Written Answers of 25 January 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Hearsay Rule
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has in relation to the Law Commission's Report, "The Hearsay Rule in Civil Proceedings"—Cm 2321, Law Com. No. 216 —which was published in September 1993.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government welcome the report and will introduce legislation implementing its recommendations when a suitable opportunity arises.

  Judges' Accommodation
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of accommodation for judges in 1992–93 and 1982–83; what were the major categories of cost; and what was spent in each category.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Figures for the cost of accommodation of judges when sitting in the courts are not separately maintained. The cost of accommodation in lodgings for judges on circuit was £5·02 million in 1992–93. These costs are in two categories, of fixed costs —including rents, hiring charges, maintenance and permanent staff—and variable costs, including fuel and utilities, and casual and itinerant staff. Fixed costs in 1992–93 were £4·14 million and variable costs were £0·88 million. The Property Services Agency was primarily responsible for the lodgings in 1982–83 and the figures for that year cannot be ascertained without disproportionate cost.

  Medical Treatment (Consent)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what work has been undertaken by the Law Commission, in consultation with the British Medical Association or other bodies, on the production of draft Bills dealing with the subject of the withdrawal of consent to medical treatment or related matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Law Commission is reviewing the law and procedures relating to decision making on behalf of mentally incapacitated adults, which involves consideration of issues relating to consent to medical treatment by or on behalf of such persons.

  Consultants
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, 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.
  124
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  An answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

  Prisons Ombudsman
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to create a post of prisons ombudsman; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Proposals to revise the procedures under which prisoners in Scotland are able to make requests and complaints and to air grievances in relation to the Scottish Prison Service were contained in the report of a Scottish Prison Service working group entitled "Right and Just", which was published for comment in September 1992. The consultation exercise indicated a general consensus in favour of introducing an independent element to the system, and we have taken the view that this can best be achieved by the appointment of an external complaints adjudicator—an independent person on a fixed term contract, with advisory functions. This will fulfil the commitment in the justice charter for Scotland to introduce an independent element in the new procedures. Officials in the Scottish Office have been asked to start the process of advertising for such a person with a view to an appointment later this year.

  In advance of that, however, proposals for revised internal grievance procedures have been fully worked up for implementation in establishments next month. The main features are that requests or complaints will be resolved as close as possible to the source of the matter at issue; those who take decisions will be accountable for them; prisoners will receive reasoned responses within a set time scale; and accurate and sufficiently detailed records will be maintained. Gallery officers and hall managers will have a key role to play in the day-to-day handling of requests and complaints, but issues which they cannot resolve will be referred to an internal complaints committee. Prisoners will be given the opportunity to appeal against the committee's decisions to the governor-in-charge. If they remain dissatisfied, they will have the right of appeal to the external complaints adjudicator. Under transitional arrangements there will be a right of appeal to Scottish Prison Service headquarters.

  The external complaints adjudicator will take a case on board only when all previous stages in the procedure have been exhausted. He or she will review both the merits of decisions and the way in which requests and complaints have been handled in the internal system. Where the complaints adjudicator disagrees with a decision, he or she will have the power to recommend the questioning of any finding of guilt or remission of any punishment. The complaints adjudicator will make a report to the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service on each case with a reasoned recommendation.

  I believe that this new appointment, taken with the overhauled internal procedures, will represent a significant advance in the way in which prisoners' requests and complaints are handled.

  Sheriff Courts (Training)
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the organisation of training for the judiciary in the sheriff courts.
  125
  Mr. Lang
  Responsibility for the content of judicial training rests with the judiciary and responsibility for its funding rests with me. I very much welcome the growth in recent years in the amount of training undertaken by the judiciary. To assist in its further development I have decided, following consultation with the Lord President of the Court of Session, to set up a group to co-ordinate the provision of training for the judiciary in the sheriff courts. The right hon. Lord Cameron of Lochbroom has kindly agreed to chair the group, the membership of which will be as follows:

  Sheriff Iain Macmillan CBE, President, Temporary Sheriffs Association

  Mr. Gordon Murray CB, Director, Scottish Courts Administration

  Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson QC, Convener, Sheriffs Principal

  Sheriff Gordon Shiach, Acting President, Sheriffs Association

  Mountain Deaths
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up an inquiry to ascertain the causes of deaths arising from incidents on Scottish mountains and to initiate action to avoid a repetition of such fatalities.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 14 January 1994]: I am sure that the hon. Member is aware of the great concern I have repeatedly expressed about the loss of life in the Scottish mountains. He will no doubt have seen my Christmas message on mountain safety which was extensively relayed in the Scottish press. The Scottish mountain rescue committee publishes annual statistics which give a breakdown of accidents by type of incident and injury and provide details of resources expended in rescue. Relevant bodies incuding the Scottish mountain safety group and the Scottish Sports Council are actively considering the question of further research into safety in the Scottish mountains and I expect to receive their recommendations in due course. Until that time I have no plans to set up an inquiry.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Order Act 1986
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Attorney-General how many times the Attorney General has refused his consent to a prosecution under part III of the Public Order Act 1986.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Solicitor General to the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore) on 17 December 1993, at columns 1050–51.

  Public Interest
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases the Crown Prosecution Service has dropped in the public interest in each year since its establishment.

  The Attorney-General
  The information sought by the hon. Member is recorded only on individual case files and is not collected or collated centrally. The information requested could therefore be collected only at dispropor-tionate cost. Many of the files on case completed since 1986 have been destroyed in accordance with the Public Records Acts.
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  A survey has been carried out of all prosecutions dropped during November 1993 and the results will be published very shortly.

ENVIRONMENT

  Homelessness
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households were accepted as homeless and in priority need in the Greater Manchester area in each year since 1987.

  Sir George Young
  Information on households accepted by local authorities in the Greater Manchester area as homeless and in priority need, and covering the whole of the period, is readily available only for financial years. The information is as follows:

  Number

  1987–88

  8,960

  1988–89

  11,030

  1989–90

  10,630

  1990–91

  13,030

  1991–92

  13,280

  1992–93

  11,840

  Source: Housing Investment Programme (HIP1) returns.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are homeless in the parliamentary constituencies of Sunderland, North, Sunderland, South and Washington and Houghton.

  Sir George Young
  The available data relate to local authority areas. The numbers of households accepted as homeless by Sunderland metropolitan district council are given in the supplementary table to the quarterly information bulletin "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985: England"; copies of both are in the Library. The latest available statistics are for the third quarter of 1993.

  Petrol Fumes
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has held about the environmental and health risk of vapour fumes from unleaded petrol.

  Mr. Atkins
  Government Ministers and officials have held discussions with interested parties at national and international level.

  Environmental Standards
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made as to the effect of the GATT on environmental standards.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply by the then Minister for the Environment and Countryside to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 29 November,Official Report, column 381.

  Petrol Pumps
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to regulate to ensure that petrol pump nozzles are fitted with vapour controls to limit the dangers of carcinogenic fumes.
  127
  Mr. Atkins
  None at present. However, a proposal from the European Commission to introduce a system of petrol vapour recovery during vehicle refuelling is expected in the near future. The proposal is likely to aim at controlling emissions of volatile organic compounds as precursors of ground level ozone.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the findings of his Department's research on rent arrears as an update to "Preventing Rent Arrears", published in December 1983.

  Sir George Young
  I expect to publish the research findings in the summer.

  Assured Shorthold Tenancies
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average duration of assured shorthold tenancies granted under the provisions of the Housing Act 1988.

  Sir George Young
  This information is not available at present. However, the survey of English housing will provide further information. The results of the first year of the survey are expected io be published in the autumn.

  Waste Management Licensing
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the new waste management licensing provisions of part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 will be implemented before 1 May 1994; and when the necessary regulations will be laid.

  Mr. Atkins
  As the then Minister for the Environment and Countryside announced on 24 November 1993 at column 384 it is the Government's intention to bring the waste management licensing provisions of part Il of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 into force on 1 May 1994. The necessary regulations will be laid before Parliament before that date.

  Disabled Access
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that no buildings or parts thereof will be secured for or on behalf of his Department unless there is adequate access for disabled people.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is already Government policy to take into account the needs of disabled people both in operating existing buildings and in acquiring new buildings.

  Cetaceans
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received on draft guidelines prepared by the sea mammal research unit on precautions to minimise acoustic disturbance to small cetaceans.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has received no written representations on the draft guidelines, and three telephoned inquiries from two non-governmental organisations.
  128

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the expected total costs to public funds of the 16 enterprise zones that he announced on 18 January.

  Mr. Baldry
  The principal public sector costs of enterprise zones are rate relief and capital allowances. Neither can be accurately calculated in advance as they depend on the rate of development of the zones.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail the ownership of the sites of the 16 enterprise zones which he announced on 18 January; what measures he will use to evaluate the effectiveness of those enterprise zones; and how he will monitor their performance.

  Mr. Baldry
  Designation of the 16 sites proposed for enterprise zone status is subject to the agreement of the European Commission and to statutory consultation procedures. Precise site boundaries have yet to be determined. It would therefore be premature and potentially misleading to give details of land ownership at this stage. This information will be available as part of the statutory consultation process.

  A programme of monitoring and evaluation for any new zones will be established on designation.

  Portable Discounts
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many recipients of portable discounts paid for leaving their rented council property have subsequently received a further discount on purchasing a second council-owned property.

  Sir George Young
  No statistics on the matter are held by my Department.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many portable discounts were paid to tenants of(a) Westminster council and (b) Wandsworth council in each year of the operation of the scheme to date which did not result in the vacant property being relet to a homeless family or an applicant on the council's housing list.

  Sir George Young
  The table shows the number of cash incentive grants paid directly by Westminster council and Wandsworth council which did not result in the property vacated being relet to a homeless household or an applicant on the housing waiting-transfer list.

  My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State approved these schemes on the basis that vacated properties could be sold to tenant purchasers, whose vacated properties would in turn be relet to a homeless household or waiting list applicant.

  Westminster

  Wandsworth

  1989–90

  0

  0

  1990–91

  13

  0

  1991–92

  0

  31

  1992–93

  34

  29

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  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he has received to the consultation paper on local government reorganisation, "Proposed Arrangements for 1994–95 Reorganisation Costs", issued to all local authorities on 2 December 1993; and what arrangements he has decided to adopt in relation to reorganisation costs to be incurred by authorities in 1994–95.

  Mr. Curry
  There have been some 40 responses to the consultation paper. We have carefully considered the responses, and have decided to confirm the proposals for 1994–95 with modifications. We shall issue to authorities supplementary credit approvals to enable them to borrow to meet specified reorganisation costs incurred in 1994–95, up to a limit. We shall determine the limit on the basis, inter alia, of information provided by the authorities concerned and the Government's public expenditure plans.

  We have issued to authorities in the Isle of Wight and Cleveland notices requiring them to supply information about their reorganisation costs to be incurred in 1994–95. We intend, in the course of 1994–95, to issue further notices to any other authorities in respect on which reorganisation orders under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 are made that year. We do not expect reorganisation costs in 1994–95 to be significant for such authorities.

  Pollution
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure the monitoring of pollution levels in Britain's larger towns; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: In the second anniversary report of the 1990 environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance", the Government made a commitment to extend their urban air quality monitoring network to cover all major cities by 1997. In addition, the Government are currently considering responses to their recent consultation paper "The Future of Air Quality Monitoring Networks in the United Kingdom", which included proposals for a framework which draws local and national air quality monitoring together into a coherent quality assured network.

  Waste Exports
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what quantities of waste have been exported annually from the United Kingdom since 1988 to non-OECD countries for(a) disposal and (b) recovery or recycling;

  (2) if the Government intend to support a total ban on the export of all toxic waste to non-OECD countries at the forthcoming Basel convention meeting in March;

  (3) if he will place in the Library the information supplied by the United Kingdom to the European Commission as its contribution to the review of waste exports for recovery, as requested at the Environment Council meeting in March 1993;

  (4) which local and national authorities (a) were responsible for determining whether the United Kingdom waste exported to the Brazilian company Produquimica in
  130
  August 1993 was a controlled waste and (b) are now responsible for the management of the waste subsequently returned to the United Kingdom recently;

  (5) what measures he has taken or intends to take to ensure that wastes exported to non-OECD countries for the purposes of recycling and recovery are handled in an environmentally sound manner.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: My Department has no record under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988 of any exports since 1988 of hazardous waste to non-OECD countries for disposal. A total of 16,300 tonnes of hazardous red and amber list waste were exported to non-OECD countries for recovery or recycling in 1991. Information for 1992 is as follows. Information for earlier years has not been analysed and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Evans) on 12 January at columns 200–201.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 18 January, at column 567. I understand that no documentation was submitted to the competent authorities under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988 prior to the export of this material by London Metals Ltd. to the Produquimica Co. in Brazil. Humberside county council is aware that the material is being transported to a storage facility in its area.

  The following information was supplied to the European Commission:

  United Kingdom exports of hazardous recoverable red and amber list waste to non-OECD countries 1992

  Country

  Tonnes

  Thailand

  2,371

  South Africa

  1,393

  South Korea

  1,160

  Dubai

  925

  India

  748

  Israel

  269

  Libya

  187

  Singapore

  134

  Burma

  127

  Taiwan

  111

  Qatar

  103

  Bolivia

  102

  Pakistan

  99

  Indonesia

  73

  Egypt

  71

  United Arab Emirates

  62

  Malta

  60

  Saudi Arabia

  45

  Abu Dhabi

  40

  Mexico

  39

  Brunei

  22

  Malaysia

  21

  Zambia

  12

  Ecuador

  8

  CIS (former Soviet Union)

  7

  Ghana

  3

  Sri Lanka

  2

  Venezuela

  1

  China

  1

  TOTAL FOR ALL NON-OECD COUNTRIES

  8,196

  Note: Figures rounded.

  Source of information: United Kingdom Customs and Excise

  Department—May 1993.
  131

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  "Back to Basics"
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the implications of the Government's "back to basics" policy for her Department during 1994.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 21 January 1994 Official Report, column 849, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what working definition of "back to basics" is used by her Department; and what her Department has done in the past three months to implement the policy.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 20 January 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 January 1994 Official Report, column 849.

  Animal Welfare
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made as to the effect of GATT on standards of animal welfare at home and abroad.

  Mr. Soames
  No such assessment has been made. However, the GATT Uruguay round agreement on agriculture does not change the basic GATT requirement that animal welfare measures should not place more stringent measures on third country imports than on domestic production.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which special advisers in her Department are seconded from other organisations; and what are the organisations and the lengths and terms of the secondments.

  Mr. Jack
  None.

  Intervention Stocks
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value of the intervention stocks for free distribution that were(a) allocated and (b) distributed, for each European Union member in 1993 in (i) pound sterling and (ii) ecus.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The maximum levels of expenditure allocated by the Commission for 1993 under the EC surplus food scheme were as follows:

  Member state

  £ sterling12 (millions)

  ecus2 (millions)

  Belgium

  1·931

  2·422

  Denmark

  1·595

  2·000

  France

  22·771

  28·560

  Germany

  nil

  nil

  Greece

  9·567

  12·000

  Ireland

  3·668

  4·600

  Italy

  19·534

  24·500

  132

  Member state

  £ sterling12 (millions)

  ecus2 (millions)

  Luxembourg

  0·062

  0·078

  Netherlands

  2·392

  3·000

  Portugal

  8·324

  10·440

  Spain

  28·224

  35·400

  United Kingdom

  19·932

  25·000

  Total

  118·000

  148·000

  1ecu/£ conversion rate=0·797291 as at 1 October 1992.

  2These total figures include transport and administration costs.

  Final figures for actual expenditure for 1993 are not yet available.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 24 January; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  This Council meeting, at which I represented the United Kingdom, formally adopted the legal texts implementing the package of decisions reached at its December meeting and as described in my reply of 17 December to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter)Official Report, columns 1071–72. As stated in that reply, I voted against the decision on oilseeds.

  The Council also adopted unanimously a regulation permitting member states to impose a levy on milk production in order to fund promotional measures; considered the situation of beekeepers in the Community, on which the Commission will present a more detailed study in due course; and discussed, without reaching any specific conclusions, a report from the Commission on the sheepmeat market.

  I took the opportunity to press the Commission to reach a speedy decision on the legality or otherwise of French national assistance to pig producers, an issue which I had first raised in the Council last October.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agreements have been made, how much has been spent and how many kilometres of hedgerow were restored under the hedgerow incentive scheme by her Ministry in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94 in each region in England; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: The table sets out by MAFF region the number of claims and the amount of money paid at November 1993 to farmers under the farm and conservation grant scheme—F and CGS—in support of the Countryside Commission's hedgerow incentive scheme—HIS. No such payments were made in the financial year 1992–93. Because these payments accompanied payments by the Countryside Commission it is not possible to identify separately the proportion of the hedgerow restored under the HIS which attracted grant under the F and CGS.

  Government support for hedgerow restoration through the HIS is minor compared to the considerable support which is available also under the F and CGS. Under

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  this scheme, since 1989, we have paid 3,500 farmers £5·24 million towards the restoration of 3,300 km of hedgerow.

  1993–94

  MAFF Regional Service Centre

  Number of Claims

  Grant Paid £

  Anglia

  1

  455

  East Midlands

  8

  3,290

  North East

  10

  10,375

  Northern

  16

  17,654

  North Mercia

  9

  12,659

  South Mercia

  11

  10,644

  South East

  8

  6,073

  South West

  8

  8,839

  Wessex

  7

  5,433

  England

  78

  74,972

  Cash income and average manual workers earnings

  Cash income on cattle and sheep farms (LFA)1

  3Year

  England £ '000s per farm

  Wales £ '000s per farm

  Scotland £''000s per farm

  Northern Ireland £'000s per farm

  2Full-time adult manual workers earnings in Great Britain £'000s

  Current prices

  1986–87

  7·1

  8·7

  10·5

  10·6

  8·5

  1987–88

  10·8

  7·7

  14·3

  11·7

  9·0

  1988–89

  11·0

  10·4

  14·5

  8·9

  9·7

  1989–90

  14·1

  13·5

  14·9

  12·0

  10·6

  1990–91

  13·2

  14·3

  15·5

  11·5

  11·6

  41991–92

  14·3

  17·8

  17·9

  9·9

  12·3

  41992–93

  18·4

  22·0

  19·8

  13·6

  13·0

  4 51993–94

  22·0

  28·9

  21·9

  15·2

  13·3

  1992–93 prices6

  1986–87

  10·0

  12·3

  14·8

  15·0

  12·0

  1987–88

  14·6

  10·4

  19·4

  15·9

  12·2

  1988–89

  14·1

  13·4

  18·6

  11·4

  12·5

  1989–90

  16·8

  16·1

  17·7

  14·3

  12·6

  1990–91

  14·3

  15·5

  16·8

  12·5

  12·6

  41991–92

  14·8

  18·4

  18·5

  10·2

  12·7

  41992–93

  18·4

  22·0

  19·8

  13·6

  13·0

  4 51993–94

  21·7

  28·4

  21·6

  15·0

  13·0

  1 Sample averages for farms larger than 8 ESU. The system of farm classification is set out in appendix 3 of Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1991–92.

  2 As at April each year.

  3 March-February accounting year.

  4 Provisional and forecast figures based on the sample of farms in the survey for 1992–93.

  5 Forecast.

  6 Deflated by the retail prices index—all items (March 1992-February 1993 prices).

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Iran
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government have given to Iran to help refugees from Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Since 1991 we have contributed £2,216,000 to helping Iraqi refugees in Iran. These sums include £200,000 to CARE; £320,000 to the Iraqi humanitarian relief committee; £52,000 to the South Manchester accident and rescue team; £20,000 to the Association of Pioneer Relief Officers; £1 million to the International Commission of the Red Cross and £624,000
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  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will publish the farm income figures for(a) English, (b) Welsh, (c) Scottish and (d) Northern Irish hill livestock farm enterprises in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available, at constant prices, shown as a percentage of full-time manual earnings for the United Kingdom for the same period.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 18 January 1993]: None of the measures of farm income are comparable with those of manual worker's earnings. The tables show estimates of the level of cash income for each accounting year since 1986–87 and the average earnings of full-time adult workers as at April each year in terms of current prices and 1992–93 prices. Income data are not available for the new classification of farm types before 1986–87.

  to Iraqi civilian aid. This latter British based non-governmental organisation has used the funds for work in refugee camps in Iran and also for work with displaced marsh Arabs camped on the Iran-Iraq border. The United Kingdom has not given any funds directly to the Government of Iran to help Iraqi refugees.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government have given to Iran to help refugees from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have given £3 million in 1993–94 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for work with Afghan refugees. This includes the repatriation programmes from both Pakistan and Iran.
  135
  We are ready to consider funding proposals for humanitarian activities by non-governmental organisa-tions; and are currently considering proposals for a river crossing on the Helmand river which would provide an additional border crossing for returning Afghan refugees.

  Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The board of Crown Agents is presently constituted as follows:

  Mr. D. H. Probert (Chairman)

  Mr. J. D. Andrewes

  Mr. P. F. Berry (Managing Director)

  Mr. F. Cassell CB

  Baroness Miller of Hendon MBE

  Miss K. Mortimer

  Mr. A. K. Stewart-Roberts

  Mr. F. I. Sumner

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for National Heritage which special advisers in his Department are seconded from other organisations; and what are the organisations and the lengths and terms of the secondments.

  Mr. Brooke
  Mr. Bryan Jefferson acts as architectural adviser to the Secretaries of the State for National Heritage and for the Environment. His appointment to the Department of National Heritage is on a one day a week basis.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement setting out his policy and his objectives in relation to the British film industry.

  Mr. Brooke
  It is the Government's policy to create an economic framework which will allow the United Kingdom film industry to thrive. The Department's medium-term objectives in relation to film are to help reverse the decline in British film production since 1985; to promote the United Kingdom as a location for the filming of feature films, television programmes and commercials; to expand opportunities for access to high quality films from Britain and elsewhere; and to foster international co-operation in production, distribution and exhibition of films. Measures to achieve these objectives are under consideration, and I will make an announcement as soon as practicable.

  Regional Sports Councils
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish a table showing the grant in aid for the last 10 financial years, this year and projections for the next two years, for each of the regional sports councils.
  136
  Mr. Brooke
  The Sports Council's regional offices provide the secretariat for the regional councils for sport and recreation, but neither the Department nor the Sports Council makes grants to these bodies.

  The Sports Council's support for regional sporting activity and development is delivered directly through its own regional offices.

  Millennium Commission
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his timetable for the setting up of the Millennium Commission; whether he will chair the commission; when he expects to hold the first meeting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I expect the Millennium Commission to be appointed by Her Majesty the Queen in February, and the Government Minister to chair the Millennium Commission will be announced at the same time. The first meeting of the commission will be held shortly thereafter.

  Royal Opera House
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the Royal Opera house development plan.

  Mr. Brooke
  I understand that the board of the Royal Opera house is currently considering the outcome of a review it has commissioned of financial and other aspects of the present development scheme, which received Government consent in 1991. I will be advised of the board's conclusions and will then consider, in the usual way, the extent to which any new consents are required.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the Sports Council.

  Mr. Brooke
  The current members of the Sports Council are:

  Sir Peter Yarranton (Chairman)

  Professor Allan Patmore CBE B.Litt MA (Vice-Chairman)

  Julia Bracewell

  Trevor Brooking MBE

  Gerald Dennis

  Jim Elms MBE

  Tim Marshall MBE

  Keith Oates BSc(Econ), BSC(FCT)

  Michael Parker

  Graeme Simmers OBE CA

  David Simon CBE

  Dr. Sarah Springman

  Geoff Thompson

  Ossie Wheatley MA

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the board of Theatres Trust.

  Mr. Brooke
  The members of the board of the Theatres Trust are:

  G. Laurence Harbottle (Chairman)

  Peter Plouviez (Vice Chairman)

  Sir Eddie Kulukundis

  Ian Albery

  Professor James Dunbar-Nasmith

  Sir Michael Marshall MP

  Sir Ronald Millar

  137

  Gayle Hunnicutt

  John Drummond

  A. W. P. Stenham

  Baroness Birk

  Sir Geoffrey Cass

  Peter Longman

  The Marchioness of Anglesey

  Yvonne Brewster.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Sianel Pedwar Cymru—S4C.

  Mr. Brooke
  The current members of Sianel Pedwar Cymru—S4C—are:

  Mr. Ifan Prys Edwards (Chairman)

  Dr. Gwenllian Mair Awbery

  Mr. Dyfig John

  Dr. Gwyn Jones

  Mr. R. Gerallt Jones

  Ms Janet Lewis Jones

  Mrs. Elan Closs Stephens.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Radio Authority.

  Mr. Brooke
  The current members of the Radio Authority are:

  The right hon. Lord Chalfont OBE, MC (Chairman)

  Mrs. Jill McIvor

  Mrs. Margaret Corrigan

  Mr. John Grant

  Mr. Richard Hooper

  Mr. Michael Moriarty CB

  Mr. Ranjit Sondhi.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

  Mr. Brooke
  The current members of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission are:

  Rev. Canon Peter Pilkington (Chairman)

  Mr. Donald Allen CMG

  Mr. Tony Christopher CBE

  Baroness Dean

  Ms Jane Leighton

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the board of the national heritage memorial fund.

  Mr. Brooke
  The current members of the national heritage memorial fund are:

  Lord Rothschild (Chairman)

  Mrs. Catherine Porteous

  Professor Palmer Newbould

  Sir Richard Carew-Pole

  Sir Martin Jacomb

  Sir Nicholas Goodison

  Mrs. John Nutting

  W. Lindsay Evans Esq.

  Lord Crathorne

  Commander Michael Saunders Watson

  Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  UN Plenary Session (Voting)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list Her Majesty's Government voting record for each measure, and amendments thereto, on the agenda of the plentary session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.
  138
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The 48th plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly met from 21 September to 23 December 1993. It adopted 232 resolutions and 37 decisions during that time. One hundred and sixty-eight resolutions and 35 decisions were adopted without a vote.

