Written Answers of 12 July 1994

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Ten O'clock Rule
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, column 628, if he will make an assessment of the suitability to current conditions of the Ten o'clock rule.

  Mr. Newton
  Although I am having discussions with the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) about the sittings of the House, I do not envisage putting forward proposals to change Ten o'clock as the normal end to the main parliamentary day. Nor was such a change envisaged in the report of the Select Committee on Sittings of the House, though it was an aim of that report's proposals that Members should more frequently be able to leave for their constituencies after about seven o'clock on Thursdays.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  BBC Television Archives
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate he has made of the cost to the BBC of digitising its television archives.

  Mr. Brooke
  None. The format in which the BBC keeps its archives is a matter for the corporation.

  Longford Hall
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 31 March,Official Report, column 976, if he will list the items of work which English Heritage indicated needed to be carried out within six months of its report on Longford hall, Stretford, to maintain the building in its then existing condition; which works were carried out; and which were not.

  Mr. Brooke
  Works carried out to Longford hall by Trafford metropolitan borough council in December 1993 to January 1994 comprised structural repairs to the Derby room and the south-east corner of the building, repairs to the roof, gutters and drainpipes, rot treatment of walls and floors within the basement to the rear of the original building and the ground floor above and the insertion of ventilation grilles and the removal of debris. Security works were also carried out last year. These were the only works of those in English Heritage's report dated 9 June 1993 which related to the original building and which were also necessary to preserve that part of the building pending a decision by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on its future.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mr. Gordon McNally
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister on what occasion prior to November 1991 he was present at functions where Mr. Gordon McNally was present.

  The Prime Minister
  None, so far as I am aware.

  Coastguard Service
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has held about the Department of Transport's proposed efficiency savings for the Coastguard Service; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have had no such discussions. However, as I stated on 7 July 1994,Official Report, column 446, in response to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has discussed with the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency the proposals he put forward in response to my right hon. Friend's target, that the Department as a whole should achieve a 20 per cent. efficiency gain. My right hon. Friend has not yet taken any decisions on these proposals.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

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

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  The Prime Minister
  None of the organisations, agencies or other bodies under my departmental responsibility have been privatised since 1990. Plans for privatisation involving my departments will be considered on their merits as part of a prior options exercise and the results will be announced as appropriate.

  Ukraine
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of 20 June,Official Report, column 11, if he will make a statement on discussions at the G7 summit in relation to nuclear technical assistance to the Government of the Ukraine.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to my statement on the Group of Seven summit in Naples on 11 July 1994,Official Report, columns 667–69.

  Former Members of Parliament
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the former hon. Members who were defeated in the last two general elections who have since become members of
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  quangos and other organisations to which the Government nominates; and if he will state the organisation to which the former hon. Members were nominated, the duties undertaken and the salary.

  The Prime Minister
  This information is not held centrally.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Prime Minister how many overseas visits have been made in 1994 by Ministers; during how many of them Ministers participated in fund-raising activities for the Conservative party; who were those Ministers; and in which countries those activities took place.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 4 July 1994]: As far as I am aware, Ministers made 287 overseas visits in their official capacity between 1 January and 30 June 1994. None of those was undertaken for purposes of fundraising for the Conservative party. No central record is kept of any occasions on which Ministers may have attended fundraising events which were incidental to their visit.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judges
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what specific measures he is taking to improve the forecasting of numbers and particular expertise needed at different levels of the judiciary.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Circuits will be required to identify the number of vacancies which are expected to arise a year in advance of the financial year in which they will occur. Based on changes in work load, retirements and other factors they will be expected to identify the number

  Total

  Women

  Black

  Asian

  High Court Judges

  95

  6

  —

  —

  Circuit Judges (includes Official Referees)

  510

  29

  —

  3

  District Judges (excludes District Judges of the Principal Registry of the Family Division)

  290

  25

  —

  1

  Masters and Registrars of the Supreme Court and District Judges of the Principal Registry of the Family Division

  49

  6

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrates

  46

  6

  —

  —

  Provincial Stipendiary Magistrates

  34

  2

  —

  1

  Recorders

  866

  38

  4

  5

  Assistant Recorders (excludes Assistant Recorders in Training)

  385

  58

  6

  2

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of(a) High Court judges, (b) circuit judges and (c) district judges in office on 31 March had served in the present posts at this level (i) for less than a year, (ii) for less than five years, (iii) for more than 10 years and (iv) for 20 years or more.

  A

  B

  C

  D

  Less than 1 Year

  Less than 5 Years

  More than 10 Years

  More than 20 Years

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  High Court Judges

  15

  (14)

  52

  (49)

  15

  (14)

  1

  (1)

  Circuit Judges

  9

  (46)

  43

  (220)

  26

  (132)

  4

  (21)

  District Judges (including District Judges of Principal Registry of the Family Division)

  12

  (37)

  44

  (139)

  34

  (107)

  6

  (20)

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  and location of the likely vacancies. This will enable vacancies to be advertised well in advance and appropriate individuals to be identified to fill them quickly as and when they arise.

  The Department is also developing an information system to determine the future number of High Court judges needed at any one time, having regard to the need to maintain the High Court bench as a compact collegiate body.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many responses he has received to his consultation paper "Developments in Judicial Appointments Procedures".

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Some 22 responses had been received as at 7 July 1994.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total number of judges serving at 31 March as(a) High Court judges, (b) circuit judges, (c) district judges, (d) masters and registrars of the Supreme Court and district judges of the principal registry of the family division, (e) metropolitan stipendiary magistrates, (f) provincial stipendiary magistrates, (g) recorder and (h) assistant recorders; and how many in each are (i) part-time appointments, (ii) women, (iii) black and (iv) Asian.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of office holders as at 31 March 1994 is set out in the table. All the posts listed are full time except recorders and assistant recorders. The figures for black or Asian office-holders are believed to be correct, but arrangements for the formal recording of the ethnic origin of applicants for judicial office only began on 1 October 1991, so such information may be incomplete. In any event, the figures do not include those of other ethnic minority origin.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information relating to 31 March is not readily available. However, the percentages for the different periods of service, together with, in brackets, the relevant number of judges, as at 6 July 1994 is set out in the table below. Column B includes the figures in column A. Similarly, column C includes the figures in column D. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole figure.
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  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many judges have retired on health grounds since June 1979.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There have been 48 such retirements since June 1979.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consideration he is giving to the suggestion of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice that judicial performance should be more closely monitored.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Royal Commission's recommendations numbered 249 and 251 remain under active consideration by the Lord Chancellor in consultation with the senior judiciary and the chairman of the Judicial Studies Board. The recommendations have to be set in the context of the essential constitutional principle of the independence of the judiciary from the Executive and from each other. Any measures taken must have full regard to this overriding principle. The Government will respond to these two recommendations when their consideration of these difficult issues is complete.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the expected number of working days per year for each category of judge in England and Wales.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  District judges are expected to sit 215 or more days per year. Circuit judges are expected to sit 210 or more days per year. High Court judges and judges of the Court of Appeal usually sit throughout the legal terms, 189 days, but may well sit outside those times. There is no expected number of working days for the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what parallel category of civil servants is used by the Top Salaries Review Body as a relevant basis for considering salary scales for the judiciary.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Under the revised terms of reference which were introduced in July 1993 at its request, the Senior Salaries Review Body is required, when making recommendations, to have regard to the need to maintain broad linkages between the remuneration of the three main remit groups, while allowing sufficient flexibility to take account of the circumstance of each group.

  The two linkages which presently exist between the judiciary and the senior civil service are between High Court judges and civil servants at grade 1 level, and between the Cabinet Secretary and the Lord Chief Justice.

  In its 1994 report, the SSRB recommended that the practice of offering identical salaries across the remit groups should be discontinued in future years provided that, in accordance with its terms of reference, the review body ensures that a broad linkage is maintained. The Government have accepted that recommendation.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary., Lord Chancellor's Department (1) under what circumstances a member of the judiciary can be dismissed;

  (2) how many members of the judiciary have been dismissed (a) since June 1979 and (b) since May 1965 as of 31 March;
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  (3) what are the current disciplinary procedures for members of the judiciary.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The independence of the judiciary is a fundamental principle of the constitution and is protected by the provisions governing judicial tenure. Lords of Appeal in Ordinary and Supreme Court judges may be removed by Her Majesty only on an address presented by both Houses of Parliament. Circuit judges may be removed by the Lord Chancellor on the grounds of incapacity or misbehaviour. The statutory provisions governing the removal from office of other members of the judiciary vary, but in general relate similarly to incapacity or misbehaviour, or the equivalent. One circuit judge was removed from office on the ground of misbehaviour in 1983. No other instance of removal from full-time judicial office since 1965 is known.

  Given the independence of the judiciary, it is not generally open to the Lord Chancellor to comment on, or intervene in, decisions or comments made, or the conduct of legal proceedings, by a judge in the exercise of his judicial functions. The appropriate recourse in relation to such matters lies in the available processes of appeal or review. Subject to this overriding principle, where a question about the conduct of a judicial office holder is raised with the Lord Chancellor, he may see fit to seek the comments of the office holder concerned before considering what, if any, course of action he should take within the powers available to him.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what was the total number of judges serving in all categories as of 31 March;

  (2) what was the total number of judges serving in all categories employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time as of 31 March.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The total number of full-time judges at 31 March 1994 is set out in the following table:

  Number

  Lords of Appeal in Ordinary

  10

  Heads of Division (excluding Lord Chancellor)

  4

  Lords Justices of Appeal

  29

  High Court Judges

  95

  Circuit Judges

  510

  District Judges (including District Judges of the Principal Registry of the Family Division)

  308

  Total

  956

  At 31 March 1994, some 185 practitioners had been authorised to sit as deputy High Court judges, 43 retired judges had been appointed to sit as deputy circuit judges and 745 practitioners and retired district judges were authorised to sit as deputy district judges. Some 866 practitioners were authorised to sit as recorders and 385 as assistant recorders. In addition, certain retired Supreme Court judges and Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are also willing to sit from time to time. There are other part-time judicial office-holders.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what information he has on the social class origins of current members of the judiciary.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No information is held on the social class origins of current members of the judiciary. Aggregated information relating to the educational
  487
  background of the judiciary is not readily available. The Lord Chancellor's policy is to appoint to judicial office, entirely on merit, those who satisfy the relevant statutory conditions for appointments and are considered best qualified to fill the posts.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many judges currently serving would, if they retired at 70 years of age, leave after fewer than 20 years' service.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The table sets out the numbers of judges in office on 6 July 1994 who would have served in full-time judicial office in the United Kingdom for fewer than 20 years if they were to retire on their 70th birthday and, in the case of those already over 70, the numbers who had completed fewer than 20 years service by that date. The figures take into account previous service in other full-time judicial offices in this country, except in the case of serving circuit judges where information relating to earlier service is not readily available. The total numbers of judges in post on 6 July 1994 are shown in brackets.

  Number

  Lords of Appeal in Ordinary

  3 (10)

  Supreme Court Judges

  87 (128)

  Circuit Judges

  254 (510)

  District Judges1

  56 (313)

  1Including District Judges of Principal Registry of the Family Division).

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what specific measures he is taking to increase the number of judges moving from the High Court family division to the Court of Appeal.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Appointments to the Court of Appeal are made by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Before making his recommendations, the Prime Minister receives advice from the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor's advice on appointments to the Court of Appeal is based on the operational needs of the Court of Appeal and the suitability of the available candidates. He does not envisage special measures to increase the number of judges promoted to the Court of Appeal from the family division of the High Court.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to abolish judicial tenure.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None. The role of the judiciary is to administer justice in accordance with the laws of England and Wales without fear or favour, affection or ill will. In order to do so, judges must be independent. Security of tenure for the judiciary as established by the Act of Settlement and subsequent statutory provisions is essential in maintaining and supporting the principle of judicial independence.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will list the publications which will carry judicial advertisements; and on what basis those national publications will be chosen;

  (2) when he expects to report on the results of his consultation on the judicial appointments system;
  488
  (3) in implementing the proposals in his consultation paper, in what circumstances he will disregard an interview panel's recommendations in favour of alternative information;

  (4) if he will continue to take soundings regarding judicial appointments; and if these will be used to determine the short listing of applicants for posts.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 4 July,Official Report, column 1. The consultation paper "Developments in Judicial Appointments Procedures" proposes that the interview panel's recommendations will constitute only one element of the information which the Lord Chancellor will have at his disposal, but that it will be a valuable and important one to which he will attach appropriate weight. The consultation paper also emphasises the Lord Chancellor's commitment to the continuation of the systematic collection of views and opinions about candidates and their work from a wide spread of judges and senior practitioners who are in a position to assess them. No decision has yet been taken in respect of the publications in which any advertisements might appear.

  The Lord Chancellor is now considering the responses received to the consultation paper and will make an announcement as soon as practicable.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) High Court judges, (b) circuit judges and (c) district judges in office on 31 March received university education at Oxford or Cambridge.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Aggregated information relating to the university background of judges is not readily available, but the results of a special exercise carried out last year showed that at 1st January 1993, 68–81 per cent.—of the then 84 High Court judges had attended Oxford or Cambridge universities. The special exercise showed that the equivalent figure for the then 482 circuit judges was 261—54 per cent. The survey did not extend to district judges.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what considerations underlie his proposal that judges should serve 20 years to qualify for a pension.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The requirement that judges should serve 20 years to qualify for full pension benefits is contained in the new pensions scheme under the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993. This is to allow the judicial pension scheme to conform to the taxation requirements which now apply to all other private and public sector pension schemes as a result of the Finance Acts 1987 and 1989 and the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many judges have retired on health grounds with fewer than 20 years' service since(a) June 1979 and (b) April 1992.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There have been 47 such retirements since June 1979, of which four have taken place since April 1992. These figures refer to Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, judges of the Supreme Court, circuit judges and district judges.
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  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the pay scale of each category of judge in England and Wales.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The salaries of the judges in England and Wales are as follows:

  £

  Lord Chancellor

  120,179

  Lord Chief Justice

  118,179

  Lords of Appeal

  —

  Master of the Rolls

  109,435

  Lords Justices of Appeal

  —

  President of the Family Division

  —

  Vice-Chancellor

  104,922

  High Court Judges

  95,051

  Official Referees

  —

  Senior Circuit Judges

  82,641

  Circuit Judges

  —

  Senior District Judge

  69,497

  District Judges

  56,974

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many barristers have declined to become High Court judges in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. John. M. Taylor
  The numbers of barristers who have declined to allow their names to be recommended to Her Majesty the Queen for immediate appointment to the High Court bench in England and Wales in recent years are set out below. All those who declined, with one exception, have made it clear that they hope to be considered again for appointment to the High Court bench in the future. Numbers before 1988 are not readily available.

  Number

  1988–89

  —

  1989–90

  —

  1990–91

  —

  1991–92

  1

  1992–93

  6

  1993–94

  2

  11994–95

  —

  1To date.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what legislative action would be necessary for the changes he announced on 7 July 1993 to the judicial appointment system to take effect.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what specific consideration he is giving to the establishment of a judicial appointments commission.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None. It remains the Government's view that the establishment of such a commission would impair direct ministerial accountability to Parliament for judicial appointments. Moreover, the Government have yet to hear any convincing argument that the quality of those appointed by a Commission would be likely to be any better than that of those appointed under present arrangements.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of each category of judge in office on 31 March were(a) under 50, (b) 51 to 60, (c) 60 to 70 and (d) over 70 years of age.
  490
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information relating to 31 March is not readily available. The information as at 6 July 1994 is set out in the table below. The age bands have been adjusted in the table to prevent double counting.

  Under 50

  50–59

  60–70

  71 and over

  Lords of Appeal in Ordinary

  0

  0

  8

  2

  Supreme Court Judges

  8

  55

  63

  2

  Circuit Judges

  66

  233

  201

  10

  District Judges (including District Judges of the Principal Registry of the Family Division)

  118

  123

  72

  0

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) High Court judges, (b) circuit judges and (c) district judges in office at 31 March were appointed (i) as a result of promotion within the judiciary, (ii) as practising barristers, (iii) as practising solicitors and (iv) after serving on the High Court family division.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Thirteen of the 95 High Court judges in office on 31 March 1994 were appointed as a result of promotion within the full-time judiciary. One was previously an Advocate-General at the Court of Justice of the European Communities. The remaining 81 were appointed from the Bar, including two barristers who were not in private practice. One Chancery division judge and five Queen's bench division judges had previously served as judges in the family division of the High Court.

  The complete information relating to circuit judges is not readily available. Of the 510 circuit judges in office on 31 March 1994, 450 had been barristers and 60 had been solicitors: these figures include those who were appointed to the circuit bench from other full-time judicial offices.

  No district judges in office on 31 March 1994 were appointed as a result of promotion within the full-time judiciary. Of the 308 district judges then in office, including district judges of the principal registry of the family division, 296 were appointed from solicitors, including academic and employed solicitors, and 12 from the practising Bar.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received following his proposals that judges will have to serve 20 years to qualify for a pension.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The requirement that judges should serve 20 years to qualify for full pension benefits is introduced by the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993. Responses to the proposals in the consultation paper issued before the passing of the 1993 Act were received from the following groups or individuals, in order of receipt:

  The President of the Pension Appeal Tribunal

  The Judge Advocate General

  The President of Social Security Appeal Tribunals and Medical Appeal Tribunals

  The Council of Her Majesty's Circuit Judges

  Sir Bryan Roberts KCMG

  The Senior Master, Queen's Bench Division

  The Chief Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate

  The President of Industrial Tribunals

  The Senior District Judge, Family Division

  His Honour Judge Micklem

  The Association of District Judges

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  The Provincial Stipendiary Magistrates

  The Judges' Council

  The Top Salaries Review Body

  The Chief Taxing Master

  The Chief Chancery Master

  The Master of the Court of Protection

  The Chief Social Security Commissioner

  The Chief Immigration Adjudicator

  The General Council of the Bar

  The Law Society

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many copies of his consultation paper "Developments in Judicial Appointments Procedures" were sent to laypersons, as defined in the paper itself.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Approximately 700 copies of the consultation paper have been distributed to organisations and individuals including the National Consumer Council, the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality. Copies were also sent to any who requested them from my Department. It is not possible to determine how many of these are not lawyers.

  High Court Bench (Solicitors)
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many solicitors have been appointed to the High Court bench since section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 came into force.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Since section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 came into force on 1 January 1991, one solicitor, who was a serving circuit judge, has been appointed to the High Court bench.

  Legal Training
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what responsibilities he has relating to legal training.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's role is governed by the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. Under that Act, amendments made by authorised bodies to their rules and regulations require the approval of the Lord Chancellor and the four designated judges. The Lord Chancellor is also required to approve applications under section 55 of the 1990 Act—preparation of probate papers—and, in doing so, must be satisfied about the arrangements for training.

  Judicial Posts (Election)
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to hold elections for any judicial posts.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None. The Government do not believe that election would provide a suitable basis for appointment or be compatible with the principle of judicial independence. The Lord Chancellor's proposals for developments in the judicial appointments system were set out in a recent consultation paper. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 4 July,Official Report, column 1.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None. A number of the functions of the departments, agencies and other bodies for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible are currently under review. Privatisation will be considered as one of a range of possible options. At present, no firm plans have been made concerning any of the functions under review.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Nigeria (Extradition)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the immigration or residency status of Colonel Tony Nyiam and Great Ogboru, formerly of Nigeria; what requests he received in respect of the extradition of those individuals following the failed military coup in Nigeria in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  It is not our normal policy to disclose information relating to a person's immigration status, but no extradition requests in respect of these two individuals have been received.

  May Inquiry
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the cost of the May inquiry into the Guildford and Woolwich bombings.

  Mr. Maclean
  The total reported costs of this inquiry, as at 7 July, is £2,150,000.

  Ms Emma Humphreys
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will ask the Parole Board to reconsider its position regarding a release date for Ms Humphreys;

  (2) what representation he has received concerning the case of Ms Emma Humphreys who is currently serving a life sentence at Holloway prison;

  (3) what consultations he has had with the Parole Board about its recent refusal to grant Ms Humphreys a date for release or to move her to an open prison.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is not the practice of the Secretary of State to consult the independent Parole Board when the board decides not to recommend the release or the transfer to open prison conditions of a prisoner serving the mandatory life sentence for murder. The Secretary of State has not consulted the Parole Board in the case of Ms Humphreys and sees no grounds for asking the Parole Board to reconsider its recent decision in her case. A further Parole Board review of her suitability for release will begin in May 1995.

  From time to time, the Secretary of State has received representations about the safety of Ms Humphreys's conviction for murder. Those representations have not provided sufficient grounds for him to refer her case to the

  493
  Court of Appeal under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968. Representations made by Ms Humphreys concerning her release on life licence were considered by the Parole Board when it last reviewed her case in May 1994.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many towns and cities there are known to be proposals to introduce closed circuit television for crime prevention;

  (2) how many city centres now have closed circuit television for crime prevention; and what is his assessment of its effectiveness.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The most recent information available indicates that across the United Kingdom there are 220 CCTV schemes either in operation or planned. Local assessments show that CCTV systems have been extremely effective in reducing crime and the fear of crime in a number of areas, particularly when they have formed part of a package of crime prevention measures. A current Home Office study of the effectiveness of the Birmingham city centre system is being extended to include schemes in other areas.

  Refugees and Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to diminish waiting times for asylum seekers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  With the implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 last July, procedures have been streamlined and decision times reduced for applications received after implementation, which are being given priority. The new procedures and the level of applications are being closely monitored.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has made for the Vietnamese refugees in response to the Home Office report on refugees and asylum seekers;

  (2) what plans he has made in response to the Home Office report on refugees and asylum seekers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The report of the first stage of the research into refugee settlement, which is currently being revised, does not contain specific policy recommendations. The report on the second stage, which includes Vietnamese refugees within its scope, is being prepared and has not yet been seen by Ministers. When completed, any findings which might have policy implications will receive careful consideration.

  Smoke Detectors
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires in(a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) England and (e) the United Kingdom as a whole occurred in houses or buildings which did not have smoke detectors in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The year 1994 is the first year in which the Home Office has collected data on the presence or absence of a smoke alarm in a fire attended by a local authority fire brigade. Before 1994, the Home Office collected only whether or not the fire was discovered by a smoke alarm.

  Uninsured Drivers
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those convicted of driving without insurance received a fine of £5,000 last year.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information available to me shows that no fines of £5,000 were imposed during 1992 for driving without insurance. Figures for 1993 are not yet available.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers have been disqualified from driving after having been convicted of driving without insurance in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The following table gives the available information which relates to the number of convictions for driving without insurance in England and Wales, for which disqualification from driving was imposed. The number of persons involved is likely to be less because some may have been convicted for more than one of these offences.

  Disqualifications imposed for the offence of driving without insurance

  Year

  Number

  1988

  18,045

  1989

  18,747

  1990

  17,569

  1991

  19,531

  1992

  20,727

  Figures for 1993 are not yet available.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) convicted and (b) remand prisoners are currently in custody from Wales (i) by county, (ii) by sex and (iii) in total.

  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 Lewes to Mr. Allan Rogers, dated 12 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions asking how many (a) convicted and (b) remand prisoners are currently in custody from Wales (i) by county, (ii) by sex and (iii) in total.
  The available provisional information is for 31 May 1994 and is given in the attached table. It relates to the population in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales who were recorded centrally as being first committed to custody by a Welsh court. Those persons for whom no court first committing was recorded accounted for five per cent. of the total population in custody, excluding those held in police cells and non-criminal prisoners.

  Population in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 31 May 1994 committed by courts in Wales1

  County of Welsh court first committing

  Numbers held in a Prison Service establishment in England and Wales

  Remand

  Sentenced

  Males

  Clwyd

  77

  228

  Dyfed

  70

  108

  Gwent

  87

  255

  Gwynedd

  41

  134

  495

  County of Welsh court first committing

  Numbers held in a Prison Service establishment in England and Wales

  Remand

  Sentenced

  Mid Glamorgan

  110

  630

  South Glamorgan

  87

  220

  West Glamorgan

  64

  147

  Powys

  93

  242

  Total

  629

  1,964

  Females

  Clwyd

  —

  8

  Dyfed

  5

  4

  Gwent

  3

  4

  Gwynedd

  1

  4

  Mid Glamorgan

  3

  17

  South Glamorgan

  1

  10

  West Glamorgan

  4

  6

  Powys

  1

  10

  Total

  18

  63

  1Provisional figures.

  Chief Superintendent Rank
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received(a) in favour of and (b) against retaining the rank of chief superintendent within the police force; if he will make it his policy to retain the rank of chief superintendent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government's decision to abolish the rank of chief superintendent and reallocate the range of current responsibilities of that rank within a restructured single superintendent rank is opposed by the superintendents' associations. Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary supports the reform of the superintending rank, and the Association of Chief Police Officers favours the retention of the rank of chief inspector rather than that of chief superintendent.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Howard
  DTELS—formerly the Directorate of Telecommunications—was sold to National Telecommunications Ltd. on 1 March 1994. Epsom, Kempton Park and Sandown Park racecourses were sold by the Horserace Betting Levy Board on 29 April 1994 to Racecourse Holdings Trust. There are no firm plans for further privatisations.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision he plans for the accommodation of young offenders in Wales following the decision to send offenders aged 12 years and over to secure units and to cease to send boys aged 15 and 16 years to prison; if he will make it his policy that such offenders will not be sent outside Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: Five new secure training centres are to be established for the purpose
  496
  of detaining those 12 to 14-year-old juveniles who may be sentenced to serve the new secure training order. The centres will hold offenders sentenced by the courts in England and Wales, but on present plans, none will be located in Wales.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has already announced a grant amounting to £5·1 million to meet the capital cost of a new local authority secure unit at Neath in west Glamorgan. In due course, it is intended that the unit should accommodate inter alios most 15 and 16-year-old juveniles residing in Wales who may in future be remanded to local authority accommodation with a security requirement instead of to a Prison Service establishment, as well as those whose detention is ordered under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and who it is decided should be held in child care establishments.

