Peto's estimates are based on statistical data provided by the Health and Safety Executive. He has not yet produced a written report.

  The HSE and Professor Peto are co-operating in closely analyzing the data more fully and determining their possible significance. Consideration is also being given to setting up an epidemiological study to subject the estimates to further investigation.

  New Businesses
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of new business start-ups in each year since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The enterprise allowance scheme—EAS—began in 1982–83. In April 1991, EAS was replaced by the business start-up scheme. The numbers of new business start-ups each year are shown in the table.

  Enterprise Allowance/Business Start Up

  1982–83

  2,500

  1983–84

  27,600

  1984–85

  46,000

  1985–86

  60,000

  1986–87

  86,800

  1987–88

  106,300

  1988–89

  98,500

  1989–90

  78,000

  1990–91

  60,000

  1991–92

  50,000

  1992–93

  41,000

  11993

  21,700

  1 April–October.

  692

  Irvine Offices
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much it cost his Department to move the Irvine unemployment benefit office and the Irvine jobcentre into the same purpose-built facility in Irvine.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 19 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how much it cost his Department to move the Irvine Unemployment Benefit Office and the Irvine Jobcentre into the same purpose built facility in Irvine.

  Since 1990 the Employment Service (ES) has been pursuing a policy of bringing together Unemployment Benefit Offices (UBO) and Jobcentres with the aim of providing a more efficient and effective service to our clients. Already 824 offices have been integrated nationally in this way and ES plan to have 1,100 such outlets by March 1996. Irvine featured as part of this programme of integration and the new office opened for business on 9 August 1993.

  The new Jobcentre at Irvine has been acquired on a 25-year lease at an annual rental of £115,400 subject to five-year rent reviews. Capital costs of fitting out were £338,000. Costs will be offset by the disposal not only of both the former UBO and Jobcentre but also premises for the Jobclub which is now accommodated in the new building. Investment appraisal of the new office running costs over a 25-year period demonstrates that it is a cheaper option than retention of the former premises.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Coltman Precast Concrete Ltd.
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he was notified of potential redundancies made by Coltman Precast Concrete Ltd.; whether this notification was made within the time period required under section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992; what other representations he has received in relation to the notice of redundancies; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information supplied under the notification provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 is given in confidence.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the number, type and funding of apprenticeships currently in Nottinghamshire, the east midlands and England.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Estimates of the number of apprentices are available from the labour force survey. Latest available figures indicate that, in summer 1993, 12,100 people in the east midlands, and 172,000 people in England were undertaking apprenticeships. Figures for Nottinghamshire are not available.

  The labour force survey gives figures by industry, by occupation and by personal characteristics of apprentices. Information on funding is not available.
  693

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures are in place to evaluate the effectiveness and performance of training and enterprise councils.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department undertakes regular evaluation of the range of programmes delivered by the training and enterprise councils—TECs—and assesses the contribution of the TEC movement to the performance of those programmes.

  The performance of individual TECs against contract is monitored by the Department's regional offices. Information on the performance of individual TECs in delivering Employment Department programmes is used to construct inter-TEC comparison tables. A copy of these tables for 1992–93 has already been placed in the Library.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what view the Health and Safety Commission has expressed to the Minister in the interim report of its review of regulations regarding pre-1974 health and safety regulations.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: I have placed a copy of the report in the Library, along with a copy of my response to the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, and I have written to the hon. Member, enclosing a personal copy.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of the changes to statutory sick pay provision upon his departmental budget for the financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: The Department has calculated that the effect on its budget for 1994–95 of the abolition of the 80 per cent. statutory sick pay reimbursement rate will be more than offset by a reduction in employers' national insurance contributions.

  Departmental Accommodation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the date and the terms upon which his Department took out a lease on the accommodation currently occupied at Dyson's chambers, Briggate, Leeds.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 19 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the Employment Service premises at Dyson's Chambers, Briggate, Leeds.

  It may be helpful if I explain that it is not Government Policy to disclose details of any of the leases it negotiates, as these are
  694
  Commercial in Confidence. I can say, however, that the Department of the Environment, Property Holdings, acquired this property for the Government Common User Estate and was able to achieve a substantial rent free period. At the expiration of that period my agency will be paying Property Holdings £400,000 per annum by way of internal rent. The lease commenced on 1 January 1993.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 January,Official Report, columns 105–106, what is the formal International Labour Organisation definition of unemployed.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: The International Labour Organisation definition of unemployment as used, for example in compiling labour force estimates, counts as unemployed those people who at the time of interview were without work—that is, working less than one hour per week—were available to start work within the next two weeks, and had either looked for work in the four weeks prior to interview or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained.

