Written Answers of 26 January 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Stockton-on-Tees County Court
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what future use his Department intends for Stockton-on-Tees county court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor consented on 5 March 1993 to public consultation on the proposal by the circuit administrator for the north-eastern circuit to close Stockton-on-Tees county court. The responses to that consultation are being considered and a decision by the Lord Chancellor will be made shortly. If the court were closed, the present court building would be sold.

  Barristers
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what efforts are being made to ensure that newly qualified barristers are fully utilised.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The legal profession is independent and self regulating and the Government do not control the utilisation of newly qualified, or any other, members of the profession. These are matters which are properly the province of the professional bodies to consider.

  Ethnic Minority Seminars
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the purpose of the seminars on ethnic minorities to be undertaken by all judges; how many seminars are taking place; where they are held; on what dates; at what cost in each case; what are the exact topics to be discussed; and if he will name those directing the discussions.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This programme of seminars is arranged by the Judicial Studies Board. Its purpose is to enhance the awareness of judges, recorders and assistant recorders of ethnic minority issues which may assist them. The seminars will be held at locations throughout England and Wales over the next two years; a detailed programme is being prepared. The Lord Chancellor supports this programme and has allocated a sum of over £900,000.

ENVIRONMENT

  Minewater Pollution
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each year since 1988 all organisations or projects investigating minewater pollution which have received, or are receiving, financial or grant aid support from his Department.

  Mr. Atkins
  Comprehensive information in the form required is not readily available. However, the National 242
  Rivers Authority is currently funding a pilot project at the Wheal Jane tin mine in Cornwall devoted to identifying low cost treatment options. The NRA is jointly funding, with the British Oxygen Company Foundation for Environmental and Community Research, projects to examine low cost treatment technologies for discharges from disused mines involving the River Pelena in south Wales and the Little Don in Yorkshire. The NRA is also collaborating in a study with the Welsh Development Agency into the efficiency of engineered wetlands for the removal of metals and acidity from discharges from abandoned mines.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he or his Department last held meetings with(a) the National Rivers Authority and (b) British coal to discuss minewater pollution in the Durham coalfield.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department maintains regular contact with the National Rivers Authority about this and other issues. Liaison with British Coal is a matter for the NRA, and there are well-established arrangements.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the Wardell-Armstrong report on minewater pollution.

  Mr. Atkins
  Additional copies of Wardell Armstrong's final report on the potential impact of ceasing mine dewatering in the south-western part of the Durham coalfield are being produced. They will be placed in the House Library as soon as they are available.

  Environmental Information Regulations 1992
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 since they came into force.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government introduced the Environmental Information Regulations just over a year ago, and they seem to be meeting their purpose.

  Radiation Monitoring Scheme
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to implement the Government's proposals for a radiation monitoring system and public warning network; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The RIMNET national radiation monitoring and nuclear emergency response system, set up as part of the national response plan for dealing with overseas nuclear accidents, has been operating since 1988. Details of the system are given in the HMSO booklet, "The National Response Plan and Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET). Phase 1", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. A contract to extend, automate and provide additional operational facilities for the system is currently approaching completion.

  Biodiversity Convention
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 566, if he will list the 38 countries

  243
  that had ratified the biodiversity convention by 29 December 1993; and if he will list the countries that have ratified the convention since then.

  Mr. Atkins
  Revised information from the United Nations legal office in New York shows that 41 countries had ratified the biodiversity convention by 29 December 1993, rather than the 38 we believed had done so when I answered the hon. Member's earlier question on 18 January. A further two countries have since ratified, and the following is a full list in order of ratification.

  List of countries to ratify the Biodiversity Convention

  Country

  Date of ratification

  1. Mauritius

  4 September 1992

  2. Seychelles

  22 September 1992

  3. Marshall Islands

  8 October 1992

  4. Maldives

  9 November 1992

  5. Monaco

  20 November 1992

  6. Canada

  4 December 1992

  7. China

  5 January 1993

  8. Saint Kitts and Nevis

  7 January 1993

  9. Ecuador

  23 February 1993

  10. Fiji

  25 February 1993

  11. Antigua and Barbuda

  9 March 1993

  12. Mexico

  11 March 1993

  13. Papua New Guinea

  16 March 1993

  14. Vanuatu

  25 March 1993

  15. Cook Islands

  20 April 1993

  16. Guinea

  7 May 1993

  17. Armenia

  14 May 1993

  18. Japan

  28 May 1993

  19. Zambia

  28 May 1993

  20. Peru

  7 June 1993

  21. Australia

  18 June 1993

  22. Norway

  9 July 1993

  23. Tunisia

  15 July 1993

  24. Saint Lucia

  28 July 1993

  25. Burkina Faso

  2 September 1993

  26. Bahamas

  2 September 1993

  27. Belarus

  8 September 1993

  28. Uganda

  8 September 1993

  29. New Zealand

  16 September 1993

  30. Mongolia

  30 September 1993

  31. Philippines

  8 October 1993

  32. Uruguay

  5 November 1993

  33. Nauru

  11 November 1993

  34. Jordan

  12 November 1993

  35. Nepal

  23 November 1993

  36. Barbados

  10 December 1993

  37. Sweden

  16 December 1993

  38. Denmark

  21 December 1993

  39. Germany

  21 December 1993

  40. Portugal

  21 December 1993

  41. Spain

  21 December 1993

  42. Belize

  30 December 1993

  43. Albania

  5 January 1994

  European Community

  21 December 1993

  Olympic Games
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has examined the accounts for the Manchester Olympic Bid Committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Manchester Olympic Bid Committee was established under the Companies Acts as a company limited by guarantee. It has no legal link with my Department.

  However, since the company received £2·2 million in grant on a pound for pound basis to cover the cost of
  244
  preparing the bid, my department carried out an internal audit to access the adequacy of the arrangements established by the company to safeguard public funds. The report found that the accounting arrangements were generally satisfactory and the terms of the grant letter were being met.

  My right hon. Friend expects to receive a copy of the final audited accounts in due course.

  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the commitment given by the Sports Council, the Department of National Heritage and the Prime Minister, including all travel costs, of the Manchester olympic bid campaign.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government committed some £75 million to support the Manchester olympic bid. This comprised £35·5 million for the arena; up to £30 million for the acquisition and clearance of the Eastlands site, which is ongoing; £6·4 million for the velodrome, plus £2 million from the Sports Council; £2·2 million to support the activities of the Manchester Olympic Bid Committee.

  The Prime Minister and Ministers from a number of Government Departments met International Olympic Committee members on a number of occasions at home and overseas to discuss the olympic bid. Most of the meetings took place in the course of normal departmental business and, therefore, the costs fell within existing departmental running cost budgets. Information about these costs is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the accident rate for children living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation for the last year that figures are available;

  (2) how many families with children are currently living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in (a) England and (b) Wales.

  Sir George Young
  The information for England is not available centrally and my Department has no estimates.

  For information about Wales, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  South-East Planning Guidance
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish regional planning guidance for the south-east.

  Mr. Baldry
  The. regional planning guidance for the south-east will be published as soon as possible.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority in London the total discounted value of houses and flats sold by them in each year since 1980–81.

  Sir George Young
  The total reported discounted values of dwellings sold by local authorities in London in the years 1980–81 to 1992–93 are given in the table. Actual cash receipts in any year will depend on the extent to which sales were financed by loans from the authorities.
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  Discounted Value of Sales in London

  £ thousand

  Local authority

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  7,802

  29,152

  11,262

  10,705

  14,222

  n/a

  20,000

  45,116

  26,984

  13,724

  10,680

  n/a

  Barnet

  3,664

  5,371

  8,041

  13,595

  13,499

  12,367

  13,065

  19,787

  21,203

  0

  9,431

  6,714

  3,818

  Bexley

  4,761

  6,297

  4,041

  5,033

  3,925

  4,179

  4,844

  7,156

  11,580

  n/a

  n/a

  3,315

  4,022

  Brent

  22

  3,194

  6,794

  5,669

  n/a

  n/a

  7,032

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  21,590

  7,932

  n/a

  Bromley

  5,626

  8,608

  9,470

  10,563

  14,929

  11,848

  13,251

  23,286

  28,124

  14,713

  n/a

  9,013

  116,888

  Camden

  10

  346

  5,221

  1,950

  25

  1,799

  4,611

  20

  18,663

  41,037

  32,158

  14,103

  n/a

  City of London

  0

  3,496

  10,997

  5,585

  3,408

  9,230

  16,088

  15,497

  16,795

  8,117

  3,399

  3,755

  3,993

  Croydon

  3,927

  10,088

  10,717

  10,599

  9,485

  13,522

  n/a

  20,353

  26,744

  18,850

  8,749

  10,912

  5,671

  Ealing

  9,327

  11,643

  10,620

  n/a

  7,307

  10,475

  12,190

  11,794

  0

  n/a

  17,663

  n/a

  n/a

  Enfield

  3,891

  5,513

  8,245

  13,704

  13,610

  9,733

  11,915

  15,608

  31,955

  27,236

  13,518

  8,819

  4,978

  Greater London Council

  95,279

  43,700

  19,768

  11,209

  6,276

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greenwich

  0

  3,029

  15,062

  6,301

  5,980

  7,932

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  9,891

  8,462

  Hackney

  n/a

  390

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  n/a

  14,570

  n/a

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,329

  5,853

  6,421

  5,291

  7,047

  7,979

  7,083

  6,600

  15,525

  11,429

  13,587

  7,706

  4,211

  Haringey

  0

  5,883

  8,268

  4,713

  6,413

  7,076

  n/a

  n/a

  19,847

  27,359

  17,492

  10,701

  n/a

  Harrow

  1,739

  3,514

  6,093

  4,315

  3,647

  5,118

  5,724

  8,343

  12,338

  7,776

  4,552

  4,377

  3,596

  Havering

  427

  4,777

  6,175

  7,632

  6,889

  6,632

  n/a

  11,960

  19,150

  16,672

  7,495

  4,274

  4,388

  Hillingdon

  n/a

  13,069

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Hounslow

  49

  4,082

  12,867

  8,830

  4,888

  6,443

  6,655

  12,329

  n/a

  20,741

  20,357

  11,507

  7,885

  Islington

  30

  1,791

  6,082

  4,767

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  9,785

  23,298

  33,745

  29,304

  13,525

  11,266

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,088

  4,394

  4,521

  2,232

  1,700

  2,379

  5,291

  3,971

  6,701

  n/a

  7,499

  n/a

  n/a

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,381

  2,553

  5,727

  4,190

  2,488

  3,073

  3,009

  2,535

  6,504

  7,518

  3,701

  3,344

  2,397

  Lambeth

  0

  507

  4,453

  n/a

  128

  318

  n/a

  n/a

  13,632

  15,444

  30,221

  21,409

  11,611

  Lewisnam

  0

  2,665

  12,387

  n/a

  4,981

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  14,191

  11,397

  Merton

  6,536

  12,173

  4,799

  6,168

  10,424

  4,607

  9,755

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  8,772

  5,492

  4,146

  Newham

  1,400

  2,925

  15,744

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  0

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Redbridge

  3,080

  4,657

  5,802

  6,063

  5,390

  n/a

  4,369

  5,570

  9,583

  n/a

  9,680

  5,487

  4,190

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,500

  1,336

  4,497

  4,458

  5,296

  5,902

  3,520

  8,196

  14,151

  10,099

  6,108

  5,884

  4,196

  Southwark

  60

  2,512

  7,354

  4,257

  3,757

  5,449

  3,883

  n/a

  n/a

  38,448

  34,232

  n/a

  n/a

  Sutton

  2,201

  3,318

  4,542

  6,386

  7,561

  5,940

  6,178

  7,726

  12,901

  9,518

  6,025

  3,927

  2,801

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  227

  2,986

  1,957

  1,552

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  53,754

  n/a

  Waltham Forest

  0

  7,339

  9,324

  6,695

  6,582

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  14,307

  18,139

  7,706

  4,848

  n/a

  Wandsworth

  10,903

  24,023

  19,073

  21,647

  30,703

  37,411

  32,494

  49,354

  67,616

  72,806

  37,031

  25,842

  19,959

  Westminster

  3,506

  1,602

  5,399

  n/a

  n/a

  8,661

  10,092

  12,515

  43,007

  61,357

  27,935

  14,767

  10,454

  n/a=Not available.

  Rent-a-room Scheme
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of lettings of spare rooms which have been made available in consequence of the rent-a-room scheme under which owners receive tax relief on certain income from lodgers.

  Sir George Young
  Information about the number of rooms let under the rent-a-room scheme can be obtained only from housing surveys. No data are available as yet.

  Housing, Wandsworth
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the London borough of Wandsworth as to the service charges that are imposed by the authority on people living in properties that they have purchased from the borough; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  Service charges imposed by a local authority as a freeholder on individual leaseholders are a matter for that authority. The London borough of Wandsworth is participating in a survey of charging practice, commissioned by the Department. The findings should inform good practice guidance we propose to issue in the summer.

  Home Insulation
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to institute a national programme to insulate homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department already operates a national programme to insulate homes. The home energy 246
  efficiency scheme—HEES—was introduced on 1 January 1991 and provides grants in England, Scotland and Wales to householders on low incomes for the installation of loft, tank and pipe insulation, draughtproofing and energy advice. There is a similar scheme in Northern Ireland. In April 1994 the provision for HEES is to be almost doubled and the scheme extended to pensioners and the disabled.

  Letting Agents
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider bringing letting agents within the scope of the Estate Agents Act 1979 so as to protect the public against loss of deposits and other malpractices and to ensure that letting agents are properly regulated.

  Sir George Young
  The Accommodation Agencies Act 1953 already regulates the activities of letting agencies. This makes it an offence to take money for registering the name or requirements of someone seeking a tenancy of a dwelling, to charge for supplying addresses of dwellings to be let and to advertise a dwelling, without the owner's authority, as being available to let. We consulted on the value of the Act towards the end of last year and decided, in the light of responses received, to maintain it in its present form.

  In addition, a number of trade associations, such as the Association of Residential Letting Agents already promote good practice throughout the industry by means of codes of practice and bonding schemes. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors is preparing a code of practice on the management of residential property.
  247

  Local Authority Asset Sales
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing(a) the value of sales by each local authority of (i) parks and open space and (ii) other outside sports and playing fields in (1) 1991–92 and (2) 1992–93 approximated to the nearest £1,000 and (b) the total value of assets sold in each of those service categories by all local authorities in each of those years.

  Mr. Baldry
  The total value of fixed assets sold in the service categories specified is summarised in the table.

  £'000

  1991–92

  1992–931

  Parks and open spaces

  16,901

  23,924

  Golf courses

  205

  768

  Other outside sports/playing fields

  1,824

  644

  1Provisional figures.

  Source: Local Authority Capital Outtum Returns.

  I am arranging for information on the sale of fixed assets in these service categories, for each local authority, to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Wildlife Injuries, Lancashire
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sea birds and other wild life have been found dead or injured off the Lancashire coast in the last month; what information he has to the causes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  The pollution incident off the coast of Lancashire was reported to the Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit on 1 January. More than 700 sea birds have been affected, but there are no reports of other wildlife being harmed. Samples of the substance recovered from the coastline and samples from a cargo of lubricating oil additives discharged at Eastham near Liverpool on 30 December by the tanker Stolt Kestrel have been analysed by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist. They have concluded that the two samples originated from the same source.

  These particular additives are category D substances—the least harmful category—under the relevant provisions of the International Maritime Organisation—"MARPOL 73/78". The owner of the Stolt Kestrel, the Stolt Nielsen Group, has said that after unloading its cargo the Stolt Kestrel washed its tanks more than 12 nautical miles offshore in the Irish sea in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation regulations for category D substances, which permit discharges of mixtures of not more than one part of substance to 10 parts of water. The permitted discharge of washings from tankers carrying noxious liquid substances in bulk is presently under discussion in the IMO with a view to making discharge provisions more stringent.

  The marine pollution control unit is discussing the Laboratory of the Government Chemist report with the Stolt Nielsen Group which is considering its position. The group has already announced that it will no longer wash at sea tanks which have carried these additives.
  248

ATTORNEY GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to his answer of 14 December,Official Report, column 1049, when he expects to inform the House of the results of the survey of cases discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service during November 1993.

  The Attorney-General
  I have today placed a copy of the findings in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Incitement to Racial Hatred
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 17 December,Official Report, column 1051, how many cases of alleged incitement to racial hatred under the Public Order Act 1986 were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service in each year since 1987.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain records of files submitted to it by the police, or correspondence from members of the public, categorised by the type of offence alleged to have been committed. The information sought is therefore not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Brian Charrington
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the persons present in addition to the Solicitor-General at the meeting he chaired of defence and prosecution counsel dealing with the case of Mr. Brian Charrington.

  The Attorney-General
  Those present at the meeting were, in addition to the Solicitor-General and myself, leading counsel for the prosecution, leading counsel for Mr. Brian Charrington, two lawyers from HM Customs and Excise and two lawyers from my own Department.

  "Back to Basics"
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Attorney-General what working definition of "back to basics" is used by his Department; and what his Department has done in the past three months to implement the policy.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Attorney-General what are the implications of the Government's "back to basics" policy for his Department during the current year.

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 20 January 1994]: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 January 1994, Official Report, column 849.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Domestic Electricity
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will agree to the proposal by the Comité Européen des Normes to standardise on the continental two-pin unfused star ring system for domestic electricity.
  249
  Mr. Eggar
  CENELEC, the body responsible for European electrical standards, is working on draft standards for a future European plug and socket system. While the standards under discussion would not incorporate a fuse in the plug, an equivalent level of protection would be achieved either by a suitable fuse or circuit breaker at the consumer unit or by the incorporation of a fuse in the socket. Moreover, the CENELEC work includes provision for sleeved pins on plugs, shuttered sockets and a three-pin plug for those appliances which need earth protection.

