Written Answers of 31 January 1994

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

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

  Mr. Bendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 January,Official Report, column 849.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 20 January to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Meriden for answer on 29 November, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in supplying his answer.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I apologise to my hon. Friend for the inordinate delay in answering his question, and for the inconvenience this caused to him. This delay was a result of the question having been overlooked when it was first tabled.

  Duchy Benevolent Fund
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the membership of the board of the Duchy of Lancaster benevolent fund, their dates of appointment; and what criteria were used in selecting appointees.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The trustees of the Duchy Lancaster benevolent fund are:

  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: The right hon. William Waldegrave, MP

  The Duchy Attorney General: Mr. Timothy Lloyd, Q.C.

  The Duchy Receiver General: Major Sir Shane Blewitt, KCVO

  The Vice Chancellor of the County Palatine: The hon. Justice Morritt

  Sir Michael Bunbury, Bt

  Sir Simon Towneley, KCVO, JP

  Professor Christopher Howes, CB

  Mr. John Sclater

  Clerk of the Council of the Duchy of Lancaster: Mr. Michael Ridley, CVO

  All were appointed on 1 October 1993 when the benevolent fund was made a charitable trust. All trustees are members of the Duchy Council and are distinguished in various fields relating to Duchy matters. For example, Sir Simon Towneley is the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire.
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  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the advisers within the County Palatine who advise the Duchy's benevolent fund on applications it receives for financial assistance.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The principal advisers are the Lords-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The secretary of the fund also keeps in contact with organisations which advise on charitable giving, for example the charities advice and information service of the community council of Lancashire, and makes use of his own extensive contacts in the County Palatine to evaluate applications for assistance.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the provisions in sections 4.1, 4.1 annex A, 4.2 and 4.3 annex A of the civil service management categories of civil servant are exempt.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  These provisions apply to all civil servants. Exceptionally, special advisers are not covered by the rules on the acceptance of outside appointments —annex A to section 4.3—as the rules themselves make clear.

  Public Appointments (Women)
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what targets have been set for an increased percentage of women in public appointments for all Departments as following the 1989 Cabinet Office review of the public appointments process; and what is the current progress towards them.

  Mr. David Davis
  Departmental plans and goals for the increased representation of women on public bodies were published on 16 November 1992. A summary of these is in the Library of the House. The percentage of public appointments held by women has risen from 23 per cent. in 1991 to 26 per cent. in 1992 and 28 per cent. in 1993. Further details are available in the 1993 edition of "Public Bodies", a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. David Davis
  The number of staff covered by statutory sick pay in the Cabinet Office and the Office of Public Service and Science is 1,340.

ENVIRONMENT

  Agencies
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters addressed to Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months by(a) hon. Members and (b) others have been forwarded for reply to each agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Some 295 letters from hon. Members addressed to Ministers in my Department have been replied
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  to directly, by the Planning Inspectorate agency, during 1993. No other agencies in my Department have replied to such letters. Information about letters from other correspondents is not available.

  Urban Deprivation Index
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will produce the newly revised indicators of poverty to be used in the new urban deprivation index; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We hope to finalise the indicators to be used in the census-based index of local conditions shortly.

  Photographs
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to buy or borrow photographs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have no such plans.

  Environmental Approach (Launch Meeting)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which hon. and right hon. Members who are not Ministers were invited to attend the meeting in the Banqueting House to launch the Government's environmental approach.

  Mr. Atkins
  Members of the House were not invited to attend the meeting in the Banqueting House, which was a press conference in the presence of people who had been associated with preparation of the documents, but all four reports are Command papers which were presented to Parliament in the usual way.

  Water Supply (Lead Levels)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to identify the areas most at risk from lead levels in water supply; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  A direction has been made requiring water supply companies annually to provide information on the risk that drinking water might breach the standard for lead. This information for 1989 and 1990 was published in the report "Nitrate, Pesticides and Lead" issued by the drinking water inspectorate in 1992. A report for 1991 and 1992 will be published in due course.

  CCT Evaluation Reports
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department's compulsory competitive tendering evaluation reports will be published.

  Mr. Baldry
  In July 1993 my Department published two reports of research on the results of CCT carried out by the University of Birmingham Institute of Local Government Studies, following publication of preliminary research in 1991. This independent research showed that CCT had led to an average cost reduction of 6·5 per cent., and up to 20 per cent. for certain services; higher standards and more systematic monitoring of delivery; and better management and improved staff morale. Copies of the two reports were placed in the Library of the House. The 474
  Department is now carrying out further research to evaluate the private sector's experience of CCT, reports on which we expect to publish later this year.

  Administration Expenditure
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of city challenge, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed;

  (2) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of housing action trusts, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses (a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed;

  (3) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of inner-city task forces, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses (a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed;

  (4) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of estate action, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses (a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed;

  (5) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the Urban Regeneration Agency, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses (a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed;

  (6) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the urban programmes, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses (a) over the last 15 years and (b) since the scheme was developed;

  (7) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the city action teams, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses (a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed;

  (8) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the urban development corporations, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses (a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.

  Mr. Baldry
  Detailed information on my Department's administration expenditure is not readily available in the form requested. But a breakdown of departmental staff effort by function is available in the DOE's annual published MINIS return.

  Deregulation Task Forces
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his response to paragraphs 190 to 319 of the recommendations of the proposals for reform of the deregulation task forces, as they affect his Department's policy.

  Mr. Gummer
  The substantial deregulation action that my Department is taking to reduce unnecessary controls on business while safeguarding environmental and public safety is fully set out at pages 36 to 44 of the DTI
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  publication "Deregulation—Cutting Red Tape" that was issued on 19 January together with the complete list of the task force's proposals for reform.

  Fire and Civil Defence Services
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the expenditure and standard spending assessment for fire and civil defence purposes in

  Fire and civil defence net revenue expenditure and standard spending assessment in each fire authority area per 1,000 population for 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 (SSA only)

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Local authority

  Expenditure (£)

  SSA (£)

  Expenditure (£)

  SSA (£)

  SSA (£)

  Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority

  22,757

  24,140

  25,026

  25,957

  27,634

  Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority

  28,830

  28,797

  31,708

  31,103

  32,699

  South Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority

  21,307

  19,054

  23,083

  21,069

  21,742

  Tyne and Wear Fire and Civil Defence Authority

  25,395

  26,044

  28,208

  29,216

  30,606

  West Midlands Fire and Civil Defence Authority

  21,275

  23,507

  23,842

  25,325

  25,778

  West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority

  23,262

  21,035

  24,237

  22,891

  23,719

  Isles of Scilly

  48,148

  31,169

  45,662

  33,919

  26,136

  London Fire and Civil Defence Authority

  32,473

  32,966

  34,489

  35,055

  35,664

  Avon

  20,392

  19,401

  21,301

  20,487

  21,281

  Bedfordshire

  19,472

  18,856

  21,148

  20,377

  20,725

  Berkshire

  17,929

  19,696

  19,614

  21,755

  22,061

  Buckinghamshire

  15,263

  17,338

  17,881

  19,017

  19,307

  Cambridgeshire

  17,136

  15,973

  17,802

  17,262

  17,972

  Cheshire

  19,514

  18,143

  20,883

  19,893

  20,798

  Cleveland

  32,111

  31,362

  34,869

  33,813

  34,912

  Cornwall

  18,966

  14,809

  20,352

  15,573

  15,176

  Cumbria

  20,859

  16,241

  23,739

  17,023

  17,875

  Derbyshire

  17,567

  16,133

  18,794

  17,962

  18,156

  Devon

  18,420

  17,354

  20,346

  18,525

  18,804

  Dorset

  17,557

  16,637

  18,309

  17,847

  18,195

  Durham

  20,265

  18,924

  21,866

  20,841

  21,466

  East Sussex

  20,298

  18,941

  22,205

  20,120

  20,796

  Essex

  19,602

  18,501

  21,019

  20,285

  20,309

  Gloucestershire

  16,942

  15,860

  17,402

  17,051

  17,827

  Hampshire

  16,254

  18,289

  16,759

  19,699

  20,038

  Hereford and Worcester

  17,096

  15,981

  18,025

  17,496

  17,661

  Hertfordshire

  17,312

  18,774

  18,623

  20,575

  20,502

  Humberside

  24,555

  21,451

  26,276

  23,532

  24,384

  Isle of Wight

  22,223

  16,252

  25,141

  17,576

  17,610

  Kent

  20,558

  18,478

  21,670

  19,881

  20,143

  Lancashire

  21,350

  20,540

  22,331

  21,710

  22,918

  Leicestershire

  14,892

  17,128

  16,266

  18,435

  18,998

  Lincolnshire

  16,256

  14,705

  16,780

  15,741

  16,173

  Norfolk

  16,732

  15,408

  18,173

  16,517

  17,133

  Northamptonshire

  17,106

  17,491

  18,431

  18,798

  19,179

  Northumberland

  27,819

  17,237

  28,143

  18,698

  18,959

  North Yorkshire

  18,210

  15,085

  19,552

  16,115

  16,653

  Nottinghamshire

  18,857

  18,555

  19,178

  20,149

  20,771

  Oxfordshire

  15,905

  17,080

  18,817

  18,493

  19,467

  Shropshire

  18,678

  16,615

  19,889

  18,824

  19,001

  Somerset

  17,082

  14,801

  18,914

  15,736

  16,390

  Staffordshire

  17,412

  16,613

  16,809

  17,909

  18,470

  Suffolk

  17,392

  15,624

  18,178

  16,607

  16,655

  Surrey

  21,967

  19,062

  23,599

  21,739

  21,413

  Warwickshire

  21,258

  16,200

  22,682

  17,857

  18,359

  West Sussex

  18,607

  18,969

  19,750

  20,474

  20,732

  Wiltshire

  16,014

  16,076

  17,362

  17,033

  17,413

  Expenditure: 1991–92 figures are final outturn, 1992–93 are revised estimates, both are at outturn prices.

  Programme Funding
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of funding made available over the last year by(a) estate action, (b) housing action trusts, (c) city challenge, (d) the urban programme, (e) the Urban Regeneration Agency, (f) urban development corporations, (g) inner-city task forces and (h) city action teams.
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  each fire authority area as expenditure of standard spending assessment per 1,000 population served for (a) 1991–92, (b) 4992–93 and, so far as standard spending assessment is concerned, for 1993–94.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Mr. Baldry
  The total amount of funding provided by my Department under each of these programmes for the financial year ending March 1994 is forecast to be:

  1993–94 Forecast Outturn £ million

  (a) Estate Action

  356·0

  (b) Housing Action Trusts

  86·8

  (c) City Challenge

  223·2

  (d) Urban Programme

  173·0

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  1993–94 Forecast Outturn £ million

  (e) Urban Regeneration Agency (URA)

  158·0

  (f) Urban Development Corporations

  380·8

  (g) Inner City Task Forces

  18·0

  (h) City Action Teams

  3·4

  1 Includes city grant provision up to 10 November 1993 when responsibility transferred to English Partnerships (the URA).

  Stray Dogs
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the most recent estimate for the number of stray dogs recovered by local authorities for each year since 1991.

  Mr. Atkins
  The National Dog Wardens Association estimates that the number of dogs picked up by or taken to local authorities in Great Britain was 90,000 in 1991 and 140,000 in 1992. A figure for 1993 is not yet available. These figures do not reflect the total number of stray dogs as some may be returned directly to their owners or be taken to the police or to animal charities.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the letter of 22 December 1993 from the hon. Member for Leicester, East.

  Mr. Baldry
  I replied to the hon. Member on 27 January.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment as to the number of district authorities which would be granted a provisional increase in their standard spending assessments of more than 10 per cent. in 1994–95 was made in reaching his determination, expressed in his Budget statement, that the growth in spending in England in 1994–95 would be limited to 2·3 per cent.

  Mr. Baldry
  The figure for total standard spending for 1994–95 represents the Government's view of an appropriate level of net revenue expenditure by local authorities taking account of the pressures on local authorities and general economic conditions. The distribution of the total of standard spending assessments will be determined according to the formulae set out in the local government finance report laid before the House on 27 January. As a result of the extensive review of the method of calculating SSAs for 1994–95 some authorities will find their SSAs increasing between years while others will face a reduction.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by financial year, each contract worth more than £100,000 entered into by Leeds development corporation for the purchase or sale of land and buildings.

  Mr. Baldry
  All details of commercial contracts entered into between a vendor and a purchaser are 478
  commercial in confidence and releasing such information would require the agreement of both of the parties concerned. Development corporations are required to obtain independent valuations before entering into contracts for the sale or purchase of land or buildings to ensure that the proper market valuation is paid.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out for each financial year since its inception(a) the amount of money spent on acquiring land and buildings and (b) the amount of money received for the sale of land and buildings by Leeds development corporation.

  Mr. Baldry
  Expenditure and receipts in respect of the acquisition and sale of land and buildings by Leeds development corporation from inception until 31 March 1993 are as follows:

  Expenditure (£000)

  Receipts (£000)

  1988–89

  935

  0

  1989–90

  5,671

  0

  1990–91

  7,542

  7

  1991–92

  3,377

  1,861

  1992–93

  6,393

  4,041

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to celebrate the centenary of the Local Government Act 1894 and to mark the social contribution made by parish councils to their communities.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend is considering what actions to take to celebrate the centenary of the Local Government Act 1894. We greatly value the contribution parish and town councils have made to their local communities.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of staff in the Department and its agencies covered by statutory sick pay at 31 December 1993 was 7,421.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 674, what are the additional costs, net of any reduction in employer's national insurance contributions, to his departmental budget for the financial year 1994–95 of the changes in statutory sick pay provision.

  Mr. Gummer
  There should be no net costs to my departmental budget.

  Sea Bathing
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the final report into the health effects of sea bathing will be published; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Atkins
  The Water Research Centre is today publishing the final report of the four-year programme of research into the health effects of sea bathing. The research was jointly funded by my own Department, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Health, and the National Rivers Authority.

  I welcome the report. The Government have funded this independent research because of concerns expressed about the possibility of contracting illnesses from swimming at our holiday beaches. It will provide reassurance for the many people who enjoy sea bathing.

  The work has demonstrated for the first time that sea water itself has effects on sea bathers, causing an increase in reported symptoms such as eye irritations, sore ears and skin rashes. It has also confirmed the relationship which was already known between the level of particular micro-organisms in sea water and the reporting of gastro-intestinal symptoms and diarrhoea. However, the report concludes that the current mandatory EC standards give adequate health protection.

  I and colleagues in the other Departments agree with this assessment and believe that any additional benefit to be gained by tightening EC standards is likely to be insignificant.

  The Government are committed to securing improvements in our bathing waters. A £2 billion programme is in hand to bring virtually all United Kingdom bathing waters up to the mandatory standards of the EC bathing water directive by the end of 1995. Already 80 per cent. of our 458 bathing waters meet or exceed these standards. The forthcoming very large expenditures to implement the urban waste water treatment directive will improve further the quality of our coastal water.

  Copies of the full report have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Right-to-repair Scheme
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the final details of the new right-to-repair scheme for council tenants.

  Sir George Young
  I have today laid before the House the Secure Tenants of Local Housing Authorities (Right to Repair) Regulations 1994—SI 1994/133—which will introduce an improved right-to-repair scheme for council tenants from 1 April 1994. Copies of the regulations and an explanatory circular are being sent to all housing authorities in England.

  This citizens charter initiative will give council tenants the right to have certain urgent repairs carried out at no cost to themselves, and will provide a simple and reliable way of getting the work done when the council fails to complete a qualifying repair within a specified period.

  The improved right-to-repair scheme will be far more effective in ensuring that councils get repairs done quickly at no cost to the tenant. Where the scheme fails to work, tenants will be compensated for the inconvenience caused to them.

  The regulations set out which small urgent repairs, costing up to £250, are included in the scheme, and how long councils will have to complete them. If a repair is not carried out within the specified period the tenant will be able to ask the council to instruct a second contractor to complete the repair, with the cost being met by the council.

  If the second contractor fails to complete the repair within a second specified period the tenant will be entitled
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  to compensation of £10, plus £2 per day for every day that the repair remains outstanding, up to a maximum payment of £50.

  The repair times in the regulations will apply to all new contracts let after 1 April 1994. Transitional arrangements will apply for councils whose existing contract have longer repair times. However, all councils must comply with the repair times in the regulations by 1 April 1996.

  Irish Sea Science
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by the Irish sea science co-ordinator in reviewing Irish sea science since his appointment was announced on 11 March 1992.

  Mr. Atkins
  The co-ordinator prepared an inventory of "Research and Monitoring on the Irish Sea" with the assistance of organisations on both sides of the Irish sea. The inventory was submitted to the United Kingdom and Irish Governments as the "First Report of the Irish Sea Science Co-ordinator". I am placing copies in the Library of the House today. The co-ordinator is now undertaking a review based on the inventory to identify possible gaps and overlaps in current programmes. A further report will be made available to the House once the review has been completed.

  Car Hire
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of hiring private cars in 1992–93; and for what purposes they were hired.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: The total cost to the Department, including Property Holdings and the Property Services Agency, of vehicle hire in 1992–93 was some £1·16 million. This figure includes some expenditure on the Government car service.

  The major use of private cars is for site inspections or visits by staff. Private vehicles are also used for regional visits.

  Vehicles are also hired on an ad hoc basis for travelling to conferences or meetings, for collecting equipment from suppliers and for journeys connected with the maintenance and installation of security systems.

  Landfill Pricing
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take action on the report published in 1993 on "Landfill Pricing: Correcting Possible Market Distortions"; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans he has to introduce a tax on waste to landfill; and if he will make a statement;

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government are examining the idea of introducing a landfill levy. To inform our decisions, we published reports in 1993 on "Landfill Pricing: Correcting Possible Market Distortions" and "Externalities from Landfill and Incineration". We invited comments on both reports. The deadline for comments on the second report was 7 January 1994. We are now considering the reports and comments received on them and will announce our decisions in due course.

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what further initiatives he intends to introduce to increase the recycling of waste; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what recycling initiatives he has introduced to reduce waste to landfill.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: Full details of the Government's recycling initiatives are given in the annual reports on the White Paper "This Common Inheritance"; copies are in the Library. Initiatives involving my Department in the past year include: the development of producer responsibility schemes under which industries contributing to major waste streams have been asked to develop plans for the recovery of significantly higher levels of their waste; the allocation of some £15 million in supplementary credit approvals to encourage the development of recycling initiatives by local authorities; and changing the basis of payment for recycling credits from 50 per cent. of the long-run marginal cost of disposal to 100 per cent. with effect from 1 April 1994. We keep our recycling policies under review and will introduce further initiatives where appropriate.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the results of his industry waste recovery plan.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: Under our producer responsibility initiative we are asking industry to take responsibility for ensuring that a significantly higher proportion of the wastes it produces is recovered for beneficial uses. In July 1993 we challenged the packaging industry to devise a plan to secure the recovery of between 50 per cent. and 75 per cent. of all packaging waste by the year 2000, compared with 34 per cent. currently being achieved; we also asked it to take immediate steps to safeguard the United Kingdom recycling infrastructure for waste paper and board and plastics. In November, the producer responsibility group presented an interim report which committed the industry to providing support for these sectors until its full plan is implemented. PRG submitted a draft of its full plan for official consideration before Christmas. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment expects to receive a final version of the plan shortly.

  The producer responsibility concept embraces industries responsible for a wide range of waste streams. In addition to the packaging industry, the Government have asked the newspaper, tyre, battery, electronic equipment and motor vehicle industries to devise plans.

  Tyne and Wear Development Corporation
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) jobs and (b) jobs for youth have been created by the Tyne and Wear urban development corporation;

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: Up to the end of December 1993, Tyne and Wear development corporation created 12,230 gross jobs. The corporation does not keep information which would enable "jobs for youth" to be separately identified.
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  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of inward investment has been attracted by the Tyne and Wear urban development corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: The total private sector investment attracted by the corporation into the urban development area, to the end of December 1993, is almost £600 million. Expenditure by companies moving into the UDA from elsewhere in the United Kingdom or overseas is estimated at £65 million.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomatic Relations
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which countries the United Kingdom has no diplomatic relations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The following are the states recognised by Her Majesty's Government with which the Government do not currently have diplomatic relations:

  Bhutan

  Iraq

  Korea (North)

  Libya

  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries of the former USSR to which the United Kingdom has not appointed ambassadors.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom has appointed ambassadors to all the countries of the former Soviet Union, some resident and some non-resident. Our ambassador in Moscow is at present accredited to Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as well as Russia. He will shortly be giving up his responsibilities for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, to which our ambassadors in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan respectively will be cross-accredited. We also have resident ambassadors in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in appointing a person, under section 10(3AA) of the Asylum and Immigration Appeal Act 1993, to monitor refusals of entry clearance where there is no right of appeal by virtue of section 10(3A) of the Act; and in what manner the person appointed will discharge his or her functions.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I have appointed Elizabeth Anson to be the first independent monitor. Lady Anson has been appointed for a period of three years; she took up her duties with effect from 1 December and will make her first report before 30 November 1994, which I will lay before Parliament.

  The monitor will look at a random sample of refusals of entry clearance where there is no statutory right of appeal as a result of the 1993 Act. She will consider whether the standards required by legislation or administrative practice, by which decisions are reached, are being applied correctly and fairly. During the early part of each year, she will visit a number of posts to assist her understanding of practice and procedure at overseas posts.
  483
  The review will be undertaken in London and will encompass all entry clearance posts. The sample will be drawn randomly and posts will not know in advance which cases have been chosen for review.

  It is not intended that the review should become an alternative appeals system; nor will it be a procedure for applicants or sponsors to seek to have their decisions reviewed in individual cases. The monitor will have no powers to overturn decisions. It will be a further check on the standards which are being applied to decisions in entry clearance posts.

  World Community
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussion he has had with his French, German and American counterparts to improve the cohesion and effectiveness of the world community.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend is in frequent contact with his French, German and American counterparts on issues which could contribute to this cohesion and effectiveness. One of the most important is the Uruguay round trade negotiations, the successful conclusions of which will make a major contribution to economic growth in developing and developed countries alike.

  Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the methods by which NATO intends to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and what is the definition of weapons of mass destruction agreed in this strategy.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The alliance's approach to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction does not seek to duplicate traditional preventive non-proliferation policies to which the United Kingdom Government remain committed. It will review what steps are necessary for the alliance to protect against and deter any threat to it from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which in this context, include chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy proposals the United Kingdom plans to put to the resumed negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty within the framework of the United Nations committee on disarmament, beginning in Geneva on 24 January; what is the composition of the United Kingdom delegation; and what is the timetable for the negotiations.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A detailed statement of our approach to the negotiations was made by Sir Michael Weston, the head of the United Kingdom delegation to the conference on disarmament, on 25 January. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House. Our aim will be to make good speed towards the conclusion of an effective treaty.

  The conference on disarmament proceeds by consensus, and the timetable for negotiations will therefore depend on the speed with which agreement can be reached on the key
  484
  elements of the treaty. But we continue to doubt that fixing a firm deadline for the achievement of a treaty will promote the chances of a successful outcome to the negotiations. Our delegation will be supported as necessary by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence, and staff from the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

  Mehdi Dibaj
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Iranian ambassador the decision of the Iranian Government: to execute Mehdi Dibaj for converting to Christianity; and if he will strongly urge the Iranian Government to reverse this decision.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The European Union, with our full support, has raised the case of Rev. Mehdi Dibaj with the Iranian authorities in Tehran and Geneva. We have also made clear to the Iranian embassy in London our concern at the death sentence passed on him. We understand that Rev. Dibaj has been released on bail but that his case is still before the Iranian supreme court. The European Union will continue to follow his case closely.

  Photographs
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to buy or borrow photographs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr.Goodlad
  None. On behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Council regularly organises and supports exhibitions of British photography. It has 16 such exhibitions already scheduled for this year and another five under preparation. It has also bought a large number of photographs for the British Council collection.

  Paintings and Photographs
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) paintings and (b) photographs there are on the walls of his rooms.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The rooms of the Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office comprise his own office, his private offices and a waiting room. There are 45 paintings or prints and 21 photographs on the walls of these rooms.

  Visitor's Passport
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which members of the European Union accept the British visitor's passport as a travel document for entry into their country.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  All members of the European Union currently accept the British visitor's passport for entry into their countries, except Ireland which forms part of a common travel area with the United Kingdom.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the kingdom of Spain about the future acceptance of the British visitor's passport; and if he will make a statement.
  485
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British embassy in Madrid expressed concern to the Spanish authorities at the time they announced their intention to withdraw recognition of the British visitor's passport. Further representations will shortly be made by Her Majesty's ambassador. I shall write to the right hon. Member when the outcome of these representations is known.

  Malaysia
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the protocol signed with the Government of Malaysia in March 1988 which included references to aid and defence equipment sales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  It is established practice that confidential documents exchanged between Governments on such matters as defence sales should not be published. The Government will co-operate fully with the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs in the inquiry which it announced on 26 January.

  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government began discussions with the Government of Malaysia about the construction of a military base at Mersing in Malaysia; whether such discussions took place concurrently with talks about his Department's funding for the Pergau dam project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Discussions between the two Governments about a military base at Mersing first took place in July 1987.

  The application from the British consortium for support from the aid and trade provision for the Pergau hydro-electric project was received in November 1988.

  Discussions of the two issues were entirely independent of each other and have remained so.

  Azerbaijan
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has taken to ensure that military equipment or assistance is not supplied by British-registered companies to Azerbaijan.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe's embargo on the supply of arms to the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute still applies. We adhere to this fully and have not approved licences for the export of any military equipment to Azerbaijan or Armenia. Nor will we do so.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policies exist over the supplying of arms and military equipment to Azerbaijan and Armenia; when such policies were implemented; whether there have been changes in policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since February 1992, a voluntary CSCE embargo has been in place on the supply of military equipment to the parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh. We have stood by the terms of this embargo and will continue to do so.

  As I made clear in my answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 28 January, Official Report, column 468, it would be a serious matter if a British company were found to be breaking this embargo.
  486
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with(a) United Kingdom companies and (b) persons acting as their representatives or consultants about the possible supply of arms and mercenaries to Azerbaijan; if he will name each such company or persons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am not aware of any discussions with United Kingdom companies, their representatives or consultants about the possible supply of arms and mercenaries to Azerbaijan.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) of 17 January,Official Report, columns 354–55, if he will list for each Council of Europe convention and agreement mentioned the lead Department in the British Government.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 21 January 1994]: The table shows the lead Government Department for each of the conventions referred to in the question.

