Written Answers of 19 July 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Official Files
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by what authority Her Majesty's Government can change the, status of an official file once it has been opened for inspection at the Public Record Office, subsequently withdraw it and seek its retention.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Public Records Act 1958, as amended in 1967, makes no provision for any change in the acess status of a public record which has become legally available for public inspection in the Public Record Office under the provisions of that Act.

TRANSPORT

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the results of the survey that he commissioned into the extent to which heavy vehicles are diverting through Gloucester to avoid paying tolls to cross the Severn bridge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  I have now received the report and am publishing a summary of the findings today. It shows that although on average some 2,700 more vehicles than might be expected—allowing for traffic growth—travel west through Gloucestershire each day, only 1,500 of these can be positively identified as avoiding the bridge tolls. As the extra traffic is fairly evenly spread over the M50 and the three other main diversion routes and also evenly spread over 24 hours, it amounts to no more than one extra vehicle every seven or eight minutes on each route.

  Nevertheless, I shall now be inviting representatives of Gloucester and Gwent county councils to meet me to discuss the findings.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to encourage the fitting of seat belts on minibuses and coaches.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Government have now com-pleted their analysis of the case for compulsory fitment of seat belts on minibuses and coaches and are today publishing the report of their review. A copy is being placed in the Library of the House. This demonstrates the strength of the case for compulsory fitment as a standard for all European manufacturers.

  I am formally requesting the European Commission to set the shortest possible timetable to require seat belts on all new minibuses and coaches. This reinforces my call for action at the Transport Council in Luxembourg in June.
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  I have also decided to seek the Commission's agreement for the United Kingdom Government to act ahead of the European Union to ensure that all minibuses and coaches are fitted with belts when specifically used for the transport of children. We will consult widely on how best to implement such a provision in practice; once we have the Commission's agreement.

  I shall also be amending the Public Service Vehicle (Carrying Capacity) Regulations to ensure that, where belts are fitted, three children can no longer share a double seat.

  Meanwhile, we will be encouraging manufacturers and operators to fit belts in response to customer demand. Virtually all new minibuses now coming off the production lines have seat belts fitted.

  For existing vehicles, the Department of Transport has set standards on the retro-fitting of belts and has urged operators to take action wherever possible, and this they are now doing. There has been support from the insurance industry for the Department's action.

  Highways Agency
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet received proposals for organisational change from the Highways Agency.

  Mr. Key
  I am pleased to announce that wide-ranging proposals for restructuring the agency to achieve greater efficiency have been published today by Lawrie Haynes, the chief executive. I have arranged for copies of a leaflet explaining the proposals to be placed in the Library of the House.

  London Transport
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to appoint a successor to Sir Wilfrid Newton as chairman of London Transport.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have today appointed Mr. Peter Ford as chairman of London Transport for a five-year period from 15 September 1994, following the retirement of Sir Wilfrid Newton.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from members of the public about the impact of the channel tunnel rail link on the people of Barking.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since the January announcement of the final route of the rail link, my right hon. Friend and I have received some nine letters from members of the public affected by the surface route through Barking.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received on(a) the feasibility and (b) the additional cost of routeing the channel tunnel rail link under Barking reach.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend and I have not received detailed advice on the feasibility or additional cost of routeing the rail link under Barking reach. Union Railways's general view is that such a tunnel would affect the major east Thames corridor development site there, passing beneath or near the Ford plant, the new Barking power station and the A13 extension. It might also require a new route to be devised for the rail link all the way to
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  Stratford, affecting many more properties than the current alignment, which closely follows the existing railway corridor.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains currently use the track proposed to be used for the channel tunnel rail link through Barking between the hours of(a) 8 am to noon, (b) noon to 4 pm, (c) 4 pm to 8 pm and (d) 8 pm to midnight; and what he expects the figures will be after the rail link is in operation.

  Mr. Freeman
  The number of trains currently using the existing railway corridor between Barking and Purfleet is as follows:

  Passenger

  Other

  Total

  (a) 8 am to noon

  20

  6

  26

  (b) noon to 4 pm

  17

  4

  21

  (c) 4 pm to 8 pm

  25

  3

  28

  (d) 8 pm to midnight

  14

  9

  23

  The number of trains likely to be using the railway corridor in the future, including after the rail link opens, will be a commercial matter for the railway operators involved.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties there are in the Barking constituency where the boundary of the property is directly adjacent to the rail track boundaries for the proposed channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  Union Railways calculates that, on the south side of the route of the rail link as it runs through Barking on the surface, some 185 residential properties would be directly adjacent to the rail link track. On the north side of the route, some 136 residential properties would be directly adjacent to Railtrack track.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the smallest distance between the rear of any domestic house in the Barking constituency and the rail track for the proposed channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  Union Railways calculates that, on the south side of the route of the rail link as it runs through Barking on the surface, the shortest distance between the rear of a house and the rail link track would be about 6.5 m. In general the shortest distance is between 7 and 8 m.

  On the north side of the route, houses would be closer to Railtrack's track than to that of the rail link. The shortest distance between the rear of a house and the Railtrack track would be 2.5 m—though, again, this is exceptional. In general the shortest distance is about 10 m.

  Driving Tests
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 30 June,Official Report, column 702, if he will list all the driving test centres that were identified by the Driving Standards Agency regional staff against the criteria marked A to D.

  Mr. Key
  No.

  Staff Appraisal
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 20 June,Official Report, column 47, if he will make a statement on the
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  reasons for the percentage of male and female typists receiving box 1 and box 2 markings; and if he will make a statement on the accuracy of the present reporting system.

  Mr. Norris
  Male and female typists are awarded appraisal markings by their line managers based on their judgment of their work performance. All reporting officers are required to certify that they have worked through the Department's material on staff reporting which gives detailed guidance on reporting standards.

  Romney House Records Service
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which edition of the Official Journal of the European Communities contained the advertisement for the Romney House records service market test; and if it asked contractors to submit bids for call-off contracts.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department placed a notice in the Official Journal dated 17 September 1993. The notice invited expressions of interest from firms to provide a range of record services. The notice did not set out terms of contract or invite bids. An invitation to tender for a call-off contract is to be issued shortly.

  Road Accidents (Pedestrians)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) children and (b) adults have been (i) killed and (ii) seriously or (iii) slightly injured on or near pedestrian crossings in (i) the Metropolitan police area of London and (ii) England and Wales in 1991,1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Child and adult casualties, by severity on or near pedestrian crossings in England and Wales: 1991–93

  Casualties

  On Crossing

  3Within Zig-Zag

  4Within 50 metres

  1991

  Child1

  Fatal

  7

  1

  7

  Serious

  236

  36

  241

  Slight

  967

  119

  797

  Adult2

  Fatal

  118

  19

  86

  Serious

  758

  129

  669

  Slight

  2,141

  212

  1,862

  1992

  Child1

  Fatal

  11

  3

  8

  Serious

  272

  32

  240

  Slight

  978

  117

  798

  Adult2

  Fatal

  82

  11

  95

  Serious

  744

  112

  677

  Slight

  2,047

  232

  1,814

  1993

  Child1

  Fatal

  7

  1

  6

  Serious

  217

  31

  197

  Slight

  902

  109

  734

  Adult2

  Fatal

  84

  13

  67

  Serious

  687

  99

  612

  Slight

  2,003

  206

  1,716

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  1Aged 0–15.

  2Aged 16+.

  3Casualties approaching and exiting crossing within zig-zag lines.

  4Casualties elsewhere within 50 metres of crossing.

  Charter Payments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been paid out by way of charter payments to those travelling on each of the regions' railway networks in each of the last two years.

  Mr. Freeman
  Charter payments disaggregated by region are not available. Charter payments by each of the three rail businesses for the periods requested are as follows:

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  Season ticket discounts

  InterCity

  34,000

  241,000

  Network SouthEast

  53,000

  2,063,000

  Regional Railways

  0

  134,000

  TOTAL

  87,000

  2,438,000

  Compensation

  InterCity

  1,387,000

  N/a

  Network SouthEast

  283,000

  N/a

  Regional Railways

  175,000

  N/a

  TOTAL

  1,845,000

  2,300,000

  TOTAL

  1,900,000

  4,700,000

  Note: A breakdown for 1993–94 compensation payments by the three rail businesses is not yet available.

  Health Screening
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department is giving to cutting its health screening programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department is reviewing the effort currently deployed on health screening as part of its efficiency gains programme.

  Civil Service Lifeboat Appeal
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future commitment of his Department to the civil service lifeboat appeal.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department is reviewing the effort currently deployed on administrative support for the civil service lifeboat fund appeal in the Department as part of the efficiency gains programme.