  If these discussions result in a European standard, the United Kingdom will need to consider whether to adopt it or seek a derogation. In this assessment, safety will be paramount.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what costs will accrue from standardisation to the continental two-pin unfused star ring system for domestic users.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department has commissioned an independent analysis of the likely costs and benefits for the United Kingdom of adopting a future European plug and socket standard. The final report from the consultants is expected within a few weeks and will be published in the spring to form the basis for wider consultation on this issue. In assessing whether the change to the United Kingdom's present standards might be desirable, full account will be taken of the cost implications for consumers and industry.

  "Back to Basics"
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the implications of the Government's "Back to Basics" policy for his Department during 1994.

  Mr. Hesetline
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the prime minister on 21 January,Official Report, column 849.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of the Board of Trade what working definition of "back to basics" policies is used by this Department; and what his department has done in the past three months to implement the policy.

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

  Consultants
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. Eggar
  My Department does not classify consultancy contracts in terms of their activity and the information requested cannot be provided other than at disproportionate cost.
  250

  Pit Closures
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take measures to ensure that collieries closed by British Coal are put on a care and maintenance basis until he has explored whether or not EC funds are available to help meet the cost of mothballing mines.

  Mr. Eggar
  British Coal applies for EC loans and grants as and when these are available on appropriate terms. For instance, loans to British Coal from the European Coal and Steel Community for financing capital expenditure at deep mines currently amount to £99 million in total. It is for British Coal to decide how to finance any particular project or activity which it might decide to undertake.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the companies granted licences to build combined cycle gas turbines and the generating capacity of the proposed plant since the EC revoked the restriction on the use of gas for electricity generation.

  Mr. Eggar
  Details of construction consents granted for new CCGT's are contained in tables 10.2 and 10.3 of the White Paper "The Prospects for Coal", Cmnd. 2235. Since the publication of that White Paper, my right hon. Friend has granted further consents under section 36 of the Electricity Act as follows:

  Company

  Location

  Capacity (MW)

  National Power

  Deeside

  Extension to 500

  Staythorpe C

  1,500

  Didcot B

  1,500

  PowerGen

  Connah's Quay

  1,360

  Grovehurst Energy

  Kemsley

  90

  SCA Aylesford

  Aylesford

  100

  Seabank Power

  Seabank

  1,200

  Eastern Generation

  King's Lynn

  380

  Central Power

  Fort Dunlop

  120

  Keadby Developments

  Keadby

  700

  Other stations with a capacity below that for which section 36 consent is necessary—above 50 MW—have received planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Acts.

  Contracting Out
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will halt any further proposals to contract out information-gathering areas of his Department following the findings of the report into business attitudes to the contracting out of statistical inquiry work.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are no plans to contract out statistical inquiry work undertaken by my Department.

  "Prospects for Coal"
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost including the expenses of all consultants he has commissioned to help produce the White Paper, "Prospects for Coal".

  Mr. Eggar
  The total cost was £1·4 million.
  251

  School Fees
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much his Department spent on private education and boarding school allowances for the children of personnel employed by his Department in each of the last five years; and how many children had their fees paid in each of those years.

  Mr. Eggar
  This expenditure is not identified separately and to provide the information would entail disproportionate cost.

  Power Stations
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures his Department is taking to improve the efficiency of British power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The choice of fuel and type of plant for power stations are commercial matters for generators. The major plants constructed recently or for which consent has been given use combined cycle gas turbines which operate at a higher level of energy efficiency than the old plant which they replace.

  The Government support the wider use of combined heat and power plant, which can operate at very high levels of efficiency, wherever this is economic, and have a role in addressing any unnecessary barriers to such developments. On 16 December, the Government announced changes to the regulations governing on-site generation of electricity. These changes should encourage the further development of combined heat and power schemes.

  Tours Direct and New Vista Travel
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether customers of Tours Direct and New Vista Travel were covered by the legislation covering package travel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: In so far as Tours Direct and New Vista Travel were offering packages, customers will have been covered by the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what improvements in trade opportunities for British companies he expects to result from the GATT, with particular reference to trade with the United States.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 January 1994]: Improved trade opportunities for British exporters will come from higher world growth, reductions in industrial tariffs, the inclusion of services and intellectual property in the multilateral trading system for the first time, improved trade rules and a more stable international trading environment. The average cut in bound tariff rates on exports of industrial products from the European Community to the United States is 49 per cent. Tariffs will be eliminated completely on agricultural equipment, beer, construction equipment, furniture, medical equipment, paper, pharmaceuticals, certain spirits, steel and toys. The new agreement on Government procurement will open up purchases worth over £200 billion worldwide per year to United Kingdom suppliers of goods and services.
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  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of the GATT on the competitiveness of British industry.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 January 1994]: British industry will benefit from higher world growth and from the reduction of tariffs on imports of components and raw materials into the United Kingdom. British exporters will benefit greatly from the lifting of overseas trade barriers, improved trade rules and a more stable international trading environment.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what commitment has been given by the United States Government as part of the GATT negotiations to reduce(a) direct and (b) indirect subsidies to industries; and what was the overall percentage reduction in subsidies undertaken.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 January 1994]: In common with the other GATT signatories, the United States Government will be bound by the terms of the new subsidies agreement which will impose clearer disciplines on subsidies than the present GATT subsidies code. It is too early to say how this will affect the value of any subsidies paid out by the United States Government.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will be the total reduction in the sum spent by European Governments in the reduction of subsidies to European industries following the GATT agreement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 January 1994]: Except in the field of agriculture, where specific reductions in domestic support and subsidised exports have been agreed, it is too early to say how the GATT agreement will affect the value of any subsidies paid out by European Governments.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Value Added Tax, Southampton
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the amount of uncollected VAT arrears in the area covered by the Southampton Customs and Excise office;

  (2) what was the total number of Customs and Excise officers engaged in VAT inspections in the area covered by the Southampton Customs and Excise office in each year since 1983;

  (3) what was the total number of VAT inspections carried out in the area covered by the Southampton Customs and Excise office in each year since 1983.

  Sir John Cope
  In December 1993, the outstanding VAT debt of registered businesses within the Southampton local VAT office area was just over £10 million.

  Because of the restructuring of local VAT office boundaries and other operational changes, VAT visiting employment figures are not available for the whole period requested. For the years to March 1993 and March 1994, Southampton LVO assigned 43 and 45 officers respectively to such duties.

  Using those staff, 3,962 visits were carried out in the period to March 1993 and it is planned to complete some 3,450 visits by March 1994. The number of visits is not, of

  253
  itself, an indicator of the efficacy of the visiting programme as businesses are selected in accordance with their risk profile which may vary from year to year.

  Contracting Out
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what areas of statistical work have been contracted out by the Treasury over the past three years.

  Mr. Nelson
  No statistical work has been contracted out by the Treasury over the past three years.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will halt any further proposals to contract out information-gathering areas of his Department following the report into "Business Attitudes to the Contracting Out of Statistical Inquiry Work".

  Mr. Nelson
  Any proposals for contracting out statistical work in my Departments will take the report fully into account in assessing value for money. Business concerns about confidentiality and our quality requirements for statistics would obviously be key considerations.

  House Prices
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rise he expects in the price of a typical house in 1994, 1995 and 1996; and if he will provide figures for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions.

  Mr. Nelson
  Such forecasts are not available.

  Rent-a-room Tax Relief
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people will benefit from his rent-a-room tax reliefs.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information about the number of people benefiting from the rent-a-room scheme introduced in the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 is not yet available.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the revenue forgone in consequence of the introduction of the rent-a-room scheme under which owners of property can receive tax relief on certain income for lodgers.

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

  Value Added Tax (Charities)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much charities are currently paying in VAT; how much benefit they receive from direct tax concessions for giving; and what plans he has to remedy any imbalance.

  Sir John Cope
  Direct tax reliefs on charitable giving are worth about £260 million a year to charities. Other direct tax reliefs benefiting charities are worth a further £480 million, business rates relief £390 million and VAT reliefs £150 million—a total of £1·3 billion a year. Charities estimate that they pay £350 million a year in irrecoverable VAT.

  Value Added Tax (Medical Services)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the implications for the application of VAT to the provision of medical legal 254
  services of EEC Council directive of 17 May 1977 on the harmonisation of the laws of the member states relating to turnover taxes-common system of VAT: uniform system of assessment—"the sixth directive"; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement about the application of VAT to the provision of medical services which involve no patient care, including the provision of expert evidence in medical legal cases.

  Sir John Cope
  The professional services of a registered medical practitioner are exempt from VAT in the United Kingdom. This ensures the simple and straightforward application of the exemption and is in accordance with the requirements of the EC sixth VAT directive.

  Insurance Premium Tax
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who will pay insurance premium tax.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: Evidence from the 1991 family expenditure survey suggests that around 16·5 million households—85 per cent. —will pay insurance premium tax.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Traffic Lights, Meriden
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received about the installation of traffic lights at the junction of Oak lane and the A45 near Meriden; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have received no representations about the installation of traffic lights at the junction of Oak lane and the A45 near Meriden.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners (Press Interviews)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by whom and in what circumstances a journalist was given access to interview Darius Guppy in prison, for and on behalf of Hello! magazine; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when the Prison Service learned that Darius Guppy was to be interviewed in prison by a journalist;

  (3) on what date Darius Guppy was interviewed in prison for or on behalf of Hello! magazine;

  (4) when and what action was taken by him or the Prison Service on discovering that payments had been made by Hello! magazine for rights to an interview with Darius Guppy in prison.

  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.
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  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Andrew Mackinlay, dated 26 January 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the article appearing in Hello! magazine on Darius Guppy.
  We do not know when or by what means Hello! conducted the interview with Mr. Guppy, although it could not have been from a prison cell as suggested in the article. He was not given permission to be interviewed in prison, and was not visited in prison by anyone identified as a journalist. The Prison Service was not aware Mr. Guppy had been interviewed until the article was published in Hello!
  I understand that the Press Complaints Commission found Hello! to be in breach of its Code of Practice in making payment for the interview. I similarly deplore such practice. However, I understand payment for the interview was not made to Mr. Guppy but to third parties. Consequently, it would not be a matter over which the prison has any jurisdiction.

  Travel Documents
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department(a) what is the average time currently being taken to process a travel document, (b) how this compares with the target figure in the citizens charter, (c) how many cases have exceeded this target in the last 12 months and (d) what percentage of applications this represents.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  At present, applications for Home Office travel documents made by people accepted as refugees under the terms of the 1951 United Nations convention are taking up to eight weeks to be considered, and other applications about six months. These periods may be exceeded in cases which necessitate further inquiries or which raise other immigration issues. There is no target for this work in the citizens charter. Action is now in hand to process new applications more quickly and tackle the backlog.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants are currently awaiting the processing of travel documents; and what was the application date of the earliest dated application.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  At the end of December 1993, there were 5,099 cases outstanding in the travel document section of the immigration and nationality department. The oldest unactioned travel document application from a person accepted as a refugee was made on 18 November 1993, and from a non-refugee on 14 July 1993.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who are the members currently appointed to the Security Service Tribunal.

  Mr. Michael Howard
  The current members of the Security Service Tribunal are the right hon. Lord Justice Simon Brown, president, Sheriff John McInnes QC, vice-president, and Sir Richard Gaskell.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who are the members currently appointed to the Interception of Communications Tribunal.

  Mr. Michael Howard
  The current members of the Interception of Communications Tribunal are the hon. Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, TD, president, Sir Cecil Clothier KCB QC, vice-president, Sir David Calcutt QC, Mr. Ivor Guild CBE and Mr. Peter Scott QC.
  256

  Consultants
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Charles Wardle
  Information on external consultancy contracts let by the Home Office since 1979 is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Safer Cities
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which areas of the Northumbria police force have been included in the safer cities project for 1994–95.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The safer cities project to be set up in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne will encompass the metropolitan district of Newcastle upon Tyne, which is served by four basic command units within the Northumbria police force, namely—Newcastle central, Newcastle east, Newcastle west and Newcastle north.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has received from the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers in relation to the Sunday Trading Bill; and what response he has given.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None; but we understand that USDAW wrote to all Members of Parliament in November last year, in support of partial deregulation.

  Visas
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the European Commission's proposed list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external frontiers of member states will come into force.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  When it has been agreed by the Council of Ministers.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement with regard to the effect on Commonwealth countries of the European Commission's proposals to determine the list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external frontiers of member states;

  (2) if he will make it his policy, in discussions with the European Commission and in the Council of Ministers about the rights of those Commonwealth countries whose nationals are able to visit the United Kingdom without a visa, to ensure that they may continue to do so;

  (3) if he will give undertakings to the Governments of those Commonwealth countries whose nationals are currently able to visit the United Kingdom without a visa that they may continue to do so.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  An explanatory memorandum setting out the Government's response to the Commission's proposals will be submitted shortly.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the
  257
  European Commission on maintaining the rights of those Commonwealth countries whose nationals are able to visit the United Kingdom without a visa, when drawing up the list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external frontiers of member states.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None formally. Formal discussions of the Commission's proposal have only just started.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to seek a change in the law to make it possible to identify publicly a juvenile who, having been charged with a criminal offence, is unlawfully at large.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to clause 37 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill which is now before Parliament.

  Life Sentence Prisoners
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentence prisoners there are in the northern region; how many have been convicted of murder; and how many have been convicted of serious rape cases.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest information is for 30 June 1992 when there were 156 persons, of whom 149 were convicted of murder and seven were convicted of rape, serving life sentences in Prison Service establishments in the northern region of England and Wales.

  Accidents (Cyclists)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists involved in an accident with a cyclist were prosecuted for dangerous driving in(a) 1991, (b) 1992 and (c)

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on whether persons prosecuted for dangerous driving had been involved in accidents with cyclists is not available centrally.

  Domestic Workers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will now monitor the screening procedures introduced in May 1991 to facilitate the working of the 1980 concession in respect of domestic workers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The arrangements for this scheme are kept under close review.

  Charity Commission
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 December,Official Report, columns 947–48, what factors led the Charity Commission to believe that some of the payments made by Foundation for Business Responsibilities to Marketforce Communications Ltd. were not justified; what consideration was given to investigating how these payments had been used by Marketforce Communications Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.
  258
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  As I explained in my answer of 17 December, it was the trustees of the foundation themselves who, during the course of the commissioners' investigation, formed the view that some of the payments made to Marketforce Communications Ltd. may not have been justified. Subsequently, these and all other payments to the company by the foundation were recovered in full. New procedures were adopted by the foundation to prevent similar concerns arising in the future.

  It is for the charity commissioners to decide on the extent and nature of inquiries that are appropriate in a particular case. In this case, the commissioners were satisfied that sufficient action had been taken to protect charitable funds, and that it was not necessary to continue with their inquiries.

  Prisons (Drugs and Alcohol)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the services on drug and alcohol abuse available in each prison.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Lady Olga Maitland, dated 26 January 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the services for drug and alcohol abuse available in each prison. Detailed information about the services provided in individual prisons relating to drug and alcohol abuse is not collected centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  There are, however, a number of services available. Detailed information about caring for drug users is set out in Circular Instruction 12/1991 and the resource manual "Caring for Drug Users", copies of which are in the House of Commons Library.
  Provision is made for detoxification of drug users on reception, any necessary medical treatment, and treatment programmes. The latter vary between establishments, but include individual and group counselling work, often run by or in conjunction with voluntary agencies. Arrangements are also made for care after release through probation services and voluntary agencies. Our HIV and AIDS education and training for prisoners include particular mention of the dangers of transmission of the HIV virus for injecting drug users.
  Drug and alcohol abuse is a very high priority for the Prison Service and we are continuing to develop our programmes for dealing with drug and alcohol abusers.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Anguilla
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the refurbishment of the Governor's mansion in Anguilla is proceeding on time and within cost limits; what is the expected completion date and total cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The first stage of refurbishment of the governor's residence in Anguilla began in April 1993 and was completed in October 1993. The second stage began in December 1993 and is programmed for completion in July 1994. The project suffered some delay at an early stage, but is now proceeding on schedule and within the total works cost estimate of £310,000.
  259
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what complaints procedures exist for complaints of political bias or inaccuracy by the media in Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  All complaints are referred by the Director of Information and Broadcasting to the Chief Minister of Anguilla.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subsidy is paid to Radio Anguilla by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No subsidy is paid to Radio Anguilla by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is responsible for the appointment and employment of staff at Radio Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The establishments division of the Government of Anguilla, acting on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, is responsible for the appointment and employment of staff at Radio Anguilla.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what outstanding applications exist for licences to broadcast from radio stations in Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are no outstanding applications for licences to broadcast from radio stations in Anguilla.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the role and responsibility of the Governor of Anguilla regarding complaints against Radio Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Complaints against Radio Anguilla fall within the portfolio of the Chief Minister, not the governor.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue guidelines to Radio Anguilla to ensure the political impartiality of that radio station in the forthcoming general elections and beyond.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Additional guidelines for Radio Anguilla staff are not required in the period leading up to the general election. The governor is confident that Radio Anguilla will continue to operate free from all political interference.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the Radio Authority's guidelines regarding political coverage for radio stations in the Caribbean dependent territory of Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I consider the guidelines to be appropriate, as they are based on the practice adopted by the BBC. These are kept under review by the Department of Information and Broadcasting and updated where necessary.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the independence of Radio Anguilla from the Government of Anguilla; and if he will make a statement.
  260
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Radio Anguilla is part of the Department of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of Anguilla and, as such, is free from any form of censorship.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is responsible for the issuing of licences for radio broadcasts on Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Under Anguilla's Telecommunications Ordinance, the licensing authority is the telecommunications officer of the Government of Anguilla.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is prepared to set up a training programme for employees of Radio Anguilla at the BBC World Service.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A training programme with the BBC for employees of Radio Anguilla already exists.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects of a free and fair process in the forthcoming general elections in Anguilla; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I am confident that, as in the past, the forthcoming elections in Anguilla will be conducted in a fair and democratic manner.