  Loans
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for each scheme operated by his Department under which loans are available, the objectives of the scheme, the number of unrecovered loans, the total value of unrecovered loans, the average number of unrecovered loans for each year since 1990, the average value of unrecovered loans for each year since 1990 and the annual cost of recovering loans.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The career development loan —CDL—scheme, run in partnership with three high street banks—Barclays, the Co-operative and the Clydesdale—is the only loan scheme operated by the Employment Department. The objective of the scheme is to provide assistance to people who wish to undertake vocational education or training of their own choice, but who are unable, on their own, to raise sufficient funds to pay for it. The programme helps to encourage individuals to take greater responsibility for their own education and training. Details of the number and value of unrecovered CDLs, where a default notice has been issued, are given in the table for each year since the start of the scheme. The cost associated with recovering defaulted loans are borne primarily by the lending banks. The Department incurs minimal cost—on average, less than £400 per year total costs over the last four years.

  Unrecovered CDLs (Loans where a default notice has been served)

  Year

  Number

  Total Value (£)

  Average Value (£)

  1986–87

  3

  2,469

  823

  1987–88

  14

  15,402

  1,100

  1988–89

  40

  40,955

  1,024

  1989–90

  115

  187,515

  1,631

  1990–91

  419

  798,249

  1,905

  1991–92

  1,113

  2,539,291

  2,281

  1992–93

  1,501

  3,550,631

  2,366

  1993–94

  1,233

  3,242,991

  2,630

  Total

  4,438

  10,377,503

  695

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made on the effect which the next steps programme will have on equal opportunities in public service employment; and what steps he is taking to monitor the effect.

  Mr. Davis
  The Government are committed to a policy aimed at ensuring equality of opportunity in civil service employment. It is the responsibility of all agency chief executives to implement that policy effectively within their organisations. Progress on equal opportunities across the civil service, including the agencies where 60 per cent. of civil servants now work, is monitored by OPSS. The latest progress reports on women and ethnic minorities, which continue to show steady improvement including increasing representation in management grades, were published last month and copies placed in the Library of the House. The progress report on disabled civil servants will be published in the spring.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish for each service that has been market tested in his Department in 1993(a) the cost of the testing process, including consultancy costs, (b) the result of the test, (c) the name of the successful contractor, (d) the value and duration of the contract, (e) the number of staff involved, (f) estimated annual cost reductions and (g) whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were deemed to apply.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My Department is currently analysing the outcome of the 1992–93 competing for quality programme. Much of the information requested in the question will, once it has been finalised, be published in aggregate form in the "Citizens Charter Second Report".

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) staff of Government agencies working in or to his Department; how much these cards cost (i) to buy, (ii) to post and (iii) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The information as requested is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Scanning Radiometer
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what support his Department is giving to back basic scientific development of the along-track scanning radiometer, which was announced by the Department of the Environment on 21 December 1993.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government make funds available under the science budget to the research councils, which determine their priorities in accordance with the terms of their royal charters.

  The Natural Environment Research Council—NERC —will contribute £1·8 million towards the cost of building
  696
  the advanced along-track scanning radiometer—AATSR. The remainder of the total cost will be provided by the Department of the Environment and the Australian space office.

  The AATSR has been developed from two previous instruments: the ATSR1 and ATSR2, towards which the Science and Engineering Research Council—SERC—provided funds of £7·3 million and £12·3 million respectively.

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will qualify the cost of the factors which led to an increase in his Department's cost for ministerial cars between 1990–91 and 1992–93; how many cars were involved in each year; how many of these cars are for Government Whips and which Whips have cars personally allocated to them; how many were for Government Whips in 1990–91; and how many were personally allocated at that date.

  Mr. David Davis
  The increase in the costs borne by the Office of Public Service and Science for ministerial cars between 1990–91 and 1992–93 was due mainly to increases in the prices charged by the Government car service—and restructuring of GCS tariffs—the addition in April 1992 of a vehicle for use of the holder of the second ministerial post established at the inception of the OPSS, and more intensive use of the GCS generally.