  Railway Bridges
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) bridges and (b) culverts British Rail (i) repaired and (ii) replaced in 1992–93 and 1993–94; and how many Railtrack will repair or replace in 1994–95.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not available centrally. It would therefore involve a disproportionate cost to provide an answer to this question.
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  Rail Strike
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much fare income had been lost by British Rail as a result of the signal staff strike on 15 July 1994; and how much compensation was owed to British Rail by Railtrack at this date.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail estimates that it loses of the order of £9 million per day in revenue for each one-day strike. Questions of compensation as a result of strike action are a matter for BR and Railtrack.

  Railway Investment
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much British Rail invested in(a) rolling stock, (b) track and signalling, maintenance and repair and (c) track and signalling renewal and new-build schemes in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is as follows:

  £m 1993–94 prices:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Rolling stock1

  402

  295

  Track and signalling maintenance and repair2

  625

  525

  Track and signalling renewals and new build schemes

  410

  393

  1 Excludes prepayments by European Passenger Services of £124 million in 1992–93 and £144 million in 1993–94.

  2 Excludes electrification/other infrastructure investment.

  Rail Finance
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is British Rail's provisional external financing limit for 1994–95; and what plans he has to change it;

  (2) what is Railtrack's provisional external financing limit for 1994–95; and what plans he has to change it.

  Mr. Freeman
  The provisional negative EFLs for 1994–95 for Railtrack and British Rail are, respectively, £280 million and £348 million. They will be kept under review during the course of the year, and adjusted as necessary.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is British Rail's provisional public service obligation grant for 1994–95; and what plans he has to change it.

  Mr. Freeman
  Support for BR's passenger services, including compensation for the costs of public obligations, in 1994–95 is being paid by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising. Provision of £1,675 million has been made in class VI vote 7. My right hon. Friend has made no proposals to change it. In addition to this grant payable direct to BR, there is additional provision for metropolitan railway grants to be paid to passenger transport authorities.

  Rolling Stock Leasing
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much(a) British Rail and (b) the three rolling stock leasing companies will invest in new rolling stock in 1994–95;

  (2) what is Railtrack's investment budget for maintaining and improving the railway infrastructure in 1994–95; and what proportion of this budget it expects to invest in the course of the year.
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  Mr. Freeman
  BR plans to invest over £250 million in rolling stock in 1994–95 of which around 40 per cent. will be on passenger vehicles that will pass to the rolling stock leasing companies. European Passenger Services Ltd. is planning to invest up to £150 million in rolling stock. Railtrack plans to spend around £500 million on improving and maintaining the railway infrastructure. Investment decisions and priorities within these total figures are a matter for the industries concerned.

  Cars (Running Costs)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the average cost to the motorist per mile of running a typical family saloon car in 1979 and in each year since then (i) in cash terms and (ii) at constant 1994 prices.

  Mr. Key
  Data for 1979 to 1993 are contained in the attached table. I regret that data for 1994 are not yet available.

  Motoring running costs—1979–1993

  Year

  Costs per mile (pence, current prices)

  Costs per mile (pence, 1993 prices)

  1979

  5

  15

  1980

  8

  17

  1981

  9

  17

  1982

  10

  18

  1983

  11

  18

  1984

  11

  17

  1985

  12

  18

  1986

  11

  16

  1987

  12

  16

  1988

  12

  16

  1989

  13

  16

  1990

  15

  16

  1991

  15

  16

  1992

  16

  16

  1993

  17

  17

  Source: National Travel Survey, Transport Statistics Great Britain, Family Expenditure Survey.

  Notes:

  1. Figures relate to running costs only and take no account of depreciation.

  2. Running costs based on the average of all non-company cars.

  3. Fuel costs in this series rose by 28 per cent. between 1979 and 1980.

  4. Costs at current prices are deflated by the Retail Price Index (all items) to obtain costs at 1993 prices.

  5. Data for 1993 are provisional.

  Blood Donor Scheme
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future commitment of his Department to the blood donor scheme.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department is reviewing the effort currently deployed on administrative support for the blood donor scheme in the Department as part of the efficiency gains programme.

  Staff (Running Costs)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the staff running costs budget set for his Department in April 1993.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The budget set for my Department's staff running costs in April 1993 for the financial year 88
  1993–94 was £27795 million. This includes staff running costs for executive agencies in the net controlled area and the Vehicle Inspectorate, which is a trading fund.

  Unstaffed Stations
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives of British Rail Network SouthEast and Railtrack plc concerning the implications for the safety of passengers of having stations unattended by the staff of either company; which stations are currently unattended while trains are running at any time of the day; and what plans there are to alter this arrangement in respect of any station.

  Mr. Freeman
  Station staffing is a matter for the BR train operating units and Railtrack. Information about which stations are unattended whilst trains are running is not readily available. A list of staffed and unstaffed stations in the operational area of Network SouthEast was placed in the Library of the House pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) of 14 March 1994,Official Report, column 508.

  British Rail Engineering Ltd.
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many former employees of the BREL carriage works in York have died of asbestos-related diseases since 1964; how many have received compensation from British Rail; what was the average length of time from the date at which compensation was sought to the date it was paid; what was the average cash amount of compensation awarded; and what plans his Department has to improve the speed with which British Rail settles these claims and the level of compensation paid.

  Mr. Freeman
  The statistical information requested in the question is not readily available. I understand from British Rail that claims are dealt with, and compensation is determined, in accordance with established legal and commercial principles. Claims are processed as quickly as possible but, given that the episodes giving rise to such claims are likely to have occurred some 30 or 40 years before hand, the task of investigating in order to establish the relevant facts is time consuming, for both claimant and employer alike.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring; and if he will set out his targets to help small businesses in the next year.

  Mr. Norris
  The Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the United Kingdom economy. The Government help small firms by keeping inflation and interest rates low and by reducing legislation and administrative burdens. They also provide direct assistance where appropriate and are currently establishing a network of business links to provide high-quality business support
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  across the country. The Department's aim of a more efficient, safe and environmentally friendly transport system, using the market to offer the widest possible choice of transport users, will assist businesses of all sizes.

  My Department is, like others, systematically reviewing the regulations for which it is responsible to ensure that the unnecessary or over-burdensome regulation is cut back. When considering new regulations, we take particular account of the burden and cost those regulations impose on small business. As part of the business link initiative, we are also considering whether the existing channels of communication can be improved between the Department, its executive agencies and the business sector.

  Passengers Charter
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the implications of the extension of timetabled journey times by British Rail for the operation of the passengers charter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand from British Rail that it has periodically found it necessary to adjust timetables to accommodate factors such as engineering works and speed restrictions. Such adjustments are not designed to make it easier for BR to meet its passengers charter standards, which are from time to time made more demanding.

  Car Registration
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 13 June,Official Report, column 521, what encouragement is being given to car dealers to join the automatic first registration and licensing scheme.

  Mr. Key
  Trade associations which have co-operated with the Department on the development of the scheme report enthusiasm for it among their members and anticipate a high take-up rate. A number of manufacturers are keen to become involved. Press releases and articles on the initial pilot under way in Bristol will be issued and further publicity will coincide with the extension of the scheme nationwide early next year.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to close the Driving Standards Agency.

  Mr. Key
  There are no plans to close the Driving Standards Agency.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations underlie the closure of part of the Driving Standards Agency public counter service.

  Mr. Key
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief executive, Dr. John Ford. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from G. A. Lobo to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 18 July 1994:

  The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Executive to reply to the question you raised about the considerations that led to the closure of part of the Driving Standards Agency public counter service. As Dr. Ford is on annual leave I am replying on his behalf.
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  The use of public counters has declined in recent years. Each of the present 8 counters now deals with an average of only 50 applications a week—compared with a total weekly average of more than 33,000 applications. This facility is a very expensive way of receiving test applications, and the introduction of credit card bookings for Large Goods Vehicle and Passenger Carrying Vehicle driving tests from October, to facilitate booking of those tests at short notice, will reduce the use of counter services even further.

  Public counters at Cambridge and Edinburgh were closed in October 1993 and March 1994 respectively.

  The present public counters will be closed next October.

  Nuclear Fuel Transport
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what communications he has received from Railtrack in regard to the derailment of a wagon carrying a nuclear fuel transport flask at Hartlepool nuclear power plant on 6 July;

  (2) what information he has received from Nuclear Electric or British Rail in regard to the derailment of a wagon carrying a nuclear fuel transport flask at Hartlepool nuclear power station on 6 July; and whether he has instituted an investigation into the incident;

  (3) what information he has received from the nuclear installations inspectorate on Health and Safety Executive regarding the derailment of a wagon carrying a nuclear fuel transport flast at Hartlepool nuclear station sidings on 6 July; and if he will make it his policy to investigate the incident.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department received notification of the incident from Railtrack, Nuclear Electric and the Health and Safety Executive. It was reported that track damage was minor; there was slight damage to the wagon, but no damage to the empty flasks which were being carried and that there were no radiological safety consequences to workers or members of the public. The Health and Safety Executive nuclear installations inspectorate and railways inspectorate are conducting inquiries as part of their normal response to such incidents.

  Trunk Roads (Report)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the report from the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment before the summer recess.