  The 48th session voted on 64 resolutions and two decisions during its plenary meetings. The United Kingdom's voting record for these measures was as follows:

  Voting

  Resolutions adopted without reference to a main committee

  RES/14

  Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency

  For

  RES/15

  Return or restitution of cultural property to countries or origin

  Abstain

  RES/16

  Ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba

  Abstain

  RES/23

  Zone of peace and co-operation in the South Atlantic

  For

  RES/28

  Law of the Sea

  Abstain

  RES/52

  Implementation of the Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples

  Against

  RES/53

  Dissemination of information on decolonisation

  Against

  RES/56

  Question of Island of Mayotte

  Abstain

  RES/58

  Middle East Peace Process

  For

  RES/59A

  Situation in the Middle East

  For

  RES/59B

  Syrian Golan

  Abstain

  RES/88

  Situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina

  Abstain

  RES/158A

  Committee on the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian People

  Abstain

  RES/158B

  Division for Palestinian rights of the Secretariat

  Abstain

  RES/158C

  Department of Public Information of the Secretariat

  For

  RES/158D

  Peaceful settlement on the question of Palestine

  Abstain

  Resolutions adopted on reports of the first committee

  RES/66

  Scientific and technological developments and their impact on international security

  Against

  RES/67

  The role of science and technology in the context of international security, disarmament and other related fields

  Abstain

  RES/68

  Verification in all its aspects, including the role of the UN in the field of verification

  Abstain

  Separate vote on Operative paragraph 2 of RES/68

  Against

  RES/69

  Amendment of the Treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, outer space and under water

  Against

  RES/72

  Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia

  For

  RES/73

  Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons

  Abstain

  RES/74A

  Prevention of an arms race in outer space

  For

  Separate vote on preambular paragraph 2 of RES/74A

  Abstain

  Separate vote on operative paragraph 8 of RES/74A

  Abstain

  Separate vote on operative paragraph 10 of RES/74A

  Abstain

  RES/75C

  General and complete disarmament

  Abstain

  RES/75H

  Conventional arms control at regional and sub-regional levels

  For

  RES/751

  Regional disarmament

  For

  RES/75J

  Conventional arms control at regional and sub-regional levels

  For

  RES/76A

  Review and implementation of the concluding document of the 12th special session of General Assembly: confidence-building measures

  Abstain

  RES/76B

  Convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons

  Against

  RES/78

  Israeli nuclear armament

  Against

  139

  Voting

  RES/79

  Convention on the prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects

  Abstain

  Separate vote on preambular paragraph 5 of RES/79

  Abstain

  RES/80

  Question of Antarctica

  1—

  RES/82

  Implementation of the declaration of the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace

  Abstain

  RES/83

  Review of the implementation of the declaration on the strengthening of international security

  Abstain

  RES/84A

  Maintenance of international security

  For

  Resolutions adopted on reports of the second committee

  RES/182

  Enhanced technical co-operation towards a durable solution to the external debt problems of all developing countries

  For

  RES/212

  Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli settlements on the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territory, including, Jerusalem, occupied since 1967, and on the Arab population of the Syrian Golan

  For

  RES/168

  Economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries

  Against

  Resolutions adopted on reports of the third committee

  RES/89

  Status of the International Convention on the suppression and punishment of the crime of apartheid

  Abstain

  RES/92

  Use of mercenaries as a means to violate human rights and to impede the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination

  Against

  RES/94

  Universal realisation of the rights of peoples to self-determination

  Against

  RES/101

  UN African Institute for the prevention of crime and treatment of offenders

  Abstain

  RES/123

  Alternative approaches and ways and means within the UN system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms

  Against

  RES/124

  Respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states and their electoral processes

  Against

  RES/131

  Enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections

  For

  RES/142

  Situation of human rights in Cuba

  For

  RES/144

  Situation of human rights in Iraq

  For

  RES/145

  Situation of human rights in Iran

  For

  Res/147

  Situation of human rights in Sudan

  For

  Resolutions adopted on reports of the forth committee

  RES/40A

  Assistance to Palestinian refugees

  For

  RES/40D

  Offers by member states of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestinian refugees

  For

  RES/40E

  Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967

  For

  RES/40F

  Return of population and refugees displaced since 1967

  For

  RES/40G

  Revenues derived from Palestinian refugees' properties

  Abstain

  RES/40H

  Protection of Palestinian refugees

  For

  RES/401

  University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds" for Palestinian refugees

  For

  RES/40J

  Protection of Palestinian students and educational institutions and safeguarding of the security of the facilities of UNWRA in the Near East and occupied territories

  For

  RES/41A

  Report of the Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories

  Abstain

  RES/41B

  ditto

  For

  RES/41C

  ditto

  Abstain

  RES/41D

  ditto

  Abstain

  140

  Voting

  RES/45

  Information from non-self-governing territories transmitted under article 73e of the Charter of the United Nations

  Abstain

  RES/46

  Activities of those foreign economic and other interests which impede the implementation of the declaration on the granting of indpendence to colonial countries and peoples in territories under colonial domination and efforts to eliminate colonialism, apartheid and racial discrimination in Southern Africa

  Against

  Decision

  ditto

  Against

  RES/47

  Implementation of the declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples by the specialised agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations

  Against

  Decision

  Implementation of the declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples

  Against

  1 Did not take part in the vote.

  A copy of the United Nations information record of the resolutions and decisions of the 48th session of the General Assembly showing the texts and voting records will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as it is available.

  Cyprus
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) Greek Cypriots and (b) Turkish Cypriots are employed by the United Kingdom high commission in Cyprus.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The United Kingdom high commission in Cyprus employs 28 Greek Cypriots and six Turkish Cypriots. It also has seven Armenian Cypriot employees.

  Lot Airlines
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest assessment of the impact on United Kingdom-Polish relations of the suspension of the permit of Lot Airlines to land at Heathrow.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We remain concerned at the suspension of air services between Britain and Poland. This is an air services dispute and has no impact on our current friendly relations with Poland. We want to see the situation resolved as soon as possible.

  There has been a number of contacts recently with the Polish Government and I hope there will be an early meeting of officials to discuss a framework for the resumption of services. We are making every effort to secure a settlement which will be in the interests of both the airlines involved and the travelling public, and be consistent with the principles which govern aviation in the European Union.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the Governor of Hong Kong to discuss the future of Hong Kong.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Governor of Hong Kong visited London from 19 to 24 January. My right hon. Friend the
  141
  Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had a useful discussion with Mr. Patten on a wide range of Hong Kong issues, including the 1994–95 election arrangements.

  The first stage of the draft legislation on election arrangements is now progressing through the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. We expect it to complete its passage next month.

  It would clearly not be feasible to withdraw this draft legislation. But this should not preclude continued discussion with China on the remaining electoral issues; nor should it prevent our co-operating with China in the many other matters of importance to Hong Kong.

  State

  Signed

  Ratification/Acceptance

  Entry into Force

  Austria

  20 May 1980

  12 April 1985

  1 August 1986

  Belgium

  20 May 1980

  1 October 1985

  1 August 1986

  Cyprus

  20 May 1980

  13 June 1986

  1 October 1986

  Denmark

  11 April 1991

  11 April 1991

  1 August 1991

  France

  20 May 1980

  4 August 1982

  1 August 1986

  Germany

  20 May 1980

  5 October 1990

  1 February 1991

  Greece

  20 May 1980

  8 March 1993

  1 July 1993

  Ireland

  20 May 1980

  28 June 1991

  1 October 1991

  Italy

  20 May 1980

  —

  —

  Liechtenstein

  20 May 1980

  —

  —

  Luxembourg

  20 May 1980

  25 May 1983

  1 August 1986

  Netherlands

  20 May 1980

  23 May 1990

  1 September 1990

  Norway

  17 January 1989

  17 January 1989

  1 May 1989

  Portugal

  20 May 1980

  18 March 1983

  1 August 1986

  Spain

  20 May 1980

  30 May 1984

  1 August 1986

  Sweden

  28 March 1989

  28 March 1989

  1 July 1989

  Switzerland

  20 May 1980

  27 September 1983

  1 August 1986

  United Kingdom

  20 May 1980

  21 April 1986

  1 August 1986

  State

  Signed

  Ratification/Accession/Succession/Extension

  Entry into force between the United Kingdom and State

  Argentina

  28 January 1991

  19 March 1991

  1 June 1991

  Australia

  29 October 1986

  29 October 1986

  1 January 1987

  Austria

  12 May 1987

  14 July 1988

  1 October 1988

  Bahamas

  (Accession)

  1 October 1993

  1 January 1994

  Belgium

  11 January 1982

  —

  —

  Belize

  (Accession)

  22 June 1989

  1 October 1989

  Bosnia-Hercegovina

  (Succession)

  1 October 1993

  7 April 1992

  Burkina Faso

  (Accession)

  25 May 1992

  1 August 1992

  Canada

  25 October 1980

  2 June 1983

  1 August 1986

  Ontario

  (Extension)

  2 June 1983

  1 August 1986

  New Brunswick

  (Extension)

  2 June 1983

  1 August 1986

  British Columbia

  (Extension)

  2 June 1983

  1 August 1986

  Manitoba

  (Extension)

  2 June 1983

  1 August 1986

  Nova Scotia

  (Extension)

  27 February 1984

  1 August 1986

  Newfoundland

  (Extension)

  6 July 1984

  1 August 1986

  Prince Edward Island

  (Extension)

  12 February 1986

  1 August 1986

  Quebec

  (Extension)

  11 October 1984

  1 August 1986

  Yukon Territory

  (Extension)

  18 November 1984

  1 August 1986

  Saskatchewan

  (Extension)

  11 August 1986

  1 November 1986

  Alberta

  (Extension)

  4 November 1986

  1 February 1987

  Northwest Territories

  (Extension)

  26 January 1988

  1 April 1988

  Croatia

  (Succession)

  5 April 1993

  1 December 1991

  Czech Republic

  1 January 1993

  —

  —

  Denmark

  17 April 1991

  17 April 1991

  1 July 1991

  Ecuador

  (Accession)

  22 January 1992

  1 April 1992

  142

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which special advisers in his Department are seconded from other organisations; and what are the organisations and the lengths and terms of the secondments.

  Mr. Goodlad
  None.

  Child Abduction
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries(a) are and (b) are not currently signatories to the international convention on child abduction.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are two international conventions on child abduction. The following countries have signed the European convention on recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning custody of children and on restoration of custody of children.

  The following countries have signed The Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction.
  143

  State

  Signed

  Ratification/A ccession/Succession/Extension

  Entry into force between the United Kingdom and State

  France

  25 October 1980

  16 September 1982

  1 August 1986

  Germany

  9 September 1987

  27 September 1990

  1 December 1990

  Greece

  25 October 1980

  19 March 1983

  1 June 1993

  Honduras

  (Accession)

  20 December 1993

  —

  Hungary

  (Accession)

  7 April 1986

  1 September 1986

  Ireland

  23 May 1990

  16 July 1991

  1 October 1991

  Israel

  4 September 1991

  4 September 1991

  1 December 1991

  Italy

  2 March 1987

  —

  —

  Luxembourg

  18 December 1984

  8 October 1986

  1 January 1987

  Macedonia

  (Succession)

  23 September 1993

  1 December 1991

  Mauritius

  (Accession)

  23 March 1993

  1 June 1993

  Mexico

  (Accession)

  20 June 1991

  1 September 1991

  Monaco

  (Accession)

  12 November 1992

  1 February 1993

  Netherlands

  11 September 1987

  12 June 1990

  1 September 1990

  New Zealand

  (Accession)

  31 May 1991

  1 August 1991

  Norway

  9 January 1989

  9 January 1989

  1 April 1989

  Poland

  (Accession)

  10 August 1992

  1 November 1992

  Portugal

  22 June 1982

  29 September 1983

  1 August 1986

  Romania

  (Accession)

  20 November 1992

  1 February 1993

  Slovak Republic

  1 January 1993

  —

  —

  Spain

  7 February 1986

  16 June 1987

  1 September 1987

  Sweden

  22 March 1989

  22 March 1989

  1 June 1989

  Switzerland

  25 October 1980

  11 October 1983

  1 August 1986

  United Kingdom

  19 November 1984

  20 May 1986

  1 August 1986

  United States of America

  23 December 1981

  29 April 1988

  1 July 1988

  Yugoslavia

  27 September 1991

  27 September 1991

  1 December 1991

  UNESCO
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress Her Majesty's Government have made in considering renewal of the United Kingdom's membership of UNESCO.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are continuing to keep this matter under close review.

  Visas
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Governments of those commonwealth countries whose nationals are currently able to visit the United Kingdom without a visa about the European Commission's proposals to make a list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external frontiers of member states.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The European Commission's proposals will be a matter for discussion with European Union partners and the Commission. I do not propose, at this stage, to initiate discussions with those commonwealth countries whose citizens would be affected by the Commission's proposals as currently drafted.

  Social Development Summit
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will be representing the United Kingdom Government at the preparatory committee meeting in New York on 31 January to 11 February for the world summit on social development; which non-governmental organisations have been invited to be members of the United Kingdom delegation; what plans Her Majesty's Government have to set up a national committee on the summit; and which organisations have been invited to participate.
  144
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Her Majesty's permanent represen-tative to the United Nations will represent the United Kingdom at the forthcoming preparatory committee for the world summit for social development. He will be supported by his local staff and experts from Whitehall. We have not invited any non-governmental organisations to be part of the United Kingdom delegation. The secretariat for the summit has made arrangements for any NGO's who wish to attend. There are no plans at present to establish a national committee on the summit. We will review this question following the preparatory committee meeting in February.

  Iran
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many hon. Members have written to him concerning the human rights situation in Iran since April 1992; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how Her Majesty's Government have voted in the United Nations General Assembly on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to Iran concerning the abuse of human rights in Iran; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received 423 letters from hon. Members on the human rights situation in Iran since April 1992.

  We remain seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Iran and repeatedly make this clear to the Iranian authorities, both with our European partners and bilaterally. In December 1993 we co-sponsored and voted in favour of a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly that reflected the critical report of the United Nations special representative on human rights in Iran.

  Most recently we gave our full support to representa-tions made by the European Union on behalf of the Rev. Mehdi Dibaj and two members of the Baha'i faith, all of

  145
  whom were reportedly sentenced to death in Iran for their religious beliefs. We have also raised Dibaj's case with the Iranian embassy in London.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current policy with respect to Iran.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We restored relations with Iran on 27 September 1990 on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's affairs.

  We and our European Community partners made clear at the European Council at Edinburgh in December 1992 that improvements in Iran's behaviour in a number of areas, particularly human rights, the fatwa on Mr. Rushdie and terrorism, would be important in determining the extent to which closer relations and confidence in Iran could be developed.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the circumstances of the recent shooting incident near the United Kingdom embassy in Teheran; what co-operation has been received from the Iranian authorities to investigate it; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A number of shots were fired at the offices of the British embassy in Tehran late on 9 January 1994, after office hours. No one was injured. The Iranian authorities are investigating the incident and we are satisfied with their co-operation.

  Flight ULE 966
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice was given by British officials at the United Kingdom post in Jamaica to Jamaican citizens booked to travel on flight ULE 966 chartered from Air UK Leisure to the United Kingdom when they sought advice on the suitability of their travel documents.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As prior entry clearance for visitors from Jamaica is not mandatory, they are not obliged to contact the British high commission in Kingston. When Jamaican citizens seek advice on documents required for entry into the United Kingdom, the high commission does not necessarily know details of the flights on which they intend to travel. This was so in the case of the visitors booked to travel on flight ULE 966, and it is not therefore known how many may have sought advice.

  All visitors seeking advice from the British high commission are given the information which I described on 11 January at column 43 in reply to an earlier question from the hon. Member.

  Lockerbie (Trial)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the United Nations the possibility of holding the trial of two Libyan nationals suspected of the Lockerbie Pan Am 103 crime in The Hague.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is clear from resolution 883 of 11 November 1993 that the United Nations Security Council envisages trial only before the appropriate United Kingdom or United States court.
  146

  Malaysia
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreements Her Majesty's Government made with the Government of Malaysia with respect to arms contracts and an overseas aid package; when those agreements were made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  During discussions in 1988 about the proposed memorandum of understanding on defence sales, the Malaysians expressed their wish to make a reference to aid. A protocol was signed during the visit to Kuala Lumpur in March 1988 by the then Defence Secretary, my noble Friend Lord Younger of Prestwick. This set out the Malaysian Government's intention to buy defence equipment from the United Kingdom, with the details to be elaborated in the later memorandum. The protocol included a reference to"aid in support of non-military aspects under this programme."

  After consultation with ministerial colleagues in London, the Secretary of State for Defence wrote to the Malaysian Minister of Finance in June 1988 to say that aid could not be linked to defence sales. As a result, the issue was not taken up in the memorandum of understanding on defence procurement which the British and Malaysian Prime Ministers signed in September 1988, and which did not cover aid. Our aid programme is not linked to arms sales.

  Malaysia has been eligible for support under the aid and trade provision since the scheme was introduced in 1977; and 23 of the 270 ATP projects financed since then have been in Malaysia. The Malaysian Government have been well aware of the availability of ATP, which was reaffirmed in 1988. Malaysia is expected shortly to graduate under OCED rules from eligibility for aid credits such as ATP. British aid has contributed to Malaysia's rapid economic development and to the productive relationship which we have with Malaysia in many fields of activity, including trade.

  Angola
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the Government of the Republic of Angola and to UNITA; and if he will indicate what specific support is being given by Her Majesty's Government to the Angolan peace process.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our policy in Angola is to support a negotiated settlement to the civil war. To this end we took an active part in drafting Security Council resolution 864, which imposed sanctions against UNITA. We fully support the United Nations brokered negotations taking place in Lusaka between the Government of Angola and UNITA. We have provided £10 million of humanitarian aid since June 1993, to all areas of Angola.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Value Added Tax (Further Education Courses)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Customs and Excise current consultative proposals on VAT in relation to training and education
  147
  provide for the continued exemption from VAT for courses of further education for adults provided by local authorities under section 11 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

  Sir John Cope
  I can confirm that as part of their review of the VAT treatment of education and training services Customs and Excise are considering the VAT posgtion of courses of further education for adults provided by local authorities. Consultation with interested parties is currently taking place and decisions on the review have not yet been made. However, at this stage it is not envisaged that such courses will be made subject to VAT.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average cost of a valuation investigation for an appeal against council tax banding.

  Mr. Nelson
  The estimated average cost of processing a council tax appeal in the current financial year in England is £115. This estimate includes Valuation Office agency and valuation tribunal costs.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of outstanding appeals against council tax bandings at each valuation office as at 1 January.

  Mr. Nelson
  The number of outstanding appeals against council tax bandings in England and Wales as at 1 January 1994 is as follows:

  Number

  East Anglia

  Bedford

  7,548

  Cambridge

  7,327

  Chelmsford

  11,532

  Colchester

  13,075

  Ipswich

  8,260

  Norwich

  11,311

  Peterborough

  9,219

  St. Albans

  7,167

  Stevenage

  6,371

  East Midlands

  Derby

  8,729

  Doncaster

  4,408

  Grimsby

  5,053

  Hull

  6,439

  Leicester

  4,815

  Lincoln

  7,626

  Loughborough

  6,212

  Mansfield

  5,532

  Northampton

  5,409

  Nottingham

  5,473

  Sheffield

  6,009

  London

  Barking

  3,340

  Bromley

  14,122

  Camden

  6,095

  City of London

  199

  Ealing

  7,028

  Enfield

  15,634

  Greenwich

  9,315

  Harrow

  7,193

  Islington

  6,824

  Kensington

  12,386

  Lambeth

  10,137

  Redbridge

  4,864

  Tower Hamlets

  2,861

  Westminster 1

  2,403

  Westminster 2

  4,452

  148

  Number

  Wimbledon

  9,841

  North Western

  Bolton

  4,207

  Burnley

  6,322

  Chester

  5,262

  Crewe

  7,786

  Lancaster

  6,957

  Liverpool

  6,697

  Manchester

  1,712

  Preston

  5,455

  Rochdale

  2,342

  Salford

  4,135

  Stockport

  5,457

  Warrington

  7,394

  Northern

  Alnwick

  5,464

  Bradford

  3,987

  Carlisle

  5,395

  Durham

  6,558

  Halifax

  7,490

  Harrogate

  9,742

  Leeds

  6,283

  Middlesbrough

  3,137

  Newcastle

  3,320

  Sunderland

  3,267

  Ulverston

  5,006

  York

  8,029

  South Eastern

  Brighton

  7,883

  Chatham

  5,228

  Eastbourne

  7,806

  Folkestone

  6,487

  Guildford

  9,033

  Reigate

  11,127

  Tunbridge Wells

  13,288

  Worthing

  11,217

  Southern

  Aylesbury

  12,178

  Basingstoke

  8,861

  Bournemouth

  9,259

  Dorchester

  7,034

  Oxford

  11,557

  Portsmouth

  5,135

  Portsmouth (IOW)

  3,083

  Reading

  13,038

  Southampton

  12,212

  Swindon

  9,988

  Western

  Barnstaple

  6,192

  Bath

  6,298

  Bristol

  8,647

  Exeter

  10,277

  Gloucester

  13,340

  Plymouth

  9,296

  St. Austell

  9,711

  Taunton

  9,968

  West Midland

  Birmingham

  6,335

  Coventry

  5,014

  Kidderminster

  5,283

  Lichfield

  4,651

  Sandwell

  1,197

  Shrewsbury

  8,934

  Stoke-on-Trent

  5,451

  Warwick

  8,026

  Wolverhampton

  4,083

  Worcester

  10,769

  Wales

  Bangor

  5,210

  Cardiff

  4,166

  Carmarthen

  10,186

  149

  Number

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4,418

  Newport

  4,365

  Pontypridd

  2,861

  Swansea

  4,529

  Wrexham

  6,037

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland separately the forecast of council tax receipts contained in line 5 of table 6.11 in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1994–95.

  Mr. Portillo
  Disaggregated projections of council tax receipts in 1993–94 and 1994–95 are not available.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he took of the level of costs of local government reform in determining his allocation of resources to the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Portillo
  The total resources allocated to Scotland are determined in accordance with the established block and formula arrangements. Within those totals, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland set out the amounts he has made available for local authorities, including for the costs of local government reform, in replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch) on 7 December,Official Report, columns 187–88.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect he expects GATT to have on the rate of inflation.

  Mr. Nelson
  GATT will lead to an increase in world trade and benefit both business and consumers. More effective competition and lower tariffs should lead to some downward pressure on prices.

  Health Insurance
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to his Department of exempting from income tax benefits payable under permanent health insurance policies in the first 12 months of disability.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Precise figures are not available centrally but is estimated that in 1994–95 the cost of exempting payments made in the first 12 months of disability will be around £10 million.

  Air Passenger Duty
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made, and what representations he has received, in respect of the impact of the air passenger duty charges on small municipally owned airports and the market for small turbo prop and regional class jet aircraft.

  Sir John Cope
  I have received a small number of representations about air passenger duty which mentioned the impact on small airports and turbo prop aircraft. The 150
  impact of air passenger duty on demand for air travel will vary by type of passenger and by route. Overall, the impact is expected to be small. No specific estimates have been made of the impct on small municipally owned airports nor on the market for small turbo prop and regional class jet aircraft, and any such estimates would be highly speculative.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show for England only and for each year from 1992–93 to 1994–95, the local authority transactions contained within table 6.1 in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1994–95.

  Mr. Portillo
  The local authority transactions underly-ing table 6.1 are set out in table 6.9. Separate figures for England only on the basis of table 6.9 are not available.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland separately the amounts of local authority self-financed expenditure recorded in table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" and identify the amounts within that figure of expenditure financed from council tax.

  Mr. Portillo
  Total local authority spending for 1988–89 to 1993–94 and total central Government support for 1988–89 to 1996–97 will be published by country in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1994–95. Projections for total local authority spending in 1994–95 to 1996–97 are not available on a disaggregated basis.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast he has made of when Britain will be economically strong enough to reconsider rejoining the ERM.

  Mr. Nelson
  Sterling's re-entry to the ERM could not be considered until there is greater convergence between the monetary policies appropriate for all the Community economies. I should also need to be satisfied that the system would be operated to the benefit of all its members. I do not expect these conditions to be met during this Parliament.

  Westfield Contributory Health Scheme
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had from Westfield contributory health scheme as to the effect of the insurance premium tax on their membership.

  Sir John Cope
  Various representations have been made to Treasury Ministers seeking exemption from the proposed insurance premium tax by a number of contributory health schemes, including the Westfield contributory health scheme.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which special advisers in his Department are seconded from other organisations; and what are the organisations and the lengths and terms of the secondments.
  151
  Mr. Nelson
  Neither of the special advisers in the Treasury seconded from other organisations.

  EC Programmes
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the the total budgets of the European Commission's educational mobility programmes of(a) ARION, (b) ERASMUS, (c) LINGUA, (d) the science plan, (e) SPES and (f) sectoral grants in each year since their establishment; and what proportion of each was granted to (i) the Northern region and (ii) the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Boswell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The science plan, SPES and sectoral grants are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. 'The information requested on ARION, ERASMUS and LINGUA is as follows:

  The ARION Programme started during the 1978–79 academic year. Complete records are only available from 1985–86. The table illustrates the number of bursaries awarded.

  Year

  Total budget (value in ECU)

  Total number of grants

  Number of grants to United Kingdom

  Number of grants to Northern region2

  1986–87

  364,000

  520

  70

  5

  1987–88

  364,000

  520

  70

  6

  1988–89

  569,500

  580

  80

  5

  1989–90

  1574,650

  1600

  80

  4

  1990–91

  556,350

  529

  80

  4

  1991–92

  587,800

  651

  95

  7

  1992–93

  1807,050

  1850

  120

  3

  1Estimated figures.

  2Northem region conforms to the Eurostat code R71 and consists of Cleveland, Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear.

  LINGUA
  Aggregate statistics by member state and region are not available in the form requested, but the United Kingdom share in 1992 of the budget directly administered by the Commission for Actions III and V was 20 per cent.
  The budget administered by the UK LINGUA Unit for Actions IA and IV was as follows:

  (Ecus)

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Action IA—Measures to assist Modern Foreign Language teachers

  EC Budget

  5,600,000

  7,000,002

  7,700,001

  United Kingdom Share

  588,629

  946,369

  1,057,074

  Northern Region

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Action IV—Exchange of young people

  EC Budget

  6,000,000

  8,400,000

  10,500,000

  United Kingdom Share

  783,838

  1,230,426

  1,562,070

  Northern Region

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a=Not Available.

  ERASMUS

  Year

  Total ERASMUS budget12

  Student mobility grant allocated to UK13

  Student mobil-ity grant allocated to Northern 134 region

  1987–88

  11·2

  n/a

  n/a

  1988–89

  30·0

  2·1

  0·05

  1989–90

  52·5

  4·1

  0·10

  1990–91

  60·6

  5·1

  0·22

  1991–92

  73·8

  6·4

  0·29

  1992–93

  97·2

  8·5

  0·34

  1993–94

  97·8

  8·8

  0·34

  152
  1 Amounts quoted are in million ecu.

  2 Source: ERASMUS Bureau.

  3 Source: United Kingdom ERASMUS Student Grants Council.

  4 Northern region conforms to the Eurostat code R71 and consists of Clevland, Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear.

PRIME MINISTER

  Kashmir
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had in the last six months regarding Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I discussed Kashmir at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in October with the Prime Minister of Pakistan. We regularly raise Kashmir in our discussions with the Indian and Pakistan Governments.

  Arms Supplies (Iraq)
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Prime Minister what action he has taken to ascertain who drew up the original draft of the letter about arms supplies to Iraq that he sent to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 17 February 1992 and who made deletions in that draft to alter it to the form in which the Prime Minister sent the aforesaid letter to the right hon. Member; what explanation he has received for the deletions; and what action he intends to take(a) in regard to responsibility for the deletions and (b) in regard to writing to the aforesaid right hon. Member to correct the false impression that he now acknowledges his letter gave.

  The Prime Minister
  My Office has supplied Lord Justice Scott's inquiry with the further information he requested. The issues arising are a matter for Lord Justice Scott. As will be apparent from my evidence to the inquiry, I do not accept that my letter to the right hon. Gentleman was misleading.