  Department of the Environment

  European outline convention on transfrontier co-operation between territorial communities or authorities (1980)

  European charter of local self-government (1985)

  Convention on civil liability for damage resulting from activities dangerous to the environment (1993)

  Department for Education

  European convention on the general equivalence of periods of university study (1990)

  Department of Health

  Agreement on the transfer of corpses (1973)

  Arrangement for the application of the European agreement of 17 October 1980 concerning the provision of medical care to persons during temporary residence (1988)

  Department of National Heritage

  European convention on offences relating to cultural property (1985)

  Department of Transport

  European convention on compulsory insurance against civil liability in respect of motor vehicles (1959)

  European convention on the international effects of deprivation of the right to drive a motor vehicle (1976)

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Agreement relating to application of the European convention on international commercial arbitration (1962)

  European convention providing a uniform law of arbitration (1966)

  European convention on establishment of companies (1966)

  European convention on foreign money liabilities (1967)

  European convention on the place of payment of money liabilities (1972)

  European convention on civil liability for damage caused by motor vehicles (1973)

  European convention on products liability in regard to personal injury and death (1977)

  European convention on certain international aspects of bankruptcy (1990)

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  European convention on consular functions (1967)

  Home Office

  European convention on the supervision of conditionally sentenced or conditionally released offenders (1964)

  European convention on the punishment of road traffic offences (1964)

  European convention on "au pair" placement (1969)

  487

  European convention on the international validity of criminal judgments (1970)

  European convention on the repatriation of minors (1970)

  European convention on the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters (1972)

  European convention on the non-applicability of statutory limitation to crimes against humanity and war crimes (1974)

  European Convention on the legal status of migrant workers (1977)

  European convention on the control of the acquisition and possession of firearms by individuals (1978)

  European convention for the protection of pet animals (1987)

  European charter on regional or minority languages

  Inland Revenue

  Convention on mutual administration assistance in tax matters (1988)

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  European Convention on the calculation of time limits (1972)

  European convention on the service abroad of documents relating to administrative matters (1977)

  European convention on the obtaining abroad of information and evidence in administrative matters (1978)

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Eueropean Convention for the protection of animals for slaughter (1979)

  Department of Social Security

  European convention on social security (1972)

  Supplementary agreement to the European convention on social security (1972)

  European code of social security (Revised) (1990)

  Nigeria
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans he has for an embargo on military supplies to Nigeria;

  (2) what action he has taken to express Her Majesty's Government's view about the continued military dictatorship in Nigeria; and what international action he is urging.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the written reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 2 December, at column 680.

  The measures aimed at the Nigerian military announced then, in concert with our partners in the European Union, remain in force. We continue to consult closely with our partners and are keeping these measures under review.

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of advertising by his Department has been for each year since 1979 and for each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The cost of advertising in the United Kingdom by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for recruitment in 1992–93, the last financial year for which information is available, was:

  FCO Diplomatic Wing £

  FCO ODA Wing £

  1992–93

  150,787

  238,033

  488
  The corresponding figures for 1979–80 and 1985–86 are:

  FCO Diplomatic Wing £

  FCO ODA Wing £

  1979–80

  100,266

  214,739

  1985–86

  160,535

  271,084

  Cost for each of last 12 months are:

  FCO Diplomatic Wing £

  FCO ODA Wing £

  1992

  December

  521

  0

  1993

  January

  3,560

  15,668

  February

  35,656

  9,546

  March

  11,870

  26,647

  April

  1,704

  37,152

  May

  2,938

  32,196

  June

  1,455

  9,783

  July

  0

  2,250

  August

  0

  18,142

  September

  1,192

  10,587

  October

  613

  30,680

  November

  0

  3,987

  The compilation of these figures for intervening years and of the cost of advertising overseas would incur disproportionate cost.

  Outer Space
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the progress in the discussions in the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in relation to the benefit of all as set out in article 1 of the outer space treaty.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  This topic is debated by the committee and its legal sub-committee during their annual meetings.

  The most recent development is the production of a working paper by a number of member states on the consideration of the legal aspects related to the application of one of the principles in article 1 of the 1967 outer space treaty:
  "The exploration and use of outer space … shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries".

PRIME MINISTER

  Lords-Lieutenant
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Lords-Lieutenant in England and their dates of appointment.

  The Prime Minister
  The following is a list of the Lords-Lieutenant of England and of when their appointments were announced.
  489

  Lord-Lieutenants of England

  County

  Lord-Lieutenant

  Announcement of appointment

  Avon

  Sir John Wills, TD, FRICS, JP

  April 1974

  Bedfordshire

  Samuel Whitbread, Esq., JP

  January 1991

  Berkshire

  John Henderson, Esq., CVO, OBE

  June 1989

  Buckinghamshire

  Commander the Hon. John Fremantle, RN (Retd.), JP

  September 1984

  Cambridgeshire

  James Crowden, Esq., JP

  May 1992

  Cheshire

  William Bromley Davenport, Esq., JP

  June 1990

  Cleveland

  The Lord Gisborough, TD, JP

  March 1981

  Cornwall

  The Viscount Falmouth

  October 1977

  Cumbria

  Sir Charles Graham, Bt.

  February 1983

  Derbyshire

  Colonel Sir Peter Hilton, KCVO, MC, JP

  January 1978

  Devon

  The Earl of Morley, JP

  May 1982

  Dorset

  The Lord Digby, JP

  September 1984

  Durham

  David Grant, Esq., CBE, JP

  April 1988

  East Sussex

  Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryson, KCB, FRSE, FEng.

  May 1989

  Essex

  The Lord Braybrooke

  March 1992

  Gloucestershire

  Henry Elwes, Esq., JP

  December 1992

  Greater London

  Field Marshal The Lord Bramall, GCB, OBE, MC, JP

  January 1986

  Greater Manchester

  Colonel John Timmins, OBE, TD, JP

  December 1987

  Hampshire

  Mrs. Mary Fagan

  January 1994

  Hereford and Worcester

  Captain Thomas Dunne, JP

  July 1977

  Hertfordshire

  Simon Bowes Lyon, Esq., FCA, BA

  January 1986

  Humberside

  Richard Bethell, Esq., JP

  October 1983

  Isle of Wight

  The Lord Mottistone, CBE

  August 1985

  Kent

  The Rt. Hon. The Lord Kingsdown, MA, FRSA, FBIM, JP

  August 1982

  Lancashire

  Simon Towneley, Esq., DPhil, JP

  March 1976

  Leicestershire

  Timothy Brooks, Esq., JP

  January 1989

  Lincolnshire

  Sir Henry Nevile, KCVO, JP

  November 1975

  Merseyside

  Alan Waterworth Esq., MA, JP

  October 1993

  Norfolk

  Timothy Colman, Esq., JP

  March 1978

  Northamptonshire

  John Lowther, Esq., CBE, JP

  January 1984

  Northumberland

  The Viscount Ridley, KG, TD, JP

  January 1984

  North Yorkshire

  Sir Marcus Worsley, Bt., JP

  March 1987

  Nottinghamshire

  Sir Andrew Buchanan, Bt.

  January 1991

  Oxfordshire

  Sir Ashley Ponsonby, Bt., KCVO, MC

  January 1980

  Shropshire

  John Dugdale, Esq.

  February 1975

  Somerset

  Lt. Col. Sir Walter Luttrell, KCVO, MC, JP

  March 1978

  South Yorkshire

  Hugh Neill, Esq., CBE, TD, JP

  May 1985

  Staffordshire

  James Hawley, Esq., TD, JP

  August 1993

  490

  491

  County

  Lord-Lieutenant

  Announcement of appointment

  Suffolk

  The Rt. Hon. The Lord Belstead, JP

  December 1993

  Surrey

  Richard Thornton, Esq., OBE, JP

  May 1986

  Tyne and Wear

  Sir Ralph Carr-Ellison, TD

  July 1984

  Warwickshire

  The Viscount Daventry

  February 1990

  West Midlands

  Robert Taylor, Esq., OBE

  November 1993

  West Sussex

  His Grace The Duke of Richmond and Gordon

  March 1990

  West Yorkshire

  John Lyles, Esq., CBE, Bsc.

  August 1992

  Wiltshire

  Field Marshal Sir Roland Gibbs, GCB, CBE, DSO, MC

  December 1989

  Paintings and Photographs
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to buy or borrow photographs; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  None, currently.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Prime Minister how many(a) paintings and (b) photographs there are on the walls of his rooms.

  The Prime Minister
  A considerable number.

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister how many recommendations for public appointments by the Crown have been made by the Prime Minister since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 16 December 1993,Official Report, column 798, if he will show any specific policy or departmental areas on which each of the special advisers listed has worked since December 1990 showing their qualifications, expertise or experience relevant to those areas.

  The Prime Minister
  It is not my practice to comment on the qualifications, expertise or experience of my special advisers.

  No. 10 Downing Street
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the criteria used to assess applications by private political parties' organisations for the use of 10 Downing street.

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks),Official Report, 30 November 1993, column 420.

  Children
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to produce a co-ordinated strategy for children throughout all Government Departments; if he will publish his response to the letter of 24 January from the National Children's Home; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Our strategy includes regular consultation when considering new legislation or policy initiatives concerning children, between the originating Department and all other Departments with an interest. Several interdepartmental groups have been set up which meet regularly to discuss matters of mutual concern about children. I have no current plans to publish my response to the letter from National Children's Home Action for Children; that will be a matter for that organisation.

  Lebanon
  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will be able to report to the House on his recent conversations with the President of the Republic of Lebanon.

  The Prime Minister
  [Pursuant to his answer, 25 January, c.159]: I would like to report on the recent visit by the Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri, and on our discussions on 24 January.

  Mr. Hariri visited Britain from 23–27 January. He was accompanied by a delegation which included his Minister for Defence, Minister of the Interior, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Minister without Portfolio and the governor of the central bank.

  Mr. Hariri and his team met a wide range of representatives of political, commercial and financial interests in the United Kingdom, to explore the role that the United Kingdom might play in Lebanon's programme of reconstruction.

  This was a central theme in my discussions with Mr. Hariri. I am keen to see British companies playing an active role, in particular in the water, power and gas sectors. I informed him that we had decided to restore ECGD medium/long-term cover to a ceiling of £50 million. I also discussed with him the possibility of British companies helping to re-equip Lebanon's internal security forces and the Lebanese armed forces.

  This was the first visit to Britain by a Lebanese Prime Minister for 20 years. It provided us with the opportunity to reaffirm the long-standing links between Britain and

  493
  Lebanon. Lebanon is now back on its feet and ready to do business. British companies are in an excellent position to exploit the opportunities that exist there.

NORTHERN IRELAND

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

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The latest available information is for contracts awarded for the 1992–93 financial year. Details are shown in the table.

  Purpose

  Occasions

  Privatisation

  12

  Information Technology

  98

  General Management

  938

  Next Steps Agencies

  20

  Capital Works Programme

  149

  Monitoring MMB (NI)'s commercial subsidiary (Dromona Quality Foods)

  1

  The Financial and Trading Position of Northern Ireland Meat Plants on behalf of the Beef and Sheep Meat Sectorial Working Party

  1

  Preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment of Watercourse Management scheme

  1

  Feasibility Studies into Watercourse Management schemes

  2

  The design and supervision of Watercourse Management schemes

  48

  Review of the Foyle Fisheries Commission

  1

  Evaluation of the Farm and Conservation Grant Scheme

  1

  Evaluating the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Land Use monitoring project

  1

  Audit of Credit Control Arrangements within the Forest Service in relation to Timber Sales

  1

  Assessment of the Financial Credibility of Potential Commercial Partners re the Flax Breeding Programme

  1

  Identification, Development, Installation and Commissioning of Plant at Enniskillen re the Production of Electricity from Biomass

  1

  Management consultancy on a Sportsturf/Playing Fields Project at Greenmount Agricultural College

  1

  Management consultancy on Market Testing

  1

  Staff training

  36

  Evaluation of the Agricultural Development Operations Programme

  1

  Strategic Plan for the Public Library Service

  1

  Review the structures and funding of the Arts in Northern Ireland

  1

  Development of Northern Ireland Education Service Strategic Planning process

  1

  Evaluation of the Northern Ireland Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux and the Forum for Community Work Education

  1

  Advice on the grading of staff in the Staff Commission for the Northern Ireland Education and Library Boards

  1

  494

  Purpose

  Occasions

  Development of Information Systems Strategy for Northern Ireland Education Service

  1

  Evaluation of Local Area Network

  1

  Survey of Health and Safety at Sports Grounds

  1

  Design staff magazine

  1

  Re-design Northern Ireland Office headed stationery

  1

  Staff competence framework study

  1

  Year 1 of 3-year combined study into "The Experience of People with Disabilities in Northern Ireland'

  1

  Legislating for Northern Ireland: Options for Reform

  1

  Law on Lethal Force: Options for Reform

  1

  School Effectiveness and Education in Northern Ireland: Practice, Policy and Research

  1

  Remands in Custody in Northern Ireland: A Critical Appraisal

  1

  Early Childhood Education/Services: A Review

  1

  Develop Library System

  1

  Advise on Questionnaire Development and subsequent analysis

  1

  Provide advice and produce reports on conservation at Hillsborough Castle

  1

  Energy Survey

  3

  Combined Meat and Power Survey

  1

  Construction of temporary laboratories

  2

  Identify site for a new permanent laboratory

  1

  Business implications of a transfer to Agency status

  1

  Glass fragment analysis

  1

  Overtime enquiry

  1

  Pensions

  1

  Financial Monitoring

  1

  Advice on asbestos removal

  1

  Development of total quality management

  1

  The total cost for external consultancy in 1992–93 is 16,399,560.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the electorate of the constituency of Belfast, East; and how many of them are resident in(a) the city of Belfast and (b) the borough of Castlereagh;

  (2) what is the electorate of the constituency of Strangford, and how many of them are resident in the boroughs of (a) Ards and (b) Castlereagh.

  Mr. Ancram
  Anticipated, and therefore provisional, figures for the 1994–95 electoral register are given in the table. The register, based on the qualifying date of 15 September 1993, will come into force on 16 February. The hon. Gentleman will have received these figures by now from the chief electoral officer, who sent them to the main political parties on 20 January.

  Constituency

  Anticipated electorate 1994–95

  Belfast East

  53,057

  City of Belfast

  45,693

  Local government district of Castlereagh

  7,364

  Strangford

  71,683

  Local government district of Ards

  50,336

  Local government district of Castlereagh

  21,347

  Prisoners (Christmas Leave)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria he uses when deciding which prisoners may be granted Christmas leave.
  495
  Sir John Wheeler
  Under the terms of the 1993 Christmas home leave scheme applications were considered from the following prisoners, other than those in the top risk category:

  (i) all prisoners who would have served at least 11 years of their sentence by 23 December 1993;

  (ii) all indeterminate sentence prisoners whose cases were at consultation with the judiciary, or who had been given provisional release dates;

  (iii) "star" class determinate sentence prisoners—that is those serving their first sentence or who are particularly well behaved—committed under sentence on or before 31 October 1993 and who were in the last year of their sentences at 31 December 1993;

  (iv) "ordinary" class determinate sentence prisoners—that is, those on second or subsequent sentences—who were sentenced to 10 years or more and who were in the last year of their sentences at 31 December 1993;

  (v) inmates in the young offenders centre in both "star" and "ordinary" class committed under sentence on or before 31 October 1993 and who were in the last year of their sentences at 31 December 1993.

  A decision on each case was reached after consideration of the Governor's recommendation, the prisoner's/ inmate's attitude and behaviour while in prison/YOC and relevant security issues.

  Life Sentences
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors determine whether or not a prisoner's sentence is reviewed by the Life Sentence Review Board.

  Sir John Wheeler
  All life sentences are reviewed by the Life Sentence Review Board normally after 10 years in custody. Prisoners serving detention during the pleasure of the Secretary of State have their sentences reviewed at the eight-year stage. Thereafter cases are reviewed at intervals determined by the board.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners he expects to have their sentences reviewed by the Life Sentence Review Board in 1994.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Forty-five.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Approximately 30,000.

ATTORNEY-GENERSAL

  Mr. Totterington-Jarvis
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Attorney-General What payment the Serious Fraud Office has made to the City of London police while they were on attachment since 1 September 1991 for information provided by Mr. Totterington-Jarvis.

  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office has not made any such payments.

OVERSES DEVELOPMENT

  Pergau Hydro-electric Project
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish his instruction dated 4 July 1991 to Sir Tim Lankester in respect of the Pergau hydro-electric project.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Public Accounts Committee was informed that, in accordance with usual practice, this internal document would not be released. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will prepare a full memorandum in response to the request now expected from the Foreign Affairs Committee following its decision of 26 January.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all overseas aid projects which involve the clearing of land mines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Since April 1991 the ODA has funded the following humanitarian mine clearing operations:

  Country and project

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  Afghanistan

  Mine clearance

  —

  188,900

  290,631

  Minefield surveying, planning and management; mine awareness; clearance and clearance training

  —

  1,000,000

  500,000

  Cambodia

  Mine clearance, training and awareness programme

  60,000

  199,886

  255,770

  Public awareness

  —

  6,451

  —

  Support of Cambodian mine clearance centre (through UNDP)

  —

  —

  133,333

  Mozambique

  Demining of roads in Zambezia province

  —

  —

  710,418

  North West Somalia

  Mine clearance training; clearance management; mine awareness

  300,000

  373,540

  —

  Total

  360,000

  1,768,777

  1,890,152

  Kashmir
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to increase aid to Kashmir.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are no plans to increase aid for Kashmir.

  Aid (Developing Countries)
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how British aid can be used to help stimulate enterprise and trade in the developing countries.
  497
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  British aid is used to promote policies and an institutional and infrastructural environment in aid recipients conducive to the development of enterprise and trade. This may be done through assistance in support of economic reforms and through projects to promote the rehabilitation, development and effective management of transport and communications infrastructure and of public utilities. We also provide aid to prepare for and facilitate the privatisation of public enterprises and to develop the financial sector and financial markets.

  British aid also helps enterprises in aid recipients more directly through know-how and technology transfer to help overcome their production and commercial problems and thus to become more competitive in external markets. The aid programme pays particular attention through research and technical assistance to solving production problems arising in the renewable natural resource sectors. It also has a growing number of projects to encourage the development of small enterprises.

  The aid programme supports the Commonwealth Development Corporation, which provides equity investment and loan finance predominantly to private sector enterprises in developing countries. Many of its projects produce commodities for export.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations he has made into acquiring a shuttle vessel for St. Helena; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Extensive international investigations into the possibilities of acquiring or chartering a suitable shuttle vessel for operation between St. Helena and Ascension island have been made since late 1989. Over 30 ships have been considered, but so far all have been found unsuitable on grounds of cost, technical unsuitability or economic non-viability. A further ship is being investigated currently.

  Textile and Clothing Industries
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all bilateral and multilateral assistance given by the Overseas Development Administration to help the development of textile and clothing industries and the amounts given in the period since 1988.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: Bilateral aid for the development of textiles and clothing—and investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation—is shown in a table which I have arranged to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. There is no centrally compiled source of data on aid for textiles and clothing provided by various multilateral

  Private consultancy work awarded in 1992 and 1993

  Year

  Consultants

  Service required

  Value £000s

  (a) Accountancy firms

  1992

  KPMG Peat Marwick

  IS strategy support to Vehicle Inspectorate

  90

  1992

  KPMG Peat Marwick

  Rail privatisation: accountancy and taxation advice

  1,702

  1992

  Price Waterhouse

  Preparation of DVOIT Long Form Report

  52

  1992

  Price Waterhouse

  Advice on taxation and company cars

  6

  1992

  Cooper and Lybrand

  Temporary finance director

  52

  498
  agencies. Information on these agencies' support—and thus on ODA's share of this—could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Multi-fibre Arrangement Quotas
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all countries in receipt of United Kingdom aid against whom the European Union multi-fibre arrangement quotas operate and the extent of United Kingdom aid to each of those countries in the period since 1988.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 24 January 1994]: The countries which have European Union multi-fibre arrangement quotas and which also receive United Kingdom aid are shown in a table which I have arranged to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. This table also shows their receipts of bilateral aid from the ODA over the last six years.

TRANSPORT

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

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

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

  Mr. Norris
  The information is as follows:
  499

  Year

  Consultants

  Service required

  Value £'000s

  1992

  Ernst and Young

  Departmental Payroll Costs Model

  106

  1992

  Price Waterhouse

  Senior Staff Review

  72

  1992

  Ernst and Young

  DVOIT privatisation

  2

  1992

  Touche Ross

  Management Information System: OR Preparation

  40

  1992

  Capita

  Financial reporting review

  12

  1992

  Michael Page Finance

  Accountancy services to Driving Standards Agency

  16

  1992

  Cooper and Lybrand

  Evaluation of telesales tenders

  36

  1992

  KPMG

  Network referencing

  109

  1992

  KPMG

  Project management software

  172

  1992

  KPMG

  Disc network policy

  26

  1992

  Coopers Lybrand Deloitte

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road: financial advisers

  300

  1992

  Coopers Lybrand Deloitte

  Study of EC directive

  450

  1992

  Coopers Lybrand Deloitte

  National Motorway Communications System maintenance specifications

  60

  1992

  Ernst and Young

  Development of a decision framework for European standardisation

  87

  1992

  Coopers Lybrand Deloitte

  DVOIT privatisation strategy review

  16

  1993

  Capita

  Financial reporting review

  109

  1993

  Ernst and Young

  IS strategy support to Vehicle Inspectorate

  39

  1993

  Capita

  Financial advice

  250

  1993

  KPMG Peat Marwick

  Rail privatisation: accountancy and taxation advice

  2,072

  1993

  Price Waterhouse

  London Buses Ltd. privatisation

  400

  1993

  Price Waterhouse

  Review of DVOIT's 1992–93·accounts

  30

  1993

  Price Waterhouse

  Feasibility of privatising Vehicle Inspectorate's testing functions

  72

  1993

  Price Waterhouse

  Review of DVOIT Ltd. balance sheet

  N/a

  1993

  KPMG Peat Marwick

  Financial advice on DVOIT's privatisation

  541

  1993

  KPMG Peat Marwick

  Study on the privatisation of Transport Research Laboratory

  42

  1993

  Cooper and Lybrand

  Scottish Office Safety Review

  18

  1993

  Michael Page Finance

  Temporary accountant

  12

  1993

  Price Waterhouse

  Advice on the privatisation of Transport Research Laboratory

  9

  1993

  Touche Ross

  Management Information System

  23

  1993

  Ernst and Young

  OPRAF Consultancy

  170

  1993

  Cooper and Lybrand

  Training courses on tender evaluation

  2

  1993

  Touche Ross

  Market Testing in DVLA: customer/client role

  139

  1993

  Capita

  Market Testing in DVLA: in-house bid construction

  34

  1993

  Cooper and Lybrand

  Sale of anonymised data

  25

  1993

  Cooper and Lybrand

  Evaluation of vehicle relicensing tenders

  25

  1993

  Capita

  Financial Adviser

  N/a

  (b) Merchant banks

  1992

  Samuel Montagu and Co.

  Rail privatisation: merchant banking advice

  351

  1992

  Samuel Montagu and Co.

  Private sector involvement in Channel Tunnel Rail Link

  223

  1992

  Lloyds

  Corporate banking

  450

  1993

  Samuel Montagu and Co.

  Rail privatisation: merchant banking advice

  1,776

  1993

  Hill Samuel Bank

  Private sector involvement in Channel Tunnel Rail Link

  366

  N/a—Not available.

  A1 and A1(M)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the current position in respect of the A1 and A1(M) trunk road improvements.

  Mr. Key
  We are conducting a review of the trunk road programme in preparation for the launch in April of the Highways Agency. I shall write to the hon. Member when the outcome of that review is known.

  Cycle Lanes
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of a mile of cycle lane on the average road; and what the cost would be of instituting cycle lanes on all trunk roads in England.

  Mr. Key
  The cost of constructing a two-way 3 m wide cycle lane on one side of the road is in the order of 500
  £400,000 per mile. This cost will vary considerably depending on local conditions and excludes the cost of land acquisition.

  There are approximately 10,000 miles of trunk roads including motorways. Because of varying local conditions it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the cost of installing cycle lanes on all these roads.

  Diesel Fuel (Buses)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with representatives of bus operators the change in the amount of rebate received in respect of duty on diesel fuel following the Budget; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Following preliminary discussions with my officials, the Bus and Coach Council is preparing a paper on the effects of the recent changes in the payment of fuel duty rebate which I shall be happy to discuss with it in due course.
  501
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the duty payable on diesel fuel used by local bus operators before and after the recent Budget, together with the corresponding proportions of duty as a percentage of overall cost of diesel fuel.

  Mr. Freeman
  The duty payable on diesel fuel before and after the recent Budget was 25·14p per litre and 27·70p per litre respectively. Duty as a percentage of typical retail pump prices was 50 per cent. before the Budget and about 53 per cent. afterwards. Before the Budget all duty paid by local bus operators was rebated. After the Budget, operators will continue to receive rebate at pre-Budget levels, which will mean that 2·56p per litre in duty will not be recoverable.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that local bus operators continue to receive rebate in full in respect of duties on diesel fuel.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 30 November that fuel duty rebate would be held at pre-Budget levels during the lifetime of this Parliament.

  Birmingham Airport
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position of negotiations with the United States Government regarding additional flights into Birmingham airport.

  Mr. Norris
  Liberalisation of routes from the United States to United Kingdom regional airports has been a consistent priority. In December the United Kingdom tabled a proposal which would give immediate open access to regional routes, including to Birmingham. We hope that the United States Government will consider our proposal seriously.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance has been provided to the Driving Standards Agency in-house bid team which is involved in the market test of the booking of driving tests and the proposing of test fees; and what has been the cost of such assistance.

  Mr. Key
  The in-house bid team has been offered assistance to develop its bid. To date, the in-house bid manager has been provided with training on bid formulation and with travel and subsistence costs to visit staff involved. The agency is now in the process of agreeing with the in-house bidders what further help they need, including from external management consultants, in line with the principles set out in "The Government's Guide to Market Testing". Costs are therefore not yet available.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) of 15 December,Official Report, column 713, how many vehicle excise duty offences reports have been generated for the current financial year; and how many VED offences reports were received by the DVLA in the financial year 1992–93.
  502
  Mr. Key
  The number of vehicles reported to DVLA for alleged VED offences in 1992–93 was 1·8 million. For this financial year to December the figure was 1·4 million.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed on enforcement duties; and what amount was raised in enforcement revenue by the DVLA local office network in each year from 1979–80.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested, from 1981–82, is as follows:

  Year

  Number of staff in local office network (man years)

  Revenue raised £ million

  1981–82

  800

  6·5

  1982–83

  833

  11·8

  1983–84

  843

  15·6

  1984–85

  908

  18·2

  1985–86

  908

  21·0

  1986–87

  945

  23·1

  1987–88

  952

  23·6

  1988–89

  943

  25·6

  1989–90

  947

  25·9

  1990–91

  922

  27·5

  1991–92

  909

  34–3

  1992–93

  936

  37·5

  11993–94

  948

  34·3

  1 Figures to end December 1993.

  Driving Test Fees
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will happen to those staff in the Driving Standards Agency not affected by the market test of the booking of driving tests and the proposing of test fees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The aim of the market test is to improve value for money. The precise effects on staff not directly involved will not be known until bids have been evaluated, but the agency will aim to minimise the disruption to staff.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost in the financial year 1992–93 of the booking of driving tests and the receiving and processing of the driving test fees.