  Mr. Key
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 20 May 1994,Official Report, column 599.

  Union Railways
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the current position and policy of Union Railways's attitude towards buying residential properties in West Thurrock and Purfleet.

  Mr. Freeman
  Union Railways will, if requested, purchase homes within the area safeguarded for the new channel tunnel rail link, on the same basis as if they were being acquired under a compulsory purchase order. For homes beyond the safeguarded zone, a separate discretionary purchase scheme operates. This applies in cases of hardship where the property is expected to be seriously affected by, most importantly, operational noise above the proposed threshold for the noise insulation regulations for new railway lines.
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  Woolwich Rail Tunnel
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the current situation regarding the proposed Woolwich rail tunnel.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 15 July 1994]: A feasibility study, led by London Transport, has been undertaken on the Woolwich rail crossing. It has been agreed that the results justify a fuller appraisal of engineering and economic issues, including financing options. This will be undertaken by Railtrack, London Transport, London Docklands development corporation and British Rail.

  Exhaust Emissions
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the performance of the compound hyperform in helping reduce exhaust emissions.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 15 July 1994]: None.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many(a) oral and (b) written questions have been tabled during the present Parliament; and what is his estimated total cost of the replies.

  Mr. Newton
  In the current Parliament up to and including Friday 15 July, 11,153 oral and 92,414 written questions have appeared on the Order Paper. These figures do not include questions for oral answer which were unsuccessful in the shuffle or questions which were withdrawn before the day on which they were to be asked. Using the latest estimated costs of £225 for answering an oral question and £97 for answering a written one—Official Report, 30 November 1993, column 387,—the total cost of answering these questions is estimated at £11,473,583. These costs do not include printing and publishing costs or the work of the Table Office in processing the questions.

TREASURY

  Rugby Union
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the known earnings of rugby union players has on the private club status of rugby union clubs with regard to the payment of income tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue has confirmed that any earnings of rugby union players have no effect on the private club status of rugby union clubs with regard to the payment of income tax.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the Inland Revenue has taken aerial photographs of crowds at certain rugby union grounds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue has not taken any aerial photographs of crowds at any rugby union grounds.
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  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 July,Official Report, column 378 (1) how many rugby union clubs are paying employers' national insurance contributions in respect of earnings or financial rewards received by players;

  (2) if payments of income tax and national insurance contributions from earnings through playing rugby union are now being received.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 15 July 1994]: The Inland Revenue's special compliance office has started investigations into rugby union clubs. These investigations are continuing and at this stage is not appropriate to comment further.

  Water Companies
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been paid in corporation tax in each year after privatisation by the privatised water companies in England.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Corporation tax paid by privatised water companies in England is as follows:

  £ million

  1990–91

  70

  1991–92

  115

  1992–93

  125

  1993–94

  110

  Note: Figures rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Staff Pensions
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the public sector accounts for pension costs and for the change in potential pension liabilities for(a) civil servants in Departments and (b) executive agency staff.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Staff in Departments and executive agencies are members of the principal civil service pension scheme. Although the scheme is unfunded, employers meet on an accruals basis the cost of pension cover provided for their staff by the payment of accruing superannuation liability charges. These payments are appropriated in aid of the treasury civil superannuation vote; class XVII, vote 3. The level of the charge reflects actuarial assessment by the Government Actuary of the payments that need to be made to finance the liabilities of the scheme.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of pensions paid to former Treasury staff in real terms in 1965, 1975, 1985 and the most recent year; and what is the estimated cost in 1995 and 2000.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Staff of the Treasury are members of the principal civil service pension scheme which is the occupational pension arrangement for civil servants. The Treasury meets, on an accruals basis, the emerging pension costs of the staff it employs. Pension payments to former Treasury staff, including surviving spouses, are estimated at £21·75 million for 1993–94. Information relating to previous and future years is not readily available.
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  Football Pools
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the betting duty on football pools companies once the national lottery has been introduced.

  Sir John Cope
  There are no plans to reduce the rate of pool betting duty upon the introduction of the national lottery. The rate of duty on the national lottery was included in the Finance Act 1993 in the light of many factors including the rate of pool betting duty.

  Incomes (Yorkshire and Humberside)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of households in(a) York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) Yorkshire and Humberside have incomes of (i) £10,000 per annum or less, (ii) £20,000 per annum or less, (iii) £64,000 per annum or less and (iv) £100,000 per annum or less.

  Mr. Nelson
  Information for(a) and (b) are not available. Estimates for (c), the Yorkshire and Humberside region, from the 1992 family expenditure survey are: Proportion of households with gross income of:

  (i)—£10,000 per annum or less—40 per cent.

  (ii)—£20,000 per annum or less—69 per cent.

  (iii)—£64,000 per annum or less—99 per cent.

  (iv)—£100,000 per annum or less—not available.

  Personal Allowances
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to Her Majesty's Treasury if personal allowances were increased by(a) £1,000, (b) £2,000, (c) £3,000 and (d) £5,000 for all people aged over (i) 70 and (ii) 75 years for the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Provisional estimates of the Exchequer costs in a full year at 1994–95 income levels are given below:

  £ million

  Cost of increase in personal allowances for people aged

  Increase in allowance of

  70 years or over

  75 years or over

  (a)

  £1,000

  340

  190

  (b)

  £2,000

  600

  340

  (c)

  £3,000

  820

  460

  (d)

  £5,000

  1,130

  640

  Public Sector Pay
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the upper percentage limit on pay increases in the public sector consistent with the Government's public sector pay policy.

  Mr. Portillo
  The approach to public sector pay is that increases should be met from existing budgets and should be paid for by greater efficiency or other savings. Settlements should reflect the particular circumstances of individual groups.
  94

  Disability
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role will be played by his Department in any consultation on disability; and what plans he has to publish a consultation paper on countering unfair discrimination in financial services.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced the publication of a consultation document on 15 July. The Treasury contributed to its preparation. I would encourage everyone with an interest in services to disabled people, including financial services, to respond to the consultation paper.

  ECOFIN
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the most recent Council meeting of European Economic and Finance Ministers.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I represented the United Kingdom at the Economic and Finance Council of the European Union in Brussels on 11 July.

  In the morning, the Council discussed, in open session, the work programme for the German presidency. I emphasised that the main task of the EU was to establish the conditions to reinforce the recovery of the European economy and thus create the new jobs that Europe needs to get unemployment down. This required the convergence of economic policies to restore healthy public finances and to keep inflation low. I also emphasised the importance that the United Kingdom attaches to effective action to tackle fraud against the Community budget.

  The Council adopted the broad economic guidelines for the economic policies of the Community and the member states which had been approved by the European Council at Corfu on the basis of the text agreed by ECOFIN on 6 June.

  The Council agreed in principle to a loan of up to 130 million ecu for Slovakia, to be disbursed in two equal tranches. Disbursement of the second tranche would be subject to further Council agreement.

  The Council adopted a set of detailed conclusions on the Commission's 1993 report on fraud, its strategic programme and 1994 work programme. Conclusions were also adopted, at United Kingdom initiative, on the procedure for examining special reports of the Court of Auditors to ensure that effective follow-up action is taken on the issues raised.

  There was a general discussion of a proposed withholding tax—taxation of savings—from which no conclusions were drawn. I emphasised the United Kingdom's strong opposition to a tax of this sort. The presidency said that ECOFIN would return to the matter on 27 July.

  The Council agreed to hold an orientation debate on 27 July on a VAT definitive system. There was a brief presentation from the Commission on the taxation of small and medium-sized enterprises, of which the Council took note.

  No formal votes were taken in the Council meeting.
  95

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the average annual tax saving enjoyed by a typical investor in a £6,000 personal equity plan;

  (2) what was the revenue cost of the capital gains tax concessions on personal equity plans in each of the last three years;

  (3) what was the revenue cost of the tax concession on dividends in personal equity plans in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Latest estimates of the income tax revenue costs are in the table. The average annual tax saving for a typical investor with a £6,000 PEP cannot be estimated, nor can a reliable estimate be made of the cost of tax relief on capital gains.

  Estimated total cost of income tax relief

  £ million

  1991–92

  90

  1992–93

  120

  1993–94

  1140

  1 Provisional.

  Civil Service (Severance Costs)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to assist Departments with the costs of early retirement, redundancy and severance from the civil service.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government propose to finance from the Treasury's civil superannuation vote 80 per cent. of the costs of early departures paid by the Paymaster General and currently recharged in full to Departments, to cover those eligible people leaving the civil service between 1 October 1994 and 31 March 1997.

  Parliamentary approval for this expenditure will be sought in a winter supplementary estimate for HM Treasury's civil superannuation vote; class XVII, vote 3. Pending that approval, any urgent expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

  Tax Accountants
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to take forward the consultations on the Inland Revenue's power to call for the papers of a tax accountant.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government have arranged for an independent inquiry into the Inland Revenue's power to request accountants' papers. Mr. Philip Ely, a former president of the Law Society, has been appointed for this purpose, and representations are invited in an Inland Revenue press release issued today.