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister which public appointments are handled by the No. 10 appointments secretary.

  The Prime Minister
  My appointments secretary assists me over a range of appointments in Church and state for which I am responsible, particularly those where the appointment is made by Her Majesty the Queen on my advice.

  New Year's Honours List
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a list of the people included in this year's new year's honours list with their place of residence by standard region and their occupation.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  British Empire Forces
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister where the records of all the soldiers of the British empire forces, who were sentenced to death during the first world war but
  153
  whose sentences were subsequently commuted, are located; and if he will now arrange for them to be made available in the Public Record Office.

  The Prime Minister
  The courts martial records of British service men who were sentenced to death during the first world war but whose sentences were subsequently commuted have regrettably not survived. The available evidence suggests they were lost when a German bomb hit the main war office and Army repository in 1940.

  The availability of the courts martial records of other British empire forces is a matter that should be pursued with each of the countries concerned.

  Government Successes (Criteria)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what are the criteria by which Her Majesty's Government will measure their success in 1994 Official Report, column 849.

  The Prime Minister
  By the success of our policies in all areas of national life.

  "Back to Basics"
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement giving details of the Government's "back to basics" policy.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 January 1994 Official Report, column 849

  Ministers (Unsuitability for Office)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the circumstances which render Ministers unsuitable to retain office.

  The Prime Minister
  There can be a variety of circumstances but the main criterion should be whether the Minister can continue to perform the duties of office effectively.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 January.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 January.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if, when he next meets President Clinton, he will discuss the report of the Harvard medical school team on child malnutrition and disease in Iraq.

  The Prime Minister
  I expect to meet President Clinton during my visit to Washington at the end of February. The situation in Iraq may come up in our talks then. However, United Kingdom and United States officials are in regular touch over Iraq, including the humanitarian situation.

  I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 January Official Report, column 814.
  154

  Health Promotion, Wales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to place in the Library a copy of his efficiency unit's efficiency scrutiny of the delivery of health promotion in Wales.

  The Prime Minister
  Copies of the efficiency scrutiny of health promotion in Wales were placed in the Library of the House on 1 April 1993.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail and probation hostels and places are currently open and available in England and Wales.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are currently 115 approved hostels providing 2,690 places.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail and probation hostels in England and Wales are due to close as a consequence of the most recent public expenditure survey.

  Mr. Maclean
  Seven hostels have been identified for closure: Bewsey Street, Cheshire; Dover, Kent; St. Vincents, inner London; Dudley centre, Devon; Fir Tree Grange, Durham; Windyridge, Essex; and Hollywood Manor, Kent—currently closed and not to reopen. In addition three probation areas have been asked to identify which of their hostels should be closed: west midlands —two hostels; south Yorkshire—one hostel; and inner London—one hostel.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenditure will be saved during the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 by the closure of certain existing bail and probation hostels arising out of the public expenditure survey.

  Mr. Maclean
  The expected savings in revenue grant expenditure are about £1·2 million in 1994–95 and about £2·5 million in 1995–96.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what capital and revenue expenditure will be available for bail hostel provision in inner London for 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Maclean
  Revenue grant for inner London approved probation-bail hostels for 1994–95 and 1995–96 will be £1·9 million a year. The level of capital grant will depend on the scrutiny of spending proposals submitted by inner London hostels and the results of the current survey of the condition of all hostels.

  Probation Trainees
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the intake of probation trainees to the diploma in social work courses in 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Maclean
  The number of probation trainees sponsored by the Home Office starting diploma in social work courses was 451 in 1992 and 470 in 1993.
  155

  Social Work Courses
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many trainee places to diploma in social work courses will be lost in 1995, 1996 and 1997 as a consequence of the public expenditure survey.

  Mr. Maclean
  Decisions on the number of sponsorships in future years will be taken in the light of the conclusions of the forthcoming review of probation officer qualifying training.

  Police (Press)
  Mr. Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions govern the use by members of the Metropolitan police of their position of advantage to sell stories to the press.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Under schedule 1, paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Police (Discipline) Regulations 1985, an offence against discipline is committed where a member of a police force without proper authority communicates to any person, any information which he has in his possession

  Year

  Offences decided at court to be murder

  Cases in column (1) involving police

  Assaults on police:

  Police strength

  Fatal

  Serious

  Minor/Other

  Male

  Female

  1982

  —

  —

  ‥

  ‥

  ‥

  3,124

  205

  1983

  5

  —

  ‥

  ‥

  ‥

  3,117

  220

  1984

  6

  —

  ‥

  ‥

  ‥

  3,113

  231

  1985

  10

  —

  ‥

  ‥

  ‥

  3,137

  231

  1986

  4

  —

  ‥

  ‥

  ‥

  3,108

  253

  1987

  8

  —

  ‥

  ‥

  ‥

  3,206

  272

  1988

  5

  —

  ‥

  ‥

  ‥

  3,166

  294

  1989

  8

  —

  —

  35

  426

  3,199

  327

  1990

  14

  —

  —

  24

  653

  3,186

  342

  1991

  3

  —

  —

  53

  819

  3,114

  346

  1992

  5

  —

  —

  68

  436

  3,198

  388

  Custodial Remand
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were remanded in custody in the west midlands in the latest year available broken down by(a) sex, (b) racial category, (c) aged under 17, (d) aged 17 to 21 and (e) aged over 21 years.

  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.

  Receptions of remand prisoners into prison service establishments in England and Wales from west midlands courts, 1991

  Ethnic Origin

  All

  White

  Black African Caribbean

  Asian Bangladeshi Indian Pakistani

  Other Chinese not recorded (including refusals)

  MALE

  First received as untried not subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  Under 17 years old

  62

  44

  11

  3

  4

  17–21 years old

  757

  555

  87

  81

  34

  Over 21

  1,088

  794

  180

  85

  29

  Total

  1,907

  1,393

  278

  169

  67

  First received as untried subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  Under 17 years old

  39

  26

  7

  3

  3

  17–21 years old

  396

  318

  43

  24

  11

  Over 21

  330

  259

  42

  25

  4

  156
  as a member of a police force; or improperly uses, or attempts so to use, his position as a member of the force for his private advantage.

  European Parliamentary Constituency Committee
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the Official Report of the European Parliamentary Constituency Committee for England and Wales.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The reports of both committees were published on 20 January.

  Police, Northumbria
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the numbers of(a) murders, (b) murders of members of the police force, (c) attacks on police officers, giving level of seriousness of injury, and (d) policemen and women in post in each year since 1973 in the Northumbria police force area.

  Mr. Maclean
  The following table shows for Northumbria such information as is readily available centrally:

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 25 January 1994:

  WEST MIDLANDS REMANDS

  The Home Secretary has asked me to rely to your recent Question asking how many people were remanded in custody in the West Midlands in the latest year available broken down by (a) sex, (b) racial category, (c) aged under 17, (d) aged 17 to 21 and (e) aged over 21 years.

  The latest available information is given in the attached table for 1992.
  157

  Ethnic Origin

  All

  White

  Black African Caribbean

  Asian Bangladeshi Indian Pakistani

  Other Chinese not recorded (including refusals)

  Total

  765

  603

  92

  52

  18

  First received as convicted unsentenced

  Under 17 years old

  10

  6

  3

  1

  —

  17–21 years old

  129

  107

  8

  13

  1

  Over 21

  121

  99

  14

  8

  —

  Total

  260

  212

  25

  22

  1

  All received on remand

  Under 17 years old

  111

  76

  21

  7

  7

  17–21 years old

  1,282

  980

  138

  118

  46

  Over 21

  1,539

  1,152

  236

  118

  33

  Total

  2,932

  2,208

  395

  243

  86

  Female

  First received as untried not subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  Under 17 years old

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21 years old

  17

  15

  2

  —

  —

  Over 21

  22

  17

  4

  1

  —

  Total

  39

  32

  6

  1

  —

  First received as untried subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  Under 17 years old

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21 years old

  6

  4

  1

  —

  1

  Over 21

  7

  3

  3

  —

  1

  Total

  13

  7

  4

  —

  2

  First received as convicted unsentenced

  Under 17 years old

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21 years old

  12

  9

  2

  1

  —

  Over 21

  6

  4

  2

  —

  —

  Total

  18

  13

  4

  1

  —

  All received on remand

  Under 17 years old

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21 years old

  35

  28

  5

  1

  1

  Over 21

  35

  24

  9

  1

  1

  Total

  70

  52

  14

  2

  2

  1 Provisional.

  Firearms
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will tabulate the cost of renewing(a) a firearms certificate and (b) a shotgun certificate in real terms for each year since the introduction of the Firearms Act 1968, using 1968 as the base year.

  Index

  Year

  (a) Renewing firearm certificate (cash prices) £

  1968 prices £

  (b) Renewing shotgun certificate (cash prices) £

  1968 prices £

  100

  1968

  0·125

  0·125

  0·125

  0·125

  105·22

  1969

  1·25

  1·19

  0·375

  0·36

  113·89

  1970

  1·25

  1·10

  0·375

  0·33

  124·29

  1971

  2·50

  2·01

  0·50

  0·40

  134·43

  1972

  2·50

  1·86

  0·50

  0·37

  143·66

  1973

  2·50

  1·74

  0·50

  0·35

  171·88

  1974

  2·50

  1·45

  0·50

  0·29

  215·60

  1975

  4·50

  2·09

  1·50

  0·70

  244·73

  1976

  10·00

  4·09

  4·00

  1·63

  158
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Using the gross domestic product deflator, the cost of renewing(a) a firearm certificate and (b) a shotgun certificate in real terms for each year since 1968, using that year as the base year, are given in the following table:
  159

  Index

  Year

  (a) Renewing firearm certificate (cash prices) £

  1968 prices £

  (b) Renewing shotgun certificate (cash prices) £

  1968 prices £

  278·02

  1977

  10·00

  3·60

  4·00

  1·44

  309·09

  1978

  13·00

  4·21

  5·00

  1·62

  360·74

  1979

  13·00

  3·60

  5·00

  1·39

  426·84

  1980

  20·00

  4·69

  8·00

  1·87

  468·12

  1981

  20·00

  4·27

  8·00

  1·71

  501·47

  1982

  20·00

  3·99

  8·00

  1·60

  524·72

  1983

  20·00

  3·81

  8·00

  1·52

  551·09

  1984

  20·00

  3·63

  8·00

  1·45

  581·66

  1985

  20·00

  3·44

  8·00

  1·38

  598·69

  1986

  33·00

  5·51

  8·00

  1·34

  630·59

  1987

  33·00

  5·23

  8·00

  1·27

  672·92

  1988

  33·00

  4·90

  8·00

  1·19

  719·72

  1989

  33·00

  4·59

  8·00

  1·11

  777·74

  1990

  46·00

  5·91

  11·00

  1·41

  826·99

  1991

  46·00

  5·56

  11·00

  1·33

  858·74

  1992

  46·00

  5·36

  11·00

  1·28

  886·65

  1993

  46·00

  5·19

  11·00

  1·24

  922·11

  1994

  46·00

  4·99

  11·00

  1·19

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will tabulate the cost of acquiring(a) a firearm certificate and (b) a shotgun certificate in real terms for each year since the introduction of the Firearms Act 1968, using 1968 as the base year.

  Index

  Year

  (a) Acquiring firearm certificate (cash prices) £

  1968 prices £

  (b) Acquiring shotgun certificate (cash prices) £

  1968 prices £

  100

  1968

  0·25

  0·25

  0·25

  0·25

  105·22

  1969

  2·50

  2·38

  0·75

  0·71

  113·89

  1970

  2·50

  2·20

  0·75

  0·66

  124·29

  1971

  3·50

  2·82

  1·00

  0·80

  134·43

  1972

  3·50

  2·60

  1·00

  0·74

  143·66

  1973

  3·50

  2·44

  1·00

  0·70

  171·88

  1974

  3·50

  2·04

  1·00

  0·58

  215·60

  1975

  7·00

  3·25

  2·00

  0·93

  244·73

  1976

  12·00

  4·90

  5·00

  2·04

  278·02

  1977

  12·00

  4·32

  5·00

  1·80

  309·09

  1978

  16·00

  5·18

  7·00

  2·26

  360·74

  1979

  16·00

  4·44

  7·00

  1·94

  426·84

  1980

  25·00

  5·86

  12·00

  2·81

  468·12

  1981

  25·00

  5·34

  12·00

  2·56

  501·47

  1982

  25·00

  4·99

  12·00

  2·39

  524·72

  1983

  25·00

  4·76

  12·00

  2·29

  551·09

  1984

  25·00

  4·54

  12·00

  2·18

  581·66

  1985

  25·00

  4·30

  12·00

  2·06

  598·69

  1986

  33·00

  5·51

  12·00

  2·00

  630·59

  1987

  33·00

  5·23

  12·00

  1·90

  672·92

  1988

  33·00

  4·90

  12·00

  1·78

  719·72

  1989

  33·00

  4·59

  12·00

  1·67

  777·74

  1990

  46·00

  5·91

  17·00

  2·19

  826·99

  1991

  46·00

  5·56

  17·00

  2·06

  858·74

  1992

  46·00

  5·36

  17·00

  1·98

  886·65

  1993

  46·00

  5·19

  17·00

  1·92

  922·11

  1994

  46·00

  4·99

  17·00

  1·84

  Crime, Northumbria
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of cars damaged and the level of house burglary, theft from cars and burglary in each year since 1973 in the Northumbria police area.
  160
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Using the gross domestic product deflator, the cost of acquiring(a) a firearm certificate and (b) a shotgun certificate in real terms for each year since 1968, using that year as the base year, are given in the following table:

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is contained in the table. Police force area boundaries changed in 1974 so figures are given from 1975 onwards. Information on the number of cars damaged is not collected centrally.
  161

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police in Northumbria

  Number of offences

  Year

  All burglary

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Theft from a motor vehicle

  1975

  25,057

  11,622

  8,158

  1976

  24,316

  10,792

  7,707

  1977

  28,381

  12,768

  10,092

  1978

  28,476

  13,109

  11,169

  1979

  27,014

  12,285

  11,186

  1980

  31,068

  14,557

  13,955

  1981

  34,665

  16,581

  16,442

  1982

  43,274

  22,806

  19,079

  1983

  44,116

  22,148

  18,559

  1984

  50,900

  24,229

  20,893

  1985

  51,176

  24,630

  22,213

  1986

  52,006

  25,880

  27,105

  1987

  50,444

  25,186

  31,961

  1988

  46,052

  23,257

  29,621

  1989

  49,585

  24,955

  33,117

  1990

  54,746

  27,092

  34,452

  1991

  66,101

  31,413

  32,680

  1992

  66,072

  32,499

  28,030

  Mr. Brian Charrington
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of drug offences where assistance in the police investigation and detection was given by Brian Charrington.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Operational matters are the responsibility of the chief officer of the police force concerned and it would not be appropriate for me to provide information on any particular case.

  Video Outlets
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to license video outlets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Where the sale and hire of sexually explicit material comprise a significant degree of the business of video outlets, such establishments are already subject to licensing by local authorities under section 2 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. These adoptive powers enable local authorities to vet those seeking to run sex establishments and to exclude such establishments altogether from unsuitable areas. We have no present plans to extend these provisions nor are we persuaded that compliance with the provisions of the Video Recordings Act 1984 would be improved by a more general licensing system.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding clamping companies; whether he proposes to have consultations on the subject of clamping companies; if he will introduce legislation or guidelines to control clamping companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  During the consultation exercise carried out last year concerning wheel clamping on private land, the Government received a number of different views, including some from the companies themselves and a representative association, about the activities of clamping companies and about ways of reducing concerns that exist about those activities.
  162
  In considering what, if any, action it may be appropriate to take, the Government's aim continues to be to ensure that any measure introduced to prevent or deter irresponsible and heavy-handed wheel clamping on private land does not prevent sensible measures being taken to control genuine parking problems.

  Vehicle Identification
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which manufacturers and importers have given him commitments in respect of the introduction of visible vehicle identification numbers; and if he will detail those commitments.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No specific commitments have been made to the Home Office by motor manufacturers on this issue. However, following representations from the Home Office and the police, a number of manufacturers and importers—including BMW, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Rover, Saab and Volvo—have introduced visible vehicle identification number plates into some or all of their models. A number of others—including Peugeot and Vauxhall—are etching the vehicle identifica-tion number into the front and rear window glass.

  Information provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in March 1993 showed that, in 1992, visible vehicle identification numbers were provided on 49 per cent. of vehicle models—of which 61 per cent. were on the structure of the vehicle and the rest etched into the window glass.

  Emergency Planning
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision he is making for local emergency planning in 1994–95; and if he will make a statement regarding training for volunteers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  During 1994–95 a maximum of £15 million will be available from the Home Office as a contribution towards expenses incurred by local authorities in carrying out their responsibilities under the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1993.

  The Home Office no longer provides funds for the training of volunteers for civil defence but encourages local authorities to develop and maintain relationships with established voluntary organisations. Some authorities have chosen to keep their volunteer groups and to provide training.

  British Caledonian Flight
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers were on a charter flight by British Caledonian from the Caribbean arriving at Gatwick on 14 December; how many passengers were(a) allowed to enter the United Kingdom as visitors, (b) given temporary admission as a visitor to the United Kingdom, (c) refused entry, (d) detained and (e) deported; how many passengers remain in detention; and what was the (i) minimum and (ii) the maximum period for which the passengers sought to visit the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is as follows. I understand that 353 passengers arrived on flight BA 1262—KT 310—at Gatwick on 15 December. Most
  163
  were citizens of Jamaica who sought entry as visitors. Thirty-eight people were refused leave to enter of whom 33 have been removed. Twelve of those refused were detained, none of whom remain in detention. Those admitted as visitors were given leave to enter for six months.

  St. Vincent's Bail Hostel
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the residents of St. Vincent's bail hostel for the last 12 months to the latest available date were(a) aged under 17, (b) aged 17 to 20 inclusive and (c) aged 21 years or over.

  Mr. Maclean
  (a) none, (b) 25, (c)

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was(a) the average cost per week of a place in St. Vincent's bail hostel, (b) the average length of stay in St. Vincent's bail hostel and (c) the average cost per week of a prison remand place in the inner London area, at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  (a) £222. (b) This information is not available. (c) For 1992–93, the average weekly net operating cost per prisoner at prisons in inner London was £566. Remand prisoners represent just over 40 per cent. of these prisoners but costs for remand prisoners are not kept separately.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the occupancy rate of St. Vincent's bail hostel for each of the last 10 quarters.

  Mr. Maclean
  The occupancy figures for the period April 1991 to March 1992 are not available in a quarterly form. The figures from April 1992 to September 1993 are as follows:

  Per cent.

  April 1992 to June 1992

  64

  July 1992 to September 1992

  56

  October 1992 to December 1992

  31

  January 1993 to March 1993

  27

  April 1993 to June 1993

  34

  July 1993 to September 1993

  43

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who has been and who will be consulted about the proposed closure of St. Vincent's bail hostel in inner London.

  Mr. Maclean
  The chief probation officer for inner London and the chair of the hostel's managing committee were notified on 1 December of the proposed closure and given the opportunity to comment.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he expects to be the annual saving as a result of the proposed closure of St. Vincent's bail hostel in inner London.

  Mr. Maclean
  I expect the saving to the Home Office in 1994–95 to be approximately £100,000 and in 1995–96 approximately £200,000.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what capital expenditure was planned for St. Vincent's bail hostel prior to his Department's statement of 30 November.
  164
  Mr. Maclean
  A proposal for capital expenditure on the conversion of dormitory to single bedroom accommoda-tion had been submitted and was under consideration prior to the 30 November statement; but no plans for improvements to the hostel had been approved.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were(a) rearrested and charged or (b) breached for failure to comply with requirements at St. Vincent's bail hostel in each of the last 10 quarters.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information supplied by the hostel is in the table.

  Rearrested and charged

  Breached

  August to October 1991

  2

  2

  November to January 1992

  2

  0

  February to April 1992

  2

  3

  May to July 1992

  0

  3

  August to October 1992

  0

  2

  November to January 1993

  0

  0

  February to April 1993

  0

  6

  May to July 1993

  2

  4

  August to October 1993

  2

  3

  November to 24 January 1994

  5

  4

  Totals

  15

  27

  Note: In addition, during this period 41 residents are recorded as having absconded.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people he expects to be remanded into custody per annum as a result of the proposed closure of St. Vincent's bail hostel in inner London.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is for the courts to decide who should be remanded in custody. There are other approved hostel facilities available to them throughout London.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were remanded in St. Vincent's bail hostel during the last 12 months to the latest available date; and how many of these people were(a) black males and (b) black females.

  Mr. Maclean
  Between February 1993 and 24 January 1994, 150 bailees were admitted to the hostel. The information requested at(a) and (b) is not held centrally and is not readily available.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are expected to be made redundant by the proposed closure of the St. Vincent's bail hostel; and at what financial cost.

  Mr. Maclean
  It will be for the managing committee to decide how to handle the consequences of closure in terms of redeployment or redundancies; we have not yet received a full account of its conclusions.

  Carl Bridgewater
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reach a decision on whether to refer the convictions in the Carl Bridgewater case to the Court of Appeal.
  165
  Mr. Maclean
  The latest representations about this case were received between June and December 1993. We understand that more are to follow. We have already asked the police to make inquiries into some of the matters raised. When those inquiries have been completed and any further representations have been considered, my right hon. and learned Friend will consider in the light of all the information available to him whether it would be right for him to refer any of the convictions to the Court of Appeal or to take any other action.

  Mrs. Joy Gardner
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the name of the immigration officer involved in the deportation of Joy Gardner; what was his or her rank; and whether this officer has been suspended from duty pending the Police Complaints Authority investigation into the death of Joy Gardner.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A male immigration officer accompanied the police officers to Mrs. Joy Gardner's home. No complaint has been made against this officer, and he has not been suspended. It would not be appropriate to name him while an investigation by the Police Complaints Authority remains in progress.

  Flight ULE 966
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the immigration service received advance knowledge of charter flight ULE 966 which landed at Gatwick airport on 21 December; when the immigration service received from the charter company a passenger list; whether this list was volunteered or requested; how many people named as passengers had(a) previously been refused entry to the United Kingdom and (b) previously been refused entry clearance to the United Kingdom; how many passengers, in either category, were (i) refused entry as a visitor, (ii) detained and (iii) deported on 25 December; and how many passengers in either category were given (1) entry to the United Kingdom and (2) given temporary admission.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The immigration service was informed about flight ULE 966 on 16 December and the passenger list was requested subsequently. It was received on 21 December, three and a half hours before the aircraft's arrival. Of those passengers listed, two were identified as having previously been refused entry; eight were identified as having been refused entry clearance and one of whom had also been refused entry.

  Of those nine passengers, five were refused entry and four were granted leave to enter. Four passengers were detained for at least one night; five were granted temporary admission. Three passengers were removed on 25 December.

  May Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report from the inquiry presently being conducted by Mr. Justice May.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that Sir John May hopes to submit his report into the case of the Guildford Four in March.
  166

  Somali Nationals
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the concessionary policy operated by his Department to facilitate family reunion for Somali nationals resident in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Somali family reunion concession was introduced to make it easier for those Somalis with relatives in the United Kingdom who had been displaced to refugee camps in Ethiopia and Djibouti to seek entry clearance to the United Kingdom. It took account of the fact that fighting in both Somalia and Ethiopia at that time had made it difficult to travel to any British diplomatic post in the area in order to apply for entry clearance.

  The concession allowed the United Kingdom sponsor to seek advice in advance from the Home Office on whether his or her relatives seemed likely to qualify for a visa if they made a formal application at their nearest post. It thus reduced—usually to one—the number of journeys they needed to make to the post in order to pursue their application.

  The concession had its origins in a period when both Somalia and Ethiopia were torn by civil war and any movement by civilians in the area was potentially hazardous. The situation in Somalia itself remains grave, but over 95 per cent. of cases now raised under the concession concern people who are in Ethiopia. That country has been at peace for nearly three years now, and the evidence is that Somali nationals in Ethiopia can move about safely there. People in Somalia itself are able to move into Ethiopia, Kenya or Djibouti if they wish. In these circumstances it is open to applicants to seek entry clearance at our posts in Addis Ababa, Nairobi of Djibouti in the normal way. I have therefore decided that the concession should be withdrawn with effect from midnight on 27 January 1994.

  This decision applies to new cases only. All cases which have already been raised with us under the concession, including any received between now and 27 January 1994, will be considered under the existing arrangements.

  Prison Visits (Homosexuals)
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allow homosexual partners to benefit from the assisted prison visits scheme on similar terms to other partners.

  Mr. Howard
  No. I do not believe that taxpayers' money should be used for this purpose.

  Car Crime
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to improve the protection from car crimes on public roads; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 24 January 1993]: The Home Office continued with its car crime prevention campaign during 1993, to build on the success achieved in 1992. Evaluation of the campaign showed a very high awareness of the campaign's message. We shall continue to encourage the motor manufacturers to improve

  167
  vehicle security. We shall also continue our efforts to make motorists aware of car crime and the measures they should take to keep themselves and their vehicles safe.

DEFENCE

  Consultancies
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Aitken
  Those firms identifying themselves as having accountancy as their principal business awarded centrally placed consultancy contracts valued at over £10,000 by the Ministry of Defence in 1992 and 1993 were as follows:

  KPMG

  Touche Ross

  Date

  Contract title

  Company

  March 1992

  Housing Task Force

  Coopers and Lybrand

  March 1992

  Policy Changes—RAF Officers Aircrew

  PE International

  April 1992

  Outplacement (MODOPS) for Senior Grades

  KPMG

  April 1992

  Cost Allocation Model for Director General Ships Refitting (DGSR)

  Coopers and Lybrand

  June 1992

  Activity Based Costing in HQ BAOR

  Ernst and Young

  July 1992

  AWE Tender Evaluation

  Touche Ross

  July 1992

  Army Static Workshops Review

  Touche Ross

  August 1992

  Consultancy Support to Director General Supply Management (DGSM) (RAF)

  Touche Ross

  August 1992

  Consultancy to Royal Dockyards (DGSR)

  Coopers and Lybrand

  August 1992

  Consultancy Support to Defence Research Agency Implementation Team (DRAIT)

  Price Waterhouse

  October 1992

  Consultancy Support to Director General Supply and Transport (Naval) (DGST(N)) for Spearfish Bid

  Coopers and Lybrand

  October 1992

  Attitude Survey to Military Survey

  PA Consulting

  October 1992

  Marine Services Pay, Conditions of Service and Grading

  Coopers and Lybrand

  October 1992

  Consultancy Report for MOD(PE) Remodelling Study

  Coopers and Lybrand

  December 1992

  Consultancy Assistance for Cost Allocation Model

  Coopers and Lybrand

  January 1993

  Consultancy Support to Prepare Land Systems Technical Publications Authority and Army Scaling and cataloguing Authority for Market Testing

  Coopers and Lybrand

  January 1993

  Review of RAF Command Staff and Air Warfare Training

  Arthur Andersen

  January 1993

  Army Static Workshops Industrial Pay Grading

  Touche Ross

  February 1993

  Relocation of Warrior Test Facility

  Coopers and Lybrand

  March 1993

  Advice on Applicability of Activity Based Costing within DGST(N)

  Coopers and Lybrand

  May 1993

  Support to CIRPLS Study Team

  Coopers and Lybrand

  June 1993

  Future Management Arrangements of Service Married Quarters

  Coopers and Lybrand

  June 1993

  Study into the Repair and Overhaul of Naval Gas Turbine Engines

  PE International

  June 1993

  Marine Services Follow On Review of Pay and Grading

  Coopers and Lybrand

  August 1993

  Merchant Bank Support to Director General Fleet Support

  Kleinwort Benson Investment Trust Ltd.