  Mr. Key
  The agency's 1993–94 business plan, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, gives details of the total estimated costs of the agency's regional offices, which include the functions to be market tested.

  Goods Vehicle Licensing
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the Police Federation was consulted on the proposals to change the rules relating to passenger and goods vehicle operating licensing.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department did not send a copy of its consultation document to the Police Federation. Following normal practice, consultation with the police was through the Association of Chief Police Officers.
  503

  Minibus Permits
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what maintenance checks, other than the regular Ministry of Transport test, are carried out by his Department before a minibus permit is issued to an organisation.

  Mr. Key
  Before a minibus permit is issued by the Traffic Commissioner, the person authorised by the body applying for the permit must sign a declaration on behalf of its members that"the body will make proper arrangements so that any vehicle used under the permit will comply with the appropriate construction requirements and conditions of fitness, will be kept fit and serviceable and that regular maintenance inspection; will be carried out".

  In addition, the person must provide the name and address of the person(s) or garage who will maintain and service the vehicle and attach a written maintenance contract or letter of agreement from the person or garage doing the work and indicate how often safety checks will be made on the vehicle.

  The issuing of permits by designated bodies and local authorities is their own responsibility.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks are carried out by his Department on the conduct and repute of applicants for minibus permits before such permits are issued.

  Mr. Key
  Minibus permits are not issued by the Department. They may be issued from three sources: bodies designated by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument, which are national voluntary bodies and may issue permits only to their own branches and affiliated organisations; local authorities which may issue permits to their own departments or schools under their control; and the Traffic Commissioners who may issue them to other eligible local bodies concerned with education, religion, recreation or social welfare.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many minibus permits issued by the traffic area office network were revoked for poor maintenance during the last three years.

  Mr. Key
  None.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many minibus permits were issued by traffic area offices in 1993.

  Mr. Key
  A total of 1,407.

  Public Carriage Office
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has initiated and concluded, and what proposals he has made, concerning the transfer of the functions and staff of the public carriage office of the Metropolitan police to his Department; and if he will list those bodies and individuals from whom he has received support for this proposal.

  Mr. Norris
  This proposal is one of the matters covered by the consultation paper on the future of taxi and private hire services issued by my Department. About 4,500 copies were sent to organisations and individuals who have an interest in the subject. These include local authority 504
  associations and all individual county and district councils, local and national taxi and private hire vehicle organisations, the licensing officers organisation, the police, organisations concerned with people who have mobility problems and vulnerable members of society, consumer groups, transport interests, the press, car, taxi and taxi-meter manufacturers and those concerned with tourists. Copies were available in the Lobby of this House and in another place. The paper was also published in a trade newspaper. The consultation period last until 1 March 1994.

  It is not our practice to identify those organisations or individuals who responded to consultation exercises.

  M25
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review his decision on the widening of the M25; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The national road programme is under review as part of our preparations for the setting up of the Highways Agency. Subject to anything that emerges from that exercise I have no reason to reconsider the policy for the M25 announced by my right hon. Friend last July.

  Christmas Cards
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 601, how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by Ministers in his Department; and how much these cards cost to buy.

  Mr. Norris
  Some 650 official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by Ministers of the Department of Transport, at a cost of £645. All were cards for which a proportion of the cost went to charity.

  Signal Failures
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, columns 807–808, if he will tabulate the total number of reported signal failures on (a) the British Railways Board and (b) London Underground Ltd., together with the number of wrong side failures on (i) normal passenger lines and other lines, (ii) yards and (iii) sidings for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not available in this format. However, the Health and Safety Executive's HM railway inspectorate is informed by the railway operator of all wrong side failures annually. A breakdown of these figures is available in the "Annual Report on Railway Safety in Great Britain", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  High-speed Rail Link
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 29, concerning the financing of an international station at Stratford on the channel tunnel rail link, what is (a) the estimated cost of the rail route as presently planned from the River Lea to Maryland station and (b) the estimated cost of providing additional station facilities of at least four platform faces capable of dealing with intended tracks.
  505
  Mr. Freeman
  The cost of the London section of the route is estimated to be £670 million—fourth quarter 1992 prices—that is, £645 million for the base route plus £25 million for a package of options including a short box at Stratford. Union Railways estimates that the additional capital cost, including station works, access roads, parking, land and property and management costs, of providing a combined international and domestic station at Stratford is £105 million, while an international only station would cost £93 million. Further information is available in Union Railways' October 1993 report, published on 24 January 1994.

  Rail Freight and Coastal Shipping
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out his plans and targets for increasing the amount of(a) rail freight and (b) coastal shipping over the next five years.

  Mr. Freeman
  The choice of transport mode for moving freight is primarily a commercial matter. However, we encourage freight users to consider the merits of rail and water as an alternative to road where this is practical. As part of that commitment, we have announced measures, to be introduced shortly, which will assist rail—Hansard, 2 February 1993, columns 164–65—and shipping—Hansard, 15 December 1993, columns 698–99—and we will monitor their progress closely.

  Trainload Freight
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make available information to prospective purchasers prospectus details regarding the three successor trainload freight companies.

  Mr. Freeman
  The three successor trainload freight businesses will be vested as individual subsidiary companies of the British Railways Board in September 1994. The board will issue information to prospective purchasers of the new companies after a subsequent period of "shadow running". Further background information is available in the Department of Transport publication "Rail freight privatisation—the Government's proposals", published in May 1993.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what grounds he decided not to accept the proposal for a tunnel through the Boxley valley on the channel tunnel rail link route; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government considered very carefully the representations received and an updated comparative assessment by Union Railways' environmental consultants. The long tunnel option through the Boxley valley has significant environmental advantages, but the Government decided that these did not justify spending an additional £65 million, plus a further cost risk of £50 million.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made to implement the purchasing policy for properties within the safeguarded corridor of the channel tunnel rail link; and if he will make a statement.
  506
  Mr. Freeman
  The Secretary of State for Transport will issue directions to safeguard the route of the rail link in around three weeks' time. This will trigger Union Railways' voluntary purchase scheme for homes within the safeguarded zone. The scheme will be backed by statutory blight compensation provisions.

  Spofforth Bypass
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of the construction of the bypass in the village of Spofforth in north Yorkshire.

  Mr. Key
  North Yorkshire county council estimates the cost of its Spofforth bypass proposal at £3·22 million.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to enforce the installation of the traffic alerts and collision avoidance systems in all British-based commercial airliners and all similar aircraft using United Kingdom airspace; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The traffic alert and collision avoidance system is a complex safety device, which is currently being evaluated for use in United Kingdom airspace by National Air Traffic Services, part of the Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for air traffic safety. This evaluation is being undertaken as part of a Europe-wide evaluation programme, which is ultimately under the aegis of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

  As this is primarily an air traffic management issue, I have passed the hon. Member's question to the chairman of the CAA and asked him to send a comprehensive response to the hon. Member.

  Severn Tunnel (Accident)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Seymour inquiry report on the Severn tunnel accident was concluded; what is the reason for the delay in publishing the Seymour inquiry report on the Severn tunnel accident: and when the inspector who conducted the Seymour inquiry retired.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand from the Health and Safety Executive's HM railway inspector that the inquiry into the Severn tunnel accident is now concluded and the report should be published by March.

  Mr. Seymour held two separate public hearings. This was due to the amount of evidence given and the need to hear winesses that were not available for the first session. He was not able to complete his investigations because of the reluctance of a key witness to give evidence.

  Mr. Seymour retired in February 1993. However, he agreed to complete his inquiry on a consultancy basis.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Norris
  The total number of staff on the Department's payroll is at present 15,270; of that number, 14,370 are covered by SSP.
  507

  West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest position in discussions between the West Yorkshire PTE, his Department and the franchising director over the PTE leasing new rolling stock for the west Yorkshire electrification project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is for the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority to reach a decision on the leasing of new rolling stock for this project. My Department is assisting. For example, we are participating in discussions with the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising about the role which the franchising director might be able to play in giving assurances about the future use of the rolling stock.

  Rail Franchises
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to clarify the procedures to be followed by management-employee buy-outs for rail franchises.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Railways Board has already provided guidance to its staff on how they might develop management/employee buy-outs, and will be issuing supplementary guidance very soon.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing, separately for men and women and as an overall total, the number of incidents of(a) violent crime and (b) sexual assault on London Underground for 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Norris
  The figures for violent crimes and sexual offences on London Underground, for the years 1992 and 1993, are set out in the table. Figures for violent crimes are not normally differentiated by gender; instead they are broken down into the two categories of robbery and assault. These are shown separately in the table.

  Violent crimes

  Sexual offences

  Overall total

  Year

  Robbery

  Assault

  Male

  1992

  479

  607

  11

  251

  1,348

  1993

  376

  464

  5

  187

  1,032

  Source: British Transport police figures supplied to London Underground.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing, by standard region, separately for men and women and as an overall total, the number of incidents of(a) violent crime and (b) sexual assault at major bus and coach stations for 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Freeman
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Transport Safety
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all organisations to which his Department sent, and from which it has received responses regarding the consultation paper on proposed railway drink and drugs legislation, together with the addresses of each such organisation.
  508
  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: My Department initially issued copies of the consultation paper to 212 associations or individual organisations representing the aviation industry and users, environmental and related non-aviation bodies, local authorities, airports, aiport consultative committees; and individuals. At least 1,000 further copies were distributed on request. We received 188 responses from organisations and 387 from individuals.

  Night Flights
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of the names and addresses of all organisations to which his Department sent, and from which it has received, responses regarding the consultation paper on revised restrictions on night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, together with the addresses of each such organisation.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 18 January 1994]: My Department initially issued copies of the consultation paper to a total of 284 local environmental and other groups, local authorities and local authority organisations, airports and other aviation bodies, airport consultative committees, airlines, airline organisations, airport users and other aviation interests and to about 1,500 individuals. Further copies were distributed on request. We have so far received 96 responses from organisations and 149 from individuals.

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all (i) political consultants, (ii) public relations companies, (iii) management consultants, (iv) survey organisations and (v) other outside bodies or individuals currently employed by his Department together with the date on which the contract was awarded, the length of the contract and the total amount spent by his Department on each contract; whether the contract was based on a fixed-fee or fee-plus man-hours basis; what was the name of the individual or organisation to which the contract was awarded; what are the services which were required by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 20 January 1994]: I am placing the information in the Library.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a list of all contracts for which invitations to bid are planned to be issued by his Department from (i) political consultants, (ii) public relations companies, (iii) management consultants, (iv) survey organisations and (v) other outside bodies or individuals together with the date on which it is planned to issue invitations to bid, the length of the contract and the total amount allocated by his Department for each contract; whether the contract is based on a fixed-fee or fee-plus man-hours basis; what are the services which are required by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 20 January 1994]: The information is as follows:
  509

  Contracts or projects for which bidding is planned

  Planned date for bid invitation

  Length of contract Years

  1Fee basis

  Amount £ thousands

  Service required

  (i) Political consultants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (ii) Public relations companies

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (iii) Management consultants

  February 1994

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Support to the in-house team in the market testing of the driving test booking service

  February 1994

  3

  N/a

  120

  Professional adviser on working environment

  March 1994

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  User satisfaction survey

  (iv) Survey organisations

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (v) Other outside bodies

  May 1994

  3

  N/a

  N/a

  Market testing of the driving test booking service

  February 1994

  3

  N/a

  N/a

  Space planning

  1994

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Review of building regulations

  1994

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Review of works advisers

  1994

  3

  N/a

  75

  Energy bureau services

  1994

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Furniture quality assurance

  February 1994

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Legal advice on the form/content of DBFO contracts

  February 1994

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Motorway charging: Technical consultant

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Motorway consultant: Specialist advice

  1 Information could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a list of all contracts for which bids are currently being considered by his Department from (i) political consultants, (ii) public relations companies, (iii) management consultants, (iv) survey organisations and (v) other outside bodies or individuals together with the date on which the invitations to bid for

  Contracts or projects for which bids are currently being considered

  Date of bid invitation

  Length of contract

  Allocated amount £ thousands

  Fee basis

  Service required

  (i) Political consultants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (ii) Public relations companies

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (iii) Management consultants

  20 September 1993

  N/a

  42

  N/a

  Specialist consultancy support for MSSD

  October 1993

  6 months

  N/a

  Daily rates

  Technical consultancy to inform VI's IT strategy

  October 1993

  6 months

  N/a

  Fixed fee

  User requirements for VI's IS strategy

  7 December 1993

  N/a

  140

  N/a

  Recruitment of a property consultant

  December 1993

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Study into DBFO contracts

  February 1994

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Market research into the accuracy of the DVLA database

  (iv) Survey organisations

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (v) Other outside bodies

  23 December 1993

  N/a

  25

  N/a

  Arbitration on user charges at United States airports

  17 December 1993

  N/a

  120

  N/a

  Channel tunnel rail link: Reporting accountants

  21 December 1993

  N/a

  5

  N/a

  Accident/incident database

  30 November 1993

  N/a

  200

  N/a

  Channel tunnel rail link: Technical advisers

  23 November 1993

  N/a

  42

  N/a

  The effective sealing of cracks and fissures in pavements

  27 October 1993

  N/a

  20

  N/a

  National roads network assessment system: Software programs

  23 July 1993

  N/a

  760

  N/a

  Birmingham northern relief road: Appointment of financial and technical panels

  13 July 1993

  N/a

  110

  N/a

  Cycle training

  30 December 1993

  N/a

  90

  N/a

  LATS database: Appointment of marketing agents

  6 December 1993

  N/a

  128

  N/a

  Effects and elasticities of higher car fuel prices

  19 November 1993

  N/a

  200

  N/a

  Appointment of a consultant to update and survey the network using DOT's high speed road monitor

  26 November 1993

  N/a

  10

  N/a

  Insurance advice consultancy

  510
  the contract were issued, the length of the contract and the total amount allocated by his Department for each contract; whether the contract is based on a fixed-fee or fee-plus man-hours basis; what are the services which are required by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 30 January 1994]: The information is as follows:

  511

  Date of bid invitation

  length of contract

  Allocated amount £ thousands

  Fee basis

  Service required

  18 November 1993

  N/a

  17

  N/a

  Trial audit of free issue equipment

  29 September 1993

  17 months

  N/a

  Rates

  Design and supervision of installation of new national motorway communications system (M1 J24 to J30)

  30 November 1993

  1 year

  N/a

  Rates

  Site supervision of installation of new communications equipment (M1 J38 to J42)

  7 December 1993

  N/a

  N/a

  Rates

  Monitor and survey of lighting on trunk roads in London

  10 November 1993

  3 years

  N/a

  Rates/ fixed fee

  West London trunk roads: Maintenance and improvement

  10 November 1993

  3 years

  N/a

  Rates/ fixed fee

  South London trunk roads: Maintenance and improvement

  6 January 1994

  N/a

  393

  N/a

  Alternative fuel trials extension 1

  6 January 1994

  N/a

  26

  N/a

  Revision and maintenance of technical drawings for safety fences and barriers

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a list for each of the past five years and as a total over the same of all (i) political consultants, (ii) public relations companies, (iii) management consultants, (iv) survey organisations and (v) other outside bodies or individuals employed by his Department together with the date on which the contract was awarded, the length of the contract and the total amount spent by his Department on each contract; whether the contract was based on a fixed-fee or fee-plus man-hours basis; what was the name of the individual or organisation to which the contract was awarded; what are the services which were required by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 20 January 1994]: I am placing the information in the Library.

  Railway Lines
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the incident involving a contractor's vehicle which took place on 17 January, on railway lines in the area of Burton-on-Trent arid Clay Mills.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]I understand from the Health and Safety Executive's Her Majesty's railway inspectorate that it has received a report of an incident involving a contractor's road-rail vehicle at Elford which occurred on 16 January 1994. British Rail is investigating the incident and the inspectorate is holding discussions with BR to seek means of preventing a recurrence.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of levels of training given to the employees of private contractors before they are allowed to operate vehicles on public railway lines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: Primary responsibility rests with the railway operator. However, the Health and Safety Executive's Her Majesty's railway inspectorate monitors safety on the railways, and as part of its routine inspections programme undertakes random checks on contractors.

  Deregulation
  Mrs. Dunwooely
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the environmental organisations consulted on the proposals to deregulate goods and passenger operator licensing.

  Mr. Norris
  The following environmental organisations were consulted during our consultation last year:

  Council for the Protection of Rural England

  The Environment Council

  Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

  Rural Development Commission

  Cones Hotline
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of staff employed on the cones hotline.

  Mr. Key
  No staff are engaged exclusively on the cones hotline. Two additional staff have been temporarily employed since December to assist the hotline but are not working solely on that activity. All follow-up work related to hotline inquiries has been undertaken within existing resources.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is(a) the current cost of operating the cones hotline and (b) how many calls have been made to it since its inception.

  Mr. Key
  The cost of operating the cones hotline has been met within existing budgets. Two additional staff have been temporarily employed since December to assist the hotline but are not working solely on that activity.

  Since its introduction in June 1992 until 25 January 1994, 478 calls registered as formal inquiries have been received by the cones hotline. Until recently other calls received by the hotline have not been recorded, but they are currently running at two to three times the number of formal inquiries about specific schemes.

  Dunstable Bypass
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce the date for the beginning of the public inquiry into the A5 north-south Dunstable bypass; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The need for a public inquiry will depend on the weight and nature of objections to draft orders for the
  513
  scheme which, subject to the present review of the trunk road programme, we hope to publish this autumn. An inquiry would not be held before 1995.

  Road Deaths and Serious Injuries
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last published and next intends to publish a detailed report on the achievements towards the target of reducing the road deaths and serious injuries by a third by the year 2000; and whether he will reconsider the setting of the same targets for slight injuries.

  Mr. Key
  The road safety report 1990–91 was published in November 1991 and we intend to issue a new report towards the end of this year. The casualty statistics for the third quarter of 1993, published on 13 January, included a table showing the progress made towards achieving the road safety target. The basis for the target is widely understood and I would therefore be reluctant to change it.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing, by standard region, separately for men and women and as an overall total, the number of incidents of(a) violent crime and (b) sexual assault at British Rail stations for 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the following tables show, by BR business sectors, the recorded incidents of violent crime and sexual assault at British Rail stations for 1992 514
  and 1993. A breakdown of figures, by gender, for violent crime could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For the purposes of the table, violent crime includes murder, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, malicious wounding, firearms and explosives offences and robberies.

  Violent crime

  1992

  1993

  InterCity

  276

  341

  Regional

  611

  496

  Network SouthEast

  1,311

  1,447

  Other Sectors

  41

  161

  Total

  2,239

  2,466

  All sexual assaults (against males in brackets)

  1992

  1993

  Intercity

  57

  (7)

  37

  (2)

  Regional

  63

  (3)

  63

  (7)

  Network SouthEast

  151

  (13)

  161

  (11)

  Other Sectors

  3

  —

  11

  (1)

  Total

  274

  (23)

  272

  (21)

  The increase in violent crime in Network SouthEast is mainly attributable to robberies in south London, which is not unique to the railways. The British Transport police, working closely with the Metropolitan police, have targeted the problem, a policy which is starting to have an impact.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Royal Palaces
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what accommodation at the occupied royal palaces is designated for Prince Charles and Prince Edward; and what staff and ancillary accommodation each has.

  Mr. Sproat
  The information is as follows:

  The Prince of Wales

  (a) His Royal Highness' apartment in St. James's palace which comprises three reception rooms, one principal bedroom and two staff bedrooms, together with ancillary accommodation.

  (b) Three flats for domestic staff at Kensington palace. Two have one bedroom and one reception room and one has one bedroom and two reception rooms.

  (c) One house at Kensington palace for a Private Secretary. It has four bedrooms, three reception rooms and ancillary rooms. There is no staff accommodation.

  The Prince Edward

  (a) His Royal Highness has use of two bedrooms, one sitting room and one bathroom in Buckingham palace. These rooms do not form a self contained apartment.

  (b) one flat for a domestic employee in the Royal mews at Buckingham palace comprising one bedroom and one reception room.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 651, regarding accommodation for members of the royal family in occupied royal palaces, how much staff and ancillary accommodation is provided in each case.

  Mr. Sproat
  The staff and ancillary accommodation, on which rent is paid, or which is taken into account in salary and wage levels, is as follows:

  HRH Princess Margaret

  8 bedrooms

  4 bathrooms

  2 reception rooms

  2 kitchens

  2 utility rooms

  1 staff rest room

  Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

  8 bedrooms

  4 bathrooms

  3 reception rooms

  3 kitchens

  2 utility rooms

  1 staff rest room

  TRH Prince and Princess Michael of Kent

  1 bedroom

  2 bathrooms

  1 reception room

  1 kitchen

  2 utility rooms

  TRH The Duke and Duchess of Kent

  4 bedrooms

  2 bathrooms

  3 kitchens

  1 staff rest room

  HRH Princess Alexandra

  No staff accommodation

  Grace and Favour Accommodation
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many grace and favour apartments there are in Buckingham palace; and to whom they are allocated.
  516
  Mr. Sproat
  There are no grace and favour apartments at Buckingham Palace. There are two service apartments. One is allocated to the chief housekeeper and one to the person who is responsible for the pages, footmen, craftsmen and porters located at Buckingham palace. The Princess Royal, the Duke of York and Prince Edward use rooms at Buckingham palace, but do not have self-contained apartments.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 652, what offices were held at the time of their retirement by the military knights, pensioners, who occupy grace and favour accommodation at the occupied royal palaces.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 26 January 1994]: Of the 13 military knights, one was a major general—GOC midlands district—three were brigadiers—two from the Royal Signals (2) and one from the Royal Artillery—three were lieutenant colonels-17th/21st Lancers, King's Own Scotish Borderers and Queen's Lancashire Regiment—and six were majors—Life Guards, Royal Army Service Corps, Manchester Regiment, Royal Signals, Scots Guards and Coldstream Guards.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 652, what positions were held prior to retirement by the remaining four pensioners granted accommodation in the past on a grace and favour basis who were neither employees nor widows of employees of the royal household.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 26 January 1994]: One pensioner is a former nanny to the Queen's children, the second is the retired principal of St. Catherine's house, the third is a cousin of the Queen and the fourth is an unmarried daughter of a former Chief of the General Staff whose widow was originally provided with grace and favour accommodation.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will give the likely date of conclusion for his review of regulations relevant to tourism, as referred to in the Department of Trade and Industry's deregulation document as published with the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill; if he will also provide a cost-benefit estimate of the review, with a separate section for each item of legislation he has examined; and what consultations he or officials have held in the course of the review;

  (2) if he will give the intended start date, finish date and cost-benefit estimate of his Department's review of the Tourism (Sleeping Accommodation Price) Order 1977 as outlined in the Department of Trade and Industry document on deregulation, published with the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill;

  (3) if he will give the intended start date, finish date and a cost-benefit estimate for his Department's review of the Hotel Proprietors Act 1956, as outlined in the Department of Trade and Industry document on deregulation published with the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department's inquiry into regulations affecting tourism is designed to complement the
  517
  Government's wider deregulation initiative by examining in detail the burdens on tourism-related businesses. This separate examination is warranted because of the highly important contribution which the tourism and hospitality industry makes to the economy and to employment, and will continue as long as regulatory burdens remain a matter of concern to the industry. I announced the preliminary findings of my inquiry to the House on 27 July, 1993, Official Report, columns 768–71, and a progress report will be issued in due course. The review has been conducted, at no additional cost, as part of the normal day-to-day work of my Department. During the course of the inquiry I have spoken to many individuals and organisations, both local and national, within the industry. I have received written representations from a great many more. My Department does not have primary responsibility for the regulations indentified during the inquiry, with the exception of the Hotel Proprietors Act 1956 and the Tourism (Sleeping Accommodation Price Display) Order 1977. These are currently being examined by officials. We intend to begin a public consultation exercise shortly and to complete it as quickly as possible.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give a likely start date, finish date and his cost-benefit estimate for his Department's review into the scope for consolidating or simplifying the legislation on sports ground safety as outlined in the Department of Trade and Industry document on deregulation published with the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill.

  Mr. Sproat
  An informal consultation exercise in line with deregulation guidance will commence as soon as is practicable. I hope to consider the responses during the summer.

  Cultural Services (VAT)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consideration he has given to EC directives on VAT giving exemptions to certain cultural services and goods.

  Mr. Sproat
  Discussions are continuing between my officials and those of Customs and Excise about the scope of such an exemption.

  Public Libraries (Review)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is(a) the full cost of the review of public libraries and (b) the cost of the consultant to the review.

  Mr. Sproat
  The review of public libraries is expected to cost in the region of £100,000, exclusive of the DNH's own staffing costs. The bulk of this expenditure is likely to be accounted for by the cost of the consultants.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which consultant has been appointed to advise the review of public libraries.

  Mr. Sproat
  We expect to appoint a consultant very shortly.

  Battersea Power Station
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will take urgent action to secure the future of Battersea power station; and if he will make a statement.
  518
  Mr. Brooke
  I understand that the building remains structurally sound. It was inspected by officers of English Heritage on 21 January.

  I am aware from press reports that there is a dispute about girders inserted in the building which may result in legal action. Listed building consent would of course be required for any demolition or alteration of the building falling within section 7 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

  Consultants
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on which occasions since it was established 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. Sproat
  Since April 1992, my Department and its two agencies have let contracts to external consultants valued at approximately £6 million. Consultants have been used for advice, information and as a management resource in the following areas: to assist in the setting up of the Department, including advice on financial and personnel management, and project management for the new headquarters; to review the Arts Council and to examine local authority management of arts facilities; to undertake preparatory work for the national lottery; to study the activities of library authorities; to review the British library St. Pancras project; to advise on the BBC and the television licence fee; to undertake reviews relating to the British film industry; to review the effectiveness of press self-regulation; to report on sports sponsorship activities; to look at the economic effects of listing buildings of historic interest; to advise on royal estate management responsibilities; to inquire into fire safety at royal palaces; to provide statistical data on tourism; various tasks on behalf of the Historic Royal Palaces agency; and various tasks on behalf of the Royal Parks agency.

  National Lottery
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are the names and addresses of the consortia which have so far bid to run the national lottery.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 26 January 1994]: The names and addresses of those organisations which have publicly announced their intention to apply for the main licence to run the national lottery are as follows:

  The Great British Lottery Company

  3 Round Wood Avenue

  Stockley Park

  Uxbridge

  Middlesex

  081-561-3090

  The UK Lottery Foundation

  Jevington House

  Knotty Green

  Beaconsfield

  Bucks

  HP9 2TY

  0494-673777

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd.