  Police Training
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources the Government intend to make available to the police service to enable adequate training to be given to all police staff as a result of the enactments of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Bill and the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: It is for individual chief officers to arrange, out of normal police funds, for the training of their officers, having regard to any relevant changes in legislation. Any requirements for centrally produced training material will be considered within the Police Training Council.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the amounts spent by the police on training in all areas in each of the last five years at 1990 constant prices.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: I regret that this information is not available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council Homes
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 28 June,Official Report, column 492, what has been (a) the total number of newly built council homes and (b) that number as a percentage of the stock, in each council area for the period since 1 April 1979.

  Sir George Young
  A table has been deposited in the Library showing the cumulative total of housebuilding completions for each local authority in England as reported by them for the period between 1 April 1979 and 31 March 1994. The table also shows this housebuilding as a percentage of the local authority dwelling stock reported as at 1 April 1993, and as estimated for 1 April 1979. Housing associations are now the main providers of new social housing.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent by the Local Government Commission to date on opinion polling; and what assessment he has made of the usefulness of such polling.

  Mr. Curry
  The cost of opinion polling carried out for the Local Government Commission during the course of its reviews is a matter for the commission itself, within its overall budget. It is also for the commission itself to determine the value of those public opinion surveys.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the Local Government Commission has spent on direct communication with the public where it invites replies via freepost.

  Mr. Curry
  This is a matter for the Local Government Commission.

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what formula the Local Government Commission uses to assess the intangible costs and benefits of local government reconstruction in North Yorkshire.

  Mr. Baldry
  Section 3 of the revised policy guidance which my Department issued to the Local Government Commission in November 1993 gives advice on the treatment of intangible costs and benefits. How the commission incorporates this advice into its recommendations on particular review areas is a matter for it.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hours per week Sir John Banham devotes to the Local Government Commission.

  Mr. Curry
  The time commitment of the chairman varies from month to month, according to the demands of the review timetable. He works on average two days a week.

  Cemfuel
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy prior to the issue of any variation order to authorisation AI 2813 of 17 November 1993 made under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and issued for the burning of Cemfuel that he will engage in consultations with the cement company.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am advised by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution that the authorisation AI 2813 relates to the burning of Cemfuel at Castle Cement's Ribblesdale works. The HMIP is in consultation with the company over a variation to this authorisation. No variation has yet been issued.

  Estimated total annual waste arisings by sector

  United Kingdom

  Sector

  Annual arisings (million tonnes)

  Date of Estimate

  Status1

  Source

  Percentage of total arisings

  Agriculture

  280

  1991

  NC

  MAFF

  21

  Mining and quarrying

  colliery and slate

  51

  1990

  NC

  DOE

  13

  china clay

  27

  1990

  NC

  DOE

  7

  quarrying3

  30

  1989/90

  NC

  QI4

  8

  Sewage sludge5

  35

  1992

  PC

  MAFF/WSA6

  9

  Dredged spoils7

  29

  1992

  PC

  MAFF

  7

  498
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances an existing authorisation for the burning of Cemfuel might be subject to a variation order from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution such that the burning of the fuel would again be put on a trial basis.

  Mr. Atkins
  An existing authorisation for the burning of Cemfuel might be subject to a variation order from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to put the burning onto a trial basis if, in the light of up-to-date experience, the conditions attached to the authorisation were seen not to provide sufficient information to monitor the environmental effects of the burning.

  Biological Diversity
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the second session of the intergovernmental committee of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity held in Nairobi in June.

  Mr. Atkins
  The second meeting of the intergovernmental committee of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity took place in Nairobi from 20 June to 1 July 1994. Progress was made to prepare for the first meeting of the conference of the parties to be held in Nassau, the Bahamas from 28 November to 9 December 1994. The meeting reached consensus on important administrative and procedural issues for the conference of the parties, including most of the rules of procedure, a set of administrative financial rules and criteria for an open competition between organisations to host the permanent secretariat. Preliminary discussions took place on other substantive issues that the conference of the parties will consider, including the financial mechanism, biosafety, a clearing house mechanism and the scientific and technical subsidiary body.

  Waste
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the proportionate contribution of each category of waste arising to the total waste generated in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  The table shows the best available estimates of waste arisings, by sector. Most of the estimates are very approximate, and relate to the period around 1990. It is not possible to update them on an annual basis.
  499

  Sector

  Annual arisings (million tonnes)

  Date of Estimate

  Status1

  Source

  Percentage of total arisings

  Household8

  20

  —

  C

  DOE

  5

  Commercial9

  15

  —

  C

  DOE

  4

  Demolition and construction10

  32

  190

  C

  DOE

  8

  Industrial

  blast furnace and steel slag

  6

  1990

  C

  DOE

  2

  power station ash

  13

  1990

  C

  DOE

  3

  other11

  50

  —

  C

  DOE

  13

  Total

  388

  1NC=Not classed as a controlled waste under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act (Controlled Waste Regulations) 1992; PC=sewage sludge is classed as a controlled waste as defined in the Environmental Protection Act (Controlled Waste Regulations) 1992 except when disposed of on agricultural land or within the curtilage of sewage works at which it arises; dredged spoils are classed as a controlled waste when licensed for disposal under the Food and Environmental Protection Act. See Schedule 6 of the Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulation, 1988. C=controlled wastes under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act (Controlled Waste Regulations) 1992.

  2Refers to wastes from housed livestock only. Wet weight.

  3Excludes wastes from opencast coal mining. Includes wastes from primary aggregate extraction comprising the overburden and any contaminating materials found in the quarry, most of which is used as infill when the quarry is abandoned. Waste arisings are estimated at 10 per cent. of annual aggregate production.

  4Quarries inspectorate.

  5Wet weight arisings, estimated on the basis of 4 per cent. solid content on average.

  6Water Services Association.

  7The data are for all United Kingdom waters, ie, external and internal waters.

  8Estimated maximum value of 20 million tonnes which includes up to 5 million tonnes from civic Amenity Sites.

  9Rounded to nearest 5 million tonnes, of which approximately 5 million tonnes is wastes normally collected from retail shops and small commercial premises by Local Authorities.

  10Refers only to hard materials from construction sites, eg, brick and concrete and road planings.

  11Rounded to nearest 10 million tonnes.

  Local Councillors
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what circumstances it is possible for a person to be an employee of a local authority to which he is, or may consider becoming, an elected member.

  Mr. Baldry
  Under the provisions of section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972 a person who is employed by a local authority is disqualified from being elected to, or being a member of, that local authority. Under section 116, a person cannot be employed by an authority for 12 months after he or she ceases to be a member.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the degree of influence which the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development has on(a) the World bank and (b) The International Monetary Fund.

  Mr. Atkins
  At its meeting in May, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development agreed to aim at a more fruitful co-operation with the Bretton Woods institutions to promote sustainable development through sound macro-economic policies and a favourable international economic environment.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will urge the World Trade Organisation to allow the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development to be represented at meetings of its committee on trade and the environment.

  Mr. Atkins
  The United Kingdom fully supports the case for admitting the United Nations Commission on 500
  Sustainable Development as an observer to the committee on trade and environment, to be established in the World Trade Organisation.

  Housing Association Grants
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to amplify his advice to local planning authorities on sustainable development contained in PPG13; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend proposes to publish a good practice guide to PPG13 later this year. Together with the Department of Transport, my Department will also commission and publish research designed to improve our understanding of the relationship between transport and land use and will monitor the implementation of the policies contained in PPG13 through development plans, local transport policies and individual decisions.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps his Department will take to mitigate the effect on tenants on low incomes of changes in housing association grant rates for 1995–96;

  (2) if he will make a statement regarding the changes in housing association grant rates for 1995–96.

  Sir George Young
  Decisions on the housing association grant rates that will apply in 1995–96 have not yet been taken. Before reaching a decision, I shall carefully consider the implications of lower grant rates on a range of issues, including the likely impact on the rents that tenants have to pay.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints he has received about the operation of the Mobile Homes Act 1983 through harassment by landlords.
  501
  Sir George Young
  From time to time, this Department receives letters from mobile home residents alleging harassment by site owners. Although we do not keep a numerical record of such complaints, they do not form a significant proportion of the correspondence we receive on mobile home issues. Harassment of an occupier of a mobile home can constitute a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.

  Environmental Protection Group (Newsletter)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he published his Department's most recent environmental protection group research newsletter; how many copies were printed; at what cost; and to whom it has been distributed or made available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The 1994–95 environmental protection group research newsletter was first published in April 1994. To date, 800 copies have been printed, at a cost of £578·13. The newsletter is available on request and has been sent to organisations within both the public and private sector as well as to individual members of the public.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce a decision regarding council tax liability for severely mentally impaired people.

  Mr. Curry
  We are still considering this matter.

  National Forest Strategy
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to implement the national forest strategy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The national forest is an ambitious and imaginative environmental project to create a new forest in the heart of the country, in an area where much of the land has been despoiled by mineral working. The consultation exercise carried out earlier this year by the Countryside Commission confirmed that there is overwhelming local support for the venture. I am now announcing my intention to set up a new lead body to take the project forward.

  The establishment of this body marks a milestone towards achieving our manifesto commitment to development of the national forest. The forest will bring many benefits to the area through improved landscapes and other environmental benefits, economic and leisure opportunities. It is an excellent example of sustainable development—environmental improvement which will also bring economic regeneration. In the longer term the forest will provide a national asset of the same kind as the ancient forest of Dean or the New forest, to be enjoyed by future generations.

  The Countryside Commission national forest development team has provided a firm foundation for the new body to build on. The creation of the forest will require the participation of several partners, including the Forestry Commission, the Countryside Commission, local authorities and private landowners. A new independent body will be able to co-ordinate and promote new partnerships and act as a catalyst for local and national initiatives in the forest area.
  502
  The body will be a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company will be myself and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. We shall appoint a chairman and directors in due course. It is my intention to seek parliamentary approval, through an amendment to section 153 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to provide financial support for the company's administration and special project initiatives.

  Our long-term aim for the forest is to create new woodlands covering about one third of the 200 square mile area. All the planting in the forest will be voluntary. There is no question of compulsory land purchase. In addition to forest planting, the body will encourage the development of leisure and recreation, rural enterprise, habitat protection, restoration of mineral workings and community involvement. These ventures will be funded through the body's project funds and through existing forestry and other grant mechanisms.

  Compulsory Purchase Order (Hastings)
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to announce his decision on the Hastings Central Cricket and Recreation Ground Compulsory Purchase Order 1993.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend announced today his decision to confirm the compulsory purchase order and to issue the associated certificate relating to exchange land.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what levels of borrowing have been undertaken by each urban development corporation in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: The level of borrowing undertaken by each urban development corporation in each year since 1981 is as follows:

  Urban development corporation

  Amount (£)

  Year

  Birmingham Heartlands

  Nil

  —

  Black Country

  Nil

  —

  Bristol

  Nil

  —

  Central Manchester

  350,000

  1992–93

  Leeds

  Nil

  —

  London Docklands

  Nil

  —

  Merseyside

  184,700

  1982–83

  Merseyside

  130,000

  1983–84

  Merseyside

  125,000

  1984–85

  Merseyside

  605,000

  1985–86

  Merseyside

  55,000

  1986–87

  Plymouth

  Nil

  —

  Sheffield

  Nil

  —

  Teesside

  276,500

  1987–88

  Trafford Park

  Nil

  —

  Tyne and Wear

  Nil

  —

  Urban and Regeneration Expenditure
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total amount of urban and regeneration expenditure listed for each separate urban programme area in each year since 1980–81 at(a) cash prices and (b) current prices.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 4 July 1994]: Tables showing urban programme expenditure in cash and current price terms will be placed in the Library.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Contracting Out
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will report on the progress of the private sector advisory forum; and what further plans he has for strategic contracting out of civil service functions.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The private sector forum met on 8 July to discuss issues emerging from the competing for quality programme. The forum provided an opportunity for the Government and the private sector to exchange experience on the progress of the competing for quality programme so far. No individual market tests were discussed, nor any specifics of Departments' future plans. We will be considering how to take these discussions forward with the private sector. I do not prejudge whether an activity should be contracted out strategically. For each activity which is examined in the competing for quality programme, a number of options, including abolition, privatisation, contracting out, market testing with an in-house bid, and securing in-house efficiencies are considered.

  Efficiency Unit Scrutiny
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received the report of the efficiency unit scrutiny of Government research establishments; and if he will ensure its publication before the end of July.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The report on the efficiency scrutiny of civil public sector research establishments was published yesterday, 11 July. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the full report of the efficiency unit's scrutiny of the use of consultants in Government Departments will be published; and whether the unit intends to draw up good practice guidance for Departments along the lines of that issued recently by the Audit Commission to local authorities.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The report of the efficiency unit's scrutiny on the Government's use of external consultants will be published shortly. It is a key task of the efficiency unit to disseminate "best practice" to Departments and agencies, and the scrutiny is likely to make recommendations which will assist in sharing and promoting good practice in the purchasing and managing of external consultancy.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None of the organisations, agencies or other bodies under my departmental responsibility has been privatised since 1990. Plans for privatisation involving my departments will be considered on their merits as part of a prior options exercise and the results will be announced as appropriate.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Macedonia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the next steps that he will propose to the European Union for a resolution of the crisis in Greek-Macedonian relationships.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Member states of the European Union regularly discuss the dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. We support the European Commission's action in referring to the European Court of Justice the unjustified trade restrictions placed by Greece on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. We were disappointed by the Court's decision not to indicate interim measures, although the main case continues. We support the United Nations mediation process under Mr. Vance, and urge both parties to re-engage constructively in negotiations with him.

  UNESCO
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of rejoining UNESCO might be if(a) the United Kingdom rejoined without the United States of America and (b) the United Kingdom and the United States of America both rejoined; what the benefits of rejoining might be; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The annual cost of resumed United Kingdom membership of UNESCO would be around £8 million if the United States also rejoined, or £11 million if it did not. The principal benefit to the United Kingdom of rejoining UNESCO would be the enhancement of our ability to participate in the work of the organisation, but any benefit must be weighed against the financial costs. We keep the issue of resumption of membership under close review. No decision has yet been reached.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to offer protection to critics of the Government of China currently resident in Hong Kong after 1997.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Sino-British joint declaration, which is a legally binding international treaty, provides that the rights and freedoms provided for by Hong Kong's present laws shall be maintained after 1 July 1997. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the freedom to demonstrate will remain protected.

  Mr. Han Dong Fan
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet Mr. Han Dong Fan, chairman of the independent Chinese trade union movement, on his forthcoming visit to Britain.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to do so.

  Social Development Summit
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the United Kingdom Government's objectives at the world summit on social development.
  505
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our objectives for the world summit on social development are to strengthen effective international cooperation and co-ordination around the three core issues of the summit, which are:

  (i) the enhancement of social integration

  (ii) the alleviation and reduction of poverty

  (iii) the expansion of productive employment

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the Falkland Islands about the ratification of the non-proliferation treaty of Tlatelolco.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom ratified the two additional protocols to the treaty for the prohibition of nuclear weapons in Latin America, treaty of Tlatelolco, on 11 December 1969. Under article 1 of additional protocol 1, the United Kingdom agreed to apply various articles of the treaty, including article 1—denuclearisation in respect of warlike purposes—in those territories for which it is internationally responsible within the treaty zone. This includes the Falkland Islands.

  Although there is no nuclear activity in the Falkland Islands, the Legislative Council of the islands, as required by the protocol, passed a Bill entitled "The Nuclear Safeguards Ordinance 1993" on 16 November 1993. This ordinance will give effect, in the Falklands, to an agreement between the United Kingdom, the IAEA and Euratom for the application of safeguards as envisaged in the treaty of Tlatelolco.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have decided to privatise the Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations as an independent foundation (Cm 2376) and to study options for the future ownership of the Natural Resources Institute. A "Prior Options" study of Wilton Park executive agency will commence in September 1994.

  EU Enlargement
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list any provisions of the treaty for enlargement of the European Union signed in Corfu on 24 June which change the powers, constitution, or procedures of the institutions of the European Communities other than by changes of numbers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The following provisions in the treaty of accession change the powers, constitution or procedures of the institutions of the European Communities other than by numerical change to allow for the representation of the new member states in these institutions:Article 2(2) of the treaty gives the Council (acting unanimously) power to decide upon indispensable adjustments in the case that not all the applicant states deposit their instruments of ratification in due time.
  Article 12 of the Act of Accession alters the second paragraph of the EC Treaty and the corresponding Articles of the other Community Treaties, to give the Council (acting unanimously) power to determine the order in which the office of the President shall be held by each member state.
  506
  Articles 154, 155, 156 and 157 of the Act of Accession give the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Justice respectively, powers to make such adaptations to their rules of procedure as are rendered necessary by accession.
  Article 4 of Protocol 8 to the Act of Accession gives the European Parliament the power to verify the credentials of representatives elected to the Parliament in the Member States in the period between ratification of the Treaty and its entry into force.

  Clayoquot Sound (Conservation)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made on behalf of the United Kingdom Government to the Government of Canada, concerning conservation in Clayoquot sound.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 8 July 1994]: The decision on land use in the Clayoquot sound area of Vancouver Island was for the Government of British Columbia to make. The Canadian Government and the British Columbia authorities are well aware of public concern in the United Kingdom about logging in the Clayoquot sound region.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Latin America
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretaryof State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what study Her Majesty's Government have been making with the European Commission of late to the expansion of waterways allowing Bolivia access to the Atlantic; and what help is being given through EC sources or directly.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Mercosur countries—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay—and Bolivia are working together to design the Hidrovias project to re-condition the navigation and port facilities along a stretch of waterways between Caceres in Brazil and Nueva Palmira in Uruguay. They have approached the European Community for assistance in implementation. Following the agreement between the Hidrovia intergovernmental committee and the Inter-American Development bank, the Commission is considering a request to meet the costs of technical feasibility studies for development of ports, incluing Puerto Bush and Puerto Quijarro in Bolivia.

  We have not been involved in these activities bilaterally, but will play an active role in discussions in Brussels of the proposals.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what EC programmes to transfer technology to Latin America the United Kingdom is participating.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Latin America benefits from both DG XII's life science and technology for developing countries programme and the international scientific co-operation initiative. United Kingom laboratories, principally in universities and Govenrment centres, participate actively in both programmes. In both cases, the focus is on joint scientific research.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the value of EC aid to Latin America, earmarked for the relief of poverty in cities.
  507
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  For 1994, the total value of the European Community's budget lines for "Technical and Financial Assistance" and for food aid for Latin America is 232·5 mecu, about £182 million. Technical and financial assistance in Latin American developing countries includes operations concerning the environment, women, drug abuse control, democratisation, regional co-operation and disaster prevention and reconstruction measures.

  The Commission does not earmark funds to specific sectors but high priority is given to aid projects designed to alleviate urban poverty. Projects of this kind are at present under preparation for Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Guatemala. Projects for Brazil and Guatemala have recently been approved.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the value of the Alpha programme, designed to update the curriculum of Latin American universities; and what is the value of the United Kingdom's contribution to the programme.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The ALFA programme is worth 40 mecu, about £31 million, over five years, of which 32 mecu, about £25 million, will come from the European Community economic co-operation programme with Latin America. The United Kingdom contributes to this by means of its contributions to the Community budget.

  Brazil
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the value of (i) British and (ii) EC aid to anti-pollution projects on(a) the Sao Paulo river, (b) the Tieté river cleaning project and (iii) the Nitecoy bay cleaning project; what consideration has been given to the public health and environmental impact of both projects; and what encouragement has been given to private capital in Europe to invest in the projects.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There is no British bilateral or European Community aid to any pollution projects on the Sao Paulo river, Tieté river or in Nitecoy bay. Several bodies encourage private investment in the region, including: the European Community investment partners scheme, the European Investment bank and the Commonwealth Development Corporation. Neither the Overseas Development Administration nor the European Commission is aware of any application to these schemes for financing projects in those areas.

  Indo-British Forestry Initiative
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the papers to be presented from the United Kingdom to the Indo-British forestry initiative workshop to be held in New Delhi in July.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 8 July 1994]: Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses shortly. I will also include the papers being presented to the workshop by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, which were prepared with British assistance.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Luxury Cars (Italian Tax)
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations he has made to the Italian Government on the subject of the taxation of luxury cars in Italy;

  (2) what representations he has made to the European Commission on the subject of the taxation of luxury cars in Italy;

  (3) what representations he has received on the effect of the Italian taxation system on exports of luxury cars to Italy.

  Mr. Needham
  Officials have made written and oral representations in Brussels in support of a formal complaint to the Commission by a British car manufacturer. The British embassy in Rome has raised the issue with the Italian Government. We have made clear our willingness to discuss further action to help British car manufacturers affected by the Italian tax.

  Import Restrictions
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what non-military products from eastern and central European countries are subject to restrictions on imports into the European Union in the form of(a) quotas, (b) tariffs, (c) certificates of quality or (d) other requirements.

  Mr. Needham
  Details of the trading arrangements between the Community and the eastern and central European countries are set out in the association agreements and their annexes and protocols concluded between the EC and Poland, Hungary, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Romania and Bulgaria. Copies of these agreements have been placed in the Library of the House.

  In addition, anti-dumping remedies exist against certain imports of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel products and polyester fibres. There are also Community-wide tariff quotas in place on imports of certain steel products from the Czech and Slovak Republics. Goods supplied to the Community market are subject, product for product, to common testing, certification, standardisation and safety requirements as appropriate and necessary whether imported or of domestic EC manufacture.

  Free Trade
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made on the development of free trade between the European Union and(a) Russia, (b) other CIS states, (c) the Baltic republics, (d) the Visegrad group, (e) Romania, (f) Bulgaria, (g) Slovenia and (h) Albania.

  Mr. Needham
  The European Union recently signed partnership and co-operation agreements with Russia and Ukraine. Each of those agreements provides for the parties to examine in 1998 whether circumstances allow the beginning of negotiations on the establishment of a free trade area between the EU and Russia and Ukraine respectively. Similar agreements now under negotiation with other republics of the former Soviet Union are not so specific but allow for development of the trade provisions as circumstances permit. Negotiations for free trade agreements have recently been concluded with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. These should enter into force on 1 January 1995.
  509
  The trade provisions of the association agreements signed between the EU and the Visegrad countries, Romania and Bulgaria envisage free trade with all those countries by 2002 at the latest. The EU is committed to opening its market first, and has put into effect a number of further concessions agreed at the European Council in Copenhagen in June 1993. From 1 January 1995, nearly all imports of industrial products from the Visegrad countries will enter the EU without restrictions.

  The EU will shortly begin negotiations with Slovenia for a similar association agreement with free trade as one of its aims. The EU has a bilateral trade and co-operation agreement with Albania. There are no plans at present to go beyond this by entering into a free trade agreement.

  Universal Postal Service
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 116, which body at Community level will define the list of reserved services made available to the operators of the universal postal service under the proposed reserved services directive of the European Union.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand that the European Commission has not yet reached a view on whether the legal basis for its proposed directive defining the set of services which may be reserved at national level should be article 90 or article 100A of the treaty of Rome. In either event, we would expect the European Council and the European Parliament to play a full part in the process.

  Seville Expo '92
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the final cost to Her Majesty's Government of the Seville Expo '92; and if he will separately identify costs and contingent liabilities consequent upon the liquidation of Joanna Bickerton Associates.

  Mr. Needham
  The final costs have yet to be settled. As stated in my answer of 3 May 1994,Official Report, column 415, I will write to the hon. Member when they are. The final costs will include the ex gratia payments of £220,307 made by the Department, without any admission of liability, to the liquidator of Joanne Bickerton Associates and certain suppliers of Joanna Bickerton Associates.

  Chinese Silk and Silk Products (Imports)
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he expects to be able to renegotiate the size of the United Kingdom's EC quota for the import of silk and silk products from China;

  (2) what representations he has received about the size of the United Kingdom's EC quota for the import of silk and silk products from China;

  (3) what plans he has to increase the size of the United Kingdom's EC quota for the imports of silk and silk products from China;

  (4) what percentage of the EC's imports of silk arid silk products from China is allocated to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Needham
  The silk quotas are set and allocated on an EC-wide basis: no member state has a pre-determined share. Traditional silk importers throughout the EC receive 510
  an allocation based on a percentage of their trade in 1992, while newcomers receive a small fixed amount. Following over 2,000 complaints about the quotas from United Kingdom traders, the Government have been pressing hard for an increase in the levels for this year and the Commission is expected to make a proposal to this effect shortly. For 1995, the Commission has already opened negotiations with China for a bilateral agreement on silk imports as part of which the Government will be looking for a significant increase in future access levels.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on answering parliamentary questions which seek information previously published in the monthly review of external trade statistics.

  Mr. Needham
  The CSO is resuming publication of the monthly review of external trade statistics, this month, as "Business Monitor MM24". All the statistical series published in it are available from the Central Statistical Office's central shared database, access to which is available from the Library of the House. The policy on questions seeking information published in the monthly review will be consistent with that for other publications which are available in the Library of the House, or whose contents are available on the central shared database.

  Fur Imports Ban
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what documentation his Department has received from the Canadian Government in support of their application for a one-year suspension of the fur import ban provided for in EC Regulation No. 3254;

  (2) if he will give details of the representations he has received during the last year from (a) the Canadian Government, (b) the Canadian fur trade and (c) the British fur trade regarding EC Regulation No. 3254 banning the import of certain furs;

  (3) how many times he or his officials have met members of (a) the Canadian Government and (b) the Canadian fur trade during the past year to discuss the effects of EC Regulation No. 3254.

  Mr. Needham
  EC Regulation 3254/91, which was due to come into force on 1 January 1995, has been suspended for one year. Work is continuing in the international standards organisation on a trap standard. Ministers and officials in my Department regularly meet our Canadian opposite numbers. We have met the Canadian Government over the last year on a number of occasions to discuss trade issues, including the EC leghold trap regulation. In the course of those contacts, Canada provided information on the progress made in replacing leghold traps with alternative trapping methods. The Government took this information into account when preparing the United Kingdom position on the Commission proposal to suspend the regulation. Neither the Canadian nor the United Kingdom fur trade has made any representations to my Department during the last year.