  Women Conference
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who represented Her Majesty's Government at the inter-sessional working group for the fourth world conference on women held in New York, 10 to 14 January; if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft platform for action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  At the intersessional meeting in New York the United Kingdom was represented by the following officials: Ms J. Whitaker, sex equality branch, Department of Employment, Ms J. Graham, social development division, ODA, Ms A. Grant, counsellor, United Kingdom mission in New York, and Mr. P. Tissot, second secretary, United Kingdom mission in New York. The draft platform for action will not be completed until all national reports. have been submitted and all preparatory conferences have been held. This will not be before 1995. A copy of the draft platform will then be placed in the Library of the House.

  Kathmandu Air Crash
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Nepal concerning publication of the official report into the air disaster at Kathmandu in September 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have not made any representations to the Nepalese Government since the final report of the investigation into the crash of PIA flight PK 268 on 28 September 1992 was circulated in August 1993 by the Nepalese Government to the interested parties including
  261
  the air accidents investigation branch, which led the investigation. The air accidents investigation branch subsequently distributed copies of this report to relatives of the British victims.

  Consultants
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. Goodlad
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest position regarding peace initiatives to bring about a ceasefire in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The latest round of talks between the parties in Geneva took place on 18 and 19 January. The talks are due to resume on 10 February. All sides violated an agreed ceasefire over the Christmas period. The United Kingdom and our European Union partners remain fully behind the efforts of Lord Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg to bring the parties to a negotiated settlement.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what deadline has been set for a withdrawal of British troops from the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There is no deadline for the withdrawal of British troops. No decision has been taken on whether the current British contingent in UNPROFOR will be replaced, and none is imminent. Any such decision would be taken after consultation with our fellow troop contributors and other allies.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests Her Majesty's Government have received for additional British troops in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Britain is one of the leading contributors to UNPROFOR, with more than 2,300 troops in the former Yugoslavia. We have not been approached by the United Nations to increase this contribution.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to date to the Exchequer of British peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia; and to what extent this cost will be reimbursed for the cost from the United Nations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom share of United Nations assessed contributions to UNPROFOR is likely to total around £36·5 million for this financial year. The United Kingdom pays 6·373 per cent. of peacekeeping costs on the United Nations scale of assessment. The costs fall to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Additional Ministry of Defence costs for United Kingdom participation in UNPROFOR also fall to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. For the financial year
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  1993–94, this will amount to about £66·79 million, made up of Operation Grapple—Bosnia—£61·87 million; Operation Cheshire—airlift—£4·54 million; Operation Hanwood—the field ambulance which withdrew in September—£381,975. All amounts are net of standard rate of VAT.

  The United Nations has paid standard rate reimbursement for troop contributions to UNPROFOR for the period to the end of October 1993, and for nations to the end of September 1993. Refunds for the financial year 1993–94 to date amount to £15·7 million. Troop costs for the month of November 1993 are due to be paid at the end of January 1994. Other claims for reimbursable items of expenditure —for example, vehicles and equipment—have been submitted to the United Nations, and reimbursement will depend on the United Nation's ability to pay.

  Private Education Allowances
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on private education and boarding school allowances for the children of personnel employed by his Department, in each of the last five years; and how many children had their fees paid in each of those years.

  Mr. Goodlad
  In each of the last five years expenditure on boarding school allowances, and the number of children who attended boarding schools in the United Kingdom, was as follows:

  Financial year

  £ million

  Number of children

  1992–93

  7·88

  744

  1991–92

  7·73

  880

  1990–91

  7·58

  910

  1989–90

  7·21

  988

  1988–89

  7·17

  998

  Expenditure on fee-paying schools for children educated locally at post was as follows:

  Financial year

  £ million

  1992–93

  2·00

  1991–92

  1·80

  1990–91

  1·68

  1989–90

  1·58

  1988–89

  1·54

  Details of the total number of children for whom such allowances were paid are not available.

  Diplomatic Bags
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 723, when the present policy of destroying records of material carried by diplomatic bag within one year was introduced.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The practice of destroying bag schedules after a period of not less than six months has been part of standing instructions for over 30 years. Records of the precise date on which the policy was introduced are no longer available.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of
  263
  20 January, Official Report, column 723, what are the reasons for the Government's present policy of destroying records of material carried by diplomatic bag within one year.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office bag schedules record the delivery of material between originator and addressee, and are considered to have served their purpose once the contents of bags have been recorded as safely received. The bag schedules are treated in the same manner as other documents considered ephemeral, which are destroyed after a minimum period of six months.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Hill Farmers
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will provide details of the basis of the sample that her Department use for determining the national average incomes of hill farmers who are in receipt of hill livestock compensatory payments; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Details of the sample, which is part of that used in the farm business survey, together with notes on the

  Full lime farm businesses at June 1991 census and in the complete 1990–91 to 1991–92 identical sample by country, farm type, size group and tenure

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  June 1991 Census

  1991–92 Sample

  Sampling %

  June 1991 Census

  1991–92 Sample

  Sampling %

  June 1991 Census

  1991–92 Sample

  Sampling %

  June 1991 Census

  1991–92 Sample

  Sampling %

  Dairy

  Small

  5,504

  49

  0·9

  1,854

  28

  1·5

  142

  6

  4·2

  3,558

  106

  3·0

  Medium

  11,274

  225

  2·0

  2,364

  88

  3·7

  1,187

  40

  3·4

  2,015

  92

  4·6

  Large

  5,189

  190

  3·7

  627

  52

  8·3

  1,074

  47

  4·4

  257

  —

  —

  All sizes

  21,967

  464

  2·1

  4,845

  168

  3·5

  2,403

  93

  3·9

  5,830

  198

  3·4

  of which:

  owned

  9,796

  168

  1·7

  2,833

  102

  3·6

  1,753

  64

  3·7

  5,830

  198

  3·4

  tenanted

  5,251

  100

  1·9

  790

  20

  2·5

  650

  12

  1·8

  —

  —

  —

  mixed tenure

  6,920

  196

  2·8

  1,222

  46

  3·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hill and upland LFA livestock

  Small

  4,354

  101

  2·3

  5,139

  75

  1·5

  4,897

  86

  1·8

  4,045

  103

  2·5

  Medium

  3,145

  124

  3·9

  3,332

  119

  3·6

  3,296

  128

  3·9

  340

  19

  5·6

  Large

  1,033

  25

  2·4

  683

  37

  5·4

  953

  49

  5·1

  34

  —

  —

  All sizes

  8,532

  250

  2·9

  9,154

  231

  2·5

  9,146

  263

  2·9

  4,419

  122

  2·8

  of which:

  owned

  4,068

  93

  2·3

  5,718

  130

  2·3

  5,646

  133

  2·4

  4,419

  122

  2·8

  tenanted

  1,994

  73

  3·7

  1,220

  24

  2·0

  3,500

  95

  2·7

  —

  —

  —

  mixed tenure

  2,470

  84

  3·4

  2,216

  77

  3·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lowland livestock

  Small

  10,439

  76

  0·7

  1,224

  16

  1·3

  362

  14

  3·9

  1,240

  20

  1·6

  Medium

  3,645

  78

  2·1

  338

  10

  3·0

  489

  25

  5·1

  176

  6

  3·4

  Large

  1,121

  36

  3·2

  76

  2

  2·6

  237

  12

  5·1

  24

  —

  —

  All sizes

  15,205

  190

  1·2

  1,638

  28

  1·7

  1,088

  51

  4·7

  1,440

  26

  1·8

  of which:

  owned

  8,920

  84

  0·9

  959

  18

  1·9

  743

  24

  3·2

  1,440

  26

  1·8

  tenanted

  2,616

  44

  1·7

  300

  5

  1·7

  345

  19

  5·5

  —

  —

  —

  mixed tenure

  3,669

  62

  1·7

  379

  5

  1·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cropping

  Small

  9,295

  46

  0·5

  —

  —

  —

  774

  8

  1·0

  443

  —

  —

  Medium

  10,917

  203

  1·9

  —

  —

  —

  1,547

  31

  2·0

  185

  —

  —

  Large

  13,949

  530

  3·8

  —

  —

  —

  1,438

  43

  3·0

  54

  —

  —

  All sizes

  34,161

  779

  2·3

  —

  —

  —

  3,759

  82

  2·2

  682

  17

  2·5

  of which:

  owned

  14,233

  268

  1·9

  —

  —

  —

  2,336

  50

  2·1

  682

  17

  2·5

  tenanted

  7,981

  163

  2·0

  —

  —

  —

  1,423

  22

  1·5

  —

  —

  —

  mixed tenure

  11,947

  348

  2·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pigs and poultry

  Small

  1,812

  28

  1·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Medium

  1,595

  38

  2·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Large

  1,506

  43

  2·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All sizes

  4,913

  109

  2·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  of which:

  owned

  3,515

  65

  1·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  tenanted

  506

  11

  2·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  mixed tenure

  892

  33

  3·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  264
  method and definitions used are set out each year in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom", copies of which are in the Library of the House. The latest published data relate to the 1991–92 survey; details of the 1992–93 survey will be published in March.

  The survey is carried out by experienced field officers who are employed by universities and agricultural colleges. They visit a sample of 2,300 farmers throughout England and record a wide range of detailed physical and financial information about the farm business. The sample of farms covers all the different types and sizes of farm businesses in the country which are considered to be full-time. Such businesses account for 98 per cent. of agricultural activity in the country as a whole and 97 per cent. on farms wholly or mainly in the less-favoured areas. Great care is taken in the analysis of the results to ensure that the averages produced fully reflect the distribution of full-time farms in the country. Similar surveys are carried out in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. I am confident that the surveys are carried out to the highest professional standards and that they provide a fair reflection of trends in the income position of full-time farm businesses.
  265

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  June 1991 Census

  1991–92 Sample

  Sampling %

  June 1991 Census

  1991–92 Sample

  Sampling %

  June 1991 Census

  1991–92 Sample

  Sampling %

  June 1991 Census

  1991–92 Sample

  Sampling %

  Horticulture

  Small

  3,481

  68

  2·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Medium

  1,212

  56

  4·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Large

  748

  49

  6·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All sizes

  5,441

  173

  3·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  of which:

  owned

  3,667

  123

  3·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  tenanted

  673

  12

  1·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  mixed tenure

  1,101

  38

  3·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total holdings

  Small

  34,963

  368

  1·1

  8,217

  119

  1·4

  6,175

  114

  1·8

  9,458

  246

  2·6

  Medium

  31,829

  724

  2·3

  6,034

  217

  3·6

  6,519

  224

  3·4

  2,765

  126

  4·6

  Large

  23,573

  873

  3·7

  1,386

  91

  6·6

  3,702

  151

  4·1

  373

  —

  —

  All sizes

  90,365

  1,965

  2·2

  15,637

  427

  2·7

  16,396

  489

  3·0

  212,596

  3372

  3·0

  of which:

  owned

  44,328

  801

  1·8

  9,510

  250

  2·6

  10,478

  271

  2·6

  212,596

  3372

  3·0

  tenanted

  19,028

  403

  2·1

  2,310

  49

  2·1

  5,918

  148

  2·5

  —

  —

  —

  mixed tenure

  27,009

  761

  2·8

  3,817

  128

  3·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 The data in this table relate to farm types and sizes sampled for the Farm Business Survey. The totals quoted are therefore slightly lower than the grand totals of full-time farm businesses.

  2 Includes 225 mixed livestock farms not included in the breakdown.

  3 Includes 9 mixed livestock farms not included in the breakdown.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will place in the Library the information note prepared by his private secretary on 3 December 1990 on options for responding to allegations published in The Sunday Times on United Kingdom assistance to the Iraqi machine tool industry;

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the chronology of United Kingdom trade with Iraq, including the export guideline milestones, prepared for his office by the Cabinet Office in November 1992;

  (3) if he will place in the Library the briefing note prepared for him in support of his answer to the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Ashdown) of 12 November 1992, Official Report, column 990.

  The Prime Minister
  No. All the relevant documents have been made available to the Scott inquiry.

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 456, how many official Christmas cards he sent out in 1993; and how much this cost.

  The Prime Minister
  Nine hundred; the direct total cost of purchase and dispatch to the Prime Minister's office was approximately £205. The cost of the other cards I send does not fall on official funds.

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

  The Prime Minister
  Under the existing Trinidad terms, which resulted from my personal initiative, 18 countries have benefited. Over $4 billion of debt has been restructured and nearly $2 billion will be reduced over the 266
  lifetime of the individual agreements. We expect more countries to benefit over the coming months. These terms have the effect of halving the payments due to creditors and give a commitment to consider restructuring the whole stock of a country's eligible debt after a good track record of economic reform has been established. This would lead to significant additional relief for indebted countries in the medium term.

  At the G7 Tokyo summit last July, I secured agreement that improved debt reduction terms should be considered for the poorest and most indebted countries, including, for the first time, earlier action case by case on reducing the whole stock of debt—a key Trinidad terms objective.

  The United Kingdom is active in the Paris club and elsewhere in seeking co-ordinated action by creditors on the comprehensive debt reduction which these countries need, the Government miss no opportunity for urging other creditors to make progress.

  Second World War Commemorations
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will ensure that recognition is given in the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the Normandy landings to the contribution made by the construction of Mulberry harbours at the town of Tilbury;

  (2) if he will consult on ways to commemorate the sacrifices made, and the contribution to victory given, by dock workers and dockland communities throughout the United Kingdom during the second world war.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's programme for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings was announced on 6 January: I have arranged for details to be placed in the House Library. Included in the programme is a dinner at the Portsmouth guild hall and representatives of those who designed and built specialised equipment such as the Mulberry harbour will be invited.

  Plans are also being made for an official commemorative event in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of world war II. This will be a national event involving not only the armed forces, but those civilian organisations

  267
  which served this country during the war. It pays tribute to all those who sacrificed so much during the second world war.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer on 17 January,Official Report, column 367, if he will place in the Library a copy of the unsigned letter on Mr. Adams's headed notepaper, dated 7 January, which he recently received.

  The Prime Minister
  I have done so.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will withdraw his appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision of the Social Security Commissioner that the United Kingdom social security law discriminates against women being paid invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to hear the result of his appeal to the Court of Appeal against the Social Security Commissioner's decision that the United Kingdom social security law discriminates against women being paid invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  A hearing before the Court of Appeal took place on 18 January, when the court decided to refer the case to the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling on questions of European law.

  State Pensions
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his Department's estimate of the additional cost to the Exchequer in each year from 1980 of linking the state pension to average earnings; and if he will extend this estimate to each year up until 2000–01;

  (2) what would the state old age pension for 1994–95 be, in cash terms, if the link with earnings had been maintained since 1980.

  Mr. Hague
  It is estimated that the weekly rate of category A retirement pension would be £75·10 from April 1994 if it had been increased in line with average earnings since 1980.

  The estimated additional cash cost for the years 1980–81 to 1994–95 is shown in the table. An equivalent estimate for the years 1995–96 to 2000–01 is not available in the form requested, and depends on the assumed rate of increase of prices and earnings. However, a comparison between the cost of earnings uprating of benefits and that of prices uprating of benefits from 1990–91 to 2050–51 can be made by referring tables 13 and 14 of the "National Insurance Fund Long Term Financial Estimates—Report of the Government Actuary on the Second Quinquennial Review under Section 137 of the Social Security Act 1975" published in July 1990 as HoC 582.
  268

  Additional cost of uprating state Retirement Pension in line with average earnings1

  Financial year

  Cash cost £ million

  1980–81

  66

  1981–82

  294

  1982–83

  396

  1983–84

  465

  1984–85

  920

  1985–86

  1,084

  1986–87

  1,762

  1987–88

  2,711

  1988–89

  3,506

  1989–90

  4,510

  1990–91

  5,437

  1991–92

  5,712

  1992–93

  6,985

  1993–94

  7,751

  1994–95

  7,916

  1Source Government Actuary's Department.

  Administration Costs
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is(a) the administrative cost and (b) the administrative cost as a percentage of the payments made by his Department of (i) income support, social fund, (ii) grants, (iii) social fund loans and (iv) family credit.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest available information is for 1991–92. The administrative cost as a percentage of benefit expenditure is in the table, which is an extract from the 1993 departmental report.

  Estimated administration costs 1991–92

  Administration cost (£ million)

  Administration cost as a percentage of benefit

  Income support

  1,373

  11·8

  Social fund1

  163

  245·2

  Family credit

  33

  5·3

  1 Separate costs for social fund grants-loans are not available.

  2 Costs reflect the discretionary nature of most social fund decisions and recovery and recycling of money from loans.

  The next departmental report is due to be published by March 1994.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average cost, as a proportion of each claim, of administration of(a) child benefit, (b) income support, (c) invalidity benefit, (d) family credit and (e) the social fund.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest available information for the year 1991–92 is in the table.

  Estimated administration costs 1991–92

  Administration cost (£ million)

  Administration cost as percentage of benefit

  Child benefit and one parent benefit1

  118

  2·2

  Income support

  1,373

  11·8

  Sickness and invalidity benefit1

  275

  5·7

  Family credit

  233

  5·3

  Social fund

  163

  345·2

  Source: 1993 departmental report.

  1 Cost not available in respect of benefits.
  269
  2 Includes increased capital investment for information technology and publicity costs.

  3Costs reflect the discretionary nature of most social fund decisions and recovery and recycling of money from loans.

  The next departmental report is due to be published by March 1994.