  New Court

  St. Swithins Lane

  London

  EC4P 4DU

  519

  071-280-5000

  Rainbow UK Ltd. 48 St. Martins Lane

  London

  WC2N 4EJ

  071-836-2424/

  Camelot Group plc

  Beaumont Burfield Road

  Old Windsor

  Windsor

  Berkshire

  SL4 2JP

  0753-833971

  Games for Good Causes plc

  Compass House

  Redan Place

  London

  W2 4SA

  071-727-9695

  The Director General of the National Lottery will publish a full list of all those who apply, after 14 February, which is the closing date for applications.

EDUCATION

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many three and four-year-olds attended maintained nursery schools or nursery classes in maintained primary schools in each local education authority in January 1993.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 21 January 1994,Official Report, columns 857–59.

  Photographs
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to buy or borrow photographs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Patten
  I have no such plans.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the numbers and percentages of surplus places in each local education authority; if he will list in rank order the local authorities according to the proportion of surplus places in(a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools; and what estimate he has made of the percentage of surplus school places in grant-maintained schools in each of the local education authorities.

  Mr. Forth
  The tables show the number and percentage of surplus places in each local education authority in England, in primary and secondary schools respectively, as at January 1991, the latest date for which comprehensive information is available. No information is available centrally on surplus places in special schools.

  The information set out in the tables was provided by LEAs in response to a survey by the Department and includes all primary and secondary schools which were LEA maintained at the survey date. Numbers of grant-maintained schools have increased significantly since that date and no estimate has been made of the
  520
  current level of surplus school places in grant-maintained schools in each LEA. We intend, however, to make regulations under section 21 of the Education Act 1993 which will require both LEAs and the new Funding Agency for Schools to submit annual information on the numbers of surplus places in LEA-maintained and grant-maintained schools respectively, beginning this year. LEAs and the FAS will shortly be consulted about this requirement.

  Capacity of maintained secondary schools in England—January 1991

  Surplus places

  Percentage surplus

  Hammersmith

  3,251

  41

  Lambeth

  3,852

  39

  Manchester

  13,350

  36

  Wandsworth 1

  3,908

  36

  Solihull

  6,645

  33

  Southwark

  3,837

  33

  Brent

  4,480

  33

  Sandwell

  7,722

  31

  Knowsley

  3,925

  31

  Doncaster

  8,550

  30

  Wolverhampton

  5,740

  30

  Nottinghamshire

  26,198

  30

  Liverpool

  11,545

  30

  South Tyneside

  3,528

  29

  Merton

  2,544

  27

  Sheffield

  8,730

  27

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,046

  27

  Durham

  13,626

  27

  Wakefield

  7,763

  27

  Cumbria

  9,673

  25

  Salford

  3,711

  25

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  5,425

  25

  North Tyneside

  4,942

  25

  Leeds

  15,684

  25

  Dudley

  5,134

  25

  Newham

  3,899

  24

  Hillingdon

  3,693

  24

  Birmingham

  17,171

  24

  Wirral

  6,580

  24

  Coventry

  5,657

  24

  Lewisham

  3,223

  24

  Ealing

  3,533

  24

  Leicestershire

  16,644

  23

  Avon

  14,904

  23

  St. Helens

  3,621

  23

  Cleveland

  11,298

  23

  Oxfordshire

  9,589

  23

  Kent

  26,589

  23

  Trafford

  2,955

  22

  Walsall

  4,667

  21

  Calderdale

  2,891

  21

  Humberside

  14,891

  21

  Lancashire

  20,135

  21

  Enfield

  3,976

  21

  Warwickshire

  5,796

  21

  Bexley

  3,436

  20

  Kirklees

  6,222

  20

  Waltham Forest

  2,706

  20

  Sefton

  4,519

  20

  Gateshead

  2,941

  20

  Hertfordshire

  15,153

  20

  Essex

  24,319

  20

  Surrey

  8,400

  19

  Hackney

  1,780

  19

  Islington

  1,715

  19

  Derbyshire

  12,487

  19

  Greenwich

  3,260

  19

  Rotherham

  3,761

  18

  Befordshire

  9,409

  18

  Shropshire

  5,718

  18

  Barnsley

  2,644

  18

  Wiltshire

  9,682

  18

  Rochdale 2

  2,525

  18

  Norfolk

  7,682

  17

  Wigan

  4,025

  17

  521

  Surplus places

  Percentage surplus

  Gloucestershire

  5,756

  17

  East Sussex

  6,350

  17

  Hounslow

  2,598

  17

  Croydon

  3,149

  17

  Hereford and Worcester

  9,570

  17

  Havering

  3,229

  17

  Berkshire

  8,825

  17

  Buckinghamshire

  5,564

  16

  Northamptonshire

  8,058

  16

  Hampshire

  13,601

  16

  Bradford

  8,331

  16

  West Sussex

  7,634

  16

  Lincolnshire

  5,440

  15

  Suffolk

  8,015

  15

  North Yorkshire

  7,404

  15

  Cheshire

  11,149

  15

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,117

  14

  Tameside

  1,854

  14

  Dorset

  5,941

  14

  Devon

  9,012

  14

  Stockport

  2,732

  14

  Sunderland 2

  2,566

  13

  Northumberland

  3,727

  12

  Bromley 1

  1,309

  12

  Somerset

  3,793

  12

  Westminster

  868

  11

  Tower Hamlets

  1,051

  10

  Isle of Wight

  1,101

  10

  Oldham

  1,692

  10

  Cornwall

  3,209

  10

  Staffordshire

  7,783

  10

  Camden

  1,148

  10

  Bolton

  1,612

  9

  Bury

  1,013

  9

  Barking

  717

  8

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  643

  8

  Sutton 1

  513

  7

  Harrow

  466

  6

  Barnet

  983

  6

  Cambridge

  2,642

  6

  Redbridge

  695

  5

  1Figures for secondary schools in these LEAs are incomplete.

  2Figures for secondary schools in these LEAs are calculated on a slightly different basis since directly comparable figures are not available.

  Capacity of maintained primary schools in England—January 1991

  Surplus places

  Percentage surplus

  Wandsworth

  9,096

  39

  Liverpool

  19,481

  32

  Hammersmith

  2,981

  29

  Gateshead

  6,422

  28

  Brent

  6,585

  26

  North Tyneside

  3,802

  24

  Southwark

  5,511

  24

  Doncaster

  7,076

  22

  Wigan

  7,811

  22

  Hertfordshire

  20,503

  22

  Staffordshire

  24,485

  22

  Wolverhampton

  6,116

  22

  Knowsley

  4,004

  21

  Oxfordshire

  10,004

  21

  Lambeth

  4,479

  21

  Northumberland

  4,902

  21

  Bedfordshire

  9,782

  21

  Berkshire

  14,013

  20

  Hackney

  3,019

  19

  Barnsley

  4,220

  19

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  4,515

  19

  Islington

  2,958

  19

  Newham

  4,587

  18

  Humberside

  16,347

  18

  Wiltshire

  9,682

  18

  Coventry

  6,022

  18

  522

  Surplus places

  Percentage surplus

  Durham

  11,516

  18

  Sheffield

  9,048

  18

  Nottinghamshire

  17,253

  18

  Hillingdon

  3,754

  18

  Hampshire

  24,719

  17

  Rotherham

  4,346

  17

  Suffolk

  7,902

  17

  Leeds

  8,335

  17

  Hereford and Worcester

  9,296

  17

  Cheshire

  17,045

  17

  Salford

  4,171

  17

  Buckinghamshire

  11,252

  17

  Cleveland

  10,391

  16

  Bradford

  6,370

  16

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,845

  16

  Calderdale

  3,324

  16

  Shropshire

  5,396

  16

  South Tyneside

  2,619

  16

  Essex

  22,611

  16

  Solihull

  3,332

  16

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,090

  16

  Manchester

  7,617

  16

  Bexley

  2,914

  15

  Tower Hamlets

  2,864

  15

  East Sussex

  7,955

  15

  Wakefield

  4,314

  15

  Sunderland

  4,674

  15

  Norfolk

  10,842

  15

  North Yorkshire

  9,524

  15

  Walsall

  3,823

  14

  Cambridge

  9,401

  14

  Warwickshire

  7,305

  14

  Devon

  10,575

  13

  Sutton

  1,619

  13

  Greenwich

  2,718

  13

  Stockport

  3,557

  13

  Surrey

  11,084

  13

  Lincolnshire

  7,236

  13

  Gloucestershire

  5,506

  12

  Derbyshire

  10,230

  12

  Merton

  1,639

  12

  West Sussex

  6,940

  12

  Croydon

  3,389

  12

  Cumbria

  5,674

  12

  Ealing

  3,016

  11

  St. Helens

  1,886

  11

  Kent

  15,431

  11

  Kirklees

  3,291

  10

  Trafford

  1,878

  10

  Camden

  972

  10

  Westminster

  891

  10

  Corporation of London

  21

  10

  Bromley

  2,259

  10

  Avon

  6,359

  9

  Lewisham

  1,609

  9

  Dudley

  2,551

  9

  Leicestershire

  7,204

  9

  Northamptonshire

  4,714

  9

  Barking

  1,368

  9

  Havering

  1,971

  9

  Waltham Forest

  1,445

  8

  Birmingham

  8,711

  8

  Rochdale

  1,784

  8

  Barnet

  1,463

  7

  Hounslow

  1,226

  7

  Somerset

  2,524

  7

  Sefton

  1,944

  7

  Oldham

  1,319

  6

  Bolton

  1,602

  6

  Wirral

  1,953

  6

  Redbridge

  796

  5

  Tameside

  968

  5

  Isle of Wight

  357

  5

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  485

  5

  Harrow

  888

  5

  Lancashire

  6,754

  5

  Enfield

  765

  4

  523

  Surplus places

  Percentage surplus

  Dorset

  1,165

  3

  Cornwall

  744

  2

  Sandwell

  328

  1

  Bury

  0

  0

  Paintings and Photographs
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) paintings and (b) photographs there are on the walls of his rooms.

  Mr. Patten
  There are six drawings by Augustus John, Royal Academy; one oil painting, "Tobias and the Angel" —late 18th century north Italian school—and one engraving of Beata Beatrice by D. G. Rossetti. I look forward to showing these to the hon. Member at an early opportunity; he is welcome to bring his camera.

  Lecturers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what changes have taken place in the past three years in the totals and proportion of(a) part-time and (b) full-time lecturers currently employed in further and higher education; and what are the financial consequences;

  (2) what is his latest calculation on the proportion of (a) part-time and (b) full-time lecturers currently employed in further and higher education in England.

  Mr. Boswell
  The information is not available in the form requested, but table A gives details of full and part-time lecturer numbers in England. Table B gives details of expenditure on lecturers' salaries since 1990–91.

  It is for individual institutions to determine their staffing levels and to meet the consequent costs within the total funding available to them from all sources.

  Table A Full-time and part-time lecturer numbers

  thousands

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  LEA maintained Institutions1

  Full-time

  55

  53

  52

  Part-time

  22

  24

  23

  Universities2

  Full-time

  39

  41

  42

  Part-time

  3

  3

  3

  PCFC Institutions

  Full-time

  22

  22

  n/a

  Part-time

  3

  4

  n/a

  Table B Expenditure on lecturers' salaries

  £ millions

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  LEA maintained Institutions1

  Full-time

  1,175

  1,254

  n/a

  Part-time

  151

  180

  n/a

  Universities2

  Total

  866

  1,017

  n/a

  PCFC Institutions

  Total

  n/a

  1,200

  n/a

  Note: Figures shown are the latest available.

  1 Institutions now within the futher education sector, but not including sixth form colleges.
  524
  2 Universities refer to universities funded by the Universities Funding Council.

  n/a = not available.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Boswell
  A total of 2,127 at 1 January 1994.

  Lowestoft Middle School
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to announce a decision on the Suffolk county council application to build a new middle school at Lowestoft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Suffolk's proposals are currently under consideration. My right hon. Friend will announce a decision on them. as soon as possible.

  Muslim Girls School, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he received an application from the Muslim Girls community school in Bradford for voluntary-aided status; what further information he requires about the application before reaching a decision; when he expects to announce a decision; and if he will intake a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We have received no such application. Because of the Secretary of State's role in these matters, it is not appropriate to comment on any proposals which may come before him for decision.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Staff
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will publish details of the number of people working full and part time at the House of Commons.

  Mr. Beith
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 18 January 1994,Official Report, column 520.

  Committee of Selection
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chairman of the Committee of Selection what criteria the Committee of Selection uses to fulfil the requirement of paragraph 2 of Standing Order No. 86 (Nomination of Standing Committees) to have regard to the qualifications of hon. Members nominated to serve on Standing Committees.

  Sir Fergus Montomery
  In nominating hon. Members to serve on Standing Committees, the Committee of Selection is required to have regard not only to the qualifications of hon. Members, but also to the composition of the House. For Bills certified by the Speaker as relating exclusively to Scotland, the Committee is required to nominate not fewer than 16 Members representing Scottish constituencies. Hon. Members
  525
  interested in serving on particular Standing Committees may submit their names to the Committee for its consideration.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will(a) list the number of statutory instruments passed and (b) what percentage of these were subjet to the affirmative procedure for each year since 1977–78.

  Mr. Newton
  This information is available under the delegated legislation section of the Sessional Returns.

WALES

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will free from restrictions the cash held by local authorities from council house sales receipts for a phased programme of construction of homes to rent and for a phased programme of modernisation and refurbishment; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will permit an increase in the percentage of council house sales receipts being made available for use by local authorities.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No changes are planned. The rules already allow all capital receipts from council house sales to be used for new capital spending where there is no outstanding loan debt. Changing the requirements of section 59 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 would increase public borrowing.

  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. Redwood
  This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mink Farms
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 7 December,Official Report, column 181, what was the result of the application for a licence in respect of a mink farm at Llanybydder, Dyfed, established in February 1988; when that farm was in operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The application for a licence was withdrawn.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what level of funding will be available for the training of teachers to enable them to teach Welsh as a second language; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  £176,000 has been made available for 1993–94 by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to help colleges meet the criteria for primary initial teacher training courses. These require that students must have the opportunity to learn Welsh. The council has yet to decide on the level of funds for 1994–95.
  526
  Student teachers on one or two-year initial teacher training courses in Welsh receive a bursary of £1,000 under the Department for Education trainee teacher bursary scheme. This financial incentive is aimed at maintaining teacher supply in the shortage areas, including Welsh.

  The sum of £3 million has been made available in 1993–94 through the grants for education support and training programme for the in-service training and support of teachers of Welsh as a first and second language. Local education authorities have been directed to target the majority of these funds towards the training of teachers responsible for teaching Welsh as a second language. I am currently considering authority bids for 1994–95 and expect to make an announcement on the level of funding shortly.

  In deciding on the future level of funds to be made available account will continue to be taken of the supply, demand and training needs of teachers of Welsh as a second language.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what funding will be available to finance the training of teachers to a level of teaching proficiency through the medium of the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Mainstream funding for teaching provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales does not distinguish between Welsh medium and English medium teaching.

  The Department has put in place an incentive supplement scheme aimed at increasing the supply of teachers trained to teach through the medium of the Welsh language. Expenditure under this scheme will amount to some £160,000 in 1993–94. I intend to make a similar level of funding available for 1994–95.

  The sum of £264,400 has been made available in 1993–94 under the grants for education support and training programme for training to enable teachers to transfer from English medium to Welsh medium teaching. In addition, £12 million has been made available through the programme in 1993–94 for the in-service training and support for teachers on subject teaching. Local education authorities have been directed to target the majority of these funds, in both English and Welsh medium schools, towards the training needs of teachers in the national curriculum subjects requirements. I am currently considering authority bids for 1994–95 and expect to make an announcement on the level of funding shortly.

  In deciding on the future level of funds to be made available account will continue to be taken of the supply, demand and training needs for Welsh medium teachers.

  Business Statistics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the numbers of business start-ups and bankruptcies in Wales in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Redwood
  Official estimates of bankruptcy orders are compiled for Wales and England combined and are not separately available for Wales. The best available guide to trends in numbers of business starts comes from VAT data. The number of VAT registrations in Wales is available for each year from 1980 onwards and is as follows:
  527

  Wales—VAT registrations

  Number

  1980

  7,100

  1981

  7,100

  1982

  7,700

  1983

  8,000

  1984

  7,600

  1985

  7,300

  1986

  7,800

  1987

  8,700

  1988

  10,900

  1989

  10,900

  1990

  10,200

  1991

  8,400

  1992

  17,400

  1 The estimate for 1992 is not compatible with those for earlier years due to the effects of the increase in the VAT threshold from £25,400 to £35,000 introduced in the March 1991 Budget.

  Source: Department of Trade and Industry.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his assessment of the performance and effectiveness of TECs in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The performance of Welsh TECs is closely monitored against the targets agreed in their business plans and they are also subject to two formal reviews of performance each year. It is my intention to publish information on Welsh TEC performance in the context of the quartile tables of key performance indicators prepared for TECs in England. This information will be available in the early part of the 1994–95 financial year.

  Lecturers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what changes have taken place in the past three years in the totals and proportion of(a) part-time and (b) full-time lecturers currently employed in further and higher education; and what are the financial consequences;

  (2) what is his latest calculation on the proportion of (a) part-time and (b) full-time lecturers currently employed in further and higher education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Except for the university of Wales, information on part-time lecturers in the further and higher education sectors is not available. Academic staff of all grades may undertake lecturing duties, and the tables which follow give the available information on numbers of all academic staff and those in the lecturer grades at the university of Wales and at other publicly funded institutions in both sectors in Wales. Staff of the Open university are excluded.

  University of Wales1

  Lecturers2

  All academic staff

  1990–91

  Full time

  2,190

  2,764

  Part time

  175

  236

  1991–92

  Full time

  2,238

  2,853

  Part time

  131

  199

  1992–93

  Full time

  2,278

  2,913

  Part time

  121

  195

  528
  1 At December.

  2 Includes readers, senior lecturers and lecturers.

  Source: University Statistical Record.

  Other further and higher educational establishments1 Full-time only

  Lecturers2

  All academic staff

  1990–91

  4,038

  4,331

  1991–92

  4,198

  4,334

  1992–933

  4,279

  4,330

  1 At March. Includes information for the polytechnic of Wales (1990–91, 1991–92) and the university of Glamorgan (1992–93). Information on part-time staff by grade not available.

  2 Includes readers, principal lecturers, senior lecturers and lecturers.

  3 Provisional.

  Source: Department for Education.

  Decisions about the deployment of staff are for individual institutions. The deployment of staff does not affect the allocation of money to institutions from the funding bodies.

  Magor-Castleton Motorway
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many submissions were received in the consultation exercise on the proposed Magor to Castleton motorway; and how many were(a) in favour and (b) opposed to the proposal.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  A report on the results of the consultation and the issues raised is in preparation. The information requested will be made public when a decision is taken on whether or not to proceed with any of the published routes.

  Milk
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many gallons of milk were consumed in Wales in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many gallons of milk were produced in Wales in that year.

  Mr. Redwood
  Milk Marketing Board statistics for milk production in Wales are published in Welsh Agricultural Statistics. The volume of milk produced and sold through milk marketing schemes in Wales in 1992 was 1,455 million litres or 320 million gallons. Total liquid milk consumption figures are not separately available for Wales.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Redwood
  The head count of Welsh Office staff eligible to receive statutory sick pay is 2,430.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Independent Review Tribunal
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussion he has had with the Home Office regarding the proposed independent review tribunal for dealing with alleged miscarriages of justice; and if he will make a statement.
  529
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None. Officials in my Department and the Home Office are working together on the proposed new arrangements for considering alleged miscarriages of justice.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to improve the legal aid system.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The legal aid scheme is kept under constant scrutiny to ensure that it is operating as efficienty and effectively as possible. In addition, it is part of the subject matter of the fundamental review of my Department's expenditure which is curently under way.

  Judges and Barristers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to broaden the social background of(a) judges and (b) barristers.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's policy is to appoint to judicial office entirely on merit those members of the legal profession who satisfy the relevant statutory conditions for appointment and are best qualified to fill the posts. However, the Bar is an independent profession and the selection of prospective barristers is therefore a matter for the Bar Council and not an area in which the Government can directly intervene.

  Commercial Leases
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to amend the current law relating to privity of contract in commercial leases; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government will implement the recommendations in the Law Commission's report "Landlord and Tenant Law: Privity of Contract and Estate"—Law Com. No. 174—for all future leases including commercial leases, as soon as there is a suitable legislative opportunity.

  Medical Ethics
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Law Commission in relation to medical ethics.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Law Commission is reviewing the law and procedures relating to decision making on behalf of mentally incapacitated adults, which involves consideration of ethical questions in relation to medical treatment and research.

  Leasehold Flats
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to introduce legislation to create a commonhold tenure for occupiers of leasehold flats.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government intend to introduce the commonhold legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows. The commonhold system will not be restricted to flats, but will be available for use with other types of property.

HEALTH

  NHS Trusts (Salaries)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the code of practice in relation to salaries and pay rises of NHS trust chief executives.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Guidance on determing rates of pay for executives in national health service trusts was set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's letter of 22 January 1991 to all NHS trust chairmen. That is the standing advice and copies are available in the Library. The chief executive of the National Health Service Management Executive also wrote to chairmen of all third wave trusts on 20 January 1993 explaining how the 1992 public sector pay restraint affected executive pay appointments at that time. Copies of that letter are also available in the Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State issued draft codes of conduct and accountability on 13 January to the NHS for its views and, subject to consultation, these will be put into effect from 1 April 1994. One of the main new features will be the publication, in annual reports, of the total remuneration from NHS sources of chairmen, executive and non-executive board members.

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

  Mr. Sackville
  The table gives information on schemes operated by the Department under which loans are available. It also provides information on any unrecovered loans. It excludes loans to staff, which are recovered through their salaries. It is not possible except at disproportionate cost to provide information on the annual cost of recovering loans.
  531

  Departmental loans

  Loans

  Objective

  Loans repayable to DH when children's homes close or change use

  Under section 58 of the Children Act 1989, providers of some children's homes (which were formerly approved schools) are required to repay past grants and loans to the Department of Health when the home closes or changes its use. Central Government capital was invested under section 104 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 for the establishment and refurbishment of approved schools and this continues to be recoverable under the Act. We hold no records of any unrecovered loans.

  Loans under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968

  To support the agreed national activities of the voluntary sector in relation to the health and personal social services. This is achieved by providing grants to voluntary organisations towards their administrative (core) costs and for certain national projects and, exceptionally, for well defined regional and local activities.

  While the section 64 power allows loans to be made, none has been made under the section 64 general scheme to date. Any proposal to make a loan would require approval of the Treasury.

  Loans to the Medicines Control Agency

  There are potentially two kinds of loan which the Department can make to the Medicines Control Agency.

  When the MCA became a trading fund its net assets were financed by public dividend capital and originating debt. The originating debt is to be repaid to the Department over a five-year period in instalments. The MCA was given the option, which it has taken up, to re-borrow an equivalent amount to that repaid - this amounts to £330,000 in the current financial year.

  As regards its recurrent and capital costs, the MCA is a self-financing agency which recovers its costs through licensing fees. However, loans may be made to the MCA for effective management of cash flow. All loan repayments would be recovered as they fall due.

  Loans to NHS Trusts

  The objective of the trust loans system is to provide finance for capital expenditure and for the effective management of cash flow at NHS trusts. All loan repayments are recovered as they fall due. None of the loans can be categorised as unrecovered.

  Family Health Service Authorities
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 10 December,Official Report, column 394, what was the number of secretaries,

  Staff type

  1 October 1989

  1 October 1990

  1 October 1991

  1 October 1992

  1 April 1993

  Management and Administration1

  n/a

  573·8

  676·3

  772·1

  758·4

  Secretary/Clerical2

  405·5

  3,620·2

  1,297·0

  1,319·2

  1,197·7

  Receptionist3

  2,612·1

  —

  2,530·6

  2,497·7

  2,396·7

  The data relate to whole-time equivalent staff.

  1 No data are available for management and administrative staff for 1989; the figure for 1990 relates only to practice managers.

  2 The figure for the secretary/clerical category for 1989 relates to staff employed only as secretaries; the receptionist category relates to staff employed as receptionists, and as secretary/receptionists.

  3 The figure for secretary/clerical category for 1990 includes receptionists.

  Hepatitis B
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target she has received from the World Health Organisation in relation to hepatitis B universal vaccination; and what plans she has to meet that target;

  (2) what plans she has to implement a hepatitis B universal vaccination strategy; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Targets for the introduction of hepatitis B vaccine into national immunisation programmes were set by the global advisory group of the World Health Organisation's expanded programme on immunisation in 1991, the recommendations being endorsed by the World
  532
  receptionists, administrators and practice managers in each of the 12 family health services authority areas which fell wholly or partly within the London initiative zone in each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Health Assembly in 1992. These targets called for countries with a prevalence of hepatitis B virus carriers of 8 per cent. or greater to include hepatitis B immunisation into their national immunisation programmes by 1995 and for all countries to include the vaccine by 1997. Target groups and strategies may vary with local epidemiology. The carrier rate in the United Kingdom is significantly below 1 per cent.

  Hepatitis B vaccine was introduced into the United Kingdom in 1982 and is recommended for those at high risk of infection. Immunisation strategy is kept under review in the light of a range of factors, including the current low prevalence of the disease in this country.
  533
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the bodies and individuals from whom she has received representations calling for a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme in children.

  Mr. Sackville
  No recent representations have been received from organisations. We are aware that some professional interests favour universal immunisation. Policy is kept under review in the light of a range of factors including current prevalence.

  Occasional letters have been received from interested individuals. These cannot be listed for reasons of confidentiality.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies her Department has undertaken of(a) the most common method of transmission of hepatitis B and (b) the causes of primary liver cancer.

  Mr. Sackville
  In the United Kingdom the most common form of acquisition of hepatitis B is known to be through unprotected sexual activity both between men and women and between men. This accounts for perhaps 60 per cent. of those cases in which a cause is identified. Transmission routes for hepatitis B are well understood. The Department has not received recent proposals for further study in this area or of the causes of primary liver cancer.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has commissioned into the duration of antibody responses to hepatitis B vaccination in children.