  Health Care Sector Group
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth, 4 July,Official Report, column 10, who will serve on the health care sector group; and when he expects it to be operational.

  Mr. Needham
  I intend that membership should be drawn from a wide cross section of the health care sector. I hope to appoint a chairman in the near future and that the group will be operational in the autumn.

  Nuclear Plants (Ukraine)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what examination his Department, consultants to his Department or the Atomic Energy Authority has re-conducted of the analysis conducted by the European bank for reconstruction and development for the G7 nations into the future visibility and capacity of Goskomatom, Ukraine's civil nuclear operator, safely to manage its nuclear plants; and if he will arrange for a copy of the EBRD study to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Eggar
  At the request of the G7, the EBRD and the World bank carried out a joint fact-finding mission to Kiev

  Value of Electrical Goods Imported into the United Kingdom (£ millions, current prices)

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  January to April 1994

  Japan

  2,983

  2,801

  2,897

  3,058

  3,358

  1,176

  Taiwan

  498

  429

  460

  565

  751

  289

  South Korea

  408

  313

  287

  337

  477

  157

  Singapore

  510

  583

  686

  662

  1,109

  357

  Note:

  Electrical goods are classified as heading 716 and divisions 75–77 of the Standard International Trade Classification.

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Futons (Safety)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the risk to health of the continued use of boric acid powder as a fire retardant in futons.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  A review of the scientific literature has been undertaken by the Department of Health and no evidence has been found that suggests that boric acid used as a fire retardant in a futon presents a risk to the user.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing imports and exports of finished consumer goods, intermediate goods and capital goods each quarter since the second quarter of 1992, distinguishing between EEC and non-EEC countries.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is stored in the Central Statistical Office's central shared database, access to which is available from the Library of the House.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish a table showing imports 512
  to assess the options for, and cost of, improving nuclear safety in Ukraine. It would not be normal practice to place a report of such a mission in the Library of the House.

  Clean Technology (South Africa)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to promote environmentally clean technology on his forthcoming visit to South Africa; and whether any representatives of the British Nuclear Industrial Forum will accompany him on his trip.

  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has no plans specifically to promote environmental clean technology on his forthcoming visit to South Africa. No representatives of the British nuclear industrial forum will accompany him on his trip, although two member companies will be represented.

  Electrical Goods (Imports)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of electrical goods imported in each of the years 1989 to 1994 from(a) Japan, (b) Taiwan, (c) South Korea and (d) Singapore.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is in the following table.

  and exports of semi-finished and finished manufactures from and to each EEC country for each quarter since the second quarter of 1992.

  Mr. Needham
  Information for 1992 is published in "Business Monitor MM20" whilst information for 1993 is published in "Business Monitor MQ20". Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House.

  Imported Retail Goods
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will undertake a survey to find out(a) the proportion of non-food, non-fuel, non-alcoholic goods sold retail which are imported and (b) the effect movements in the exchange rate have had on prices.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Eggar
  Since 1990, the following privatisations have been undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry and the former Department of Energy:
  513

  1990 Sale of 12 Regional Electricity Companies

  1991 Sale of National Power and PowerGen

  1992 Sale of British Technology Group

  Plans for future privatisations are as follows:

  (i) On 17 February this year, I announced the Government's intention to privatise the commercial activities of the Atomic Energy Authority, Official Report, columns 922–924.

  (ii) My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced plans for the future of the National Engineering Laboratory, Laboratory of the Government Chemist and National Physical Laboratory on 14 April this year, Official Report, columns 251–253.

  (iii) The Government expect to return the coal mining activities of British Coal Corporation to the private sector by the end of the year.

  On 30 June, the Department published a Green Paper on "The Future Of Postal Services" (Cm 2614). The Green Paper set out a number of options for the future of the Post Office. The Government's preferred option is to allow Royal Mail and Parcelforce to operate as a private company owned by the public and employees, with the Government retaining 49 per cent. of the shares. This is subject to a consultation period, after which a decision will be made.

  My right hon. Friend is reviewing the scope for privatisation or contractorisation of the Patent Office and Companies House as part of the required periodic agency review process, which considers a range of possibilities from abolition to maintenance of the status quo.

  Latin America
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what help he gives to British companies in producing catalogues designed to promote British goods in Latin America.

  Mr. Needham
  A commercial publicity support package is available to companies participating in an overseas trade fair, exhibition or outward mission.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he had had with the Institute of Export about training people in Latin American studies.

  Mr. Needham
  My Department liaises with the Institute of Export on a number of matters. The institute, through its 21 regional centres and its magazine "Export

  Latin America Summary of ECGD cover position as at July 1994

  Market

  Medium term Cover availability

  Cover availability for cash SGs

  Consensus category

  ECGD underwriter

  Telephone

  Comments

  Argentina

  3DX

  R

  2A

  Martin Crane

  071-512 7320

  Cover available

  Bolivia

  0

  R

  3

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  No cover available

  Brazil

  4DX

  Y

  2B

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  Cover available for the private sector. Public sector cover on a case by case basis

  Chile

  4

  Y

  2B

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  Cover available

  Colombia

  4

  Y

  2B

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  All facilities available

  Costa Rica

  0

  R

  2B

  Nick George

  071-512 7557

  No cover available

  Cuba

  0

  R

  2B

  Nick George

  071-512 7557

  No cover available

  Ecuador

  0

  R

  2B

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  No cover available

  El Salvador

  2DX

  Y

  3

  Nick George

  071-512 7557

  Cover available

  Guatemala

  0

  R

  2B

  Nick George

  071-512 7557

  No cover available

  Honduras

  0

  R

  3

  Nick George

  071-512 7557

  No cover available

  Mexico

  3

  Y

  2B

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  All facilities available

  Nicaragua

  0

  R

  3

  Nick George

  071-512 7557

  No cover available

  Panama

  0

  R

  2A

  Nick George

  071-512 7557

  No cover available

  514
  Today", ensures that its members are fully informed of opportunities in Latin America and elsewhere, drawing on the support and advice of the Overseas Trade Services.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had from the engineering industry and related consultants on the export of invisibles to Latin America and problems of credit cover.

  Mr. Needham
  There have been no representations to my Department from the engineering industry or related consultants on the export of invisibles to Latin America and the provision of export credit support for the same sector.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what help he is giving to British water companies to export expertise to Latin America.

  Mr. Needham
  I have established a water sector group of the Overseas Project Board under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King). Its overall aim is to help the United Kingdom water industry to maximise its share of overseas markets for its products and skills. In addition, British water companies are given maximum support in exploiting opportunities in Latin American markets by Whitehall Departments and our embassies overseas.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the credit cover given to Latin American countries by(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the United Kingdom's major industrial competitors.

  Mr. Needham
  The Government are committed to improving the competitiveness of United Kingdom exporters. We have capped the premium rates in certain markets where these may be out of line with the rates charged by our main competitors. We have restored export credit cover for markets emerging from the debt crisis earlier than would normally have been the case. We have recently revised the project financing and overseas investment insurance scheme to provide more flexible support for exporters. A summary of the official export credit support provided by the Government to United Kingdom companies exporting to Latin America is being sent to the hon. Member and to the House of Commons Library. The cover available from the United Kingdom is broadly comparable with that provided by our major industrial competitors.
  515

  Market

  Medium term Cover availability

  Cover availability for cash SGs

  Consensus category

  ECGD underwriter

  Telephone

  Comments

  Paraguay

  2

  Y

  2B

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  All facilities available

  Peru

  0

  R

  2B

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  No cover available

  Uruguay

  4

  Y

  2B

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  All facilities available

  Venezuela

  4

  Y

  2A

  Stan Rosenthal

  071-512 7558

  Cover available for the private sector and PDVSA. (Public sector cover on a case by case basis)

  Key:

  Medium term cover availability

  4 = All facilities generally available. Cover may be limited, but at least £50 million is currently available, to be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

  3 = All facilities generally available. Cover may be limited, but at least £50 million is currently available, to be allocated on a first come, first served basis, but also subject to portfolio controls, i.e. Amber Zone Budget.

  2 = All facilities generally available. Cover may be limited, currently with less than £50 million available, to be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

  1 = No cover available but under review.

  0 = No cover available.

  DX = Limited cover available and only for projects which aid recovery.

  Cover availability for cash SGs (Specific Guarantees) for projects or one-off services contracts

  Y = Yes.

  N = No.

  R = Refer to Underwriter.

  Consensus category

  1 = Relatively rich countries with officially supported finance at Commercial Interest Reference Rates (CIRRs). Maximum credit period 5 years (exceptionally 8·5 years).

  2A = Intermediate countries, with officially supported finance at Commercial Interest Reference Rates (CIRRs). Maximum credit period 8·5 years.

  2B = Intermediate countries, with officially supported finance at Commercial Interest Reference Rates (CIRRs). Maximum credit period 10 years.

  3 = Relatively poor countries, with officially supported financing at SDR-based rate or CIRRs. Maximum credit period 10 years.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what encouragement he gives to British exporters to make contact with trading organisations and decision-making provincial Governments in the provinces of Argentina and with greater Buenos Aires.

  Mr. Needham
  The British embassy in Buenos Aires encourages individual United Kingdom companies and trade missions to visit the provinces of Argentina where many business opportunities can be found.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussion he has had with the incoming Government of Venezuela about trading with the Venezuelan utilities.

  Mr. Needham
  Discussions have taken place between officials, including the DTI export promoter, and representatives of the Venezuelan Government about the supply of United Kingdom goods and services to utilities in the gas, electricity and water sectors.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made in the marketing plan process in relation to South America.

  Mr. Needham
  Market plans have been prepared for each of the United Kingdom's major markets in Latin America and are updated to reflect changes in the markets.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has about the number of export promoters he has brought in from the private sector to his Department to promote trade to South America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Eight export promoters covering Latin America have been seconded from the private sector.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the results of the study undertaken by his
  516
  Department between October 1992 and March 1993 on exports to Colombia, particularly in relation to railway rehabilitation.

  Mr. Needham
  The report of the United Kingdom-Colombia trade facilitation group was published and a copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Railways were identified as a sector offering good opportunities for United Kingdom companies.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade why he has raised the cost of ECGD cover to Argentina; and what estimate he has made of the effect on United Kingdom trade.

  Mr. Needham
  ECGD premium rates vary as a result of regular reviews of the risks associated with doing business in different markets.

  It is difficult to assess in isolation the effect of ECGD premium rates on trade, but the impact of the recent increase for Argentina is likely to be negligible.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contracts Her Majesty's Government have with chambers of commerce in major Latin American cities.

  Mr. Needham
  British embassies, visiting export promoters and officials from my Department have frequent contacts with chambers of commerce in the major cities of Latin America. Visiting United Kingdom business men are also encouraged to contact them as these chambers can offer valuable assistance.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade at what level in their companies were the business men who accompanied the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on his visit to Latin America; and what his policy is towards persuading British companies to send their most senior executives to Latin America.
  517
  Mr. Needham
  It is a matter for individual Ministers to decide whether it is appropriate for a business team to accompany them, although this is now increasingly done. United Kingdom companies invited to join the business teams are encouraged to be represented at levels which will maximise the opportunities offered by the visits. This is generally at senior executive or board level which was the case, for example, with the recent visit to Brazil by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

  Unfair Consumer Contracts Directive
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 June,Official Report, column 231, on what basis he has formed the view that the European directive on unfair consumer contracts does not apply to the sale of real property; what steps he has taken to ensure that this is the view of the European Commission and the European court; and what assistance and support is available to any British company required to defend an action in Europe seeking to apply the directive to real property.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 1 July 1994]: The recitals to the directive make it clear that the intention is to prevent the use of unfair terms in contracts for the sale or supply of goods or services. Since real property is neither a good nor a service the presumption must be that the scope of the directive does not extend to transactions in real property, but it would be for the courts, if necessary, to rule on whether a particular contract term fell within the scope of the Directive. Any dispute must be settled by the parties to that dispute.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 June,Official Report, column 231, if he will make a statement setting out precisely his understanding of the term "goods" in connection with the European directive on unfair consumer contracts.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 1 July 1994]: The term goods is not defined in the Unfair Contract Terms Directive. In the United Kingdom goods are generally taken to mean moveable as opposed to fixed property. It would be for the courts, if necessary, to interpret the terms used in the directive.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what were the green ticket payments made to Electricité de France in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 for electricity supplied through the interconnector;

  (2) which regional electricity companies act as agents for Electricité de France in the distribution of green ticket payments for electricity supplied through the inter connector.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: These are commercial matters for the parties concerned.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much electricity in megawatt hours and percentage terms was supplied to the English and Welsh electricity markets from(a) British fossil-fuelled power stations, (b) hydro-electric stations, (c) other British renewable sources, (d) Electricité de France from nuclear and or hydro-electric sources and (e) Electricité de France from fossil-fuelled power stations.
  518
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: In 1993, the electricity supplied to the public distribution system in the United Kingdom—that is, excluding electricity generated by companies for their own use—was as follows:

  GWh

  Per cent.

  Fossil fuelled power stations

  215,667

  68·0

  Nuclear stations

  80,979

  25·0

  Hydro-electric stations

  3,676

  1·0

  Other renewable sources

  1,470

  0·5

  Net imports from France

  16,716

  5·0

  The electricity imports from France are from Electricité de France. Those regional electricity companies with output contracts with EdF can show that the electricity that they import from France is supplied from designated nuclear stations.

  Fossil Fuel Levy
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much in cash and percentage terms of the fossil fuel levy paid by the electricity consumers was paid in each of the last three financial years to(a) Nuclear Electric, (b) British renewable energy electricity generators and (c) Electricité de France.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 11 July I994]: Electricité de France does not receive payments from the fossil fuel levy. Payments to Nuclear Electric and British renewable electricity generators, in cash terms and as a percentage of levy receipts in the relevant year, have been as follows:

  Nuclear Electric

  Renewables

  Year

  £ millions

  per cent.

  £ millions

  per cent.

  1991–92

  1,281

  97

  12

  1

  1992–93

  1,291

  96

  29

  2

  1993–94

  1,139

  92

  68

  6

  Note: The balance of levy receipts is used to finance payments to British Nuclear Fuels plc in respect of nuclear electricity generated by its plant, and to cover certain other costs such as administration costs.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the total expenditure in 1993–94 on regional finance assistance to industry to the(a) Northern, (b) Yorkshire and Humberside, (c) east midlands, (d) south-west, (e) west midlands and (f) north-west regions.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 7 July 1994]: Information on total expenditure on regional financial assistance in 1993–94 is not yet finalised. It will be published in the next edition of "Regional Trends" produced by Central Statistical Office.

  Post Offices (Peckham)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the future of all branch and sub-post offices in Peckham in the event of any change in status of the Post Office.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 7 July 1994]: The Government have set out their views on the future of the nationwide network of post offices in their Green Paper "The Future of Postal Services". I know of no reason why post offices in Peckham should be treated differently from those in other parts of the country.

  Fire Safety Regulations
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to alter fire safety regulations on flame-proof material for children's night clothing and for furnishings.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: The fire safety regulations that control the fire retardency of children's night clothing are the Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985. The regulations concerned with furnishings are the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, as amended. Both those sets of regulations were considered as part of the overall review of legislation under the Deregulation initiative. To establish whether any changes to those regulations were necessary, my Department has taken account of the responses

  £'000

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  North East

  2,726

  3,141

  13,385

  4,247

  4,396

  4,696

  5,256

  North West

  2,755

  3,685

  3,609

  3,610

  4,099

  4,470

  4,835

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,601

  2,098

  2,300

  2,685

  2,872

  3,065

  3,394

  East Midlands

  1,116

  1,431

  1,594

  1,728

  1,863

  2,142

  2,378

  West Midlands

  2,042

  2,571

  2,945

  3,134

  3,640

  4,067

  4,691

  South West

  1,011

  1,390

  1,459

  1,616

  1,706

  1,924

  2,245

  South East

  1,389

  2,427

  2,664

  2,875

  3,094

  3,418

  4,053

  Eastern

  —

  —

  2392

  1,123

  1,310

  1,515

  1,777

  1Responsibility for import licensing transferred to North East Region during 1989–90.

  2Separate office for Eastern region established in October 1989 (formerly part of South East Office).

WALES

  Snowdonia
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were killed or injured while walking or climbing in the Snowdonia national park in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Development Board for Rural Wales
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many legal actions were initiated by the Development Board for Rural Wales which were(a) discontinued and (b) settled out of court for each year in the period 1983 to 1993;

  (2) if the legal fees incurred by the Development Board for Rural Wales form part of its management running costs;

  (3) how much the Development Board for Rural Wales spent on legal fees in each year in the period 1983 to 1993.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have asked the chief executive of the Development Board for Rural Wales to write to the hon. Member and will arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many legal actions were initiated by the Welsh Development Agency which were(a) discontinued and (b) settled out of court for each year in the period 1983 to 1993.
  520
  received during consultation with individual businesses, trade associations, local authorities, fire prevention, medical and consumer interests. After considering the results of the review, I have no plans to propose amendments to the nightwear regulations or the furniture and furnishings regulations.

  Running Costs
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide a table showing the running costs of his Department in each region for each year since 1987–88.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: Following is the running cost expenditure for each regional, now Government, office:

  Mr. Redwood
  I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the legal fees incurred by the Welsh Development Agency form part of its management running costs.

  Mr. Redwood
  Legal fees are charged to the relevant budget within the agency, including, where appropriate, management running costs.

  South Glamorgan Health Authority
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the legal fees incurred by the South Glamorgan health authority form part of its management running costs.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  South Glamorgan health authority's procurer management running costs for 1993–94 included legal fees.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many legal actions were initiated by the South Glamorgan health authority which were(a) discontinued and (b) settled out of court for each year in the period 1983 to 1993.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much the South Glamorgan health authority spent on legal fees in each year in the period 1983 to 1993.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:
  521

  South Glamorgan health authority's expenditure on legal fees

  £

  1983–84

  24,698

  1984–85

  0

  1985–86

  0

  1986–87

  0

  1987–88

  27,395

  1988–89

  26,283

  1989–90

  44,755

  1990–91

  142,532

  1991–92

  178,298

  1992–93

  128,202

  1993–94

  104,114

  Source: South Glamorgan Health Authority Annual Accounts.

  Active registrations of capitation patients by family health service authority and age group at end March 19941

  0–2 year olds

  3–5 year olds

  6–9 year olds

  10–14 year olds

  15–17 year olds

  Number

  Rate2

  Number

  Rate2

  Number

  Rate2

  Number

  Rate2

  Number

  Rate2

  Clwyd

  2,670

  16·7

  9,644

  60·5

  15,621

  74·7

  18,768

  71·8

  9,732

  63·2

  Dyfed

  2,134

  17·1

  6,923

  53·7

  11,651

  66·6

  15,088

  68·2

  7,817

  63·5

  Gwent

  3,347

  17·8

  10,972

  58·1

  17,390

  72·5

  20,292

  71·7

  10,172

  63·4

  Gwynedd

  1,275

  14·5

  4,578

  50·9

  7,249

  63·8

  9,532

  64·6

  4,868

  57·4

  Mid Glamorgan

  3,583

  15·9

  12,360

  52·7

  19,806

  65·9

  23,481

  66·6

  11,229

  57·4

  Powys

  626

  14·7

  2,554

  58·6

  4,002

  69·1

  4,874

  65·2

  2,572

  59·3

  South Glamorgan

  4,141

  23·5

  11,366

  64·8

  17,190

  78·5

  19,811

  78·7

  9,192

  66·5

  West Glamorgan

  4,304

  30·8

  9,901

  69·7

  15,367

  80·1

  18,271

  79·0

  8,892

  68·4

  1Excludes lapsed registrations (registrations lapse in December if no visit has been made in the previous calendar year).

  2Per hundred resident population. 1992 mid year estimated population data has been used.

  Fishing, River Dee
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from nets fishermen on the River Dee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Department has received a number of letters about the introduction in 1992 of National Rivers Authority byelaws for the protection of migratory fish stocks, and about National Rivers Authority proposals to reduce the commercial net fishing season to protect spring salmon runs.

  Economic Planning Council
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to set up an economic planning council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  None. I announced on 16 March 1994 my intention to establish a Welsh Economic Council, an advisory body, which I have now done. The second meeting of the council is scheduled for later this month.

  Community Care
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what extra moneys he intends to provide to assist local authorities in their delivery of community care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 25 January 1994,Official Report, column 229.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for the period January to March the statistics on the active registrations of capitation patients for dental treatment in each family health service authority area in Wales, disaggregating the figures by each category and, for each, giving the actual number of patients and the take-up rate for each age group per 100 local population.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is given in the following table, showing patients according to the age groups used by the Dental Practice Board.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioner fundholding(a) practices and (b) applications there are in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There are 18 GP fundholding practices in Clwyd covering 43 per cent. of the population. Another practice is preparing to become a fundholder from 1 April 1995, which will increase population coverage to 45 per cent.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of general practitioner fundholding in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There are 117 fundholding practices in Wales, covering one third of the population. A further 29 practices are preparing to become fundholders from 1 April 1995, at which time population coverage will increase to 40 per cent.

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of collecting and publishing the information contained in the patients charter comparative performance guide 1993–94.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The budget for the comparative performance tables exercise was £45,000.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.
  523
  Mr. Redwood
  Since 1990, no decisions have been taken to privatise any organisations for which my Department has executive responsibility, but the possibilities are kept under continuing review.

  Pollution
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what warnings he has issued in relation to tropospheric ozone levels, nitrogen oxide and other noxious gases concentrations in the atmosphere in(a) Cardiff and (b) elsewhere in Wales over the past three years; what provision he has made to inform asthmatics, bronchitics, children and pregnant women of smog risks during days of high concentrations of pollution; what arrangements he has made for requests to reduce the use of cars in cities at such times of high concentrations; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what consultations he has had with the South Glamorgan health authority in relation to the issuing of warnings to relevant vulnerable groups concerning concentrations of pollution above World Health Organisation maximum safety levels in Cardiff.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: The Department of the Environment operates a United Kingdom-wide public information service on air quality. Under those arrangements, air pollution information is sent, free of charge, to the BBC, ITN, the Press Association and all national newspapers which receive the Met Office forecasts. A freephone air quality and health advice information line and bulletins for CEEFAX and TELETEXT forms part of this system. The information released includes, in times of poor air quality, advice on what individuals can do to help reduce pollution, for example by cutting down on car usage. Advice on what asthma sufferers and others can do to minimise any health effects is also provided.

  When air quality is expected to be poor the Department of the Environment also issues warnings of this via specific press notices: this has happened on two occasions in the last three years, on 20 December 1991 and 1 July 1994. In view of those arrangements, no specific consultation has been considered necessary on this matter with South Glamorgan health authority.

HEALTH

  General Whitley Council
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are involved in servicing the general Whitley council and its committees; what is the annual cost of running the council; and how many NHS staff are covered by the Whitley council.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are currently four staff working in the General Whitley Council management side secretariat. It is not possible to provide information about the running of the full council except at disproportionate cost. All national health service staff employed on national terms and conditions are covered by the general Whitley council.

  Health Authorities
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what pilot studies and other research have been conducted into the merging of family health services authorities and district health authorities; and whether she will make a statement;

  (2) what consultancy or start-up costs have been expended to date in respect of the possible merging of family health service authorities and district health authorities.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  All district health authorities and family health services authorities are expected to develop effective joint working, and there have been many commentaries on the benefits of this well-established Government policy. There can be no research or pilot studies on merging authorities as no such merger can take place without a change in legislation, and consequently no costs have been expended in this area.

  Perinatal and Neonatal Mortality
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was(a) the perinatal mortality rate and (b) the neonatal mortality rate in each district health authority in England and Wales for 1985, 1990 and 1993.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information will be placed in the Library.

  Mental Health Services
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the plans of the Social Services inspectorate to follow up a thematic study in relation to the mental health services in 1994–95.

  Mr. Bowis
  The social services inspectorate is planning to hold a workshop for staff of the local authorities who participated in the mental health thematic study.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the 1993 report by the Social Services inspectorate and the NHS executive of the special study on the impact of new community care arrangements on mental health services has yet been published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The 1993 report by the social services inspectorate, together with the national health service executive, of the study on the impact of new community care arrangements on mental health services entitled "Monitoring and Development: Community Care Monitoring, Special Study, Mental Health Services" was published in April. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a report by the Social Services inspectorate on the inspection of local authorities' arrangements to support mentally ill patients discharged from hospital will be published.

  Mr. Bowis
  Later this year.

  Children's Homes
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will give details of the further studies to be undertaken by the social services inspectorate into the placement of children in homes unregistrable under the Children Act 1989;

  (2) if she will publish the results of the further studies to be undertaken by the social services inspectorate into the placement of children in homes unregistrable under the Children Act 1989.

  Mr. Bowis
  In the light of the social services inspectorate study of the provision of small unregistered children's homes in the north-west of England, published in February, a further study of a wider sample of local authority social services departments' practice is being undertaken. The aims of the study include the establishment of a national data base and a review of the application and understanding of the relevant regulations made under the Children Act.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what period of time a child can be placed in a home registrable under the Children Act 1989, but whose application has not been granted; and what regulations govern the placement.

  Mr. Bowis
  An application for registration as a registered children's home which has not been granted or refused within 12 months is, under paragraph 1(9) of schedule 6 of the Children Act 1989, deemed to have been refused by the local authority. The placement of a child by a local authority in an establishment awaiting decision on an application for registration is governed by the Arrangements for Placement of Children (General)

  Number of places as at 31 March:

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  National Health Service beds1

  73,000

  68,300

  62,700

  59,600

  Private nursing homes2

  89,600

  109,000

  124,000

  144,300

  Local authority residential homes3

  103,600

  96,100

  85,000

  75,400

  Private residential homes3

  144,700

  154,500

  158,200

  161,400

  1Source KH03 returns, geriatric beds and beds for elderly mentally ill people.