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Social Security (1) what specific help with increased heating and fuel bills will be available to those using continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis as treatment for kidney disease, including help for those just above the income support threshold, after the imposition of value added tax on fuel;

  (2) what specific help with increased heating and fuel bills will be available to people with already high bills as a result of necessary medical treatment, after the imposition of value added tax on fuel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  We have announced a package of measures worth around £2·5 billion over three years. Pensioners and 80 per cent. of disabled people will receive extra help, as will all those receiving income-related benefits. Those disabled people who do not qualify for extra help are likely to be younger, less severely disabled, in work or better off. In addition, from April, disabled people receiving disability living allowance will become entitled to help with insulation costs through the home energy efficiency scheme.

  Income Support (Young People)
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many young people aged(a) 16 to 17 years and (b) 18 to 24 years were receiving supplementary benefit of income support in each year since 1978–79 and the latest month for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  Such information as is available is in the table.

  Thousands

  Year

  Aged 16 to 17

  Aged 18 to 24

  1978

  80

  252

  1979

  79

  256

  1980

  141

  345

  1981

  166

  533

  1982

  183

  719

  1983

  175

  813

  1984

  185

  847

  1986

  168

  903

  1987

  141

  823

  1988

  101

  687

  1989

  18

  683

  1990

  21

  688

  1991

  22

  809

  1992

  30

  925

  1993

  36

  1,073

  Notes:

  Sources: Supplementary Benefit Annual Enquiries, 1978–1987; Income Support Annual Enquiries, 1988–1992 (1 in 100 samples each May); February 1993 is the latest information and is based on a Quarterly Enquiry (1 in 20 sample).

  2. The figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. The information is not available for 1985.

  4. Eligibility for 16 and 17-year-olds changed from 12 September 1988.
  270

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the total level of severe weather payments so far triggered over the winter months 1993–94; what were the figures for each of the past two years for the same period; and if he will give this as a breakdown according to recognised weather stations.

  Mr. Scott
  All the available information is in the Library.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of administering unemployment benefit in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not yet available. Costs for the financial year 1992–93 will be contained in the next departmental report due to be published in March. The latest available figure is £322 million for 1991–92.

  Retirement Pensioners
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are in receipt of the state retirement pension; and what percentages of these(a) pay tax and (b) receive income support.

  Mr. Hague
  At 31 March 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, approximately 10 million people (total number of contributory and non-contributory pensions including those payable to people residing abroad) were in receipt of state retirement pension, of whom approximately 14 per cent. were also in receipt of income support.

  On the basis of the 1990–91 family expenditure survey, it is estimated that approximately 68 per cent. of individuals in receipt of state retirement pension were taxpayers.

  Child Maintenance
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases the maintenance assessment by the Child Support Agency has been lower than a previous maintenance agreement.

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

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Sir Ivan Lawrence, dated 25 January 1994:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking for the number of cases in which the maintenance assessment of the Child Support Agency has been lower than a previous maintenance agreement.
  The Agency does not routinely have information on the amounts of maintenance awarded, and therefore cannot make the comparsion asked for. Average court payments however, prior to 5 April 1993, when the Agency took over from the courts most of its work on assessment and collection and child maintanence, were £25 to £30 a week. Under the Agency's formula, we estimate that payments will average £45 to £50 a week.
  I hope that you find this reply useful.
  271

  War Pensions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many jobs in each grade are to be transferred to Blackpool from the DSS archives at Brunswick street, nelson; and on what date this is scheduled to occur;

  (2) what consultations have taken place with the relevant civil service unions concerning proposals to transfer from the Government Records Office at Brunswick street, Nelson, to Blackpool.

  (3) how many and at what grade jobs are at to be transferred to Blackpool from the Records Office at Brunswick atreet, Nelson; and when this is scheduled to occur.

  Mr. Burt
  The administtration of war pensions is a matter for Mr.Micheal Bichard, the chief executive benefits Agency. He will write to the hon.member.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 25 January 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the transfer of staff from DSS Archives in Nelson to Blackpool.
  I understand that your question refers to staff employed within the War Pensions Unit and are working in the same premises as the DSS Archives in Nelson.
  With a reducing number of claims and a new computer system in 1995 the War Pensions Unit is looking at its service delivery to see how work can be better processed.
  One option is to centralise the work currently carried out at Nelson within the War Pensions main operations centre at Norcross, Blackpool. There are currently 126 staff engaged on War Pensions duties at Nelson, but as no final conclusion has been reached as to the relocation I am not in a position to comment on the precise numbers or grades of staff which may be involved in such a move, or when such a move may take place.
  Full consultation has taken place with all the relevant Civil Service Unions concerning the proposals.
  I hope you find my reply helpful.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

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

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have this month provided £100,000 to the appeal of the International Federation of Red Cross/Crescent Societies for relief assistance to Azerbaijan. This contribution is specifically tied to support of the Iranian Red Crescent Society's programme for the displaced people in the south of the country.

  Oman
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been given to Oman in the last five years; and how it was spent.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Gross bilateral aid to Oman over the last five years was as follows:
  272

  £

  1988–89

  773,000

  1989–90

  815,000

  1990–91

  825,000

  1991–92

  1,044,000

  1992–93

  750,000

  The bulk of this finance was spent by ODA on technical co-operation projects and training mainly in education and agriculture. Short consultancies on investment promotion, engineering safety, industrial diversification, and public administration were also provided. The figures also include a total of £211,000 over the five-year period provided under schemes administered by the diplomatic wing of the FCO, mainly in the form of scholarships.

  Aid and Trade
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total aid and trade provision for each of the last five years; and how it was spent.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Total expenditure under the ATP for each of the last five years was as follows:

  £ million

  1988–89

  58

  1989–90

  62

  1990–91

  94

  1991–92

  101

  1992–93

  93

  This was used to provide grants to support successful tied aid development projects through mixed credits, soft loans and technical co-operation. A full list of projects supported under the ATP is in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a correction to his answer of 3 November, Official Report, column 239, in the light of the statement by the Overseas Development Administration permanent secretary before the Committee of Public Accounts on 17 January.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the right hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 25 January.

  Kenya
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new British aid projects in the areas of(a) agriculture and wildlife, (b) education, (c) health and family planning, (d) police and (e) transport are now under consideration in discussions with the Kenyan Government.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Projects currently under discussion include support for the national agricultural research programme; Kenya wildlife service; the Kenyan trypanosomiasis research programme; management training for head teachers; the planning function in the Ministry of
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  Education; projects to increase the availability of family planning services; an AIDS prevention project; a project to strengthen health service management; training for the police; and possible further assistance for Kenya railways.

  Projects (Ministerial Decisions)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions and what projects during his term of office he has overridden professional advice from the Overseas Development Administration that projects are not good value in aid terms and used Overseas Development Administration funds for that purpose.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has given a ministerial direction to ODA' s accounting officer on one occasion, in respect of the Pergau hydro-electric project in Malaysia.

  Agency

  Country

  Project Name

  1992–93

  Africa Now

  Gambia

  Tanji Community Family Planning

  26,187

  CARE

  Sudan

  Maternal Health

  9,515

  Christian Aid

  Thailand

  Burma Ethnic Minority Refugee Programme

  28,003

  Health Aid Moyo

  Malawi

  Expanded Nurse/Midwife Training

  84,180

  Marie Stopes International

  Bangladesh

  Employment Based FP Programme for Workers

  66,191

  Marie Stopes International

  Ethiopia

  Condom Soc Marketing FP/Aids Prog Urban Couples

  64,589

  Marie Stopes International

  Ethiopia

  Maternal and Reproductive Health Clinic

  45,738

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Contraceptive Social Marketing

  77,335

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Family Life Education (Brass Tacks) Extension for Delhi and Lucknow

  119,032

  Marie Stopes International

  India

  Workplace FP and Prev HC—Employees and Dependants

  73,382

  Marie Stopes International

  Lesotho

  Creating a Corps of Village-based FP Ed/Motivators

  5,402

  Marie Stopes International

  Malawi

  Community Mch and FP-Blantyre, Lilongwe and Zomba

  146,461

  Marie Stopes International

  Malawi

  Man to Man—Male Orientated Child Spacing/Education

  92,303

  Marie Stopes International

  Mexico

  Factory Based Health Care and FP Programme

  71,777

  Marie Stopes International

  Nicaragua

  Workplace Preventative Maternal Health and FP

  71,278

  Marie Stopes International

  Pakistan

  Lahore Based Reproductive Health Ext Services

  2,036

  Marie Stopes International

  Sierra Leone

  Work Based Maternal and Child Health and FP

  7,636

  Population Concern

  Bangladesh

  FP Services for the Rakhaine Tribes

  19,428

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  FP Training for Rural Women Development Agents

  17,364

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  Jimma-Contraceptive Distribution by Comm Health Agents and TBAs

  28,348

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  Training of Health Assistants

  19,955

  Population Concern

  Ethiopia

  Yirgalem—FP Education and Outreach Services

  25,773

  Population Concern

  Gambia

  Youth to Youth Iec on Adolescent Reproductive Health Management

  24,034

  Population Concern

  India

  Mobile Education and Service Unit

  48,235

  Population Concern

  India

  Women's Development (Kulasekaram and Dindigul)

  39,567

  Population Concern

  Pakistan

  Community Leadership Training

  16,132

  Population Concern

  Pakistan

  Family Planning Through Community Institutions

  28,864

  United Kingdom Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific

  Vanuatu

  Family Health Planning Project

  33,771

  Urban Aid

  Ghana

  Family Planning Project

  36,277

  TOTAL

  1,328,793

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to encourage other member states in the European Union to start funding family planning and related projects within their development and co-operation budgets.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are playing a leading role in pressing for concrete action to follow up the 1992 EC resolution on population. Officials participate in regular expert meetings in Brussels to strengthen co-operation among member states and the Commission. We are also helping the Commission to organise a seminar for EC member states and Commission officials on 28 February.
  274

  Family Planning
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and which non-governmental organisations received support for family planning and related projects through the joint funding scheme in 1993; what these projects were and in which countries they took place.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the financial year 1992–93, the latest year for which figures are available, a total of eight non-governmental organisations received support through the joint funding scheme for projects which were primarily for family planning and related activities. The details are set out in the table.

  Natural Resources Institute
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the future status of the Natural Resources Institute; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government have decided that a study of options for the future ownership of the Natural Resources Institute—NRI—should be carried out. Consultants will provide advice to Ministers on a range of possibilities for transferring the NRI to the private sector. These will be considered against the option of retaining the NRI within the public sector.

  This work will be undertaken against the background of Government policy explained in the 1993 "Next Steps Review", Cm 2430. The results of the study will be taken

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  into account in the wider scrutiny of public sector research establishments which is being undertaken by the Office of Public Service and Science.

WALES

  "Back to Basics"
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the implications of the Government's "back to basics" policy for his Department during 1994.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what working definition of "back to basics" is used by his Department; and what his Department has done in the past three months to implement the policy.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 January,Official Report, column 849.

  Live Animals (Export)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning the export of live animals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government accept that animals can be transported provided proper welfare standards are met. The EC directive on transport sets welfare conditions for the transport of all types of animals in the Community. Agreement on a package of additional measures was blocked by the United Kingdom in December last year because they did not offer real improvements in standards of protection. In any further discussions we shall press the Community to adopt measures reflecting our own high standards.

  Sheep Premium Scheme
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of claims for payment under the sheep annual premium scheme had been(a) processed and (b) paid by his Department by 17 January.

  Mr. Redwood
  The proportions are(a) 85 per cent.; (b) 82 per cent.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Hospital and community nursing and midwifery staff1:

  Learners2

  3,118

  3,075

  2,934

  1,970

  1,033

  Other staff3

  24,913

  25,008

  24,956

  25,377

  25,129

  Nurses employed by general medical practitioners4

  268

  459

  524

  519

  544

  1 Staff in post as at 30 September. Excludes staff employed by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority. Figures for 1989 and 1990 include staff working in the Blood Transfusion Service but figures for subsequent years do not as these staff then transferred to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  2 Since the autumn of 1991 student nurses have been classified as students and are no longer included in the NHS staff figures. Staff included here are students finishing courses begun before this date.

  3 The use of locally devised payscales from 1991 onwards may affect the comparability of figures as these staff cannot be allocated centrally to a specific staff group and are not, therefore, included above.

  4 Staff in post as at 1 October. Excludes some staff employed by GP Fundholders.

  276
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce the arrangements for leasing quotas under the sheep annual premium payments scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The arrangements for the second transfer and lease notification period for sheep quota for the 1993–1994 scheme years will be announced once all the national reserve quota has been allocated. For the 1995 scheme year, it was announced, on 15 November 1993, that notifications of transfers and leases should be submitted between 15 November 1993 and 15 September 1994.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made for farmers to have access to Ordnance Survey maps of the appropriate scale for completion of the IACS forms for hill livestock producers.

  Mr. Redwood
  Those hill livestock producers to whom IACS applies for the first time in 1994 can obtain copies of maps of the scale 1:2,500 from OS agents or other recognised outlets. Maps of this scale generally contain the four-figure national grid reference number of each field and the area in hectares which is required for IACS purposes. Where this information is not printed on the map, or in other areas where maps of 1:2,500 scale are not available, farmers may wish to seek professional help. The detailed requirements relating to mapping and field data, are included in a guidance note which is being sent to producers this week.

  Nurses
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nurses were employed in NHS hospitals in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what are the figures for nurses employed in the community alongside family doctors.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Detailed breakdowns of nursing staff employed by health authorities and NHS trusts into hospital and community staff are not considered reliable. However information on the whole-time equivalent numbers of all hospital and community nursing and midwifery staff is shown in the table as well as numbers of nurses employed by general medical practitioners.
  277

  NHS Hospitals (Admissions)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many admissions to NHS hospitals there were in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of these admissions were re-admissions within a month of hospital discharge.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The available information, based on aggregate hospital returns of discharge and deaths from NHS hospitals, is given in the table:

  Numbers

  1990–91

  584,285

  1991–92

  638,873

  1992–93

  667,367

  Information on how many of these cases were patients re-admitted within a month of hospital discharge is not available centrally.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to monitor the levels of private practice in national health service trusts in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is the responsibility of each national health service trust in Wales to monitor any provision for private patients and ensure that this does not interfere with its obligations to national health service patients. Income generated from private practice will be monitored through audited accounts.

  North Avon Training
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if his Department has awarded any training contracts to North Avon Training;

  (2) What training companies have replaced North Avon Training for training contracts in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Department has not awarded any training contracts to North Avon Training.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to allow A-level students to sit examinations in Welsh if they so request.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It remains our general policy that pupils taught through the medium of Welsh should be assessed through the medium of Welsh. Pupils entry to individual subject examinations is a matter of decision by the school governing body. The range of examinations offered by an individual examining body is a matter for the board itself.

  Tai Cymru Budget
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for 'Wales how much of the 1993 Tai Cymru budget was allocated to each Welsh constituency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Housing for Wales does not allocate resources on a constituency basis.
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  Job Clubs
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those training companies which currently have job club contracts at Newport, Haverfordwest and Merthyr Tydfil.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Training contracts let by job clubs are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  Cereals
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the average cereal yields per hectare for each of the two cereals regionalisation proposed regions in Wales for each year since 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 16 December 1993]: The information for 1989 to 1992 is shown in the table. Data for 1993 are not yet available. For the years 1987 and 1988, there is insufficient information available to produce reliable estimates.

  Cereal yields in proposed cereals regionalisation regions in Wales1

  Average cereal yield (tonnes per hectare)

  Year

  Region 1

  Region 2

  1989

  4·50

  3·63

  1990

  5·08

  4·39

  1991

  5·58

  4·55

  1992

  5·85

  4·68

  Source Cereals Production Survey (MAFF and Welsh Office)2.

  1As announced in the letter of 5 November 1993 from the Welsh Office to all cereal producers in Wales which proposed two regions as follows:

  Region 1—All parishes containing land classified as suitable for growing winter cereals and having an average of at least 50 hectares of wheat and winter barley during the period 1989 to 1991.

  Region 2—All parishes not included in Region 1.

  2A sample survey: the results shown are accurate to within plus or minus 10 per cent.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Tourism
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the funding of the English tourist board to each of the regional boards for 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Sproat
  The allocation of this funding is for the English tourist board to decide, based on discussions with the regional tourist boards as to whether industry needs are better met by action at the centre or action at regional level. Funding levels for 1994–95 are due to be determined in the near future.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what projections have been made of the potential expansion of overseas visitors to the United Kingdom over the next three years; and what steps he is taking to guarantee adequate investment to ensure this is achieved.

  Mr. Sproat
  The British Tourist Authority, which receives grant aid from my Department, has forecast 5 per cent. average annual growth in visits by overseas tourists, and 6·5 per cent. growth in expenditure by overseas tourists, during the period 1992–97.
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  The Government will continue to support the work of the British Tourist Authority in promoting Britain overseas; indeed, an increase in planned support was announced in the recent budget. The authority's corporate plan, agreed by Ministers, also sets challenging targets for attracting non-Government funding for its promotional activities.

  Paintings and Photographs
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list those Departments that have acquired photographs or pictures for their rooms from sources for which he is responsible; and if he will list the paintings and photographs concerned.

  Mr. Brooke
  The principal source of pictures on loan to Departments is the Government art collection, established nearly 100 years ago under the aegis of the office of works, and now a division of my own Department. Every major Government Department borrows works from the collection. Records are maintained of all the paintings and photographs in the Government art collection and their whereabouts throughout the world, but a written record would run to several hundred pages and could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the photographs and paintings on the walls of his rooms, together with the cost of each.

  Mr. Sproat
  My right hon. Friend has the following paintings and photographs in his office on loan from the Government art collection:

  Albatross, by Anthony Gross, cost: £37

  Two Coster Girls, by W. R. Sickert, cost: £4,500

  Ladder Painting No. 1, by Stephenie Bergman, cost: £1,035

  In The Cellar Mirror, by Norman Blarney, cost: £2,925

  The Red Cow, by John Armstrong, cost: £16,000

  Citadel, Triptych, Bermondsey Street, by Harriet Mena Hill, cost: £3,500

  In addition, I have two sculptures and two prints on loan from the Government art collection:

  Study for "Standard Unique", by Elisabeth Frink, cost: £81

  Study for "Hamstead Figure" 1/5, by Frederick E. McWilliam, cost: £135

  Brenda 1984 180/200, and Saturday Morning Shopping 1984 180/200, by Glen Baxter, cost: £117 each.