  Private income of the national health service

  Region, Special Health Authority, National Health Service Trust

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Northern regional health authority

  1,579,019

  1,801,937

  2,071,309

  1,877,310

  1,332,230

  Yorkshire regional health authority

  3,837,428

  4,070,335

  5,044,191

  4,541,752

  2,551,178

  Trent regional health authority

  2,838,649

  3,183,545

  2,877,057

  3,464,673

  2,615,399

  East Anglia regional health authority

  3,911,425

  4,743,750

  5,278,653

  7,318,941

  6,068,307

  North West Thames regional health authority

  10,251,108

  11,765,016

  13,377,772

  13,984,258

  11,082,874

  North East Thames regional health authority

  11,064,093

  14,063,599

  16,267,305

  11,158,170

  9,893,003

  South East Thames regional health authority

  7,857,124

  8,636,174

  11,023,826

  11,692,162

  12,558,427

  South West Thames regional health authority

  2,808,233

  3,368,424

  4,150,714

  3,527,592

  2,966,909

  Wessex regional health authority

  2,233,589

  2,516,311

  3,322,716

  4,383,335

  3,530,475

  Oxford regional health authority

  5,812,328

  8,138,495

  9,510,480

  9,724,622

  10,803,281

  South Western regional health authority

  3,192,220

  3,643,156

  4,821,114

  2,111,512

  1,484,225

  West Midlands regional health authority

  3,704,756

  4,405,253

  5,612,685

  6,326,507

  5,525,374

  Mersey regional health authority

  2,070,550

  1,706,556

  2,051,833

  2,006,183

  312,253

  North Western regional health authority

  4,568,630

  5,382,332

  6,644,907

  4,949,840

  4,127,700

  Hospitals for Sick Children special health authority

  2,843,674

  3,459,624

  3,578,948

  5,066,294

  4,987,994

  National hospitals for nervous diseases special health authority

  1,014,771

  1,099,076

  1,234,224

  1,707,059

  1,508,084

  Moorfield eye hospital special health authority

  636,115

  676,430

  739,885

  884,570

  944,319

  Bethlem Royal/Maudsley special health authority

  111,959

  128,768

  134,547

  183,815

  155,266

  National heart and chest hospitals special health authority

  2,805,264

  3,660,196

  3,636,114

  4,256,510

  4,429,254

  Royal Marsden hospital special health authority

  2,986,469

  3,883,394

  4,586,605

  6,390,534

  8,159,002

  Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's special health authority

  1,512,684

  2,232,927

  2,753,572

  3,003,772

  3,735,534

  Eastman dental hospital special health authority

  19,463

  24,097

  13,298

  20,140

  23,321

  National health service trusts

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  32,254,000

  58,520,000

  Total income

  77,659,551

  92,589,395

  108,731,755

  140,833,551

  157,314,409

  Source: Annual accounts for regional health authorities, district health authorities, London postgraduate special health authorities and NHS trusts.

  Notes:

  1. The figures in the table include money received from national health service patients paying for accommodation in single rooms or small wards (section 63 NHS Act 1977), private in-patients (section 65) and private non-resident patients (section 66).

  2. Overseas visitors (section 211) not eligible for free treatment have been excluded (as they are charged national health service patients).
  534
  Mr. Sackville
  None, but the possibility of the need for booster doses of vaccine continues to be kept under review.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of hepatitis B in each EC country in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information on reported cases among European Community countries which have submitted data to the World Health Organisation is:

  1991

  1992

  Denmark

  71

  51

  Germany

  5,081

  5,987

  Italy

  3,262

  2,985

  Netherlands

  264

  252

  Portugal

  609

  738

  England and Wales

  488

  488

  Differences in populations and surveillance systems should be borne in mind in assessing these figures.

  NHS Private Income
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the total private income in the NHS for 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93;

  (2) what was the private income of the NHS in each region and special health authority in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.
  535

  In-patients
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the activity figures for in-patients plus day cases in terms of finished consultant episodes for each region and special health authority combined in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 for(a) NHS patients and (b) private patients.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information available is shown in the table. Information on private patients for 1992–93 is not yet available.

  England, NHS Hospital activity data, 1990–91—1992–93 (a) Finished consultant episodes (in-patient plus day cases)1

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  England

  8,785,252

  9,306,707

  9,636,262

  Northern

  628,583

  655,287

  678,185

  Yorkshire

  722,130

  751,428

  784,549

  Trent

  809,186

  858,823

  899,532

  East Anglia

  360,934

  379,294

  388,343

  North West Thames

  536,203

  576,714

  600,446

  North East Thames

  695,279

  746,633

  762,213

  South East Thames

  629,250

  673,068

  702,475

  South West Thames

  457,600

  500,588

  522,221

  Wessex

  526,284

  562,571

  573,834

  Oxford

  383,333

  404,923

  431,021

  South Western

  588,049

  617,689

  647,201

  West Midlands

  959,648

  1,006,699

  1,029,052

  Mersey

  487,107

  523,515

  541,685

  North Western

  887,029

  927,034

  944,323

  SHAs

  114,637

  122,441

  131,182

  1 This includes a small number of private patients of which estimates are shown in the table (b).

  Source: KP70 return.

  (b) Private patients in NHS hospitals—Finished Consultant Episodes

  1990–91

  1991–922

  England1

  81,366

  89,863

  Northern

  3,349

  3,178

  Yorkshire

  4,842

  5,263

  Trent

  2,797

  3,038

  East Anglia

  4,504

  4,270

  North West Thames

  10,345

  9,337

  North East Thames

  7,402

  9,850

  South East Thames

  6,648

  8,636

  South West Thames

  5,081

  6,269

  Wessex

  2,643

  2,673

  Oxford

  6,928

  7,244

  South Western

  5,044

  5,458

  West Midlands

  6,081

  6,866

  Mersey

  2,370

  2,249

  North Western

  6,445

  7,224

  SHAs

  6,887

  8,306

  1 Total may not add due to rounding.

  2 Provisional estimates.

  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, 1990–91; 1991–92.

  Community Care Grants
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 794, if she will specify the aggregate level of special grants and care in the community over the present financial year and each of the next three years.

  Mr. Bowis
  The special transitional grants for community care are planned to be:

  £ million

  1993–94

  565·4

  1994–95

  735·9

  1995–96

  647·6

  536
  In each case, the majority of the resources within the special transitional grant will be incorporated into the following year's local authority revenue support grant, so that the cumulative additional resource available for community care will be:

  £ million

  1994–95

  1,274·5

  1995–96

  1,838·0

  We propose to make available a further £418 million in 1996–97, and will determine nearer the time how much of that will be included within the special transitional grant, and how much within the revenue support grant.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to require local authorities to spend a specific percentage of special transitional community care grant in the private and voluntary sector during the next financial year.

  Mr. Bowis
  We shall shortly be announcing the conditions which we propose to apply to the special transitional grant in 1994–95.

  NHS Regional Authorities
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has reached decisions on the boundaries for the new NHS regional health authorities to be established on 1 April.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Following consultation, I have decided that the number of regional health authorities should be reduced to eight from 1 April 1994. The boundaries for the regions will, with one exception, be as set out in the consultation document "Managing the new NHS: Proposal to determine the new NHS regions and establish new Regional Health Authorities". The exception is the districts of East and West Cumbria which, in response to local representations, will be part of the new Northern and Yorkshire region and not North West region as originally proposed.

  I shall be laying statutory instruments before the House early in March to implement the required changes to regional boundaries.

  The chairmen of the eight regions will be:

  ANGLIA AND OXFORD (originally East Anglian and Oxford)

  Dr. Stuart Burgess CBE

  NORTHERN AND YORKSHIRE (originally North East and Yorkshire)

  Mr. John Greetham CBE

  TRENT

  Sir Michael Carlisle until end of July 1994 when he will be succeeded by

  Mr. Keith Ackroyd

  NORTH THAMES

  Sir William Staveley GCB

  SOUTH THAMES

  Mr. William Wells

  SOUTH AND WEST (originally South West)

  Ms Rennie Fritchie

  WEST MIDLANDS

  Mr. Bryan Baker

  NORTH WEST

  Sir Donald Wilson DL

  537

  Community Nurses
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the consultation exercise undertaken by the United Kingdom Central Council concerning proposals to amend the criteria for community nurse status; and what action her Department has taken on the conclusions of the consultation exercise.

  Mr. Sackville
  The United Kingdom Central Council is reviewing its proposal for post-registration education and practice as a consequence of its consultation exercise. We have not received its revised proposals.

  NHS Supplies Authority
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the names and the professional background of the current members of the NHS Supplies Authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  The chairman is Sir Robin Buchanan, who was previously chairman of Wessex regional health authority, and is a chartered accountant and company director. the other non-executive members are:Mrs. Alison Cook, chairman of Barnsley district health authority, and a company solicitor; formerly company secretary within ICI.
  Mr. Eric Greenhalgh, consultant and company chairman; formerly Director of Trading for the John Lewis Partnership department stores; Managing Director for David Jones, Australia, and also Selfridges; Chairman of Owen Owen plc; President of ACI; Vice-President and President-designate of the International Association of Department Stores.
  Mr. Jim Hammond, Chief Executive, East Gloucestershire National Health Service Trust and a chartered engineer; formerly director and general manager of several companies in the construction industry.
  Miss Catherine McLoughlin, Management consultant, and Chairman of Bromley Family Health Services Authority; formerly District General Manager for Haringey DHA, and Director of Nursing for the NHS Management Executive from 1989 to 1990 with extensive nursing experience.
  Mr. Fred Hoult, Chairman of the Freeman Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, and director of a transport and distribution company and three property companies.

  The executive directors are:
  Mr. Terry Hunt, National Director and former Regional General Manager to North East Thames RHA.
  Mr. Evan Sutherland, Deputy National Director and Director of Purchasing; formerly Regional Supplies Director to North Western RHA and extensive private sector procurement experience.
  Mr. Richard Chantler, Director of Finance and Information and former senior manager with TNT Express Worldwide Ltd.; Fellow of the Institute of Certified Accountants.
  Mrs. Roxanne Sutton, Director of Communications; formerly Director of Communications for North East Thames RHA, and extensive experience in NHS personnel management posts at hospital, district and regional level; Member of the Institute of Personnel Management.
  Mr. Chris Uden, Director of Human Resources; formerly Director of Management Development with the NHS Procurement Directorate with extensive experience with British Gas in marketing, customer services and management development. Member of the Institute of Training and Development and Associate Member of the Institute of Personnel Management.

  Drug Overdoses
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people die each year from deliberate or accidental overdoses of prescribed drugs.
  538
  Mr. Sackville
  In 1991, 1,783 people were recorded as having died from accidental, self-inflicted or undetermined, whether accidentally or purposely inflicted, poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances. Whether or not these were prescribed is not recorded at death. However, most categories of these substances are only available on prescription. Major exceptions are "analgesics, antipyretics and antirheumatics" which accounted for 753 of the deaths and "other unspecified drugs and medicaments" which accounted for a further 294 of the total.

  Detailed data about these deaths and the substances involved are published each year in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys "Mortality Statistics Series DH2 and DH4", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the 10 prescribed drugs used in the largest numbers of deliberate or accidental fatal overdoses.

  Mr. Sackville
  Table 10 in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys "Series DH4 Mortality" statistics, injury and poisoning, shows the substances involved where deaths were recorded as accidental, self-inflicted or undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted. Whether or not these were prescribed is not recorded at death.

  Copies of the relevant OPCS publications are available in the Library.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the medical ill-effects of cannabis on users.

  Mr. Bowis
  Consideration of the short and long-term effects of cannabis use is part of the normal medical assessment of any drug-taking individual who presents for treatment. In general, concentration, short-term memory and manual dexterity tend to be impaired during intoxication. Long-term, regular and heavy cannabis smoking may also cause respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or lung cancer.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the medical applications of cannabis in the treatment or prevention of(a) glaucoma, (b) multiple sclerosis and (c) Alzheimer's disease.

  Mr. Sackville
  Cannabis is known to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma and to relieve muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis, although in neither case is it as effective as other drugs. We are not aware that cannabis has any benefit to patients with Alzheimer's disease.

  Drug Prescriptions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual cost to the NHS of the medical service provided to those patients addicted to prescribed drugs.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally in the form requested. However, since 1986–87 top sliced funds have been made available to health authorities for the development of drug misuse services, including services
  539
  for people addicted to prescribed drugs. This allocation, which totals over £24 million in 1993–94 represents a minimum that health authorities will spend on drug misuse services.

  Heroin
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual cost to the NHS per prescription, of providing prescribed heroin to a patient.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The average net ingredient cost per prescription item for all diamorphine products dispensed in the family health services authorities in England in 1992 was £27·16.

  Prescriptions for diamorphine products are issued both to drug addicts and to patients with terminal illness as part of their symptom control.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to reduce the numbers of deaths resulting from variation in purity of heroin.

  Mr. Bowis
  On 6 January we launched a £2·6 million media campaign on the dangers of drug and solvent misuse. The campaign is supported by leaflets for young people, parents, professionals and others giving the facts and advice on drug misuse. This includes the fact that the strength of drugs made illegally or without medical supervision is unpredictable and dangerous.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Mid Essex area were waiting over one year for hospital admissions in(a) March 1991 and (b) the latest available month.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The area covered by Mid Essex and West Essex district health authorities in March 1991 is now covered by Mid Essex hospital services trust and North Essex district health authority.

  At March 1991 in Mid and West Essex district health authorities 3,143 patients had waited more than a year for treatment and 1,018 of these had waited more than two years. At September 1993 in the Mid Essex hospital services trust and North Essex district health authority the number waiting over one year had fallen by 56 per cent. to 1,379 and no one had waited more than two years.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of hospital admissions in the Mid Essex area are(a) immediate, (b) within five weeks, (c) within three months and (d) longer than a year; and what the figures were in March 1991;

  (2) what was the average waiting time for admission to hospital in the Mid Essex area in (a) 1988, (b) March 1991 and (c) the latest available month.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is available only on a national or regional basis rather than district health authority or trust.

  Chelmsford Hospitals
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list all those services provided for patient care at Broomfield and St. John's hospitals, Chelmsford that have been enhanced since May 1979; and if she will make a statement;
  540
  (2) if she will list any totally new services for patient care provided by Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford and St. John's hospital, Chelmsford since May 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  We are aware of a number of new or enhanced services at these hospitals.

  My hon. Friend may wish to contact Sir Jeffrey Bowman, chairman of Mid Essex hospital services national health service trust, for full details.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money in cash terms at current prices, has been spent on capital projects at Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford and St. John's hospital, Chelmsford, since May 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  During the last 15 years, more than £25 million has been spent on various developments and improvements at Chelmsford. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Sir Jeffrey Bowman, chairman of Mid Essex hospital services national health service trust, for details of the schemes.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all those new services in health care which have been recommended or are being considered for moving to Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford from other hospital sites outside the Chelmsford area.

  Mr. Sackville
  Statutory consultation is taking place on a proposal to transfer the regional plastic surgery and burns unit from St. Andrew's hospital, Billericay to Broomfield hospital.

  Health Spending
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent on the national health service in pounds sterling per head of the population in Mid Essex in(a) May 1979, (b) April 1991 and (c) the expected spending level in April 1994.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is not available centrally in this form. However, Mid Essex's revenue outturn increased from £35,554,483 in 1982–83—1982–83 cash —to £93,892,755 in 1991–92—1991–92 cash. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mr. Alec Sexton, the chairman of North Essex health authority, for full details.

  Patients, Mid-Essex
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Mid Essex area have been treated in the latest month available for every 100 patients treated in March 1991.

  Mr. Sackville
  For every 100 finished consultation periods—ordinary admissions plus day cases—in the general and acute sector in national health service hospitals in the Mid Essex district in the financial year 1990–91, there were 105 in 1992–93.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide a figure for the number of staff in her Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Sackville
  As at 31 December 1993 the Department of Health had 5,379 staff entitled to statutory sick pay.

  Continuing Care
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rights a patient has to receive continuing care in NHS hospitals for(a) dementia and (b) other chronic conditions; and what regulations and guidance her Department has issued on this matter.

  Mr. Bowis
  The "Caring for People" White Paper—Cm 849—sets out clearly that all health authorities have a responsibility to secure continuing care for people who require it for reasons of ill-health.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to ensure that there are sufficient long-stay beds for people wishing to receive continuing care in hospital.

  Mr. Bowis
  The White Paper "Caring for People" made it clear that the national health service has a continuing responsibility to secure long-term care for those who need it for reasons of ill-health. Health authorities as purchasers are encouraged to consider the range of options which may be available for the long-term care needs of their resident populations: whether by placing contracts for services with their own directly managed units or by other district health authorities, NHS trusts, or the independent sector.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures her Department has taken to publicise to patients and their relatives the options available to them for continuing care.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government have made it clear to health authorities and local authority social services departments that they should explain to all people who may require continuing care the options available to them. Under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 local authorities are expected to publish community care plans in collaboration with health authorities which take into account the needs of the local population. The Department has produced a leaflet, "Community Care changes in April 1993", on community care services, which was made generally available to the public, and an information pack for voluntary and private sector providers explaining the new arrangements. These were also sent to voluntary organisations who represent patients/residents and their relatives.

  Hospital Charges
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in what circumstances a person with the right to permanent residence in the United Kingdom is classed as an overseas visitor and liable to charges for treatment in hospital;

  (2) in what circumstances a British citizen is classed as an overseas visitor and liable to charges for treatment in hospital.

  Mr. Sackville
  The services of the national health service are intended for people ordinarily resident in the

  Number of cases reported

  Age (years) at diagnosis

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  16

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  17

  —

  —

  1

  2

  1

  —

  —

  18

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  19

  5

  2

  3

  4

  3

  5

  3

  542
  United Kingdom regardless of nationality or origin. The NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989—1989 SI No. 306—as amended by the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Amendment Regulations 1991—1991 SI No. 438—apply.

  Efficiency Savings
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health where she expects to identify efficiency savings in the national health service for 1994–95 in addition to the 2·25 per cent. announced in the budget for spending on direct patient care.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Hospital and community health services will be required to demonstrate efficiency improvements of at least 2¼ per cent. in 1994–95. How these are achieved is a matter for local decision in the light of local circumstances.

  NHS Productivity
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued or plans to issue to health authorities and trusts about improved productivity in the service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Specific guidance on productivity is not issued by the Department. However, health authorities and national health service trusts are assisted in their efforts to improve productivity by the National Audit Office, the Audit Commission and the value for money unit of the NHS Management Executive, which report on key areas and make appropriate recommendations. The NHS reforms have also given an incentive to improve productivity as providers have to compete for contracts.

  NHS Pay
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been given to health authorities and trusts about pay levels for 1994–95.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The chief executive of the national health service management executive wrote to general managers of health authorities and chief executives of NHS trusts on 30 November 1993 about the increase in public spending on health in 1994–95. The letter set out the implications for real growth, efficiency targets and pay rises. A copy of the letter EL(93)110 will be placed in the Library.

  AIDS
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of AIDS in the age groups(a) 16 to 18, (b) 18 to 21 and (c) over 21 years were notified to the Department in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested for the United Kingdom is shown in the table.
  543

  Number of cases reported

  Age (years) at diagnosis

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  20

  —

  2

  4

  4

  2

  4

  3

  21

  6

  4

  3

  1

  3

  3

  3

  22+

  613

  737

  826

  1,232

  1,320

  1,437

  1,577

  Not known

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  3

  Total

  627

  746

  837

  1,245

  1,331

  1,451

  1,590

  "Food—a Fact of Life"
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice her Department gave to the British Nutrition Foundation in developing the material for "Food—a Fact of Life"; and what steps she took to ensure the content was consistent with the advice of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy and "Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients" for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department participates in the group monitoring the progress of the project and seeks to ensure consistency with departmental policy where relevant.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to her Department of the British Nutrition Foundation's "Food—a Fact of Life".

  Mr. Sackville
  The costs to the Department for the two years 1991–92 and 1992–93 was £170,000 and for the current year £50,000.

  Selected List
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will make a final decision about the selected list.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs maintains a continual review of the drugs in the categories covered by the selected list scheme. It will produce recommendations about drugs in these categories within the next few months for Ministers to consider.

  NHS Trust Federation
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 21 January,Official Report, column 898, what action has been taken to correct the answer given on 26 July 1993, Official Report, column 546, concerning money received by the NHS Trust Federation from her Department; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  No correction is necessary. The National Health Service Trust Federation does not receive funding from the Department to meet its running costs. The payment without statutory authority was made in the financial year 1991–92 and has since been recovered. The Department has also provided funds to the federation to meet the costs incurred in organising conferences on information on behalf of the Department. These conferences were open to all NHS trusts, whether or not they were members of the federation.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the known party-political affiliations of trust chairs and non-executive directors.
  544
  Dr. Mawhinney
  We do not seek information on political affiliation. Some appointees' political affiliation may be a matter of public record, but it would be inappropriate for us to maintain our own records on the basis of political allegiance.

  Nuts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has about the number of people suffering from an allergy to nuts and the number of deaths that have resulted in recent years.

  Mr. Sackville
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 January 1994, c. 391]: I regret that my previous reply could give rise to a misunderstanding on the extent of information held centrally on cause of death. While there is no information centrally available on the number of people suffering from an allergy to nuts, the information held centrally on number of deaths is that for the latest 10 years, 1983–1992, for which data are available, there were no deaths registered where allergy to nuts was the assigned underlying cause.

EMPLOYMENT

  Sex Discrimination
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average award of industrial tribunals for sex discrimination cases.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available information relates to 1992–93, when the average award made by industrial tribunals in cases where sex discrimination was the main complaint was £1,416.

  Administration Costs
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the teacher placement service, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the administration of the teacher placement scheme rests with training and enterprise councils. The Department does not hold details of the administrative costs involved.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of TEC challenge, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the administration of TEC challenge rests with training and enterprise councils. The Department does not hold details of the administrative costs involved.
  545
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the programme development fund, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 31 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the expenditure on the administration of the Programme Development Fund (PDF).

  We do not collect the information that you have requested. It may help if I explain a little about the background to PDF and the way it is administered.

  The Programme Development Fund is a fund held by all ES Regional Directors and by Directors for Scotland and Wales. It is there to support local initiatives for assisting people who need special help to get back to work.

  These initiatives run alongside the mainstream work of ES offices and are a small, but important part of an overall total. Since, in the main, staff who administer PDF are also involved in a range of other activities it is impossible to separate out costs.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the business start-up scheme, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the administration of the business start-up scheme rests with training and enterprise councils. The Department does not hold details of the administrative costs involved.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the local initiative fund, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the administration of the local initiative fund rests with training and enterprise councils. The Department does not hold details of the administrative costs involved.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of compacts and inner-city compacts, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the administration of compacts and inner-city compacts rests with training and enterprise councils. The Department does not hold details of the administrative costs involved.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the education-business partnerships, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.
  546
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the administration of the education business partnerships rests with training and enterprise councils. The Department does not hold details of the administrative costs involved.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases have been brought before industrial tribunals since 1983; how many and what percentage of cases have been successful; and how many and what percentage of cases were about race discrimination.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The details are as follows:

  All Jurisdictions

  Racial Discrimination (where this is the main complaint)

  Cases heard

  Number/ per cent, successful

  Number/ per cent. of cases heard

  1983

  10,381

  3,229 (31·1)

  166 (1·6)

  1984 to March 1985

  9,690

  2,921 (30·1)

  195 (2·0)

  1985–86

  13,357

  5,405 (40·5)

  265 (2·0)

  1986–87

  13,124

  5,342 (40·7)

  296 (2·3)

  1987–88

  10,464

  4,185 (40·0)

  265 (2·5)

  1988–89

  9,023

  3,829 (42·4)

  324 (3·6)

  1989–90

  10,229

  4,598 (45·0)

  336 (3·3)

  1990–91

  11,430

  5,503 (48·1)

  316 (2·8)

  1991–92

  13,778

  7,022 (51·0)

  323 (2·3)

  1992–93

  17,836

  9,351 (52·4)

  345 (1·9)

  Programme Funding
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount of funding made available over the last year by(a) the programme development fund, (b) education business partnerships, (c) the teacher placement service, (d) compacts and inner-city compacts, (e) the business start-up scheme,
  (f) the local initiative fund and (g) TEC challenge.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 30 November 1993,Official Report, column 512. This lists the funding made available for 1993–94 by (a) the programme development fund, (b) education business partnerships, (c) the teacher placement service, (d) compacts and inner-city compacts, (e) the business start-up scheme, (f) the local initiative fund.

  In addition, £16·9 million has been made available for training and enterprise councils for TEC challenge in the current year.

  Race Discrimination
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average award of industrial tribunals for race discrimination cases.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available information relates to 1992–93, when the average award made by industrial tribunals in cases where race discrimination was the main complaint was £3,333.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recruitment of staff is planned by the Health and Safety Executive before April 1994.
  547
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Health and Safety Executive is considering plans to announce recruitment competitions for certain groups of specialist inspectors such as railways inspectors. The timing of any such recruitments has not been decided.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people in receipt of unemployment benefit within the Cunninghame, South parliamentary constituency have been unemployed for(a) more than six months, (b) more than 12 months and (c) more than two years; and if he will give these figures for (i) men and (ii) women for each month since April 1992;

  (2) how many people in receipt of unemployment benefit within the Irvine travel-to-work area have been unemployed for (a) more than six months, (b) more than 12 months and (c) more than two years; and if he will give these figures for (i) men and (ii) women for each month since April 1992.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Figures on the numbers of people claiming unemployment and related benefits, by duration, are available on the unadjusted basis only, for the months of January, April, July and October and can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those companies giving statutory notice of redundancies to his Department within the Irvine travel-to-work area from April 1992 to date; how many job losses were notified by each of the companies; and when statutory notice was given.

  Notified vacancies December 1993

  Average Number of vacancies displayed

  Permanent Full Time

  Permanent Part Time

  Temporary Full Time

  Temporary Part Time

  Total

  Irvine Jobcentre

  77

  51

  99

  1

  228

  260

  Kilwinning Jobcentre

  13

  9

  10

  0

  32

  165

  Amosite Asbestos
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list previous changes in Health and Safety Executive guidelines on the level of brown amosite asbestos considered to be safe.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Health and Safety Executive has not issued specific guidelines on the level of amosite which is considered safe; a safe level of exposure to any type of asbestos has yet to be identified. However, there is a practical level of exposure below which an increased risk of contracting an asbestos-related disease cannot be detected.

  The guidelines which have applied to workplace exposure to amosite are listed in the table. These standards were used by Her Majesty's inspectors of factories to establish whether satisfacory control had been achieved under the Asbestos Regulations 1969. The exposure standards are expressed as fibres per millilitre of air averaged over a continuous period of four hours and were:

  (a) 2 fibres per millilitre with effect from May 1970,

  (b) 0·5 fibres per millilitre with effect from 1 January 1983,

  (c) 0·2 fibres per millilitre with effect from 1 August 1984.

  548
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information given to the Department under the redundancy handling provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 is provided in confidence.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies were listed in(a) Irvine jobcentre and (b) Kilwinning jobcentre during December; and what was the nature of these vacancies.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 31 January 1994:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of vacancies listed in Irvine and Kilwinning Jobcentres in December.

  I attach a table showing the notified vacancies for both offices.

  Vacancies notified to Jobcentres are displayed in the self-service area of the office for selection by job seekers. This display will also include suitable vacancies from Jobcentres in the surrounding area. I have therefore included in the table the average number of vacancies on display in Irvine and Kilwinning Jobcentres in December 1993.

  You asked for information about the nature of the vacancies which were notified and the table gives a breakdown according to whether they were permanent or temporary, full-time or part-time. Because this was the Christmas period the number of temporary vacancies notified was high.

  You may also be interested to know that during December Irvine Jobcentre found jobs for 219 people and Kilwinning Jobcentre for 44 people.

  I hope this is helpful.

  The value of 0·2 fibres per millilitre of air became the statutory control limit for amosite, on the advice of the Health and Safety Commission, when the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 came into effect on 1 March 1988.