  August 1993

  Defence Agencies Consultancy Support for the Framework Team

  KPMG

  August 1993

  Consultancy Support—Business Study for FMRA Corporate Plan

  Coopers and Lybrand

  August 1993

  Consultancy Support for DRA Owners' Secretariat

  Price Waterhouse

  August 1993

  Defence Agencies—Consultancy Support for the Framework Team

  Ernst and Young

  September 1993

  Business Process Review—Naval Logistics

  Coopers and Lybrand

  168

  Coopers and Lybrand

  PE International

  Price Waterhouse

  Arthur Andersen

  PA Consulting

  Ernst and Young

  Merchant Banks awarded centrally placed consultancy contracts by the Ministry of Defence in 1992 and 1993 were as follows:
  Kleinwort Benson Investment Trust Ltd.

  The total value of these consultancy contracts amounted to £14·9 million. A breakdown of these contracts is as follows. To protect commercial confidentiality, the individual contract values have been omitted.

  A number of other low-value contracts will have been placed with such firms in the period in question but these could be identified only at disproportionate cost. Furthermore, a number of consultancy contracts may be placed as part of specific projects but are not separately accounted. These are not recorded centrally and, similarly, could be identified only at disproportionate cost.
  169

  Date

  Contract title

  Company

  October 1993

  Army Personnel Centre Functional Analysis

  Price Waterhouse

  October 1993

  Independent Evaluation of Four Purchasing courses at the Contracts Training Centre

  PE International

  October 1993

  REME Tools and Workshops Equipment Procurement Process Study

  PA Consulting

  October 1993

  Consultancy Support for Training in Contract Management

  PE International

  December 1993

  Support for Market Testing of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE)

  Coopers and Lybrand

  December 1993

  Defence Exports Services Organization Customer Satisfaction Survey

  Touche Ross

  December 1993

  Consultancy Support to CBDE In-House Bid Team

  PA Consulting

  Airports and Aerodromes
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the airports or aerodromes other than RAF Northolt that his Department owns or controls in south-east England; and if he will list the length of each airport or aerodrome runway, together with details of the annual volume of flights in and out of each location.

  Mr. Hanley
  Airfields other than RAF Northolt which the Department owns or controls in south east England are: RAF Manston, RAF Odiham and Farnborough. The length of their runways together with details of the annual volume of flights in and out of each location are as follows:

  (a) RAF Manston—One main runway, RW 28/10 (2,752 metres), and one secondary grass strip, RW 24/06 (792 metres). Landings and take-offs during 1993 were: military 19,708, civilian 36,797.

  (b) RAF Odiham—One runway, RW 28/10 (1,830 metres). Landings and take-offs during 1993 were: military 20,054, civilian 137.

  (c) Farnborough—One main runway, RW 07/25 (2,400 metres), and two secondary runways, RWs 11/29 (1,370 metres) and 18/36 (1,282 metres). Landings and take-offs during 1993 were: military 7,932, civilian 5,380.

  RAF Northolt
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft have landed or taken off from RAF Northolt for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Hanley
  Landings and take-offs from RAF Northolt for each of the past five years were as follows:

  Year

  Military

  Civilian

  Total

  1989

  9,500

  5,600

  15,100

  1990

  9,300

  5,400

  14,700

  1991

  9,100

  4,700

  13,800

  1992

  9,608

  4,893

  14,501

  1993

  8,310

  4,650

  12,960

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the length of the runway at RAF Northolt airport;

  (2) what scope there would be to extend the existing runway at RAF Northolt within the airport's existing curtilage.

  Mr. Hanley
  The length of runway at RAF Northolt is 1,684m, there is no scope for its extension within the existing curtilege.
  170
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which is the largest military aircraft to have landed, or taken off, at RAF Northolt since 1964.

  Mr. Hanley
  The largest military aircraft to have landed, or taken off at RAF Northolt since 1964 is a United States Air Force C141 Starlifter.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which is the largest civil aircraft to have landed, or taken off, at RAF Northolt since 1964.

  Mr. Hanley
  The largest civil aircraft to have landed or taken off at RAF Northolt since 1964 was a European Airbus A320 on a demonstration flight; the aircraft was both lightly fuelled and loaded.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which is the largest civil aircraft that could be landed at RAF Northolt in normal operating conditions.

  Mr. Hanley
  Under current regulations specified in the United Kingdom aeronautical information publication—AIP—RAF Northolt can accept an approved quiet turbo jet powered civilian aircraft with a maximum capacity of 20 seats, subject to specified load, runway and pavement classifications. The largest aircraft on the civil register to operate routinely from RAF Northolt is the BAe 146.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total annual cost of running the airport at RAF Northolt.

  Mr. Hanley
  Of the total running costs for RAF Northolt, £11,960,000 per annum is spent on operating the airfield: this includes the costs of personnel; air traffic control; fire, crash and rescue services, heating and lighting.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total area of the airport at RAF Northolt.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total area of the RAF Northolt base is 448·4 acres—181·5 hectares.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the distance between RAF Northolt and the nearest Heathrow airport terminal building.

  Mr. Hanley
  The distance between RAF Northolt and the nearest Heathrow terminal building is 8·7 miles—14 km—by road, or 6·2 miles—10 km—in a straight line.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the primary function of the airport at RAF Northolt.
  171
  Mr. Hanley
  The primary function of RAF Northolt is to meet the air transport needs within Europe of members of the royal family, and senior members of Her Majesty's Government and the armed forces.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review there has been into the requirement of the airport at RAF Northolt for military purposes(a) before the publication of "Options for Change" and (b) since the publication of "Options for Change".

  Mr. Hanley
  The requirement for RAF Northolt has frequently been examined and confirmed in the normal course of business, both prior to and after "Options for Change". This process has involved a number of studies and is continuing with the current front line first initiative.

  Royal Yacht
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what non-governmental organisations had use of the royal yacht Britannia; for what purpose; on whose authority; and at what cost in(a) 1991–92 and (b)1992–93.

  Mr. Hanley
  Government Departments sponsor the use of the royal yacht by non-governmental organisations in order to promote British exports and attract inward investment to the United Kingdom. Such use is authorised by Buckingham palace and the Cabinet Secretary. All additional costs of these events are paid for by the organisations concerned. For the period in question the events were as follows:

  1991–92

  British Invisibles at London

  1992–93

  British Invisibles at Rome

  British Invisibles at Stockholm

  Scottish Financial Enterprise at Leith

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the result of the review of the future of the royal yacht Britannia.

  Mr. Hanley
  In view of the age of the royal yacht, its future is currently under review, with a range of options being considered. The future of the yacht will be made clear in due course.

  Flag Officer Royal Yachts
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role and responsibilities of the flag officer royal yachts.

  Mr. Hanley
  Flag officer royal yachts—FORY—is both an independent fleet flag officer and the commanding officer of HM yacht Britannia. He is generally accountable, as a member of the royal household, to Sir Robert Fellowes, private secretary to Her Majesty the Queen. He is responsible for Britannia's safe and efficient operation at all times and for the detailed planning of her programme keeping First Sea Lord and Commander in Chief, Fleet informed. He acts as the host at official receptions on behalf of the Queen when Britannia visits countries when no member of the royal family is embarked, and also hosts receptions on behalf of the Queen during sea days or commercial seminars held on board in support of British industry. These events bring FORY into direct and frequent contact with Heads of State and Government, and captains of industry.
  172
  In addition, he also exercises tactical control over RN, Commonwealth and foreign warships and RFAs forming the Royal Squadron when the Queen or other members of the royal family are embarked.

EDUCATION

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to extend the scope of exemptions to CCT requirements for cleaning contracts to more schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Travellers
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list, for each relevant education authority, the amount of the bid for grant towards traveller education in 1994–95 and the actual grant awarded.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Twenty-six local education authorities and one grant-maintained school in England were invited to bid for specific grant in 1994–95 for traveller education projects. Details of the bids and of the expenditure actually approved for support are as follows:

  LEA

  Bid

  Allocation

  Barnsley

  57,488

  31,195

  Bolton

  68,900

  50,025

  Brent

  159,967

  46,409

  Bromley

  120,404

  53,188

  Chalvedon GM

  21,190

  Nil

  Cleveland

  70,303

  25,421

  Cumbria

  50,000

  35,000

  Ealing

  9,528

  8,775

  Hammersmith

  45,500

  38,850

  Hampshire

  184,470

  166,520

  Havering

  24,027

  Nil

  Kent

  586,180

  405,500

  Leicestershire

  104,543

  34,355

  Newcastle

  33,544

  24,024

  Norfolk

  166,907

  138,295

  Northamptonshire

  266,670

  211,996

  North Yorkshire

  157,000

  116,200

  Nottinghamshire

  75,829

  71,929

  Oldham

  52,540

  28,740

  Rochdale

  109,208

  70,817

  Rotherham

  47,210

  30,221

  Sefton

  65,250

  22,750

  Somerset

  25,000

  22,000

  Sunderland

  28,594

  24,094

  Tameside

  128,050

  94,644

  Trafford

  4,700

  Nil

  Wiltshire

  15,550

  15,510

  Support for a further £8·48 million of expenditure has been approved for the continuation of existing traveller education projects in 68 local education authorities and one grant-maintained school. Unsolicited bids from two of these authorities for new projects in 1994–95 were rejected. Grant is payable at the rate of 75 per cent. on all approved expenditure.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each relevant education authority the amount of grant towards traveller education in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92 and (c) 1992–93.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Local education authorities receive allowance in their revenue support grant to meet the basic
  173
  educational needs of travellers in the same way and at the same rate as for other pupils. Grant is also payable under section 210 of the Education Reform Act 1988 in respect of extra provision made by LEAs to meet the additional educational needs of travellers. The total approved expenditure in England, on which grant was payable at the rate of 75 per cent. for each of these three financial years was as follows:

  LEA

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Avon

  260,200

  272,600

  284,900

  Barnsley

  Nil

  15,000

  26,900

  Bedfordshire

  207,100

  216,900

  226,700

  Berkshire

  212,400

  222,500

  232,500

  Bolton

  Nil

  35,800

  37,400

  Bradford

  165,800

  173,700

  181,500

  Brent

  26,700

  66,000

  69,000

  Bromley

  84,100

  64,350

  Nil

  Buckinghamshire

  245,500

  257,200

  268,800

  Bury

  9,100

  9,500

  9,900

  Cambridgeshire

  249,100

  260,900

  272,600

  Cheshire

  Nil

  24,500

  53,000

  Cleveland

  62,900

  88,000

  92,100

  Cumbria

  13,800

  54,000

  56,500

  Derbyshire

  145,200

  152,100

  158,900

  Devon

  139,500

  146,100

  152,700

  Doncaster

  58,100

  60,900

  63,600

  Dorset

  57,000

  59,700

  62,400

  Durham

  110,700

  116,000

  121,200

  Ealing

  12,000

  17,000

  17,800

  East Sussex

  54,400

  27,700

  46,500

  Essex

  509,500

  533,700

  557,700

  Gateshead

  35,800

  37,500

  39,200

  Gloucestershire

  59,800

  73,000

  Nil

  Greenwich

  75,400

  79,000

  82,600

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  9,600

  41,900

  43,800

  Hampshire

  Nil

  156,900

  164,000

  Haringey

  78,100

  81,800

  85,500

  Harrow

  40,700

  42,600

  44,500

  Havering

  8,800

  17,100

  17,900

  Hertfordshire

  600,200

  628,700

  657,000

  Hillingdon

  nil

  30,500

  44,300

  Hounslow

  96,100

  100,700

  105,200

  Humberside

  226,700

  237,500

  248,200

  Kensington/Chelsea

  8,000

  8,400

  8,800

  Kent

  173,000

  376,000

  393,000

  Lambeth

  16,500

  17,300

  18,100

  Lancashire

  293,600

  307,500

  321,300

  Leeds

  193,900

  203,100

  212,200

  Leicestershire

  85,000

  131,000

  136,900

  Lewisham

  49,000

  51,300

  53,600

  Lincolnshire

  162,800

  170,500

  178,200

  Liverpool

  30,100

  25,300

  26,400

  Manchester

  286,100

  299,700

  313,200

  Newcastle

  16,000

  19,900

  20,800

  Newham

  46,800

  49,000

  51,200

  Norfolk

  65,300

  200,500

  209,500

  Northamptonshire

  184,000

  183,700

  192,000

  Northumberland

  32,000

  33,500

  36,000

  North Yorkshire

  105,000

  110,700

  115,700

  Nottinghamshire

  28,800

  96,100

  100,500

  Oxfordshire

  282,000

  295,400

  308,700

  Richmond

  14,600

  15,300

  16,000

  Rochdale

  nil

  50,900

  53,200

  Salford

  nil

  46,200

  48,300

  Sefton

  39,900

  41,800

  43,700

  Sheffield

  156,400

  163,800

  171,200

  Solihull

  22,100

  23,200

  24,200

  Somerset

  58,600

  81,400

  85,100

  Southwark

  200,500

  179,400

  187,500

  Suffolk

  122,500

  128,300

  134,100

  Surrey

  322,900

  338,200

  253,400

  Tower Hamlets

  17,800

  18,600

  19,400

  Trafford

  19,200

  22,400

  23,400

  Wakefield

  86,400

  73,700

  77,000

  West Sussex

  114,800

  120,300

  125,700

  Wigan

  56,300

  59,000

  61,700

  174

  LEA

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Wiltshire

  76,000

  93,500

  97,700

  Wolverhampton (West Midlands Consortium)

  739,100

  774,200

  809,000

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the number of full-time equivalent places in nursery education for each of the London boroughs; and what proportion of under-fives in each borough attend a nursery school or class.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 21 January 1994,Official Report, columns 857–59, which gave the latest information about the numbers of pupils below compulsory school age and under-fives participation rates in maintained nursery provision in each local education authority in England. Information about nursery places is not held centrally.

  Sports Facilities
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to ensure that the Further Education Funding Council encourages schools and colleges to gain maximum use for the local community from their sports facilities.

  Mrs. Boswell
  The Further Education Funding Control, which is reponsible for the funding of colleges in the further education sector, including sixth form colleges, already encourages college governing bodies to utilise their facilities efficiently. There is nothing to deter colleges from making their sports facilities available to the community when they are not required for other college purposes. The Further Education Funding Council does not have funding responsibilities for schools.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to encourage schools and colleges to share their sports facilities with the local community.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government do encourage schools and colleges to make their premises, including sports facilities, available for use by the community when they are not required for school or college purposes.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what applications were received from grant-maintained schools for capital grant for the financial year 1994–95; what was the level of grant approval in each case; what is the total value of (i) applications and (ii) approvals; and how much has been set aside for the second round of bids closing on 28 January.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have placed in the Library copies of papers detailing the applications received from grant-maintained schools for 1994–95 and the allocations approved.

  Applications from grant-maintained schools incorporated up to September 1993 totalled £315 million for funding in 1994–95 and £133 million for subsequent years.

  175
  Allocations worth over £40 million have so far been made and projects worth over £30 million are being funded for extra development work in 1994–95.

  A minimum of £8 million has been set aside for 1994–95 starts in the next round of bids open to schools incorporated between September 1993 and January 1994.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the planned level of capital expenditure on grant-maintained schools for 1994–95 published in the DFE's departmental report, Cm 2210 in February 1993; what is the level of capital expenditure on grant-maintained schools for 1994–95 published in DFE press notice 425–93 in December 1993; and what is the reason for the difference between the two figures.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The two sets of figures are not strictly comparable. The figure of £165 million in Cm 2210 relates to the total planned expenditure in 1994–95. The figure of £150 million in press notice 425–93 relates to the allocation of funds in particular projects within the capital programme and also includes allocations brought forward into the current financial year and projects of high priority for 1995–96.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if the 82 grant-maintained schools where bids for more than £30 million of capital grant were unsuccessful for 1994–95, but which were identified in the DFE press notice 425–93 as high priorities for funding in 1995–96, and which have been awarded funds to start development work on the projects, are being given advance priority over other grant-maintained schools which will be submitting bids for capital grant in 1995–96.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Funding for 1995–96 is not guaranteed at this stage. The allocations for 1994–95 are intended to enable the schools to develop proposals which have been identified as high priorities for a future year. These schools, and all other grant-maintained schools, will be able to bid for funding in 1995–96 in the usual way.

  Higher Education Funding Council for England
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the annual cost of administering the Higher Education Funding Council for England for every year of its existence; and what is the cost to the HEFCE of the quality assessment process.

  Mr. Boswell
  The HEFCE was set up during the financial year 1992–93 while the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council and Universities Funding Council were still in existence. The cost of setting up and administering the HEFCE for that period was £500,000. Now in its first operational year, the cost of administering the HEFCE is £10·1 million. The cost of the HEFCE of quality assessment this year is £2 million.

  Manchester University Drama Society
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the hon. Member may expect to receive an answer to his letter of 16 December with regard to Colin Child, chairman of Manchester University drama society.
  176
  Mr. Boswell
  An interim reply to the hon. Member's letter was sent on 23 December 1993. I expect to send a full response shortly.

  Postgraduate Fees
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will announce the maximum level of postgraduate fees payable through the awards system for 1994–95.

  Mr. Boswell
  The maximum level of postgraduate fees payable through the Department for Education postgraduate awards schemes will be £2,350 for 1994–95. This represents an increase of 4 per cent. on the rate of 1993–94 and preserves the level of postgraduate fees in real terms.

  Funding Reductions
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons universities which have increased the admission of science and technology students and reduced arts and social science admissions are now advised by the Higher Education Funding Council for England that they will be subject to a larger than average reduction in funding; what effects this will have on universities which have achieved the targets for the admission of a higher proportion of science and technology students; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  No such advice has been given. The Higher Education Funding Council for England will publish its approach to funding and student numbers for 1994–95 shortly, including the position of institutions whch have increased science and technology intakes.

  Office for Standards in Education
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education in which national newspapers the Department of Education places advertisements for appointments to the Ofsted inspectorate.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Since its establishment in September 1992, Ofsted has been responsible for its own appointments procedures for inspectors and the Department for Education places no advertising on its behalf.

  Cost-place Multipliers
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the cost-place multiplier is in respect of(a) primary and (b) secondary schools; and what was the outturn capital expenditure in each local education authority in England in each category in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Forth
  The cost multiplier used to calculate the basic need elements of LEA's annual capital guidelines for 1994–95 are:(a) for five to 11 age-range places, £3,747; (b) for 11 to 16 places, £5,116; and for 16 plus places, £6,128.

  The outturn capital expenditure by LEAs, as notified to the Department of the Environment, for the financial year 1991–92 is shown in the following table:
  177

  LEA Capital Expenditure 1991–92

  £ thousands

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Special

  Total schools

  Polys

  FE

  Youth

  Other

  Total

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,395

  4,784

  0

  6,179

  0

  977

  0

  93

  7,249

  Barnet

  825

  1,303

  51

  2,179

  0

  116

  5

  0

  2,300

  Bexley

  998

  993

  81

  2,072

  0

  261

  27

  5

  2,365

  Brent

  1,788

  1,077

  462

  3,327

  0

  108

  89

  203

  3,727

  Bromley

  1,397

  5,434

  81

  6,912

  0

  219

  7

  77

  7,215

  Croydon

  3,153

  4,672

  128

  7,953

  0

  379

  24

  83

  8,439

  Ealing

  1,006

  379

  24

  1,409

  17

  474

  0

  26

  1,926

  Enfield

  446

  10,612

  1,832

  12,890

  0

  3,201

  44

  11

  16,146

  Haringey

  876

  886

  67

  1,829

  0

  111

  0

  107

  2,047

  Harrow

  2,822

  481

  1

  3,304

  0

  215

  19

  0

  3,538

  Havering

  468

  4,123

  58

  4,649

  0

  97

  1

  101

  4,848

  Hillingdon

  225

  1,060

  0

  1,285

  0

  50

  30

  352

  1,717

  Hounslow

  2,871

  1,492

  466

  4,829

  0

  217

  44

  214

  5,304

  Kingston upon Thames

  888

  2,861

  96

  3,845

  0

  237

  80

  51

  4,213

  Merton

  1,430

  1,848

  281

  3,559

  0

  89

  67

  240

  3,955

  Newham

  6,310

  3,822

  4

  10,316

  0

  17

  220

  289

  10,662

  Redbridge

  906

  1,486

  30

  2,422

  0

  94

  129

  619

  3,264

  Richmond upon Thames

  479

  2,208

  37

  2,724

  0

  156

  62

  4

  2,946

  Sutton

  3,168

  2,508

  1,563

  7,329

  0

  29

  1

  23

  7,292

  Waltham Forest

  2,473

  759

  79

  3,311

  0

  1

  10

  119

  3,441

  Corporation of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  560

  1,935

  72

  2,567

  0

  115

  0

  137

  2,819

  Westminster

  244

  351

  210

  805

  0

  55

  0

  988

  1,848

  Greenwich

  970

  248

  192

  1,410

  0

  75

  0

  16

  1,501

  Hackney

  637

  0

  2

  639

  0

  552

  2

  10

  1,203

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  579

  111

  685

  1,375

  0

  119

  0

  577

  2,071

  Islington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1,947

  1,947

  Kensington and Chelsea

  758

  1,085

  177

  2,020

  0

  325

  3

  450

  2,798

  Lambeth

  623

  385

  377

  1,385

  0

  158

  0

  44

  1,587

  Lewisham

  1,042

  329

  160

  1,531

  0

  3

  0

  0

  1,534

  Southwark

  1,048

  39

  89

  1,176

  0

  548

  23

  412

  2,159

  Wandsworth

  2,317

  832

  426

  3,575

  0

  255

  74

  402

  4,306

  Tower Hamlets

  7,012

  6,157

  176

  13,345

  0

  3,736

  0

  22

  17,103

  Birmingham

  9,292

  3,546

  468

  13,306

  0

  889

  0

  312

  14,507

  Coventry

  2,591

  2,440

  191

  5,222

  0

  1,461

  0

  194

  6,877

  Dudley

  1,037

  2,958

  17

  4,012

  0

  2,518

  13

  124

  6,667

  Sandwell

  2,049

  522

  48

  2,619

  0

  78

  3

  40

  2,740

  Solihull

  801

  1,519

  26

  2,346

  0

  949

  2

  92

  3,389

  Walsall

  1,289

  805

  13

  2,107

  0

  107

  28

  205

  2,447

  Wolverhampton

  1,031

  1,047

  65

  2,143

  0

  155

  91

  242

  2,631

  Knowsley

  295

  129

  560

  984

  0

  252

  0

  61

  1,297

  Liverpool

  1,269

  909

  39

  2,217

  0

  156

  0

  104

  2,477

  St. Helens

  368

  4,054

  3

  4,425

  0

  2,534

  0

  125

  7,084

  Sefton

  1,697

  1,411

  5

  3,113

  0

  515

  0

  8

  3,636

  Wirral

  1,763

  2,714

  96

  4,573

  0

  2

  17

  38

  4,630

  Bolton

  699

  166

  17

  882

  0

  631

  0

  17

  1,530

  Bury

  389

  371

  261

  1,021

  0

  20

  44

  0

  1,085

  Manchester

  4,302

  1,280

  274

  5,856

  0

  684

  49

  318

  6,907

  Oldham

  1,261

  9,638

  0

  10,899

  0

  47

  0

  43

  10,989

  Rochdale

  1,492

  4,234

  21

  5,747

  0

  1,525

  72

  18

  7,362

  Salford

  670

  1,577

  9

  2,256

  0

  100

  0

  1,295

  3,651

  Stockport

  1,533

  799

  19

  2,351

  0

  201

  0

  0

  2552

  Tameside

  687

  545

  169

  1,401

  0

  276

  0

  272

  1,949

  Trafford

  1,718

  3,233

  26

  4,977

  0

  327

  19

  10

  5,333

  Wigan

  169

  4,848

  16

  5,033

  0

  219

  0

  70

  5,322

  Barnsley

  984

  623

  8

  1,615

  0

  295

  0

  0

  1,910

  Doncaster

  236

  133

  0

  369

  0

  1

  40

  0

  410

  Rotherham

  435

  729

  69

  1,233

  0

  76

  22

  0

  1,331

  Sheffield

  3,141

  2,190

  104

  5,435

  249

  366

  102

  150

  6,302

  Bradford

  2,448

  5,917

  122

  8,487

  0

  2,510

  3

  1,505

  12,505

  Calderdale

  696

  1,052

  0

  1,748

  0

  314

  0

  91

  2,153

  Kirklees

  1,974

  1,550

  7

  3,531

  0

  853

  7

  72

  4,463

  Leeds

  14,664

  3,685

  161

  18,510

  0

  1,854

  49

  16

  20,429

  Wakefield

  2,460

  796

  9

  3,265

  0

  27

  7

  0

  3,299

  Gateshead

  2,581

  1,161

  362

  4,104

  0

  942

  5

  27

  5,078

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,918

  932

  288

  3,138

  0

  132

  116

  1

  3,387

  North Tyneside

  333

  1,315

  139

  1,787

  0

  166

  0

  10

  1,963

  South Tyneside

  1,153

  2,633

  5

  3,791

  0

  608

  176

  9

  4,584

  Sunderland

  1,928

  718

  35

  2,681

  0

  1,387

  0

  155

  4,223

  Isles of Scilly

  42

  8

  0

  50

  0

  0

  0

  0

  50

  Avon

  7,511

  2,545

  364

  10,420

  0

  4,474

  43

  386

  15,323

  Bedfordshire

  1,098

  551

  132

  1,781

  0

  74

  15

  2

  1,872

  Berkshire

  4,575

  1,917

  367

  6,859

  0

  230

  207

  61

  7,357

  Buckinghamshire

  3,868

  5,441

  90

  9,399

  0

  2,860

  476

  577

  13,312

  178 179

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Special

  Total schools

  Polys

  FE

  Youth

  Other

  Total

  Cambridgeshire

  8,758

  11,929

  466

  21,153

  0

  1,356

  204

  0

  22,713

  Cheshire

  4,827

  5,976

  1,403

  12,206

  0

  3,354

  89

  816

  16,465

  Cleveland

  1,385

  939

  1,447

  3,771

  0

  941

  18

  224

  4,954

  Cornwall

  5,576

  3,339

  435

  9,350

  0

  1,787

  116

  182

  11,435

  Cumbria

  4,568

  4,749

  33

  9,350

  0

  391

  44

  315

  10,100

  Derbyshire

  2,454

  10,091

  225

  12,770

  0

  1,530

  101

  58

  14,459

  Devon

  19,370

  9,779

  763

  29,912

  0

  1,704

  88

  895

  32,599

  Dorset

  7,791

  4,199

  303

  12,293

  0

  548

  238

  116

  13,195

  Durham

  3,307

  2,690

  145

  6,142

  0

  688

  59

  270

  7,159

  East Sussex

  7,538

  8,091

  475

  16,104

  0

  623

  1

  547

  17,275

  Essex

  5,597

  9,132

  277

  15,006

  0

  6,388

  395

  2,203

  23,992

  Gloucestershire

  3,333

  5,364

  286

  8,983

  0

  944

  590

  52

  10,569

  Hampshire

  10,423

  10,200

  1,482

  22,105

  0

  2,729

  112

  67

  25,013

  Hereford and Worcester

  4,217

  4,782

  255

  9,254

  0

  825

  244

  333

  10,656

  Hertfordshire

  2,509

  4,519

  1,674

  8,702

  0

  3,815

  163

  1,411

  14,091

  Humberside

  4,447

  1,638

  304

  6,389

  0

  1,981

  182

  26

  8,578

  Isle of Wight

  2,224

  767

  136

  3,127

  0

  27

  24

  121

  3,299

  Kent

  9,509

  10,671

  273

  20,453

  0

  3,874

  104

  533

  24,964

  Lancashire

  9,776

  6,489

  454

  16,719

  0

  2,438

  606

  492

  20,255

  Leicestershire

  8,056

  2,283

  160

  10,499

  0

  1,551

  24

  469

  12,543

  Lincolnshire

  7,182

  9,141

  679

  17,002

  0

  756

  85

  620

  18,463

  Norfolk

  2,883

  1,542

  405

  4,830

  0

  1,252

  70

  0

  6,152

  North Yorkshire

  2,844

  1,676

  29

  4,549

  0

  731

  2

  178

  5,460

  Northamptonshire

  2,484

  7,076

  37

  9,597

  0

  1,226

  21

  0

  10,844

  Northumberland

  2,053

  1,000

  843

  3,896

  0

  43

  0

  27

  3,966

  Nottinghamshire

  2,534

  2,596

  349

  5,479

  0

  526

  168

  145

  6,318

  Oxfordshire

  2,106

  688

  180

  2,974

  0

  219

  13

  318

  3,524

  Shropshire

  3,000

  3,973

  155

  7,128

  0

  239

  17

  0

  7,384

  Somerset

  1,763

  2,559

  26

  4,348

  0

  578

  0

  844

  5,770

  Staffordshire

  3,433

  4,050

  43

  7,526

  0

  1,398

  53

  1,183

  10,160

  Suffolk

  2,736

  5,346

  436

  8,518

  0

  2,258

  146

  187

  11,109

  Surrey

  4,045

  8,594

  985

  13,624

  0

  2,303

  344

  1,095

  17,366

  Warwickshire

  1,496

  987

  156

  2,639

  0

  895

  68

  0

  3,602

  West Sussex

  6,374

  6,607

  555

  13,536

  0

  596

  249

  372

  14,753

  Wiltshire

  4,664

  1,577

  2,460

  8,701

  0

  685

  214

  409

  10,009

  Notes:

  1. 1991–92 is the latest year for which final outturn figures are available.