  The costs given are those at the date of purchase.

  Finally, there is a work from my own collection and a picture presented to my office.

  Sports and Arts
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give details of the consultations he has had with(a) regional sports councils and (b) regional arts boards, including dates and the nature of those consultations.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have so far had no meetings with the regional councils for sport and recreation. However, as part of the review of the Sports Council, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for National Heritage is currently meeting with the chairman of all 10 regional councils and is also visiting all 10 regions.

  I have occasional meetings with the chairman of individual regional arts boards. I also met the chairman of the English Regional Arts Boards, Sir Ernest Hall, on 20 January, when a range of matters was discussed.
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  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proportion of expenditure by his Department, and previous responsible Departments, has been for the Arts Council, the Sports Council, tourist boards and the British library in each year since 1981–82; and what is his forecast for 1993–94,1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Sproat
  The information requested is as follows:

  Percentage

  Arts Council

  Sports Council

  Tourist Boards

  British Library

  1981–82

  26·8

  7·0

  8·3

  13·2

  1982·83

  30·3

  9·3

  9·5

  15·7

  1983–84

  31·5

  9·0

  8·5

  16·7

  1984–85

  33·3

  9·5

  8·8

  17·7

  1985–86

  26·3

  7·5

  6·5

  13·8

  1986–87

  33·9

  9·3

  7·9

  15·2

  1987–88

  22·1

  5·9

  5·3

  11·5

  1988–89

  22·2

  5·6

  5·3

  11·0

  1989–90

  21·8

  5·9

  5·3

  13·3

  1990–91

  22·4

  5·7

  5·4

  13·9

  1991–92

  23·1

  5·3

  5·0

  13·8

  1992–93

  21·9

  4·8

  4·7

  12·6

  1993–94

  22·8

  5·1

  4·6

  11·0

  1994–95

  19·1

  5·1

  4·6

  13·6

  1995–96

  18·8

  5·0

  4·4

  13·1

  1996–97

  19·3

  5·1

  4·6

  11·3

  Notes:

  1. The percentage of funding shown for the bodies in question, is based on the central government expenditure for all those activities which now fall within the DNH responsibility. It is not possible to show these figures as proportions of the expenditure of those departments who had responsibility for these functions previously.

  2 From 1 April 1994 responsibility for the Scottish and Welsh Arts Councils will be transferred from the Secretary of State for National Heritage to the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales respectively. Whilst the above figures take account of all three Arts Councils for the years prior to 1994–95, from that year they represent the Arts Council of England only.

  3. The figures are also distorted due to changes in the spending coverage of the Department now and in prior years, for example the inclusion of provision for funding the Welsh 4th Channel with effect from 1992–93.

  4. The British Library figures include payments in relation to the building of the new British Library, St. Pancras.

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

  Mr. Sproat
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1994, c. 656]: The chief executives of the Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Parks agencies have now written to the hon. Member.

  Letter from David Welch to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 21 January 1994:
  As you know, I have been asked by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Mr. Lain Sproat, to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of Christmas cards sent by the Royal Parks Agency, and the cost of sending them.
  The only christmas cards distributed by the Agency were from Richmond Park. The printing costs were sponsored locally.

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  Envelopes cost £10 and they were sent at normal second class postal rate. It is not possible to quantify the cost of staff time involved in distributing them.

  Letter from David Beeton to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 20 January 1994:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for National Heritage, Mr. Sproat, to reply to your Parliamentary Question regarding Historic Royal Palaces Agency christmas cards.
  The Agency purchased 1,000 Christmas cards at a cost of £251·51. These, together with stocks (of about 650) remaining from the previous year, were supplied to me and my Palace and Specialist Directors and their staff, all of whom are civil servants.
  All cards were despatched at normal second class postal rate, or were sent via the Government Inter Departmental Service. It is not possible to quantify the cost in staff time to sign, address and envelope the cards.

  D-Day Commemorations
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the assistance his Department is giving to the Southern tourist board for its D-Day commemorations in 1994 and what additional help he plans.

  Mr. Sproat
  The English tourist board has given the Southern tourist board a grant totalling around £11,000 for 1993–94. The British Tourist Authority has provided both financial and administrative support for the Southern board's marketing activities on the D-day commemoration in the United States. In addition, they have provided free office space and equipment and under a joint scheme have subsidised the hoard's costs by 25 per cent. To date, this amounts to around £25,000.

  Plans are still being drawm up for the additional funds announced by the Prime Minister on 6 January for the promotion and co-ordination of events associated with the commemoration of D-day.

  Sport Facilities
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received about the effects of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 on the use of schools' and colleges' sports facilities by local sports clubs.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 25 January 1994]: None. However, I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education have a well-established joint policy of encouraging the community use of education premises when these are not required for the purposes of the school or college concerned.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on how many occasions the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for National Heritage has been replaced by the right hon. Lady Baroness Trumpington on official engagements that he had agreed to attend.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: Since her appointment, Lady Trumpington has carried out four official engagements, which circumstances prevented me from attending as originally scheduled.
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HOUSE OF COMMONS

  No. 7 Millbank
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what was the cost of converting No. 7 Millbank into offices for hon. Members; and who was responsible for its design and arrangements.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  Accommodation in No. 7 Millbank was first acquired by the Secretary of State for the Environment for use by the House to replace St. Stephen's house which is to be demolished as part of the works associated with the Jubilee line extension. Further space was then acquired to help meet the shortfall in accommodation for Members and their staff. The estimated net cost of the conversion work is £6·3 million.

  The design and arrangements were developed by the contractors together with the Parliamentary Works Directorate, and were approved by the Accommodation and Works Committee.

  Lobbying Organisations
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will table a resolution to require commercial lobbying organisations to be registered.

  Mr. Newton
  I have nothing at present to add to what I said when this issue was debated in the House on 28 June 1993,Official Report, columns 784–86. I understand that the Select Committee on Members' Interests has subsequently resumed consideration of the topic.

  Prime Minister's Question Time
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many occasions in each parliamentary Session since June 1983 the Leader of the House has deputised for the Prime Minister at Question Time.

  Mr. Newton
  This is a matter of public record.

  Cars
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, 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. Tony Newton
  The cars in question are provided by the Government car service (GCS). The increase in charges to my department largely reflects:

  (i) increases averaging 12 per cent. over the period in pay and the cost of vehicles and fuel;

  (ii) an increase in Value Added Tax on GCS bills on 1 April 1991 from 15 per cent. to 17·5 per cent.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Stevens Report
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Stevens report was commissioned; and which elected representatives have access to all or part of it.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Mr. Stevens was appointed by the Chief Constable of the RUC to conduct an inquiry into
  283
  allegations of collusion between members of the security forces in Northern Ireland and loyalist paramilitaries, and to make recommendations. A copy of Mr. Stevens's report was made available to my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and a summary of the report was placed in the Library of the House on 17 May 1990.

  Schools (Capital Expenditure)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he proposes to lift the current moratorium on capital expenditure on schools in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  My decision to slow down the building programme for schools and colleges was taken with great regret, and only because I judged it more important to protect standards in the classroom.

  Planning of projects is still proceeding, but, at this stage, I cannot give a commitment as to when the moratorium will be lifted.

  Nursery Schools
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children attend nursery schools; what percentage this is of the total age group available for nursery education; what is the present expenditure per annum on nursery education; and if he will make a statement on the provision of additional nursery schools.

  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 7,822 pupils attended nursery schools and nursery units in the 1992–93 academic year, which was 30 per cent. of the relevant age group.

  Expenditure in 1992–93 on nursery education was some £7·6 million.

  The expenditure priority continues to be given to the compulsory schools sector. Additional nursery places are provided as resources allow, with priority directed at areas of greatest social need. An additional 225 places have been made available in the past three years.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time nursery school places are available in the Belvoir estate; how many of each category will be available for the year commencing September; and if he will make a statement about the provision of nursery school education in the Belvoir estate.

  Mr. Ancram
  The two unit nursery attached to Belvoir Park primary currently provides places for 25 full-time pupils and 50 part-time pupils. From September 1994, the school will move to a dual-day system catering for a total of 100 pupils.

  There are no plans to expand nursery provision in the Belvoir estate.

  Milk Marketing
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he received proposals from the Milk Marketing Board for the reform of the milk marketing schemes; what is the proposed timetable for this reform; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  My right hon. and learned Friend received a scheme of reorganisation from the Milk 284
  Marketing Board for Northern Ireland for the reform of milk marketing arrangements on 31 December 1993. The scheme proposes a date of 1 April 1994 for the ending of the milk marketing scheme in Northern Ireland.

  The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland issued a consultation document on the principles of the reorganisation scheme on 17 January. A period of five weeks until 18 February has been given for replies from interested organisations. Responses to the consultation exercise will be considered by the Department in deciding whether the scheme is a qualifying scheme under the terms of the Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 and one which ought to be approved.

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

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: Schemes operated by the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments under which loans are available and their objectives are as follows:

  Urban Development Grant (UDG)
  UDG is a discretionary grant designed to foster the physical and economic regeneration of inner city areas of Belfast and Londonderry by stimulation of private enterprise and investment. Assistance can be in the form of loans.

  Community Economic Regeneration Schemes (CERS)
  CERS are jointly funded by the Department of the Environment and the International Fund for Ireland. The objective is to foster property led community development in areas suffering from urban decay where the public sector is unwilling to invest. Assistance with capital costs is usually in the form of 80 per cent. grant and 20 per cent. loan.

  Community Regeneration and Improvement Special Programme (CRISP)
  The objective of CRISP is to provide finance for community groups to develop property related economic projects in their localities. Elements of assistance may comprise loans.

  Belfast Action Teams (BATs)
  Loans are paid by BATs to bring about an improvement in the quality of life and an enhancement of the opportunities and prospects of people living in the Action Team areas, and improve the effectiveness with which Government expenditure is used to benefit those living in those areas.

  Industrial development board—Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) Scheme
  The SFA scheme is administered by the Industrial Development Board to provide loan capital to industry. Funding in various forms including loan capital may, at the discretion of the Department, be offered to approved projects to encourage the introduction and development of internationally competitive companies in the manufacturing and tradeable services sectors in Northern Ireland so as to create the conditions of growth in durable employment.

  Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU)
  LEDU offers loans to small firms throughout Northern Ireland as part of its overall package of assistance to assist the development and growth of the small business sector.

  Tourism Development Scheme (TDS)
  TDS's aim is to assist the improvement of the tourist accommodation and amenities which Northern Ireland can offer

  285
  and thereby strengthen the competitive position of the tourism industry and improve its contribution to the economy of Northern Ireland. The range of assistance available includes loans.

  Government Loans Scheme
  The Government loans scheme in Northern Ireland has as its objective the funding of approved capital projects undertaken by local authorities and other prescribed bodies, including schools and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  General Medical Practitioner (GMP) Loans Scheme
  This scheme was introduced to assist GMPs in improving practice premises, especially in deprived areas.

  Social Fund Scheme
  The Social Security Agency operates a Social Fund scheme under which people can apply for interest free loans to meet large intermittent or unexpected expenses. The scheme is intended to help people on a low income who cannot meet exceptional expenses from their regular income.
  There are two types of loans available from the Social Fund, budgeting loans and crisis loans. Budgeting loans are available to people who have been receiving Income Support for at least 26 weeks to help with important expenses which are difficult to budget for out of weekly benefit. Crisis loans are available to people who need financial help to meet expenses in an emergency or disaster, whether or not they are receiving benefit. However a crisis loan can only be awarded if it is the only way to prevent serious risk, or serious damage, to their health or safety.

  Information regarding unrecovered loans in the schemes for which Department of Economic Development is responsible—SFA scheme, LEDU and TDS—could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  A breakdown detailing unrecovered loans in respect of the other aforementioned schemes is as follows:

  At 31 March

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Urban Development grant

  Number of unrecovered loans

  1

  1

  1

  Value of unrecovered loans —£ million

  0·300

  0·300

  0·300

  Belfast Action Teams

  Number of unrecoverd loans

  19

  20

  21

  Value of unrecovered loans —£ million

  0·050

  0·069

  0·080

  Government Loans scheme

  Number of unrecovered loans

  12,274

  12,386

  12,500

  Value of unrecovered loans —£ million

  1,298·400

  1,500·800

  1,711·000

  GMP Loans Scheme

  Number of unrecovered loans

  62

  60

  56

  Value of unrecovered loans —£ million

  4·304

  4·238

  4·004

  Social Fund Scheme

  Number of unrecovered loans

  80,860

  99,297

  107,662

  Value of unrecovered loans —£ million

  10·675

  13·215

  14·396

  There are no uncovered loans under CERS or CRISP.

  The cost of recovering loans is not recorded in all Departments and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Paramilitaries
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all members of(a) proscribed loyalist and (b) proscribed republican organisations who are convicted prisoners in custody in Northern Ireland giving,
  286
  in each case, the date of their original conviction, their offence or offences, the length of sentence given and their paramilitary affiliation.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: It would not be appropriate to name or divulge details of individual prisoners.

  Prison Assaults
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many assaults have been made on prison officers in each Northern Ireland prison in each of the last 24 months; how many prison officers required hospital treatment in each month; and how many assaults in each month were made by(a) loyalist prisoners, (b) republican prisoners and (c) other prisoners.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [pursuant to the reply, 16 December 1993, columns 871–72]: The affiliations of the prisoners who carried out assaults on 278 prison officers between December 1991 and November 1993 are as follows:

  Number

  Attributable to loyalists

  79

  Attributable to republicans

  34

  Attributable to other prisoners

  29

  Unattributable

  1136

  1A large number of assaults on staff occurred during attempts to break up factional fighting and therefore it is not possible to say for certain which individual prisoner caused the assaults.

  Information on the number of injured officers requiring hospital treatment could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  "Back to Basics"
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the implications of the Government's "Back to Basics" policy for his Department during 1994.

  Sir John Wheeler
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 January,Official Report, column 849.

  Mr. David Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what working definition of back to basics is used by his Department; and what his Department has done in the past three months to implement the policy.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 20 January 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 January, Official Report, column 849..

EMPLOYMENT

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information as requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  287

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will produce a table showing the working population of each EC country as a percentage of the total population for the latest figures available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The available information is as follows:

  Total employment as a percentage of the population aged 15 to 64, 19911

  Per cent.

  Denmark

  76

  Portugal

  71

  United Kingdom

  69

  Germany

  65

  Nrtherlands

  63

  Luxembourg

  61

  France

  60

  Belgium

  57

  Italy

  56

  Greece

  55

  Ireland

  52

  Spain

  49

  Source: OECD, except United Kingdom (Employment Department).

  1 1991 is the latest year for which comparable data are available.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the United Kingdom are unemployed and are not receiving benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest estimates from the labour force survey for summer—June to August—1993 are that there were 1,099,000 people in the United Kingdom classified as unemployed on the internationally standard ILO measure of unemployment, but not claiming unemployment related benefits; these estimates include spring 1993 data for Northern Ireland. Conversely, there were 1,038,000 claimants that were not ILO unemployed, so that the level of unemployment on the internationally standard definition—2,981,000—was only 61,000 higher, not seasonally adjusted, than the level shown by the claimant count for the equivalent period—2,919,000.

  Multiple Unemployment
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the number of families who experience multiple unemployment.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The labour force survey shows that, in summer 1993, the estimated number of families in Great Britain in which two or more people were unemployed, on the International Labour Organisation definition, was 227,000. This represented 1·5 per cent. of all families in which there were at least two people aged 16 or over.

  Temporary Employees
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he is giving to considering changing the rules governing the protection of temporary employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No. The employment protection rights already extend to temporary employees on the same basis as for permanent employees.
  288
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees are classified as temporary in the United Kingdom; what percentage of the working population this represents; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest estimates from the labour force survey for summer—June to August—1993 are that 1,473,000—7 per cent.—employees in the United Kingdom are employed on a temporary basis; these estimates include spring 1993 data for Northern Ireland. Except for a seasonal increase in the summer of each year, temporary employment in the United Kingdom has remained constant over the past decade at between 5 to 6 per cent.

  Access to Work
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which statute empowers him to introduce the access to work scheme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is empowered to introduce Access to Work by the Employment and Training Act 1973, as amended by the Employment Act 1988.

  Consultants
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what happened to the job club contracts at Bristol, Easton, Gloucestershire, Haverfordwest, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport, Gwent, after the financial collapse of Northavon Training;

  (2) what training companies held job club contracts at Bristol, Easton, Gloucestershire, Haverfordwest, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport, Gwent;

  (3) whether Happy Extra Ltd., North Avon Enterprise Ltd., Northavon Training, Personal Training or Development Group Ltd. have ever held job club contracts at Bristol, Easton, Gloucestershire, Haverfordwest, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport, Gwent;

  (4) if he will list those companies to which job club contracts at Bristol, Easton, Gloucestershire, Haverfordwest, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport, Gwent, were transferred to other training companies, after the collapse of Northavon Training;

  (5) what financial assessments his Department has made of Northavon Training.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Paul Murphy, dated 26 January 1994:

  289
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the effect of the financial collapse of Northavon Training on Jobclub contracts in Bristol, Easton, Gloucestershire, Haverfordwest, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport in Gwent.