  2Source K036 returns, general specialty, elderly people.

  3Source RAC5 returns, homes whose primary purpose is the care of elderly or elderly mentally ill people.

  Foster Families
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what period of time a child can be placed on a fee-paying basis with a family who are not registered as foster carers; and what regulations govern the placement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Private fostering is governed by part IX of the Children Act 1989 and the regulations made under it. For children placed by a local authority with foster carers, this is, inter alia, governed by the Foster Placement (Children) Regulations 1991 which provide, in regulation 3(1), that, except in the case of an immediate placement, a child is not to be placed unless the foster parent is approved under that regulation.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 27 June,Official Report, column 413, what was the most recent report from her Department or the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food before the pending report of the July 1993 survey, showing how
  526
  Regulations 1991, the Review of Children's Cases Regulations 1991, the Representations Procedures (Children) Regulations 1991, the Contact with Children Regulations 1991 and the Definition of Independent Visitors (Children) Regulations 1991.

  Hospital Treatment
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances a person needing hospital treatment must pay in order to receive treatment in a hospital of their own choice within the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. It is a fundamental principle of the national health service that NHS treatment is free of charge unless there is a specific statutory power to charge.

  Elderly People (Continual Care)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of elderly people in need of continual care were accommodated in(a) NHS beds, (b) private nursing homes, (c) local authority residential homes and (d) private residential homes in each district health authority in England for the years 1989–90, 1991–92 and the latest available figures.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is not available in the form requested. The number of places in England available for people with long-term care needs are shown in the table. The figures include provision for elderly mentally ill people and people who need continuing specialised medical or nursing care in other age groups. Information by district health authority on local social services and private sector residential care could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  many children among any section of the population were in families with a nutritionally inadequate diet and had intakes which were, specifically, for any three or more of the nutrients measured for a necessary diet, below the levels recommended in any, or all, of the reference nutrient intake, estimated average requirement or the lower reference nutrient intake, or any of their immediate predecessors.

  Mr. Sackville
  The most recent relevant report is the report from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy on the "Diets of British Schoolchildren", published in 1989. A copy of the report is available in the Library.

  Disabled Young Adults
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress health authorities have made in implementing the recommendations made in the report,
  527
  "An Assessment of Health Related Needs of Physically Handicapped Young Adults"; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The report was independent and was commissioned by the Department of Health. It was distributed to regional and district health authorities in March 1993 to help them consider how best to meet the needs of disabled young adults. The priorities and planning guidance 1994–95 (EL(93)54), issued to the national health service in June 1993, requires district health authorities to ensure that rehabilitation services address the special needs of disabled young adults, particularly those moving from child to adult services. The Department has made available £149,000 in 1994–95 to fund a series of projects within the national health service, which aim to develop and improve transition services for physically disabled school leavers.

  Anabolic Steroids
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the contribution made by television programmes encouraging young persons to experiment with anabolic steroids; and what research her Department has carried out on this subject.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government are concerned at the risk to health arising from the misuse of anabolic steroids. The Department has not carried out any research on the impact of television programmes on young people. We are currently discussing with media companies initiatives to encourage young people not to experiment with drugs or solvents.

  Departmental Staff (Travel Costs)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give details of how many return trips are taken by Department of Health staff between London and Leeds(a) per week, (b) per month and (c) annually; and at what cost.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  NHS Executive Outposts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the numbers of staff employed by the NHS executive outposts.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  On 31 March, a total of 53 staff were employed in the seven national health service executive outposts.

  NHS Trust Hospitals
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each wave the start-up costs for each NHS trust hospitals.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary gave the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) on 17 May 1993,Official Report, column 29 and to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 18 May 1992, Official Report, column 63, and to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 12 May, Official Report, column 222.

  NHS Trust Applications
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each wave(a) the cost of assessing applications to become NHS trusts, (b) the number of applications assessed and (c) the consultants used to make the assessment.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 3 November 1993,Official Report, column 225. Updated information for the fourth wave is shown.

  Cost £

  Number of Assessments

  Lead Management consultants

  305,012

  156

  Touche Ross

  Hospitals (Comparative Performance)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of collecting and publishing the information contained in the patients charter comparative performance guide 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The final cost of producing the first set of national health service performance tables has not yet been finalised.

  AIDS
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the reasons for the reduction in the AIDS support grant to the London borough of Brent.

  Mr. Sackville
  For 1993–94, AIDS support grant allocations were made on the basis of bids submitted by local authorities. Local authorities not receiving AIDS support grant were given money under the healthy alliances scheme for HIV prevention and joint working with health authorities. For 1994–95, local authorities were invited to submit expenditure plans against indicative allocations of both AIDS support grant and healthy alliances moneys. Those allocations were based on confidential information available for the first time and supplied to the Department by the public health laboratory service on the distribution of AIDS cases by local authority area. Where this formula would mean a reduction in grant in 1994–95, local authorities were advised that there might, in exceptional circumstances, be some scope to adjust allocations on a transitional basis and that applications for additional grant could be made.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which organisations representing old people she has received representations alleging age discrimination within the NHS.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department has received representations from the following organisations:

  Age Concern (England);

  Association of Retired Persons;

  British Geriatrics Society;

  Pensioners' Liaison Forum, North West;

  Pensioners' Action Committee, Tameside;

  Age Concern Leicestershire;

  Age Concern Coventry;

  529

  Northern Pensioners' Association, Crewe and District Branch;

  Bury Pensioners' Association;

  National Federation of Post Office and BT Pensioners;

  The Methodist Church, Brentwood.

  Those representations have not identified individual instances of discrimination.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that age discrimination is eliminated from the NHS.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have consistently made it clear that there are no exceptions within the health service to the fundamental principle of equal treatment on the basis of clinical need. The patients charter reaffirms this right. Decisions about individual patient care are for the clinicians responsible for the case, but the patient's ability to benefit must always be the primary consideration.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individual complaints she has received to date from(a) Coventry, (b) the west midlands and (c) nationally about age discrimination in the NHS.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department has received approximately 400 letters since April, many of them identical, expressing concern about alleged discrimination. We are not aware of any identified instances relating to services in Coventry or the west midlands.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to her departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans she has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Sackville
  No part of the Department of Health, its agencies, or related bodies have been privatised since 1990. Apart from the possible sale of a small part of the Public Health Laboratory Service involving up to four staff, there are no firm plans to privatise any parts of these organisations at present. However, privatisation is one of the "prior options" which must be considered before a next steps agency is created; or when an agency or non-departmental public body is the subject, respectively, of a framework or quinquennial review.

  Equal Treatment
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to ensure that equal treatment for all on the basis of clinical need is adhered to.

  Mr. Sackville
  Providing equal treatment for all on the basis of clinical need is one of the principles of the national health service. This right is reflected in the patients charter.

  Day Nurseries
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of three to five-year-olds attend publicly funded day nurseries.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information collected by the Department of Health relates to the number of children aged under five attending local authority day nurseries and the number placed and paid for by local authorities in other types of day nursery. At 31 March 1993, there were 8·8 children per thousand aged under five in these two categories.

  Bradford Community Health Trust
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions she has had with representatives of Bradford community health trust; what matters were discussed; and what action she has taken following such discussions;

  (2) if she will instruct the Bradford community health trust to close the secure unit located at Lynfield Mount hospital in Bradford; and if she will establish an independent public inquiry into how a remand prisoner escaped from the grounds of the hospital at the end of June.

  Mr. Bowis
  Officials from the national health service executive have regular discussions with Bradford community health national health service trust and have asked Professor Michael Schofield, chairman of the trust, to keep them informed, following the escape of a patient from Lynfield Mount hospital. We understand that the trust is to establish an independent external review panel to look at the policies and procedures of the special care unit at the hospital and that the panel's recommendations will be made public.

  Sigthin
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times the drug Sigthin has been prescribed on the national health service over the past three years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We are unaware of any drug by the name of Sigthin.

  NHS Management
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the NHS executive and how many chief executives of(a) purchasers, (b) providers, (c) family health service authorities and (d) NHSE outposts have no graduate qualifications; and how she controls the quality of senior NHS management.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 27 June 1994]: Of the 17 directors in the national health service executive, including the chief executive, 15 are graduates and one has accountancy qualifications. They are subject to departmental annual appraisal procedures, including mid-year reviews based on set objectives. Information on the number of chief executives in the national health service without graduate qualifications is not available centrally. Senior NHS management are also subject to individual appraisal review of their success in meeting locally set objectives for delivering health care. Their levels of remuneration are firmly linked to their performance.

  Death Rate
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing for each year from 1979(a) the number of deaths that were expected annually in each health region and (b) the number of actual deaths that occurred in each health region using (i) England as standard, (ii) Wessex region as standard and (iii) Northern region as standard.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: This information will be placed in the Library.

  Lesbians (Parental Rights)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will bring forward proposals to prevent lesbians being given parental rights.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply. There are no plans to bring forward such proposals.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received from the Gay Hussar group in regard to strategies for reforming the EU common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Jack
  Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have received any such representations.

  Biological Diversity
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representation her Department had at the second session of the intergovernmental committee of the convention on biological diversity held in June in Nairobi; and if she will make a statement on the relevance of the decisions taken at the meeting for the completion of partnership agreements between the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Agricultural Research Centre involved in gene bank development.

  Mr. Jack
  The United Kingdom delegation comprised officials from the Department of the Environment, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Overseas Development Administration, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Delegates to the meeting recognised and supported the intention of the Food and Agriculture Organisation to conclude agreements with the international agricultural research centres to place certain of their seed banks under its auspices.

  Animal Health and Veterinary Group
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she expects to make an announcement of the conclusions of the review of her Department's animal health and veterinary group.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I intend to issue a consultation document shortly.

  EC Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current level of stock of beef, in tonnes, held in intervention in the United Kingdom; and if she will give details of the age profile of the stock.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Responsibility for this matter is delegated to the Intervention Board. I have asked the chief executive to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Guy Stapleton to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 12 July 1994:
  532
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about current beef stocks in intervention in the United Kingdom, and the age profile of these stocks.
  The information is set out in the attached table:

  Beef stocks at end of May 1994

  Year of origin

  Weight (tonnes)

  1990

  784

  1991

  6,980

  1992

  30,845

  1993

  15,139

  1994

  Nil

  Total

  53,658

DEFENCE

  China
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of arms spending by China.

  Mr. Aitken
  China's official defence budget for 1994 is 54·4 billion yuan—about US$6 billion—although there is also a considerable amount of military-related expenditure which does not fall to the Chinese defence budget.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Aitken
  No part of my departmental area of responsibility has been privatised since 1990. The next areas likely to reach that stage are the royal dockyards, for which tenders will be issued in due course. As announced in "Next Steps Review 1993" (Cm 2430), possible defence agency candidates covering a wide range of defence support activity are subject to a prior options review during which the scope for privatisation is explored. Likewise, the scope for privatisation is considered in other areas as part of my Department's "Competing for Quality" programme. For instance, as announced by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 31 March 1993 Official Report, column 197, work is continuing to transfer the services' married quarters estate to a housing trust in the private sector on 1 April 1995. The scope for private sector involvement in defence support business has also been considered as part of the defence costs study on which we shall be making an announcement shortly.

  RNAD Trecwn
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when RNAD Trecwn was declared surplus; when tenders were invited to market RNAD Trecwn; and what were the reasons for the delay.

  Mr. Hanley
  RNAD Trecwn was declared surplus on 1 August 1992 and tenders were invited from estate agents and surveyors to market the site on 28 January 1994. The
  533
  intervening period was used to allow consideration to be given to the possibility of establishing a European armaments decommissioning facility at Trecwn.

  RAF Hendon and Peninsula Barracks
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date information was provided to the hon. R. Philipps or Crown Ridge Industries Ltd., on the details of(a) RAF Hendon (East Camp) and (b) Peninsula barracks, Winchester.

  Mr. Hanley
  In addition to being available from other sources, details of my Department's sites are widely disseminated by officials to many companies and individuals and no central records are maintained. As far as can be ascertained, however, no specific details of RAF Hendon (East Camp) or Peninsula barracks have been supplied to the hon. Rhodri Philipps and/or Crownridge Industries.

  The hon. R. Philipps was, however, provided in October 1993 with a list which is available to the public on request, naming all major sites in disposal or coming up for disposal. This is likely to have included brief details of Peninsula barracks and RAF Hendon (East Camp).

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates the decisions were made(a) to dispose of Peninsula barracks, Winchester and (b) to invite tenders.

  Mr. Hanley
  The initial decision to vacate and dispose of Peninsula barracks was made in 1980, but this was dependent upon reprovision of the barracks on a green field site north of Winchester. Occupation of the new barracks started in 1986 and vacation of Peninsula barracks was completed in 1988.

  The site was initially marketed in July 1988, but the developer selected went into liquidation in 1990. The MOD with the Crown Estate, as joint owners of the site, pursued the planning application submitted by this developer and finally obtained planning permission in September 1993.

  Peninsula barracks was remarketed in January 1994 and an offer for the freehold was accepted in June 1994.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates the decisions were made(a) to dispose of RAF Hendon (East Camp), and (b) to invite tenders.

  Mr. Hanley
  The initial decision to dispose of RAF Hendon (East Camp) was made in 1988 and the site has been marketed since 1989. Since that time some 7 acres of the site have been sold and a further five acres provisionally allocated for the use of the adjoining RAF museum.

  The remainder of the site was remarketed in January 1994, with a closing date for informal tenders of 31 March 1994.

  Testing Laboratories
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the MOD establishments which are accredited NAMAS—national measurement accreditation service—testing laboratories.

  Mr. Aitken
  Establishments in my Department and in defence agencies which are NAMAS accredited for calibration or testing purposes are listed in the table:534

  Royal Air Force Electrical Standards Laboratory, Deeside, Clwyd

  Defence Research Agency, Aquila, Kent

  Defence Radiological Standards Centre, Aldermaston

  Army Calibration and Standards Laboratory, Army Base Repair Organisation, Old Dalby, Leicestershire

  Defence Radiological Protection Service, Gosport, Hampshire

  Defence Research Agency Dunfermline, Rosyth, Scotland

  Defence Research Agency, Fort Halstead, Kent

  Defence Research Agency, Bridgwater, Somerset

  Defence Research Agency, Civil Marine Group, Portsmouth, Hampshire

  Environmental Test Centre, Foulness, Essex

  Proof and Experimental Establishment, Pendine, Dyfed

  Proof and Experimental Establishment, Eskmeals, Cumbria

  Proof and Experimental Establishment, Shoeburyness, Essex

  Proof and Experimental Establishment, Lavington, Wiltshire

  Test and Evaluation Establishment, Chertsey, Surrey

  Defence Clothing and Textile Authority (Quality and Product Support Division) Oxfordshire

  Royal Military College of Science, Swindon, Wiltshire

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by RAE Aberperth on sending electronic equipment for calibration at NAMAS accredited laboratories in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Aitken
  The figures for calibration of electronic equipment not arranged within the MOD and thus incurring charges are as follows:

  £

  1993–91

  523·34

  1992–93

  1,511·78

  1993–94

  2,135·57

  Stores Depot (Exeter)
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent on refurbishing the Royal Navy stores depot in Exeter in each of the last five financial years.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is not possible to break down all the costs of expenditure on specific refurbishment from that of general works, maintenance and fire prevention measures at RNSD Exeter; however, overall expenditure in these areas in each of the last five financial years is as follows:

  Cost £

  1989–90

  515,000

  1990–91

  1,000,000

  1991–92

  650,000

  1992–93

  900,000

  1993–94

  1,400,000

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of closing the Royal Navy stores depot in Exeter;

  (2) what plans his Department has to conduct a full impact study of the effects of closing the Royal Naval stores depot in Exeter.

  Mr. Hanley
  Stores depots, including Exeter, were examined by the defence costs study, the outcome of which we hope to announce shortly.

  Chinook Helicopter Crash
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the Chinook helicopter that crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on 2 June was scheduled to land.
  535
  Mr. Hanley
  The Chinook helicopter that crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on 2 June was scheduled to land at Fort George, Inverness.

EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the amount of expenditure by his Department on training employment, enterprise, employment measures and labour market services in each year since 1979–80 in each region in(a) cash terms and (b) 1993–94 prices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Business Initiative Schemes
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate for the business basics scheme for 1994–95.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Funds for the business start-up scheme have been transferred to the single regeneration budget in 1994–95. Provision for the single regeneration budget includes £70·122 million for business start-up support in that year.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money was spent on business initiative 1993–94.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Expenditure in 1993–94 on the business start-up scheme was £82 million.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the extent of(a) financial support and (b) training time offered by the business basics programme.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Although now within the single regeneration budget, the business start-up scheme is expected to continue in 1994–95 to offer financial support within the previous range of £20 to £90 per week, plus a training element, both determined locally by training and enterprise councils. TECs may, however, provide start-up support in whatever form they consider appropriate to their local circumstances.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) women and (b) men took up the business initiative scheme in each month from April 1993 to April 1994, and give the extent of (i) financial support and (ii) training time.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Support is given under the business start-up scheme to help unemployed people set up their own businesses. The scheme is delivered by training and enterprise councils, which may provide these services under different titles. The numbers of people taking up the support between April 1993 and April 1994 are set out in the table. Financial support in 1993–94 ranged from allowances of £20 to £90 per week, for between 26 and 66 weeks. Training time was at the discretion of the local TECs.
  536

  Business Start-Up Scheme 1993–94—England. 4-Weekly Entrant Statistics

  Period Ending

  Entrants

  25 April 1993

  2,771

  23 May 1993

  2,699

  20 June 1993

  2,553

  18 July 1993

  2,470

  15 August 1993

  2,357

  12 September 1993

  2,544

  10 October 1993

  2,680

  07 November 1993

  2,730

  05 December 1993

  2,587

  02 January 1994

  1,819

  30 January 1994

  2,560

  27 February 1994

  2,732

  27 March 1994

  4,005

  1993–94

  34,507

  Individual totals for women and men for the various periods are not available. However, available data suggest that the overall proportion for the year—women: men—was approximately 31 per cent: 69 per cent.

  Crown Notices
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Crown notices have been served and Crown prosecutions initiated in each of the past 10 years; and whether he has any proposal relating to Crown immunity in Government Departments and agencies.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The following table shows the number of Crown enforcement notices issued over the last 10 years for which figures are available:

  Crown enforcement notices issued by Health and Safety Executive's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates (a), 1983–1992–93

  Year of issue (b)

  Improvement

  Deferred prohibition

  Immediate prohibition

  Total

  1983

  47

  3

  11

  61

  1984

  38

  —

  12

  50

  1985

  27

  2

  6

  35

  1986–87

  7

  1

  2

  10

  1987–88

  13

  1

  5

  19

  1988–89

  8

  —

  5

  13

  1989–90

  5

  —

  7

  12

  1990–91

  18

  —

  4

  22

  1991–92

  5

  —

  5

  10

  1992–93

  4

  2

  5

  11

  (a) Includes notices issued by the Quarries Inspectorate for years since 1990–91.

  (b) Figures for the calendar years 1983 to 1985 and the financial years beginning 1 April for subsequent years.

  Under the present law, Crown bodies cannot be prosecuted, but administrative procedures are in place for the censure of Crown bodies in circumstances where prosecution would otherwise be considered. The number of censures in each of the past 10 years is shown in the following table:

  Year

  Number

  1985

  —

  1986

  —

  1987

  —

  1988

  1

  1989

  —

  1990

  3

  1991

  —

  1992

  3

  1993

  —

  1994

  1

  537
  The Government have no immediate plans to change the current position, which is that Crown bodies are bound by health and safety legislation and Health and Safety Executive inspectors seek to ensure that the law is complied with and that Crown employers meet standards of good practice found elsewhere. I understand that the HSE is considering the implications of removing Crown immunity from prosecution under health and safety legislation.

  Work Experience
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage work experience schemes for pupils in their final year at school.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government announced on 24 May,Official Report, column 198, that they have asked training and enterprise councils and their partners to ensure that all pupils in their final year of compulsory education can have at least one week's work experience. An additional £23 million will be provided over the three years to 1997–98 to support this.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The majority of the Employment Department's skillcentres were privatised in 1990. There has been no other privatisation since.

  We intend to privatise the Health and Safety Executive's electrical equipment certification service when a suitable legislative vehicle is available.

  Engineering Industry (Training)
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has now completed his review of the engineering construction industry training board; and if he will make a statement.

  Holiday

  England and Wales

  Northern Ireland

  Scotland

  Monday January 2 In lieu of January 1

  BH

  BH

  —

  Monday January 2 New Year

  —

  —

  BH

  Tuesday January 3 In lieu of January 1

  —

  —

  BH

  Friday March 17 St. Patrick's Day

  —

  BH

  —

  Friday April 14 Good Friday

  BH

  BH

  BH

  Monday April 17 Easter Monday

  BH

  BH

  —

  Monday May 1 Early May Bank Holiday

  —

  —

  BH

  Monday May 8 Early May Bank Holiday

  BH

  BH

  BH

  Monday May 8 Bank Holiday

  —

  —

  BH

  Monday May 29 Spring Bank Holiday

  BH

  BH

  BH

  Wednesday July 12 Battle of the Boyne anniversary (Orangemen's Day)

  —

  BH1

  —

  Monday August 7 Summer Bank Holiday

  —

  —

  BH

  Monday August 28 Summer Bank Holiday

  BH

  BH

  —

  Monday December 25 Christmas Day

  BH

  BH

  BH

  Tuesday December 26 Boxing Day

  BH

  BH

  BH

  BH=Bank/public holiday.

  1indicates a provisional date, still subject to proclamation by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
  538
  Miss Widdecombe
  I am pleased to announce that the review of the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board has now been completed.

  The review was wide-ranging and thorough. It included consultation with representatives of employers and employees in the engineering construction industry and an independent survey of all employers in scope to the board. There was widespread support from the industry for the retention of a statutory board with the power to raise a levy on employers.

  While it remains Government policy that sector training arrangements should normally be non-statutory, the Government are persuaded that different considerations continue to apply in the engineering construction industry. Since becoming an independent board in 1991, the ECITB has made substantial progress towards modernising training in its industry. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has decided that it will be reconstituted as a statutory training board with effect from 23 July, until the end of March 1998, which will enable it to build on these achievements.

  I shall be writing to the chairman of the new board in due course to set out in more detail the Government's expectations of the board. A copy of that letter will be placed in the Library.

  May Day Bank Holiday
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on which day the May day bank holiday will fall during 1995 and 1996; and if he will list the dates of all the public holidays that have been fixed for 1995.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 8 July 1994]: On 16 December 1993 I announced that, for 1995 only, the early May bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be moved from the first Monday in May to the second Monday, 8 May, to link with events on and near VE day commemorating the 50th anniversary of the ending of the second world war. In Scotland, the anniversary will be marked by an additional day's bank holiday on the second Monday in May for 1995 only. In 1996, the early May bank holiday will revert to the first Monday in May. The bank and public holidays fixed for 1995 are set out in the following table:

  Railway Signalmen
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 354, concerning the increase in real earnings of railway signalmen compared with white collar

  Gross weekly earnings of full-time employees—Pay unaffected by absence; at April

  Percentiles

  25 per cent.

  50 per cent.

  75 per cent.

  Real increase in pay 1979–1989

  Railway signalmen, and shunters etc.

  Men

  5·3

  13·7

  21·8

  Women

  —

  —

  —

  All manuals

  Men

  6·0

  9·8

  13·4

  Women

  10·3

  12·2

  16·6

  Private sector non-manuals

  Men

  23·1

  33·7

  40·7

  Women

  30·8

  40·8

  50·3

  Increases in pay 1989–1993

  Railway signalman, and shunters etc.

  Men

  26·5

  18·1

  21·7

  Women

  —

  —

  —

  All

  26·5

  18·1

  21·7

  All manuals

  Men

  1·6

  2·2

  2·3

  Women

  3·6

  4·7

  7·0

  All

  2·8

  2·2

  2·3

  Private sector non-manuals

  Men

  -0·1

  1·2

  2·8

  Woman

  9·3

  10·6

  12·0

  All

  6·6

  5·1

  4·7

  Gross pay levels

  Percentiles

  1993

  25 per cent.

  50 per cent.

  75 per cent.

  Mean

  Railway signalmen, and shunters etc.

  Men

  260·3

  323·4

  429·4

  365·5

  Women

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All

  260·3

  323·4

  429·4

  365·5

  All manuals

  Men

  201·2

  256·4

  324·0

  274·3

  Women

  130·5

  162·2

  205·8

  177·1

  All

  181·4

  239·1

  308·8

  256·6

  Private sector non-manuals

  Men

  253·9

  356·4

  498·3

  421·9

  Women

  167·0

  218·9

  293·3

  250·8

  All

  201·9

  289·8

  422·4

  353·4

  Source: New Earnings Surveys

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether railway signalmen are classified as skilled workers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  For statistical purposes, railway singalmen are classified as skilled manual workers.

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in real earnings of non-manual workers in(a) electricity, (b) office
  540
  workers, if he will break down the figures to show the deciles in each case for 1979 to 1989 and 1989 to 1993 together with the actual earnings in April 1993.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information available is set out in the table. Railway signalmen are classified as skilled manual workers and therefore information for manual workers is also included in the table.

  machinery, etc., (c) retail distribution, (d) railways, (e) banking etc., (f) banking and bill discounting, (g) business services, (h) accountants, auditors and tax experts, (i) social security, (j) higher education and (k) school education since 1989.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is shown in the table:
  541

  Real percentage increase in average gross weekly earnings between April 1989 and April 1993 for full-time non-manual employees

  Industry

  Percentage increase

  Production and distribution of electricity

  14·8

  Manufacture of office machinery and data processing equipment

  3·2

  Retail distribution

  6·7

  Railways

  12·1

  Banking and finance

  9·9

  Banking and bill discounting

  8·0

  Business services

  5·2

  Accountants, auditors, tax experts

  11·0

  Social Security

  29·3

  Higher Education

  9·8

  School education (nursery, primary, secondary)

  15·5

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

SCOTLAND

  Maternity Units
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make funds available for the introduction of video monitoring cameras at all maternity units;

  (2) if he will estimate the cost of bar-code tagging newly born infants at all maternity units;

  (3) if he will consult urgently the Royal College of Midwives on proposals for security at maternity units;

  (4) if he will extend the pilot schemes for tagging newly born infants at Edinburgh Simpson hospital and Law hospital;

  (5) what proposals he has for introducing better security procedures at maternity units.