  2. Figures come from the Department of the Environment's capital outturn return forms.

  3. Nursery and primary figures cannot be disaggregated.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received in relation to the cost-place multipliers used in relation to the basic need formula in determining annual capital guidelines for local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Since 1991 we have received representations from a number of LEAs, the Association of Metrolitan Authorities and the Association of County Councils about the level of the cost multipliers and our procedures for applying them to LEAs' bids in the basic need category.

  The cost multipliers are derived from an analysis of nearly 500 school building projects between 1987 and 1991 and include a mix of both new schools and extension projects to existing schools. The cost elements of the multipliers was based on a value known as the "target basic building cost", which represents a level of performance being achieved by about a third of authorities.

  For 1994–95 the cost multipliers have, in cash terms, remained broadly at the same level as 1993–94, when they rose in value by 9 per cent. on average over those used in 1992–93. This is at a time when building tender prices have shown a dramatic decline, by over 20 per cent. since 1990. This means that school building costs should have been falling and very competitive tenders should continue to be received.
  180

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which special advisers in his Department are seconded from other organisations; and what are the organisations and the lengths and terms of the secondments.

  Mr. Boswell
  There are no special advisers seconded to the Department from other organisations.

  Capital Guidelines
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made in respect of each local education authority in determining annual capital guidelines for 1994–95 of anticipated capital receipts.

  Mr. Forth
  LEAs bid for annual capital guidelines in a number of categories, including projects to remove surplus places. The success of bids in that category depends on whether the projects meet our published cost-effectiveness tests. The latter take into account LEAs' own estimates of any capital receipts which may arise. But in no categories are LEAs' ACGs reduced or adjusted in the light of anticipated capital receipts.
  181

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make additional resources available to schools to allow them to offset the cost of fitting seat belts to their school transport.

  Mr. Forth
  This is a matter on which each local authority needs to assess its priorities for use of the resources available. The Government's proposals for the 1994–95 grant settlements allow local education authorities in England an increase of 2·4 per cent. for education over the previous year; that should allow them some latitude in view of the continuing fall in inflation.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will reply to the letter dated 22 November from the hon. Member for Pendle on the subject of seat belts in school transport.

  Mr. Forth
  An interim reply was sent to the hon. Member on 13 December, and I sent the hon. Member a final reply on 21 January.

  Taught Week
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education in how many(a) secondary schools and (b) primary schools the taught week falls below the minimum acceptable level; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The minimum hours of taught lesson time per week recommended by the Department are 21 hours for five to seven-year-olds—key stage 1—23·5 hours for eight to 11-year-olds—key stage 2—and 24 hours for 12 to 16-year-olds—key stages 3 and 4. The numbers of maintained primary, middle and secondary schools in January 1993 reporting fewer hours per week than the recommended minima at each key stage were: 1,000 at key stage 1; 7,900 at key stage 2; 1,100 at key stage 3 and 800 at key stage 4. There may be some "double counting" in these results because schools generally provide for two and possibly three key stages.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received on the subject of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  Between April 1993 and January 1994 the Department of Social Security headquarters and the Child Support Agency headquarters received in the region of 10,750 written representations covering a range of views about child support policy and Child Support Agency operations.

  The number of written representations made to Child Support Agency centres and field offices could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the turnover of staff has been for each of the Child Support Agency centres in(a) England and (b) Wales.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
  182
  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mrs. Llin Golding, dated 24 January 1994:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking for details about the turnover of staff for each Child Support Agency Centre (CSAC) in England and Wales.
  There are four CSACs in England, and none in Wales. Staff turnover is shown in the following table. The figures show the staff in post at each CSAC on 18 January 1994, and the number of staff who have left since the Agency began on 5 April 1993. They include casual staff and staff employed on fixed term contracts.

  CSAC

  Staff in post

  Departures

  Birkenhead

  592

  7

  Dudley

  614

  61

  Hastings

  690

  62

  Plymouth

  576

  29

  I hope you find this information useful.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time staff the Child Support Agency employs in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

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

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mrs. Llin Golding, dated 24 January 1994:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking for details about the staffing of the Child Support Agency in England and Wales.
  At 1 January 1994, the Agency employed 3,413 full-time and 688 part-time staff in England, and 99 full-time and 25 part-time staff in Wales.
  I hope you find this information useful.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost of providing office accommodation for the Child Support Agency in(a) England and (b) Wales.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Hams (Mr. Steen) by the chief executive of the Child Support Agency on 17 December 1993 at columns 1060–61.

  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 14 January,Official Report, column 297, how many lone parents who were receiving no regular maintenance in April 1993 are now receiving maintenance as a result of action by the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) by the chief executive of the Child Support Agency on Monday 24 January,Official Report, column 15.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of(a) council tenants, (b) housing association tenants, (c) private tenants and (d) owner occupiers were in receipt of housing benefit for each of the London boroughs at the latest available date.
  183
  Mr. Burt
  The percentages of local authority tenants, housing association tenants and other private tenants in receipt of housing benefit in London, in November 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, were approximately 60 per cent., 50 per cent. and 50 per cent. respectively. Information for individual local authorities and owner-occupiers is not available.

  Sources: Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit Management Information Statistics quarterly case load information for November 1992 and Department of the Environment tenancy statistics December 1992.

  Notes:

  (i) Owner-occupiers, in England and Wales have not been eligible for Housing Benefit—(rate rebates)—since April 1990 when community charge benefit was introduced.

  (ii) The quarterly case load figures include estimates for non-responding boroughs.
  184

  VAT (Domestic Fuel)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to compensate fully people with learning disabilities and their carers for the increase in their domestic heating bills resulting from VAT on fuel.

  Mr. Burt
  Our policy is to help poorer households, pensioners and disabled people on income-related benefits meet the extra cost of VAT on domestic fuel. A substantial package of measures was announced in the budget including increases above the normal uprating in invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance and the disability premium in the income-related benefits.

  Disabled people, including people with learning disabilities, who are receiving these benefits will receive the above-inflation increases.
  185

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average payment per recipient per week of housing benefit for each year since 1985, and his projected figure for 1994–95 for private sector, housing association and local authority tenancies.

  Average amounts (£/week) of housing benefit1 in Great Britain

  Certificated/with income support

  2Standard/no income support

  All housing benefit

  Year

  Local authority tenants

  Private tenants

  3Housing association tenants

  Local authority tenants

  Private tenants

  Housing association tenants

  Local authority tenants

  Private tenants

  Housing association tenants

  1985

  14·60

  17·20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  15·60

  19·50

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1987

  16·50

  20·90

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  18·16

  21·88

  —

  12·33

  14·47

  —

  15·85

  18·78

  —

  1989

  19·75

  25·14

  —

  14·00

  15·42

  —

  17·36

  21·06

  —

  1990

  22·60

  30·88

  —

  15·95

  18·72

  —

  19·80

  25·45

  —

  1991

  26·16

  37·20

  —

  18·37

  24·98

  —

  22·76

  32·57

  —

  1992

  29·88

  46·18

  35·35

  21·73

  30·92

  25·81

  26·45

  40·69

  32·24

  Sources:

  1985 to 1987 supplementary benefit quarterly statistical inquiry dated November/December.

  1988 to 1992 housing benefit management information system annual 1 per cent. sample dated May.

  1 For all years housing benefit has been defined as rent rebate and rent allowance.

  2 Information for standard/cases with no income support is not available prior to 1988.

  3 Separate figures for housing association tenancies is not available prior to 1992; until then the information is included with that of private tenancies.

  Notes:

  1. The average amounts are per benefit unit not per individual. A benefit unit may be a single person or a couple.

  2. Projected figures for 1994–95 are not available.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people who have ceased to receive benefit following changes to the benefit law in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Burt
  Information on why individuals cease to claim benefit is not available. A comparison of estimates of the total number of current social security benefit awards at any one time shows an overall increase of around 18 million between 1979 and 1992–93.

  Rate of Unemployment Benefit for a Married Couple with two Children under 11 years

  Total UB

  Average Real Value of Benefit at April 1993 Prices over the Period

  Equivalent Value of Benefit at April 1993 Prices at Date of Uprating

  As a percentage of all adults average earnings

  November 1976

  27·50

  89·09

  92·00

  40·6

  April 1977

  26·50

  79·99

  81·52

  38·0

  November 1977

  30·30

  88·67

  89·68

  41·1

  April 1978

  28·20

  78·98

  80·38

  35·9

  November 1978

  29·20

  78·36

  79·98

  34·7

  April 1979

  27·20

  66·90

  70·43

  30·5

  November 1979

  33·35

  71·80

  77·82

  33·2

  November 1980

  35·90

  68·78

  72·65

  29·9

  November 1981

  38·00

  66·41

  68·68

  28·7

  November 1982

  41·05

  68·50

  69·82

  28·8

  November 1983

  44·05

  70·00

  71·46

  28·1

  November 1984

  46·00

  68·99

  71·11

  27·5

  November 1985

  49·25

  71·49

  72·19

  27·6

  July 1986

  49·80

  70·65

  71·80

  26·3

  April 1987

  50·85

  69·60

  70·23

  25·6

  April 1988

  52·95

  68·38

  70·37

  24·2

  April 1989

  56·10

  67·19

  69·01

  23·4

  186
  Mr. Burt
  The available information is in the table.

  Consultants
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on which occasions since 1979 his Department has employed the services of external consultants; and if he will give details of the purposes for which they were employed and the cost of employing them.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the value of unemployment benefit for a couple with two children under 11 years in relation to prices and earnings since 1976.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.
  187

  Total UB

  Average Real Value of Benefit at April 1993 Prices over the Period

  Equivalent Value of Benefit at April 1993 Prices at Date of Uprating

  As a percentage of all adults average earnings

  April 1990

  60·40

  65·96

  67·88

  23·0

  April 1991

  66·95

  69·80

  70·72

  23·5

  April 1992

  69·70

  70·45

  70·60

  22·9

  April 1993

  72·20

  —

  72·20

  22·8

  Notes:

  1. Child dependency addition was abolished from November 1984

  2. Earnings are derived from the Employment Department's new earnings survey estimates of all adult earnings.

  3. The number of weeks between uprating dates is not always the same as the number of weeks between reference dates for the general index of retail prices (BPI). No adjustment is made for this.

  4. The average real value of benefit at April 1993 prices is calculated over the period between uprating dates (e.g. July 1986-March 1987).

  Source: Abstract of statistics for social security benefits and contributions and the indices of retail prices and average earnings.

  Benefits
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated saving to his Department of delaying payment of the child dependant's allowance payable with incapacity benefit until the 52nd week of incapacity.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that there will be a net saving of £5 million a year as a result of the effect on entitlement to child dependency increases of the 52nd week qualifying period for long-term incapacity benefit.

  Note:

  Estimate expressed in constant 1993–94 prices, rounded to nearest £5 million and is net of offsetting changes and expenditure on income-related benefits.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of invalidity benefit are(a) in receipt of the higher rate of the care component of disability living allowance and (b) are currently over the age of 57 years.

  Mr. Scott
  On 4 April 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 726,000 people aged 57 or over receiving invalidity benefit1. Reliable estimates of the number of invalidity benefit claimants also receiving the higher rate of care component of disability living allowance are not available.

  Note:

  1 Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he intends to make the 80 per cent. disablement test for severe disablement allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  None.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people(a) claimed and (b) were awarded non-contributory sickness benefit (i) between April 1992 and April 1993, (ii) since April 1993 and (iii) in total since April 1983.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not routinely kept in the form requested. Information that is readily available is in the table. An estimate of the total since April 1983 will require researching of archived data. I shall write again to the hon. Member as soon as the figure is available. Information from April 1992 is currently unavailable.
  188

  Spells of sickness benefit which commenced in the statistical period as the result of an industrial accident or prescribed disease where the contribution conditions were deemed satisfied

  Statistical Period

  Number of sickness benefit spells commencing where the contribution position was deemed satisfied

  2 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  6,000

  1 April 1991 to 4 April 1992

  3,000

  Notes:

  1. Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. A spell of incapacity is a single period of sickness for which an individual may have more than one in the statistical period.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to what extent the rules permitting therapeutic work will continue after April 1995 for(a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance; what will be the rules concerning limitations on (i) the amount of earnings which can be kept before benefit entitlement is affected and (ii) the hours per week which may be worked; and what other restrictions will be introduced.

  Mr. Scott
  Proposals contained in the Incapacity for Work Bill provide for the therapeutic work rule to continue both for the new incapacity benefit and for severe disablement allowance when work undertaken would be of benefit to a person's condition. We intend that current arrangements for limitation of earnings will continue—present level £42·00 per week—and that there should be a weekly limit of 16 hours.

  The Incapacity for Work Bill also introduces provision to allow all incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance recipients to undertake voluntary work for up to 16 hours a week with no effect to their benefit.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to alter the two-year linking rule allowing claimants on disability working allowances to requalify for incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no such plans.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people receive invalidity benefit following an award of non-contributory sickness benefit(a) between April 1992 and April 1993, (b) since April 1993 and (c) in total since April 1983.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not routinely kept in the form requested. Information that is readily available is in the
  189
  table. An estimate of the total since April 1983 will require researching of archived data. I shall write again to the hon. Member as soon as the figure is available. Information from April 1992 is currently unavailable.

  Spells of invalidity benefit, following an award of sickness benefit, which commenced in the statistical period as the result of an industrial accident or prescribed disease where the contribution conditions were deemed satisfied

  Statistical period

  Number of invalidity benefit spells commencing where the contribution position was deemed satisfied

  2 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  4,000

  1 April 1991 to 4 April 1992

  1,000

  Notes:

  1. Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. A spell of incapacity is a single period of sickness for which an individual may have more than one in the statistical period.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated saving of his Department of

  Value of Child Support1 for each child in standard rate tax paying families at April 19932 prices

  Date3

  Children under age 11

  Children aged 11–15

  Children aged 16 and over

  1st child £

  2nd child £

  3rd4 child £

  1st child £

  2nd child £

  3rd4 child £

  1st child £

  2nd child £

  3rd4 child £

  April 1964

  8·62

  11·33

  12·13

  10·43

  13·13

  13·93

  12·33

  15·14

  15·85

  April 1965

  8·64

  11·30

  11·87

  10·54

  13·11

  13·77

  12·44

  15·01

  15·68

  April 1966

  8·35

  10·91

  11·46

  10·18

  12·66

  13·30

  12·01

  14·49

  15·14

  April 1967

  8·04

  10·60

  10·92

  9·89

  12·29

  12·91

  11·66

  14·07

  14·69

  April 1968

  7·75

  9·72

  10·31

  9·46

  11·42

  11·94

  11·17

  13·05

  13·64

  April 1969

  7·35

  9·61

  10·17

  8·97

  11·23

  11·79

  10·58

  12·85

  13·33

  April 1970

  6·96

  9·11

  9·63

  8·49

  10·63

  11·17

  10·02

  12·16

  12·62

  April 1971

  8·11

  10·28

  10·76

  9·37

  11·60

  12·10

  10·69

  12·87

  13·35

  April 1972

  7·63

  9·67

  10·13

  8·81

  10·91

  11·38

  10·06

  12·10

  12·56

  April 1973

  6·92

  8·67

  9·10

  8·19

  9·88

  10·30

  9·21

  10·90

  11·31

  April 1974

  7·94

  9·41

  9·77

  9·15

  10·51

  10·92

  10·14

  11·50

  11·92

  April 1975

  6·96

  9·62

  9·62

  7·94

  10·62

  10·62

  8·81

  11·51

  11·51

  April 1976

  7·30

  9·57

  9·57

  8·13

  10·41

  10·41

  8·88

  11·13

  11·13

  April 1977

  7·01

  8·03

  8·03

  7·72

  8·74

  8·74

  8·33

  9·32

  9·32

  April 1978

  8·36

  8·36

  8·36

  9·01

  9·01

  9·01

  9·55

  9·55

  9·55

  April 1979

  10·36

  10·36

  10·36

  10·36

  10·36

  10·36

  10·36

  10·36

  10·36

  November 1980

  9·61

  9·61

  9·61

  9·61

  9·61

  9·61

  9·61

  9·61

  9·61

  November 1981

  9·49

  9·49

  9·49

  9·49

  9·49

  9·49

  9·49

  9·49

  9·49

  November 1982

  9·95

  9·95

  9·95

  9·95

  9·95

  9·95

  9·95

  9·95

  9·95

  November 1983

  10·54

  10·54

  10·54

  10·54

  10·54

  10·54

  10·54

  10·54

  10·54

  November 1984

  10·58

  10·58

  10·58

  10·58

  10·58

  10·58

  10·58

  10·58

  10·58

  November 1985

  10·26

  10·26

  10·26

  10·26

  10·26

  10·26

  10·26

  10·26

  10·26

  July 1986

  10·24

  10·24

  10·24

  10·24

  10·24

  10·24

  10·24

  10·24

  10·24

  April 1987

  10·01

  10·01

  10·01

  10·01

  10·01

  10·01

  10·01

  10·01

  10·01

  April 1988

  9·63

  9·63

  9·63

  9·63

  9·63

  9·63

  9·63

  9·63

  9·63

  April 1989

  8·92

  8·92

  8·92

  8·92

  8·92

  8·92

  8·92

  8·92

  8·92

  April 1990

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  8·14

  April 1991

  8·71

  7·66

  7·66

  8·71

  7·66

  7·66

  8·71

  7·66

  7·66

  October 1991

  9·63

  7·81

  7·81

  9·63

  7·81

  7·81

  9·63

  7·81

  7·81

  April 1992

  9·78

  7·90

  7·90

  9·78

  7·90

  7·90

  9·78

  7·90

  7·90

  April 1993

  10·00

  8·10

  8·10

  10·00

  8·10

  8·10

  10·00

  8·10

  8·10

  Notes:

  1 The combined value of child tax allowance after clawback and family allowance/child benefit.

  2 Based on the movement in the general index of retail prices at April 1993.

  3 Child tax allowance ceased after the 1978–79 tax year and uprating dates are shown from 1979 onwards.

  4 And subsequent children.
  190
  delaying payment of the full rate of adult dependant's allowance payable with incapacity benefit until the 52nd week of incapacity.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that there will be a net saving of £5 million a year as a result of the effect on the payable rate of adult dependency increases of the 52-week qualifying period for long-term incapacity benefit.

  Note:

  Estimate expressed in constant 1993–94 prices, rounded to the nearest £5 million and is net of offsetting changes and expenditure on income-related benefits. Estimate takes account of other planned changes in the qualifying conditions for adult dependency increases of incapacity benefit.

  Child Support
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the value of child support for each child in a standard rate tax-paying family expressed in 1993–94 prices for each year since 1964.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table. While child benefit helps all families with children, there is a comprehensive range of other social security benefits which can provide additional help for some families according to their circumstances.
  191

TRANSPORT

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. MacGregor
  The Government car service charges for 1990–91 did not cover the full cost of the provision of cars for ministers. Rates have since been increased by 12 per cent. from 1 July 1990 and again by 10 per cent. from 1 January 1991. Other factors are:

  (i) Value added tax on GCS invoices increased from 15 per cent. to 17·5 per cent. from 1 April 1991.

  (ii) The GCS introduced new charging arrangements from 1 April 1992 leading to greater use of the more expensive "Outside Core Hour" provision.

  Isle of Wight
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider an addition to the transport supplementary grant to assist with the exceptional problems on the Isle of Wight and to improve and install additional highway damage drainage works.

  Mr. Key
  It is not possible to change the allocations that were given to local highway authorities, including the Isle of Wight, when the local transport capital settlement for 1994–95 was announced on 15 December. The island's council will have the opportunity to bid for resources to deal with current conditions on its roads when it makes its transport policies and programme submission for 1995–96 later this year. In the meantime, it has discretion to use its minor works allocation for 1994–95 on transport infrastructure of its choice. Resources allocated for structural maintenance on principal roads can also be used on any such road.

  Rail Travel, London
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of a child's fare for a return journey by rail from Lewisham to London for each year from 1975.

  Adult standard return

  Adult cheap day return

  Current prices £

  1975 prices £

  Current prices £

  1975 prices £

  January 1975

  0·32

  0·32

  0·24

  0·24

  May 1975

  0·36

  0·32

  0·25

  0·22

  September 1975

  0·40

  0·34

  0·26

  0·22

  March 1976

  0·46

  0·37

  0·30

  0·24

  January 1977

  0·56

  0·39

  0·35

  0·24

  January 1978

  0·66

  0·42

  0·41

  0·26

  January 1979

  0·72

  0·42

  0·45

  0·26

  January 1980

  0·86

  0·42

  0·55

  0·27

  November 1980

  1·12

  0·49

  0·70

  0·31

  November 1981

  1·20

  0·47

  0·76

  0·30

  January 1983

  1·40

  0·52

  0·80

  0·29

  January 1984

  1·40

  0·49

  0·90

  0·31

  January 1985

  1·60

  0·53

  0·90

  0·30

  January 1986

  1·80

  0·57

  1·00

  0·32

  January 1987

  2·00

  0·61

  1·10

  0·33

  January 1988

  2·20

  0·65

  1·20

  0·35

  January 1989

  2·40

  0·66

  1·30

  0·36

  February 1990

  2·60

  0·66

  1·40

  0·35

  January 1991

  2·80

  0·65

  1·50

  0·35

  January 1992

  3·00

  0·67

  1·60

  0·36

  January 1993

  3·20

  0·71

  1·60

  0·35

  January 1994

  3·40

  0·73

  1·70

  0·36

  192
  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that the information requested is as follows:

  Child return current prices £

  Child return 1975 prices £

  January 1975

  0·12

  0·12

  May 1975

  0·13

  0·12

  September 1975

  0·13

  0·11

  March 1976

  0·15

  0·12

  January 1977

  0·18

  0·13

  January 1978

  0·22

  0·14

  January 1979

  0·23

  0·13

  January 1980

  0·28

  0·14

  November 1980

  0·35

  0·15

  November 1981

  0·38

  0·15

  January 1983

  0·40

  0·15

  January 1984

  0·45

  0·16

  January 1985

  0·45

  0·15

  January 1986

  0·50

  0·16

  January 1987

  0·55

  0·17

  January 1988

  0·60

  0·18

  January 1989

  0·65

  0·18

  February 1990

  0·70

  0·18

  January 1991

  0·75

  0·18

  January 1992

  0·80

  0·18

  January 1993

  0·80

  0·18

  January 1994

  0·85

  0·18

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of passengers travelling by rail from Lewisham to London and back in each year since 1975 were commuters travelling to or from work.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not collected by British Rail.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of a return journey by rail from Lewisham to London at(a) the off-peak rate and (b) the standard rate for each year from 1975.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that the information requested is as follows:
  193

  Network SouthEast
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money was spent on(a) engineering improvements and (b) improving rolling stock on Network SouthEast rail lines for each year from 1975.

  Mr. Freeman
  As Network SouthEast did not exist as an organisation until 1986–87, there are no figures available before that year. I understand that figures for subsequent years are as follows:

  Year

  Rolling stock (£s million-current prices)

  Other investment (£s million-current prices)

  1986–87

  26

  208

  1987–88

  140

  233

  1988–89

  160

  285

  1989–90

  139

  310

  1990–91

  88

  320

  1991–92

  142

  271

  1992–93

  323

  222

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people used Network SouthEast rail services for each year from 1975.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, the table shows the average daily number of passengers entering central London on BR services during the morning peak. Of these total figures BR estimates 6 per cent. of passengers would have arrived on InterCity services and 94 per cent. on Network SouthEast. I understand that some 70 per cent. of all BR passengers to London begin their journeys during the morning peak.