  Taxation (Self-employed)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the initiative the Inland Revenue is taking in north-west England to apply PAYE to self-employed construction and plant-hire operators; and what plans he has to extend this to other areas.
  96
  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: There is no special initiative to apply PAYE to self-employed construction and plant-hire operators in north-west England. The Inland Revenue has reviewed the employment status of a number of individuals taken on by plant-hire operators in north-west England. This is to ensure that taxpayers are treated consistently in line with the Inland Revenue's commitment under the taxpayers charter. There are no plans for special initiatives in other areas. However, employment status will continue to be reviewed, where necessary, as part of the Inland Revenue's normal compliance activity.

PRIME MINISTER

  Railtrack
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 7 July, to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett),Official Report, column 447, what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the payment of £500 to members of the Railtrack board for attendance at a board meeting.

  The Prime Minister
  All Railtrack board payments were agreed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and by the Treasury before Railtrack was established. No additional payments have been introduced since that time.

  Non-executive directors of Railtrack receive a £500 fee for each meeting of one of the board's committees—safety, environment and health; audit; and remuneration—which they attend as a member. Each committee meets up to four times a year, and no non-executive director is a member of more than two. They receive a separate annual fee of £10,000 for their main board duties.

  These payments are consistent with the Treasury guidelines on nationalised industry board members' appointments, pay and bonuses.

  Disability
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to establish a pre-legislative committee or working group to consider the findings of the consultation on disability issues.

  The Prime Minister
  Decisions on the way forward will be made in the light of the responses to the consultation document "Disability on the Agenda", issued on 16 July.

  Debt Relief
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with(a) European leaders and (b) Commonwealth leaders about (i) the Trinidad terms and (ii) Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I announced in the House on 11 July 1994,Official Report, column 668, that the Naples summit had agreed to pursue additional measures aimed at increasing the level of debt relief for the poorest countries in line with the initiative that I originally proposed four years ago. We have consistently pressed for the implementation of full Trinidad terms in contacts with European, Commonwealth and other Governments. We regularly discuss Kashmir with our European Union

  97
  partners. and with the Indian and Pakistan Governments who are the Commonwealth Governments most directly concerned.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 July.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 July.

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

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the Secretary General of the Arab League about the Arab League's resolutions on Lockerbie and the destruction of Pan Am 103.

  The Prime Minister
  The Secretary General of the Arab League handed a copy of the Arab League resolution concerning the Lockerbie bombing to Her Majesty's ambassador in Cairo on 31 March this year.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 July,Official Report, column 483, how many overseas visits he has made as Prime Minister during which he undertook fund-raising activities for the Conservative party.

  The Prime Minister
  Fund-raising activities for the Conservative party are not part of my official duties.

  European Council
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the special European Council held in Brussels on 15 July.

  The Prime Minister
  A special meeting of the European Council was held in Brussels on 15 July to consider the presidency of the European Commission and certain international questions. I attended with my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary and with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  Following his consultations with Council members over the previous two weeks, the President of the European Council, Chancellor Kohl, proposed that the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Mr. Jacques Santer, should take over as the President of the European Commission on 7 January 1995.

  All members of the Council endorsed this proposal. During a short discussion, I underlined the challenges facing the European Union in the period ahead, including making the single market and the need to extend prosperity and security to the east. I believed that Mr. Santer was well qualified to lead the European Commission during this period. He will have an important role to play in bringing together different points of view.

  In accordance with article 158 of the treaty on European Union, the Council President will now consult the European Parliament on the nomination of Mr. Santer.
  98
  After a report by the Italian Prime Minister on the Naples summit, the Council discussed the former Yugoslavia. My right hon. Friend reported on the visit which he had paid earlier in the week to the region with the French Foreign Minister. Heads of Government expressed their support for the contact group's plan. They believed that everything possible should be done to secure its acceptance and avoid a yet more dangerous situation.

  The French Prime Minister briefed the Council on the action taken by his Government in Rwanda. In the light of the grave humanitarian situation there, the Council asked the Commission to bring forward proposals for additional aid from the European Union.

  Finally, the Council discussed the Baltic states and Ukraine. The European Union is seeking to develop its relationships with those countries; to work for the withdrawal of the last Russian troops from the Baltic States; and to help Ukraine to develop a new energy strategy, including closure of the nuclear power plants at Chernobyl.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Population and Reproductive Health
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which countries he intends to increase population and reproductive health programmes in the next five years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are aiming to achieve increases over the next two years and more in some or all of the following countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, the Gambia, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Peru. Achieving this aim will depend on agreeing, with the countries and institutions concerned, proposals that we judge to be sufficiently likely to succeed in their objectives.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the percentage of their aid budgets that is spent by each of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries on population and reproductive health.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the OECD's 1993 development assistance committee chairman's report, a copy of which will be placed in the House Library, for details of the percentages of each member state's aid budget spent on population and health. The most recent information from the OECD and the United Nations Population Fund indicates that in 1991 average OECD expenditure on population as a percentage of overall development assistance was about 1.3 per cent. The United Kingdom figure was just under 1.5 per cent.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the World bank that more should be spent on population and reproductive health measures; and what has been the result of those representations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Through the development commit-tee and the World bank board, United Kingdom
  99
  representatives have urged that further attention should be given by the bank to population and reproductive health. This approach has been endorsed by both bodies. World bank funding of this work is increasing and it is producing a sector review of population in developing countries.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, at the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, he will make it clear that Her Majesty's Government's policy is that when, how many or whether to have children is a decision for women and men to make freely without coercion.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We believe that women and men should be able to access the information, commodities and services that they need to reduce the likelihood of conception and thus have children by choice, not chance. They should be free to decide whether to use contraceptive measures, and which to use, without coercion of any kind. Our delegation to the United Nations Conference on Population and Development in Cairo will emphasise these elements of Government policy.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the European Union's aid budget is spent on population and reproductive health measures.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  At present, less than 1 per cent. of the European Community aid budget is spent on population and reproductive health measures. Between 1991 and 1993, the EC provided 58 mecu—£45 million1 —for population and reproductive health measures, mostly in South Asia and Mediterranean countries. Financing of some 27 mecu—£21 million1—is planned for 1994.

  1Conversion rate for July 1994: 1 ecu=£0·7817.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of Britain's bilateral aid budget was devoted to population and reproductive health activities in 1979 and each of the past five years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information requested is as follows:

  Percentage of bilateral net official development assistance devoted to population and reproductive health programmes

  Per cent.

  1979

  0·31

  1989

  0·30

  1990

  0·97

  1991

  0·89

  1992

  0·93

  1993

  1·48

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the World Health Organisation that more should be spent on population and reproductive health measures; and what has been the result of those representations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Decisions about the allocation of the World Health Organisation's regular budget are made by successive world health assemblies, by means of resolutions that are based on recommendations of the 100
  executive board. Through participation in the executive board's working group on WHO's response to global change, British officials encourage WHO to propose plans of work that reflect global priorities—including the need to improve reproductive health.

  The United Kingdom is the single largest donor to the co-sponsored United Nations programme of human reproduction research, administered by WHO. This contribution and active role in the HRP's policy and co-ordination committee has enabled us to influence the intensity and focus of this programme's research.

  Somalia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the United Nations Development Programme about the rate of progress in implementing reconstruction projects in north-west Somalia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We continue to press UNOSOM and other multilateral agencies to pursue sustainable programmes of assistance in the north-west. But their ability to do so is dependent on the existence of a secure environment, stability and a planning framework which sets clear priorities and mechanisms for accountability.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from Ethiopia about Sudanese refugees and their humanitarian needs.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  According to recent reports there are some 50,000 Sudanese refugees in three camps in Ethiopia, a number that has not substantially changed over the last three years. The camps are managed by the Ethiopian administrator for refugee affairs, are largely financed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and are in receipt of food aid supplied by the World Food Programme.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest information from the World Food Programme about the extent of humanitarian need in southern Sudan and about the adequacy of the international response; and what action he is going to urge upon the United Nations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Nations operation Lifeline Sudan has reported outstanding emergency needs of about £26 million for southern Sudan to the end of 1994, including 26,000 tonnes of food aid. We initiated and participated in United Nations-led discussions last month which produced a plan of action to address constraints on the delivery and management of the relief effort.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the difficulties in the relationship between the French forces and aid agencies in Rwanda; and how they are to be resolved.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The French forces in Rwanda are working closely with the aid agencies which are operational in the French protection area. Following an
  101
  ODA assessment mission to this area last week, we will be funding a number of specific projects with British non-governmental organisations in that area.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the international response to the humanitarian needs of those in the zone protected by the French in Rwanda; and what has been the British contribution.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A number of aid agencies are active in the area protected by the French. We are contributing to the non-governmental organisations Care and Merlin towards their operations in that area.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Tourism
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what figures he has for the number of visitors to the United Kingdom from north America on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of D-day.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have received preliminary estimates from the British Tourist Authority about the number of visitors from north America to the United Kingdom as a result of the 50th anniversary of D-day marketing campaign in north America by the BTA and by the Southern tourist board which included a dedicated STB unit within the BTA office in New York.