  In 1990–91 three vehicles were allocated to ministerial use, of which two were allocated for the use of the Chief Whip (Commons) and the Leader of the House and Chief Whip (Lords) respectively. The total number of allocated vehicles was increased to four from April 1992.

  Research
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the latest figures for Government spending on research; and what proportions were spent on (i) applied research and (ii) fundamental research; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Government research and development activity is analysed into the internationally agreed OECD Frascati categories of basic, applied and experimental development. The latest expenditure figures, for 1991–92, were published in the 1993 annual review of Government-funded research and development and are as follows:

  £ million

  (i)

  (ii)

  Applied Per cent.

  Basic Per cent.

  Civil R and D

  2,780·9

  47·0

  48·4

  Defence R and D

  2,267·0

  17·8

  nil

  Total R and D

  5,047·9

  33·9

  26·7

  The remaining R and D is classified as experimental development.

  A similar analysis for the outturn year 1992–93 will be published in the forward look of Government-funded science and technology in April 1994.
  697

  Bypasses
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what provisions of the citizens charter assist private citizens wishing to ascertain the cost-benefit analysis provided by local authorities to the Ministry of Transport in respect of bypass schemes.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The citizens charter aims to ensure that there is no secrecy about how public services are run, how much they cost, who is in charge, and whether or not they are meeting their standards. In line with this principle, there are no restrictions on private citizens looking at the results of cost-benefit analysis provided by local authorities to the Department of Transport in respect of bypass schemes.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Ethnic Minority Grants
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the actual spending by his Department on section 11 grant for 1992–93 for each local authority;

  (2) if he will estimate the number of posts which will be lost in 1994–95 as a result of cuts in section 11 funding;

  (3) if he will list the actual amount of section 11 grant allocated by his Department to each local authority for the first two quarters of 1993–94;

  (4) what is the total allocation of spending by his Department on section 11 grant for 1994–95; and if he will list the individual allocations for each local authority.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Receptions into prison service establishments by offence, 19921

  Offence

  Immediate imprisonment

  In default of payment of a fine

  All

  Percentage in default of payment of a fine

  All Offences

  51,324

  19,977

  71,301

  28

  Violence against the person

  7,082

  1,313

  8,395

  16

  Murder

  234

  0

  234

  0

  Manslaughter

  142

  0

  142

  0

  Other Homicide and attempted Homicide

  435

  6

  441

  1

  Wounding

  4,461

  678

  5,139

  13

  Assaults

  1,219

  510

  1,729

  29

  Cruelty to Children

  30

  1

  31

  3

  Other offences of violence against the person

  561

  118

  679

  17

  Sexual Offences

  1,858

  28

  1,886

  2

  Buggery and indecency between males

  172

  4

  176

  2

  Rape

  527

  4

  531

  1

  Gross indecency with children

  161

  —

  161

  —

  Other sexual offences

  998

  20

  1,018

  2

  Burglary

  9,479

  1,318

  10,797

  12

  Robbery

  2,988

  34

  3,022

  1

  Theft and Handling

  9,249

  3,561

  12,810

  28

  Taking and driving away

  1,310

  437

  1,747

  25

  Other thefts

  6,291

  2,725

  9,016

  30

  Handling stolen goods

  1,648

  399

  2,047

  19

  Fraud and Forgery

  1,807

  674

  2,481

  27

  Frauds

  1,677

  638

  2,315

  28

  Forgery

  130

  36

  166

  22

  Drugs offences

  3,168

  448

  3,616

  12

  698

  Correspondence
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time taken by him to reply to letters received from official spokespersons of Her Majesty's Opposition.

  Mr. Howard
  In the period from 1 January 1993 to 31 December 1993 the average time taken to reply to letters received from the hon. Member and his colleagues the hon. Members for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair), for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) and for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms Ruddock) was 25 working days.

  Prisoners
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were sentenced to a prison term under each offence category for the latest year for which figures are available; and what was the number and percentage who were fine defaulters.

  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 Derek Lewis to Mr. William Ross, dated 19 January 1994:

  RECEPTIONS UNDER SENTENCE

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many people were sentenced to a prison term under each offence category for the latest year for which figures are available; and the number and percentage who were fine defaulters.