  Total numbers entering Central London by BR each day (07.00 to 09.59)

  Year

  Number of passengers

  1975

  402,913

  1976

  400,984

  1977

  400,325

  1978

  409,524

  1979

  420,903

  1980

  411,869

  1981

  393,912

  1982

  390,306

  1983

  383,908

  1984

  386,037

  1985

  400,972

  1986

  420,864

  1987

  449,072

  1988

  468,316

  1989

  472,583

  1990

  457,699

  1991

  425,718

  1992

  401,146

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) platform staff, (b) ticket sellers, (c) ticket inspectors, (d) cleaning staff and (e) train drivers were employed by the Network SouthEast rail division for each year from 1975.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not available in the Department.
  194

  Train Crashes
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed in train crashes(a) in Britain and (b) on Network SouthEast lines for each year from 1975.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of deaths resulting from all train accidents in Britain for each year from 1975 are as follows:

  Year

  Fatalies

  1975

  57

  1976

  18

  1977

  12

  1978

  22

  1979

  20

  1980

  7

  1981

  7

  1982

  11

  1983

  10

  1984

  30

  1985

  6

  1986

  27

  1987

  10

  1988

  40

  1989

  18

  1990

  4

  19911

  3

  1991–92

  11

  1992–93

  5

  1 From 1991 onwards the figures shown are for the period 1 April to 31 March covering the financial year. The statistics shown for the first quarter 1991 allow for this adjustment.

  These figures for fatalities include accidents to railway staff and contractors, passengers and other persons.

  The figures have been obtained from the Health and Safety Executive's HM railway inspectorate's annual report on the railway safety of Great Britain, copies of which have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Figures for Network SouthEast lines are not available.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of train crashes(a) in Britain or (b) on Network SouthEast lines for each year from 1975.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of train accidents, which include all accidents to trains and rolling stock, for each year from 1975 are as follows:

  Year

  Total train accidents

  1975

  1,310

  1976

  1,122

  1977

  1,056

  1978

  1,044

  1979

  1,035

  1980

  930

  1981

  1,014

  1982

  998

  1983

  1,255

  1984

  1,359

  1985

  1,240

  1986

  1,171

  1987

  1,165

  1988

  1,330

  1989

  1,434

  1990

  1,283

  19911

  242

  1991–92

  960

  1992–93

  1,152

  1 From 1991 onwards the figures shown are from 1 April to 31 March covering the financial year. The statistics shown for the first quarter 1991 allow for this adjustment.

  195
  The figures have been obtained from the Health and Safety Executive's HM railway inspectorate's annual report on the railway safety of Great Britain, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Separate figures for Network SouthEast lines are not available.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were injured in train crashes(a) in Britain and (b) on Network SouthEast lines for each year from 1975.

  Mr. Freeman
  The total numbers of injuries resulting from train accidents for each year from 1975 are as follows:

  Year

  Major

  Minor

  1975

  62

  384

  1976

  14

  276

  1977

  20

  288

  1978

  14

  219

  1979

  26

  396

  1980

  38

  409

  1981

  21

  174

  1982

  18

  246

  1983

  21

  197

  1984

  42

  433

  1985

  53

  327

  1986

  77

  433

  1987

  25

  371

  1988

  84

  621

  1989

  58

  346

  1990

  22

  221

  19911

  38

  531

  1991–92

  30

  361

  1992–93

  13

  140

  1 From 1991 onwards, the figures shown are for the period 1 April to 31 March covering the financial year. The statistics shown for the first quarter 1991 allow for this adjustment. These figures are high due to the Cannon Street accident which occurred on 8 January 1991.

  These figures for major and minor injuries include accidents to railway staff and contractors, passengers and other persons.

  The figures have been obtained from the Health and Safety Executive's Her Majesty's railway inspectorate's annual report on the railway safety of Great Britain, copies of which have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Figures for Network SouthEast are not available.

  Airports (Capacity)
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many listed buildings would be demolished or rendered uninhabitable if an additional runway were built as indicated in the report of the runway capacity in the south-east working group at(a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Stansted.

  Mr. Norris
  RUCATSE stated that were runways to be developed as indicated in the report, the numbers of listed buildings demolished would be: 43 at Heathrow, 13 at Gatwick and 25 at Stansted. The RUCATSE report estimated that a further 55 listed buildings would be rendered uninhabitable in the case of development at Gatwick. No comparable figure is provided in the report for development at Heathrow or at Stansted.
  196

  Traffic (Schools)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria highway authorities are instructed to take into consideration when determining traffic speed limits in the vicinity of schools.

  Mr. Key
  Revised guidance was issued to local authorities in January 1993, setting out the general principles recommended in setting local speed limits. This places more emphasis on the environment, including for example the presence of a school, through which the road passes and less on the need for an accident record on the road in question. Trials are also being conducted on some trunk and local authority roads of variable speed limits outside schools, whereby the limit can be temporarily reduced at arrival and departure times; if these trials show that the variable limits are successful in reducing vehicle speeds and accidents, they may be introduced more widely.

  Cyclists (Accidents)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving cyclists were reported in each year since 1991.

  Mr. Key
  The Department collects data from personal injury road accidents. There were 25,042 injury accidents in 1991 and 24,962 injury accidents in 1992 involving pedal cyclists.

  Speedboat Regulations
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those regulations which apply to the use of speedboats in inshore waters surrounding the United Kingdom; how many prosecutions hav been brought by(a) individuals and (b) local authorities against owners or users of speedboats in the context of the breach of national legislation or local byelaws in each of the past five years; and what consideration is being given to additional restrictions applicable to the onwership or use of such speedboats.

  Mr. Norris
  There are no national regulations governing the ownership and use of recreational craft in inshore waters. Local authorities in England and Wales have powers to make byelaws under section 231 of the Public Health Act 1936 for the regulation of vessels used for pleasure purposes; under section 76 of the Public Health Act 1961, for the regulation of seaside pleasure boats; and under section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972, for the regulation and suppression of nuisances by district and borough councils where no other powers are available. In Scotland, local authorities have powers under section 121 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to make byelaws in relation to the sea shore, adjacent waters and inland waters. Separate provisions exist for local authorities in Northern Ireland.

  Figures for prosecutions under byelaws are not collected centrally and no information is readily available on prosecutions by individuals.

  In its first report the National Maritime Safety Steering Committee has drawn attention to problems identified by the district marine safety committees with the making of effective byelaws to control recreational craft on inland and inshore waters. These problems are also considered in a consultation document published in October 1993 by the

  197
  Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office—"Managing the Coast—A review of Coastal Management Plans in England and Wales and the powers supporting them".

  The report of the NMSSC has also drawn attention to a number of recommendations referred to it by the DMSCs relating to the further regulation of recreational craft and their users in the interests of safety. These recommendations are currently under consideration by the Department.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what review he has undertaken of mandatory seat belts in coaches and in vehicles transporting school children; and what conclusions he has reached.

  Mr. Key
  We are currently reviewing the full technical and cost implications of seat belts in all coaches and minibuses, not just those used to carry children. This review is not yet complete.

  Light Rapid Transit Schemes
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been made available from the private sector towards the development and implementation of light rapid transit schemes in(a) Manchester, (b) Birmingham, (c) south Yorkshire and (d) Leeds and Nottingham.

  Mr. Freeman
  The private sector contributes to the development and implementation of light rapid transit schemes in three ways: expenditure on bids in competitive tenders and associated design work; developer contributions to the construction costs of schemes; and concession payments for contracts to undertake any or all of the design, building, operation and maintenance of a light rapid transit system. Some or all of these types of contribution have been received or are planned in all of the schemes listed. The amounts involved are commercially confidential.

  Heathrow Terminals
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the distance between each of the terminals at Heathrow.

  Mr. Norris
  BAA plc has informed me as follows:

  The central terminal area comprises terminals 1, 2 and 3. Walking distances between the terminals using subway connections are:

  Metres

  Terminal 1 to terminal 2

  392

  Terminal 1 to terminal 3 (arrivals)

  680

  Terminal 1 to terminal 3 (departures)

  676

  Terminal 2 to terminal 3 (arrivals)

  590

  Terminal 2 to terminal 3 (departures)

  568

  The shortest journey from the central terminal area to terminal 4 is by the airside coach route from gate 80 to the transfer passenger point in terminal 4 and is some 3,379 m long. From landside in the central terminal area, the journey to terminal 4 would be about double—some 6,800 m.
  198

  Runway Length
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the length of the runway at(a) Gatwick airport, (b) Glasgow airport, (c) Edinburgh airport, (d) Manchester airport, (e) Luton airport, (f) Birmingham airport, (g) London city aiport, (h) Belfast international airport and (i) Belfast city airport.

  Mr. Norris
  The effective length of a runway depends on direction of use and whether it is being used for takeoff or landing. Takeoff run and landing distance are set out in the table:

  Aerodrome

  Runway

  Takeoff Run (metres)

  Landing distance (metres)

  Gatwick

  08R

  3,159

  2,766

  26L

  3,098

  2,831

  Glasgow

  05

  2,658

  2,658

  23

  2,658

  2,353

  Edinburgh

  07

  2,560

  2,347

  25

  2,560

  2,347

  Manchester

  06

  3,048

  2,621

  24

  3,048

  2,865

  Luton

  08

  2,160

  2,160

  26

  2,160

  2,075

  Birmingham

  15

  2,405

  21,34

  33

  2,405

  2,134

  London City

  10

  1,199

  1,199

  28

  1,199

  1,199

  Belfast Int.

  07

  2,777

  2,777

  25

  2,777

  2,777

  Belfast City

  04

  1,829

  1,737

  22

  1,767

  1,767

  Pedestrian Safety
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Serjeant at Arms and hon. Members about pedestrian safety at the junction of Bridge street and Parliament square; and what action he has taken to improve pedestrian safety at this junction.

  Mr. Norris
  The Serjeant at Arms and the hon. Member have made several representations regarding the timing of pedestrian phases within the traffic lights at Bridge street-Parliament square. Details were passed on to Westminster city council, which is the responsible highway authority. The city council has extended the pedestrian green phase at the corner of Bridge street and Parliament square and installed supplementary signals to assist pedestrians.

  Roads Policy
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the documents which set out his Department's policy on roads issued during the last six years and those sections of the documents which no longer represent Government policy.

  Mr. Key
  The two main documents setting out current roads policy are the 1989 White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" and the 1990 roads report "Trunk Roads, England into the 1990's". The aims of the Government's expenditure on roads can be found in the "Department of Transport Report 1993". I will write to my right hon. Friend shortly with a more detailed list of road policy documents.
  199

  Kingsferry Bridge
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the interruption of power to the Kingsferry bridge on the A249 trunk road between the mainland and the Isle of Sheppey and the announcement, later countermanded, that all road traffic could be delayed for hours to allow a ship to pass; if he will make it his policy to give priority to road and rail traffic in such circumstances; and if he will speed up construction of the second Swale crossing.

  Mr. Key
  On Thursday 20 January, because of a loss of power from the electricity suppliers, Seeboard Electricity, British Rail intended to use an emergency generator to open Kingsferry bridge to allow a ship to pass. The generator takes 20 minutes to raise and 20 minutes to lower the bridge.

  At the request of the local Sittingbourne police and after consultation with the British Transport police, BR decided not to open the bridge, because of the extensive traffic congestion this would have caused during the peak traffic period.

  The operation of Kingsferry bridge is a matter for BR in consultation with the British Transport police and the port authorities. They are best placed to judge the conditions prevailing at the time and the limitations placed on their powers to close the bridge for emergency maintenance.

  Public consultation on proposals to improve the A249 between Iwade and Queensborough, which include a second crossing of the Swale, ended on 7 January and we are now considering the response. Start of construction will depend on the completion of design work and the statutory procedures and the availability of funds.

  Direct Flights
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which countries with which the United Kingdom has no diplomatic relations there are direct flights from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  The following are the states recognised by Her Majesty's Government, but with which we do not currently have diplomatic relations:

  Bhutan

  Iraq

  Korea (North)

  Libya

  There are no direct flights from the United Kingdom to any of these.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to restore diplomatic relations with Taiwan; when direct flights from the United Kingdom to Taiwan were resumed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have no plans to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan. EVA Airways and British Asia Airways commenced services from the United Kingdom to Taiwan in March 1993.

  We welcome the increasing development of business links and tourism with Taiwan.
  200

  Airline Regulations
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which airline regulations relate to air passengers being handcuffed or bound by arm or leg restraints or a body belt during takeoff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 21 January 1994]: The only aviation legislation relating to the restraint of passengers is section 94 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 which authorises the commander of an aircraft in flight to take reasonable measures, including bodily restraint, against someone who jeopardises the safety or good order of the aircraft.

  National Air Traffic Control System
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to study the options for the privatisation of the national air traffic control system; and what is his timetable for the study.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: A working group of officials from my Department, the Ministry of Defence, the Treasury and the Civil Aviation Authority are examining the options for transferring national air traffic services to the private sector. They are looking at the operational, legal, financial and other implications of the options and expect to report to Ministers at the end of February.

  British Merchant Fleet
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vessels there were in the British merchant fleet in 1964, 1970, and each year since 1980; and what was the total gross registered tonnage of the British fleet in each year.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: The table gives the information available for merchant—trading—vessels of 100 grt or above.

  Merchant (trading) vessels on registers of United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man

  100 grt or more

  Mid-year

  Number of vessels

  Gross registered tons (thousand)

  1964

  n/a

  21,900

  1970

  n/a

  24,896

  1980

  1,698

  26,070

  1981

  1,552

  24,417

  1982

  1,422

  21,447

  1983

  1,260

  18,148

  1984

  1,151

  14,860

  1985

  1,074

  13,339

  1986

  961

  10,572

  1987

  846

  7,490

  1988

  801

  7,211

  1989

  688

  6,413

  1990

  638

  5,564

  1991

  610

  5,266

  1992

  566

  4,916

  1993

  494

  4,804

  Source: Lloyd's register.

  Transport Safety
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all organisations to which his Department sent, and from which it has
  201
  received responses regarding the consultation paper on new safety regulations for small passenger ships, together with the addresses of each such organisation.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: My Department issued over 1,000 copies of the consultation paper to shipowners associations, ship builders, ship repairers, classification societies and individuals. We received 128 responses from organisations and 11 responses from individuals. It is not our practice to identify those organisations or individuals who respond to consultation exercises.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all organisations to which his Department sent, and from which it has received responses regarding the consultation paper on options for the future of ship survey and certification work, together with the addresses of each such organisation.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: My Department issued 233 copies of the consultation paper to employees' representatives, Members of Parliament and the House of Lords, shipowners, classification societies, consultants, insurers, equipment suppliers and individuals. We received 73 responses from organisations and seven responses from individuals. It is not our practice to identify those organisations or individuals who respond to consultation exercises.

  Merchant Shipping Act 1993
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all organisations to whom his Department sent, and from whom it has received responses, regarding the consultation letter on draft regulations pertaining to the Merchant Shipping Act 1993, together with the addresses of each such organisation.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: My Department issued over 200 copies of the consultation papers to trade associations, trading companies, trade unions, academic institutions and central and local government departments, and we received 34 responses —11 from trade associations, 13 from trading companies, one from trade unions, two from academic institutions and seven from central and local government departments. It is not our practice to identify those organisations or individuals who respond to consultation exercises.
  202

  Transport Schemes
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish a full list of all schemes announced by his Department as having potential for funding by private finance which are still considered as having potential but which have yet to begin, together with the date on which his Department first announced that it would be inviting expressions of interest from the private sector for each potential scheme;

  (2) if he will publish a full list of all schemes announced by his Department as having potential for funding by private finance which are not now to be undertaken, together with the date on which his Department first announced that it would be inviting expressions of interest from the private sector for each potential scheme;

  (3) if he will publish a full list of all schemes announced by his Department as having potential for funding by private finance which have begun but have yet to be completed, together with the date on which his Department first announced that it would be inviting expressions of interest from the private sector for each potential scheme;

  (4) if he will publish a full list of all schemes announced by his Department as having potential for funding through public-private joint finance which are still considered as having potential but which have yet to begin, together with the date on which his Department first announced that it would be inviting expressions of interest from the private sector for each potential scheme.

  (5) if he will publish a full list of all schemes announced by his Department as having potential for funding through public-private joint finance which have begun, but have yet to be completed, together with the date on which his Department first announced that it would be inviting expressions of interest from the private sector for each potential scheme;

  (6) if he will publish a full list of all schemes announced by his department as having potential for funding through public-private joint finance which are not now to be undertaken, together with the date on which his Department first announced that it would be inviting expressions of interest from the private sector for each potential scheme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: The information is as follows:

  Dates are given for the invitation of expressions of interest from the private sector for each scheme:

  203

  (a) Public/private joint finance schemes

  (b) Private finance schemes

  I. Begun but not yet completed

  1. Jubilee line extension, announcement 26 July 1989, that it would proceed if developers' contribution forthcoming. Now being constructed.

  1. Second Severn crossing—28 July 1988. Being constructed.

  2. Heathrow Express agreement between parties—16 March 1993. Being constructed.

  2. Birmingham northern relief road—22 May 1989. Going to public inquiry.

  3. Ashford international passenger station—22 March 1993. Construction soon to begin.

  II Yet to begin

  3. Channel tunnel rail link—16 March 1993

  4. New Scottish air traffic control centre—30 November 1993.

  4. Crossrail—16 March 1993.

  5. Modernisation of WCMI—30 November 1993.

  5. Birmingham western orbital route—12 November 1992.

  6. New Tamar crossing—4 April 1990.

  6. Croydon tramlink, London Transport announced private sector interest—25 November 1991.

  7. Lower Thames crossing—4 April 1990.

  8. Mersey crossing—4 April 1990.

  9. A1-M1 Scratchwood link—4 April 1990.1

  10. Chelmsford-M25 link—4 April 1990.1

  11. Rayleigh-M25—4 April 1990.1

  III. Not now to be undertaken

  None.

  12. New motorway in Birmingham-Manchester corridor —22 May 1989.

  1 Subject to decisions on road programme review.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Landmines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what controls currently exist on the export of landmines and their designs from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Needham
  Export from the United Kingdom of landmines and their designs is prohibited without a licence issued under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992. Landmines are controlled under head ML 4 of the order; technology—which includes engineering designs—for their production is controlledf under head ML 18, and that for their development or use is controlled under head PL 5027. Equipment for their development is controlled under head PL 5017, and software for their development, production or use is controlled under head ML 24. Any application for an export licence under these headings is subject to stringent checks.

  EC Feasibility Awards
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total budget of the European Community's BRITE/EURAM feasibility awards in each year since their establishment; and what proportion of this was granted to(a) the northern region and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The European Community's budget for BRITE-EURAM feasibility awards since its establishment were:
  204

  Year

  Ecu

  (£)

  1989

  1,500,000

  (1,110,000)

  1990

  1,925,000

  (1,424,500)

  1991–94

  5,631,109

  (4,167,020)

  (a) Feasibility awards are not analysed by region so figures are not available.

  (b) (b) The United Kingdom as a whole won the following proportion of feasibility awards:

  Year

  Per cent.

  1989

  30

  1990

  17

  1991–94

  12

  Feasibility awards represent only 1 per cent. of the total BRITE-EURAM budget.

  Chemical Weapons Convention
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer of 11 January 1994,Official Report, column 175, by the Minister for Industry, what preparations his Department has carried out for the implementation of the chemical weapons convention in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department of Trade and Industry is preparing for the establishment of a national authority, to oversee the implementation of the chemical weapons convention in the United Kingdom. The national authority will be located within the DTI. The DTI is in the process of drawing up detailed arrangements for the operation of the chemical weapons convention in the United Kingdom.
  205

  Durham Coalfield
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the projected total annual cost for each year from 1994 to 2000 of the Durham coalfield inland pumping stations.

  Mr. Eggar
  The costs of future pumping operations at these locations will depend on the use to which the land is put, the legal obligations of the owners, and any relevant decisions or policy of environmental regulatory bodies, in particular the National Rivers Authority.

  Collieries (Pumping)
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the projected annual costs of pumping arrangements for each year from 1994 to 2000 for the Westoe and Wearmouth collieries.

  Mr. Eggar
  The costs of future pumping operations at these will depend on the use to which the land is put, the legal obligations of the owners, and any relevant decisions or policy of environmental regulatory bodies, in particular the National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will publish a breakdown of the annual cost of pumping arrangements for each year from 1990 for the Westoe and Wearmouth collieries;

  (2) what were the total annual costs for each year since 1985 of the Durham coalfield inland pumping stations.

  Mr. Eggar
  These are matters for British Coal.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to each of the regional industrial development boards.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The following is the information:

  North East Industrial Development Board

  Chairman

  Mr. R. F. Bishop CBE

  Members

  Mr. E. Bostwick

  Mr. I. R. Dewhirst

  Mr. C. J. Fleetwood

  Miss S. Guy

  Dr. R. Iley CBE

  Mr. D. R. C. Kelly CBE

  Mr. M. F. Leonard

  Mr. R. A. N. McKechnie MBE

  Sir Paul Nicholson

  Mr. P. Vassallo

  Miss S. Wilson

  North West Industrial Development Board

  Chairman

  Mr. D. L. Davies

  Members

  Mr. J. B. Ashworth MBE

  Mr. E. J. Billington

  Mrs. C. Coates

  Mr. G. N. Elliott CBE

  Mr. E. P. Foden CBE

  Mr. R. G. Ffoulkes-Jones

  Mr. A. Manning

  Mr. A. C. Pilkington

  Mr. A. K. Ruia

  Mr. I. C. Sellars

  Mr. D. Weir

  206

  South West Industrial Development Board

  Chairman

  Mr. R. J. Harris CBE

  Members

  Mr. J. I. Dodds

  Mr. N. C. H. Falls

  Mr. P. G. Fitzgerald OBE

  MR. P. W. Gregory

  MR. D. R. Hancock

  MR. M. J. Jordan

  Mr. A. Loze

  Mr. V. P. Parsons MBE

  Dr. G. S. Stirling

  West Midlands Industrial Development Board

  Chairman

  Mr. R. J. Dickens

  Members

  Mr. B. W. Baker

  Mr. K. D. Day

  Mr. S. A. S. Eccleston

  Mr. G. J. Green

  Mr. R. G. Hodgson, CBE

  Mr. T. S. Kelleher

  Mr. J. H. Millett

  Mr. M. J. Price, CBE

  Dr. A. J. Scanlon

  Mr. B. M. Sedghi

  Mr. M. W. Taylor, OBE

  Yorkshire and Humberside and East Midlands Industrial Development Board

  Chairman

  Mr. P. W. Barker, CBE

  Members

  Mr. J. Clarke

  Mr. J. R. Corrin

  Mr. E. A. K. Denison, OBE TD

  Mr. P. Flesher

  Mr. R. S. Lasseter

  Mr. N. H. W. Lee

  Mr. P. A. Lowe

  Mr. W. McCosh

  Mr. B. Ruffell-Ward

  Mr. A. B. Wilbraham, CBE

  Mr. D. K. Wilkinson

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property comprises representatives of business, consumers and the professions. Membership of the committee, whose terms of reference are"to advise on industrial property matters",
  consists of organisations rather than individuals.

  The following organisations are members: the Law Society; the Law Society of Scotland; the Bar Council; the Institute of Patentees and Inventors; the Trade Marks, Patents and Designs Federation; the Confederation of British Industry; the British Retail Consortium; the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers; the Chartered Society of Designers; the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents; the Institute of Trade Mark Agents; the Association of British Chambers of Commerce; the Consumers Association; the National Consumer Council; the Licensing Executives Society of Great Britain and Ireland; academic—university departments specialising in industrial property law, currently represented by university of London, Queen Mary and Westfield college; small firms —Federation of Small Businesses.
  207
  The choice of representative(s) at meetings is a matter for the organisation concerned, and varies according to the subject to be discussed.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Design Council.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Current membership of the Design Council is as follows:

  John Sorrell (Chairman)

  Helen Auty

  Duncan Biggin

  Robert Bischof

  Mary Bromley OBE

  John James

  James Kincade CBE

  Michael Ryall

  Anthony Snow

  Barry Weaver

  Ivan Yates CBE

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Information Technology Advisory Board.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The current membership of the Information Technology Advisory Board is as follows:

  Name

  Position

  Professor Michael Brady (Chairman)

  Department of Engineering Science, Oxford University

  Professor Malcolm Atkinson

  Department of Computer Science, University of Glasgow

  Dr. Keith Baughan

  Nokia Mobile Phones

  Professor Michael Cardwell

  Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics Aston University

  Professor Michael Denham

  Department of Computing, University of Plymouth

  Professor William Eccleston

  Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Liverpool University

  Mr. Geoff Hayes

  Head of Computer Security TSB Bank plc

  Professor Ronald Perrott

  School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Belfast

  Professor John O'Reilly

  University College of North Wales

  Dr. Ian Robertson

  Electronics and Informal ion, Technology Division British Technology Group Ltd.

  Dr. John Taylor

  Executive Director Hewlett Packard Laboratories

  Mr. Martyn Thomas

  Chairman Praxis plc

  Ms Jane Tozer

  Chief Executive Softwright

  Mr. Anthony Ward

  Head of ITSU British Aerospace

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Aviation Committee.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The current membership of the Aviation Committee is as follows:

  Chairman

  Professor J. L. Stollery

  College of Aeronautics

  208

  Cranfield Institute of Technology.

  Members

  N. V. Barber, Esq

  Chairman

  Aerospace and Defence Group

  Smiths Industries plc

  R. H. L. Clark, Esq

  Managing Director

  Flight Refuelling Ltd.

  A. C. D. Cumming, Esq

  Engineering Director

  British Airways plc

  C. C. Gustar

  Managing Director

  Westland Aerospace Ltd.

  D. L. Bernstein, Esq

  Joint Managing Director

  Monarch Airlines

  K. H. Coates, Esq

  Executive Chairman

  Meggitt plc

  L. A. Edwards, Esq

  Chief Executive, Dowty

  T. I. Group plc

  Professor K. Hayward

  Senior Course Tutor

  School of Social Sciences

  Staffordshire University

  Mr. L. Lynn

  Vice President

  Airlines and Aerospace Department

  Citibank, NA.

  J. E. V. Rose, Esq

  Director—Corporate Development

  Rolls-Royce plc

  F. Turner, Esq

  Managing Director

  Lucas Aerospace Ltd.

  R. W. R. McNulty, Esq

  President

  Short Brothers plc

  B. S. G. Tucker, Esq

  Director of Programmes

  GEC-Marconi Avionics plc

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Domestic Coal Consumers Council.

  Mr. Eggar
  The members of the Domestic Coal Consumers Council as at 21 January 1994 are:

  Mrs. Ann Scully (Chairman)

  Mr. Douglas G. Barrett, MBE

  Dr. Peter Clarke

  Professor Ralph T. Hart

  Mr. Noel Hunter

  Mrs. Juliet Jowitt, JP

  Mr. Brian G. Luker

  Mr. Donald J. Mockett

  Mrs. Nuala P. O'Loan

  Mrs. Winifred Parry, MBE

  Ms Rosemarie A. Pell, JP

  Mr. Lawrence I. Speare

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the British Overseas Trade Board.