  Women's Earnings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of women who have earnings below(a) the tax threshold and (b) the national insurance threshold, broken down into married women, lone parents and single women at the latest date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Broad estimates, based on the new earnings survey and estimates of the number of employees in employment, are as follows: in April 1993 there were 2·6 million women employees earning less than the PAYE threshold, of whom 2·3 million earned less than the national insurance lower earnings limit. Using the results of the family expenditure survey it is estimated that approximately 75 per cent. of each of these categories were married women, 5 per cent. lone parents and 20 per cent. single women.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The total number of staff in the Department of Employment eligible for statutory sick pay is 53,082.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of youth unemployment in the city of Sunderland.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: Claimant unemployment data by age are available quarterly for the months of January, April, July and October and are on the unadjusted basis. On 14 October 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of unemployed claimants under 25 years of age in the Sunderland local authority district was 5,463, 4 per cent. lower than in the same month a year earlier.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Redundant Churches
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many redundant churches are being preserved by use of the redundant churches fund; and if he will make a statement on the flexibility exercised by the Church Commissioners regarding the sale of redundant churches for alternative use.

  Mr. Alison
  At the end of 1993, 289 redundant churches were vested in the redundant churches fund.

  When a Church of England church is closed for regular public worship, the Pastoral Measure requires that a suitable alternative use be sought for it. The Commissioners make the final decision and regard as suitable a use which is consonant with the former use of the building as a place of worship, and with its historic and architectural qualities and which has planning permission.

  Housing Investment
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the Church Commissioners' policy on investing in providing low-cost family homes to rent.

  Mr. Alison
  The Commissioners' primary responsibility is to produce a proper return on their assets for the support of the clergy, so financial considerations must take priority in investments decisions. Furthermore, they are not a housing charity. However, the Commissioners are sensitive to the needs in this area and are, therefore, alert to opportunities to dispose of land for the provision of affordable housing where this does not conflict with their duty as trustees. Furthermore, their Octavia Hill residential estates in central London provide about 1,500 homes for people on modest incomes.

  Clergy (Pay)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many(a) incumbents and (b)
  550
  assistant clergy are currently in the pay of the Church Commissioners; how much money is involved during the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alison
  There are about 10,500 stipendary clergy; I will write to my hon. Friend with the precise breakdown. The total annual cost of paying clergy stipends last year, including senior clergy, was approximately £155 million, of which the Commissioners met £63 million. An increasing proportion of this cost will fall on parishes as the Commissioners reduce their support to a more sustainable level. The active ministry will therefore depend far more on the giving of Church members.

  Ethical Investment
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what efforts are made to ensure that investments made conform to the ideals of ethical investment.

  Mr. Alison
  The Commissioners' primary responsibility is to produce. a proper return on their assets for the support of the clergy, so financial considerations must take priority in investment decisions. However, the Commissioners have always operated, and regularly reviewed, a strong ethical policy which takes account of social, ethical and environmental issues and which is sensitive to the views of Church people. They do not, for example, invest directly in companies whose main business is armaments, gambling, alcohol or tobacco. I have arranged for the hon. Member to receive a copy of the Commissioners' leaflet "A Question of Ethics".

SCOTLAND

  NHS Staff Costs
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost of employing managers, advisers, administrators and clerical staff in the NHS in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his previous question on this subject on 27 January,Official Report, column 345.

  Development Corporations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contacts his Department plans to have with Ayrshire and Scottish Enterprise, Irvine development corporation and Cunninghame district council concerning the transition of the development corporation's economic powers.

  Mr. Stewart
  The guidance issued by the Scottish Office Industry Department places the responsibility on the development corporation to prepare successor arrangements for economic development. Corporations are to consult fully the local enterprise company and local authorities about the preparation of proposals appropriate to their area. I understand that local discussions are going on at present between the development corporation and Enterprise Ayrshire. The development corporation is required to submit proposals for consideration by my right hon. Friend.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the additional
  551
  costs involved in winding up Irvine development corporation and Livingston development corporation before their original wind-up dates; and if the costs of winding up Irvine and Livingston new towns were accounted for in the Touche Ross report "Structure of Local Government in Scotland: Advice on Financial and Qualitative Appraisal of 'Options for Change—.

  Mr. Stewart
  I am satisfied that there are no additional costs in bringing forward the winding p dates of Irvine and Livingston development corporations. There will be transfers of resources between new town and local government programmes to reflect the transfer of functions and these will be effective from the dates on which the transfers are made. The Touche Ross report did not examine the costs of winding up the new town development corporations.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff currently employed by Irvine development corporation will be transferred to the bodies taking over the development corporation's economic and housing functions.

  Mr. Stewart
  Discussions towards establishing successor arrangements for economic development are taking place between Irvine development corporation and Enterprise Ayrshire. I hope that it will be possible to retain the expertise of appropriate staff, but it is for those bodies to make recommendations on this matter as part of the proposals the development corporation is required to submit to my right hon. Friend. In respect of the corporation's housing function, the successor bodies will not be determined until the outcome of the ballots are known. Again, it is too early to say how many staff may transfer.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contact there has been between his Department and Scottish companies concerning the current review of the Forestry Commission's status.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Officials have, from time to time, had useful discussions with wood processors and companies which have interests relevant to the work of the Forestry Review Group.

  Private Nursing Homes
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many persons in each health board area, admitted to private residential or nursing homes since 1 April 1993(a) are paying the full cost and (b) have had charges recovered from their estate following their death;

  (2) if he will conduct a survey of how many residents of private residential or nursing homes have sold their homes to meet the charges for their residential care.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information relating to numbers of people paying the full cost of accommodation in residential care and nursing homes is not held centrally, nor is information about the numbers of residents who have had charges recovered from their estate following their death.

  Information concerning the number of people who have sold their homes to meet the charges for their residential care is not held centrally, nor do I intend to conduct a survey on this.

  Hospitals (Car Parking)
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the income from car parking charges implemented by hospitals for each health board in Scotland for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 26 January 1994]: There are two health boards whose hospitals receive income from car parking. The information available is as follows:

  Financial Year

  Health Board

  1990–91 £

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–941 £

  Greater Glasgow

  —

  —

  1,750

  1,750

  Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  65,000

  1 estimated.

  New Towns
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual budget and turnover of each of Scotland's new towns for each year since their establishment.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information on development corporations' income and expenditure is contained in their annual reports, which are available in the Library of the House.

DEFENCE

  Wormhoudt Murders
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the titles and general details of the 20 files released by his Department into the investigations of the murder of British service men on 28 May 1940 at Wormhoudt.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  BAOR War Crimes Group

  WO309/26–27 —Investigation papers (Wormhoudt)

  WO309/28–31 —Investigation papers (Wormhoudt/LeParadis)

  WO309/1801–1803—Correspondence etc. on wanted persons

  WO309/1804–1812—Statements, interrogation reports etc.

  WO309/1813 —Lt. Col. Scotland's report on investigation

  WO309/1814 —As WO309/1813 (later, updated version)

  Military Deputy Judge Advocate-General's Papers

  WO311/100 —MD/JAG file on Wormhoudt case

  WO311/680 —Visit of survivors to scene, in connection with investigation

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what further records his Department retains following the release of his Department's records on the investigation of the murder of British service men at Wormhoudt on 28 May 1940; and whether they are covered by(a) the 75-year or (b) the 30-year rule;

  (2) if his Department retains any files which show the results of the requests to the Russian authorities in 1947 from British war crimes investigators for the return of General Willem Mohnke for questioning about the murder of British service men on 28 May 1940 at Wormhoudt.

  Mr. Hanley
  All surviving files on the original investigation of the killing of British soldiers at
  553
  Wormhoudt on 28 May 1940 have now been released. Records created within the last 30 years are covered by the Public Records Act, including any raised on this subject since the case was reopened in 1988. These records are subject to the Department's normal review procedures and the revised criteria contained in the White Paper on openness, Cm 2290.

  Consultants
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Aitken
  The Department's central contracts branch has placed in excess of 500 contracts with consultants in each of the last few years. In addition to this figure, consultancy contracts are placed as part of specific projects and as low value orders of under £10,000. Under the Department's arrangements for the delegation of contractual authority, such contracts are placed without reference to the central contracts branch and so cannot be identified separately.

  In view of this and the large number of centrally placed contracts involved over the last 15 years, an answer to this question could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.

  Tank Shells
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what date British tank regiments were supplied with shells fitted with fin stabilised discarding sabots.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Army was first supplied with armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot rounds in January 1982. The rounds are stored centrally, and issued to individual tank regiments only when they deploy on operations.

  Boards of Inquiry
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what manner, and by whom, serving soldiers due to appear before a regimental board of inquiry are given verbal and written details of the procedure to be followed, including their right of representation; and who is responsible for selecting any such representative.

  Mr. Hanley
  Witnesses or persons who, in the opinion of either the convening officer or the president of the board, may be affected by a board of inquiry or regimental inquiry are notified of the proceedings and are given the opportunity to be present and to be represented if they so wish. Such notification is not required to be in writing, but the convening order for all boards of inquiry and for most regimental inquiries will be published and displayed throughout the unit.

  Such witnesses or persons may, if they wish, be present at the proceedings and give evidence, question witnesses, or produce witnesses to give evidence on matters affecting them. In addition, if represented, their representative may question witnesses and, with permission of the president, address the board of inquiry.

  Selection of a representative is a matter of choice for the witness or person concerned. That representative may be an officer, solicitor or barrister.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Hanley
  As at January 1994, just over 130,000 staff at the Ministry of Defence were covered by statutory sick pay regulations. This figure excludes some 1,500 casual staff, some of whom may be covered by these regulations.

  South Africa
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British military personnel who have undertaken official visits to South Africa in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Hanley
  Since 1990, British Ministry of Defence personnel have made official visits to the South African authorities on three occasions as follows:

  October 1993

  1 Assistant Under-Secretary of State, 1 Assistant Secretary and 1 Principal (all civilian members of the MOD)

  December 1993

  1 Brigadier

  January 1994

  1 Rear Admiral, 1 Commander and 1 Principal (MOD civilian)

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the forthcoming visit of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Norfolk to South Africa from 27 to 31 January; and if the Transitional Executive Council of South Africa or the European Union were consulted over arrangements for the visit.

  Mr. Hanley
  HMS Norfolk, accompanied by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Grey Rover, is visiting South Africa from 27 January to 1 February. The purpose of the visit was to re-establish relations between the Royal Navy and the South African navy. The Transitional Executive Council and our European Union partners were fully aware of the visit and raised no objections. The visit has been welcomed by a broad range of opinion in South Africa.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretaryof State for Defence if he will make a statement on the appointment of the British military attaché to the Republic of South Africa; what are his functions, responsibilities and activities; and how these are restricted by the European Union's criteria for the relaxation on the exchange of military attachés with South Africa.

  Mr. Hanley
  The' British defence attaché in Pretoria took up his post on 22 November 1993. His primary role is to establish contacts with the defence forces of the new South Africa and to advise Her Majesty's ambassador on defence issues. European Union sanctions concerning the exchange of attachés were lifted on 4 October 1993.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all South African defence force personnel who have made official visits to the United Kingdom in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Hanley
  Since 1990, South African defence force personnel have made official visits to the United Kingdom at the invitation of the Government as follows:
  555
  May 1993—the Chief of the South African navy and the ship's company of the Drakensberg, a South African naval support vessel, to take part in ceremonies to mark the Battle of the Atlantic.
  July 1993—the South African Chief of Air Staff to attend celebrations marking the 75th annniversary of the RAF.

  Special exceptions to the embargo on defence contacts then in force were made in view of the particular historical circumstances of both visits.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) all visits by British military personnel to South Africa and (b) all visits by South African defence force personnel to the United Kingdom expected between 1 February and 27 April.

  Mr. Hanley
  On current plans, official visits by British Ministry of Defence personnel at the invitation of the South African authorities in the period between 1 February and 27 April will take place as follows:Early February—1 Brigadier, 1 Lieutenant Colonel and 1 Principal (MOD civilian)

  No visits to the United Kingdom by South African defence force personnel in that period are currently planned.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there will be any co-reprocessing of military and civil materials in THORP at Sellafield.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply. No.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Feeding Stuffs (Salmonella)
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many plants producing animal protein for incorporation into animal feeding stuffs which were found on first sampling in each year since 1981, to be salmonella positive(a) gave subsequent positive samples and (b) were prosecuted.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The numbers of plants producing animal protein for incorporation into animal feeding stuffs where salmonella was isolated both on the first official sampling of each year and subsequently during the year were as follows:

  Number

  1981

  1—

  1982

  13

  1983

  10

  1984

  7

  1985

  10

  1986

  9

  1987

  6

  1988

  3

  1989

  2

  1990

  1

  1991

  2

  1992

  1

  1993

  —

  1 Figures not available.

  Where salmonella contamination is found the serving of notices preventing the movement of material until it is shown to be free of salmonella contamination is considered the appropriate action rather than prosecution.
  556
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many inspections were carried out by her officials of processing plants producing animal protein for incorporation into animal feeding stuffs in each year from 1981; and how many of the plants gave samples which were found to be salmonella-positive.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Details of inspections of plants producing animal protein for incorporation into animal feeding stuffs and the number of plants which gave samples positive for salmonella were as follows:

  Inspections

  Number of plants where positive salmonella was isolated

  1981

  1—

  1—

  1982

  193

  35

  1983

  250

  29

  1984

  251

  30

  1985

  224

  27

  1986

  206

  22

  1987

  185

  21

  1988

  154

  15

  1989

  315

  23

  1990

  245

  18

  1991

  230

  14

  1992

  194

  8

  1993

  189

  9

  1 Figures not available.

  Inspections ranged between one and five days duration depending upon the type of plant.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many samples were taken from processing plants producing animal protein for incorporation into animal feeding stuffs in each year from 1981; and how many in each year were found to be salmonella-positive.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The number of official samples from processing plants producing animal protein for incorporation into animal feeding stuffs and the numbers found to be positive for salmonella were as follows:

  Number of official samples

  Number of official samples found to be positive

  1981

  1—

  1—

  1982

  1,085

  114

  1983

  1,410

  107

  1984

  1,403

  115

  1985

  1,253

  111

  1986

  1,202

  111

  1987

  971

  53

  1988

  847

  44

  1989

  1,673

  87

  1990

  1,388

  40

  1991

  1,360

  46

  1992

  1,320

  22

  1993

  1,274

  26

  1 Figures not available.

  557

  Milk
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many gallons of milk were consumed in England in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many gallons of milk were produced in England in that year.

  Mr. Jack
  The volume of milk produced and sold through milk marketing schemes in England in 1992 was 9,743 million litres or 2,143 million gallons.

  Total liquid milk consumption figures are not separately available for England. However, for England and Wales as a whole the volume of milk produced and sold through milk marketing schemes and subsequently used for liquid milk was 5,857 million litres, or 1,288 million gallons, in 1992. Except for the effect of trade in liquid milk, this will equate closely to consumption as measured in whole milk equivalent. This represents 52 per cent. of the total sales through marketing schemes for England and Wales of 11,198 million litres, or 2,463 million gallons.

  These figures exclude milk sold outside milk marketing schemes, milk consumed on-farm, wastage and milk fed to stock.

  The consumption of milk in the form of all products is difficult to assess because of problems of double counting when milk is manufactured into more than one product. However, approximately 15,880 million litres of milk were required to produce all the milk and milk products consumed in the United Kingdom in 1992. This figure is available only at the United Kingdom level. It should also be noted that some elements of this milk—for example, the skimmed milk by-products of imported butter production —are not consumed in the United Kingdom. Total United Kingdom production sold through milk marketing schemes in 1992 was 13,525 million litres.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research her Ministry has carried out into the ways in which bovine tuberculosis is transferred from badgers to cattle.

  Mr. Soames
  Research is continuing at the Department's central science laboratory in Gloucestershire on the ways in which bovine tuberculosis is transferred from badgers to cattle. Detailed observations are made on the way in which badgers infected with bovine tuberculosis may contaminate the environment. This work has demonstrated the potential importance of badger excretory products in disease transmission to cattle, with field margins having been identified as areas of highest risk.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's badger culling in terms of the reduction of bovine tuberculosis.

  Mr. Soames
  There have been no cases of confirmed bovine tuberculosis in cattle in the areas of Steeple Leaze, Dorset and Thornbury, Avon, since the ending in 1979 and 1981 respectively of the experimental programmes under which badger control operations were carried out continuously. The incidence of bovine TB in cattle in those areas had previously been high.

  Analyses at the Department's central veterinary laboratory suggests that the effect of the routine badger
  558
  control operations carried out in other areas between 1975 and 1982 reduced the incidence of infection in cattle herds by around 60 per cent, compared with no control.

  Similar studies have shown that badger removal operations between 1986 and 1993 on farms which suffered a breakdown may have reduced the chances of a subsequent cattle breakdown by between 40 and 65 per cent.

  The new strategy announced on 8 December will include a trial element to measure its effectiveness. Further details are set out in the background note in the Library of the House, a copy of which I have sent to the hon. Member.

  Mr Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will declare a moratorium on the culling of badgers; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  I have no such plans; I announced a new programme to control bovine TB in the House on 8 December,Official Report, columns 260–61.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give details of(a) the incidence of bovine turbercolusis and (b) the numbers of badgers culled on the authority of her Department in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Soames
  The number of cattle herds experiencing new confirmed breakdowns of tuberculosis in Great Britain for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available were as follows:

  Year

  New confirmed breakdowns

  Badgers culled

  1983

  79

  1,239

  1984

  73

  1,337

  1985

  52

  1,119

  1986

  82

  782

  1987

  108

  711

  1988

  122

  778

  1989

  125

  727

  1990

  143

  811

  1991

  125

  993

  1992

  155

  1,054

  1993

  1273

  11,093

  1 Provisional figures.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will provide a figure for the number of staff in her Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Jack
  Approximately 11,000 of the staff employed by the Department and its agencies are eligible for statutory sick pay.

  Meat Hygiene Service
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people there are in her Department's meat hygiene service.

  Mr. Soames
  The meat hygiene service will be an agency of MAFF and will be launched in April 1995, taking over hygiene and welfare responsibilities in fresh meat plants from 300 local authorities. It will employ up to 1,300 plant-based staff, a saving of some 5 per cent. on
  559
  current numbers. Management and administrative support will total no more than about 70, which will be less than is currently required.

  At present approximately 230 man years are devoted to meat hygiene policy and its implementation within the core Department. This level of effort will be reduced significantly after the setting up of the meat hygiene service.

  "Food—a Fact of Life"
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total cost to her Department of the British Nutrition Foundation's "Food —a Fact of Life".

  Mr. Soames
  The total level of support provided by this Department since 1990 has been £796,000. This educative tool is held in high regard by teachers and others and the Department is therefore planning to provide a further £250,000 worth of support in the coming financial year to enable it to be extended to the 11 to 16-year-old age group.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice her Ministry gave to the British Nutrition Foundation in developing the material for "Food—a Fact of Life"; and what steps were taken to ensure the material was in line with the Ministry's policy.

  Mr. Soames
  This Department has been closely involved with the development of this programme since its inception. Officials currently participate in the group monitoring its progress where they seek to ensure consistency with departmental policy where relevant.

  Food Surpluses
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total sum expended by member states and by the EC itself on the storage and disposal of food surpluses in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if she will publish a table showing the relevant expenditure of the EC and by member states in each of the previous five years.

  Mr. Jack
  The guarantee section of the European guidance and guarantee fund—EAGGF—provides funding to member states for the costs of intervention storage, export refunds, and other disposal measures for products subject to the CAP. Information on expenditure on these measures for 1992 and for the previous five years can be obtained from the annual financial reports of the EAGGF guarantee section, copies of which have been deposited in the Library of the House of Commons. Annex 7 of these reports provides details of expenditure on intervention

  Search of persons by IC Division 1 January to 31 December 1993

  Collection

  IC1

  IC2

  IC3

  IC4

  IC5

  IC6

  Total

  Belfast

  337

  2

  5

  —

  1

  3

  348

  Birmingham

  328

  10

  35

  29

  5

  —

  407

  Dover

  1,054

  45

  71

  42

  9

  7

  1,228

  East Anglia

  1,833

  99

  271

  77

  13

  13

  2,306

  East Midlands

  186

  —

  11

  7

  —

  —

  204

  Edinburgh

  186

  —

  2

  —

  5

  1

  194

  Glasgow

  256

  8

  7

  5

  7

  3

  286

  Leeds

  335

  6

  15

  4

  —

  1

  361

  Liverpool

  85

  5

  22

  3

  9

  1

  125

  London Airports

  6,200

  2,034

  8,243

  2,238

  493

  383

  19,591

  London Port

  370

  24

  49

  21

  6

  8

  478

  560
  storage, and withdrawals and similar operations, and annex 5 on export refunds. The breakdown of expenditure by member state for these measures can be derived from annex 2 of these reports.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on farm incomes.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Total income from farming is estimated to have risen by 40·7 per cent. in 1993 compared with 1992. This is welcome news for farmers and I hope will be recognised as such. Detailed estimates of income, output and productivity of United Kingdom agriculture in 1993 were published this morning and these have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Whaling
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what exemptions from EC law governing whaling activities have been sought by the Norwegian Government in their submission to the Council of Ministers; and what has been the outcome of the Norwegian demands.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Norwegian Government have requested exemptions from the EC habitats directive annex IV(a) in respect of fin, minke and killer whales and from the EC convention on international trade in endangered species regulation in respect of fin and minke whales. The member states of the European Union have rejected these requests.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Customs and Excise (Searches)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 December,Official Report, column 767, if he will list, for each United Kingdom port of entry, the breakdown by ethnic origin of persons stopped and searched by Customs and Excise officers during 1993.

  Sir John Cope
  The number of persons subject to search of persons of all kinds by Customs and Excise during 1993 distinguished by collection and ethnic origin is given in the table. Information for each port of entry is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
  561

  Collection

  IC1

  IC2

  IC3

  IC4

  IC5

  IC6

  Total

  Manchester

  1,061

  24

  125

  248

  16

  1

  1,475

  Northampton

  574

  75

  19

  9

  2

  5

  684

  Northern England

  182

  15

  37

  13

  37

  15

  299

  Southampton

  684

  38

  40

  82

  15

  31

  890

  South Wales and Borders

  224

  5

  13

  6

  1

  2

  251

  South West England

  212

  31

  9

  —

  —

  1

  253

  Thames Valley

  11

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  15

  Total

  14,118

  2,421

  8,974

  2,788

  619

  475

  29,395

  Notes:

  1. IC=Identification code for ethnic origin.

  2. IC1 Northern European.

  IC2 Southern European.

  IC3 Afro/Caribbean.

  IC4 Asian.

  IC5 Oriental.

  IC6 Middle Eastern.

  3. London Airports includes Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

  VAT
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will exempt cultural bodies which have charitable status from VAT on certain cultural services and goods;

  (2) what considerations he has given to EC directives on VAT giving exemptions to certain cultural services and goods;

  (3) whether he will exempt non-profit-making cultural bodies from VAT on certain cultural services and goods;

  (4) what steps he is considering to harmonise the application of VAT to certain cultural services and goods in the United Kingdom with other EC countries.

  Sir John Cope
  On 22 July,Official Report, column 303, I announced that I would be holding discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage with a view to examining the case for exempting certain cultural services and associated goods supplied by public authorities. Discussions are continuing and when these have been completed a consultation paper will be issued to seek the views of interested parties.

  Russia
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums have been disbursed by the International Monetary Fund to Russia.

  Mr. Nelson
  Russia joined the IMF in June 1992. In August 1992, the IMF disbursed 1 billion under a first credit tranche drawing. In July 1993 a further drawing of $1·5 billion was made under the systematic transformation facility.

  European Parliament Pension Scheme
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the payment of death gratuities and dependants' benefits to beneficiaries under the European Parliament (United Kingdom Representatives) pension scheme.

  Mr. Portillo
  Parliamentary approval will be sought later this year in an order under the European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979 to changes to the European Parliament (United Kingdom representatives) pension scheme. These changes will bring the scheme's provisions 562
  for death gratuities and dependants' benefits into line with those introduced for the parliamentary contributory pension fund by the Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 1991. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £700 will be met from repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund. Once the order has been approved, the Contingencies Fund will be repaid upon approval of the Contingencies Fund repayment vote.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his departments covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Nelson
  The number of staff in post at 1 January 1994 in my departments covered by statutory sick pay was 114,052.

  Weapons (Customs and Excise)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many weapons have been seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise for each of the past 10 years(a) at each port and (b) by raids on suspects.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs does not hold central statistics on seizures of weapons that can be broken down in this way. However, the table sets out the number of illegal weapons seized by Customs and Excise nationally in the last 10 years.

  Seizures of weapons by HM Customs and Excise over the 10 years to 1992–93

  Year ended 31 March

  Hand guns

  Rifles

  Shotguns

  CS gas canisters

  Stun guns

  Total

  1984

  908

  155

  10

  152

  11

  1,236

  1985

  150

  52

  7

  174

  2

  385

  1986

  108

  156

  11

  141

  30

  446

  1987

  1,071

  28

  21

  114

  291

  1,525

  1988

  168

  31

  6

  276

  309

  790

  1989

  130

  55

  28

  395

  73

  681

  1990

  1,489

  144

  44

  414

  301

  2,392

  1991

  253

  535

  49

  1,132

  48

  2,017

  1992

  176

  126

  82

  692

  53

  1,129

  1993

  138

  41

  39

  2,580

  427

  3,225

  TOTALS

  4,591

  1,323

  297

  6,070

  1,545

  13,826

  Income Support
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a breakdown of the average weekly spending on items in the family expenditure survey of(a) an individual of over 24 years and (b) a family of one parent and two children who are wholly dependent on income support.

  Mr. Nelson
  The figures in the table are from the 1992 family expenditure survey. The survey has a small number of households in these categories, so the figures are subject to large sampling variations. Figures are rounded to the nearest 50p. The figures refer to households whose gross income is made up of income support, child benefit and one parent benefit where appropriate and up to £2 of other income.

  Expenditure Items

  (a) An individual of over 24 years £

  per week (b) One adult and two children £

  Housing (net)

  11·00

  8·50

  Fuel light and power

  9·00

  13·00

  Food

  14·00

  27·50

  Alchohol

  3·50

  ·50

  Tobacco

  3·50

  4·00

  Household goods

  7·00

  6·00

  Household services

  3·00

  4·50

  Personal goods and services

  1·50

  4·50

  Motoring

  2·50

  1—

  Fares and other travel costs

  2·00

  3·50

  Leisure goods

  3·00

  4·50

  Leisure services

  2·50

  4·00

  Miscellaneous

  —

  ·50

  Total expenditure

  65·50

  88·50

  1 Data not available as the sampling error is greater than 50 per cent.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Ethnic Minority Business Grant
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the ethnic minority business grant, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The ethnic minority business grant is administered by a small number of staff, equivalent to less than one full-time post, who have a range of other duties. The itemised expenditure requested for the last year, and since the scheme was developed, is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of section 11 grants, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses(a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed;

  (2) if he will itemise the expenditure on the administration of the ethnic minority grant, including printing, advertising and stationery costs as well as worker expenses (a) over the last year and (b) since the scheme was developed.
  564
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial provisions was made in respect of the cost of implementing the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in(a) 1992 and (b) 1993; and on which sub-heads of which vote it appeared.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No separate financial provision was made in respect of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Costs have been contained within existing financial provisions.