  BTA's early indications show substantially higher numbers of visitors and visitor spending than suggested in pre-campaign forecasts. These figures indicate between 75,000 and 125,000 additional visitors to the United Kingdom from north America, increasing British tourism earnings by between £44 million and £73 million.

  I should like to pay particular tribute for this success to the work of Mr. Jeff Hamblin, BTA general manager in north America and his staff, for marketing so effectively the wide range of civilian and military events throughout the United Kingdom, commemorating the 50th anniversary of D-day; also to the exceptional commercial leadership of Mr. Michael Green, chairman of the STB, and Mr. John Slater, managing director of the STB.

  National Lottery
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will amend the licence to be awarded under section 5 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 to Camelot Group plc to preclude the use of the lottery network for(a) benefits distribution, and (b) other commercial activities.

  Mr. Brooke
  This is a matter for the Director General of the Office of the National Lottery. I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member, and place copies of his reply in the Library of the House.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will review the operation and the practice of the television licence office in agreeing or refusing concessionary licence fees to pensioners in sheltered accommodation.

  Mr. Brooke
  Under section 180 of the Broadcasting Act 1990, responsibility for the administration of the 102
  television licensing system, including the concessionary licence scheme, passed to the BBC with effect from 1 April 1991. TV Licensing acts as the BBC's agents in the administration of the television licensing system, and I have no power to intervene.

  British Library
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 11 July,Official Report, column 260, how many reports his Department has commissioned about the British library project from the consultants Kennedy and Donkin.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have commissioned three reports from Kennedy and Donkin Building Services Ltd. for the British library project. They are: a report into the electrical wiring installation; a follow-up report detailing results of a simple inspection of the electrical installation; and a survey of the "as installed" mechanical and electrical services to which I referred in my answer of 11 July,Official Report, column 470.

  Football Pools
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to ask the ITC arid Radio Authority to change their respective codes barring advertising by the football pools companies to permit advertising in the future.

  Mr. Brooke
  None.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring; and if he will set out his targets to help small businesses in the next year.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the United Kingdom economy. The Government help small firms by keeping inflation and interest rates low and by reducing legislation and administrative burdens. They provide direct assistance where appropriate and are currently establishing a network of business links to provide high-quality business support across the country.

  During the past year, my Department has reviewed regulations from whatever source on the business sectors in which it has a policy interest. I also commissioned an inquiry into the impact of regulations on the tourism industry and held a series of meetings with ministerial colleagues to discuss its findings. As a result, the Health and Safety Executive has issued guidance, "Maintaining Portable Electrical Equipment in Hotels and Tourist Accommodation" and my Department hopes to co-operate with the HSE in producing further guidance on health and safety at work regulations for those in the arts, leisure and tourism industry.

  In addition, the national lottery, which will begin in November, will benefit many small businesses; in

  103
  particular, the thousands of small retailers which will soon be selling tickets, and businesses offering ancillary services to the lottery operator.

  My Department intends to continue its work to reduce legislation and administrative burdens on business, and to improve its links and consultation arrangements with businesses operating within the areas where I have a policy interest.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what role will be played by his Department in any consultation on disability; and what plans he has to publish a consultation paper on countering unfair discrimination against disabled people in sport, arts and entertainment.

  Mr. Sproat
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced the publication of a consultation document on 15 July. My Department was involved in its preparation. I welcome the publication of the document and would encourage everyone with an interest in these issues, especially disabled people themselves, to let us have their views.

  Science Museum
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he intends to take to overcome the backlog at the science museum in cataloguing on computer pre–1984 documents.

  Mr. Sproat
  The National Heritage Act 1983 lays responsibility for the management of the national museum of science industry, of which the science museum forms part, on its board of trustees. It is for the trustees to decide their priorities within the resources available to the museum.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last paid an official visit to the science museum; what plans he has for future visits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sproat
  I last visited the science museum on 15 March to attend its annual dinner. I have not made any plans to visit in the immediate future.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water Services
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which water companies in England and Wales take account of ability to pay in levying charges.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Director General has a duty to set price limits at levels which enable companies to finance their functions as water undertakers, which at the same time protect the interests of water consumers. He is also required to act so as to avoid pricing which discriminates against different classes of customer. The Director General of Water Services has issued guidelines to the companies on their dealings with customers who have difficulty in meeting their charges. His guidelines encourage the introduction of frequent payment options, extending the range of payment facilities which they make available, and early contact with customers.
  104
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the sum of money granted by Her Majesty's Government in grants and loans to water boards in England in the 10 years before their privatisation; and if he will place a schedule of payments, board by board, in the Library.

  Mr. Atkins
  Prior to 1989, when the water authorities were privatised, as with other nationalised industries, the Government controlled their borrowing through external financing limits. Details of these EFLs can be found in the relevant annual reports and accounts. Information about grants made to water authorities between 1979 and 1989, which included grants to assist with flood defence and land drainage, can be found in the supply estimates for the Department of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Copies of the water authority annual reports and the two Departments' supply estimates are available in the Library of the House.

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there is a presumption against development in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

  Mr. Curry
  In general, development control decisions affecting areas of outstanding natural beauty should favour conservation of the natural beauty of the landscape. In all cases, the environmental effects of new proposals will be a major consideration, although regard should be paid to the economic and social well-being of the areas.

  It would normally be inconsistent with the aims of designation to permit the siting of major industrial or commercial development in these areas. Only proven national interest and lack of alternative sites can justify an exception.

  Beaches
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, column 697, if he will name the beaches that do not comply with the relevant EC directive; and how many people annually use these beaches.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer, given by my predecessor, of 1 December 1993,Official Report, column 558–59.Records of the number of people using these waters are not held centrally.

  Solent Wetlands
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to designate areas of wetlands in the Solent and surrounding waters under the Ramsar convention.

  Mr. Atkins
  We are awaiting detailed proposals from English Nature for the listing of Southampton water and the Solent as a Ramsar site.

  Building Industry
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigation his Department has made in respect of changing lead times and prices of materials in the building industry.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department discusses such aspects of the construction market through its "Consultative
  105
  Committee on Construction Industry Statistics". It produces joint biannual state of the construction industry reports. The latest was published on 7 July; copies are available in the Library.

  Cemeteries
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he is giving to the long-term problems of shortage of space in existing cemeteries and the desirability or otherwise of creating new cemeteries; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the use of re-usable graves.

  Mr. Baldry
  Under section 214 of the Local Government Act 1972, the provision of new cemeteries is a matter for local authorities, which are clearly best placed to decide how to satisfy the long-term need for burial space. It is not the practice in the United Kingdom for graves to be re-used. Policy on the removal of human remains is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

  Environmental Information Regulations 1992
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many requests for information on animals held in captivity for scientific purposes have been

  Single regeneration budget: Provisional regional breakdown, 1994–95

  £ million

  Greater London

  South East

  Eastern

  South West

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  Mersey

  North West

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North East

  HQ

  Total

  Urban Development Corporations

  109·6

  0·0

  0·0

  14·5

  0·0

  47·0

  17·0

  28·5

  13·9

  60·5

  0·0

  291·0

  Housing Action Trusts

  42·9

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  7·0

  13·5

  0·0

  24·8

  0·0

  0·0

  88·2

  Estate Action

  98·0

  3·1

  6·9

  12·8

  29·7

  49·4

  38·6

  59·3

  44·5

  29·7

  0·6

  372·6

  City Challenge

  52·5

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  22·5

  30·0

  22·5

  29·1

  31·8

  44·1

  0·0

  232·5

  Urban Programme

  12·8

  0·0

  0·0

  0·9

  3·4

  12·1

  9·4

  9·1

  8·6

  11·8

  14·9

  83·0

  Task Forces

  3·8

  0·0

  0·0

  1·3

  1·9

  1·7

  2·0

  1·0

  2·2

  2·1

  0·0

  16·0

  City Action Teams

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·1

  0·0

  0·0

  0·1

  0·7

  0·9

  Regional Enterprise Grants

  0·2

  0·3

  0·3

  0·8

  0·9

  0·9

  0·6

  0·7

  2·9

  1·4

  0·0

  9·0

  GEST 19

  1·8

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·1

  0·8

  0·2

  0·3

  1·1

  0·4

  0·0

  4·8

  Programme Development Fund

  0·5

  0·2

  0·2

  0·3

  0·2

  0·4

  0·2

  0·3

  0·4

  0·4

  0·0

  3·3

  TEC Challenge

  0·4

  0·4

  0·4

  0·3

  0·1

  0·5

  —

  0·6

  0·8

  0·7

  0·1

  4·3

  Business Start-up Scheme

  8·0

  6·6

  4·6

  7·6

  7·5

  7·8

  6·5

  4·8

  9·1

  4·0

  3·6

  70 1

  Local Initiative Fund

  2·5

  2·3

  1·4

  1·5

  1·5

  1·9

  1·3

  1·7

  3·3

  1·9

  9·2

  28·6

  Education Business Partnerships

  0·3

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  0·2

  0·1

  0·2

  0·2

  0·1

  1·5

  10·6

  Teacher Placement

  0·3

  0·4

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·3

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·1

  Compacts

  0·8

  0·4

  0·3

  0·3

  0·5

  0·5

  0·7

  0·5

  0·6

  0·7

  Safer Cities

  0·2

  0·0

  0·0

  0·1

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·2

  0·2

  0·1

  2·9

  3·5

  Section 11 (Urban)