  You asked what happened to Jobclub contracts which were previously held by Northavon Training in the above locations and which companies took over these contracts after the collapse of this organisation. Before the company went into receivership it operated eleven Jobclub contracts in the places you mention. Information about these Jobclubs together with details of the organisations who have taken the contracts over are in Annex 1.
  It is unusual for a Jobclub contract to be interrupted or terminated because of financial problems on the part of the contractor. Where this does occur, the Employment Service (ES) takes steps to ensure there is as little disruption as possible to the Jobclub members. This can mean making temporary, short-term arrangements which will later be followed by our normal, fully competitive, tendering procedures. Such a process has occurred in several of the locations involved in your question.
  I have listed at Annex 2 all organisations which held Jobclub contracts in December 1993 at the locations you mention.
  You also asked whether Happy Extra Ltd., Northavon Enterprise Ltd., Northavon Training, Personal Training and

  Annex 1

  Northavon Training—Jobclub contracts

  Locations

  Number of contracts

  Action

  Bristol

  2

  Contracts transferred to Northavon Training, as operating division of newly formed Personal Training and Development Group.

  Easton

  Nil

  Not applicable.

  Gloucestershire

  Forest of Dean

  3

  Contracts transferred to Northavon Training, as operating division of newly formed Personal Training and Development Group.

  Cheltenham

  1

  Transferred to caretaker provider—GLOSCAT, pending full competitive tendering exercise to be completed by April 1994.

  Gloucester

  2

  Transferred to caretaker provider—JHP TRAINING, pending full competitive tendering exercise to be completed by April 1994.

  Haverfordwest

  1

  Temporary arrangements to provide Jobclub service internally, pending full competitive tendering exercise to be completed by April 1994.

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1

  Temporary arrangements to provide Jobclub service internally, pending full competitive tendering exercise to be completed by April 1994.

  Newport, Gwent

  1

  Jobclubs within the area were able to accommodate all members. Competitive tendering exercise will be completed by April 1994.

  Annex 2

  Organisations holding jobclub contracts December 1993

  Location

  Name of organisation

  Type1

  Number of contracts

  Bristol

  Fifton College

  CFE

  4

  Scout Enterprises [Western Ltd.]

  PR

  4

  Northavon Training

  PR

  2

  Grant Met Trust Ltd.

  PR

  2

  Bowerman Associates

  PR

  1

  North Avon Chamber of Commerce

  PR

  1

  290
  Development Group Ltd. have ever held Jobclub contracts in these same locations. I asked my people to check our records and I can say that Happy Extra Ltd. have never held a Jobclub contract. Northavon Training was a subsidiary company of Northavon Enterprises Ltd. which ceased trading in December 1993. Following a management buy out, Northavon Training is now operating as part of the newly formed Personal Training and Development Group. All Jobclub contracts in Annex 1 where with Northavon Training except for the Jobclub in Newport which was awarded to Northavon Enterprise Ltd.
  In the past we have not required a financial assessment of prospective programme contractors. This is mainly due to the low risk nature of Jobclub contracts where payments are made monthly in arrears after the service has been delivered. These arrangements mean there is no loss to public funds where a contractor ceases trading because of financial problems. However, some checks were made in the case of Northavon Training and these gave no cause for concern. The issue of more systematic financial scrutiny of potential contractors for Jobclub and other programmes is currently being considered by people concerned with policy development in my Head Office.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Location

  Name of organisation

  Type1

  Number of contracts

  POC associates Ltd.

  PR

  1

  Personnel and Training Services

  PR

  1

  South Bristol College

  CFE

  1

  South West Management Ltd.

  PR

  1

  Appex Trust

  CH

  1

  Barton Hill Settlement

  CH

  1

  Newfoundland Employment

  CH

  1

  291

  Location

  Name of organisation

  Type1

  Number of contracts

  Scout Enterprises

  Easton

  (Western Ltd.)

  PR

  1

  Gloucestershire

  Northavon Training

  PR

  3

  JHP Training Ltd.

  PR

  3

  GLOSCAT

  CFE

  2

  Bennington Training Services Ltd.

  PR

  1

  Personnel and Training Services

  PR

  1

  Stroud College

  CFE

  1

  Haverfordwest

  Northavon Training

  PR

  1

  Merthyr Tydfil

  Northavon Training

  PR

  1

  Newport, Gwent

  Basil Hewell

  PR

  2

  Accents Ltd.

  PR

  1

  Northavon Enterprise Ltd.

  PR

  1

  1 Key.

  PR—Private Provider.

  CFE—College of Further Education.

  CH—Charity.

EDUCATION

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the local education authorities where fewer than half of three and four-year-olds attend a full time nursery school or class.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In England in January 1993, there were no LEAs where more than half of the children aged three and four were being taught on a full-time basis in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools.

  Schools
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools are(a) controlled by local education authorities, (b) voluntary aided and (c) grant-maintained in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Figures taken from the "Index of Educational Establishments" indicate that the number of schools maintained by local education authorities in England, including maintained nursery, special and hospital schools, is 23,643, of which 4,075 are voluntary aided. In addition, there are 814 grant-maintained schools.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many independent or private schools have been inspected by Her Majesty's inspectorate or the Office of Standards in Education in the last three years; and if he will list them.
  292
  Mr. Forth
  The new Government Department, the Office for Standards in Education, was created on 1 September 1992. All inspections carried out by HMI or reports published since that date are a matter for OFSTED. I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

  Prior to September 1992, when HMI were members of this Department, they undertook a variety of types of inspection visit to schools. Not all of these inspections were planned to lead to published reports. A list of the independent schools which received an inspection visit between 1 January 1991 and 31 August 1992 has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many grant-maintained schools have been inspected by Her Majesty's inspectorate or OFSTED in the last three years; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The new Government Department, the Office for Standards in Education, was created on 1 September 1992. All inspections carried out by HMI or reports published since that date are a matter for OFSTED. I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

  Prior to September 1992, school inspections were carried out by HMI who were members of this Department. Up to July 1992, none of the visits to grant-maintained schools was a formal inspection intended to lead to a published report. Under the new independent inspection arrangements introduced from September 1993, schools maintained wholly or mainly from public funds, including grant-maintained schools, will be inspected every four years by registered inspectors with published reports and action plans. I will write to the hon. Member in regards to the information requested about HMI inspections before September 1992.

  Private and Independent Schools
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his Department's estimate of the number of private and independent schools currently operating.

  Mr. Forth
  There are currently 2,294 independent schools, including 15 city technology colleges, in operation in England.

  Parents Charter
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which organisations have been asked to tender for contracts to distribute the revised parents charter; and how many copies are to be distributed.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Organisations have not yet been invited to tender for the contract to distribute the parents charter later in 1994. Approximately 20 million copies will be distributed.

  Moral Education
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provisions currently exist to ensure that children receive proper moral education, with particular reference to safe sex, at the primary and secondary school levels.

  Mr. Forth
  The new arrangements for sex education introduced by the Education Act 1993, which will come
  293
  into force in September 1994, require maintained secondary schools to provide sex education and give maintained primary schools discretion whether to do so. Section 46 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 provides for sex education to have due regard to moral considerations and the value of family life. Section 1 of the Education Reform Act 1988 provides more generally for the maintained school curriculum to promote the moral development of pupils. We are currently consulting on a draft circular of guidance to schools on the implementation of the sex education provisions: the final version will be issued in the spring.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if it is his intention, under his proposed principles to be observed in relation to student union services supported out of public funds, to prohibit student unions from funding or giving strategic support to community action schemes.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government are determined to reform student unions and to secure that the principles of choice, democracy and accountability are universallly observed in their activities. It is not our intention to jeopardise student services, for which funding will remain available in institutions' budgets.

  University College Fees
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Education if he will publish the current level of college fees agreed with his Department in respect of undergraduates in all the colleges of universities who have recognised collegiate structures; and when the levels for the next academic year will be agreed.

  Mr. Boswell
  The current maximum levels of college fees reimbursed through a student's mandatory award in 1993–94 are shown in the table. The levels for 1994–95 will be agreed during the course of this academic year.

  Fee £

  Cambridge colleges

  Christ's

  2,526

  Churchill

  2,511

  Clare

  2,535

  Clare Hall

  2,460

  Corpus Christi

  2,619

  Darwin

  2,580

  Downing

  2,700

  Emmanuel

  2,565

  Fitzwilliam

  2,706

  Girton

  2,601

  Gonville and Caius

  2,562

  Hughes Hall

  2,460

  Jesus

  2,589

  King's

  2,526

  Lucy Cavendish

  2,616

  Magdelene

  2,694

  New Hall

  2,691

  Newnham

  2,691

  Pembroke

  2,688

  Peterhouse

  2,514

  Queens'

  2,640

  Robinson

  2,655

  St. Catharine's

  2,601

  St. Edmund's

  2,463

  St. John's

  2,478

  Selwyn

  2,691

  294

  Fee £

  Sidney Sussex

  2,694

  Trinity

  2,460

  Trinity Hall

  2,628

  Wesley

  2,622

  Wolfson

  2,499

  Durham Colleges

  University

  182

  Hatfield

  182

  Grey

  182

  Van Mildert

  182

  Collingwood

  182

  St. Hild and St. Bede

  182

  St. Cuthbert's

  182

  St. Mary's

  182

  St. Aidan's

  182

  Trevelyan

  182

  St. Chad's

  945

  St. John's

  945

  Ushaw

  945

  Kent Colleges

  Darwin

  160

  Eliot

  160

  Rutherford

  160

  Keynes

  160

  Lancaster Colleges

  Bowland

  138

  Cartmel

  138

  The County

  138

  Furness

  138

  Fylde

  138

  Grizedale

  138

  Lonsdale

  138

  Pendle

  138

  Oxford Colleges

  Balliol

  2,936

  Blackfriars

  2,819

  Brasenose

  2,955

  Campion Hall

  3,129

  Christ Church

  2,953

  Corpus Christi

  2,946

  Exeter

  2,986

  Greyfriars

  3,008

  Hertford

  3,115

  Jesus

  2,959

  Keble

  3,183

  Lady Margaret Hall

  3,108

  Lincoln

  2,903

  Magdalen

  2,985

  Manchester

  3,012

  Mansfield

  3,297

  Merton

  2,870

  New College

  2,977

  Oriel

  3,108

  Pembroke

  2,962

  Queen's

  2,921

  Regent's Park

  3,116

  Ripon (Cuddesdon)

  2,775

  St. Anne's

  3,094

  St. Benet's Hall

  3,076

  St. Catherine's

  3,010

  St. Edmund Hall

  3,069

  St. Hilda's

  3,062

  St. Hugh's

  3,096

  St. John's

  2,918

  St. Peter's

  3,162

  St. Stephen's House

  3,011

  Somerville

  3,067

  Trinity

  2,939

  University

  2,972

  Wadham

  3,030

  Worcester

  3,021

  Wycliffe Hall

  3,011

  York Colleges

  295

  Fee £

  Alcuin

  154

  Derwent

  154

  Goodricke

  154

  Langwith

  154

  Vanburgh

  154

  Wentworth

  154

  Student Support
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the report on discretionary student support currently being prepared by the Gulbenkian Foundation and the Sir John Cass Foundation with the Further Education Funding Council and his Department will(a) be completed and (b) be published.

  Mr. Boswell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton (Mrs. Browning) on 7 December 1993,Official Report, column 161.

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to enable local authorities to increase the number of discretionary awards available to students on access courses in further education colleges.

  Mr. Boswell
  Discretionary awards are made by local authorities, which meet the cost from their own resources. The Secretary of State has no power to intervene in the discretionary award policies of local authorities.

  Access Courses
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the Government intends to increase the number of places on access courses in further education colleges.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government's expenditure plans for further education allow for the forecast increase of 25 per cent. in student numbers up to 1995–96 to be met in full, with an additional increase of 3 per cent. between 1995–96 and 1996–97. These plans include provision for students on access courses as defined by schedule 2 to the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. Decisions about the number of places in individual subjects or types of courses are for individual colleges, in the light of demand from students and employers and the funding available to them.

  Consultants
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. Boswell
  I have placed in the Library a list of the projects on which consultants were engaged in each year since 1987. The total cost of these was £7·4 million. Information for the years prior to 1987 is not available in the form requested.
  296

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 414, how many official Christmas cards he and his junior Ministers sent out in 1993, and how much this cost.

  Mr. Boswell
  Ministers from the Department sent out some 820 cards in 1993, at a total approximate cost of £710.

TRANSPORT

  M62 Relief Road
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total number of valid objections to the M62 relief road proposals received to date at(a) the north-west regional office, Department of Transport and (b) the Department of Transport, Marsham street.

  Mr. Robert Key
  So far, 5,180 representations have been received—4,850 at the north-west regional office and 330 at Marsham street. These figures include an element of duplication.

  Transport Police
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 December,Official Report, columns 697–98, what amendments will be required to the British Transport Police Scheme 1963 (Amendment) Order 1992 to take effect from April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Transport Police Force Scheme 1963 will need to be amended to take effect from April to enable the BTP to continue to operate in the restructured railway.

  The amendments are needed to allow the British Railways Board, as employer, to enter into the agreements referred to in section 132(3) of the Railways Act 1993. These agreements will enable the BR Board to provide services to other users of the police on a repayment basis.

  Some minor consequential amendments will also be needed to ensure compatibility of the scheme with the Railways Act 1993.

  Following consultation with the BR Board, London Underground Ltd. and the Docklands Light Railway, the amendments will be laid before Parliament in the spring.

  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 December,Official Report, columns 697–98, what the budgetary, funding and charging arrangements will be for the British Transport police from April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  In the restructuring railway, the employer of the British Transport police, initially the BR Board, will be responsible for the BTP budget. The budget will be drawn up as now on a regional basis, for consideration by the police committee, in consultation with the BTP and users of their services.

  Costs attributable to other users will be recovered in full by the employer through charging. It will be for the employer to ensure that all the appropriate charges are collected.
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  A licence condition will require operators to use and pay for the services of the BTP. Operators will pay the employer of the police—British Rail—direct. Policing costs will be split between Railtrack, train operating companies, independent station operators and open access operators. Operators will also pay for any specific additional policing requirements.

  Isle of Wight
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will consider appointing a special adviser for the Isle of Wight's coastal road problems and to assist the highway authority to prepare alternative routes in the event of further slippage;

  (2) if he will ensure his officials visit the Isle of Wight to assess the landslip and stability problems and safety of the island's roads for holiday traffic.

  Mr. Robert Key
  If the Isle of Wight council needs technical advice from the Department of Transport on its road network, it should contact our south-eastern regional office and state its requirements. We shall be glad to provide any assistance we can. Should it prove necessary, officials will visit the island.

  A19
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail his plans for improving the A19 between Peterlee and the roundabout known as Testo's; when works is expected to(a) begin and (b) end; and what plans there are to improve Testo's roundabout.

  Mr. Key
  The section of the A19 between Easington and Hawthorn services will be improved to modern standards by widening the carriageway by 2 m at the same time as essential maintenance work is undertaken during 1994–95.

  There are no plans in the current programme for improvement to Testo's roundabout.

  Consultants
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Norris
  I regret that an answer to this question can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department expects to receive a report on the study being conducted by the piggy back consortium into conveyance of freight by rail; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that this consortium expects its study to be completed by April. I look forward to examining its findings.

  Rail Infrastructure (Spending)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing spending on rail infrastructure for each country in the EC per capita for the latest year available.
  298
  Mr. Freeman
  No. It is difficult to make realistic spending comparisons between railway systems because of differences in areas such as accounting methods, definitions of infrastructure and terrain. However, last January, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Community, published "Transport Annual Statistics 1970–1990" which gives, at page 14 of the publication, infrastructure spending for seven of the 12 EC countries up to 1989. A copy of this publication has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  A2
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on when the public consultation period will begin on the proposals to dual the A2 road between Lydden and Dover; and by which date he will publish those proposals.

  Mr. Key
  Investigation of options for the A2 Lydden —B2060—to Dover improvement is continuing and the present programme is for public consultation later this year. The scheme is included in the current review of the road programme and I will make a further announcement about the outcome of the review as soon as possible.

HEALTH

  Arboviruses
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work has been done on arboviruses in national health service hospitals by scientists from the Ministry of Defence's Porton Down chemical and biological warfare establishment since 1964; when this work was carried out; what was the conclusion of the work; if the results of the work were exchanged with the United States of America, Canada and Australia; and in which publications the results were published.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has no record of any collaborative work between national health service hospitals and the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data have been collected by her Department regarding the average length of time between the installation of national health. service hospital beds and other ward furniture and their replacement.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the number of people suffering from asbestos-related diseases and the numbers of them who do not have bilateral pleural diffuse thickening.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on which to base such an estimate is not available.

  Complementary Therapies
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much the NHS spent on complementary therapies in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
  299
  (2) what definition the NHS uses of the therapies regarded as complementary; and if she will list the therapies;

  (3) how many NHS hospitals provide treatment considered to be complementary medicine.

  Mr. Sackville
  There is no common definition in use within the national health service of complementary therapies, therefore figures on how much the NHS spent and the number of NHS hospitals where treatments are given cannot be provided.

  Mental Health
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many districts have a policy and practice plans to deal with those who fall out of care/contact with services.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not collected on districts which have a policy and plans to follow up those who fall out of contact with mental health services. We are planning to issue guidance on discharge arrangements for mentally disordered people which will emphasise the need for follow-up procedures under the care programme approach.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the number of beds in each district for(a) special hospitals, (b) medium secure beds, (c) acute hospital in-patient beds, (d) hospital hostel beds and (e) community beds in (i) half-way hostels, (ii) crisis care, (iii) respite care, (iv) women only, (v) 24 hours staffed community beds and (vi) day-time staffed beds.