  Prison Visits (Homosexuals)
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money was used, in the latest year for which figures are available, to fund prison visits for homosexual couples under the assisted prison visitors' scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None.

  Foreign Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) male and (b) female foreign nationals from either the United States of America or Canada were either remand prisoners or sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 20 January;

  (2) how many (a) male and (b) female foreign nationals from each south Asian country were either remand prisoners or sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 20 January;

  (3) how many (a) male and (b) female foreign nationals from Hong Kong were either remand prisoners or sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 20 January;

  (4) how many (a) male and (b) female foreign nationals from each middle eastern country were either remand prisoners or sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 20 January;

  (5) how many (a) male and (b) female foreign nationals from each of the Caribbean countries were either remand prisoners or sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 20 January;

  (6) how many (a) male and (b) female Australian nationals were (i) remand or (ii) sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 24 January;

  (7) how many (a) male and (b) female foreign nationals from each south Pacific country, were (i) remand or (ii) sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 24 January;

  (8) how many (a) male and (b) female foreign nationals from each south American country, were (i) remand or (ii) sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 24 January;

  (9) how many (a) male and (b) female foreign nationals from each of the countries of south-east Asia, were (i) remand prisoners or (ii) sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 24 January;
  565
  (10) how many (a) male and (b) female foreign nationals whose nationality was not known, were (i) remand or (ii) sentenced prisoners held in prisons in England and Wales as of 25 January;

  (11) how many (a) male and (b) female Chinese nationals were either (i) remand or (ii) sentenced prisoners in prisons in England and Wales as of 25 January;

  (12) what was the number of (a) male and (b) female Vietnamese nationals who were either (i) remand or (ii) sentenced prisoners in prisons in England and Wales as of 25 January.

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

  Population in Prison Service Establishments, in England and Wales, by type of prisoner and nationality as at 30 September 1993

  Type of prisoner

  Nationality

  Remand

  Male Sentenced1

  All1

  Remand

  Female Sentenced1

  All1

  United Kingdom

  10,251

  30,839

  41,090

  365

  1,024

  1,389

  Irish Republic

  157

  372

  529

  2

  10

  12

  All foreign natonals

  553

  1,767

  2,320

  70

  185

  255

  Not recorded

  45

  553

  598

  2

  16

  18

  Europe

  Albania

  1

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Andorra

  2

  8

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Austria

  1

  4

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Belgium

  9

  13

  22

  —

  1

  1

  Cyprus

  8

  36

  44

  1

  1

  2

  Czechoslovakia

  1

  2

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Denmark

  —

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Finland

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  France

  13

  16

  29

  2

  2

  4

  German Democratic Republic

  2

  2

  4

  —

  —

  —

  German Federal Republic

  11

  26

  37

  3

  —

  3

  Gibraltar

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  Greece

  1

  11

  12

  —

  1

  1

  Hungary

  1

  2

  3

  —

  1

  1

  Italy

  19

  43

  62

  —

  4

  4

  Luxembourg

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Malta

  2

  6

  8

  —

  —

  —

  Netherlands

  35

  53

  88

  4

  6

  10

  Norway

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Poland

  —

  7

  7

  —

  1

  1

  Portugal

  13

  14

  27

  3

  —

  3

  Romania

  1

  2

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Spain

  15

  20

  35

  2

  —

  2

  Sweden

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Switzerland

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  Turkey

  16

  54

  70

  —

  1

  1

  Yugoslavia

  1

  9

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Middle East

  Afghanistan

  1

  2

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Egypt

  —

  4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Iran

  2

  22

  24

  —

  1

  1

  Israel

  3

  10

  13

  —

  —

  —

  Iraq

  1

  5

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Jordan

  2

  6

  8

  1

  —

  1

  Kuwait

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Lebanon

  3

  9

  12

  —

  —

  —

  Saudi Arabia

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Sierra Leone

  2

  7

  9

  —

  —

  —

  Syrian Arab Republic

  2

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  United Arab Emirates

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Yemen Arab Republic (North)

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Yemen Peoples Democratic Republic (South)

  1

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  India

  35

  169

  204

  —

  10

  10

  Pakistan

  55

  199

  254

  2

  7

  9

  Bangladesh

  6

  36

  42

  —

  —

  —

  Hong Kong

  —

  5

  5

  —

  1

  1

  566
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 31 January 1994:

  FOREIGN NATIONALS

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your twelve recent Questions asking how many (a) male and (b) female foreign nationals from either the United States of America or Canada, each South Asian country, Hong Kong, each Middle Eastern country, each of the Caribbean countries, Australia, each South Pacific country, each South American country, each South East Asian country, China, Vietnam and unrecorded countries were either remand prisoners or sentenced prisoners being held in prisons in England and Wales as of 20, 24 and 25 January.

  The latest available provisional information is for 30 September 1993. The attached table gives a complete breakdown of the prison population by nationality as recorded centrally, including the nationalities specified in your questions.
  567

  Type of prisoner

  Nationality

  Remand

  Male Sentenced1

  All1

  Remand

  Female Sentenced1

  All1

  Other Asia

  Burma

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  China

  3

  7

  10

  —

  1

  1

  British India Ocean Terr

  2

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Korea Republic (South)

  —

  1

  1

  —

  2

  2

  Malaysia

  3

  5

  8

  1

  —

  1

  Nepal

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Philippines

  —

  3

  3

  1

  1

  2

  Sri Lanka

  3

  12

  15

  —

  —

  —

  Singapore

  3

  3

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Thailand

  —

  2

  2

  —

  1

  1

  Vietnam

  5

  8

  13

  —

  —

  —

  Africa

  Algeria

  —

  7

  7

  —

  —

  —

  Angola

  —

  5

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Benin

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Central African Republic

  4

  2

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Ivory Coast

  1

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Ethiopia

  1

  2

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Ghana

  16

  41

  57

  5

  18

  23

  Gambia

  —

  4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Kenya

  2

  25

  27

  1

  —

  1

  Liberia

  1

  2

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Libya

  1

  7

  8

  —

  —

  —

  Morocco

  6

  18

  24

  —

  1

  1

  Mauritania

  —

  2

  2

  —

  1

  1

  Mauritius

  1

  8

  9

  —

  —

  —

  Malawi

  —

  3

  3

  —

  1

  1

  Nigeria

  37

  134

  171

  14

  48

  62

  Seychelles

  1

  4

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Sudan

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  St. Helena

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Somalia

  9

  9

  18

  —

  —

  —

  Tunisia

  —

  6

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Tanzania

  4

  5

  9

  1

  —

  1

  Uganda

  4

  15

  19

  —

  —

  —

  South Africa

  3

  17

  20

  —

  2

  2

  Zambia

  4

  3

  7

  —

  1

  1

  Zaire

  2

  6

  8

  —

  —

  —

  Zimbabwe

  2

  9

  11

  —

  —

  —

  Caribbean

  Antigua

  2

  7

  9

  —

  —

  —

  Barbados

  2

  13

  15

  1

  1

  2

  Costa Rica

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Cuba

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Dominica

  —

  7

  7

  —

  —

  —

  Dominican Republic

  1

  3

  4

  —

  1

  1

  Grenada

  2

  5

  7

  —

  1

  1

  Haiti

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Jamaica

  109

  322

  431

  16

  31

  47

  St. Lucia

  4

  12

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Monserrat

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  St. Christopher and Nevis

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Trinidad and Tobago

  4

  10

  14

  —

  —

  —

  St. Vincent and Grenadines

  —

  10

  10

  —

  1

  1

  United States of America

  15

  40

  55

  3

  17

  20

  Canada

  4

  14

  18

  —

  1

  1

  America (North and South)

  Argentina

  3

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Belize

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Bolivia

  —

  2

  2

  —

  1

  1

  Brazil

  —

  4

  4

  1

  2

  3

  Cayman Islands

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Chile

  —

  4

  4

  2

  —

  2

  Colombia

  2

  43

  45

  1

  4

  5

  Guyana

  6

  20

  26

  2

  6

  8

  Mexico

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Peru

  —

  6

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Surinam

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Uruaguay

  1

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Venezuela

  —

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  568 569

  Type of prisoner

  Nationality

  Remand

  Male Sentenced1

  All1

  Remand

  Female Sentenced1

  All1

  Australia

  6

  18

  24

  1

  —

  1

  New Zealand

  3

  11

  14

  1

  1

  2

  Oceania

  Fiji

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Guam

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Papua New Guinea

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Solomon Islands

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1 Includes Immigration Act detainees, non-criminal prisoners and persons committed in default of payment of a fine.

  Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost to his Department of enforcement of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Misuse of Drugs Act provides the legal framework for controlling drugs to prevent their misuse and for dealing with social problems connected with their misuse. It also regulates the legitimate trade in drugs. For England and Wales, the cost to this Department of enforcing the provisions of the Act, including police activity and the costs of dealing with convicted offenders, was estimated at about £147 million for the year 1992–93.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of court cases involving the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 are(a) cannabis, (b)cocaine and (c) heroin related.

  Mr. Maclean
  In 1992, the last year for which figures are available, the percentage of persons found guilty of offences against the Misuse of Drugs Act in respect of each type of drug was: cannabis, 65 per cent.; cocaine, 3 per cent.; and heroin, 4·5 per cent.

  Drug-related Crime
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the estimated annual cost of drug-related crime;

  (2) what have been the changes in (a) the number of drug-related crimes and (b) the percentage of all crime that is drug related since 1979;

  (3) what is his estimate of the percentage of crime committed annually that is drug related.

  Mr. Maclean
  The involvement of drug misusers in criminal activity is difficult to quantify. It is not possible to estimate with any accuracy the amount of crime which is drug related or the cost of such crime.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the changes in(a) the number of drug-related crimes involving firearms and (b) the percentage of all crimes involving firearms that are drug related.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the United Kingdom have a criminal record for possession of cannabis; and how many police officers in the United Kingdom are solely engaged in combating drug-related crime.
  570
  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the total number of persons who have a criminal record for possession of cannabis is not collected centrally. The number of persons who have been found guilty, cautioned or compounded for possession of cannabis in each year from 1982 to 1992 is given in table 3.3 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of drugs seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1992"—issue 30/93—a copy of which is in the Library.

  By the end of 1992 over 1,400 police officers were wholly engaged in the investigation of drug-related crime in England and Wales; in Scotland more than 120 police officers were specifically engaged in drugs work; and in Northern Ireland some 34 officers were so occupied.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number and proportion of the prison population serving sentences for convictions on drug-related offences.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 31 January 1994:

  DRUG RELATED OFFENCES

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what is the total number and proportion of the prison population serving sentences for convictions on drug-related offences.

  Figures for the population in Prison Service establishments by offence group are published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales", Table 1.8 of the volume for 1991 (Cm 2157). Provisional information for 30 September 1993 shows that 3,244 prisoners were recorded centrally as being sentenced for drug offences, just over 10 per cent. of the total sentenced population for whom an offence was recorded.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number and proportion of prisoners convicted for drug-related offences who reoffend.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information on the reoffending of prisoners is the rate of reconviction within two and four years after discharge from prison.

  The latest statistics are for those discharged from prison service establishments in 1987 after completion of a prison sentence for which the principal offence was a drugs offence. Within two years of discharge, 1,136 or 37 per cent. of those discharged had been convicted of a further offence; within four years, 1,506 or 49 per cent. of those discharged were reconvicted. The numbers exclude the reconviction of a small number of discharges whose criminal histories could not be traced in the offenders' index.

  Passport Agency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the future of the Passport Agency.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The performance and options for the future of the United Kingdom Passport Agency are currently being reviewed in accordance with the normal procedure for triennial reviews of executive agencies. A decision on the future of the Passport Agency will be made in the light of these reviews. An announcement will then be made.

  Dr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost of issuing a passport by(a) the passport Agency and (b) equivalent agencies in each of the other European Union countries

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The cost of 10-year standard British passport is £18. I am advised that the cost of the passports of each of the European Union countries is as shown in the table:

  £

  Belgium1

  36ߝ48

  Denmark

  40

  France1

  40

  Germany

  11·50

  Greece1

  19

  Ireland

  43

  Italy1

  39

  Luxembourg1

  4

  Netherlands1

  32

  Portugal

  13

  Spain1

  6

  1 Passports valid for five years.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the financial results for the past two years of the Passport Agency and the expected results for the next two years.

  Mr. Charles
  The Passport Agency's financial performance is measured by efficiency reductions in the unit cost of passport services. Over the period 1991–92 and 1992–93 the agency has made significant reductions in unit costs amounting to 4·2 per cent. compared with an aggregate target of 3·9 per cent. in this period. In the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95 the agency expects to achieve further efficiency savings of around 3 per cent. in each year.

  Prison (Drugs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) those prisons in which there is a problem with trafficking in illegal drugs and (b) those in which there is no problem with drug trafficking.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 31 January 1994:
  572
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about drug trafficking in prison.

  The attached figures show establishments where there have been convictions in the last two years for offences of "trafficking" ie selling or delivering controlled drugs and attempting, assisting or inciting the selling or delivery of controlled drugs. The figures also show the number of such convictions. There have been no trafficking convictions at any other Prison Service establishment.

  The Prison Service is committed to taking all reasonable measures to prevent drugs entering prisons and to eliminate the use of drugs within prisons. Existing programmes include the extensive use of searching and intelligence, as well as support for drug abusers to help them overcome their addiction.

  Number

  Aylesbury

  1

  Birmingham

  1

  Brinsford

  2

  Cardiff

  1

  Deerbolt

  2

  Drake Hall

  1

  Durham

  1

  Elmley

  1

  Feltham

  4

  Glen Parva

  2

  Glen Parva

  4

  Hollesley Bay

  2

  Holloway

  1

  Holme House

  1

  Hull

  2

  Leeds

  2

  Leicester

  1

  Lincoln

  1

  Liverpool

  3

  Low Newton

  1

  Manchester

  1

  Morland

  1

  Norwich

  1

  Onley

  2

  Pentonville

  1

  Pucklechurch

  1

  Rochester

  1

  Rochester

  2

  Shrewsbury

  2

  Stocken

  3

  Stoke Heath

  2

  Styal

  1

  Swansea

  1

  Swinfen Hall

  1

  Wormwood Scrubs

  3

  Total

  57

  Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's estimate of the annual expenditure by users on drugs.

  Mr. Maclean
  Drug misuse is an illegal and, therefore, clandestine activity. It is not possible to produce a reliable estimate of the amount spent annually on drugs by users.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the changes in the consumption of(a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) cannabis since 1979.

  Mr. Maclean
  Reliable information on levels of consumption of the drugs mentioned is not available. Information on the percentage change in the number of recorded seizures of each drug over the period in question is given in the table.
  573

  United Kingdom

  Number of seizures

  1979

  1992

  percentage change

  Heroin

  600

  2,968

  +395

  Cocaine

  348

  2,365

  +580

  Cannabis

  14,116

  57,663

  +308

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many registered addicts are addicted to prescribed drugs in the United Kingdom;

  (2) if he will list the 10 prescribed drugs to which the largest number of addicts are addicted in the United Kingdom and the totals of addicts.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the identity of the drugs, dependence on which requires medical practitioners to notify the Home Office, and the numbers of persons addicted to those drugs, is given in table 2 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of drug addicts notified to the Home Office, United Kingdom, 1992"—issue 15/93—a copy of which is in the Library.

  All these drugs are legitimately prescribed or administered on occasion, but the proprietary names of those drugs in the list, where they exist, are: methadone (Physeptone); dipipanone (Diconal); dextromoramide (Palfium); and phenazocine (Narphen). Methadone is the drug normally used to treat dependence on heroin.

  Air Guns
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what controls exist on the sale of air guns and air rifles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The acquisition, possession and use of air weapons are regulated by the Firearms Act 1968 which prohibits their sale of hire to anyone under the age of 17. Young people under 14 may not buy, hire, be given, or own an air weapon and may use one only if they are supervised by someone over 21. Those air weapons which are classified as "specially dangerous" under the Firearms (Dangerous Air Weapons) Rules 1969 are subject to firearm certificate control.

  In its second annual report the Firearms Consultative Committee, the independent statutory body established to advise Government on the firearms legislation, concluded that the law as it stands is adequate to deal with current levels of misuse. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to introduce further controls.

  Weapons Smuggling
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to other EC Governments concerning the smuggling of weapons into Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No specific representations have been made. A directive on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 18 June 1991. All member states of the European Union are bound by the directive which came into effect on 1 January 1993.

  Under the directive, movements of firearms are subject to a new licensing system. As before, anyone bringing a firearm into this country must have prior permission. In
  574
  addition to this, though, each transfer of a firearm into this country will be notified to my Department via a new information system. The information will be passed to police and customs officers who will investigate any irregularities.

  Secure Establishments
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the secure establishments to which youngsters aged 12 to 14 years will be remanded by the courts while awaiting trial or sentence, giving the number of places available at each and the normal resident age range in each.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have tabled an amendement to the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill which will provide courts with the power to remand 12 to 14-year-olds to local authority accommodation with a security requirement. The responsibility for placing a juvenile so remanded will rest with the local authority. The pool of secure accommodation available to local authorities to assist them in discharging this duty will be expanded. The Government will be providing further funding to local authorities for this purpose.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Howard
  The number of Home Office staff covered by the statutory sick pay scheme is about 49,500.

  Firearms Licences
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are held by the Metropolitan police to assess the suitability of an individual for a firearms licence.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Before issuing a firearm certificate a chief officer of police must be satisfied that the applicant is not prohibited from possessing a firearm, can be permitted to possess a firearm without danger to public safety or the peace, and has a good reason for having a firearm. These criteria are set out in the Firearms Act 1968 to 1992 and apply equally to all police force areas.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of firearms certificates issued per year for each of the last 10 years by the Metropolitan police; how many in each year were renewals; and what was the total number of valid certificates at each year.

  Mr. Maclean
  The following table shows for the Metropolitan police district for the years 1986 to 1992 the number of new firearms certificates granted, the number of renewals and the number on issue at 31 December. Figures for the years prior to 1986 are not readily available and those for 1993 are not yet available.

  Firearm certificates granted, renewed and on issue at 31 December in the Metropolitan police district, 1986 to 1992

  Year

  Granted

  Renewed

  On issue at 31 December

  1986

  1,066

  2,625

  9,084

  1987

  993

  2,568

  9,036

  1988

  738

  2,278

  8,877

  575

  Year

  Granted

  Renewed

  On issue at 31 December

  1989

  825

  2,249

  8,615

  1990

  864

  2,657

  9,929

  1991

  746

  2,432

  9,975

  1992

  855

  2,531

  9,427

  Young Offenders
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist within the Prison Service statistical divisions for providing information on juveniles and young people in prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 27 January 1994]: Information on the Prison Service establishment in which held, the age, type of offence, length of service, type of custody, previous convictions, time served and on the frequency of reoffending following release of young offenders is compiled by the research and statistics department. It is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales". Summary information is monitored on a monthly basis. Operational information about the numbers of young offenders is monitored daily.

  The provision of full information has only recently been reinstated following completion of changes to the computer system to reflect the implementation in October 1992 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The publication of the 1992 issue of "Prison Statistics" has been delayed.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Allowances
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people on disability living allowance and attendance allowance at any one time; and what were the equivalent figures for mobility allowance and attendance allowance in 1979.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants are on disability living allowance and attendance allowance at any one time; and what were the comparable figures for mobility allowance and attendance allowance in 1979.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the table:

  Receipt of attendance allowance, mobility allowance and disability living allowance

  1979–80

  1993–94

  Attendance allowance

  285,000

  830,000

  Mobility allowance

  140,000

  n/a

  Disability living allowance

  n/a

  1,005,000

  Totals

  1425,000

  21,835,000

  Sources: The Government's expenditure plans 1984–85 to 1986–87 Cmnd. 9143-II and social security departmental report 1993–94 to 1995–96 Cmnd. 2213.

  1 People getting both benefits are counted twice underestimating the real increase between 1979–80 and 1993–94.

  2 From April 1992 disability living allowance replaced attendance allowance and mobility allowance for people who became disabled before age 65.
  576

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average pensioner's income from savings.

  Mr. Hague
  Pensioners' estimated average weekly income from savings is as follows:

  £30·30 for all pensioners1;

  £45·10 for pensioner couples; and

  £21·60 for single pensioners.

  1 Single people over state pension age and couples where the husband is over state pension age.

  Source: The 1990–91 family expenditure survey. Figures are at January 1991 prices.

  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much total pension incomes have increased per annum between 1979 and the latest year for which figures are available; and what was the equivalent figure between 1974 and 1979.

  Mr. Hague
  The estimated average annual increase in pensioners' total income in the years 1979 to 1990–91—the latest year for which figures are available—was:

  3·1 per cent. for all pensioners1;

  2·9 per cent. for pensioner couples; and

  2·9 per cent. for single pensioners.

  The available information, although not directly comparable, shows an increase of 0·6 per cent. per year between 1974 and 1979.
  1 Single people over state pension age and couples where the husband is over state pension age.

  Note: Information for the period 1979 to 1990–91 derives from the family expenditure survey, and is consistent with the methodology of the households below average incomes survey. For years prior to 1979 the FES is not consistent with the HBAI. In particular, there is no breakdown between single pensioners and pensioner couples.

  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the rise in pensioners' total average net income since 1979.

  Mr. Hague
  The estimated rise in pensioners' total average net income, in real terms, from 1979 to 1990–91 —the latest year for which figures are available—was:

  Before housing costs:

  42 per cent. for all pensioners1;

  39 per cent. for pensioner couples; and

  39 per cent. for single pensioners.

  After housing costs:

  54 per cent. for all pensioners1:

  53 per cent. for pensioner couples; and

  49 per cent. for single pensioners.

  1Single people over state pension age and couples where the husband is over state pension age.

  Source: The 1990–91 family expenditure survey.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the value of the average pensioner's income from savings and occupational pensions; and what were the comparable figures in 1979.

  Mr. Hague
  The latest estimate of the average weekly income to pensioners from savings and occupational pensions is:

  £63·20 to all pensioners1

  £99·50 to pensioner couples and

  £41·80 to single pensioners.

  The comparable figures for 1979 are:

  £27·80 to all pensioners1

  £46·40 to pensioner couples and

  £18 to single pensioners.

  1Single people over state pension age and couples where the

  577
  husband is over state pension age.

  Source: 1990–91 family expenditure survey. All figures are at January 1991 prices.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many severely disabled people have received payments from the independent living (1993) fund; what percentage of its budget the fund has so far used; and how many clients received funding from its predecessor independent living fund in each of the last two years of its existence.

  Mr. Scott
  On 20 January, 108 people had received payments from the independent living (1993) fund and a further 28 cases had been approved for payment. The fund had spent 13 per cent. of its budget. The old ILF made 7,319 new awards in the year 1991–92 and 10,620 such awards in 1992–93. support for those cases continues through the independent living (extension) fund which is now paying 18,500 people at an estimated cost of £120 million in the current year. The 1993 fund is an integral part of the Government's community care initiative. It is therefore inappropriate to compare the performance of the two funds.

  Family Credit
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual spending on family credit; and what was the spending on family income supplement in 1979.

  Mr. Burt
  The published forecast for family credit expenditure for 1993–94 is £965 million. This is 14 times more in real terms than the £24 million spent on family income supplement in 1978–79. The 1994 departmental report, to be published in March, will give a revised estimate.

  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the results of the introduction of payment of family credit as a lump sum.

  Mr. Burt
  Since 25 October 1993, over 3,000 awards of family credit of £4 a week or less have been made by lump sum payment.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who will receive invalidity benefit two years after the introduction of the proposed incapacity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Invalidity benefit and sickness benefit will, subject to parliamentary approval, be replaced by a single new benefit—incapacity benefit—from April 1995. The estimated average number of people who will receive incapacity benefit in 1996–97 is 1,814,000.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have been made in entitlement to and the method of calculating invalidity benefit since 1979.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the table:

  Changes affecting entitlement to invalidity benefit since 1979

  Date of change

  Change

  April 1979

  Additional pension introduced

  April 1979

  Change to invalidity allowance age bands

  578

  Date of change

  Change

  November 1980

  Uprating linked to retail price index

  November 1980

  5 per cent. abatement of invalidity pension and invalidity allowance

  November 1981

  5 per cent. abatement of invalidity allowance restored

  November 1983

  Extension of provision of dependency increase for dependent husbands

  November 1984

  Men and women able to claim an increase for a child and for person looking after children on the same basis as each other

  November 1984

  Occupational pension treated as earnings for adult and child dependency increases

  November 1984

  Earnings rule for child dependency increases introduced

  November 1984

  Child dependency increase no longer payable for non-resident children

  September 1985

  Introduction of a common earnings rule for men and women claiming an increase for their spouse

  September 1985

  Abolition of dependency increases for other adult relatives

  September 1985

  Invalidity allowance reduced by entitlement to additional pension and/or guaranteed minimum pension

  November 1985

  5 per cent, abatement of invalidity pension restored

  October 1986

  Reduced rates of sickness benefit abolished1

  February 1987

  Married women no longer subject to a second downrating of benefit after 104 weeks in hospital

  April 1988

  Benefit became payable in certain circumstances with statutory maternity pay

  April 1988

  Hospital downrating changed to take place at six weeks and 52 weeks instead of eight weeks and 104 weeks

  October 1988

  Two-year national insurance contribution test introduced for sickness benefit1

  October 1989

  Local authority councillor's allowances disregarded when considering incapacity for work; benefit offset against allowances in excess of therapeutic earnings limit

  October 1989

  Personal pensions treated as earnings for adult and child dependency increases

  April 1990

  Therapeutic earnings limit increased by 23 per cent. —1990 benefit uprating 7·6 per cent.

  April 1990

  People on employment rehabilitation courses allowed to keep invalidity benefit, or receive the rehabilitation allowance

  April 1992

  People allowed to sit as members of disability appeal tribunals one day a week without losing benefit

  April 1992

  Entitlement to additional pension curtailed for earnings after the 1990–91 tax year; accrued rights preserved

  April 1994

  Benefit uprating to include extra increase to provide help towards VAT on fuel

  1 Changes to the entitlement conditions for sickness benefit which affected the numbers subsequently qualifying for invalidity benefit.

  579
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people receiving invalidity benefit on 1 December 1993 were at that time aged (i) between 45 and 49 years, (ii) between 50 and 54 years, (iii) between 55 and 57 years and (iv) 58 years or over.

  Mr. Scott
  Information for 1 December 1993 is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The latest available information relates to 4 April 1992, and is in the table.