  28·6

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·2

  13·3

  0·3

  6·5

  11·2

  0·6

  0·0

  60·5

  Ethnic Minority Grant

  2·4

  0·3

  0·2

  0·2

  0·3

  0·4

  0·0

  1·2

  0·7

  0·1

  0·0

  5·7

  Ethnic Minority Business Initiative

  0·2

  0·1

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·2

  0·0

  0·1

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·6

  Total

  365·7

  14·2

  14·6

  40·9

  69·2

  174·3

  113·2

  144·2

  156·4

  158·9

  33·5

  1,285·1

  Notes:

  1. Figures exclude English Partnerships; regional breakdown depends on Corporate Plan.

  2. UDCs figure for Greater London includes Docklands Light Railway and for South West includes MOD contribution.

  3. City Challenge figures include a contribution from the Housing Corporation.

  4. The North West figure for TEC Challenge includes Merseyside.

  5. HQ figures cover 1993–94 retentions, national contracts and a small amount of unallocated resources.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the Government are planning to spend, by region, on urban projects in 1995–96, broken down into planned expenditure already earmarked for specified urban programmes and planned expenditure forming the general pool of the single regeneration budget.106
  made to his Department citing the Environmental Information Regulations 1992; and how many were accepted as falling within the scope of the regulations.

  Mr. Aitkens
  I am not aware of such requests.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by region the names of the organisations or local authorities which have submitted indicative single regeneration budget bids; how many indicative bids each body has submitted; what is the title of each bid; what is the amount of SRB funding each indicative bid would involve; and what are the indications given to each organisation or local authority by the regional Government offices as to whether their indicative bids fit the SRB criteria and are worthy of being worked up into a full bid to be submitted by 7 September.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer that I gave her on 14 July 1994,Official Report, column 764.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the Government are spending, by region, on urban projects in 1994–95, broken down by Government programme.

  Mr. Baldry
  I attach a provisional regional breakdown of expenditure for those programmes which now form part of the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Baldry
  A regional breakdown of committed expenditure in 1995–96 for those programmes which now form part of the single regeneration budget is not readily available. The regional distribution of unallocated single regeneration budget funds will not be known until the bidding round has been completed and the successful schemes are announced. The timetable is set out in the
  107
  bidding guidance for the budget issued on 14 April 1994, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Pollution
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made towards meeting the requirements of article 6 or directive 85/210/EEC and article 3 or directive 78/611/EEC about pollution.

  Mr. Atkins
  In accordance with the requirements of directive 85/210/EEC, which replaced directive 78/611/ EEC, the Motor Fuel (Lead Content of Petrol) (Amendment) Regulations 1985 require leaded petrol and unleaded petrol to meet the lead content limit imposed by the directive. The regulations also require leaded and unleaded petrol to meet equivalent quality requirements in respect of the primary parameters that could influence the levels of other pollutants.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to change the capping regime for local authorities.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are committed to firm control of public expenditure. The Government will announce their capping criteria as part of the local government finance settlement.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will continue to pay standard spending assessment reduction grant to local authorities in 1995–96; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  We propose to pay standard spending assessment reduction grant for a second year, in 1995–96. I recognise that, without some form of damping grant, a number of local authorities would face significant reductions in resources. However, these authorities will by 1995–96 have had more time to bring their spending in line with their standard spending assessment. The scheme may therefore not need to be as generous as in the previous year. We will have to decide the level of SSA reduction grant later this year in the context of the overall local authority settlement.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to allow councils to levy additional taxes in 1995–96.

  Mr. Curry
  The level of council taxes in 1995–96 will depend, among other things, on authorities' spending decisions, on their collection performance and on the revenue support grant settlement, details of which will be announced later this year.

  Local Councillors (Remuneration)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reduce or extend the entitlement to remuneration of local government elected representatives; what are his proposed new levels for their official duties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  A copy of my consultation letter of 14 June to the chairmen of local authority associations on proposed changes to the councillors' allowances system has already been placed in the Library of the House.
  108

  "This Common Inheritance"
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the timetabled targets set in his annual update on "This Common Inheritance" have not been met; and if he will set out the reasons for the failure to meet each of those targets.

  Mr. Atkins
  The commitments to action reviewed in the third report on the 1990 environment White Paper, Command 2549, are set out in tabular form and the tables themselves show the action taken to date, action that is still required and new commitments.

  Architects (Registration)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on measures to simplify present arrangements for the registration of architects as set out in the Architects (Registration) Acts.

  Sir George Young
  Since October the Government have been working with the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Architects Registration Council to agree on suitable and acceptable measures to streamline the Architects Registration Council. We have now arrived at a package of reforms aimed at making the council more focused and efficient. My Department has today issued a consultation paper on the proposed reforms. Copies are available in Library.

  The main proposal is to replace the existing council of 73 members with a small board of 15 members. The new board would represent both lay and professional interests and would concentrate on the key activities of setting criteria for registration; preventing misrepresentation by non-registered architects; disciplining unprofessional conduct; and setting fee levels.

  The consultation will be completed in mid-September. We hope that appropriate legislation can be drafted thereafter.

  London Pensions Fund Authority
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the financial management and policy review of the London Pensions Fund Authority.

  Mr. Baldry
  Following his consideration of the final report of the review, which is being published today, my right hon. Friend has agreed that the London Pensions Fund Authority should continue to operate, at least until the future of the local government superannuation scheme is settled in the light of a recent efficiency scrutiny of that scheme. My right hon. Friend has also agreed with the authority an action plan designed to improve the LPFA's already very good service levels and its public accountability.

  Copies of the report and of the action plan have been deposited in the Library.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the extension of compulsory competitive tendering to local authorities' professional construction and property services.
  109
  Mr. Baldry
  Compulsory competitive tendering is being extended to six professional support services, in a phased programme—legal services, professional construc-tion and property services, IT, finance personnel, and corporate and administrative services. Detailed proposals for each service are being developed in close and productive consultations with local authority associations, the Audit Commission, the Account Commission for Scotland, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy and the professional bodies.

  Detailed consultation proposals for construction and property services CCT were issued by my Department on 22 February 1994. The Government have now considered the responses received from local authorities, the construction and property professional bodies and other interested parties.

  We have concluded that the percentage subject to CCT should be 65 per cent., as suggested in the consultation proposals. I carefully considered comments that the competition figure should be lower, but I feel confident that the proposed figure—subject also to a minimum in-house provision of £450,000 to safeguard the position of the smallest authorities—will enable authorities to gain the benefits of competition across a wide range of their construction and property work, while ensuring that authorities can maintain the necessary in-house profession-al expertise. The minimum figure of £450,000 will be reviewed periodically to ensure that it continues to meet its purpose.

  I also considered the alternative suggestion that these services should be sub-divided into a set of client-side functions, which would be excluded from CCT, and a set of functions of a consultancy nature, all or nearly all of which would be subject to competition. I note, however, that individual local authorities have different views on the types of work which they prefer to retain in-house and those which they prefer to put out to competition. We have sought to ensure that the CCT arrangements for professional services allow individual authorities flexibil-ity in the way in which they approach competition, and I believe that the simple percentage approach provides greater flexibility and is preferable.

  We propose that the defined activity will cover construction and property services in relation to local authorities' construction and maintenance programmes and projects, and the management of local authority property—other than housing, which is separately covered by housing management CCT. It therefore does not include authorities' professional work in support of other activities such as regulatory and enforcement functions.

  The Government propose that authorities will be able to count the following categories of professional and construction work towards meeting their CCT require-ment: work being carried out in house following a voluntary competitive exercise; work carried out for the locally managed schools; work in support of other local authority activity which itself has been exposed to C'CT; and construction and property work already contracted out. For a transitional period, authorities will also be able to count construction and property work related to housing management, where this service will become subject to CCT at a later date for the authority in question; and similarly count project work which the authority has in progress at the time when CCT comes into effect and which it is not sensible to tender midway through the project.
  110
  Where individual members of staff spend less than 50 per cent. of their time on construction and property work, their time will not be included in the authority's aggregate of defined activity.