  The information requested is shown in the attached table.
  699

  Offence

  Immediate imprisonment

  In default of payment of a fine

  All

  Percentage in default of payment of a fine

  Other Offences

  11,364

  11,042

  22,406

  49

  Arson

  480

  19

  499

  4

  Criminal damage

  1,027

  1,464

  2,491

  59

  Immigration Act 1977

  17

  2

  19

  11

  In charge or driving under the influence of drink or drugs

  1,236

  546

  1,782

  31

  Other motoring offences

  3,846

  5,811

  9,657

  60

  Offences relating to prostitution

  26

  113

  139

  81

  Drunkenness

  41

  569

  610

  93

  Vagrancy

  42

  66

  108

  61

  Other

  4,649

  2,452

  7,101

  35

  Offence not recorded

  4,329

  1,559

  5,888

  26

  1 Provisional figures.

  Prisons
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates in prison establishments within England and Wales were disciplined for the possession of an unlawful drug during 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  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 Derek Lewis to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 19 January 1994:

  POSSESSION OF AN UNLAWFUL DRUG

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many inmates in prison establishments within England and Wales were disciplined for the possession of an unlawful drug during 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. The numbers are 2,650, 2,798, 2,041 and 1,759 respectively. They include those found guilty of inciting or assisting other prisoners to possess controlled drugs. The 1990 figures is part-estimate and the 1993 one is provisional.

  Probation
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the extra costs involved in resourcing the probation service to work with people sentenced to less than 12 months' imprisonment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Adult offenders sentenced to less than 12 months' imprisonment are not subject to statutory supervision on release, but the probation service already offers supervision on a voluntary basis. If all offenders in this category were supervised on the same statutory basis as offenders sentenced to longer terms, the annual additional cost would be of the order of £13 million.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation orders were made with added conditions, as a proportion of all probation orders made in England and Wales for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest published information shows that some 26 per cent. of probation orders commenced in 1992 had additional requirements, but that in the first three months after the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 on 1 October 1992 this rose to 29 per cent.
  700
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of persons on(a) probation and (b) community service orders had a previous custodial sentence at the latest available date.

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest available figures were published in summary probation statistics England and Wales 1992 which is available in the House of Commons Library. The percentage of persons commencing supervision by the probation service with a previous custodial sentence in 1992 were(a) 38 for probation and (b) 32 for community service orders.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to meet the National Association of Probation Officers, the Association of Chief Officers of Probation or the Central Probation Council to discuss changes in the probation budget.

  Mr. Maclean
  I plan to meet representatives of the Central Probation Council and the Association of Chief Officers of Probation to discuss issues of current concern. I have no immediate plans to meet the National Association of Probation Officers.

  Horse Thefts
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many horse thefts have been reported to the police in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by county, the number of reported incidents of horses being stolen in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Community Service
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reduce the minimum age for community service.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have no plans at present to bring forward legislation to lower the minimum age for community service of 16; but I want to consider, as part of the review of national standards for community sentences,
  701
  increasing the scope for younger offenders to undertake tasks of a reparative nature for the benefit of local communities as part of effective supervision programmes.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase or strengthen community penalties.

  Mr. Maclean
  I plan to strengthen community penalties through the review of national standards now in progress.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the recommendations made by the firearms consultative committee in each year since it was set up; which of them have been the subject of a circular issued by him indicating that the recommendations should be implemented; what information he has as to whether those recommendations have been implemented; and by which police forces they have been implemented.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A summary of the committee's recommendations is contained in each of its four annual reports, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Revised guidance on the definition of antique weapons and collecting of firearms was issued to chief officers of police following a recommendation made by the committee in its third annual report. In addition, Home Office circulars have been issued which include advice on implementing recommendations made by the committee on revised criteria for approved rifle and pistol clubs and the EC weapons directive.

  Details of the other recommendations of the committee which have been implemented were given in my reply to the hon. Member on 15 December 1993—column 657.

  The administration of the firearms licensing system is the responsibility of individual chief officers of police. Detailed records of individual force practice are not kept centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all grant allocations made under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 for the year 1994–95.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Sheehy Inquiry
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the studies for which(a) Ernst and Young and (b) Towers Perrin were engaged in the two years prior to the establishment of the Sheehy inquiry; and what was the cost thereof.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Details of the contracts awarded by the Home Office during the period July 1990 to July 1992 to the specified companies are as follows:

  July 1990–July 1992

  Total Value

  Consultant

  Towers Perrin

  —

  Ernst and Young Court Escort Area Survey and associated research

  —

  702

  July 1990–July 1992

  Total Value

  Consultancy assistance in ensuring VFM from the Court Escort Service.