  Invalidity benefit recipients by age1

  Invalidity benefit recipients

  Number2

  Aged 45–49

  127,000

  Aged 50–54

  187,000

  Aged 55–57

  154,000

  Aged 58 and over

  674,000

  1 Age as at 31 March 1992.

  2 Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain at 4 April 1992, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Income Support
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children in Britain are dependent on income support; and how many were dependent on supplementary benefit in 1979.

  Mr. Burt
  In February 1993, 2·97 million children were dependent on an adult receiving income support. In November 1979 there were 0·92 million.

  Notes:

  1. Sources: supplementary benefit statistics annual inquiry, November 1979/income support statistics quarterly inquiry, February 1993.

  2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand.

  3. Children are defined as being under 16 years of age. Dependants are young people under the age of 19 still living in the parental home.

  Pensioner Households
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households there were in 1979 and in the year for which the latest figures are available below the 1979 supplementary benefit level.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available. Supplementary benefit rates varied widely between households and it is therefore not possible to refer to a single level.

  Since 1979, pensioners' average income has increased by 42 per cent.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for further changes to the operation of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The recently announced changes were formulated in the light of representations received from hon. Members and the public, and of the recommendations of the Social Security Select Committee. They form a balanced package which takes account of the interests of children, parents with care, absent parents, and the taxpayer.

  There are no plans for further change.
  580
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there is a distinction under the terms of the Child Support Act 1991 between who can be notified of the outcome of a maintenance assessment decision dependent on whether the case is being dealt with in England and Wales or in Scotland.

  Mr. Burt
  The only such distinction is that a child who is over the age of 11 years and is resident in Scotland may apply to the Child Support Agency for maintenance assessment to be made in respect of him. If he makes such an application he, together with the parent with care and the absent parent are notified of the outcome of the application. There is no provision for a child resident in England or Wales to make an application under the Child Support Act.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland considers representations made by residents of Wales on Child Support Agency matters.

  Mr. Burt
  Where an application for child support maintenance is made by a parent with care who is resident in Northern Ireland in respect of an absent parent who is resident in Wales, the application would be dealt with in Northern Ireland, in accordance with the Child Support (Great Britain Reciprocal Arrangements) Regulations (Northern Ireland). Similarly, if a number of cases are linked together because they share a parent in common all the cases are dealt with under the legislation under which the first application was considered. In these cases, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland would consider representations other than those proper to the independent adjudicating authorities.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what revenues or savings to public funds are expected to accrue as a result of the creation of the Child Support Agency; and what changes in the expected revenues or savings will arise from the implementation of the proposed changes in the agency's rules.

  Mr. Burt
  The amount of child support maintenance originally estimated to be collected in 1993–94 is £530 million. The actual amount will be lower than the estimate, but it is not possible to provide an accurate revised figure, since the full impact of the proposed policy changes is not yet known.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement summarising changes the Government are introducing into the operation of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The proposed changes include: a significant increase in the margin of protected income which all absent parents keep above income support levels; reductions in the element within the formula which reflects the care needed by children, when the youngest child reaches age 11 and 14; reductions in the rate of contribution towards the additional element, above the basic maintenance requirement, where there are fewer than three children; and a substantial extension of the provisions for phasing in new payments for absent parents who previously had a formal maintenance agreement.

  The changes form a balanced package which takes account of the interests of parents with care, absent parents, children and the taxpayer.

  "A Lost Generation"
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what responses he has made to the report "A Lost Generation", published by the National Children's Home, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  I received a copy of the report about a month after it was published, but not directly from the National Children's Home. I replied to the sender and drew attention to the Department's expenditure on income support in 1993–94 which is to exceed £16 billion—an increase of £1·6 billion over 1992–93.

  Benefits
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent measures his Department has taken to maintain the real level of benefits.

  Mr. Hague
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State shall shortly be laying before the House the annual uprating order which, subject to parliamentary approval, will increase social security benefit rates from April. Benefits will be increased in line with inflation with additional increases for those on income-related benefits, pensioners, and the sick and disabled.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish an analysis of the estimated per capita expenditure in England, Wales and Scotland on(a) supplementary benefit, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) sickness and invalidity benefit, (d) industrial disablement benefit (e) housing benefit and (f) other benefits.

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Estimated per capita expenditure

  £ per person per year

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Income support

  257

  295

  288

  Unemployment benefit

  32

  30

  25

  Sickness benefit/invalidity benefit

  102

  178

  247

  Industrial disablement benefit

  10

  11

  19

  Housing benefit/council tax benefit

  86

  122

  87

  Notes:

  1. Figures are for 1992–93 and are estimates only.

  2. Estimates are based on benefit expenditure per head of population in England, Scotland and Wales and not an average of the number receiving each benefit.

  State Pensions
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people per annum lose their entitlement to part of their state pension because of incomplete contributions.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  The number of men and women resident in Great Britain who reached state pension age—65 for men and 60 for women—in the year ending 31 March 1993—the latest date for which information is available—and who were awarded a state retirement pension based on their own contributions at less than the standard rate due to insufficient contributions was 130,920.
  582
  Information is not available where state pension is claimed after age 65 for men or 60 for women or where a person has no entitlement to state pension.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average number of years of national insurance contributions per claimant which have been paid by people now receiving invalidity benefit.

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

  Children (Unemployment)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the latest figures showing for the Durham area(a) the number of children who live in families with an unemployed head and (b) the number of children living in families with a long-term unemployed head.

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the form requested. For information on Great Britain as a whole I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West (Mr. Wicks) on 28 January,Official Report, column 449..

  Benefit Overpayments
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases action has been taken to recover overpayments of benefits under common law in each year since 1970.

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

  Social Fund
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the 1994–95 social fund budget will be broken down between(a) mandatory grants, (b) budgeting loans, (c) crisis loans and (d) community care grants.

  Mr. Scott
  No decision has yet been made on the breakdown of the discretionary social fund budget between loans and grants. Regulated payments from the social fund are not subject to a cash-limited budget.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the administrative cost as a proportion of expenditure on the social fund for each year since its inception.

  Mr. Scott
  Administration costs as a proportion of programme expenditure are published annually in the departmental report. Annual social fund administration costs have only been included since 1990–91. Details are in the table.

  Social fund administration costs (in £ millions)

  Administrative cost as a percentage of benefit expenditure

  1990–91

  132

  47·1

  1991–92

  163

  45·2

  The information for 1992–93 will be contained in the next departmental report due to be published in March 1994.
  583
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will publish a table showing the gross and net social fund discretionary budget in each year since 1988–89 in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms in 1993–94 prices, broken down into (i) budgeting loans, (ii) crisis loans and (iii) community care grants.

  Social fund expenditure since 1988–89

  all figures are £ million

  1988–89 outturn

  1989–90 outturn

  1990–91 outturn

  1991–92 outturn

  1992–93 outturn

  Crisis loans (gross)

  17

  22

  28

  37

  43

  Budgeting loans (gross)

  108

  119

  128

  160

  181

  Crisis loans (net)

  9

  8

  9

  11

  9

  Budgeting loans (net)

  68

  25

  22

  38

  27

  Community care grants

  41

  60

  67

  79

  90

  Total gross expenditure

  166

  201

  223

  276

  314

  Total gross expenditure 1993–94 prices1

  218

  248

  254

  297

  324

  1 Real terms figures have been calculated using the current GDP deflator and may alter. In any event the social fund budget is based on a number of factors, including the level of gross allocation permitted by expected loan recoveries; and is not linked to inflation forecasts.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing(a) the gross and (b) the net discretionary social fund budget on a per capita basis of the number of income support claimants in (i) cash and (ii) real terms for each year from 1988–89 to 1994–95.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is in the table.

  Expenditure and caseload figures for 1993–94 and subsequent years will not be available until after the end of the relevant financial year. However, the net social fund discretionary budget was increased by £5 million in 1993–94 which will lead to significantly higher expenditure in that year.

  Social fund expenditure per capita of income support claimants

  Year

  Cash terms £

  1Real terms £

  1988–89

  38·52

  50·81

  1989–90

  48·38

  59·69

  1990–91

  53·22

  60·62

  1991–92

  59·23

  63·52

  1992–93

  59·02

  60·90

  1 Real terms figures are expressed at 1993–94 prices and have been calculated using the current GDP deflator and may alter.

  Compensation Payments
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentage of the benefits claimants who have been awarded compensation for injury and disease and who have repaid benefits to the compensation recovery unit subsequently had their compensation payment reduced because of contributory negligence;

  (2) what is the total sum of money claimed back under the Social Security Act 1990 by the compensation recovery unit from benefit claimants who have been awarded compensation for injury or disease and who have had their compensation payment reduced because of contributory negligence.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  584
  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the table. Gross expenditure has risen in real terms since 1988–89. Direct comparisons between net expenditure in 1988–89 and subsequent years would ignore the additional expenditure made possible by the recycling of money received from loan repayments.

  Goode Report
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what new proposals he has to implement the conclusions of the Goode report.

  Mr. Hague
  The Department issued a series of consultation papers in December to promote discussion of the issues raised by the Goode report. The responses to the consultation exercise will inform decision making, and the Government will make proposals in due course.

  Advisory Panel on Assessment of Incapacity
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) for what reasons the identity of the members of the advisory panel on assessment of incapacity is regarded as confidential;

  (2) if he will place in the Library copies of briefing and background papers supplied to members of the advisory panel on assessment of incapacity;

  (3) whether members of the advisory panel on assessment of incapacity have access to the responses to the consultation document on the subject;

  (4) if he will publish the form of invitation to join the advisory panel on assessment of incapacity.

  Mr. Scott
  The consultation exercise and the associated consultation document seek views from all interested parties on the proposed new, more objective, medical incapacity test. The assessment panel has been formed to help us construct incapacity scales to be used in the test. The work of the panel is an important part of the consultation exercise.

  The panel is being asked to complete a series of exercises which focus on technical questions, and to give their individual expert opinions, not to act as representatives. We are not seeking to influence the decisions of panel members, and we hope they will be free from other pressures, although we do encourage them to discuss tasks with colleagues if they wish.

  The panel has been drawn as widely as possible from the medical and scientific communities and from groups of and for disabled people so that a full range of views can be heard. We welcome the comments of individual panel members on the wider issues discussed in the consultation document as well as their views on the incapacity scales.
  585
  We are committed to producing a report on the results of the consultation exercise and on the new test. Parliament will then have the opportunity to consider the detail of the new test when the relevant regulations are made. This will allow the widest possible public scrutiny of the methods used.

  A copy of the background paper used by the assessment panel and a form of the invitation to join the panel have been placed in the Library.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the projected savings from the arrangements for the dependents of new incapacity benefit claimants under pensionable age during weeks 28 to 52 of any period of sickness.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that there will be a net saving of £5 million in 1995–96 and £10 million in 1996–97.

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

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the projected savings from the introduction of higher rate incapacity benefit payable to claimaints from weeks 28 to 52 in any period of sickness.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that paying the higher rate of short-term incapacity benefit between the 28th and 52nd weeks of incapacity will produce net savings of around £110 million in 1995–96, and around £150 million in 1996–97.

  Notes:

  (1) Estimates expressed in constant 1993–94 prices, rounded to the nearest £10 million, and net of offsetting changes in income related benefit expenditure.

  (2) Estimates take account of the effect on incapacity benefit recipients of the planned changes in the qualifying conditions for the disability premium paid with the income-related benefits.

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will exempt benefits claimants who are awarded compensation for asbestos-related diseases from repaying benefits under the Social Security Act 1990.

  Mr. Hague
  The compensation recovery scheme is now administered under the Social Security Administration Act 1992. We have no plans to add awards for asbesto-related diseases to the list of exempt payments.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Scott
  Including casual staff, approximately 100,000 as at 31 December 1993.

  Mortgage Payments
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to provide means-tested assistance towards mortgage payments for people in low-paid employment who are excluded from income support.
  586
  Mr. Burt
  We have no such plans. A mortgage benefit scheme which helps such people would be very costly as well as significantly increasing dependence on state assistance both by individuals and the market.

  Job Seeker's Allowance
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what distinction will be made in payment of the job seeker's allowance between(a) claimants under 25 years old and (b) claimants over 25 years old, from April 1996.

  Mr. Burt
  Job seeker's allowance will be a single, integrated benefit with unified rates of payment aligned to those for income support. Therefore, differential rates will apply to people aged 18 to 24 and those aged 25 years or over.

  Social Security Tribunal
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many times in the last six months he has not accepted the recommendation of the social security tribunal regarding a reduction in the repayment of benefit owed to the Department where the person has been sentenced through the criminal courts and is still in receipt of state benefits;

  (2) how many times in the last six months he has used his powers to overturn a decision of the social security tribunal and instructed that no benefit repayment should be made where a person has been sentenced by the criminal court and is still in receipt of state benefit;

  (3) what discretion the social security tribunal has to recommend that no repayments of state benefits are made where an illegal claim for benefit has been made, and the claimant has been sentenced by the criminal court.

  Mr. Burt
  Social security appeal tribunals can only determine whether the adjudication officer has applied the law correctly in determining an overpayment. The decision to enforce recovery of an overpayment is a matter solely for the Secretary of State. Therefore there is no discretion nor any recommendation in these circumstances.

  State Earnings-related Pensions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much SERPS pension is payable in 1994–95 to a contracted-out employee with average earnings who retired at pension age at the end of each year from 1980 to 1993.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 19 January 1994]: The information is in the table.

  Year of Award1

  Amount £2

  1979–80

  1·56

  1980–81

  2·82

  1981–82

  3·91

  1982–83

  5·18

  1983–84

  5·61

  1984–85

  6·49

  1985–86

  7·28

  1986–87

  7·37

  1987–88

  8·23

  1988–89

  8·82

  1989–90

  8·93

  1990–91

  8·56

  587

  Year of Award1

  Amount £2

  1991–92

  5·90

  1992–93

  5·41

  1993–94

  5·29

  Source: estimate prepared by Government Actuary's Department based on "all persons" average earnings in each year.

  Notes:

  1Tax year 6 April—5 April

  2Weekly amount of additional pension at proposed rates from 11 April 1994 net of "contracted-out deduction".

  Pension Statistics
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Langaurgh (Mr. Bates) of 1 December,Official Report, column 598, if he will give figures for the numbers of employees opted out of state earnings-related pensions in each region of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 21 January 1994]: Information for 1991–92, the latest year for which information is available, is in the table.

  Number of people paying class 1 contributions during 1991–92 with an appropriate personal pension or an occupational pension, by region.

  Region

  Number (thousands)

  Total United Kingdom

  14,686·7

  Northern

  813·3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  899·5

  Number of people paying class 1 contributions during 1991–92 with an appropriate personal pension or an occupational pension by region

  (Thousands)

  Region

  Class 1 contracted out contributions only

  Class 1 contracted-out and contracted-in contributions1

  Appropriate personal pension

  Total United Kingdom

  8,159·0

  1,197·9

  5,329·8

  Northern

  481·6

  57·0

  274·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  326·7

  95·2

  477·6

  East midlands

  559·0

  82·1

  408·1

  East Anglia

  272·9

  40·8

  207·5

  South-east

  2,534·4

  396·0

  1,643·6

  South-west

  639·8

  92·0

  413·9

  West midlands

  761·5

  103·9

  525·3

  North-west

  955·0

  120·8

  566·2

  Wales

  414·1

  54·7

  225·4

  Scotland

  818·2

  115·4

  455·8

  Northern Ireland

  212·1

  25·0

  108·6

  Region unknown

  183·7

  15·0

  23·1

  Note: Figures relate to numbers of people not number of employments. Data derived from Inland Revenue statistics, 1 per cent. Sample.

  1 People who are contracted out for part of the year and contracted in for the remainder.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Electricity Supplies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what(a) costs and (b) benefits accrue to Britain from the reduction in electricity voltage agreed with the European Community.

  Mr. Eggar
  All EC countries are changing their low voltage supply systems to a nominal voltage of 230/400 volts to provide voltage harmonisation throughout the EC. The United Kingdom decided to do so after extensive consultation.
  588

  Region

  Number (thousands)

  East midlands

  1,049·2

  East Anglia

  521·2

  South-east

  4,574·0

  South-west

  1,145·7

  West midlands

  1,390·7

  North-west

  1,642·0

  Wales

  694·2

  Scotland

  1,389·4

  Northern Ireland

  345·7

  Region unknown

  221·8

  Note: Figures relate to numbers of people not number of employments. Data derived from Inland Revenue statistics, 1 per cent. sample.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of state for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of people holding(a) personal and (b) occupational pensions (i) in total and (ii) in each region of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 21 January 1994]: The number of people accruing benefits with personal pensions in 1991–92 was 7·8 million. The number of people accruing benefits in an occupational pension scheme in 1991–92 was 10·7 million. Only the numbers of people with appropriate personal pensions and contracted-out occupational pensions can be broken down by region. Information for 1991–92, the latest year for which information is available, is in the table.

  The costs to Britain of this standardisation will largely be borne by the electricity supply industry. Estimates put these at £680 million, at 1992 prices, over a 30-year period, together with an annual increase in distribution losses of £20 million.

  The benefits are less readily quantified but are those arising from standardisation which brings greater market opportunities to manufacturers, exporters and importers, and to consumers.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the conversion costs of the electricity supply industry to reduce voltage on supplies.

  Mr. Eggar
  The electricity supply industry has advised that to move from a reduction of 230 volts+10 per
  589
  cent./-10 per cent. to, say, +6 per cent./-6 per cent. will require the replacement of many distribution transformers. The cost is estimated to be £680 million at 1992 prices assuming a phased replacement programme over a 30-year period.

  GATT
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what agreements were reached at the trade negotiations committee of GATT, held on 20 January, in regards to preparation of a work programme on trade and the environment for the forthcoming Marrakesh meeting of GATT.

  Mr. Needham
  The GATT trade negotiations committee decided on 15 December to draw up a programme of work:

  to identify the relationship between trade measures and environmental measures, in order to promote sustainable development and

  to make appropriate recommendations on whether any modifications of the provisions of the multilateral trading system are required, compatible with the open, equitable and non-discriminatory nature of the system.

  It was agreed that the TNC would present the programme of work for adoption as soon as possible and no later than the ministerial meeting in Marrakesh.

  Nuclear Fuel Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new opportunities will become available to the British nuclear fuel industry following the recent decision of the French nuclear authorities to reopen its fast breeder reactor project at Creys Malville.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for the companies concerned.

  Malaysia (Exports)
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the value of exports from the United Kingdom to Malaysia in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is given in the following table.

  Value of United Kingdom exports to Malaysia

  Year

  £ million

  1980

  223·3

  1981

  196·2

  1982

  210·6

  1983

  248·3

  1984

  283·1

  1985

  281·7

  1986

  226·9

  1987

  258·0

  1988

  310·4

  1989

  441·5

  1990

  550·7

  1991

  582·3

  1992

  635·9

  Sources: Annual Abstract of Statistics Business Monitor MA20, Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.
  590

  Pergau Project
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many files marked "Not for NAO eyes" his Department holds in relating to the Pergau hydro-electric project in Malaysia.

  Mr. Needham
  My Department holds two files marked "Not for NAO eyes" relating to the National Audit Office inquiry into the Pergau hydro-electric project.

  As explained in the answer I gave to the right hon. Gentleman on 6 December 1993, Official Report, column 38, the marking "Not for National Audit Office eyes" is used only in accordance with an agreement between the Treasury and the National Audit Office, under which current documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee are not automatically available to the National Audit Office.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what options he is considering for the scope and format of the review of the future prospects of nuclear power in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Beckenham (Mr. Merchant) on 16 December 1993,Official Report, column 759.

  Coal Mines
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 645, if a subsidy may be paid by the Government to British Coal if the mine in question is not expected to return to profit shortly without the aid of a subsidy.

  Mr. Eggar
  The aim of the subsidy is to provide temporary financial support to pits that have long-term potential, to provide them the time needed to reduce costs and become competitive. In order to qualify for subsidy my Department must therefore be satisfied that the pit has a realistic chance of supplying coal on a commercially viable basis in the longer term, without the need for subsidy.

  Regional Enterprise Grants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what total amount of funding has been made available over the last year by(a) regional enterprise grants and (b) the English Estates scheme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The provision for regional enterprise grants in 1993–94 in England is £8·8 million. Forecast capital expenditure by English Estates on behalf of my Department in 1993–94 is £71 million.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has examined a copy of the Touche Ross report on the prospective profitability of the THORP plant at Sellafield.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 17 December 1993,Official Report, column 986.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many copies of the final recommendations document of his deregulation task forces were printed; at what cost; to whom were they distributed; and if he will make a statement on the proposals for reform contained in the documents.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  A total of 10,000 copies of the booklet setting out the proposals of the seven business deregulation task forces have been printed at a cost of £1,100. Copies were made available to Members via the Vote Office and were distributed to Government Departments, the press, business and consumer organisations, people who submitted evidence to the task forces and members of the public on request. Of the 605 proposals, 250 have been agreed, 280 are under review and 75 have been rejected.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the methods used by his Department to assess whether particular regulations are a burden to business.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The principal methods of assessing whether regulations are an undue burden upon business are compliance cost assessment and risk assessment. The CCA methodology is set out in a booklet "Checking the Cost to Business: A Guide to Compliance Cost Assessment" and guidance on risk assessment is given in a booklet "Regulation in the Balance: A Guide to Risk Assessment". Copies of both booklets have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been spent on information technology in each of the last five years within the Insolvency Service; and what is the projected expenditure over the next five years.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The expenditure on information technology on behalf of the Insolvency Service during the last and next five years is in the table:

  £ million

  1989–90

  1·9

  1990–91

  2·0

  1991–92

  1·5

  1992–93

  3·0

  1993–94

  5·2

  1994–95

  3·5

  1995–96

  2·6

  1996–97

  2·5

  1997–98

  2·5

  1998–99

  2·5

  The current and earlier years figures include, where appropriate, capital expenditure paid, on behalf of the Insolvency Service, from the DTI's capital computer budget.

  Figures for 1994–95 onwards include committed current and capital expenditure plus minor amounts for project enhancements. Future major projects are excluded as these are yet to be quantified or approved.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bankruptcy prosecutions were 592
  successfully obtained by the Insolvency Service for each of the last five years; and how many of those cases in each year were prosecuted under each of the relevant sections of the Insolvency Act 1986.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The numbers of bankrupts successfully prosecuted by my Department on reports received from the Insolvency Service were 249 in 1989, 209 in 1990, 220 in 1991 and 192 in 1992. The total for 1993 will not be known until all court returns have been received.

  Information on the number of convictions obtained under the relevant sections of the Insolvency Act 1986 and associated legislation is regularly published in the Insolvency Service general annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Disqualification Proceedings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many directives he has issued in each of the last five years for the institution of disqualification proceedings showing the number issued(a) after receipt of a report from the Official Receiver and (b) after receipt of a report from insolvency practitioners.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The following number of directions to proceed have been given:

  In official receiver cases

  In insolvency practitioner cases

  Total

  1988–89

  201

  218

  419

  1989–90

  160

  302

  462

  1990–91

  204

  295

  499

  1991–92

  304

  396

  700

  1992–93

  164

  400

  564

  19931

  50

  273

  323

  1 9 months to 31 December 1993.

  Bio-ethics
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which aspects of the report of the Nuffield committee on bio-ethics in relation to the use of genetic screening information by insurance companies are being considered by his Department.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Lord President on 11 January 1994,Official Report, column 83. My Department, in consultation with others, is considering those aspects of the report concerned with the balance to be struck between the commercial freedom of insurance companies, considerations of public health and the individual's right to privacy.

  British Nuclear Fuels plc
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the chairperson of BNFL about the redistribution of the surplus in the pension fund.

  Mr. Eggar
  I meet the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels plc from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

  Employees of British Nuclear Fuels plc are members of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension schemes. There is no pension fund and consequently no

  593
  surplus as these schemes are unfunded public service pension schemes. Payments to members are met through class IV, vote 3 of the supply estimates.

  Energy Savings Trust
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that new gas suppliers maintain the support the Government have established for the energy savings trust.

  Mr. Eggar
  I shall consider what obligations it is appropriate to impose upon suppliers to the new competitive gas market in the light of the response to the consultation which I shall be carrying out jointly with the Director General of Gas Supply.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what requirement he(a) imposes and (b) plans to impose on the director-general of Ofgas to take into account energy efficiency in her decisions.

  Mr. Eggar
  Section 4 of the Gas Act imposes upon the Director General of Gas Supply the duty to exercise her functions under the Act in the manner which she considers is best calculated, inter alia, to promote efficiency and economy on the part of gas suppliers and the efficient use of gas.

  Consultants
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the cost of employing consultants to advise on the future of(a) the Accounts Services Agency, (b) the industrial research establishment agencies, (c) the Insolvency Service Agency and (d) the Patent Office Agency.

  Mr. Eggar
  The fees paid to the consultants employed in each case are confidential for commercial reasons.
  594
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the relevant consultants' report dealing with the future of(a) the Accounts Services Agency, (b) the industrial research establishment agencies, (c) the Insolvency Service agency and (d) the United Kingdom Patent Office Agency.

  Mr. Eggar
  These reports may contain information which is managerially or commercially sensitive. Decisions on whether to place copies in the Library of the House will be taken when the findings of each report are considered.

  Advisers
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms on which(a) Francis Maude and (b) Ray Reardon are employed as advisers to his Department.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Francis Maude has agreed to chair, in a voluntary capacity, the new deregulation task force.

  Ray Reardon has been asked to consider how various corporate restructuring techniques could be applied to parts of the Department. He has also agreed to do this in a voluntary capacity.

  They are not being paid to undertake these tasks although the Department has agreed to reimburse them their necessary travel expenses.

  Iron and Steel Readaptation Benefit Scheme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will reconsider his decision to end the iron and steel readaptation benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Milligan) on 27 January 1994,Official Report, columns 369–70.

  AFRICA: AID
  AFRICA: AID
  EAST AFRICAN ASIANS CASE: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REPORT
  EAST AFRICAN ASIANS CASE: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REPORT
  NATO PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
  NATO PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
  SOUTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL
  SOUTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL
  BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA INCIDENCE
  BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA INCIDENCE
  CANCER AND AIDS: RESEARCH
  CANCER AND AIDS: RESEARCH
  DEPRIVATION PAYMENTS SCHEME
  DEPRIVATION PAYMENTS SCHEME
  STATE RETIREMENT PENSION
  STATE RETIREMENT PENSION
  WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981: INSPECTOR'S DECISION
  WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981: INSPECTOR'S DECISION
  NATURE AND COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION: ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS
  NATURE AND COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION: ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS
  BUYING AGENCY: PERFORMANCE TARGETS
  BUYING AGENCY: PERFORMANCE TARGETS
  SEA BATHING: HEALTH EFFECTS
  SEA BATHING: HEALTH EFFECTS
  VICTIM SUPPORT NORTHERN IRELAND
  VICTIM SUPPORT NORTHERN IRELAND