  In the consultation proposals, we suggested two-stage implementation—initially 35 per cent. rising to 65 per cent. six months later. Responses indicated that this was not felt to be particularly useful. We therefore propose to move to one-stage implementation, but starting at the later date of April 1996 for the London boroughs and English metropolitan districts. This additional six months before commencement will give authorities good time to prepare specifications and carry out tendering.

  For shire counties and districts, I have already announced that CCT will come into effect following the local government review and the determination of each authority's new structure, and I have now decided to allow an additional six months in the implementation timetable for both professional construction and property and legal services in all shire areas. We want new authorities to take a fresh and radical look at the way in which they organise and provide themselves with support services, and the additional six months will ensure that they have a full opportunity to do so. Separate timetables will apply in Scotland and Wales.

  CCT requires the authorities to operate free and fair competition. My Department is issuing guidance to local authorities and others on the conduct of tendering for professional services. This guidance emphasises that authorities should give full weight to quality in defining their requirements for professional services, and should consider quality of bids fully alongside price, in selecting the best tender proposals.

  My officials will be writing to local authorities with the text of the order which the Government will table shortly, and which will provide, subject to resolution of both Houses of Parliament, for professional construction and property services to become a defined activity for CC'T purposes.

  Some 215 responses were received on the consultation proposals. I have placed a list of responses in the Library.

  Local Government Review
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the context of the Local Government Commission's review of the structure of local government in the shire counties, county councils will be expected to take account of the views of possible successor authorities concerning waste disposal strategy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Waste disposal activities frequently involve long-term considerations, particularly where the creation of new facilities for waste disposal is concerned, and as a consequence the waste disposal contracts entered into by some authorities may run for up to 20 years or more. I am therefore keen that thorough consultation and co-operation between counties and districts is seen to be important in its own right. This is particularly important in view of the current review of local government structure in the counties. The local authority associations have issued guidance—"A Code of Practice on a Prudential Approach to Financial Management prior to Local Government Re-organisation"—which draws attention to the need for successor authorities to be consulted before decisions are taken which will involve successor authorities in a
  111
  significant financial commitment. The Audit Commission's consultative paper "Time for Change?" also addresses these issues. It is particularly important that a county council that wishes to pursue a waste disposal strategy which will necessarily involve a long-term contract should seek to involve possible successor authorities in early discussion of the options and ways forward, with the aim of obtaining support for that strategy from all the authorities concerned. I believe that it is in the interests of all if a common view can be achieved on the selection of the best waste disposal options for the future.

  Landlord and Tenant Legislation
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the conclusions he has reached on(a) the issues discussed in the consultation paper issued by his Department on 27 May 1993 on commercial property leases and (b) the recommendations of the Law Commission in its reports 208, "Landlord and Tenant—Business Tenancies: a Periodic Review of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Part II" and 178, "Landlord and Tenant Law—Compensation for Tenants' Improvements"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Consultation paper on commercial property leases.

  The consultation paper discussed whether the Government should take any action over three aspects of commercial leasing practices which had aroused concern: upward only rent reviews, confidentiality clauses and dispute resolution procedures. We issued the consultation paper in response to concern about apparent rigidities in the market and the difficulties a number of commercial tenants were facing with their leases.

  It is evident that the market is now providing a greater variety of lease terms. We welcome signs that this is taking place, especially the availability of shorter leases. It is important for the industry to be flexible if it is to meet changes in the market. While the relative bargaining strengths of the parties will depend on the state of the market, it is not clear that occupiers fully appreciate the strength of their own bargaining positions. We consider the best way forward would be for the industry to adopt a code of practice which not only draws attention to the implications of upward rent review clauses but encourages flexibility on other terms. On the assumption that a satisfactory code of practice can be developed and accepted by all sectors of the property industry in consultation with occupiers' representatives and put into effect, we consider that statutory intervention to regulate rent review clauses would not be appropriate.

  We favour maximum transparency in the marketplace. We recognise that despite this, confidentiality clauses in leases sometimes reflect the specific and legitimate needs of the landlord and tenant. A ban would be insensitive to these needs. Nevertheless, it would be to the advantage of interested parties if in general greater openness could be achieved, as this should improve the quality of information on which decisions are based. We envisage that the code of practice should encourage greater openness, unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary. We shall consult with interested parties on how this could be achieved.

  On resolution of disputes, it is no part of the Government role to regulate the procedures to be followed. The main emphasis must rest on the parties remaining free
  112
  to agree dispute resolution procedures of their own choice. There is, however, scope for better understanding, especially among tenants, of the procedures available and while, in general, existing procedures work satisfactorily, there is a continuing need to be vigilant about the scope for improvement. We therefore look to discussions about a code of practice to stimulate greater awareness of current procedures. More generally the competitiveness White Paper refers to other work being taken forward to simplify the law on arbitration and encouraging other forms of dispute resolution. We also intend to review with interested organisations options for providing a quick, cheap and cost-effective method of resolving disputes for small tenants.

  In conclusion, the Government will work with representatives of both landlords and tenants and other interested parties with the aim of producing a code of practice within the next twelve months. The Government will appraise the operation of the code after three years when it should have had reasonable time to influence commercial practices. In particular, we will review the impact on the flexibility and transparency of the market.

  Law Commission report on landlord and tenant law

  Law Commission report No. 208 dealt with the workings of part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, and was concerned primarily with technical issues. It has made a number of useful recommendations about the better workings of the Act—for example, streamlining the procedures for serving notices when a tenancy comes to an end. We propose to implement most of these.

  However, some of the issues raised have wider implications for relationships between commercial landlords and tenants. In particular, we wish to give further consideration to the proposal to make it easier for landlords and tenants to contract out of the provisions of the 1954 Act; we will want to satisfy ourselves that this proposal will not jeopardise the position of tenants.

  We shall be taking a further look at these wider issues in conjunction with advice provided by my Department's property advisory group.

  Law Commission report No. 178 recommended the abolition of the statutory scheme for compensating tenants for improvements that they carry out. We accept the Commission's proposals. This scheme is little used. The procedures are complicated and time-consuming, and the provisions of the 1954 Act have rendered it largely obsolete. The 1954 Act gives tenants the right to lease renewal, except in defined circumstances; and the rent on renewal does not take account of improvements carried out by the tenant.

  The 1927 Act also enables tenants to obtain court approval for carrying out improvements which would otherwise be unlawful. We accept the Law Commission's recommendation that this should remain.

  We will need primary legislation to implement proposals stemming from these two reports.

  I should emphasise that we have no intention of abolishing the 1954 Act, which has stood the test of time and provides a careful balance between the interests of landlords and tenants. In particular, we are not considering removing security of tenure for business tenants.
  113

  Marriages
  Mr. Graham Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, how many reports have been made by marriage registrars, and from which registration areas, to the Registrar General, that marriages are suspected to be solely for immigration purposes, in each year since 1992, to the latest convenient date; and in how many of these instances information has been passed on to his Department.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information will be placed in the Library. During 1993 superintendent registrars reported 361 cases to the Registrar General where they suspected that a proposed marriage had been arranged for the sole purpose of evading statutory immigration controls. Of this number, informa-tion in respect of 304 was passed to the Home Office.

  So far this year (to 14 July 1994) 270 reports have been received from superintent registrars, of which 194 have been referred to the Home Office.

  Environmental Planning
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to ensure that environmental planning decisions are taken in full appreciation of their impact on human health and that adequate public health advice is provided by the NHS to joint regional offices of the departments of Health, Employment, Transport and Trade and Industry.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department does not have joint regional offices with other Departments. It is a responsibility of regional and district directors of public health to have regard to and, when appropriate, provide advice upon all factors which may have significant impact upon the public health in their area—including those which may be associated with the consequences of planning decisions. Advice may also be obtained from the National Health Service Executive.

  Responsibility for planning matters rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. We understand that guidance to planning authorities, and to applicants for consent to major projects, requires that impact upon human beings should be taken into account in assessing the environmental impact of development plans and projects.

  Plumbing Systems
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the consultation paper on the future of water regulations controlling the installation of plumbing systems on buildings.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: Publication is planned for later this summer.

DEFENCE

  Bosnia
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military situation in Bosnia.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The month-long agreement on a cessation of hostilities expired on 10 July. Fighting has continued in 114
  various parts of Bosnia, mostly at a relatively low level. The situation in Sarajevo is generally calm but heavier fighting continues in parts of central Bosnia and in the Bihac area of western Bosnia.

  Non-proliferation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent evaluation he has undertaken of the contribution made by United Kingdom nuclear weapons to global non-proliferation.

  Mr. Hanley
  Our minimum nuclear deterrent and our strong support of international non-proliferation policies both contribute to security and stability.

  Future Large Aircraft
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have been held with defence chiefs with regard to the future large aircraft.

  Mr. Aitken
  We hold regular discussions with the chiefs of staff on all aspects of defence policy including our future requirement for transport aircraft.