  —

  Firearms licensing costs.

  —

  Validation of IT strategy.

  —

  PROMIS/SPITS Strategy Study

  —

  Feasibility of Artificial Intelligence.

  —

  £433,930

  Immigration
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to the immigration department concerning arresting alleged illegal immigrants during their wedding services.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Instructions to the immigration service stress that visits to register offices to detain offenders under the immigration laws are particularly sensitive and should normally be undertaken only where the individual's whereabouts before and after the wedding have been and will be unknown.

  I am not aware of any recent case where an immigration offender has been arrested during a marriage service but know of two cases where illegal entrants were detained prior to their intended marriages.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the west midlands inquiry unit's use of early morning raids on the homes of suspected illegal immigrants.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have not received any recent representations about early morning visits carried out by immigration service staff attached to the midlands inquiry unit.

  Market Testing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish for each service that has been market tested in his Department in 1993(a) the cost of the testing process, including consultancy costs, (b) the result of the test, (c) the name of the successful contractor, (d) the value and duration of the contract, (e) the number of staff involved, (f) estimated annual cost reductions and (g) whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were deemed to apply.

  Mr. Howard
  The Home Office is currently analysing the outcome of the 1992–93 competing for quality programme with the efficiency unit in the Cabinet Office. Once it has been finalised, much of the information requested will be published in aggregate form in the "Citizens Charter Second Report". On an individual project basis, much of the information is commercially confidential.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes are planned in prisoner numbers at HMP(a) Armley, (b) Brixton, (c) Ford, (d) Full Sutton, (e) Hull, (f) Lindholme, (g) Moorland, (h)

  703
  Pentonville, (j) Wandsworth, (k) Wolds and (l) Wormwood Scrubs over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 January 1994:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about prisoner numbers at 11 prison establishments.

  The number of prisoners received by the Prison Service is not directly subject to planning but depends upon the decisions of the courts. In order to cater for expected growth in the population, the Prison Service is planning to build six new prisons and is preparing plans to build new places in existing establishments. Final decisions have not yet been taken on which prisons will have their capacity expanded. These are, therefore, no firm proposals to build new accommodation in any of the establishments you list.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many communications he has received during the consultation on deregulation on(a) the Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991, (b) the Pet Animals Act 1951, (c) the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 and (d) the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925; how many were in favour and how many against; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The number of responses which the Department has received to its consultation letter concerning the deregulation review of certain Acts is as follows:

  In favour of retaining the present controls

  In favour of deregulation

  The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and 1991

  11

  1

  The Pet Animals Act 1951

  13

  3

  The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963

  11

  2

  The Performing Animals (Regulations) Act 1925

  6

  0

  Year of Older People
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution his Department made to the European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations in terms of financial support, practical support for particular events, and the provision of information.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My Department continued its funding of the retired and senior volunteer programme, which was represented on the UK core advisory group for the year, and of the retired executives action clearing house. In 1993 the grant to the retired and senior volunteer programme was £50,000 and to the retired executives action clearing house £41,592. It also funds many other organisations such as the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, which though not aiming specifically at older people encourage volunteering by people of all ages. Ministerial colleagues and I made regular reference in our speeches to the importance of older volunteers.
  704
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which programmes and events for the European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations he has been directly involved.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None.

  Combination Orders
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many combination orders have been made since 17 October 1992; and how many have been breached to date.

  Mr. Maclean
  Combination orders were introduced on 1 October 1992 by the Criminal Justice Act 1991. Between 1 October 1992 and the end of June 1993 it is estimated that some 5,300 combination orders have commenced in England and Wales probation areas. Information on breaches is not yet available.

  Strip Searches
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip searches have been carried out in England and Wales in the last five years; and for what purposes strip searches are carried out.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Jean Corston, dated 19 January 1994:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about strip searching.

  Prisons are not required to maintain statistics of the number of strip searches carried out. Strip searching is a routine security measure, carried out under the provisions of Rule 39 of the Prisons Rules 1964, to which all prisoners are subject. It enables prison officers to detect small items of contraband, such as drugs or a weapon, which may be concealed about the person and which might not be discovered in an ordinary rub-down search. The prospect of being strip-searched also acts as a deterrent to concealing such items.