  Mr. Stewart
  It is for health boards and NHS trusts to consider and implement the most appropriate security measures to meet the needs of individual maternity units. It is for health boards to decide on the priorities for the extra funds which have been made available to them. My right hon. Friend does not propose to consult the Royal College of Midwives on this matter but any views which the college wishes to offer should be conveyed to health boards and NHS trusts. In addition he will arrange for the lessons drawn from the pilot schemes at Law hospital and Simpson Memorial maternity pavilion, Edinburgh to be disseminated.

  The cost of bar code tagging would be relatively inexpensive since the electronic tags themselves are cheap, but the main costs would be on the scanning and alarm systems. There are several different types of security systems on the market, but an average cost would be between £15,000 and £20,000 for a large maternity unit.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of non-administrative staff in maternity units are part-time or temporary workers.

  Mr. Stewart
  Identification of temporary staff and of staff working solely within maternity units is not possible from data held centrally.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions his Department has given to consultants regarding a review of the functions of the Scottish Legal Aid Board; and if he will make it his policy to place a copy of any report in the Library.
  542
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In accordance with current practice, the Scottish Office Home and Health Department is at present seeking the views of interested parties on the quinquennial policy and financial management review of the Scottish Legal Aid Board. As part of that process, a small number of interviews with a range of interested individuals are being organised by the Scottish Office central research unit. Professor Alan Alexander, professor of local and public management at the university of Strathclyde, who is a member of the steering group set up to oversee the review, is providing assistance with the analysis of the results of these interviews. No further consultancy input to the review has yet been commissioned. My right hon. Friend will consider in due course how the results of the review should be publicised.

  Scottish Enterprise and SDA
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Development Agency spent on legal fees in each year in the period 1983 to 1993.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested for the Scottish Development Agency was not maintained centrally and is therefore not available. The level of spend on legal fees by Scottish Enterprise is an operational matter for that body and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Occupational Therapy (Children)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that a locally based paediatric occupational therapy service is provided for children in the Forth Valley health board area.

  Mr. Stewart
  Forth Valley health board has proposed, as part of its development plans for 1994–95, to set up a community paediatric occupational therapy service which will form part of a local community paediatric team.

  Sherriff Court Actions
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many ordinary actions were raised in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Paisley, Dundee, Airdrie and Stornaway sheriff courts in(a) November 1992, (b) November 1993, (c) January 1994 and (d) May 1994.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The figures for ordinary actions are set out in the table:

  November 1992

  November 1993

  January 1994

  May 1994

  Glasgow

  946

  803

  458

  669

  Edinburgh

  552

  442

  271

  377

  Aberdeen

  303

  260

  197

  280

  Paisley

  261

  239

  110

  152

  Dundee

  189

  170

  107

  156

  Airdrie

  179

  202

  70

  110

  Stornoway

  12

  18

  9

  5

  Perinatal and Neonatal Mortality
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the perinatal mortality rate and (b) the neonatal mortality rate in each health board for 1985, 1990 and 1993.
  543
  Mr. Stewart
  The information is given in the table.

  Perinatal mortality for Scotland Per 1,000 total births live and still

  Neonatal mortality for Scotland Per 1,000 live births

  Health board

  1985

  1990

  1993

  1985

  1990

  1993

  Borders

  5

  4

  5

  2

  5

  —

  Forth Valley

  10

  11

  11

  8

  6

  4

  Dumfries and Galloway

  10

  5

  9

  3

  4

  4

  Fife

  10

  7

  9

  5

  3

  4

  Grampian

  11

  9

  9

  7

  4

  3

  Highland

  7

  8

  10

  4

  4

  4

  Lothian

  11

  8

  9

  7

  5

  3

  Tayside

  7

  12

  9

  4

  4

  3

  Orkney Islands

  21

  11

  4

  9

  7

  —

  Shetland Islands

  13

  6

  6

  10

  —

  3

  Western Isles

  5

  12

  14

  —

  6

  7

  Strathclyde health areas

  Argyll and Clyde

  10

  7

  12

  5

  4

  4

  Ayrshire & Arran

  9

  8

  8

  7

  4

  4

  Greater Glasgow

  10

  10

  10

  5

  5

  5

  Lanarkshire

  9

  8

  10

  5

  5

  4

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the legal fees incurred by Scottish Enterprise form part of its management running costs.

  Mr. Stewart
  Legal fees incurred by Scottish Enterprise do not form part of its management running costs but are part of a programme budget operated by the Legal Department, and from which the cost of any appropriate external legal advice would be met.

  NHS Trust Hospitals
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by wave the start-up costs for each NHS trust hospital.

  Mr. Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 7 December 1993 Official Report, column 77.

  Spanish and Portuguese
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many schools(a) Spanish and (b) Portuguese are taught; and how many (i) teachers and (ii) pupils are involved.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Results from the September 1993 schools census show that there were 9,981 pupils taking Spanish in 167 education authority secondary schools in Scotland. No pupils took Portuguese. At September 1992, the latest year for which information is available, there were 274 teachers teaching Spanish in education authority secondary schools; teachers teaching Portuguese are not separately identified in the school census.

  At September 1993, 571 pupils in 10 education authority primary schools had contact with a subject specialist teacher in Spanish. No primary pupils had contact with a subject specialist in Portuguese. No information is held centrally on the numbers of teachers involved in teaching Spanish or Portuguese in primary schools.

  River Pollution
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the results of the meeting of officials of his Department with Lothian River Purification Board and the ferruginous pollution problems of the River Almond and Breich water.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Senior officials of the Scottish Office Environment Department attended the launch of the Forth River Purification Board's water quality initiative on 16 May 1994. Topics highlighted by the board included the problem of ferruginous pollution from abandoned mines. No substantive discussions took place about individual rivers.

  Courts
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets have been set for completing office business in the sheriff courts and supreme courts; and what performance was secured in 1993–94.

  Mr. Lang
  The targets set for completion of office business in the sheriff courts in 1993–94 are set out later. These targets remain in force for 1994–95. The percentage figures following each target indicate the proportion of sheriff courts achieving the target figures or better in the course of the year. More detailed information on the performance of individual court offices will be made available to local court advisory committees. Similar targets are in force in the supreme courts and all of these were achieved in 1993–94.

  Targets for sheriff clerk offices and performance 1993–94

  Per cent.

  To issue the first deliverance in all ordinary writs, or return to sender, within two working days of receipt.

  98

  To issue the first deliverance in all summary cause actions (including small claims), or return to sender, within three working days of receipt.

  97

  To draft, in preparation for signature, all final ordinary decrees in absence (excluding divorce) within one working day of receipt of the minute craving decree.

  94

  To draft, within seven days of receipt of the affidavits, in preparation for signature, all final decrees in undefended ordinary actions of divorce or return the affidavits to the sender.

  92

  545

  Per cent.

  To draft, in preparation for signature, all decrees in actions of divorce under the simplified procedure within one working day of expiry of the period of notice.

  97

  To issue extract decrees in all ordinary actions (excluding divorce) within three working days of the date of ordinary or the expiry of the days of appeal—whichever is the later.

  89

  To issue all summary cause/small claim extract decrees within one working day of the due date.

  96

  To issue extract decrees in all ordinary actions of divorce within one working day of the due date.

  88

  To issue extract decrees of divorce under the simplified procedure within one working day of the due date.

  90

  To issue the first deliverance in all petitions for sequestration/liquidation, or return to sender, within two working days of receipt.

  95

  To prepare for signature the first deliverance in all adoption petitions within one working day of a correct petition being received.

  93

  To scrutinise and accept or reject commissary petitions and inventories within two working days of receipt.

  96

  To issue Confirmation within three working days of acceptance of inventory.

  94

  To conduct small estate interviews within seven days from the time an interview is requested.

  98

  To process juror claims for payment, or return to sender, within two working days of receipt.

  96

  To process postal fines (other than unidentified payments) on day of receipt.

  99

  To issue warning letters, means enquiry citations, warrants, extracts, etc, and transfer fines within seven days of the trawl.

  99

  To remit all non-Exchequer receipts to entitled parties within 14 days from the end of the last accountancy period.

  98

  To effect a card reconciliation of all outstanding financial penalties on a monthly basis.

  100

  To reply to letter pleas within one working day of the court.

  99

  To order social enquiry and other reports within one working day of the court.

  99

  To complete probation, community service, compensation and fines supervision orders within two working days of the court.

  100

  To issue juror citations in the first instance at least 21 days prior to a jury sitting/trial.

  98

  To reply to all letter inquiries except those which require extensive investigation within two working days of receipt.

  95

  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what objectives for reducing court waiting periods have been established; what targets have been set for 1994–95 in respect of court waiting periods for the supreme and sheriff courts; and if he will make a statement about the performance of the supreme courts and each of the sheriff courts in 1993–94.

  Mr. Lang
  The programming of court business is a matter for the judiciary. Acting in co-operation with the judiciary in the supreme and sheriff courts, the Government seek to provide the resources which will allow speedy access to justice. Having regard to the time required by parties to have their cases properly prepared the following objectives have been adopted:the Lord President of the Court of Session has accepted the recommendations of a Committee chaired by Lord Maxwell relating to the reduction off waiting periods in the Supreme Courts: the target is to reduce waiting periods to the recommended levels and, subject to any acceleration in the rate of increase in court work, maintain waiting periods at that level: for certain categories of hearing, additional targets involving much reduced waiting periods, have been set;
  546
  Sheriffs Principal have agreed to overall targets of reducing waiting periods for summary criminal trials in the Sheriff Courts to 12 weeks or less and to hold them at that level; and to maintain waiting periods at 12 weeks or less for civil cases in the Sheriff Courts.
  The main targets for waiting periods for 1994–95 are set down as follows: "waiting period" is the period between a trial or proof being requested or an appeal being received and the date assigned expressed in weeks. Similar targets applied in 1993–94 and national performance for that year is noted in the second column in the table.

  Target

  1993–94 Performance

  Crimianl Appeal Business

  Summary prosecutions:

  Notes of Appeal against Sentence and Stated cases (accused in custody)

  4

  4

  Court of Session

  (a) Ordinary proofs

  20

  20

  (b) Defended Consistorial proofs

  17

  18

  Sheriff Courts (National average as at 31 March 1994

  (a) Civil proofs/debates

  12

  11·6

  (b) Summary Criminal Trials

  12

  15·2

  In 1993–94 waiting periods of 12 weeks or less were achieved for civil debates/proofs in 81 per cent. of sheriff courts.

  Waiting periods of 12 weeks or less were achieved for summary criminal business in 72 per cent. of sheriff courts.

  Performance of individual sheriff courts at 31 March 1994 is set out in the following table.

  Weeks

  Court

  Civil proofs

  Summary criminal trials

  Hamilton

  14

  12

  Glasgow

  14

  25

  Inverness

  13

  11

  Cupar

  13

  13

  Dundee

  13

  16

  Paisley

  13

  14

  Dumbarton

  12

  10

  Dunfermline

  12

  13

  Peterhead

  12

  12

  Stirling

  12

  12

  Wick

  12

  12

  Jedburgh

  11

  11

  Kirkcudbright

  11

  11

  Ayr

  11

  12

  Kirkcaldy

  11

  11

  Dingwall

  10

  10

  Oban

  10

  11

  Elgin

  10

  9

  Haddington

  10

  13

  Duns

  10

  10

  Banff

  10

  10

  Linlithgow

  10

  20

  Stranraer

  10

  11

  Falkirk

  10

  10

  Forfar

  10

  10

  Stornoway

  10

  10

  Selkirk

  10

  10

  Stonehaven

  9

  9

  Dumfries

  9

  9

  Peebles

  9

  10

  Tain

  9

  10

  Lanark

  9

  10

  Arbroath

  9

  11

  Aberdeen

  9

  13

  Kilmarnock

  9

  16

  Dunoon

  8

  8

  Edinburgh

  8

  11

  547

  Weeks

  Court

  Civil proofs

  Summary criminal trials

  Alloa

  8

  8

  Greenock

  8

  10

  Perth

  8

  8

  Portree

  8

  4

  Rothesay

  8

  10

  Airdrie

  8

  16

  Lerwick

  7

  7

  Campbeltown

  6

  10

  Dornoch

  6

  8

  Lochmaddy

  6

  10

  Fort Willliam

  6

  14

  Kirkwall

  6

  6

  In addition, the sheriffs principal have agreed that sheriff court programmes should be designed to ensure that the number of trials adjourned due to lack of court time should not exceed 5 per cent. of the total number set down, a target met in 83 per cent. of sheriff courts.

  NHS Statutory Audit
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he proposes to make in the arrangements for NHS statutory audit in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I am pleased to announce that, following discussions between the Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland and my officials, I have agreed to transfer responsibility for NHS statutory audit to the commission under the terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended by section 36 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. The Accounts Commission for Scotland, as it will then be called, will take responsibility for all the statutory audit work of health boards, NHS trusts, GP fundholders and

  Police custody

  Date of death

  Sex

  Age

  Force area

  Cause of death

  1989

  8 January 1989

  Male

  76

  Strathclyde

  Hypostatic pneumonia

  2 February 1989

  Male

  47

  Strathclyde

  Subdural haemorrhage

  7 February 1989

  Male

  67

  Lothian and Borders

  Intracranial pressure

  24 April 1989

  Male

  19

  Fife

  Hypoxic brain damage due to hanging

  4 May 1989

  Male

  65

  Strathclyde

  Hypoxia

  4 June 1989

  Male

  76

  Strathclyde

  Fracture of the skull

  21 June 1989

  Male

  16

  Strathclyde

  Aspiration of gastric contents

  24 August 1989

  Male

  68

  Strathclyde

  Acute peritonitis

  8 October 1989

  Male

  49

  Strathclyde

  Intra-cerebral haematoma

  4 November 1989

  Male

  56

  Strathclyde

  Acute subdural haematomas

  1990

  2 January 1990

  Male

  43

  Strathclyde

  Acute renal failure

  14 January 1990

  Male

  22

  Lothian and Borders

  Acute pulmonary and cerebral oedema

  6 February 1990

  Male

  62

  Strathclyde

  Head injury

  12 February 1990

  Male

  51

  Strathclyde

  (1) Fatty degeneration of the liver

  (2) Chronic alcoholism

  5 May 1990

  Male

  64

  Strathclyde

  (1) Lung abscess

  (2) Bronchopneumonia

  (3) Chronic bronchitis and emphysema

  14 June 1990

  Male

  42

  Lothian and Borders

  Subarachnoid haemorrhage

  16 June 1990

  Male

  53

  Central Scotland

  (1) Bilateral bronchopneumonia

  (2) Polmonary Ehromboembolism

  15 November 1990

  Male

  22

  Lothian and Borders

  Aspiration of vomit

  22 November 1990

  Male

  26

  Lothian and Borders

  Aspiration of vomit

  30 November 1990

  Male

  60

  Tayside

  (1) Cranial cerebral injuries

  (2) Blunt force trauma

  548
  other health bodies in Scotland from 1 April 1995. It is envisaged that the audit programme will continue to be shared between the public sector and private audit firms.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the forthcoming policy and financial management review of Scottish Homes.

  Mr. Lang
  As part of the Government's rolling programme of five-yearly policy and financial management reviews of non-departmental public bodies, my Department will conduct a thorough review of Scottish Homes during 1994–95. The first stage of the review will take the form of a "prior options" study. This will include an examination of the scope for discontinuing, privatising, contracting out or transferring to another body some or all of the functions carried out by Scottish Homes. This will include looking at how it takes forward the Government's housing policies in Scotland, the key objectives of which are: promoting greater housing choice, in particular home ownership; improving housing supply and quality; and making best use of scarce public sector resources. This study is now under way and I would welcome comments from interested parties. Comments should be sent by 16 September 1994 to:

  Mr. D. F. Middleton

  Assistant Secretary

  The Scottish Office Environment Department

  Room 417

  St. Andrew's House

  Edinburgh EH1 1DG

  Deaths in Custody
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give brief details of all deaths in custody, including those in police stations, in Scotland since 1989.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 8 July 1994]: Details of deaths which occurred in custody since 1989 are provided in the following tables:
  549

  Date of death

  Sex

  Age

  Force area

  Cause of death

  1991

  28 February 1991

  Male

  42

  Strathclyde

  Pulmonary oedema and congestion

  1 May 1991

  Male

  52

  Strathclyde

  Intracerebral haematoma

  25 July 1991

  Male

  62

  Strathclyde

  Inhalation of regurgitated vomitus

  28 July 1991

  Male

  32

  Lothian and Borders

  Alcoholic cardiomyopathy

  14 August 1991

  Male

  36

  Strathclyde

  Fatty degeneration of the liver

  28 November 1991

  Male

  30

  Strathclyde

  Inhalation of gastric contents

  1992

  8 February 1992

  Male

  24

  Strathclyde

  Hanging

  13 April 1992

  Male

  59

  Grampian

  Chronic alcoholism

  25 April 1992

  Male

  25

  Strathclyde

  Hanging

  2 May 1992

  Male

  29

  Grampian

  Hanging

  24 June 1992

  Male

  58

  Northern

  Ischaemic heart disease

  9 July 1992

  Male

  19

  Fife

  Hanging

  29 September 1992

  Female

  54

  Northern

  Meningitis

  1 October 1992

  Female

  57

  Lothian and Borders

  (1) Acute pulmonary oedema

  (2) Ischaemic heart disease

  (3) Previous myocardial infarction

  (4) Chronic obstruction airway disease

  10 October 1992

  Male

  45

  Strathclyde

  (1) Acute left ventricular failure

  (2) Myocardial ischaemic coronary artery thrombosis

  (3) Chronic alcohol abuse

  7 December 1992

  Male

  29

  Lothian and Borders

  (1) Chronic alcohol abuse

  (2) State of fits

  (3) Postural asphyxia

  1993

  6 January 1993

  Male

  26

  Northern

  Head injury

  14 March 1993

  Male

  34

  Strathclyde

  Pulmonary oedema

  4 April 1993

  Male

  53

  Strathclyde

  Extral-dural haematoma head injury

  12 June 1993

  Male

  36

  Strathclyde

  Coronary artery atheoma

  24 July 1993

  Male

  23

  Grampian

  Hanging

  28 August 1993

  Male

  29

  Tayside

  Chronic intravenous drug abuse

  29 September 1993

  Male

  68

  Strathclyde

  Left ventricular failure

  14 October 1993

  Male

  53

  Strathclyde

  Sub-daral haemorrhage

  24 October 1993

  Male

  40

  Grampian

  (1) Sub-dural haematoma

  (2) Head injury

  26 November 1993

  Male

  32

  Lothian and Borders

  (1) Laryngeal obstruction

  (2) Inhalation of foreign body

  1994

  5 February 1994

  Male

  31

  Strathclyde

  Sub-arachnid haemorrhage

  30 March 1994

  Male

  38

  Strathclyde

  (1) Sub-arachnoid haemorrhage

  (2) Hodgkins lymphoma

  (3) Intravenous drug abuse

  14 April 1994

  Male

  52

  Strathclyde

  Aspiration of gastric contents

  17 April 1994

  Male

  45

  Strathclyde

  (1) Gastro-intestinal haemorrhage

  (2) Rupture oesophageal varices

  (3) Alcoholic liver cirrhosis

  Penal custody

  Date of death

  Sex and age

  Sentence

  Establishment

  Cause of death

  1989

  7 February 1989

  Male 39

  Untried

  Barlinnie

  Self-inflicted wounds to left arm

  5 March 1989

  Male 31

  Life

  Shotts

  Suicide by hanging

  23 March 1989

  Male 50

  Untried

  Barlinnie

  Epileptic seizure

  4 June 1989

  Male 60

  Untried

  Aberdeen

  Death by hanging

  14 July 1989

  Male 27

  9 years

  Perth

  Death by hanging

  26 July 1989

  Male 23

  2 years

  Shotts

  Death by hanging

  18 August 1989

  Male 33

  9 years

  Edinburgh

  Not determined

  3 December 1989

  Male 17

  3 months

  Polmont

  Death by hanging

  24 December 1989

  Male 49

  5 years

  Shotts

  Subarachnoid haemorrhage

  1990

  31 January 1990

  Male 49

  12 years

  Shotts

  Coronary insufficiency and atherosclerosis

  18 March 1990

  Male 32

  6 months

  Barlinnie

  Heart attack

  9 June 1990

  Male 30

  Untried

  Barlinnie

  Death by hanging

  28 June 1990

  Male 52

  Life

  Aberdeen

  Ischaemic heart disease

  21 July 1990

  Male 55

  12 years

  Dungavel

  Murdered while on 48 hour home leave

  29 July 1990

  Male 55

  Life

  Perth

  (1) Myocardial infarction

  (2) Coronary artery thrombosis

  (3) Coronary artery atherosclerosis

  31 July 1990

  Male 39

  Life

  Barlinnie

  Death by hanging

  550 551

  Date of death

  Sex and age

  Sentence

  Establishment

  Cause of death

  26 September 1990

  Male 25

  Untried

  Barlinnie

  Death by hanging

  26 September 1991

  Male 22

  8 years

  Perth

  Infection of heart valve

  13 November 1990

  Male 37

  9 months

  Barlinnie

  Bronchopneumonia and chronic alcoholism

  9 December 1990

  Male 44

  42 months

  Shotts

  Inhalation of gastric contents due to acute morphine intoxication

  1991

  3 January 1991

  Male 34

  2 years

  Perth

  Self-strangulation

  25 January 1991

  Male 27

  3 months

  Greenock

  Death by hanging

  30 January 1991

  Male 44

  6 years

  Noranside

  Coronary artery thrombosis

  11 April 1991

  Male 22

  5 years

  Shotts

  Endotoxic shock due to intestinal obstruction

  17 April 1991

  Male 61

  3 months

  Greenock

  Heart attack

  28 July 1991

  Male 32

  60 days

  Barlinnie

  Death by hanging

  18 August 1991

  Male 31

  11 years

  Noranside

  Murdered while on home leave

  20 August 1991

  Male 37

  4 years

  Shotts

  Ischaemic heart disease due to coronary artery atheroma

  23 September 1991

  Male 19

  Untried

  Longriggend

  Death by hanging

  8 December 1991

  Male 24

  9 months, 60 days and 5 years

  Shotts

  (1) Klebsiella pneumonia

  (2) Immune deficiency

  1992

  11 February 1992

  Male 17

  Untried

  Polmont

  Death by hanging

  27 February 1992

  Male 29

  30 days

  Barlinnie

  Death by hanging

  22 March 1992

  Male 18

  11 months

  Polmont

  Death by hanging

  15 June 1992

  Male 25

  3 years

  Edinburgh

  Death by hanging

  9 July 1992

  Male 36

  5 years and 5 years

  Edinburgh

  Death by hanging

  25 August 1992

  Male 30

  Untried

  Dumfries

  Death by hanging

  18 August 1992

  Male 50

  Life

  Shotts

  Cirrhosis of the liver

  3 September 1992

  Male 27

  Untried

  Edinburgh

  Death by hanging

  2 November 1992

  Male 44

  Untried

  Edinburgh

  Death by hanging

  18 October 1992

  Male 24

  Untried

  Barlinnie

  Death by hanging

  28 November 1992

  Male 23

  Untried

  Aberdeen

  Acute infective endocarditis

  16 December 1992

  Male 52

  15 years

  Peterhead

  Fatal accident inquiry—Determination still awaited

  23 December 1992

  Male 39

  3 years

  Peterhead

  Cardiac disease and cardiac enlargement

  1993

  8 January 1993

  Male 43

  Life

  Edinburgh

  Knocked over by van

  13 January 1993

  Male 22

  Untried

  Greenock

  Death by hanging

  7 April 1993

  Male 29

  Life

  Perth

  Death by hanging

  6 May 1993

  Male 42

  3 months

  Low Moss

  Cardiac arrest following an epileptic fit

  9 July 1993

  Male 26

  6 months

  Edinburgh

  Dihydracodeine poisoning

  19 July 1993

  Male 42

  Life

  Perth

  Coronary artery thrombosis

  22 August 1993

  Male 45

  Untried

  Edinburgh

  Fall from gallery

  20 September 1993

  Male 21

  5 years

  Polmont

  Vasovagal inhibition due to hanging

  17 December 1993

  Male 23

  Untried

  Barlinnie

  Death by hanging

  1994

  7 January 1994

  Male 40

  Untried

  Greenock

  Death by hanging

  3 January 1994

  Male 39

  10 years

  Peterhead

  Metastatic Hodgkinsons Disease lymphoma

  7 January 1994

  Male 41

  8 years

  Edinburgh

  Bronchial pneumonia and Aids

  3 February 1994

  Male 18

  Untried

  Aberdeen

  Death by hanging

  Forestry
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums have been expended on grants for planting of(a) broadleaf trees and (b) conifers in each of the last three years under each of the various incentive schemes in force; and what has been the average area of each planting on which grant was paid in those years.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: The information is set out in the table.

  Planting grants paid in Scotland (£'000s)

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Conifer

  3,500

  5,600

  5,700

  Broadleaf

  4,400

  4,100

  7,300

  Total

  7,900

  9,700

  13,000

  552

  Average area approved (hectares)

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  14·2

  12·6

  17–9

  Empty Properties
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the current level of empty properties owned by(a) the private sector, (b) local authorities, (c) housing associations and (d) Scottish Homes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: The number of empty properties owned by local authorities and Scottish Homes was 18,611 and 1,632

  553
  respectively at 31 March 1993. Information on empty properties owned by the private sector and housing associations is not held centrally.