  Mr. Needham
  The current members of the British Overseas Trade Board are:

  Sir Derek Hornby—Chairman

  HRH The Duke of Kent KG—Vice Chairman

  Sir Hugh Bidwell GBE—Chairman—British Invisibles

  G. J. Bull—Chief Executive Grant Metropolitan plc

  R. S. Burman CBE DL—Chairman and Managing Director—Teledictor Ltd.

  Sir Colin Chandler—Chief Executive—Vickers plc

  Sir Alan Cockshaw—Chairman AMEC plc

  209

  Mrs. H. M. Cropper—Chief Executive—F. I. Group plc

  I. L. Dave OBE—Chairman Dale Electric International plc

  H. J. Davies—Director General Confederation of British Industry

  Ms J. Hall—Chairman and Chief Executive—Coley Porter Bell

  Dr. A. Hayes CBE—Director (retired) ICI plc

  D. Lanigan CBE—Non-Executive Director—Marks and Spencer plc

  F. R. Mingay CMG—Director General Export Promotion, Department of Trade and Industry

  H. B. G. Montgomery—Chairman—Andy Montgomery Ltd.

  The Right Hon. Sir Michael Palliser GCMG PC—Deputy Chairman—Samuel Montague and Co. Ltd.

  D. Peake—Chairman—Kleinworth Benson Ltd.

  C. W. Roberts CB—Deputy Secretary—Department of Trade and Industry

  B. D. Taylor CBE—Executive Chairman—Medeva plc

  D. J. Wright CMG LVO—Deputy Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  W. B. Willott—Chief Executive—Export Credit Guarantee Department

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Industrial Development Advisory Board.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The following is the information:

  Chairman

  Sir Anthony Cleaver

  Members

  Mr. M. R. Bates

  Mr. P. Benton

  Mr. M. P. D. Bullock

  Mr. C. N. Davies

  Sir David Hardy

  Mr. J. Hewitt

  Mr. G. Mackenzie

  Mr. M. Taylor

  Mr. L. J. Weaver CBE

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Gas Consumers Council.

  Mr. Eggar
  The members and regional councillors of the Gas Consumers Council as at 21 January 1994 are:

  Mr. Samuel J. Cooper (Chairman)

  Mr. Graham E. Andrews (Regional Councillor)

  Mrs. Catherine Blight (Member)

  Mr. David T. Bowers (Regional Councillor)

  Mr. John. K. M. Gilbert (Regional Councillor)

  Professor Gerald J. Goodhardt MA (Regional Councillor)

  Mr. John K. Hosker (Member)

  Mrs. J. M. Lang (Regional Councillor)

  Mr. Stephen Macey BA (Member)

  Mrs. S. P. Matthews BSC (Regional Councillor)

  Mrs. Eileen G. Polgreen (Member)

  Mr. Alan P. Preece (Regional Councillor)

  Mr. Nicholas A. Ridley (Member)

  Professor (Arthur) John Surrey (Member)

  Mrs. Ruth K. Thorley (Regional Councillor)

  Mrs. Wendy Witter (Regional Councillor and Deputy Chairman)

  Mrs. Patricia Wynne OBE (Regional Councillor)

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Copyright Tribunal.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The current members of the Copyright Tribunal are as follows:

  Chairman

  Mr. Michael Bowers OBE

  Deputy Chairmen

  Mr. Brian Gill QC PHD

  Mr. Hugh Laddie QC

  Ordinary Members

  210

  Mr. Hugh Brett

  Mr. Paddy Cribb

  Mr. Laurie Farrington

  Mrs. Angela Howorth

  Sir Michael Lickiss

  Mr. Arthur Rayner

  Mr. Peter Sebastian CBE

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Innovation Advisory Board.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Innovation Advisory Board, as then constituted was wound up in September 1993. At that time the external members of the IAB were:

  Chairman

  Lord Chilver

  Chairman

  EEC Group plc

  Dr. Stuart Burgess

  Consultant

  Immuno International AG

  Mr. Richard Duggan

  Chairman

  Crosfield Chemicals

  Dr. Ken W. Grey

  Executive Chairman

  Thorn Software

  Mr. Len Weaver

  Chairman

  Jones and Shipman

  Sir David Cooksey

  Chairman

  Advent Ltd.

  Mr. Richard Freeman

  Corporate Chief Economist

  ICI Group

  Mr. Michael Henderson

  Chief Executive

  Ronar Services Ltd.

  Dr. Peter Williams

  Chief Executive

  Oxford Instruments

  Since its inception in 1988 the IAB had a widely acknowledged reputation as a strong and effective champion of innovation and a very valuable source of advice to DTI. However, taking account of the publication of the science, engineering and technology White Paper, "Realising our Potential" in May 1993, the advisory structures being established by the Office of Science and Technology and the steps DTI is taking to develop closer links with business my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade agreed with the Lord Chilver and members of the IAB that the role of the board should be reviewed.

  No decision has been taken on the structure of any successor arrangements.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the English Industrial Estates Corporation.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The current members of the English Industrial Estates Corporation are as follows:

  Sir Idris Pearce CBE TD—Chairman

  Sir Kenneth Stowe GCB CVO—Deputy Chairman

  Mr. Reay Atkinson CB

  Mr. Euan Macfarlane CBE

  Mr. Ron Norman OBE

  Mr. Tony Pender CBE—Chief Executive

  Sir Norman Wakefield

  211

  Consultancies
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the organisations to which his Department awarded consultancy work in 1992 and 1993 together with a list of the consultancies concerned and the amount paid.

  Mr. Eggar
  The consultancy contracts awarded centrally by the Department of Trade and Industry to all organisations in 1992 and 1993 plus the total value of those contracts are as detailed in the tables. The values of individual contracts are commercially confidential.

  Organisations to which consultancy contracts were issued in 1992

  Name of company

  ABB Global Engineering

  AD Technologies

  AEA Industrial Technology

  Aegis Systems Ltd.

  Agniconsult

  Amp Computer Recruitment Ltd.

  Amp Systems Ltd.

  Amps Limited

  Andrew Irving Associates

  Annabel Jackson Associates

  Anshar Limited

  Apertus

  APM Ltd.

  Appleton Associates Int.

  Applied Electromagnetics Limited

  Aspen Business Communications plc

  Association of British Chambers of Commerce

  Association of Print and Packaging

  Barton Marketing Services

  Beechcroft Commercial Systems

  Benchmark Research Limited

  Beta Technology Ltd.

  BHR Group Limited

  BIS Applied Systems

  BIS Information Services Ltd.

  BJM Research

  John T. Boyd Company

  Bradford University

  Brameur Ltd.

  Brantwood Consulting

  Bristol University

  British Aerospace Space Ltd.

  British Materials Handling BOA

  British Technology Group

  British Textile Technology Group

  Brook Street

  Building Services Research

  Burrups Limited

  Business Market and Research plc

  Business IT Solutions

  Business Management Promotions Ltd.

  Buxton Douglass Ltd.

  CAD-CAM Data Exchange

  Technical Centre (CADDETC)

  Cambashi Ltd.

  Cambridge Consultants Ltd.

  Cambridge Material Corrosion

  CAMINUS

  Capita Group plc

  Centre for Adhesive Technology

  Charles Barker Ltd.

  Cheshire Precision Shape Ltd.

  Chesterton Consulting Group

  Chris Makemson Consultants Ltd.

  Clearaway International Holdings Ltd.

  CMG Information Service Public Sector

  Commonwealth Development Corporation

  Compupro Limited

  Computer Consultants

  Computer Training and Education Centre (CTEC)

  Concorde Services Ltd.

  Concurrant Computer Corporation Ltd.

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Corinne Flemming Associates

  Cornwall County Council

  212

  Corporate Strategy Consultants

  Cranfield School of Management

  Croft Communication Consultants

  CSC Computer Science Ltd.

  CSS Software Solutions Ltd.

  Dataflex Service Ltd.

  Dataquest Ltd.

  David Perchard Associates

  Defence Research Agency

  Digital Equipment Company Ltd.

  DISC

  DRM Group Ltd.

  DP Support Services Ltd.

  DPP International Ltd.

  Energy Technology Support Unit

  Environmental Resourse Ltd.

  ERA Technology Ltd.

  Ernst and Young

  Essex University

  ETSU

  Evisa Systems

  Export Industries

  FI Group plc

  Findlay Publications

  FI Tech Inc.

  Forbes Partnership Ltd.

  Forman Computer Staff Ltd.

  Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd.

  Geoff Fordham Associates

  Glamorgan University

  Gordon Kirk Ltd.

  Halper and Woolfe

  Henley Computer Services Ltd.

  Hertis Information Research

  Hoskyns Group plc

  Ibis Information Services Ltd.

  ICL

  ICM Marketing Ltd.

  IFS Ltd.

  IFT Market Research

  Infologistix Ltd.

  Ingres Ltd.

  Innovation Research

  Interdisciplinary Research Centre University of Cambridge

  Intermatrix

  ISVR Consultancy Services

  IT World

  John Matchett Ltd.

  Keele University

  Kennedy and Donkin Power Ltd.

  Kent Technology Transfer Centre

  Kermon Ltd.

  Key Punch Girls Agency Ltd.

  Kings College London

  Kleinworth Benson

  KPG Computer Support Services Ltd.

  KPMG Management Consultants

  L. J. Associates

  Les Probert Associates

  Lesley and Page Services Ltd.

  Level 7

  Linguacubun Ltd.

  Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Ltd.

  Logica CES Ltd.

  London Business School

  London Regional Technology Centre

  London School of Economics and Political Science

  London School of Economics (OMIT)

  Lorien Computer Services

  Malcolm Associates Ltd.

  Manchester Design Technology

  Manchester University

  Manpower plc

  MAPP Computer Facilities Ltd.

  March Consulting Group

  March Systems

  Marchland Consulting Ltd.

  Marine Technology Directorate

  Marine Technology Support Unit

  Market Research Network

  213

  Market Improvements Group plc

  MBM Consulting Ltd.

  MDS Transmodal

  Meeting Deadlines Ltd.

  Metal Research Semi Conductors

  Metocean plc

  Metra Martech

  Michael Barrat Ltd.

  Michael Neale and Associates Ltd.

  Michael Shortlands Associates

  Microtron Systems Ltd.

  Microwave and Antenna Systems

  Microwave Consultants Ltd.

  Mike Griffith Asociates

  Millennium

  MITI Consulting Ltd.

  MMT Computing plc

  Morgan Clements Ltd.

  Multiple Access Communications Ltd.

  National Institute of Economic and Social Research

  National Physical Laboratory (OMIT)

  National Transcommunication

  Nesco

  Neville Way (Omit)

  Neville Russell

  Northern Development Company

  Norton Motors

  Nottingham University

  ODI Ltd.

  Optimat Ltd.

  Orsand Ltd.

  Oxford Innovation Ltd.

  P-Four Consulting Ltd.

  PA Cambridge Economic Consultants

  PA Consulting Group

  Palmlace Ltd.

  Parter International Inc.

  Paul A. Hill and Co

  Pera International

  Petroleum Science and Technology Institute

  Pieda Plc

  Pims Associates

  Pira International

  Polytechnic of Wales

  PPS Management Consultancy

  Praxis Systems plc

  Prest Manchester University

  Price Project Service Ltd.

  Price Waterhouse

  Private Service Corporation

  Pro Laser

  Profitstart

  Proned

  Purchasepoint

  P-E Batelas

  P-E International

  QLM Associations Imc

  Quality Projects

  Quantex Consultancy

  Queen Mary and Westfield College

  Quotec

  Ralph H. Pickering and Associates

  Reed Posen Consultants Ltd.

  Repim Ltd.

  Ricardo Consulting Engineers

  Ricardo Hitec Ltd.

  Rolls Royce

  RPS Group plc

  RTR Management Consulting Ltd.

  Russell House Associates

  Rutherford Appleton Lab

  Salford University

  Saxton Bampfylde International plc

  SBS Ltd.

  Scientific Generics

  Sciotech

  Segal Quince Wicksteed Ltd.

  Select Training and Consultancy

  Sia-Langton

  Simplicity Computer and Network Ltd.

  214

  Sir Michael Kerry (Omit)

  Sira Limited

  Smiths Associates Ltd.

  Social Survey Gallup Poll

  Solent Regional Technology Centre

  South Eastern Regional Research Lab.

  Southampton University

  SRI International Europe

  SRU Ltd.

  Steer Davies and Gleave Ltd.

  Strategem Ltd.

  Strategic Sponsorship Ltd.

  Strategic Vision

  Stategy Group

  Strathclyde University

  Structural and Relational Systems Ltd.

  Sue Beardon Consultancy

  Survey Research Associates Ltd.

  Systec Consultants Ltd.

  Tamesis Partnership

  Taskforce Group plc

  Taylor Woodrow

  Taylor-Stewart Associates

  Technology Partnerships Ltd.

  Technopolis Ltd.

  Teknowledge

  Templetrend Ltd.

  Text Matters

  Thames Valley Technology Centre

  The Beacon Group

  The Management Consulting Group

  The UK Science Park Association

  The Welding Institute

  Tillinghast

  Tilly International Ltd.

  Total EC Computing

  Touche Ross and Co.

  Transcend Technology Ltd.

  Transslimina Ltd.

  Trellick Ltd.

  Trends Business Research

  Tyzack and Partners Ltd.

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

  Unived Technologies Ltd.

  University of Bradford

  University of Hull

  University of Kent

  University of London

  University of Oxford

  University of Surrey

  University of Wales

  University of York

  Urbed Development

  Vector Fields Ltd.

  Warwick Business School

  Worthy Associates

  WRC plc

  York Consulting Ltd.

  Zoom Production Company

  Total value of these contracts is £36,423,000.

  Organisations to which consultancy contracts were issued in 1993

  Name of Company

  Abacus Communications

  Acer Consultants Limited

  AEA Industrial Technology

  Aegis Systems Ltd.

  Agapiou

  Alpha Numeric

  Amp Systems Limited

  Andrea Foote and Associates

  Anshar Limited

  Apertus Limited

  Arkay Associates

  Aspen Business Communications plc

  Axsis Consultants Limited

  Barclays De Zoete Wedd Limited

  Barlow Lyde & Gilbert

  Beddows and Company

  Benchmark Research Limited

  215

  Berring Hine Management Consultants

  Bolton Institute of Higher Education

  Booz Allen and Hamilton International (UK) Limited

  Bournemouth University

  Bradtec Limited

  Brameur Limited

  Brantwood Consulting

  Bristol University

  British Market Research Bureau

  Brook Street Bureau

  BSRIA

  Burrups Limited

  Business and Trade Statistics

  Business Call Direct (Europe) Limited

  Business Design Group Limited

  Caci Limited

  Cambridge University

  Campaign Warfare

  Capita Group plc

  Careers Research and Advisory Centre Limited

  CCD Limited

  Centre for Adhesive Technology (CAT)

  Children's Research Unit

  Chris Makeson Consultants

  Clemdale Associates

  Commercial Union Risk Management Limited

  Commodities Research Unit Limited

  Company Reporting Limited

  Computer 2000

  Consensus Research International

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Coptic Films Limited

  Cornwall County Council

  Corporate Strategy Consultants

  Countrywide Communications Management

  County Natwest Limited

  CPL Scientific Limited

  Cranfield Institute of Technology

  Crown Business Communications

  David Forsythe Associates Limited

  David Perchard Associates

  David Reay and Associates

  Design Council Midlands Office

  Disc

  DMR Group Limited

  DP Support Services Limited

  Durham University Business School

  Ecotec Research and Consulting Limited

  Entech Energy Consultants Limited

  Era Technology Limited

  Ernst and Young

  Ethos Management Limited

  European Industrial Forecasting Limited

  Eurostrategy Consultants Limited

  Findlay Publications

  Focus North West Limited

  Forbes Partnership Limited

  Go-Sat International

  Grosvenor Consultancy Services

  Halpern and Woolf

  Henley Computer Services

  Heriot Watt University

  Hertis Information and Research

  HMS Personnel Services

  Hull University

  Ice Ergonomics

  ICL

  IFS Limited

  Imperial College London

  Information Research Network

  Institute of Occupational Ergonomics

  Institute of Exports

  Intac Associates

  Intermatrix Limited

  International Training Service Limited

  IT Services (Group C)

  IT World

  J. H. Fenner and Co. Limited

  John T. Boyd Company

  Kermon Limited

  216

  Korea Business Services

  KPMG Management Consultants

  L. and J. Associates Limited

  Lamb Associates

  Les Probed Associates

  Level-7 Limited

  Logica-Ces Limited

  Mai Engineering Limited

  Management Consulting Group

  Manpower UK Limited

  March Consulting Group

  Maygrove Consulting Group Limited

  McAlpine Thorpe & Warder Limited

  MDS Transmodal

  Mediascene Limited

  Medical Research Council

  Meeting Deadlines Limited

  Merz and McLellan

  Metal Bulletin plc

  Metra Martech Limited

  Michael Shortland Associates

  MMM Consultancy Group Limited

  Morgan Clements Limited

  Morgan Harris Burroughs

  MORI

  National Society for Epilepsy

  Neville Russell

  Nottingham Polytechnic

  OHS Limited

  Optimat Limited

  PA Cambridge Economic Consultants Limited

  PA Consulting Group

  Pannell Kerr Forster Associates

  Pera International

  Perfect Recall Limited

  Peritas Learning Systems

  Personnel Training Services (PTS)

  Peter Saunders Associates

  PFA Limited

  Phillips Export Training Services

  Porter Burrows Design Limited

  PREST

  Price Waterhouse

  Prof-It-Strat Limited

  Protus Limited

  Purchasing and Supply Consultants

  Putnam Hayes and Bartlett Limited

  P-E International Management Consultants

  P-E International plc—Computer Services

  P-Four Consultancy Limited

  Quarto Consulting International

  Quotient Communications

  Quo-Tec Limited

  Radix Consultancy Limited

  Reynolds and Associates Limited

  Robert Fleming & Company Limited

  RPS Group plc

  Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

  Salford University Business Services Limited

  Sambrook Research International

  Saxton Bampfylde International plc

  Schofield Maguire

  Scientific Generics

  Scott Barrett

  SD Scicon

  Secure Information Systems Limited

  Segal Quince Wicksteed Limited

  Sensitive Systems Limited

  Sepsu The Royal Society

  Seguelogic Limited

  Service Limited

  Shreeveport Limited

  SIA Limited

  Simon Petroleum Technology

  Small World Connections Limited

  Smith Rea Energy Associates Limited

  Smith System Engineering Limited

  Solid Solutions Associates

  Sound Sense Training

  South West Productivity

  217

  SRU Limited

  Stareblaze Limited

  Steve Roberts Limited

  Stoker Associates Limited

  Stoy Hayward Consulting

  Sudbury Consultants Limited

  Sussex University

  Teknowledge Limited

  Text Matters

  Thames Valley Technology

  The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

  The Consultancy Corporation Limited

  The Corporate Intelligence Group Limited

  The Mail Marketing Company

  The Outhouse Marketing Company

  Thomas Howell Group

  Touche Ross & Co.

  TQM International Limited

  Transport Study Group—University College

  UK Cals Industry Council

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

  United Technologies Limited

  University of Bradford

  University of Kent

  University of Edinburgh

  University of Keele

  University of Westminster

  Uni-Tech Limited

  Urbecon

  Verity Inc.

  Wardell Armstrong

  Warwick Business School

  West Wales Software

  World Wide Pictures Limited

  WS Atkins Consultants Limited

  X/Open

  Total Value of these contracts is £29,323,000.

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 646, how many Christmas cards were sent at public expense in 1993 by his Department's Ministers; and how much this cost.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Minister for Trade sent out some 500 cards. They cost £385·14.

  Cyprus (Oil Sales)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the monthly sale of oil from United Kingdom registered companies to Cyprus in each month since July 1992.

  Mr. Eggar
  Monthly exports of oil by the United Kingdom to Cyprus since July 1992 are as follows:

  Value of United Kingdom oil1 export to Cyprus

  £ thousand

  1992

  July

  202

  August

  116

  September

  131

  October

  187

  November

  107

  December

  89

  Total

  832

  1993

  January

  96

  February

  199

  March

  118

  April

  182

  218

  £ thousand

  May

  171

  June

  74

  July

  187

  August

  184

  September

  142

  October

  167

  November

  139

  Total

  1,660

  Overall Total

  2,492

  1 Petroleum, petroleum products, and related materials; ie. Division 33 of the Standard International Trade Classification.

  Source: HM Customs and Excise.

  The figures relate to all United Kingdom exports of oil to Cyprus. Statistics relating specifically to United Kingdom registered companies are not available.

  Severance Schemes
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of the severance schemes available to employees which were in operation immediately prior to the privatisation of the Thames Water Authority, including details of facilities to make early payment of pensions to staff under such schemes.

  Mr. Eggar
  This subject is a matter for the boards of the respective utilities companies. I have passed on this request to the chairmen of British Gas and British Telecommunications and to the president of the Electricity Association.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which special advisers in his Department are seconded from other organisations; and what are the organisations and the lengths and terms of the secondments.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are two special advisers and one chief economic adviser with the status of special adviser in the Department. None is seconded from other organisations.

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names and positions held of the members of the contact group which will be assisting the steering group on fire safety matters.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Membership of the contact group assisting the steering group for the review of fire safety at present comprises:

  Mr. Stewart Kidd

  Director, Fire Prevention Association.

  Mr. David Smith

  President, Institute of Building Control.

  Mr. William Yates

  Manager (Fire and Security) Shell UK Ltd.

  Mr. Alfred Thompson

  Chief Officer, Durham Fire Brigade

  Mr. Richard Saxon

  Partner, Building Design Partnership

  I intend to add a representative of the hotel industry to the contact group shortly.
  219

  Mining Subsidence
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive British Coal's fifth report on the administration of the coal mining subsidence damage repair and compensation scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have now received this report from British Coal and have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.

  Manufactured Food Products (Export)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value, for the most recent 12-month period available, of exports of manufactured food products to(a) Russia, (b) Hungary and (c) Czechoslovakia; and what are the corresponding figures over each of the previous three years.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: Trade statistics have been available for Russia only since

  1989 £'000s

  1990 £'000s

  1991 £'000s

  1992 £'000s

  Soviet Union

  148,503

  155,089

  20,139

  97,748

  Hungary

  540

  920

  1,269

  2,079

  Czechoslovakia

  794

  1,191

  2,035

  2,822

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to announce those areas designated under objective 2 and objective 5(b); and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 16 December 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 18 January, Official Report, column 517.

  Steel
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the meetings which he has held with British steel producers to discuss the December 1993 EC agreement on surplus capacity in the steel industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: I and my officials maintained close contact with the industry both before and during the 17 December Industry Council. Officials briefed the British Iron and Steel Producers Association on the outcome before Christmas, and I have since written to the chairman of British Steel.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement on the procedures established by his Department in order to monitor the implementation of the December 1993 EC agreement on steel capacity;

  (2) if he will make a statement on current progress towards the implementation of the December 1993 EC agreement on surplus capacity in the steel industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answers 24 January 1994]: On 17 December, the Industry Council gave its assent to proposals under article 95 ECSC to allow state aid towards the costs of restructuring six steel companies in four member states.
  220
  the beginning of 1993. Since the beginning of last year, separate figures have been published on the Czech and Slovak Republics to reflect the break-up of Czechoslovakia.

  The value of exports of manufactured food products —classifications 01–09 of the standard international trade classification, revision 3, which include cereals and cereal preparations—in the period from 1 January to 31 October 1993, were as follows:

  £ thousands

  Russia

  142,779

  Hungary

  2,657

  Czech Republic

  3,246

  Slovak Republic

  162

  The value of manufactured food exports to the former Soviet Union, Hungary and former Czechoslovakia for the three previous years are set out in the table:

  The monitoring of state aids approved under article 95 ECSC is primarily for the Commission, which will report to the Council; but DTI officials will maintain a watching brief on all six cases, including direct liaison with United Kingdom representatives in the relevant member states for news of their progress.

  Tours Direct
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps were taken by his Department to protect the public after Companies House struck Tours Direct off its register.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: This matter is for Companies House. I have, therefore, asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from David Durham to Mr. Nigel Griffiths, dated 24 January 1994:
  You tabled the following Parliamentary Question:
  "To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what steps were taken by this Department to protect the public after Companies House struck Tours Direct off their register".
  As this matter is my responsibility as Chief Executive and Registrar of Companies House, I am writing to you direct.
  Section 652 of the Companies Act 1985, provides me with authority to dissolve companies which I have reasonable cause to believe are no longer carrying on in business or in operation.
  In the case of Tours Direct Limited, correspondence received from accountants acting on behalf of the company, indicated that the company was no longer carrying on in business or in operation. Accordingly, formal inquiry letters were issued to the company at its registered office in accordance with the requirements of section 652(1) and 652(2) of the Companies Act 1985.
  A director of the company subsequently confirmed that the company was no longer in operation and a notice was published in the London Gazette on 29 June 1993, of my intention to strike the company off the register at the expiration of 3 months, unless cause was shown to the contrary. A copy of this notice was placed on the public file and sent to the company on the same date.

  221
  In the absence of any objections to this action being received, the company was struck off the register on 10 October 1993 and dissolved by notice in the London Gazette of 19 October 1993. To date, I have not received any complaints concerning the removal of the company name from the register.
  As to the matter of protection afforded to the public, section 653 of the Companies Act 1985 enables any creditor of a dissolved company to petition the Court to restore the name of the company to the register. Once restored, a company is deemed to have continued in existence as if its name had not been struck off. In addition, the Court may also give such directions and make such provisions as seem just for placing the company and all other persons in the same position, as nearly as may be, as if the company's name had not been struck off.
  I trust that I have interpreted the question which you have tabled correctly and that I have covered the points raised. Should you, however, require any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Perjury Act 1911 (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions there have been under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911 concerning fake declarations to the Registrar of Companies with regard to transactions covered by a company's articles of association; and who is responsible for initiating prosecutions.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: Our records are not kept in such a form that this information is readily available. No prosecutions have been brought by this Department in the last two years in the circumstances referred to in the question. Such prosecutions would normally be handled by this Department, but in some circumstances might be brought by other prosecuting authorities.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the objective of removing equal opportunities requirements from private contractors for government contracts.

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 20 January 1994,Official Report, column 776.

EMPLOYMENT

  Disabled Employees
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the disability organisations with which he has met to discuss the requirement upon employers to pay a contribution towards the purchase of special equipment and services for disabled employees enshrined in the access to work proposals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met representatives of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, MENCAP, the Spinal Injuries Association, RADAR and Deaf Accord to discuss several aspects of the new scheme access to work which he announced on 22 June 1993,Official Report, column 102.
  222
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement outlining how he intends to monitor the effectiveness of his Department's access to work proposals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A full evaluation of access to work will be carried out after its first full year of operation. The evaluation will consider the effectiveness of access to work in meeting its stated aims and will consider statistical information provided by placing assessment and counselling teams, as well as information provided through research.

  Sheltered Employment
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many responses were received to the consultative document on the sheltered employment funding system; how many were(a) totally in favour and (b) totally against; and how many gave specific reservations;

  (2) how many fully funded places in sheltered workshops have been available in each of the past five years; and what are the expected figures for the next two years;

  (3) what has been the level of training grants allocated to sheltered workshops in each of the past five years; and what is the expected level for each of the next two years.