  City Status, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to support Doncaster being awarded city status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the title of city is an honour conferred by the sovereign, by letters patent, on the recommendation of the Home Secretary. The title is nowadays a very rare distinction, granted only in exceptional circumstances and usually in connection with a royal occasion. Any application for city status on behalf of Doncaster would be considered in the usual way.

  Football (Policing)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the total number of police officers on duty at Carling premiership and Endsleigh football league matches in England and Wales, the total number of police officers as a percentage of the total attendances for those matches and the total cost of those officers for the years 1991–92 and 1992–93.
  705
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not held centrally.

  Door Supervisors
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he or his Department have received on a national registration scheme for door supervisors.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In the past six months, four letters have been received on this matter.

  In addition, Home Office officials have met a group of interested parties, to discuss local regulatory schemes. Consideration is now being given to proposals prepared by that group and further discussions will take place shortly.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will bring forward proposals for a national registration scheme for door supervisors;

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a national registration scheme for door supervisors.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There are no plans to introduce such a scheme.

  Fir Tree Grange Probation Hostel
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from magistrates, the police and the probation service concerning his decision to close Fir Tree Grange approved probation hostel.

  Mr. Maclean
  No direct representations have been received from the police; representations have however been made by Easington magistrates court and by a Member of Parliament and a Member of the European Parliament on behalf of members of Durham probation service. A 234-name petition against closure, including signatories from all three of these areas, has also been received.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who was consulted before the decision was taken to close Fir Tree Grange approved probation hostel.

  Mr. Maclean
  For reasons of confidentiality it was not appropriate for consultation outside the Department to take place in advance of the Chancellor's autumn statement.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received(a) in support of and (b) in opposition to the closure of Fir Tree Grange approved probation hostel.

  Mr. Maclean
  (a) None, (b) four, plus a 234-name petition.

  Asylum
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the granting of political asylum to Rashid Ghannouchi; if he has now given further consideration to his decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Representations expressing concern about this case have been received from several 706
  hon. Members, the Government of Tunisia and some members of the public. The decision has been re-examined and I am satisfied that it was correct. There are no present grounds for withdrawing Mr. Ghannouchi's refugee status. I will be writing to the hon. Member in response to his recent letters on this matter.

  Royal Veterinary College
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from the department of veterinary pathology at the Royal Veterinary college in regard to his proposals about aggravated trespass; and what reply he has sent.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a letter from Professor Bleby of the Royal Veterinary college about our proposals. A number of right hon. and hon. Members have also sent copies of this letter to the Home Office. A copy of our reply will be forwarded to the right hon. Member.

  Safer Cities Programme
  Mr. Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to make an announcement about the selection of areas for the safer cities phase 2 programme.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I announced on 29 December that decisions have been made on the first wave of projects to be set up under phase 2 of the safer cities programme and on the organisations which will manage them on our behalf. The competitive nature of the bids received together with the commitment of additional resources from key local agencies means that projects can be set up in all 10 of the shortlisted areas.

  After careful evaluation of the tenders two organisations have been chosen to run the projects: Crime Concern and the National Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders—NACRO. Both organisations have significant experience in crime prevention, project management and working with voluntary agencies.

  Crime Concern will manage projects in Blackburn, Burnley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Manchester, Merthyr Tydfil and Plymouth and NACRO in Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield. Projects will start to come on stream early in the new year.

  Further waves of phase 2 projects are planned, but as safer cities funding will be included in the single regeneration budget from 1 April 1994 decisions about future projects will be taken in conjunction with the Department of the Environment.

SCOTLAND

  Forestry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to draw up a plan for the implementation of the forest principles agreed at the Rio summit.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Our plan for the implementation of the forest principles agreed at the Rio summit will be published shortly.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to sell off any of the forests
  707
  owned by the Forestry Commission in the Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency under its current disposals programme;

  (2) if he will list all forests owned by the Forestry Commission in the Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Forestry Commission is preparing a list of all its woodlands in the hon. Member's constituency, and this will identify those which are currently being considered for sale. I shall send a copy to the hon. Member and I shall also arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list Forestry Commission property in the Cunninghame, South constituency and in Ayrshire as a whole.

  Sir Hector Monro
  There are no Forestry Commission woodlands in the hon. Member's constituency. The commission is currently preparing a list of its woodlands in Ayrshire and I shall send a copy to the hon. Member. I shall also arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Livingston Development Corporation
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total value of assets owned by Livingston development corporation.