  Mr. Bowis
  The numbers of long stay beds, short stay beds and medium secure beds by district are published annually in "Bed Availability in England". The latest publication relating to 1992–93 is available in the Library. The remaining information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total expenditure of(a) West Berkshire health authority and (b) each of the other health authorities in the United Kingdom is spent on activities relating to mental health; and how much this represents per capita of the population served by each health authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: This information will be placed in the Library.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made by the Chief Medical Officer about the possible danger of vapour fumes from unleaded petrol; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Committees on CarcinogenicityCOC—and Medical Effects of Air Pollutants—COMEAP —set up by the Chief Medical Officer to advise him, have considered hazards to health from inhalation of benzene which is a component of vapour fumes from leaded and unleaded petrol. Benzene is an important component of leaded and unleaded petrol. It is limited by European Community directive to a maximum content of 5 per cent. by volume.

  Benzene is toxic at high doses and is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a human carcinogen. Long-term occupational exposure to benzene at concentrations a thousand times greater than those
  300
  typically found in urban air in the United Kingdom has been shown to increase the risk of certain types of leukaemia in adults: its use in industry is therefore strictly controlled. Although it is not possible to define an absolutely safe level of exposure to benzene, levels in outdoor air encountered in the United Kingdom are considered by COMEAP and the COC, to present a very low risk to health.

  Treatment Facilities
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many districts have residential and general treatment facilities for those who have had challenging behavioural or forensic histories.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on the number of beds by sector is published annually in the KHO3 summary booklet, "Bed Availability in England", a copy of which is available in the Library. The number of districts with residential and general treatment facilities of this kind is not recorded centrally, but guidance was issued to health and local authorities in October 1992, LAC(92)15 and HSG(92)42, which emphasised the need to provide a diverse range of services to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities.

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will arrange for general practitioner contracts to be amended so that cervical smear tests are carried out every three years.

  Mr. Sackville
  Our first priority is to increase take up under the existing screening programme, as research shows that the majority of women who develop cervical cancer have not been screened.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health of she will list the management allowances payments made to GP fundholding practices and practices preparing to be fundholders(a) by wave and (b) in total for each (i) family health services authority and (ii) region.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested will be placed in the Library. General practitioner fundholding has delivered many improvements in quality of care for patients. The costs of the management allowance—at about 2 per cent. of budgets set, represents excellent value for money.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. Sackville
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's one special adviser is employed directly by the Department of Health.
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  Children (Slow Development)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged under 16 years suffer from developmental delay and learning difficulties where it has not been possible to establish the reason.

  Mr. Bowis
  Three to four per 1,000 children are known to have severe learning disabilities. In at least a quarter of these cases the cause is unknown.

  Independent Sector Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of beds of an independent sector home in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is shown in the table. Figures for 1981 and 1982 have not been provided for residential care homes as the information held for these years is not considered reliable. No figures are available for nursing homes before 1982.

  Mean number of beds available per home in the independent sector at 31 March 1979 to 1992

  Year

  Residential homes

  Nursing homes

  1979

  21

  n/a

  1980

  21

  n/a

  1981

  n/a

  n/a

  1982

  n/a

  26

  1983

  19

  27

  1984

  19

  26

  1985

  18

  26

  1986

  17

  26

  1987

  17

  1—

  1988

  17

  26

  1989

  17

  28

  1990

  17

  29

  1991

  18

  30

  1992

  18

  31

  1993

  2—

  32

  1 The year of collection for data on nursing homes changed from calendar to financial between 31 December 1986 and 1 April 1988, consequently the figures for 1987 are included in the 1988 entry.

  2 Figures are not yet available.

  Sources: Nursing homes SBH212 (1982–1986), KO36 Returns (1987/88–1992/93).

  Residential homes RA2-RA4 (1979–1986) RAC; Return (1987–1992).

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 389, how many official Christmas cards she and her junior Ministers sent out in 1993; and how much this cost.

  Mr. Sackville
  Some 1,800 charity Christmas cards were sent out, at an estimated cost of £1,080.

  Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the size and nature of the list maintained by her Department of candidates for health authority and trust appointments.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Nominations for appointment to national health service authorities and trusts, which are 302
  received from hon. Members and others, including self-nominations, are forwarded to regional health authorities who are responsible for making some appointments and whose chairmen are required to propose candidates for board appointments made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Cold-related Illnesses
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records are maintained annually as to the effect of cold weather spells on hospital admissions according to GP recommendations.

  Mr. Bowis
  Anonymised data from hospital patient administration systems are submitted to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in respect of each patient admitted to hospital for treatment. Extracts of the dataset are then analysed by the Department of Health. The patient record will show the condition for which admission was made and will include the date of that admission. There is no central record. of the admission practice of individual general practitioners.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research has been undertaken by her Department into the effects of cold weather, hypothermia and chill-related illnesses on the overall health budget.

  Mr. Bowis
  None. The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the most recent estimated cost to her Department of cold-related illnesses.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not available on which to base such an estimate, since no precise definition of "cold-related illness" can be made.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure has been incurred by her Department to ensure public awareness of the dangers of cold weather to health and the measures required to combat them; and if she will give a breakdown by regional health authority and regional health boards.

  Mr. Bowis
  We spent approximately £445,000 on our "Keep Warm Keep Well" public information campaign for the winter of 1992–93. Contributions to the total cost, which approached £500,000, were also made by the Department of Social Security and the Welsh Office. A similar campaign for Scotland, "Keep Warm this Winter" is funded by the Scottish Office at a cost in 1992–93 of £103,000. These campaigns do not involve regional health authorities or regional health boards.

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out for each of the last five financial years, and for 1993–94, the amount of money spent on refurbishing and improving the Yorkshire regional health headquarters in Harrogate.

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for the Yorkshire regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Sir Brian Askew, for details.
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  NHS Beds (Private Use)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 534, what are the safeguards that constrain the opportunities for health authorities and trusts in making available authorised pay-beds.

  Mr Sackville
  National health service trust hospitals may make beds available for private patients providing there is no significant interference with the performance by the trust of its obligations under NHS contracts. Similar provisions apply to directly managed units. These statutory requirements ensure that NHS patients are not disadvantaged by private practice within the health service.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific auditing or monitoring is undertaken to ensure that national health service private patient charges are calculated correctly and that all costs to the national health service are included.

  Mr. Sackville
  Auditors examine the adequacy of systems of financial control and compliance with them as part of their annual audit programme.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her Department's policy on(a) collecting centrally and (b) for publishing information on the number of authorised pay-beds within the national health service since 1 April 1991;

  (2) when she expects information on the number of authorised pay-beds in the national health service for the years 1991–92 and 1992–93 to become available; and what are the reasons for the delay in making public information on authorised pay-beds in the national health service for 1991–92.

  Mr. Sackville
  Since 1 April 1991, health authorities, on behalf of directly managed units, and trusts have, subject to certain safeguards, been able to determine their own private patient activity. Trusts record private patient income in their accounts but do not "authorise" pay-beds and therefore do not collect authorised bed numbers.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence her Department has received indicating abuses or omissions in the compilation of charges to private bed users within the national health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

DEFENCE

  Porton Down
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what tests and studies have been carried by the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down into binary reactant DF; when these tests and studies were carried out; and what was the assessment of these studies and tests;

  (2) if all the tests for the human volunteer programme run by the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down since 1964 have been carried out on service personnel alone; and if all these tests have been conducted within the grounds of the establishments at either Porton Down or Nancekuke;
  304
  (3) what work has been conducted since 1964 inside NHS hospitals by scientists from the Porton Down chemical and biological warfare establishment; when this work was carried out; if this work involved NHS patients; what was the conclusion of the work; if the results of the work were exchanged with the United States of America, Canada and Australia; and in which publications the results were published;

  (4) what was the nature of the collaborative work studied by the members of the chemical and biological defence establishment who were stationed for an extended period at the counterpart US military establishments in Edgewood and Fort Detrick and Maryland in recent years; and how much of this collaborative work has been published in open scientific literature;

  (5) what is the procedure for monitoring and checking on the health of service personnel who have been tested with chemical and biological warfare agents at Porton Down in the years following the tests; for how many years after the tests check-ups are made; how often the check-ups are made; if this information is automatically made available to the doctors of the service personnel, whether requested or not; and what changes have been made to this procedure since 1964;

  (6)what was the conclusion of Porton Down's work on coxiella burnettii referred to in his answer to the hon. Member of 16 July 1993, Official Report, column 712–19, in which years information from this research was exchanged with the United States of America; and with which United States of America military establishment this information was exchanged;

  (7) following his answer, from which source the QL referred to in his reply of 16 July 1993, Official Report, column 712–19, was obtained, what was the conclusion of the study; and if VX was produced as a result of the study into the transesterification process involving QL;

  (8) what studies and tests have been done by the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down to assess a nerve agent which penetrates skin and clothes quicker than the G agents and VX; when these experiments were done; and what was the conclusion of the assessment;

  (9) if he will make a statement on the considerations leading to the setting up by the chemical and biological defence board of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council of the new biomedical sciences committee and microbiology and biotechnology committee; and if he will name the academic members of these committees;

  (10) what experiments his Department has carried out on Rocky Mountain spotted fever; when this work was carried out; what was the purpose of the work; and when and under which defence agreements the results of this work were passed to the United States of America, Canada or Australia.

  Mr. Hanley
  These are matters for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down—CBDE. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Letters from Graham S. Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 26 January 1994:

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what tests and studies have been carried by the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down into binary reactant DF; when these tests and studies were carried out; and what was the assessment of these studies and tests (Question 9,

  305
  Order Paper, 18 January 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the evaluation of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. Some work was carried out in the late 1940s and early 1950s into methyl phosphonyl difluoride at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Sutton Oak in a programme of work on unitary nerve agent precursors. The difluoride was subsequently used in mixtures with the dichloride in work at Nancekuke to prepare unitary nerve agents. No work has been carried out on DF as a binary reactant. More recently a limited study was carried out in 1993 to evaluate possible analytical techniques for DF as part of a programme examining the availability of the analytical techniques required to underpin the Chemical Weapons Convention.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if all the tests for the human volunteer programme run by the chemical warfare establishments at Porton Down since 1964 have been carried out on service personnel alone; and if all these tests have been conducted within the grounds of the establishments at either Porton Down or Nancekuke (Question 10, Order Paper 18 January 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use service volunteers to:

  a. assess the ability of service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and

  c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.

  3. All studies for the human volunteer programme ran by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment since 1964 are carried out using Service volunteers only and the majority of the studies are conducted within the grounds of the Establishment; a few are carried out at other military establishments. No Service volunteer studies have taken place at Nancekuke.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what work has been conducted since 1964 inside NHS hospitals by scientists from the Porton Down chemical and biological warfare establishment; when this work was carried out; if this work involved NHS patients; what was the conclusion of the work; if the results of the work were exchanged with the United States of America, Canada and Australia; and in which publications the results were published (Question 13, Order Paper 18 January 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the evaluation of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. In carrying out its programme, CBDE does work in conjunction with academic institutions and hospital departments generally involving an extramural research contract from CBDE. Occasionally, members of CBDE staff participate in the work at these academic institutions or hospitals. No records are maintained of such participation. The involvement of NHS patients would be a matter for the academic institution or hospital concerned.
  306
  4. The results of work carried out in conjunction with academic institution and hospital departments forms part of the technology base drawn upon in collaboration with the United States of America, Canada and Australia. Our records do not indicate any publications involving work carried out inside NHS hospitals by scientists from CBDE.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what was the nature of the collaborative work studied by the members of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment who were stationed for an extended period at the counterpart US military establishments in Edgewood and Fort Detrick in Maryland in recent years; and how much of this collaborative work has been published in open scientific literature (Question 16, Order Paper 18 January 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. I regret that our records do not provide this information in a readily accessible form. However I have consulted my staff and a small number of them have been stationed in recent years at either Edgewood or Fort Detrick. The nature of the collaborative work studied by members of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment was as follows:

  (a) Detection of airborne microorganisms.

  (b) Rapid identification of microorganisms by means of immunofluorescence.

  (c) Theoretical studies into the penetration of protective suits by aerosol particles.

  (d) Studies into the detection of chemical warfare agents focusing on the application of ion mobility spectrometry.

  (e) Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling.

  3. The published open literature that appeared as a result of this collaborative work was:

  (a) PHILLIPS A. P., MORRIS B. C., HALL D., GLENISTER M. and WILLIAMS J. E. Identification of encapsulated and non-encapsulated Yersinia restis by immunofluorescence tests using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Epidemiol Infect 101: 59–73,1988.

  (b) PHILLIPS A. P. and EZZELL J. W. Identification of Bacillus anthracis by polyclonal antibodies against extracted vegetative cell antigens. J Appl Bacteriol 66:419–432, 1989.

  (c) EICEMAN G. A., SNYDER A. P. and BLYTH I). A. Monitoring of airborne organic vapors using ion mobility spectrometry. Intemat J Environ Anal Chem, 1990. Vol 38 part 3 pp 415–425.

  (d) EICEMAN G. A., SNYDER A. P. and BLYTH D. A. Continuous atmospheric monitoring of organic vapors by ion mobility spectrometry. Instrumen Trace Org Monit, 1992.

  (e) EICEMAN G. A., BLYTH D. A., SHOFF D. B. and SNYDER A. P. Screening of solid commercial pharmaceuticals using ion mobility spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry, 1990. Vol 62 part 14 pp 1374–1379.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what is the procedure for monitoring and checking on the health of service personnel who have been tested with chemical and biological warfare agents at Porton Down in the years following the tests; for how many years after the tests check-ups are made; how often the check-ups are made; if this information is automatically made available to the doctors of the service personnel, whether requested or not; and what changes have been made to this procedure since 1964 (Question 18, Order Paper 18 January 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces have effective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use service volunteers to:

  (a) assess the ability of service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  (b) develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and

  307

  (c) evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.

  3. The procedure in respect of Service volunteers is that on arrival at CBDE each volunteer is given a medical examination to see if they are fit for the proposed study. The nature of the study is explained to them and they are told that they may withdraw from the study without any explanation at any stage. At the end of the study they are given a second medical examination and the fact that they have participated at CBDE in a volunteer study is recorded on their medical records.

  4. From time to time, Service volunteers have been recalled so that checks on their medical health can be made. There is no particular frequency or pattern to such recalls. In addition some volunteers return voluntarily to CBDE to take part in subsequent unrelated studies. There is no evidence that Service volunteers have had any deterioration in their health as a result of their participation as a volunteer in a human study.

  5. Recently, the practice has been instituted in which all volunteers upon arrival at the Establishment have been read a lay statement by a military officer which states that "It is CBDE policy to call back some volunteer subjects for re-testing from time to time to ensure that the techniques used give consistent and reproducible results and that no changes in the way we apply the tests have occurred with time". The recall of any volunteers to CBDE is recorded on their medical records.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what was the conclusion of Porton Down's work on Coxiella Burnettii referred to in his Answer to the honourable Member of 16th July 1993, Official Report, column 714, in which years information from this research was exchanged with the United States of America; and with which United States of America military establishment this information was exchanged (Question 19, Order Paper 18 January 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the evaluation of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. The work on Coxiella Burnettii has shown that a number of antibody reagents and gene probes could be produced which could be incorporated into test procedures for the indentification of the agent. This information was exchanged with the United States Army Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and the US Army Edgewood Research, Development and Engineering Center (ERDEC) since the last 1980s.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking from which source the QL referred to in his reply of 16th July 1993, Official Report, column 712, was obtained, what was the conclusion of the study; and if VX was produced as a result of the study into the transesterification process involving QL (Question 20, Order Paper 18 Janaury 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The QL was obtained from the United States of America and the conclusion of the study into the transesterification process confirmed that it was possible to produce VX from QL.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what studies and tests have been done by the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down to assess a nerve agent which penetrates skin and clothes quicker than the G agents and VX; when these experiments were done; and what was the conclusion of the assessment (Question 22, Order Paper 18 January 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or
  308
  biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the evaluation of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. Our records do not indicate that any tests or studies have been carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down to assess a nerve agent which penetrates the skin and clothing quicker than the G agents and VX.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he will make a statement on the considerations leading to the setting up by the Chemical and Biological Defence Board of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council of the new Biomedical Sciences Committee and Microbiology and Biotechnology Committee; and if he will name the academic members of those committees (Question 23, Order Paper 18 January 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The Chemical and Biological Defence Board of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council has had three committees since the early 1980s: Physical Sciencies Committee, Life Sciences Committee and Medical Committee. In the late 1980s, an additional committee called the Biotechnology Committee was established under the Chemical and Biological Defence Board and was tasked to produce a report on the implications of biotechnology for defence. The Biotechnology Committee completed its work in early 1992. At the same time some of the activities of the Medical Committee were transferred to the CBDE Ethics Committee and the three committees of the Chemical and Biological Defence Board were reorganised into the Physical Science Committee, the Biomedical Sciences Committee and the Microbiology and Biotechnology Committee.

  3. The individual independent members of these committees serve in a personal capacity and it would be inappropriate for the Ministry of Defence to name them.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what experiments his Department has carried out on Rocky Mountain spotted fever; when this work was carried out; what was the purpose of the work; and when and under which defence agreements the results of this work were passed to the United States of America, Canada or Australia (Question 25, Order Paper 18 January 1994) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. We have no record that any work has been carried out at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment or its precursor establishments into Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when was the last time the Ministry of Defence held discussions at a ministerial level with the United States of America concerning the production of chemical weapons; where these meetings were held; and who attended the meetings.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the dates, and locations of all the meetings between his Department and the United States Government since 1979 to discuss the renewed production of chemical weapons by(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the United States of America.

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Kingdom abandoned its offensive chemical capability in the 1950s. Our policy emphasises the need for an effective defence against the use of chemical weapons and the implementation of international agreements on their control, destruction and eventual abolition. We have had a long-standing and continuing dialogue with the United States on a broad range of issues in the chemical warfare field, including in the 1980s United States plans to update their offensive
  309
  chemical capability, which were subsequently cancelled by President Bush in May 1991. Details of all meetings where United States plans were discussed could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mutual Weapons Development Programme.
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Britain and the United States of America set up the mutual weapons development programme: what was the range of the programme; why it was set up; which United Kingdom Ministry of Defence establishments were involved; and what is the current status of the programme.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department is not aware of the mutual weapons development programme referred to by the hon. Member.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Mr. Nicolas Bevan, a former civil servant in his Department, has requested any special access to departmental documents in preparation for his appearance before the Scott inquiry.