  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 Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 25 January 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the responses received to the consultative document on the Sheltered Employment funding system, and the number of places available in and the level of training grants allocated to sheltered workshops.
  A number of changes to the current way in which we fund Sheltered Employment were proposed in a recent consultative document. The consultation on these proposals ended on 13 September 1993 and responses are still being considered. The 115 responses received were generally supportive, but none were totally in favour or totally against our proposals—we would not have expected this to be otherwise as the consultation process was intended to elicit comments. Implementation of changes will not take place, however, until we are satisfied that the interests of severely disabled people will be best served.
  The number of places we supported in local authority and voluntary body sheltered workshops over the last five years is:

  Number

  1989

  5,520

  1990

  5,476

  1991

  5,209

  1992

  5,060

  1993

  4,838

  Figures are for those supported on 31 March in each year and cover approved workers and trainees. Future plans are based on our supporting 4,900 workshop places in 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Sheltered workshops are only one part of the Sheltered Employment Programme; this also includes help to people with disabilities through the Sheltered Placement Scheme (SPS) and Remploy. Whilst the number of people supported in sheltered workshops has declined over the period, the overall number of people helped through the Programme has been maintained. The figures below illustrate this:
  223

  Number

  1989

  19,276

  1990

  20,650

  1991

  20,777

  1992

  20,722

  1993

  20,386

  Future plans are to help at least 20,800 people through the Programme in 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Training grants paid to sheltered workshops comprise payment of an employee's basic workshop wage for an agreed period plus a contribution towards the cost of fees for externally purchased training. Employees' wages vary from workshop to workshop and year to year. There is, therefore, no standard grant payable for this item. Payment of training fees is based on reimbursement of actual costs subject to a maximum of £1,400 per person per annum (£27·88 per person per week). This has remained unchanged over the last five years. The abolition of payments for training wages and fees from 1 April 1994 is one of the items being considered in the review of Sheltered Employment funding. A very small number of workshops claimed assistance for wages and fees and it has been proposed that the money set aside for this should be added to the overall money available to local authorities and voluntary bodies for helping all individuals assisted through the Programme.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Slaughter Industry
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in the slaughter industry in each year since 1985.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information on employment in the slaughter industry is available only from the periodic censuses of employment and is as follows:

  Number of employees in employment in the slaughter industry1 in Great Britain, September of each year

  Year

  Number

  1984

  90,200

  1987

  92,500

  1989

  91,800

  1991

  95,100

  1 Group 412 of the standard industrial classification 1980.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the most recent residence-based unemployment rates for London by(a) borough and (b) constituency giving the figures overall and broken down for male and female; and what is the change in number of unemployed claimants in London by (i) borough and (ii) constituency for the same month in each of the last six years and the change since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  At present, official unemployment rates are not available for areas smaller than the self-contained labour markets known as travel-to-work areas.

  Unadjusted data on the numbers of unemployment claimants for each local authority district and parliamentary constituency are available on a monthly basis from June 1983 onwards. The data can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
  224

  European Social Fund
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what level of support will be available to Great Britain from the European social fund under objectives 3 and 4 from 1994 to 1999.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government welcome last Wednesday's announcement by the European Commission that Great Britain will receive approximately £2,500 million between 1994 and 1999 from the European social fund for expenditure under objectives 3 and 4 of the European Community's structural funds, outside objective 1 regions.

  Objective 3 is targeted at helping young people who are joining the labour market, long-term unemployed people and other people facing particular disadvantages in finding and keeping work. The Government value the important contribution made over the years by the ESF to helping young and unemployed people in Britain prepare or compete effectively for jobs.

  In the course of the negotiations on the reform of the structural funds last year, it was agreed that member states should be free to decide the balance of objective 3 and 4 in their respective countries. Objective 4 is targeted at workers still in employment. The Government's consistent view has been that the ESF should continue to concentrate first and foremost on helping unemployed people.

  The Government plan therefore to devote the available ESF resources for objectives 3 and 4 to helping unemployed people under objective 3 for the foreseeable future.

WALES

  Ambulance Response Times
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details for the latest convenient date of all ambulance response times reported to his office.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The ambulance service classifications in Wales and their standards for emergency call response times are:

  50 per cent. within Minutes

  95 per cent. within Minutes

  South Glamorgan

  Population, density: more than 3 persons per acre

  7

  14

  Clwyd, Gwent, Mid and West Glamorgan

  Population density: between 0·5 and 3 persons per acre

  8

  18

  East Dyfed, Gwynedd, Pembrokeshire and Powys

  Population density: less than 0·5 persons per acre

  8

  21

  The latest available information, for the three months ending 30 September 1993, is shown in the table:

  225

  Percentage arriving within 50 per cent. Standard Response Time

  Percentage arriving within 95 per cent. Standard Response Time

  Clwyd

  63

  98

  East Dyfed

  60

  93

  Gwent

  52

  97

  Gwynedd

  55

  96

  Mid Glamorgan

  59

  100

  Pembrokeshire

  44

  90

  Powys

  45

  89

  South Glamorgan

  57

  94

  West Glamorgan

  58

  94

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what approval in principle he has given to schemes of rationalisation of the ambulance service in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 21 January 1994,Official Report, column 875.

  Discharge and deaths, by type of admission

  1989–901

  1990–911

  1991–922

  1992–93

  Non-psychiatric

  Elective

  257,698

  252,672

  286,000

  n/a

  Emergency

  231,153

  240,546

  250,000

  n/a

  Other3

  28,979

  27,264

  85,000

  n/a

  Total

  517,830

  520,482

  621,000

  650,000

  Psychiatric

  Elective

  n/a

  n/a

  4,000

  n/a

  Emergency

  n/a

  n/a

  11,000

  n/a

  Other

  n/a

  n/a

  2,000

  n/a

  Total

  16,000

  17,000

  18,000

  18,000

  1 Based on the hospital activity analysis system which was replaced in April 1991 by the patient episode database for Wales.

  2 Estimates based on incomplete database data, reconciled with aggregate hospital returns known to be more complete in coverage particularly in respect of day cases. The data are therefore not fully comparable with earlier years.

  3 Includes patients transferred from other hospitals and babies born in hospital. From April 1991 also includes maternity patients.

  n/a Not available.

  River Dee
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the flood defence embankments of the River Dee from Connah's quay to Saltney in respect of high tides; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I am aware that these flood embankments were assessed as part of the recent sea defence survey undertaken by the National Rivers Authority and were considered to be in good order. This is due, for the most part, to the significant improvement works that have been carried out by the authority and its predecessors, in recent years. Much of this work has been undertaken with grant aid from the Department.
  226

  NHS Staff
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total cost of employing managers, advisers, administrators and clerical staff in national health service hospitals in each of the last three years for which figures are available;

  (2) how many cars have been allocated to national health service managers, advisers, administrators and clerical staff in each of the last five years for which figures are available;

  (3) how many cars have been allocated to the managers, advisers and administrators employed by the national health service trust hospitals in each of the last two financial years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Hospital Admissions
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many admissions to national health service hospitals for each of the last three years for which figures are available were elective admission and how many were emergency admissions.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is given in the table:

  Dobshill Hospital
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the Dobshill hospital, Clwyd.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have no present plans to do so.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which special advisers in his Department are seconded from other organisations; and what are the organisations and the lengths and terms of the secondments.

  Mr. Redwood
  None.

  Nurses (Allocation of Cars)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cars have been allocated to NHS nurses in(a) the hospital service and (b) the community service in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
  227
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Meadowsleigh Hospital
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit Meadowsleigh hospital, Penyffordd, Clwyd.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have no present plans to do so.

  Housing Association Properties
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many housing association properties there are in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to table 1.4 of "Welsh Housing Statistics No. 13, 1993", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Minerals Planning Guidance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on minerals planning guidance in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To date, a total of 11 minerals planning guidance notes have been produced by the Welsh Office jointly with the Department of the Environment. A further guidance, "Treatment of Disused Mine Openings and the Availability of Information on Mined Ground", is to be published shortly. "Opencast Coal Mining" and "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales" are the subject of review.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of local authority houses currently under construction in each of the local authority areas; how many houses have been constructed in each of the years from 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the construction of local authority dwellings and housing association houses is published in "Welsh Housing Statistics No. 13, 1993", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Broughton Special Hospital
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future use of Broughton special hospital, Clwyd.

  £000

  Health authority

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Clwyd

  352

  354

  434

  512

  501

  East Dyfed

  220

  284

  222

  208

  165

  Gwent

  17

  13

  20

  107

  128

  Gwynedd

  178

  214

  216

  222

  133

  Mid Glamorgan

  45

  74

  114

  174

  212

  Pembrokeshire

  77

  105

  105

  99

  155

  Powys

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  40

  23

  52

  67

  66

  West Glamorgan

  83

  97

  129

  159

  186

  Source: Health authorities annual accounts.

  Pembrokeshire NHS trust annual accounts.

  Notes:

  1. The above data are only available by health authority.

  2. Consists of private in-patients—section 65—and accommodation and services provided under section 58 of the NHS Act 1977.

  3. Data for Pembrokeshire in 1992–93 relate to income received by the Pembrokeshire NHS trust and are an aggregate figure of private in-patients—section 65 —private non-resident patients—section 66—and accommodation and services provided under section 58 of the NHS Act 1977.
  228
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This is currently a matter for the Clwyd health authority.

  Financial Assistance
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial assistance his Department has provided to(a) National Children's Home (Wales) and (b) the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (Wales) in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Under the support for child and family services scheme, the Welsh Office awarded grants totalling £105,459, £135,300 and £121,470 to NCH in Wales in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 respectively. No awards were made to the NSPCC.

  Warden-controlled Properties
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many warden-controlled properties for elderly persons there are in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Local authorities' housing strategies and operational plans for 1994–95 show that at 1 April 1993 there were 15,350 sheltered dwellings for the elderly which had the services of a warden.

  Planning Guidelines
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what differences of substance he has made in the provisions of the Welsh Office planning policy guidance note 6, when adapting for Wales the comparable guidelines drawn up by the Department of the Environment with particular reference to out-of-town supermarkets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Planning policy guidance note 6 "Town Centres and Retail Developments" was published jointly by the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office.

  NHS Beds (Private Patients)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give private bed income by health authority, and by hospital, or the smallest available unit, for each financial year since 1988–89.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The amount of private bed income by health authority for each financial year since 1988–89 was as follows:
  229

  Hospital Estate
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued for calculation of the percentage maintenance expenditure for the annual upkeep of the hospital estate in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Guidelines on the percentage maintenance expenditure for the upkeep of the national health service estate in Wales were issued in Welsh health circular (85)30. This required health authorities to commit at least 7·5 per cent. of their total allocations—revenue and capital—to the maintenance of assets, that is buildings, land, vehicles, engineering services, plant and equipment.

  Community Care Expenditure
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is planned community care expenditure under his vote for each of 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 in both cash and real terms.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Government expenditure is planned in cash terms. Resources of £86 million in 1994–95, £124·4 million in 1995–96 and £149·6 million in 1996–97 are being provided through the local government revenue settlement towards local authorities' new responsibilities for community care. These amounts are in addition to local government spending on personal social services generally, and to certain specific grants including resources which may be made available through the mental handicap and mental illness strategies. It is for individual local authorities to determine how much in total they will spend on community care.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he issued the Welsh Office 1993–94 cash allocation letter to the health authorities; what further adjustments have been notified to Welsh health authorities; whether any further adjustments are planned before the end of the financial year; what proposals he has for alterations in the timings of such letters and adjustment notifications to health authorities in 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 9 December 1993 to his previous question relating to the notification and subsequent adjustments of 1993–94 allocations to health authorities,Official Report, column 305. My right hon. Friend will announce the initial revenue and capital allocations for 1994–95 to health authorities shortly. The timing of subsequent adjustments to authorities' allocations will largely depend on when provision held in reserve for centrally funded developments is claimed by authorities.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the NHS planned expenditure in cash and real terms in 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Planned net provision for the NHS in Wales in 1994–95 is £2,076 million; this is a cash increase of 5·1 per cent. over the comparable figure for this year.
  230
  Provision for 1995–96 and 1996–97 will be detailed in the Welsh Office departmental report, which is due to be published in March.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning the proposed closure of the regional offices in Bangor, Carmarthen, Wrexham, Newport and Treforest.

  Mr. Redwood
  The location of its regional offices is a matter for the agency.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency in relation to contracting-out and privatisation proposals for functions of the agency; if he will list the agency functions proposed for out-sourcing in the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  In common with other public bodies, the Welsh Development Agency is required to keep under review the efficiency and effectiveness of its organisation and to arrange for its activities to be contracted out where this represents value for money.

HEALTH

  Child Protection Committees
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the operation of the area child protection committees.

  Mr. Bowis
  Area child protection committees operate in every social services area in England to ensure close working relationships between social services departments, the police service, doctors, community health workers, the education service and others who share a common aim to protect children at risk.

  Osteopathy
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make osteopathy more widely available on the NHS.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make osteopathy more widely available on the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  We believe that the professional recognition and regulation of the profession will encourage those purchasers who want to refer their patients for osteopathy to do so.

  Pharmacies
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of pharmacies will suffer a fall in income following the imposition of her Department's pay settlement.
  231
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Pharmacies are privately owned businesses, only part of whose income comes from the national health service. However, no pharmacy which dispensed more than 1,000 prescriptions a month of average value in 1992–93 should have its NHS income reduced in 1993–94. The NHS income of pharmacies dispensing less than 1,000 prescriptions a month will depend on a number of factors, not least whether they qualify for the essential small pharmacy scheme, which we have extended.

  "The Health of the Nation"
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to update the targets in "The Health of the Nation".

  Mr. Sackville
  We are making good progress towards "The Health of the Nation" targets, most of which are for 2000 and beyond. They have been set to be challenging but achievable, and remain the right ones.

  Drug Education
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend drug education programmes; and what discussions she has had with local authorities on this matter.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We are spending £5 million per annum on campaigns to raise awareness and prevent drug and solvent misuse especially by the young. We have just launched a major new campaign to encourage and help parents to talk to their children about drug and solvent misuse. Getting the message across involves co-operation with many agencies and my officials keep in close touch with local authorities on their contribution to fighting drug misuse.

  Internal Market
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to review the operation of the internal market in health.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The benefits of the internal market are clear; more patients are now being treated than ever before; people are waiting shorter times for treatment. National health service spending is also at an all-time high. Consequently, there are no plans to review the operation of the internal market.

  Child Care
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the way in which local authority social services are using their discretion in the treatment of children placed in their care, particularly with regard to the provision for trips abroad.

  Mr. Bowis
  The framework for treatment of children in care by local authorities is contained in the Children Act 1989, regulations and associated guidance. It is the responsibility of the elected members of each local authority to ensure that these are complied with and that the resources involved are properly spent. I have made it clear, however, that trips abroad for young offenders are inappropriate.
  232

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of establishing each general practitioner fundholder; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Each fundholding practice is entitled to the reimbursement of appropriate expenses incurred in the preparatory year to fundholding. The maximum level of reimbursement is £17,500 for a single practice fund and £20,000 for a grouped practice fund.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to monitor the impact of general practitioner fundholding on community care; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Regional health authorities are responsible for monitoring the general practitioner fundholding scheme locally. They tell us that, as in other areas, GP fundholders are working with community health staff to improve the quality of care for patients.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many of the practices which expressed an interest in 1992–93 in becoming fundholders the following April but did not do so will become fundholders in April 1994;

  (2) how many of the general practitioners practices which expressed an interest in 1991–92 in becoming fundholders the following April but did not do so subsequently became fundholding practices in 1993 or will become fundholders in April 1994;

  (3) how many general practitioner practices have received the start-up allowance for potential fundholders more than once.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally. Regional health authorities manage the general practitioner fundholding scheme and are responsible for admitting practices to the scheme.

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been taken to improve the amount of information available to national health service patients under the patients charter.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The patients charter gives patients a right to information on local health services. Health authorities are making this information available to patients in many ways, including local charters, through the local media, leaflets, posters and public meetings. All district health authorities also publish annual reports on performance against patients charter standards. Providers are also required to display details of performance. In addition in January 1993 a national freephone service—0800 665544—was introduced which provides callers with information about local national health service services, patients charter standards, common diseases, waiting times, how to complain about national health service services as well as health advice. In June 1994 the National Health Service Management Executive will be publishing national health service performance tables for the first time.

  Secretary of State (Travel)
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list her travel arrangements, with costs, over the last 12 months.
  233
  Mr. Sackville
  Information to this level of detail could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Junior Doctors (Working Hours)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the implementation of the new deal for reducing the hours worked by junior doctors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am pleased to say that progress on implementing the new deal on junior doctors' hours has been very encouraging.

  Between September 1990 and September 1993 junior doctors' posts contracted for more than 83 hours a week fell from over 13,000 to only 91, a reduction of 99 per cent. That represents a remarkable achievement.

  I announced in December that we were giving priority this year to tackling hard-pressed on-call posts contracted for more than 72 hours a week. We are determined that junior doctors see real benefits from the new deal.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which measures to cut the working week of junior doctors have achieved their targets.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We receive regular reports from regional task forces. Between September 1990 and September 1993 the number of junior doctors and dentists contracted for more than an average 83 hours a week fell from over 13,300 to 91, a reduction of 99 per cent. This is a remarkable achievement.

  From August 1992 to September 1993 the number of those working in hard-pressed on-call posts contracted on average for between 73 and 83 hours a week fell from over 10,200 to 7,800, a 24 per cent. reduction. In December 1993 we announced that eliminating the remaining posts in this category will be a priority in 1994.

  Asthma
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the treatment of asthmatic people.

  Mr. Sackville
  We attach high importance to the prompt and appropriate treatment of people with asthma. Last July the Department launched the chronic disease management programme, which is an organised programme of care run by general practitioners for people with asthma. And only last month the National Health Service Management Executive asked purchasers to reflect in contracts the professionally developed clinical guidelines produced by the British Thoracic Society on the management of asthma.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has recently received about the incidence of asthma in young people.

  Mr. Sackville
  In the last three months one representation has been received specifically about a young person with asthma.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work her Department is doing to secure a reduction in the incidence of asthma.
  234
  Mr. Sackville
  Officials of the Department have initiated discussions with experts in the field with a view to identifying priorities for research aimed at a reduction in the incidence of asthma.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in Britain have not applied for trust status.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A list of the directly managed units in England not awaiting a decision on national health service trust status is set out as follows. Information relating to Scotland and Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.

  Directly Managed Units not awaiting a decision on NHS Trust status

  West Midlands

  Wolverhampton Primary Healthcare1

  Sandwell Mental Health

  Trent

  Glenfrith Unit1 (Merger with Fosse Health NHS Trust in the 5th Wave)

  Grantham and Kesteven General Hospital

  Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital

  Charles Clifford Dental Hospital

  North East Thames

  Homerton Hospital

  Essex Herts Acute1

  Essex Herts Community1

  City and East London Family and Community Health Services

  South West Thames

  North West Surrey Learning Difficulties

  Pathfinder (Wandsworth Mental Health)1

  Croydon Mental Health Unit (Warlingham Park)1

  Yorkshire

  Seacroft, Killingbeck and Wharfedale Hospital

  1 My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has given permission for these units to submit applications in the fifth wave of NHS trusts.

  Hospital Trust Boards (Meetings)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital trust board meetings have been open to the press and the public since 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Trusts are not required to hold their board meetings in public. Each trust is required to hold an annual public meeting at which it presents its annual report, audited accounts and any report made on those accounts by the auditor.

  Many trusts go beyond the minimum requirements on public access. Detailed information is not held centrally.

  Social Workers (Training)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing her review of the training of social workers.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government are in the process of implementing the range of recommendations from the policy and financial management review of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work—CCETSW. This includes proposals for improvements to the management structure of CCETSW and a review of the "Rules and Requirements for the Diploma in Social Work".
  235

  Mental Health Review Tribunal
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who are the members currently appointed to the mental health review tribunal.

  Mr. Bowis
  A list of members of the English tribunals will be placed in the Library.

  Drugs and Alcohol
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has received as regards funding for drug and alcohol addiction treatment centres;

  (2) what assessment her Department has made on the cost implications arising from shortfalls in service provision for treatment centres for drug and alcohol addiction cases;

  (3) what consultations she has had regarding provision of drug and alcohol addiction treatment centres; and if she will make a statement;

  (4) what monitoring her Department has done on the impact of the implementation of community care on independent providers of residential services for alcohol and drug misuse; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department has received a number of representations about the funding of residential services for alcohol and drug misusers under the new community care arrangements. The Department consulted both providers and purchasers of services for this vulnerable group on the preparation of guidance to local authorities to ensure that alcohol and drug misusers receive proper attention within community care. This guidance, LAC(93)2, was issued in January 1993 and copies are available in the Library.

  We also commissioned Goldsmiths' college to monitor the impact of community care on residential services for alcohol and drug misusers in the first three months of community care and the report "Who Cares Now" was published in July 1993. A copy of this report is in the Library. A three-month follow-up report was commissioned by Alcohol Concern and the Standing Conference on Drug Abuse—SCODA—entitled "Vulnerable Services for Vulnerable People" and published in December 1993, copies of which will be placed in the Library. The Goldsmiths' reports make it clear that the numbers of people receiving care funded by local authorities have increased steadily over the first six months of the community care reforms, and that local authorities had specified budgets in 1993–94 totalling £20·59 million for the purchase of services for alcohol and drug misusers within community care.

  We shall continue to monitor the provision of services for drug and alcohol misusers within our general monitoring of community care.

  Acute Day Care
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of districts provide acute day care as an alternative to hospital admission.

  Mr. Sackville
  Patients are admitted as day cases within every district health authority in England.
  236

  Mental Health
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many districts have a register of the 300 or 400 most severely ill vulnerable people in their area; and how many have a care programme approach register;

  (2) how many districts have a suicide register to identify potentially vulnerable people.

  Mr. Bowis
  Guidance to be issued to district health authorities in the next few weeks will require them to ensure that providers of mental health services have in place from 1 April 1994 registers which identify those people with severe mental illness who may be at risk to themselves or to others. The number of mentally ill people to be included on these registers will be determined locally. The terms "suicide register" and "care programme register" are not in general use in the national health service, but all providers of NHS mental health services should already be able to identify all patients subject to the care programme approach.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many districts have a mental health service plan which targets and prioritises the severely mentally ill.

  Mr. Bowis
  All district health authorities are developing plans to achieve "The Health of the Nation" target to reduce the suicide rate of severely mentally ill people by at least 33 per cent. by 2000.

  Complementary Therapies
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the policy of the NHS on the use of complementary therapies where they are found to be cost-effective; and what criteria are in use to enable the medical professionals and the management to choose and judge;

  (2) how the NHS assesses the therapies it considers complementary.

  Mr. Sackville
  Our policy is that the national health service should assess interventions on the basis of their effectiveness in improving or maintaining health. There are a variety of sources of information on effectiveness, and we are seeking to make such information more readily accessible to managers and clinicians who need it.

  Independent Sector Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost to independent sector homes of inspection by local authority arm's-length inspection units(a) per resident and (b) per year in total.

  Mr. Bowis
  The annual fee payable to local authorities by those running registered independent residential care homes for four or more residents is £41 per resident. Inspection by independent inspection units is among the costs reflected in that fee.

  Information about the total cost of such fees per year is not available centrally.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Milligan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the prevalence of fraud in prescriptions issued free of charge.
  237
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Checks on eligibility for prescription charge exemption and charge remission under the national health service low income scheme indicate that the incidence of fraud is relatively low. The adequacy and operation of these checks are kept under review.

  Senile Dementia
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each district health authority and trust the total number of their continual care beds designated for perons diagnosed with senile dementia.

  Mr. Bowls
  National health services continuing care beds are not usually designated specifically for senile dementia.

  Hospitals, London
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds there are in the Greater London area per member of the population; what are the comparable figures under the suggestions made in the Tomlinson report; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The average daily number of hospital beds in all specialties in Greater London per thousand of the population in the financial year 1992–93 is 4·9. The Tomlinson report looked only at acute hospital beds and focused on inner London. Professor Tomlinson gave three main reasons why the need for hospital beds in inner London would fall: (i) patients from outside London would be less likely to come into London for hospital treatment; (ii) changes in medical care will lead to more day surgery; and (iii) shorter hospital stays will contribute to increased efficiency in bed usage.

  Day Care Places
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of full-time day care places in day nurseries for under-fives provided in each local authority in Greater London.

  Mr. Bowis
  The latest available information on full-time day nursery places in London is contained in the publication "Children's day care facilities at 31 March 1992, England". Copies are available in the Library.

  Community Care
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 794, if she will give the planned expenditure for the present year under the community care expenditure under the provisions of the special transitional grant; and if she will give the actual outturn expenditure for the first half-year and for each of the first three quarters.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have made available for 1993–94 a special transitional grant of £565·4 million, which must be spent entirely on community care. Authorities will be required to account for their expenditure at the end of the financial year.
  238

  Patient S
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what drugs and treatment were given to Patient S, who recently died following the withdrawal of food and drink, between the time when the feeding tube was removed and his death on 16 January.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department does not hold confidential personal information of this nature.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a post mortem report has been commissioned in the case of the death of Patient S on Sunday 16 January; whether an inquest will be held into that death; and if she will make it her policy to publish any medical, pathological and other reports compiled in respect of this case.

  Mr. Sackville
  We understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department that a post mortem report has been compiled and that an inquest will be held. The decision whether or not to release information put in evidence at an inquest rests with the relevant coroner.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the NHS planned expenditure in England in 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 in cash and real terms.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government are honouring in full their pledge to increase year by year the level of resources committed to the national health service in real terms. Government expenditure on the national health service in England is planed to rise to £30,669 million in 1994–95, a cash increase of 5·6 per cent. over plan, or 1·6 per cent. in real terms. Details of the Government expenditure plans for 1994–95 to 1996–97 for all the Department's programmes will be published in March in the departmental report.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals and other units will start operation as NHS trusts in April.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  To date we have given approval to 99 hospitals and other units to become operational as national health service trusts from 1 April 1994. We will be considering further applications shortly and will make a further announcement then. An updated list of the status of all fourth wave applications has been placed in the Library.

  Nursing Staff
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of qualified nursing staff by specialty for each region in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 6 December 1993]: This information will be placed in the Library. The total number of qualified nurses and midwives working in the national health service has risen by 6,490 in the period September 1989 to September 1992.
  239

  Meningitis
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Health what proportion of children are now immunised against HIB meningitis.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Immunisation against Haemophilus influenae type b was added to the routine childhood immunisation programme on 1 October 1992. Preliminary figures for England and Wales show that 90 per cent. acceptance for the full course of three doses of vaccine is already being achieved.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to resource the creation of rapid response units, nationally, to combat child meningitis fatalities.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 21 January 1994]: Children with meningitis are most appropriately treated in
  240
  paediatric intensive care units. A report, "The Care of Critically Ill Children", by a working party convened by the British Paediatric Association has recently been published and copies are available in the Library. This includes recommendations on how a more accessible distribution of paediatric intensive care facilities can be achieved.

  We are about to issue the report to purchasers of health services for children, with the request that they ensure any planned increases in paediatric intensive care facilities proceed and that they review immediately the current level of provison in order to develop a strategic plan for the purchasing of paediatric intensive care within the overall development of children's services. Regional health authorities will oversee this process and submit an interim report on action under way to the National Health Service Management Executive by April.

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  BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS RECORDS: LEGISLATION
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  CROATIA-BOSNIA: CONFLICT
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  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 24 JANUARY
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  VIDEO RECORDINGS ACT: ENFORCEMENT
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