  Public Bodies
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to compile a register of members' interests of the non-executive members of NHS trusts and health boards.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: My noble and learned Friend the Minister of State recently issued to health boards and NHS trusts codes of conduct and accountability which provide for relevant interests to be entered in a register which will be available to the public.

  Operation Cancellation
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients, for each hospital, were not admitted within a month of a second cancellation of their operation in the last five years.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information on the incidence of cancellations in each hospital is set out in the "NHS Patient Treatment and Waiting Time Bulletin". Copies of the bulletin, which is published quarterly, have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The systems for collecting information on the incidence of cancellations in hospitals in Scotland do not at present provide for identification of the numbers not admitted within a month of a second cancellation.

  Gaelic Education
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when a copy of the summary of reponses to Her Majesty's inspectorate report, "Provision for Gaelic Education in Scotland" will be made available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: A summary of the 123 comments received on

  Inpatient and day case discharges1 and waiting times of patients admitted from waiting lists Year ending 31 March 19942

  Admitted within 3 months

  Admitted within 12 months

  Hospital

  All discharges

  Discharges

  Per cent.

  Discharges

  Per cent.

  Aberdeen City Hospital

  495

  494

  100

  495

  100

  Aberdeen Maternity Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

  27,787

  24,574

  88

  27,648

  99

  Adamson Hospital

  1,619

  1,419

  88

  1,597

  99

  Annan Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  Arbroath Infirmary

  173

  165

  95

  173

  100

  Arduthie Hospital

  6

  6

  100

  6

  100

  Arran View Nursing Home

  3

  3

  100

  3

  100

  Arran War Memorial Hospital

  377

  374

  99

  377

  100

  Ashludie Hospital

  78

  78

  100

  78

  100

  Astley Ainslie Hospital

  51

  48

  94

  51

  100

  Ayrshire Central and Maternity Hospital

  117

  117

  100

  117

  100

  Balfour Hospital

  786

  773

  98

  786

  100

  Ballochmyle Hospital

  6,120

  4,582

  75

  5,874

  96

  Bangour Village Hospital

  7

  6

  86

  7

  100

  Beatson Oncology Centre

  3,528

  3,527

  100

  3,528

  100

  Belford Hospital

  1,115

  1,036

  93

  1,113

  100

  Belhaven Hospital

  3

  3

  100

  3

  100

  Belvidere Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Biggart Hospital

  214

  214

  100

  214

  100

  Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital

  28

  28

  100

  28

  100

  Blawarthill Hospital

  7

  7

  100

  7

  100

  Bon Secours Private Hospital3

  325

  2

  1

  11

  3

  Borders General Hospital

  7,620

  6,838

  90

  7,613

  100

  Brechin Infirmary

  6

  6

  100

  6

  100

  554
  the report is currently being produced by my officials and should be available in the Library within the next few weeks.

  Housing Subsidy
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much subsidy in 1993 was directed to(a) council housing and (b) other public sector housing.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: In 1993–94, direct subsidies to council housing through housing support grant and general fund contributions amounted to £36·1 million. In the same year, subsidies to other Scottish public sector housing amounted to £21·3 million.

  House Condition Survey
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the data on health issues collected during the Scottish house condition survey.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: The information collected in the 1991 Scottish house condition survey consisted of two main strands: a survey to assess the physical condition of the occupied housing stock across all tenures and a socio-economic survey of the residents. The resulting data was analysed by Scottish Homes and poublished in July 1993.

  The survey was not designed to collect information on health issues.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has of the numbers and percentages of patients admitted within three months and within 12 months of being listed, and for each hospital.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: The information is shown in the table.
  555

  Admitted within 3 months

  Admitted within 12 months

  Hospital

  All discharges

  Discharges

  Per cent.

  Discharges

  Per cent.

  Bridge of Earn Hospital

  384

  308

  80

  379

  99

  Bridge of Weir Hospital

  200

  200

  100

  200

  100

  Broomhill Hospital

  29

  27

  93

  29

  100

  Caithness General Hospital

  1,484

  1,281

  86

  1,470

  99

  Cameron Hospital, Windygates

  113

  112

  99

  112

  99

  Campbell Hospital

  14

  14

  100

  14

  100

  Campbeltown Hospital

  11

  11

  100

  11

  100

  Canniesburn Hospital

  5,416

  3,807

  70

  4,728

  87

  Castle Douglas Hospital

  23

  23

  100

  23

  100

  Chalmers Hospital

  198

  196

  99

  198

  100

  Cleland Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  Corstorphine Hospital

  5

  4

  80

  5

  100

  Cowglen Hospital

  5

  5

  100

  5

  100

  Crosshouse Hospital

  15,436

  11,298

  73

  15,029

  97

  Daliburgh Hospital

  81

  80

  99

  81

  100

  Dalrymple Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  Darnley Hospital

  3

  3

  100

  3

  100

  Davidson Cottage Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Dr. Gray's Hospital

  3,425

  3,111

  91

  3,402

  99

  Drumchapel Hospital

  104

  104

  100

  104

  100

  Duke Street Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary

  10,144

  7,504

  74

  9,868

  97

  Dunbar Hospital

  4

  4

  100

  4

  100

  Dundee Dental Hospital

  891

  860

  97

  890

  100

  Dundee Limb Fitting Centre

  126

  125

  99

  126

  100

  Dundee Royal Infirmary

  8,411

  6,309

  75

  7,973

  95

  Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital

  518

  354

  68

  507

  98

  Dunoon and District General Hospital

  366

  306

  84

  365

  100

  East Fortune Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Eastbank Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  Eastern General Hospital

  4,656

  3,931

  84

  4,638

  100

  Edenhall Hospital

  47

  46

  98

  47

  100

  Edinburgh City Hospital

  7,966

  5,536

  69

  7,774

  98

  Edinburgh Dental Hospital

  4,343

  4,216

  97

  4,335

  100

  Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

  18,327

  14,523

  79

  17,645

  96

  Edington Cottage Hospital

  3

  3

  100

  3

  100

  Erskine Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary

  9,074

  6,596

  73

  8,884

  98

  Fleming Cottage Hospital

  18

  18

  100

  18

  100

  Forfar Infirmary

  49

  44

  90

  49

  100

  Forth Park Hospital

  6

  6

  100

  6

  100

  Fourhills Nursing Home

  18

  18

  100

  18

  100

  Fraserburgh Hospital

  33

  32

  97

  33

  100

  Garrick Hospital

  931

  723

  78

  912

  98

  Gartnavel General Hospital

  7,320

  6,258

  85

  7,197

  98

  Gesto Hospital

  7

  7

  100

  7

  100

  Gilbert Bain Hospital

  1,121

  984

  88

  1,119

  100

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School

  507

  498

  98

  507

  100

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary

  22,855

  20,630

  90

  22,621

  99

  Glen O'Dee Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Glenrothes Hospital

  38

  36

  95

  38

  100

  Hairmyres Hospital

  7,438

  6,307

  85

  7,388

  99

  Homeopathic Hospital, Glasgow

  163

  141

  87

  162

  99

  Huntley Jubilee Hospital

  145

  135

  93

  145

  100

  Ian Charles Hospital

  29

  29

  100

  29

  100

  Insch and District War Memorial Hospital

  5

  5

  100

  5

  100

  Inverclyde Royal Hospital

  9,060

  7,309

  81

  8,930

  99

  Invergordon County Hospital

  5

  5

  100

  5

  100

  Inverurie Hospital

  75

  73

  97

  75

  100

  Johnstone Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Kincardine O'Neil War Memorial Hospital

  4

  4

  100

  4

  100

  Kings Cross Hospital

  654

  657

  99

  654

  100

  Kirkcudbright Hospital

  24

  24

  100

  24

  100

  Lady Margaret Hospital, Millport

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Law Hospital

  11,380

  9,060

  80

  11,206

  98

  Lawson Memorial Hospital

  688

  685

  100

  688

  100

  Leanchoil Hospital

  38

  38

  100

  38

  100

  Lenzie Hospital

  28

  28

  100

  28

  100

  Liberton Hospital

  43

  43

  100

  43

  100

  Lightburn Hospital

  18

  18

  100

  18

  100

  Lochgreen Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Lochmaddy Hospital

  33

  33

  100

  33

  100

  Lockhart Hospital

  158

  158

  100

  158

  100

  Lynebank Hospital

  3

  3

  100

  3

  100

  Mackinnon Memorial Hospital

  527

  525

  100

  526

  100

  Maidencraig House

  13

  13

  100

  13

  100

  Maud Hospital

  8

  8

  100

  8

  100

  556 557

  Admitted within 3 months

  Admitted within 12 months

  Hospital

  All discharges

  Discharges

  Per cent.

  Discharges

  Per cent.

  Mearnskirk General Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Meigle Cottage Hospital

  36

  35

  97

  36

  100

  Merchiston Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  Migdale Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Milesmark Hospital

  44

  44

  100

  44

  100

  Moffat Hospital

  36

  36

  100

  36

  100

  Monklands District General Hospital

  8,707

  7,013

  81

  8,408

  97

  Montfield Hospital

  146

  145

  99

  145

  99

  Montrose Royal Infirmary

  7

  7

  100

  7

  100

  Morningfield Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  Nairn Town and County Hospital

  28

  28

  100

  28

  100

  Netherlea Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Newton Stewart Hospital

  19

  19

  100

  19

  100

  Nicolson Mackenzie Hospital

  13

  6

  46

  13

  100

  Ninewells Hospital

  17,103

  12,826

  75

  16,662

  97

  Northern General Hospital

  1

  —

  —

  1

  100

  Oban County Hospital

  411

  410

  100

  411

  100

  Perth Royal Infirmary

  7,392

  6,049

  82

  7,289

  99

  Peterhead Cottage Hospital

  51

  51

  100

  51

  100

  Portree Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  Princess Margaret Rose Hospital

  4,300

  2,793

  65

  4,212

  98

  Queen Margaret Hospital

  8,517

  6,399

  75

  8,255

  97

  Raigmore Hospital

  14,388

  11,201

  78

  14,129

  98

  Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital

  379

  311

  82

  365

  96

  Ravenscraig Hospital

  90

  90

  100

  90

  100

  Roadmeetings Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Roodlands General Hospital

  1,621

  1,280

  79

  1,619

  100

  Ross Hall Hospital

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ross Memorial Hospital

  186

  139

  75

  186

  100

  Rothesay Victoria Hospital

  260

  236

  91

  259

  100

  Roxburghe House

  139

  139

  100

  139

  100

  Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital

  3,499

  2,521

  72

  3,436

  98

  Royal Alexandra Hospital

  15,989

  13,613

  85

  15,781

  99

  Royal Northern Infirmary

  180

  180

  100

  180

  100

  Royal Samaritan Hospital

  8

  8

  100

  8

  100

  Royal Victoria Hospital

  5

  4

  80

  5

  100

  Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh

  89

  89

  100

  89

  100

  Ruchill Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  RHSC, Edinburgh

  4,401

  3,381

  77

  4,338

  99

  RHSC, Glasgow

  7,615

  5,362

  70

  7,516

  99

  Seafield Hospital

  54

  53

  98

  54

  100

  Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion

  557

  557

  100

  557

  100

  Southern General Hospital

  14,597

  12,389

  85

  14,137

  97

  Southfield Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Spynie Hospital

  95

  95

  100

  95

  100

  St Andrew's Hospice

  5

  5

  100

  5

  100

  St Andrews Memorial Hospital

  889

  770

  87

  886

  100

  St John's Hospital At Howden

  13,416

  9,718

  72

  12,644

  94

  St Michaels Hospital

  16

  13

  81

  16

  100

  Stephen Cottage Hospital

  24

  24

  100

  24

  100

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  14,033

  10,349

  74

  13,830

  99

  Stobhill Hospital

  10,524

  8,744

  83

  10,426

  99

  Stonehouse Hospital

  5,267

  3,905

  74

  5,237

  99

  Stracathro Hospital

  3,664

  3,205

  87

  3,655

  100

  Strathclyde Hospital

  4

  4

  100

  4

  100

  The Ayr Hospital

  6,675

  4,676

  70

  6,495

  97

  Thomas Hope Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  Thornhill Hospital

  1

  1

  100

  1

  100

  Tippethill Hospital

  24

  23

  96

  24

  100

  Tor-na-dee Hospital

  29

  29

  100

  29

  100

  Turner Memorial Hospital

  72

  72

  100

  72

  100

  Turriff Cottage Hospital

  18

  18

  100

  18

  100

  Udston Hospital

  6

  6

  100

  6

  100

  Vale of Leven District General Hospital

  4,916

  4,581

  93

  4,916

  100

  Victoria Cottage Hospital

  55

  52

  95

  55

  100

  Victoria Geriatric Unit, Glasgow

  18

  18

  100

  18

  100

  Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy

  11,985

  9,500

  79

  11,747

  98

  Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow

  15,395

  12,200

  79

  15,048

  98

  West Highland Hospital

  1,417

  1,301

  92

  1,409

  99

  Western General Hospital, Edinburgh

  17,104

  14,250

  83

  16,396

  96

  Western Infirmary, Glasgow

  22,065

  18,307

  83

  21,746

  99

  Western Isles Hospital

  1,290

  1,204

  93

  1,290

  100

  Woodcot Hospital

  2

  2

  100

  2

  100

  Woodend General Hospital

  3,557

  2,514

  71

  3,510

  99

  All Hospitals

  449,182

  362,775

  81

  439,437

  98

  558 559
  1Excludes psychiatric and obstetric services.

  2Provisional.

  3Patients admitted to the Bon Secours Private Hospital are plastic surgery waiting list initiative cases previously waiting at Canniesburn Hospital.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish, for each hospital, the percentage of patients seen within half an hour of appointment times for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: Information on how long patients have to wait to be seen after their appointment time at out-patient clinics is monitored by health boards and is not collected centrally. Health boards report that few patients overall wait longer than 30 minutes; that where they do they are given an explanation and an indication of how much longer the wait is likely to be; and that where monitoring reveals a particular problem action is taken to remedy it.

  GP Fundholders
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general practitioner fundholders he expects there to be in each health board area by January 1995; and how many there are currently in each area.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: According to the latest information provided by health boards the current number of operational fundholders and estimated numbers by January 1995 are as set out in the table.

  Number of GP fundholders currently operational

  Estimated number of operational GP fundholders by January 1995

  Argyll and Clyde

  5

  5

  Ayrshire and Arran

  4

  4

  Borders

  2

  2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  1

  Fife

  4

  4

  Forth Valley

  4

  5

  Grampian

  31

  31

  Greater Glasgow

  11

  11

  Highland

  3

  3

  Lanarkshire

  14

  15

  Lothian

  15

  18

  1High

  Medium

  Sparse

  Year

  Number of calls

  Percentage in 14 minutes

  Number of calls

  Percentage in 18 minutes

  Number of calls

  Percentage in 21 minutes

  1993–94

  90,604

  90

  89,078

  94

  29,464

  88

  1992–93

  87,668

  87

  87,652

  94

  28,095

  89

  1991–92

  82,676

  87

  83,442

  93

  24,490

  88

  1990–912

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989–902

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1The Scottish target times for ambulance response to emergency calls are based on population density and are as follows:

  Density measured in people per acre

  95 per cent. of emergency calls responded to in

  Highly populated > 3 per acre

  14 minutes

  Medium populated < 3 > 0·5 per acre

  18 minutes

  Sparsely populated < 0·5 per acre

  21 minutes

  2Figures are not available for 1990–91 and 1989–90.

  560

  Number of GP fundholders currently operational

  Estimated number of operational GP fundholders by January 1995

  Orkney

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  9

  9

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  SCOTLAND

  103

  108

  Ambulances
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct ambulance services to remove the bull bars fitted to their vehicles immediately and instruct all ambulance services that the fitting of bull bars to emergency vehicles is prohibited on the grounds of safety.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: There are no bull bars fitted to the fleet of accident and emergency ambulances usd by the Scottish Ambulance Service and there are no plans to do so. Only 13 Land Rovers have bull bars. These vehicles are useful for work in rough terrain. The bars were supplied and fitted by the manufacturer. The Scottish Ambulance Service would comply with any safety guidance issued by the manufacturer or the Department of Transport.

  Ambulance Arrival Times
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the numbers and percentages of emergency ambulances arriving within 14 minutes in urban areas and 19 minutes in rural areas, for the past five years.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information available is as follows:

  Housing
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the real-terms increase or decrease in his Department's spending on each sector of housing since 1979, setting aside borrowing consents and income gained from sale of housing stock.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: Expenditure by the Scottish Office Environment Department and the Scottish Office Industry Department, for housing in the new towns, on housing subsidies to local authorities and new towns, which accounted for around one third of the net housing programme in 1979–80, decreased in real terms by 93 per cent. and 70·3 per cent. respectively between 1979–80 and 1993–94 consistent with our policy of ending indiscriminate subsidies and concentrating resources on tenants in greatest need through housing benefit. The Scottish Special Housing Association and Housing Corporation in Scotland were subsumed by Scottish Homes in 1989 which is funded on a different basis; no comparison with 1979–80 can therefore be made.

  Pollution
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the number of patients suffering ill health or death from carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, asbestos, microbes and radon pollution in their homes.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: Morbidity details are not available. The death data for 1992 are set out in the table.

  Deaths from Selected Causes Scotland 1992

  Number

  Number

  Carbon monoxide

  122

  Nitrogen dioxide

  —

  Tobacco smoke

  —

  Asbestosis

  8

  Formaldehyde (solution)

  4

  Formaldehyde (gas or vapour)

  —

  Hospital Waiting Times
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish, for each accident and emergency unit, the percentage of patients seen within five minutes of arrival for each of the last five years.
  562
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: Information on waiting times in accident and emergency departments has not previously been collected centrally. On 31 March 1994, my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State announced waiting time targets which each health board in Scotland had agreed with hospitals providing accident and emergency services. The targets cover the maximum time to be seen and assessed; the maximum time to be seen by a doctor and have treatment comence and the maximum time for completion of treatment. Arrangements are in hand for the monitoring of performance against these targets to be carried out later in the year. Information on waiting times in accident and emergency departments is scheduled for publication in 1995.

  Hospital League Tables
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statistics he will collect in order to prepare hospital league tables.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: The statistical requirements of the patients charter are under constant review. Over the past few years the "NHS Patient Treatment and Waiting Time Bulletin" has expanded as more, and reliable, statistics on performance against charter standards have become available. This process will continue.

  Water Piping (Dissolved Lead)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest information for each region of the level of dissolved lead in water piping.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: Such detailed information is not held centrally. Results of analysis of water samples taken from consumers' taps are held on public registers maintained by the water authorities. Summaries of this information are included in the authorities' annual reports on drinking water quality, available from each authority. Further summaries are included in the annual drinking water quality in Scotland report published by the Scottish Office, copies of which are in the Library.

TREASURY

  Pensions Contributions
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the Ea ratio for each year since 1964 for working on two-thirds average and twice average earnings, where E represents the direct cost of employment, including national insurance and pension contributions, and T represents take-home pay after deducting normal PAYE and national insurance and representative pension contributions.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information on pension contributions which would be necessary to answer this question is not available.

  Living Standards
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on living standards.

  External Financing Requirements

  £ million

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  British Aerospace

  1-3·0

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  National Freight Company Ltd

  10·0

  7·0

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  British Transport Docks Board

  1·0

  13·3

  -11·8

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  Enterprise Oil

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  -65·0

  -20·0

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  British Telecom

  -109·0

  250·0

  -323·0

  -225·0

  -341·0

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  British Shipbuilders (Warships)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  78·0

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  British Nuclear Oil Corporation

  -217·0

  -269·5

  -59·7

  9·5

  42·7

  31·3

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  British Gas

  -409·0

  39·0

  -230·0

  -45·0

  -189·0

  -190·0

  -684·0

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  British Airways

  304·0

  167·7

  -34·7

  -173·8

  -334·6

  -211·3

  -113·0

  P

  P

  P

  P

  P

  British Airports Authority

  18·0

  1·9

  1·7

  17·9

  9·6

  -21·0

  17·4

  -8·6

  P

  P

  P

  P

  National Bus Company

  85·0

  74·2

  62·1

  64·5

  55·7

  47·6

  -18·7

  -117·8

  -1·9

  P

  P

  P

  British Steel

  1,119·0

  766·0

  569·0

  318·0

  523·0

  411·0

  22·0

  -290·0

  -392·0

  P

  P

  P

  Water (England and Wales)

  n/a

  280·1

  291·3

  350·0

  286·4

  207·5

  106·8

  34·1

  11·2

  -4·6

  P

  P

  Girobank

  2n/a

  -3·5

  -4·5

  -11·7

  -2·4

  -3·1

  -9·1

  -18·9

  -25·0

  -16·9

  P

  P

  Electricity (England and Wales)

  140·0

  -221·2

  -153·8

  -485·0

  522·9

  -467·6

  -1,325·0

  -1,261·0

  -1,773·0

  -1,2620·0

  -209·1

  P

  North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board

  42·0

  -60·1

  -2·0

  -20·0

  41·6

  -39·3

  -11·8

  4·3

  -9·5

  33·1

  2·8

  -22·6

  South of Scotland Electricity Board

  32·0

  127·7

  127·3

  253·0

  285·1

  229·1

  235·7

  124·3

  132·5

  -307·1

  -108·9

  -47·8

  1BAe figure for 1980–81 up to 31 December 1980.

  2Girobank was a part of the Post Office EFR in 1980–81.

  P=Privatised.

  n/a=Not applicable.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of corporation tax received from formerly publicly owned companies since each privatisation has taken place.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Corporation tax paid by formerly publicly-owned companies since 1987–88 is as follows:

  Year

  £ billion

  1987–88

  1·5

  1988–89

  1·6

  1989–90

  1·5

  1990–91

  2·1

  1991–92

  2·3

  1992–93

  2·3

  1993–94

  1·9

  Pensioners (Income Tax)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of income tax paid, in the most recent year for which figures are available, by people aged(a) over 65 years, (b) over 70 years and (c) over 75 years.
  564
  Mr. Portillo
  Government policies provide a firm basis for sustained growth with low inflation. That is the best way to protect the living standards of all groups.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the net contributions to public finances from the formerly publicly owned companies in the five years prior to their privatisation.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The net contributions to public finances, represented by the negative external financing requirements—EFRS—for ex-nationalised industries in the years leading to their privatisations, is shown in the table below. The positive EFRs represent a cost to the public finances. Data in previous years are not available on a consistent basis.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Provisional estimates for 1994–95 are given below:

  Total income tax liability

  £ billion

  Taxpayers aged 65 years or over

  5·0

  Taxpayers aged 70 years or over

  3·0

  Taxpayers aged 75 years or over

  1·6

  All taxpayers

  69·7

  Royal Taxation
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the broad categories of spending which are tax deductible under the memorandum of understanding on royal taxation; and what limitations there are on the items which are classified as tax deductible.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Appendix A to the memorandum of understanding sets out rules for determining the head of state expenses deductible from Privy Purse income, so that income tax falls only on the income used for the Queen's personal expenditure. Paragraph 4 lists nine categories of deductible expenses. Similarly, appendix B to the
  565
  memorandum sets out four categories of expenses for the income of the Prince of Wales from the Duchy of Cornwall. The memorandum of understanding makes it clear that only official expenses within these categories are deductible.

  Venture Capital Trusts
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he is making with consultations on the consultative document on venture capital trusts issued last March.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have undertaken extensive consultations on the venture capital trust proposals and are now reflecting on the points that have been made.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 9 March,Official Report, column 220, if he will make it his policy to require those landowners benefiting from conditional exemption from inheritance tax on the grounds that there is public access across their land to cause notices to be erected at suitable intervals around the perimeter of the land indicating a right of public access.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 8 March,Official Report, column 98, the owner of land which is conditionally exempt from inheritance tax is required to publicise the agreed public access arrangements. Each case is considered individually and the extent and nature of the publicity will depend on all the facts of each particular case. For new designations of scenic land in England, owners are required to display at all points of entry on to their land map boards showing the agreed public access.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total acreage of land in England where the landowners benefit from conditional exemption from inheritance tax by virtue of there being a right of public access.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The area, rounded, of land in England of outstanding scenic interest which is conditionally exempt from inheritance tax or capital transfer tax is 51,000 hectares.

  Higher. Rate Tax
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1993,Official Report, column 970, if he will provide comparable information on higher rate tax forgone by reigon for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The available data were given in my reply of 17 December.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what factors Her Majesty's Government took into account before entry into the exchange rate mechanism; what estimates of the effect on United Kingdom exports and imports were made at the time; and what was the outturn up to September 1992;
  566
  (2) what has been the change in the nominal rate for the pound sterling against the (a) deutschmark and (b) ecu since December 1989; and what has been the effect on exports, imports, output and employment in the principal import-competing and export industries, distinguishing between trade with EC countries and trade with the rest of the world;

  (3) what was the change in the real and nominal exchange rates of the pound against (a) the dollar, (b) EU countries and (c) the rest of world from (i) September 1992 and (ii) February 1993 to latest available date.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government took into account a broad range of economic and political factors before sterling's entry into the exchange rate mechanism in 1990. The exchange rate is only one factor affecting exports, imports, output and employment. It is difficult to isolate the effects of the exchange rate from that of other factors such as activity and prices in the United Kingdom and its trading partners. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 March,Official Report, column 15, which provides references to exchange rate and price data which can be used to calculate the information requested.

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the import share of goods sold retail which are covered by the retail prices index; what has been the relative price increase since August 1992 of(a) such imported goods and (b) domestically produced goods.

  Mr. Nelson
  The information requested is not available.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield from capital gains tax in each of the last five years and what were the costs of collection in each year; what proportion of the yield and costs in each year derived from the taxation of investments in unquoted companies; and what estimates he has made of each figure for each of the next two years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The requested figures for capital gains tax yield and costs of collection are:

  £ million

  Total Net Receipts1

  Cost of Collection12

  1989–90

  1,854

  34·3

  1990–91

  1,852

  39·0

  1991–92

  1,140

  43·3

  1992–93

  982

  38·4

  51993–94

  711

  4N/A

  31994–95

  900

  N/A

  31995–96

  1,000

  N/A

  1The figures quoted exclude tax on gains made by companies included in corporation tax. Some of the costs associated with companies, however, cannot be separately identified and are therefore included in the costs figures for CGT rather than for corporation tax.