  Mr. Aitken
  All current and former Ministry of Defence officials and Ministers called to give evidence to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry have been offered access to relevant departmental documents.

  International Military Services Ltd.
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all defence export sales by International Military Services Ltd. or any of its subsidiaries are subject to licensing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  All exports of defence equipment by International Military Services Ltd. and its subsidiaries are subject to the normal export licensing requirements.

  Exports
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Government defence export sales are currently subject to export licensing and which are not; and what changes were made in this during the period after 1980.

  Mr. Aitken
  All Government defence exports have Crown status and are therefore not subject to export licensing requirements. They are, however, subject to the normal foreign and defence policy considerations.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether defence exports carried out as part of the successive Government-to-Government agreements with Jordan and Saudi Arabia were subject to export licensing.

  Mr. Aitken
  Sales of defence equipment to Jordan under the memoranda of understanding signed in 1985 and 1987 were subject to the normal export licensing requirements. Exports of defence equipment to Saudi Arabia under the Al Yamamah arrangement have Crown status and are therefore riot subject to export licensing requirements, although they are subject to the normal foreign and defence policy considerations. All other sales of defence equipment to Saudi Arabia are subject to the normal export licensing requirements.

  Mozambique (Assistance)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance the Government have given and will give to Mozambique to assist in clearing land mines.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Ministry of Defence has not to date assisted the Government of Mozambique with the clearance of land mines, and there are no current plans to provide this type of assistance. The United Nations operation in Mozambique has embarked on an extensive mine clearance project.

  South Africa
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department is giving to South Africa, following requests, for help and advice in creating a multiracial peacekeeping force.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Ministry of Defence, in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is actively considering with the parties involved how the United Kingdom might best help the process of creating integrated defence forces in South Africa. Any assistance must be at the request of the sub-council for Defence of the Transitional Executive Council in South Africa. The sub-council has approved the formation of a national peacekeeping force and has approached the Commonwealth Secretary-General for assistance to the force. The Government are giving urgent consideration to the request from the Secretary-General for British personnel to form part of a commonwealth advisory team.

  Tank Imports
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what model is the tank imported from the Russian Federation in 1992, as listed in the United Nations register of conventional arms.

  Mr. Hanley
  The model is T-80U.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what comparative study he has carried out into the search and rescue Sea Kings operating and support costs at RAF Chivenor and RAF Brawdy for each of the next five years, from 1 July 1994; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will give his best estimate of the breakdown of operating and support costs for search and rescue Sea Kings from RAF Chivenor in the year commencing 1 August together with that of operating from RAF Brawdy in the same period.

  Mr. Hanley
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Bases (Refurbishment)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those bases which are being refurbished in the next three years; and how much is being spent on each base.

  Mr. Hanley
  All defence establishments maintain a regular programme of maintenance work and, where necessary, new construction, both to maintain the operational effectiveness of the defence estate and to
  311
  update facilities as defence needs change. Such planned refurbishment expenditure is the responsibility of individual budget holders; information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the effect of Government spending plans on the services provided by his Department.

  Mr. Lang
  Within the total available for public expenditure in Scotland, I shall be imposing strict limits on what is spent directly on staff and the other costs of running the Scottish Office. All areas will be required to demonstrate greater efficiency in delivering services.

  Forestry
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the working group established in 1993 to report on the options for the ownership and management of Forestry Commission woodlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Ministers expect to receive the advice of the forestry review group early this year.

  New Towns
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the new town development corporation boards to discuss the wind-up of the new towns; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  Winding up of new towns was among the issues discussed when I met the chairmen of each new 312
  town development corporation in December 1993. My right hon. Friend last met all chairmen in October 1992 and those of Livingston and Irvine last October.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mrs. Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss local government reorganisation.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Mr. Hogg) and for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Chisholm).

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from those local authorities which organised referendums on local government reform; and if he will give the results of these referendums.

  Mr. Stewart
  A number of local authorities have conducted referendums including Clydesdale district council in the hon. Member's constituency. However, comprehensive information on the results of these is not available centrally.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from local authorities concerning local government reform and the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill; and of these councils how many indicated that they had conducted referendums on both subjects.

  Mr. Stewart
  A wide range of representations has been received from local authorities and other organisations about our proposals for local government reform. Some have taken the form of referendum while others have taken the form of opinion polls, petitions and postcard campaigns.
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  A90 (Dualling)
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent since 1979 in upgrading the newly renamed A90 from Aberdeen to dual carriageway.

  Mr. James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since 1979, we have spent some £139 million on a major upgrading of the A90 route between Perth and Aberdeen. The opening of the Brechin bypass this spring will complete the dualling of the route and fulfil our manifesto commitment.

  Tourist Boards
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Scottish tourist board to discuss the reduction in the number of area tourist boards in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet the chairman of the Scottish tourist board to discuss the reduction in the number of area tourist boards in Scotland.

  Housing
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to meet representatives of tenants' groups to discuss housing needs and investment in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend does not currently have any plans to meet representatives of tenants' groups to discuss housing needs and investment in Scotland. It is for local housing authorities to consider the housing needs of their areas, and to identify their investment needs in their annual capital programmes.

  School Buildings (Grampian)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he has taken of the changes in the numbers on school rolls within each constituency in the Grampian regional council area when deciding the capital allocation for school buildings.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Capital allocations for school buildings are distributed according to our assessment of education authorities' relative needs and priorities. Several factors are taken into account, including pupil numbers. Each authority is considered as a whole, not on the basis of individual constituencies.

  Roads (Strathclyde)
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met Strathclyde regional council to discuss road network development.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I met Councillor Malcolm Waugh, chairman of Strathclyde regional council's roads and transportation committee, on Friday 3 December 1993 to discuss progress on the A77 Ayr road route.

  Quarries
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on allowing planning applications for very large quarries.
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  Mr. Stewart
  Current policy on very large quarries is set out in the "National Planning Guidelines: Aggregate Working", 1977. A copy is available in the House Library. New guidance is to be issued soon.

  Forestry Commission
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his timetable for the review of the work of the Forestry Commission.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I expect the forestry review group to present its advice to Ministers early this year.

  Drug Addiction
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he has taken in order to reduce the crime rate, the increase in drug addiction and the number of drug-related deaths.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have in place a range of measures aimed at reducing both the supply of, and the demand for, drugs. These measures seek to tackle the problem on a number of fronts, including enforcement of the laws against trafficking and misuse of drugs; prevention and education; and treatment and rehabilitation. The drugs task force led by my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State is currently reviewing what is being done and considering what further steps might be taken.

  More broadly, the Government continue to seek to develop initiatives to prevent and deal with crime. Our new crime prevention strategy launched in November 1992 provides a framework within which action to prevent crime can be taken forward. It is encouraging that recorded crime in Scotland fell slightly in 1992 and recent reports from Scottish police forces have indicated that the trend towards lower crime figures continued in 1993.

  Bypasses (Fife)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the provision of bypasses for communities in north-east Fife.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have no current plans for the construction of bypasses in north-east Fife.

  Strikes
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what analysis he has made of the number of hours lost through strike action in Scotland in 1991 and 1992; and what comparison he has made with the comparable figures for 1978 and 1979.

  Mr. Stewart
  In Scotland, the number of working days lost through stoppages of work caused by industrial disputes was 28 per 1,000 employees in 1992 and 62 per thousand employees in 1991. The comparable figures for 1978 and 1979, per 1,000 employees, were 429 and 1,569 respectively.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Walsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Scottish National Farmers Union to discuss current problems in Scottish agriculture with particular reference to the arable sector.
  315
  Sir Hector Monro
  My right hon. Friend met Mr. John Ross, president of the Farmers' Union of Scotland, on Wednesday 24 November 1993 to discuss a range of issues affecting the Scottish arable sector.

  European Development Fund
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with regional councils about European development fund grants.

  Mr. Lang
  Scottish Office Ministers have had a number of meetings recently with local authorities and local enterprise companies to consider cases for designation under the European structural funds. The hon. Member will be aware of the Government's success in securing designation, and therefore eligibility for European funding, for areas covering close to 85 per cent. of the Scottish population under objectives 1, 2 and 5b. Close and regular contact will continue to be maintained at official level as regional development plans for the designated areas are drawn up.

  Quangos
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review his criteria for appointing people to quangos.

  Mr. Lang
  No. All public appointments must be made on the basis of aptitude and merit. I see no reason to change these criteria.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the number of NHS trust hospitals in Scotland in breach of the patients charter waiting time limits.

  Mr. Stewart
  There were eight NHS trust hospitals which had patients on waiting lists at 30 September 1993 who had waited longer than the appropriate treatment guarantees.

  Mines (Abandonment)
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to retain the Scottish mining abandonment plans in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  This is a matter for British Coal as custodian of the record.

  Council House Sales
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many council houses have been sold to sitting tenants in Scotland since May 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is published in the Scottish Office statistical bulletin, housing series, No. HSG/1993/8, "Housing Trends in Scotland". This publication is available in the Library.

  Health Care
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the chairpersons of health boards to discuss the provision of health care in Scotland.
  316
  Mr. Stewart
  My noble and learned Friend the Minister of State is due to meet health board chairmen on 25 February 1994.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board (Management)
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to undertake a review of internal management practices at Greater Glasgow health board.

  Mr. Stewart
  Greater Glasgow health board faces a large agenda of change in implementing its mental health strategy and community care plan, in formulating and implementing strategies for acute and primary care services and in developing its role as purchaser.

  The new chairman understands the need for effective management of the board's affairs and is responsible for ensuring that the board is as well placed as possible to undertake these important tasks. My right hon. Friend is ready to offer any necessary support.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about commercial confidentiality in relation to local enterprise companies.

  Mr. Stewart
  The local enterprise companies are required by their operating contracts with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to have in place arrangements to protect confidential and commercial in confidence information, including that of their own directors and others. Precise arrangements are for Scottish Enterprise Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the local enterprise companies to determine.

  Tourist Boards
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the future of tourist boards in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish tourist board has submitted a recommendation on a new area tourist board structure to my right hon. Friend. This is being considered carefully and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Hospitals (Emergency Theatres)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if each national health service hospital which carries out operations has a theatre dedicated to emergencies.

  Mr. Stewart
  In larger hospitals, surgical teams take turns to be responsible for emergencies, typically for 24 hours each, during which they normally have sole use of a theatre for emergency operations. Smaller hospitals cannot operate the same system but will always give precedence to emergency operations over waiting list admissions.

  Speech Therapy
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the waiting time for a first appointment with a speech therapist in each health board area.

  Mr. Stewart
  This information is not held centrally.
  317

  Sheriffs
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of a sheriff's time is taken on(a) civil and (b) criminal and other work.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is estimated that, on average, 30 per cent. of a sheriff's time is spent on civil work and 70 per cent. on criminal and other work.

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

  Mr. Stewart
  Information on elective and emergency admissions for the period 1990–92 is set out in the table.

  Admissions to Scottish hospitals 1990–92

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Elective Admissions

  437,538

  447,635

  484,142

  Transfers1

  83,286

  89,344

  96,818

  Emergency Admissions

  369,961

  382,141

  400,253

  All Admissions

  890,785

  919,120

  981,213

  1Transfer Admissions are transferred from other units, specialities or consultants.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many admissions to national health service hospitals there were in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of these admissions were re-admissions within a month of hospital discharge.

  Mr. Stewart
  The total number of admissions to hospital in Scotland and the total number of re-admissions within 28 days is set out in the table.

  Total admissions and re-admissions in Scotland 1990–92

  Period

  Admissions

  Re-admissions within 28 days

  1990

  803,930

  101,209

  1991

  829,260

  107,484

  11992

  655,535

  87,237

  1 First 9 months.

  Electricity Privatisation (Severance Schemes)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details of the severance schemes available to employees which were in operation immediately prior to the privatisation of the South of Scotland electricity board, including details of facilities to make early payment of pensions to staff under such schemes.

  Mr. Stewart
  Details of the severance and pensions schemes operated by the South of Scotland electricity board until privatisation, and by Scottish Power plc since, were and are matters for the managements of these organisations.
  318

  Nurses' Cars
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cars have been allocated to national health service nurses in(a) the hospital service and (b) the community service in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Stewart
  This information is not held centrally.

  NHS Trusts
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will define the purpose of consultation as employed during the process to establish trust status units within the NHS.

  Mr. Stewart
  The purpose of public consultation on NHS trust applications is to allow consideration to be given to the views of interested parties before deciding whether or not to approve an application.

  Greenock Prison
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the size and composition of the visitors' committee of Her Majesty's prison, Greenock; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In a reply I gave to the hon. Member on 23 March 1993,Official Report, column 474, I said that it was the intention of my right hon. Friend to appoint a visiting committee to Her Majesty's prison Greenock, when the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings Act 1993 became law. However, since then the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules have been drafted and widely circulated for consultation. These rules seek, among other things, to amend the constitution of existing visiting committees and to establish new visiting committees for Her Majesty's prisons Greenock, Friarton and Longriggend. As the revised rules will be laid before the House in the spring, it seems sensible that the new visiting committees should be constituted on a basis which is consistent with them. The visiting committee appointed for Her Majesty's prison, Barlinnie will therefore continue to cover Her Majesty's prison Greenock until the new rules are approved.

  Road Improvements
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent by each local enterprise company on road improvement programmes; how much has been spent on improvements to roundabouts; and how many roundabouts have been involved.

  Mr. Stewart
  Many of the local enterprise companies are likely to have been involved in road improvements where this has been an integral part of preparing and developing sites for industry; and some have been involved in the improvement of roundabouts either in this context, as part of their wider environmental and economic development responsibilities, or both.

  Under the arrangements whereby responsibility for expenditure up to certain levels has been delegated to Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies, the Scottish Office does not hold comprehensive details of

  319
  activity and expenditure by local enterprise companies on the many specific projects in which they are involved. I have however asked the chairman of Scottish Enterprise to write to the hon. Member with relevant details held by the core body. If, however, the hon. Member is seeking information on a particular project, he may wish to write to the chairman of the local enterprise company concerned.

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reports have been commissioned from outside consultants by Scottish Enterprise since its creation; what areas were covered by these reports; what action has been taken by Scottish Enterprise on these reports; and how much has been spent by Scottish Enterprise on each of these reports.

  Mr. Stewart
  Scottish Office approval for consultancy studies is required only for those studies which cannot be undertaken within Scottish Enterprise's delegated authorities; and no comprehensive record is therefore held by the Scottish Office of consultancies commissioned, the subjects concerned, or action taken consequent to the report findings. These are essentially operational matters; and I have therefore asked the chairman of Scottish Enterprise to respond direct to the hon. Member.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those Scottish companies operating in the electronics sector that are or have been in receipt of regional selective assistance.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information on individual offers of regional selective assistance, including company name, travel-to-work area and standard industrial classification, is published quarterly in the "Department of Employment Gazette" following the first payment of grant. The gazette is available in the Library.

  Tourism
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in the course of the consultation carried out on the review of tourism support in Scotland; and if he will place copies of the representations received in the Library.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 January 1994]: Responses were received from the following.
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  Number

  Statutory agencies

  8

  Tourist industry representative organisations

  25

  Tourism businesses

  195

  Area Tourist Boards and representative organisations

  34

  Local authorities (plus COSLA)

  54

  Local Enterprise Companies

  17

  Other organisations and individuals

  88

  I have arranged for a list of the non-confidential responses to be placed in the Library.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which agencies are employed by Ayrshire and Arran health board to deal with their public relations; how much this service costs; how this has changed since the establishment of Ayrshire's three NHS Trusts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: The Ayrshire and Arran health board employs Alan Clark Associates to provide a public relations service. Prior to the setting up of NHS trusts in the board's area, the service cost £25,000. Subsequently, the cost has been £15,000.The board considers that this specialist service ensures that communications with other organisations and the public, which are an essential feature of the board's role as a purchaser of health services for its residents, are carried out effectively and to a high standard.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has been given to Scottish councils concerning tendering under EC directive 92/50.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 January 1994]: My Department has sent three letters to Scottish councils regarding EC Directive 92/50. A letter dated 13 July 1993 reminded councils that the directive came into force on 1 July 1993; on 17 December 1993, councils were sent the letter was issued on 13 January 1994 which advised councils that the directive had been transposed into United Kingdom law by the Public Service Contract Regulations 1993, SI 3228.

  NATURAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE
  NATURAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE
  ELECTRICAL STANDARDISATION
  ELECTRICAL STANDARDISATION
  PROFESSOR JONES, BNFL: REPORT
  PROFESSOR JONES, BNFL: REPORT
  CHAIRMAN AND PRINCIPAL DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES
  CHAIRMAN AND PRINCIPAL DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES
  NHS APPOINTMENTS HELD BY MPs' SPOUSES
  NHS APPOINTMENTS HELD BY MPs' SPOUSES
  CANCER AND AIDS: INCIDENCE
  CANCER AND AIDS: INCIDENCE
  CANCER AND AIDS: DEATHS
  CANCER AND AIDS: DEATHS
  GP FUNDHOLDERS' HOSPITAL CONTRACTS AND PATIENTS' RIGHTS
  GP FUNDHOLDERS' HOSPITAL CONTRACTS AND PATIENTS' RIGHTS
  GP FUNDHOLDERS: SUPERVISION AND AUDIT
  GP FUNDHOLDERS: SUPERVISION AND AUDIT
  MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS: PRIVATE BEDS
  MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS: PRIVATE BEDS
  MENTALLY ILL, ETC., PATIENTS: NHS BEDS
  MENTALLY ILL, ETC., PATIENTS: NHS BEDS