  Mr. Lang
  The corporation's annual report 1992–93 shows that the value of Livingston's total fixed assets at 31 March 1993 was £238·7 million.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what target for capital receipts from sale of property and land he has set for Livingstone development corporation for the next two years.

  Mr. Lang
  The provisional targets set are as follows:

  £ million

  Housing

  Industrial, Commercial and Land

  Total

  1994–95

  7·677

  26·900

  34·577

  1995–96

  8·375

  42·340

  50·715

  These will be the subject of further discussion with the development corporation before final targets are set.

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will quantify the cost of the factors which led to an increase in the cost of cars for Ministers in his Department since 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  The cost of providing cars for Ministers in my Department increased by £11,877—5 per cent.—over the period 1990–91 to 1992–93. The difference is due to modest cost increases in a number of areas, notably fuel and maintenance costs and salaries and associated staff costs.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make arrangements for the Data Protection Registrar to inspect relevant contracts with suppliers of IT 708
  services that involve the use of personal data held by his Department in order to check whether all appropriate arrangements in relation to the Data Protection Act 1984 have been made, and whether such contracts make provisions for the registrar to make random inspections in order to check the suppliers' compliance in with the eighth data protection principle.

  Mr. Lang
  The Data Protection Regstrar has a wide range of powers, under the Data Protection Act 1984, to ensure that all individuals and organisations holding personal data on computer systems are registered and observe the data protections principles as required by the Act. When IT services are contracted out by a data user, the contractor and the user will be subject to the application of the data protection principles, and to the registrar's powers to promote compliance with them, as provided for in the Act. It is for the registrar to decide how he will use his powers under the Act, and I do not consider that any further arrangements are necessary for him to discharge his duties effectively.

  Departmental Files
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish Office files were destroyed last year; and what general subject matter, by category, was contained in them.

  Mr. Land
  A total of 155,097 files—out of a total of over 1·5 million—were destroyed during 1993 following consultation with the Scottish Record Office. The subject matter covered the full range of Scottish Office functions. The split among Departments is:

  Number

  Agriculture and Fisheries

  7,904

  Environment

  15,509

  Education

  148,002

  Industry

  5,660

  Home and Health

  270,616

  Central Services

  7,406

  1 Includes case files relating to student awards.

  2 Includes case files relating to teacher and NHS pensions.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general practitioners received gross payments in excess of £200,000 per year in each year since 1991–92.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information is not available for 1991–92 and is available for 1992–93 only on a practice basis. In 1992–93 the average payment per general practitioner within a practice exceeded £200,000 in 12 practices containing a total of 13 practitioners.

  All 12 of the practices were dispensing practices and the payments included all payments in respect of dispensing —including payments for the supply of drugs—as well as the usual gross payments in respect of the provision of general medical services.

  Museums and Galleries (Attendances)
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the attendance figures for 1993 reported by the national museums and galleries in Scotland, broken
  709
  down into the individual institutions but including their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1992.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: The information is as follows:

  1993

  Percentage change since 1992

  National Museums of Scotland

  1,072,716

  +6·70

  National Galleries of Scotland

  746,508

  -1·66

  The national museums of Scotland comprise the Royal museum of Scotland buildings at Chambers street and Queen street, Edinburgh, the Scottish Agricultural museum, the Scottish United Services museum, the Museum of Flight, the Museum of Costume and the Gasworks museum. The national galleries of Scotland comprise the National Gallery of Scotland, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish National Portrait gallery.

  Special Education Services
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had in relation to proposed local government reform from Mr. Sandy Watson, director of education for Dundee, on behalf of the Scottish Directors of Education, relating to the provision of specialist education services for the handicapped, pupils in music, and other groups, dependent on large-scale education authorities for the current standard of provision.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: I have received a number of representations from Mr. Watson in his capacity as secretary to the professional association of the education directorate, on behalf of the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland in connection with our proposals for local government reform.

  In his most recent letter, dated 14 December 1993 written on behalf of the association and other bodies and addressed to all Scottish Members of Parliament, Mr. Watson expressed concern that small authorities with reduced spending power would have difficulty in maintaining professional support services and that special needs provision would be vulnerable. I believe this concern is capable of being satisfactorily addressed within the Government's proposal.