  2Costs are based on total departmental expenditure. Manpower usage and costs of administration for 1989–90 onwards have been adjusted to reflect a new basis of costing therefore direct comparisons of this and later figures with earlier years may be misleading. More detail regarding this adjustment is given in the Board of Inland Revenue's Report for the year ending 31st March 1991.

  3Summer Economic Forecast rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  4The 1993–94 cost of collection is not yet available and will be given

  567
  in the Board of Inland Revenue's Report for the year ending 31st March 1994 to be published in September 1994.

  5Provisional.

  I regret that routine information on CGT yield and costs analysed by type of asset is not available. However, a recent survey of capital gains taxpayers with liabilities in 1990–91 showed that around one sixth of the disposals and one third of net chargeable gains arose from shares in unquoted companies. This survey was before changes were made to retirement relief and the introduction of reinvestment relief, which will affect the proportion of tax coming from investment in unquoted trading companies.

  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual loss of revenue from capital gains tax resulting from a change of tax residence by individual taxpayers.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information on which to base a reliable estimate is not available.

  Tax Receipts
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total receipts from(a) value added tax and (b) income tax for 1979 and for each subsequent financial year for which figures are available.

  Sir John Cope
  The information requested is given in the table below. It also appears monthly in "Financial Statistics" which is produced by the Central Statistical Office.

  £ million

  December 1993

  January 1994

  February 1994

  March 1994

  April 1994

  May 1994

  Spirits

  307

  115

  68

  112

  126

  128

  Percentage of alcohol revenue

  43·6

  25·4

  26·5

  32·3

  28·9

  30

  Beer

  242

  235

  133

  161

  214

  201

  Percentage of alcohol revenue

  34·3

  51·9

  51·6

  46·8

  49·1

  47·2

  Wine

  148

  93

  53

  67

  86

  87

  Percentage of alcohol revenue

  21

  20·5

  20·5

  19·2

  19·7

  20·4

  Note:—The figures for April and May 1994 are provisional.

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners receiving compensation for the cost of value added tax on fuel will pay income tax on that money.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 24 June 1994]: Some 3·4 million pensioners, out of a total of 10 million, pay income tax.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the compensation for the cost of value added tax on fuel given to pensioners will return to the Treasury in the form of income tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 24 June 1994]: The Inland Revenue estimates that in 1994–95, about £20 million of income tax will come from the increase in benefits to pensioners given in the value added tax compensation package.
  568

  VAT and Income tax receipts

  Year

  VAT (£ billion)

  Income tax (£ billion)

  1979–80

  8·2

  20·6

  1980–81

  11·0

  24·3

  1981–82

  11·9

  28·7

  1982–83

  13·8

  30·4

  1983–84

  15·2

  31·1

  1984–85

  18·5

  32·5

  1985–86

  19·3

  35·4

  1986–87

  21·4

  38·5

  1987–88

  24·1

  41·4

  1988–89

  27·3

  43·4

  1989–90

  29·5

  48·8

  1990–91

  31·0

  55·3

  1991–92

  35·6

  57·5

  1992–93

  37·3

  56·8

  11993–94

  39·2

  58·4

  1Provisional outturn.

  Alcohol Duties
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts and percentages of the total revenue raised by duties on alcohol arose from(a) spirits, (b) wines and (c) beers in each month since 1 December 1993 or other convenient period.

  Sir John Cope
  A breakdown of excise revenue for spirits, beer and wine from December 1993 to May 1994 is as follows:

  Consultants
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultancy income has been paid under Government contracts to (i) Touche Ross, (ii) Arthur Andersen, (iii) Coopers and Lybrand, (iv) Ernst and Young, (v) KPMG Peat Marwick and (vi) Price Waterhouse in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 1 July 1994]: This information is not held centrally.

  Contracts
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions in the last 10 years he or a Minister in his Department has given a direction to civil servants to award a contract against the advice of the civil service; what was the subject matter of the contract and its value; and when it was awarded.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 8 July 1994]: I know of no such cases.

  Luxury Cars
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to ensure that non-Italian luxury cars are subject to a taxation system when sold in Italy that does not discriminate against cars made in other EU countries.

  Mr. Needham
  I have been asked to reply.

  Officials have made written and oral representations in Brussels in support of a formal complaint to the Commission by a British car manufacturer. The British embassy in Rome has raised the issue with the Italian Government. We have made clear our willingness to discuss further action to help British car manufacturers affected by the Italian tax.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the number of fathers who have left their jobs following assessment by the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is not available. It is, however, unlikely that many fathers would leave their jobs to avoid paying maintenance for their children. Following the legislative changes in February, the maintenance assessment formula ensures that all absent parents, and their second families, are at least £30 a week better off after payment of maintenance than they would be if unemployed and receiving income support. In addition, someone who has left work voluntarily is not entitled to unemployment benefit, and income support is payable at a reduced rate.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints he has received about the workings of the Child Support Agency since its creation.

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

  Letter from J. T. Hughes to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 12 July 1994:
  In her absence the Chief Executive, Mrs. Hepplewhite, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of complaints that have been received about the Child Support Agency since its creation.
  Between 5 April 1993 and 31 March 1994, 10,886 complaints were recorded, which represents just over 1 per cent. of the 850,000 cases the Agency has taken on.
  I hope you will find this reply helpful.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently in receipt of(a) war widows' pension or (b) war disablement pension.

  Mr. Hague
  On 30 June 1994 there were:

  (a) 49,272 war widows' pensions in payment; and

  (b) 250,315 war disablement pensions in payment.

  570
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the total cost of war widows' pension payments in(a) 1978–79, (b) 1983–84, (c) 1987–88, (d) 1992–93, (e) 1993–94 and (f) 1994–95.

  Mr. Hague
  Table A details actual expenditure in respect of war widows for the financial years 1978–79, 1983–84, 1987–88, and 1992–93

  Table A

  Financial year

  Amount (£ millions)

  1978–79

  117

  1983–84

  177

  1987–88

  190

  1992–93

  225

  Total actual expenditure for 1993–94 is not yet available. Table B details the current estimate of expenditure in respect of war widows for that year and the estimate for 1994–95.

  Table B

  Financial year

  Amount (£ millions)

  1993–94

  237

  1994–95

  237

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, when the hearing of a case involving a disabled person has to be resited because of difficulties of access for that disabled person from what would have been its normal venue, the resultant additional expenses can be reimbursed by the appropriate administrative department.

  Mr. Scott
  Any appellant who attends the hearing of an appeal has all travelling and associated expenses reimbursed.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the amounts payable and the earnings limits for adult dependency increases payable with invalidity benefit since 1971, (b) the changes in eligibility conditions for adult dependency increases payable with invalidity benefit since 1971, (c) the arrangements for transitional protection for each and (d) numbers of claimants receiving transitional protection under each heading.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the tables:

  (i) adult dependency increases: rates and earnings limits

  Date

  Weekly rate £

  Earnings limit £

  September 1971

  3·70

  9·50

  October 1972

  4·15

  9·50

  October 1973

  4·75

  9·50

  July 1974

  6·00

  13·00

  April 1975

  6·90

  20·00

  November 1975

  7·90

  20·00

  November 1976

  9·20

  20·00

  November 1977

  10·50

  40·00

  November 1978

  11·70

  45·00

  November 1979

  14·00

  45·00

  571

  Date

  Weekly rate £

  Earnings limit £

  November 1980

  15·60

  45·00

  November 1981

  17·00

  45·00

  November 1982

  18·85

  45·00

  November 1983

  19·55

  45·00

  November 1984

  20·55

  45·00

  September 1985

  20·55

  28·45

  November 1985

  23·00

  30·45

  July 1986

  23·25

  30·80

  April 1987

  23·75

  31·45

  April 1988

  24·75

  32·75

  April 1989

  26·20

  34·70

  (ii) Changes in eligibility conditions and details of transitional protection

  Date and description of change

  Details of transitional protection

  November 1981

  Payment for a prescribed relative discontinued

  Right to protection continues for a maximum of two years whilst entitlement remains. No longer applies.

  November 1983

  Provision made for a dependent husband if his earnings are no more than the increase payable.

  Not required-beneficial change.

  November 1984

  Occupational pensions treated as earnings.

  Protection continues whilst increase remains in payment. Number still benefitting unknown.

  Provision made for a male adult dependant caring for a child.

  Not required—beneficial change.

  September 1985

  Tapered earnings rule abolished (see note to Table (i)).

  Right to protection continues whilst entitlement remains. 3,000' recipients estimated as benefitting at 4 April 1992.

  October 1989

  Personal pensions treated as earnings.

  Protection continues whilst increase remains in payment. Number still benefitting unknown.

  1Rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people on invalidity benefit who were found(a) capable of alternative work and (b) capable of normal occupation in each of the quarters between the quarter ended June 1993 and quarter ended June 1994 subsequently received (i) unemployment benefit, (ii) income support, by virtue of signing on as unemployed and (iii) regained entitlement to invaldity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Information about subsequent activities of people found capable of work following a medical examination by the Benefits' Agency medical service is being collected as part of the arrangements for monitoring the revised medical control procedures introduced from April 1993. The sample size from this exercise is not yet sufficient to provide statistically reliable information.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total sum currently withheld from recipients of invalidity benefit in respect of the Government's appeal against the decision of the social security commissioner regarding equal treatment for women and men in entitlement to the benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Around 37,000 women are having their increase of benefit suspended pending the outcome of the appeal. Information about the amount of money involved is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  572

  Date

  Weekly rate £

  Earnings limit £

  April 1990

  28·20

  37·35

  April 1991

  31·25

  41·40

  April 1992

  32·55

  43·10

  April 1993

  33·70

  44·65

  April 1994

  34·50

  45·45

  Note: Until 16 September 1985, the increase was withdrawn on a tapered basis when earnings exceeded the limit shown above by 0·10p or more. From that date except in transitionally protected cases the increase is wholly extinguished when earnings exceed the limit shown above by any amount.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals concerning invalidity benefit where received by his Department during each of the quarters between the quarter ended June 1993 to the quarter ended June 1994; and what percentage of these were found in the claimant's favour.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is in the table:

  Appeals registered with Social Security Appeal Tribunals: Invalidity Benefit

  Quarter ending

  Appeals lodged with the tribunal

  1Appeals heard and decided by the tribunal

  1Percentage decided in the claimants favour

  30 June 1993

  5,689

  1,800

  51·7

  30 September 1993

  7,021

  2,961

  54·9

  31 December 1993

  7,150

  3,225

  57·8

  Source: Analytical Services Division.

  1Includes appeals lodged in an earlier quarter.

  2Percentage of appeals heard and decided.

  Benefits Claims
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action is being taken to establish and investigate inconsistencies in information given in relation to claims for different benefits made by the same person.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have authorised a series of exercises to compare information held on different departmental
  573
  computer files to ensure that inconsistencies are identified. Work has already started to match data for income support, family credit and child benefit. Any inconsistencies identified from such work will be investigated.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Residence Qualification
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons foreigners entering the United Kingdom immediately qualify for social security benefits; which other EC countries have a similar policy; and if he will now take steps to amend the recent United Kingdom situation so as to require a minimum of six months' residence to qualify for benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  In general, income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit are not available to people who come from outside the European Economic Area. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced yesterday new regulations which will reduce eligibility further. From 1 August claimants to these benefits will have to satisfy a habitual residence test, unless they are workers, refugees or given exceptional leave to remain in this country. The qualifying conditions for other social security benefits vary but are usually dependant on a contribution condition. Eligibility conditions for income-related safety net benefits in other EEA countries vary widely, but most have a residence condition, the changes announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, yesterday bring us into line with them.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many British pensioners residing overseas in countries where their pensions are frozen are over(a) 80, (b) 75 and (c) 70 years of age; and what would be the cost of unfreezing their pensions above these respective age thresholds.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the table.

  Number of pensioners

  Pensioners aged 80 and over

  79,273

  Pensioners aged 75 and over

  123,366

  Pensioners aged 70 and over

  228,377

  Estimated cost of unfreezing pensions

  £ million

  Pensioners aged 80 and over

  107

  Pensioners aged 75 and over

  138

  Pensioners aged 70 and over

  192

  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals are in receipt of frozen 574
  British state retirement pensions; and what is the average level of weekly payment in (a) Australia, (b) Canada, (c) New Zealand, (d) South Africa and (e) the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the table.

  Country

  Number of retirement pension and widow beneficiaries at 29 January 1994

  Estimated average level of weekly payment £

  Australia

  159,235

  21·54

  Canada

  118,362

  17·86

  New Zealand

  32,042

  20·57

  South Africa

  33,208

  21·17

  Falkland Islands

  17

  29·26

  Benefits Agency
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each Benefits Agency district office in Birmingham(a) how many people were in receipt of (i) invalidity benefit and (ii) disability premium at the beginning of each of the last three financial years, (b) how many people (1) in receipt of invalidity benefit and (2) in receipt of disability premium were referred to a regional medical officer for a medical examination in each of the last three financial years and how many were found to be (x) incapable of work, (y) fit for work within limits and (z) fit for work.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 11 July 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about benefit recipients in Birmingham.
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because Benefit Agency (BA) District boundaries do not correspond exactly with county or borough boundaries.
  Birmingham postal districts B1 to B45 are dealt with by the BA Districts of Birmingham, Chamberlain, Birmingham Heartlands, Birmingham North West, Birmingham South East and Birmingham South West collectively. Other Birmingham postal districts are dealt with by BA Districts which also cover areas outside the Birmingham grographical region. Statistics relating to recipients of Invalidity Benefit (IVB) and Disability Premium payable with Income Support dealt with by these Districts and who were resident in a Birmingham postal district could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  At Appendix 1, I have provided the numbers of people claiming IVB in each of the Birmingham Districts covering postal districts B1 to B45. The figures show the position on the last working day of March in each year from and including 1992. This information was obtained from a monthly 100% clerical count of cases in each District's offices, and represents the most accurate statistics available to show the position at the beginning of each financial year.
  No corresponding information can be provided for March 1991. IVB recipients were not identified separately until May 1991. Prior to this date, numbers of IVB cases were aggregated with Sickness Benefit cases. In addition, there is no requirement for Districts to retain statistics relating to numbers of claims for more than two years.
  The statistics provided for IVB recipients to include a small number of customers who have claimed but are not receiving benefit; eg. where there is underlying title to IVB but a higher, overlapping benefit is in payment.
  At Appendix 2 I have provided numbers of people receiving Disability Premium with their entitlement to Income Support

  575
  from the BA Birmingham Districts on the last working day of March each year since 1992. Statistics relating to Income Support recipients are not routinely collected in relation to financial years. The figures provided represent the most accurate available to reflect the position on the dates in question.
  Information regarding numbers of recipients of Invalidity Benefit and Disability Premium referred to the Medical Reference Service of the Benefits Agency Medical Service (BAMS), (formerly the Regional Medical Service), in the last three financial years; and the outcomes of any medical examinations; is only available at disproportionate cost.
  BA Districts in Birmingham refer cases to the BAMS, Birmingham, reference office. However, this office also receives references from a much larger geographical area. Such information as is available relating to the Birmingham reference office has been provided at Appendix 3. These statistics have only been maintained since 1 January 1993 and therefore no earlier information is available.
  BAMS provide an opinion on a customer's capacity for work. However, the decision on this question lies with the Adjudication Officer (AO), the independent adjudication authority. The AO considers the BAMS report along with all other available evidence.
  Where the customer has a regular employment, BAMS provide an opinion on capacity for work in that regular employment and any suitable alternative work. Statistics relating to numbers of cases found incapable of work; fit for suitable alternative work; and fit for work; by an AO following reference to BAMS, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Appendix 3

  References cleared at BAMS Birmingham reference office

  1 Period

  2 Total cleared

  3 Incapable of work

  4 Capable of suitable alternative work

  5 Capable of work

  6 Others

  Quarter ending 31 March 1993

  21,602

  17,311

  1,667

  410

  2,214

  Quarter ending 30 June 1993

  24,383

  19,681

  1,785

  315

  2,602

  Quarter ending 30 September 1993

  23,087

  17,785

  2,025

  340

  2,937

  Quarter ending 31 December 1993

  23,660

  18,124

  2,258

  355

  2,923

  Quarter ending 31 March 1994

  26,350

  18,697

  2,918

  315

  4,420

  Social Fund
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for(a) social fund grants and (b) social fund loans, that met the criteria, were refused because of budgetary constraints in each social security office in the United Kingdom in each year since 1989–90.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 11 July 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Social Fund (SF) applications refused on grounds of budgetary constraints in the United Kingdom since 1989–90.
  I have confined my answer to the former Department of Social Security Local Offices and Benefits Agency Districts, as questions concerning Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
  I should explain that District budgets, which must not be exceeded, have to be managed so that, as far as possible, similar levels of need can be met throughout the year. Therefore, Social Fund Officers (SFOs) ensure that the highest priority needs are met whilst adopting as consistent an approach as possible.
  576

  Appendix 1 IVB recipients in Birmingham

  Date

  March 1992

  March 1993

  March 1994

  Birmingham Chamberlain

  4,502

  4,991

  5,917

  Birmingham Heartlands

  1—

  1—

  7,377

  Birmingham North West

  4,849

  5,433

  5,803

  Birmingham South East

  5,941

  7,030

  8,205

  Birmingham South West

  4,836

  5,303

  6,335

  Total

  26,297

  30,742

  33,637

  1The figures relating to IVB cases recordced for this District for these two years were incorrectly collated due to administrative error in the District concerned, and have therefore been omitted. The figure provided for March 1994 gives the true figure at that date.

  Appendix 2 Disability premium recipients in Birmingham

  Date

  March 1992

  March 1993

  March 1994

  Birmingham Chamberlian

  2,193

  2,730

  3,323

  Birmingham Heartlands

  2,057

  2,599

  2,913

  Birmingham North West

  2,068

  2,519

  2,993

  Birmingham South East

  2,104

  2,434

  2,716

  Birmingham South West

  2,087

  2,596

  3,064

  Total

  10,509

  12,878

  15,009

  Information for the year 1989–90 is not available by Local Office but you may wish to know that the number of loans and grants refused nationally on the grounds of insufficient priority in that year was 138,997 and 50,342 respectively.Details of loans and grants refused on grounds of insufficient priority for the year 1990–91 by former Departmental Local Office and for the years 1991–92 to 1993–94 by Benefits Agency District are enclosed and copies have been placed in the Library under the heading Department of Social Security, Social Fund, Applications Refused on the Grounds of Budgetary Constraints 1990–91—1993–94.The new Social Fund Computer System (SFCS) introduced in 1993–94, collects additional statistics which were not held on the old system. Many statistical items are collected differently and are not directly comparable with previous years. The previous system recorded reasons for refusal per application whereas SFCS records reasons for refusal per item requested. In cases where a partial award is made a reason for refusal will also be appropriate. As SFCS was introduced into Districts on a rollout basis throughout the year, the figures for 1993–94 will be a combination of the information held on the two systems.I hope you find this reply helpful.

TRANSPORT

  Vehicle Excise Duty Discs
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the number of vehicle excise duty discs that are stolen from vehicles each year.
  577
  Mr. Key
  Precise figures are not available for the number of VED discs stolen from vehicles each year. However, approximately 200,000 discs are either lost or stolen annually.

  Railway Industry Posts (Pay Policy)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Transport to what levels of post the public sector pay policy applies in the railway industry.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government's approach to public sector pay applies to the total pay bills of the various components of the railway industry.

  Total of grants/subsidies and receipts

  Year

  Rail

  Bus

  Taxi

  Total

  £ million

  Percentage GDP

  £ million

  Percentage GDP

  Percentage GDP

  Percentage GDP rounded

  1979

  1,751·2

  1·01

  1,738

  1·00

  —

  n/a

  1980

  2,005·4

  1·00

  2,179

  1·08

  0·13

  2·2

  1981

  2,293·8

  1·05

  2,335

  1·07

  0·13

  2·3

  1982

  2,315·7

  0·97

  2,603

  1·09

  0·10

  2·2

  1983

  2,605·6

  1·00

  2,713

  1·04

  0·12

  2·2

  1984

  2,699·0

  0·96

  2,822

  1·01

  0·13

  2·1

  1985

  2,878·4

  0·94

  2,844

  0·93

  0·13

  2·0

  1986

  2,902·5

  0·89

  2,835

  0·87

  0·17

  1·9

  1987

  3,112·5

  0·87

  2,878

  0·80

  0·17

  1·8

  1988

  2,994·4

  0·75

  3,022

  0·76

  0·16

  1·7

  1989

  3,292·4

  0·75

  3,175

  0·72

  0·19

  1·7

  1990

  3,833·6

  0·80

  3,358

  0·70

  0·18

  1·7

  1991

  4,311·5

  0·87

  3,556

  0·72

  0·19

  1·8

  1992

  4,748·7

  0·92

  3,633

  0·71

  —

  (1·8)

  1993

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Norris
  The following organisations have been privatised since 1990: five trust ports—Clyde, Forth, Medway, Tees and Hartlepool, and Tilbury; two operating subsidiaries of London Buses Ltd.—London Coaches Ltd. and Stanwell Buses Ltd.; DVOIT, the former IT arm of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; and three subsidiaries of British Rail—Transmark, Meldon quarry, and special trains unit.

  The position on further privatisation is as follows:
  The Government believe that the future of a number of the remaining larger trust ports should be within the private sector; London Transport are planning to sell the remaining 10 operating subsidiaries of London Buses Ltd. and London Transport Advertising Ltd. by the end of this year; my right hon. Friend announced on 30 March his decision to privatise the Transport Research Laboratory, which we hope can be achieved during 1995–96. In addition, plans to privatise the railways include:
  Three rolling stock leasing companies (Eversholt, Angel, and Porterbrook) to be offered for sale in 1995.
  Twenty-five passenger franchises to be offered for sale as follows:
  during 1995:
  East Coast Main Line; Great Western Main Line; ScotRail; Gatwick Express; London, Tilbury and Southend; South West.
  during 1996:
  Anglia; Merseyrail; South Wales and West; South London and
  Sussex Coast Lines; Cardiff Valleys; Midland Main Line;

  Public Transport Expenditure
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he keeps regarding the proportion of gross domestic product spent on(a) buses, (b) trains and (c) all public transport, annually, for the years 1979 to 1993, inclusive.

  Mr. Freeman
  Expenditure on public transport, by passengers and through grants and subsidies, as a percentage of GDP was as follows:West Coast Main Line.
  for later sale:
  Central Region; Cross Country; North East Region; Thames; West Anglia and Great Northern; Kent Link and Kent Coast Lines; Northampton and North London Lines; Chiltern Line; Great Eastern; North West Region; Thameslink.
  Railtrack to be privatised in due course. There is no timetable for sale.
  Freight businesses: Freightliner (BR's container business) and Red Star (express parcels) were advertised for sale in May 1994. BR's trainload freight services, and the Rail Express systems (mail train business) will be offered for sale in 1995. The Channel Tunnel freight services will be privatised once they have been established fully.
  Fourteen Infrastructure Service Units. Sales due to be completed by April 1996.
  European Passengers Services (a Government owned company). The intention is for EPS to be transferred in 1995, along with Union Railways (a subsidiary of the British Railways Board), to the consortium chosen to build and own the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
  Some 30 other businesses which provide support services to the railway industry will be offered for sale as soon as possible. they include:

  British Rail Telecommunications plc;

  British Rail Maintenance Ltd. and Level 5 depots;

  The Works Division;

  Marketing Services;

  Technical Services;

  Business Systems;

  Quality and Safety Systems;

  Training activities and establishments

  Note: Two of these businesses will be offered to the private sector

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role his Department has had in negotiations between Manchester airport and the Highways Agency; when he expects the negotiations will be concluded; and if he will make a statement.
  579
  Mr. Key
  I have kept in close touch with with the negotiations between Manchester Airport plc, the Highways Agency and officials of the Government Office for the North-West over the provision of road access to Manchester airport if consent is given for the construction of a second runway. These discussions continue.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  The Attorney-General
  None. As to the future, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) on 8 July 1994,Official Report, column 337.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Orders In Council
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the titles of the Orders in Council enacted under the(a) affirmative, (b) negative and (c) emergency procedures for each year since 1979.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  A list of the Orders in Council that have been made under Northern Ireland Act 1974 since 1979 will be placed in the Library.

  Table 1: Expenditure by grant type

  £ million

  Renovation1

  Replacement2

  Other3

  Total

  1989–90

  22·50

  nil

  11·1

  33·6

  1990–91

  21·00

  nil

  10·0

  31·0

  1991–92

  22·00

  nil

  8·0

  30·0

  1992–93

  21·00

  nil

  9·1

  30·1

  1993–94

  23·94

  0·66

  7·8

  32·4

  The Housing (NI) Order 1992 introduced a new grants regime and the figures supplied reflect comparable grants under the new and old schemes.

  1The figures for Renovation Grants include Improvement Grants and grants associated with disabled facilities.

  2Replacement grants were first introduced in the financial year 1991–92 and expenditure did not accrue until the 1993–94 financial year.

  3"Other" includes Repair, Intermediate, Houses in Multiple Occupation, and Minor Works Grants.

  Table 2: Grant expenditure by council area 1993–941

  £000s

  Council

  Renovation

  Replacement

  Others

  Total

  Antrim

  —

  —

  6·4

  6·4

  Ards

  —

  —

  38·5

  38·5

  Armagh

  16·6

  15·0

  160·0

  191·6

  Ballymena

  4·4

  —

  8·1

  12·5

  Ballymoney

  38·6

  18·9

  4·1

  61·6

  Banbridge

  1·2

  —

  19·5

  20·7

  Belfast

  780·9

  —

  229·8

  1,010·7

  Carrickfergus

  12·3

  —

  4·3

  16·6

  Castlereagh

  8·8

  —

  17·8

  26·6

  Coleraine

  57·7

  16·4

  16·6

  90·7

  Cookstown

  —

  —

  19·0

  19·0

  Craigavon

  28·9

  —

  193·0

  221·9

  Derry

  17·9

  —

  16·7

  34·6

  Down

  95·4

  90·1

  14·1

  199·6

  Dungannon

  16·7

  —

  19·1

  35·8

  Fermanagh

  68·5

  396·9

  65·4

  530·8

  Larne

  8·1

  —

  4·8

  12·9

  Schools (Capital Grants)
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all applications for capital grants from(a) grant-maintained schools and (b) integrated schools from 1990 to 1993; and if he will list those grants approved, the date approved and the capital fund requested and granted.

  Mr. Ancram
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Housing Benefit
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claimants living in private rented accommodation had their housing benefit reduced in the last year; and what was the average level of reduction.

  Mr. Ancram
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Renovation and Replacement Grants
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of renovation and replacement grants paid out in each year since 1989–90; and what is the latest available information for each district council area in the Province.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. However I am advised by its Chief Executive that the information requested is as follows:
  581

  Council

  Renovation

  Replacement

  Others

  Total

  Limavady

  —

  —

  4·1

  4·1

  Lisburn

  129·0

  57·1

  20·3

  206·4

  Magherafelt

  1·1

  —

  6·8

  7·9

  Moyle

  1·l

  —

  0·8

  1·9

  Newry and Mourne

  43·5

  35·8

  105·9

  185·2

  Newtownabbey

  45·5

  —

  11·5

  57·0

  North Down

  8·0

  —

  29·8

  37·8

  Omagh

  —

  —

  22·5

  22·5

  Strabane

  7·7

  23·7

  14·3

  45·7

  Total

  1,391·9

  653·9

  1,053·2

  3,099

  1These figures only represent expenditure on grants approved under the Housing (NI) Order 1992.

  Further expenditure of £29·3m was incurred under the previous scheme but is not available by Council area.

  Omagh-Ballygavley Road
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to commence the upgrading of the Omagh to Ballygavley road.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Two schemes at Brackagh and Augher Point have been completed and a scheme to provide a climbing lane at Garvaghy will start in the 1997–98 financial year, subject to the continuing availability of finance.

  Cookstown Bypass
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Department of the Environment has to commence the completion of the Cookstown bypass.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The completion of the Cookstown bypass is not included in the Department's current five-year major road works programme.

  Workspace, Draperstown Ltd.
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants have been received from central Government, the International Fund for Ireland and European sources by Workspace, Draperstown Ltd.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Grants received by Workspace, Draperstown Ltd. and its subsidiaries from central Government and European sources are as follows:

  £

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  986,990

  European Regional Development Fund

  197,400

  Department of Agriculture

  2,138

  EU LEADER Programme

  21,470

  Training and Employment Agency

  13,608,873

  EU HORIZON Programme

  130,380

  1Last two yeats only.

  The question of the amount of grant aid received from the International Fund for Ireland is a matter for the board of the fund, which is independent of Her Majesty's Government.

  Child Care
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Department of Health spends on child care; on what provision this sum is spent; and how many children receive the child care.
  582
  Mr. Ancram
  The Department of Health and Social Services encourages the development of child care by grant aiding regional voluntary child care organisations in Northern Ireland. In the current financial year, over £241,000 is being provided. That is in addition to the support that health and social services boards provide to local day care projects, which in 1991–92, the latest year for which the information is available, amounted to £1,598,000. In that year, boards also spent £148,000 on family day centres, although those do not cater exclusively for parents with young children. In January 1994, the Department also allocated £310,000 to the health and social services boards on a once-only basis in support of local initiatives in the child care sector.

  Details of the forms of provision and number of places available, as at 31 March 1993, are as follows:

  Type

  Places available

  Pre-school playgroups

  14,742

  Day nurseries

  2,080

  Childminders

  13,492

  Total

  30,314

  Prison Statistics
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners are at present being held(a) Magilligan, (b) Maze, (c) Crumlin and (d) Maghaberry prisons.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The prison population in these establishments on 7 July 1994 was as follows:

  Establishment

  Number of prisoners

  HM Prison Magilligan

  297

  HM Prison Maze

  575

  MR Prison Belfast

  547

  HM Prison Maghaberry

  327

  Integrated Schools
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the location of each(a) primary and (b) secondary integrated school in Northern Ireland, together with the catchment area from which its pupils are drawn, the number of children at each school and its capacity; and if he will give the number of (i) voluntary grammar, (ii) maintained primary and secondary schools

  583
  and (iii) controlled primary and secondary schools within each such catchment area, showing the number of pupils at those schools and their capacity, or as much of such information as is readily available to him.

  Mr. Ancram
  The "open enrolment" regulations currently in operation allow parents to state a preference for the school which they wish their child to attend. If the school has places, it must accept the child. Catchment areas as such are not prescribed and the Department does not hold information on the catchment area of each school.

  The information readily available on integrated schools is as follows:

  Integrated schools in Northern Ireland

  School name

  Location

  Capacity

  Enrolments (1993–94)

  Grant-maintained Integrated Primary Schools

  Acorn1

  Carrickfergus

  82

  52

  Braidside1

  Ballymena

  145

  118

  Bridge

  Banbridge

  270

  227

  Corran1

  Larne

  120

  91

  Cranmore1

  Belfast

  120

  38

  Enniskillen1

  Enniskillen

  174

  161

  Hazelwood

  Belfast

  305

  302

  Lough View1

  Belfast

  50

  24

  Millstrand

  Portrush

  198

  170

  Oakgrove1

  Londonderry

  240

  219

  Omagh1

  Omagh

  131

  110

  Portadown1

  Portadown

  140

  115

  Saints and Scholars1

  Armagh

  100

  26

  Windmill

  Dungannon

  121

  110

  Controlled Integrated Primary Schools

  All Children's

  Newcastle

  176

  148

  Carhill

  Garvagh

  97

  50

  Forge

  Belfast

  210

  159

  Grant-maintained Integrated Secondary Schools

  Hazelwood College

  Belfast

  643

  585

  Lagan College

  Belfast

  850–860

  849

  Oakgrove College1

  Londonderry

  400

  180

  Controlled Integrated Secondary Schools

  Brownlow College

  Craigavon

  400

  205

  1As these schools have not been open for the full seven years of primary level education and five years of secondary level education. The figures represent planned long-term capacity.

  Benefits
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were in receipt of(a) disability allowance, (b) attendance allowance, (c) family credit, (d) income support and (e) invalidity benefit, at the latest available date.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information available is given as follows:

  Number of claimants in receipt of certain benefits in Northern Ireland May 1994

  Type of benefit

  Number

  Attendance Allowance

  49,237

  Disability Living Allowance

  67,980

  Family Credit

  19,952

  Income Support

  222,621

  Invalidity Benefit

  67,813

  Child Support Agency
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases the Child Support Agency has used earnings deduction orders to obtain maintenance payments.

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Child Support Agency under its chief executive, Patrick Devlin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Pat Devlin to Rev. William McCrea, dated 5 July 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your question about the number of cases where a Deduction from Earnings Order is used to obtain maintenance.
  Between April 1993 and 30 June 1994 Deductions from Earnings Orders were imposed in 297 cases.
  I hope you find this information useful.

  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases have been dealt with by the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Child Support Agency under its chief executive, Patrick Devlin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Pat Devlin to Rev. William McCrea, dated 5 July 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your question about the number of cases dealt with by the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland.
  Between April 1993 and 1 July 1994 the Agency contacted 25,423 persons with care of children and in 16,990 cases application was returned. The Agency has cleared 14,121 cases in the same period.
  I hope you find this information useful.

  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases the Child Support Agency has pursued to date where there is a court agreement regarding maintenance in existence.

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Child Support Agency under its chief executive, Patrick Devlin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Pat Devlin to Rev. William McCrea, dated 5 July 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your question about the number of cases the Child Support Agency has pursued to date where there is a court order agreement regarding maintenance in existence.
  Information on the number of cases assessed where there was a previous court agreement is not collected routinely and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  I hope you find this information useful.

  Job Creation
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been created through(a) the Industrial Development Board and (b) Local Enterprise Development Unit initiatives in each Northern Ireland constituency in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Information on job creations is not available in the form requested. Statistics for job creations
  585
  are not available before 1991–92. The table below gives details of IDB and LEDU job creations for Northern Ireland since 1991–92.

  New jobs created

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Industrial Development Board

  2,490

  2,815

  3,289

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  1,750

  2,630

  2,870

  Roads
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the allocation of Department of the Environment finances for(a) road maintenance, (b) major and (c) minor roadworks in each of the 26 district council areas in the last financial year.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Expenditure for the 1993–94 financial year is as follows:

  District council

  Road maintenance

  Major works1

  Minor Works

  Antrim

  2,213

  1,415

  419

  Ards

  1,988

  75

  383

  Armagh

  3,028

  0

  881

  Ballymena

  1,813

  113

  552

  Ballymoney

  1,068

  0

  171

  Banbridge

  1,738

  93

  371

  Belfast

  6,495

  212,713

  1,037

  Carrickfergus

  784

  144

  309

  Castlereagh

  2,018

  82

  582

  Coleraine

  1,988

  589

  979

  Cookstown

  2,042

  4

  383

  Craigavon

  2,617

  40

  535

  Derry

  2,219

  381

  904

  Down

  2,628

  128

  644

  Dungannon

  2,745

  43

  379

  Fermanagh

  3,128

  16

  596

  Larne

  1,203

  0

  202

  Limavady

  1,430

  653

  457

  Lisburn

  4,530

  597

  909

  Magherafelt

  1,593

  188

  775

  Moyle

  905

  0

  152

  Newry and Mourne

  3,115

  1,270

  890

  Newtownabbey

  2,877

  156

  963

  North Down

  1,257

  226

  407

  Omagh

  3,106

  107

  698

  Strabane

  2,517

  150

  541

  Total

  61,045

  19,183

  15,119

  1Major works are not allocated on a District Council basis. These figures represent expenditure on specific schemes some of which may have been completed prior to 1993–94.

  2Includes expenditure on Belfast Cross Harbour Bridges.

  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what investigations have been carried out in Northern Ireland in relation to the link between the road network and employment and prosperity.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  While no specific investigations have been carried out by the Department, the link between the road network and the economy is one of the factors considered in the formulation of road policy.

  Education Costs
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average cost of educating a child at(a) a controlled primary school, (b) a controlled
  586
  secondary school, (c) a voluntary grammar school, (d) an integrated primary school, (e) an integrated secondary school and (f) an integrated primary school in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The average expenditure per pupil in Northern Ireland in 1992–93 was as follows:

  £

  Controlled primary school

  1,393

  Controlled secondary school

  2,294

  Voluntary grammar school

  2,157

  Integrated primary school

  1,697

  Integrated secondary school

  2,268

  Public Bodies
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his appointments to public bodies and non-departmental public bodies are subject to investigation by the Fair Employment Commission.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The vast majority of appointments made by my right hon. and learned Friend to public bodies in Northern Ireland do not constitute employment within the meaning of the provisions of the Fair Employment Acts, and would therefore lie outside the scope of the investigative powers of the Fair Employment Commission. However, a small number of public appointments, where the chairman of the public body concerned is also the chief executive, would come within the investigative powers of the Fair Employment Commission. Appointments which do not fall within the scope of the Fair Employment Acts are subject to the anti-discrimination provisions of section 19 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.

  Capital Works
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been extended in each education board area in Northern Ireland on capital works in each of the last five years for which figures are available on(a) the integrated sector, (b) the voluntary grammar schools, (c) the controlled primary and secondary schools and (d) the maintained primary and secondary schools.

  Mr. Ancram
  Capital expenditure by education and library boards for each of the years from 1988–89 to 1991–92 is analysed by area and by school sector in the statements and summary of the education and library boards' accounts, Cmnd 1105, 1531, 1977, and 2249, copies of which are available in the Library. The figures for 1992–93 will be published on 27 July 1994, Cmnd No. 2603. Capital grants paid by the Department of Education to grant-maintained integrated schools and voluntary schools over the five year period 1988–89 to 1992–93 are set out in the table:

  Board area and year

  Integrated schools £000s

  Voluntary grammar schools £000s

  Maintained primary and secondary schools £000s

  Belfast

  1988–89

  Nil

  1,368

  1,604

  1989–90

  Nil

  1,425

  1,816

  1990–91

  49

  1,602

  3,301

  587

  Board area and year

  Integrated schools £000s

  Voluntary grammar schools £000s

  Maintained primary and secondary schools £000s

  1991–92

  71

  2,516

  3,045

  1992–93

  329

  1,195

  2,556

  Western

  1988–89

  Nil

  864

  1,601

  1989–90

  Nil

  1,208

  1,749

  1990–91

  Nil

  2,034

  2,216

  1991–92

  406

  4,163

  4,000

  1992–93

  19

  5,040

  3,475

  North Eastern

  1988–89

  Nil

  2,073

  1,766

  1989–90

  Nil

  1,848

  930

  1990–91

  650

  2,575

  732

  1991–92

  32

  3,976

  896

  1992–93

  530

  4,193

  1,167

  South Eastern

  1988–89

  Nil

  509

  922

  1989–90

  Nil

  1,783

  1,503

  1990–91

  101

  1,375

  2,896

  1985

  1990

  1992

  Perinatal

  Neonatal

  Perinatal

  Neonatal

  Perinatal

  Neonatal

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board

  10·4

  4·8

  7·3

  3·5

  8·7

  3·8

  Northern Health and Social Services Board

  10·4

  5·2

  7·1

  4·2

  7·6

  3·5

  Southern Health and Social Services Board

  12·8

  7·7

  6·4

  4·0

  8·5

  3·8

  Western Health and Social Services Board

  11·4

  5·5

  10·2

  4·9

  7·8

  5·6

  Note: 1993 figures are not yet available. Perinatal are per 1,000 live and still births. Neonatal are per 1,000 live births.

  Chill Factor Definition
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will define the chill factor which he requires to be taken into account for health provision in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The chill factor refers to the requirement for health and social services boards, in planning the provision of services, to ensure that no section of the community would perceive itself to be unduly disadvantaged in terms of its continued access to services as a result of changes in their location.

  Countryside Protection Schemes
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost in 1993 in Northern Ireland of payments made under(a) the countryside stewardship scheme, (b) the hedgerow incentive scheme, (c) the countryside premium scheme and (d) the wildlife enhancement scheme; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1994.

  Mr. Ancram
  None of the listed schemes apply in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost in 1993 in Northern Ireland of payments under(a) the environmentally sensitive area scheme, (b) the nitrate sensitive area scheme, (c) the farm and conservation grant scheme, (d) the pilot beef and sheep extensification schemes, (e) the woodland grant scheme, (f) the farm woodland premium scheme, (g) the orchard grubbing scheme, (h) the optional five year set-aside
  588

  Board area and year

  Integrated schools £000s

  Voluntary grammar schools £000s

  Maintained primary and secondary schools £000s

  1991–92

  1,761

  1,381

  2,225

  1992–93

  113

  1,323

  2,189

  Southern

  1988–89

  Nil

  1,972

  1,921

  1989–90

  Nil

  3,309

  3,063

  1990–91

  35

  2,923

  5,318

  1991–92

  2

  2,519

  4,499

  1992–93

  389

  1,922

  5,399

  Perinatal and Neonatal Mortality
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was(a) the perinatal mortality rate and (b) the neonatal mortality rate in each health and social services board for 1985, 1990 and 1993.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  scheme, (i) the habitat scheme, (j) the moorland scheme, (k) the countryside access scheme and (l) the organic aid scheme; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1994.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information in respect of the schemes is as follows:

  Scheme

  Expenditure by £'000 1993–94

  Estimate by £'000 1994–95

  Environmentally sensitive areas

  586

  700

  Farm and conservation grant

  6,250

  4,580

  Pilot beef and sheep extensification

  15

  15

  Woodland grant

  729

  842

  Farm woodland premium

  68

  95

  Orchard grubbing

  Nil

  1

  Optional 5-year set aside

  63

  34

  Nitrate sensitive areas and countryside access schemes do not apply in Northern Ireland, while the habitat improvement scheme, moorland scheme and organic aid scheme will be launched later in 1994 and expenditure will not arise before 1995–96.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Northern Ireland Electricity's four generating stations were sold to private interests in 1992, and the remainder of the business—transmission, distribution and supply—was successfully floated in June 1993, thus completing privatisation of the electricity
  589
  supply industry in Northern Ireland. The process of privatising Northern Ireland Airports Ltd. has begun, with a target date of mid-1994 for completion by means of a trade sale.

  The Government remain committed to the privatisation of water and sewerage services at the earliest possible date but recognise that, for a number of technical reasons, this will not be possible in the lifetime of the present Parliament. Legislation is being promoted to enable ports in Northern Ireland to be privatised, while the Department of the Environment is considering the extent to which the non-core activities of Northern Ireland Railways and Ulsterbus/Citybus may be sold.

  Health Visitors
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many health visitors were employed in each health and personal social services board area in September 1988 and in September 1992.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 7 July 1994]: The information as requested is not readily available. However, figures for all nursing staff, in the specialty of health visiting is given as follows. Staffing figures prior to 1990 were not collected on a comparable basis.

  1990

  1992

  Health visiting staff in Northern Ireland

  Number

  WTE

  Number

  WTE

  Eastern Board

  124

  117

  234

  209

  Northern Board

  92

  86

  95

  90

  Southern Board

  54

  50

  90

  84

  Western Board

  77

  71

  79

  72

  NORTHERN IRELAND TOTAL

  347

  324

  498

  455

  WTE—Whole time equivalent.

  The following nursing grades are included in the specialty of health visiting and are included in the figures provided:
  Assistant Director Nursing Services (Grade 1), Assistant Director Nursing Services (Grade 7), District Nursing Sister G, Enrolled Nurse E, Enrolled Nurse F, Fieldwork Teacher H, Health Visitor, Health Visitor (Grade G), Health Visitor (Grade H), Home Care Worker, Nursing Auxiliary B, Nursing Sister/Charge Nurse H, Post Basic Student D, Post Basic Student E, School Nurse E, School Nurse F, Senior Nurse/Nursing Officer I, Staff Nurse E, Staff Nurse F, Student Health Visitor, Team Leader/Health Visitor, Team Leader (Health Visiting/District Nursing), Unit Senior Manager 2.

  Contracts
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what occasions in the last 10 years he or a Minister in his Department has given a direction to civil servants to award a contract against the advice of the civil service; what was the subject matter of the contract and its value; and when it was awarded.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer, 8 July 1994]: The information requested could not be obtained by the Northern Ireland Office in the time available, except at disproportionate cost. However, within the Northern Ireland Departments, the Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, on one occasion, directed that a contract be awarded to a firm other than that recommended by his officials. This contract, for providing catering facilities, was awarded on 22 November 1990 and was valued at £265,548.

EDUCATION

  Full-time Further Education
  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people applied to study full time for a degree or equivalent qualification at an institution of higher education for the academic years 1992–93 and 1993–94; and what are the latest available figures for the coming academic year.

  Mr. Boswell
  Applicants through central schemes to full-time higher education courses totalled some 395,000 in 1992 and 419,000 in 1993. As at May, applicants for admission in 1994 stood at some 378,000—virtually the same level as at May last year.

  Voluntary Activity
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to encourage volunteering on the part of students in schools and further and higher education.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government are seeking to promote voluntary activity among all age groups through their make a difference initiative. The make a difference team will be considering the role of young people as part of the development of a United Kingdom volunteering strategy. Many students are already volunteers, and it is primarily for educational establishments to consider what further steps to take to encourage students to volunteer.

  Primary Schools (Funding)
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to reform the funding of large primary schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Decisions about funding levels for such schools are for local education authorities to make in the context of their own schemes for the local management of schools.

  Road Safety
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to improve understanding among school pupils of road safety.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department encourages schools to make full use of opportunities within the national curriculum and the wider school curriculum to teach pupils about road safety.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many times a year he meets chief education officers to discuss grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend and other Ministers meet chief education officers throughout the year as the need arises and discuss a wide variety of topics, including grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Liddington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the opinions of parents whose children attend grant-maintained schools about the quality of education which those schools provide.
  591
  Mr. Robin Squire
  Growing numbers of parents are choosing self-governing schools for their children. Some 70 per cent. of grant-maintained schools responding to a recent survey reported increases in pupil numbers. Pupil numbers at secondary schools which have been grant-maintained for the last four years have grown three times faster than the secondary pupil population as a whole. This is clear evidence of parents' confidence in the quality of education provided by self-governing schools.

  School Performance Tables
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many requests his Department received for copies of last year's school performance tables.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Copies of the 1993 tables were sent to schools which appeared in the secondary school tables, and to all maintained primary schools, for distribution to parents and students considering their options for transfer to secondary school or to education post-16. A further 125,000 copies have since been distributed in response to supplementary requests to the Department.

  Sixth Forms
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of grant-maintained secondary schools have their own sixth form.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Of the 594 grant-maintained secondary schools currently operating, 68 per cent. have sixth forms.

  Returning Teachers
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish figures giving his current estimates on potential returners to the teaching profession, broken down by employment status, age and gender.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 4 July 1994]: The latest available estimates are for 1990–91:

  Thousands, rounded

  Employment status

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Part-time and supply teachers in maintained sector

  3

  88

  90

  In independent schools or teacher-related employment

  8

  32

  40

  Employment other than teaching

  70

  92

  162

  Not in paid employment

  7

  66

  73

  TOTAL

  88

  276

  365

  Information by age is not readily available. However, these figures exclude out-of-service teachers aged over 55 years as well as those who qualified before 1965 and have not taught after that date and those not resident in England.

  Independent And Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to prevent local education authorities from discriminating against independent and grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Forth
  Section 129 of the 1993 Education Act provides that local education authorities, in performing 592
  their duties and exercising their powers, must treat pupils at grant-maintained schools no less favourably than pupils at schools maintained by a local education authority. The Department will continue to investigate allegations of discrimination against GM schools. Pupils at independent schools are not covered by equivalent statutory protection.

  Specialisms
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what support he proposes to give to those schools which wish to develop a specialism in(a) music, (b) art, (c) languages and (d) other areas of the curriculum.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government are committed to extending choice and diversity in secondary school provision and want to see more schools develop their own specialisms. We are currently examining in detail how new types of specialist schools can best be supported, within available resources. We expect to make an announcement in due course.

  Lecturers (Contracts of Employment)
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received regarding further education lecturers' contracts of employment.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of letters on this matter, both directly and through hon. Members.

  University Places
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he is taking to ensure that all suitably qualified students are offered university places over the next three years.

  Mr. Boswell
  It is for universities and colleges to decide how many places to offer in the light of maximum aggregate student numbers notified to them by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. They are best placed to judge whether a candidate is suitably qualified for a place. The Government's spending plans allow for the current record proportion of almost one in three young people entering high education to be maintained for the next three years.

  Further Education (Funding)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review the current funding arrangements for further education.

  Mr. Boswell
  The way in which funds are allocated to colleges in the further education sector is a matter for the Further Education Funding Council to determine, having regard to the funding aims set by Government. The council has, after extensive and detailed consultation with colleges, put in place a new funding methodology for 1994–95, which has been widely welcomed. It is pledged to review the methodology year by year and has already started work for 1995–96.

  Pupil Expenditure
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the expenditure on books and equipment in 1992–93 in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools per pupil.
  593
  Mr. Robin Squire
  Separate information is not collected for nursery and primary schools. Local education authorities' spending on books and equipment in 1992–93 was £59 per pupil in LEA-maintained nursery and primary schools and £98 per pupil in LEA-maintained secondary schools. Equivalent information is not available for grant-maintained schools.

  Work Experience
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on the subject of ensuring the effective provision of work experience in schools, with particular reference to the issues of health and safety; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced on 24 May,Official Report, column 198, the Government are asking training and enterprise councils and their partners to ensure that all pupils in their last year of compulsory education can have at least one week's work experience and will make available an additional £23 million over three years to 1997–98 to support this. Guidance on work experience placements, including health and safety aspects, is contained in the Department for Education booklets "Education at Work".

  Higher Education (Access Funds)
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what resources will be available for access funds for students in higher education institutions in 1994–95; and when he proposes to issue new guidance on the use of the funds.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department is making available £20·9 million for access funds for students in higher education in England for 1994–95. The sum is being allocated between the three funds as shown below:

  £ million

  Undergraduate Fund

  15·30

  Postgraduate Fund

  5·30

  Further Education Fund

  0·34

  The Department has now written to the Higher Education Funding Council for England with guidance to be given to HE institutions about allocation and use of the funds for 1994–95.

  Portuguese and Spanish
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education in how many schools(a) Portuguese and (b) Spanish are taught; and how many teachers and pupils are involved.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department does not have full details on the numbers of schools where Portuguese and Spanish are taught. However, the database of GCSE and GCE A-level and AS-level examination results used for the publication of school and college performance tables for England in November 1993 shows that 162 schools entered 213 pupils for GCSE Portuguese and 1,621 schools entered 25,500 pupils for GCSE Spanish in 1992–93.

  The estimates from the 1992 secondary school staffing survey, which covered approximately a 10 per cent. sample of schools in England, showed that at national level there were around 3,400 full-time and part-time teachers teaching Spanish in England in 1992. Figures for teachers of Portuguese cannot be reliably estimated.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.

  Mr. Forth
  No organisations within my right hon. Friend's area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990 and there are no plans for privatisation, although the forthcoming periodic review of the Teachers' Pensions Agency will include consideration of the scope for privatising the agency as part of the "prior options" study.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools are due to receive Ofsted inspections in the autumn term 1994; for those inspections, how many contracts have not yet been awarded; how many schools have not yet been informed of the date of their inspection; and how many schools he expects will not receive inspections in the autumn term due to lack of contracts being awarded.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, who heads the independent Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

  RWANDA
  RWANDA
  FARMED GAME BIRDS
  FARMED GAME BIRDS
  GLENOCHIL PRISON: HIV POSITIVE INMATES
  GLENOCHIL PRISON: HIV POSITIVE INMATES