  Salmon
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation he has now had, following the report of the Salmon Advisory Committee, about the provision of fish passes and fish screens; and whether he now intends to make regulations on this question under the provisions of the Salmon Act 1986.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 14 January 1994]: Consideration is now being given to the responses received, in the latter part of 1993, from the wide range of interests consulted on proposals for new Scottish fish pass and fish screen regulations. I hope to lay the regulations before Parliament by the summer.
  710

  Scottish Art
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish the submission received from the trustees of the national galleries for Scotland in respect of the proposal to build a new gallery of Scottish art; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will publish representations received by him in respect of the proposal to build a new gallery of Scottish art; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: My right hon. Friend has not yet received any fully developed and costed proposals from the board of trustees and it would therefore be premature for him to make a statement. It will be for the board in the first instance to decide whether or not to publish details of its submission.

  My right hon. Friend will certainly taken into account all of the representations received on this issue but it would be inappropriate to publish representations put to him in correspondence, some of which have been marked specifically as "confidential".

  Mr. Laurence Peterken
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date a cheque was sent to Mr. Laurence Peterken, terminating his employment; what was the amount of the cheque; what the payment was in respect of; and when this cheque was cashed.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: Greater Glasgow health board sent Mr. Laurence Peterken on 4 November 1993 a cheque for £36,447·45, representing six months' pay in lieu of notice and payment for work undertaken on 1 and 2 November. The cheque, which had already been cancelled, was returned uncashed by Mr. Peterken to Greater Glasgow health board on 23 November.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the appointment offered to Mr. Laurence Peterken on 12 November 1993 of special projects director was conditional on his not accepting the six months' pay in lieu of notice granted by Greater Glasgow health board.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: When Mr. Peterken was appointed special projects director, he relinquished all claims for payment of whatever kind other than pension payments and outstanding salary and performance-related pay relative to his employment with Greater Glasgow health board. This was a condition of his appointment and it would have applied to any payment in lieu of notice.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hamilton, (Mr. Robertson) of 14 December 1993,Official Report, column 604, what was the sum involved in granting Mr. Laurence Peterken six months' pay in lieu of notice, and for what reason no payment had been made to Mr. Peterken by 14 December 1993.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: The sum involved in respect of six months' pay in lieu of notice to Mr. Laurence Peterken was £36,223·50. The cheque, which had already been cancelled, was returned uncashed by Mr. Peterken to Greater Glasgow health board on

  711
  23 November in accordance with the conditions relating to his appointment as special project director with the national health service in Scotland. No payment had therefore been made to Mr. Peterken by 14 December either in lieu of notice or as compensation for leaving Greater Glasgow health board prematurely.
  712

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the changes to statutory sick pay provision upon his departmental budget for the financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: The abolition of reimbursement for statutory sick pay will be offset, at least in part, by a 0·2 per cent. reduction in employer's national insurance contributions. Any additional costs will be absorbed within my Department's existing running costs baseline.

  EC COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
  EC COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
  POLICY AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP PROPOSALS
  POLICY AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP PROPOSALS
  SOCIAL FUND COMMUNITY CARE GRANTS
  SOCIAL FUND COMMUNITY CARE GRANTS
  SOCIAL SECURITY EXPENDITURE: CONTRIBUTORY BENEFITS
  SOCIAL SECURITY EXPENDITURE: CONTRIBUTORY BENEFITS
  INVALIDITY BENEFIT AND VOLUNTARY WORK
  INVALIDITY BENEFIT AND VOLUNTARY WORK
  SICK PAY
  SICK PAY
  AIRPORTS: ECONOMIC REGULATION SYSTEM
  AIRPORTS: ECONOMIC REGULATION SYSTEM
  "BRAER": LOSS REPORTS
  "BRAER": LOSS REPORTS
  EUROTUNNEL: EXTENDED CONCESSION
  EUROTUNNEL: EXTENDED CONCESSION
  BRITISH RAIL SURPLUS ASSETS: DISPOSAL
  BRITISH RAIL SURPLUS ASSETS: DISPOSAL
  DRINK-DRIVING: CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN
  DRINK-DRIVING: CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN
  SMOKING AND WORKING DAYS LOST
  SMOKING AND WORKING DAYS LOST
  PASSIVE SMOKING
  PASSIVE SMOKING
  CLEVELAND: FUTURE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
  CLEVELAND: FUTURE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
  DONCASTER: YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
  DONCASTER: YOUTH EMPLOYMENT