  Hercules
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decision he has made about the Hercules replacement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The options for either refurbishing or replacing the first half of the Hercules fleet are still under consideration. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the way forward by the end of the year.

  Belize
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his recent visit to Belize.

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend paid a very successful visit to Belize between 27 and 28 May, in the course of which he held useful discussions with the Government of Belize covering regional and bilateral issues and visited the Belize defence force and British Forces. This was the first visit by a Secretary of State for Defence and demonstrates the United Kingdom's continued strong links with Belize, since she became independent in 1981.

  Fraud
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to eliminate fraud in his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department has taken a range of measures to deter and detect fraud and to make staff aware of the need for vigilance. All suspected cases are vigorously pursued.

  Anti-personnel Mines
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is current policy on the production or use by the United Kingdom forces or by other nations with which the United Kingdom carry out joint operations of anti-personnel mines.
  115
  Mr. Aitken
  The United Kingdom does not currently produce anti-personnel mines. The production and use of such mines by other nations is a matter for individual Governments, but these mines are legitimate defensive military weapons provided that they are used against military targets and in accordance with the laws of war.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent information he has received from the United States relating to Gulf war syndrome.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department continues to receive information relating to the investigations into an alleged Gulf war syndrome being undertaken by the United States Department of Defence and the Department of Veteran's Affairs.

  Sir Bedivere
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the Sir Bedivere procurement.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce the award of the contract for the RFA Sir Bedivere.

  Mr. Aitken
  We are placing a contract with Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd. which was the clear winner of the Sir Bedivere competition.

  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to announce the successful bid for work on the Sir Bedivere, and what criteria have been set for awarding the contract.

  Mr. Aitken
  I can today announce the results of the three competitions including that for work on the RFA Sir Bedivere. Contracts are awarded on the basis of best value for money.

  We are placing a contract with Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd., which was the clear winner of the Sir Bedivere competition.

  Separately, Swan Hunter has emerged as the lowest bidder for the refit of RFA Olwen. Contract award must, however, depend on Swan Hunter meeting my Department's usual financial and other requirements, in default of which this work will be placed with the next lowest bidder.

  Finally, we are placing a contract with Devonport Management Ltd., which submitted the lowest bid for the refit of HMS Birmingham.

  Christmas Island Nuclear Tests
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the number of service personnel who were involved in the Christmas Island nuclear tests and are still living; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Although information is not held in the form requested, studies by the National Radiological Protection Board have shown that of over 20,000 former participants in the atmospheric nuclear test programme which took place during the 1950s and early 1960s, some 2,800 had died by the end of 1990. This death rate is lower 116
  than among the general population in the same age group, and no higher than for the matched control group in the NRPB study. Copies of the NRPB reports are in the Library of the House.

  Humanitarian Relief Operations
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects next to meet his NATO counterpart to discuss humanitarian relief operations.

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence next plans to meet his NATO counterparts at an informal meeting of Defence Ministers in Seville in September. The agenda for that meeting has not yet been decided.

  Partnership for Peace Initiative
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the NATO partnership for peace initiative.

  Mr. Hanley
  The implementation of partnership for peace is going very well. To date, 21 states, including the Russian Federation, have signed; the partnership co-ordination cell has been established; the first individual partnership programme, with Poland, has been agreed, and others are under negotiation; and the first land and maritime exercises under the partnership are planned to take place this autumn.

  Royal Air Force (Command Structure)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the new command structure in the Royal Air Force which followed the "Options for Change" reductions.

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has received no specific representations about the new RAF command structure.

  Stefan Adolph Kock
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Stefan Adolph Kock acquired British nationality; and who from the Ministry of Defence or other Government Department intervened with the police in Oban in Argyll regarding the prosecution of Stefan Adolph Kock after he had fired an automatic pistol at two motorists on 15 January 1990.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is responsible for prosecutions in Scotland. The information requested however cannot be compiled in the time before the House rises for summer recess. I shall therefore arrange from my right hon. and learned Friend to write to the hon. Member as soon as this information is available and and arrange for a copy of the letter to be place in the Library of the House for the benefit of other hon. Members.
  117

SCOTLAND

  Council Tax Payers
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations or laws govern the ability or duty of the proposed new councils to give personal details of council tax payers to(a) the proposed new water boards and (b) other outside bodies.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill provides that it will be the duty of local authorities to supply information held on the setting, levying or collection of council tax to the new water and sewerage authorities if required to do so by my right hon. Friend and if he considers this will assist the latter either in making a charges scheme or collecting water and sewerage charges made under such a scheme. The Bill provides for such requirements to be imposed by regulations subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

  As regards other outside bodies, the principal statutory provisions concerning the release of information about council tax payers are contained in the Local Government Finance Act 1992. The provisions of the Act will apply to the proposed new councils. Paragraph 17 of schedule 2 to the Act provides that regulations may be made for the supply of relevant information to any person who requests it for a purpose not relating to part I or II of the Act. However, personal information is specifically excluded from the definition of relevant information.

  Child Care Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total public expenditure on child care services for pre-school children under the age of five years, by sector, including all local authority provision and grants for the voluntary sector, for each year from 1989–90 to 1993–94; and what was the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of the gross domestic product for Scotland, in each of these years.

  Mr. Stewart
  Services for children under five are provided from public expenditure by local authorities and from grants from the Scottish Office under the urban programme and under sections 9 and 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

  Child and adult pedestrian casualties on or near pedestrian crossings in Scotland, years 1991 to 19931

  Severity/Year

  On pedestrian crossing

  Within zig zag of crossing

  Within 50 metres of crossing

  Total

  Child pedestrian2

  Fatal

  1991

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1992

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1993

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Serious

  1991

  31

  2

  46

  79

  1992

  20

  6

  40

  66

  1993

  18

  3

  29

  50

  Slight

  1991

  117

  11

  108

  236

  1992

  91

  12

  113

  216

  1993

  103

  13

  77

  193

  118

  £000

  Local Authority LA Facilities

  Expenditure Voluntary Facilities

  Scottish Office Expenditure

  1989–90

  11,604

  1,859

  2,163

  1990–91

  13,696

  1,917

  2,766

  1991–92

  14,537

  2,285

  4,190

  1992–93

  116,030

  11,441

  4,647

  1993–94

  n/a

  n/a

  4,657

  1 Provisional.

  The percentage that this expenditure represents of the Scottish gross domestic product for each of the years for which full information is available lies between 0.04 per cent. and 0.05 per cent.

  Cemeteries
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to the long-term problems of shortage of space in existing cemeteries and the desirability or otherwise of creating new cemeteries; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the use of re-usable graves.

  Mr. Stewart
  The provision of cemeteries is a matter for local authorities, whose statutory powers for this purpose include a right to purchase land compulsorily for new cemeteries or the extension of existing cemeteries. The re-use of graves would involve the disturbance of remains, which would be unacceptable to many people; and the implications would need careful and sensitive consideration. I understand that the Institute of Burial and Cremation Administration in Scotland is considering the scope for optimising the use of cemeteries in ways which would not involve disinterment.

  Road Accidents (Pedestrians)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) children and (b) adults have been (i) killed, (ii) seriously or (iii) slightly injured on or near pedestrian crossings in Scotland in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested on children and adults killed or injured on or near pedestrian crossings between 1991 and 1993 is given in the table below.
  119

  Severity/Year

  On pedestrian crossing

  Within zig tag of crossing

  Within 50 metres of crossing

  Total

  Total

  1991

  148

  13

  156

  317

  1992

  111

  19

  153

  283

  1993

  122

  16

  106

  244

  Adult pedestrian

  Fatal

  1991

  5

  3

  14

  22

  1992

  12

  2

  7

  21

  1993

  4

  —

  11

  15

  Serious

  1991

  117

  19

  149

  285

  1992

  89

  18

  120

  227

  1993

  53

  22

  77

  152

  Slight

  1991

  234

  24

  268

  526

  1992

  203

  18

  269

  490

  1993

  152

  34

  198

  384

  Total

  1991

  356

  46

  431

  833

  1992

  304

  38

  .396

  738

  1993

  209

  56

  286

  551

  1These figures relate to pedestrian casualities on or near pedestrian crossing involving any number of vehicles. 'Road Accidents Scotland' table 34 provides figures for pedestrian casualities on or near pedestrian crossing involving single vehicles.In 1992 there were 997 such pedestrian casualties compared with 1,021 (283+738) provided above.

  2Child 0–15 years.

  Local Government
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings have taken place of the staff advisory committee on local government in Scotland; on what dates; what was the outcome; what instructions he has given to the committee; what advice he has received from it; and when he expects to promulgate such advice to individual local authorities.

  Mr. Stewart
  The staff advisory committee held its first meeting on 18 May. I understand that it has held regular meetings since then and has undertaken a number of visits to local authorities. My right hon. Friend has invited the committee as a first task to prepare advice on the nature of any redundancy compensation scheme which should apply in Scotland during the period of reorganisation. The Committee's advice on this issue is expected quite shortly.

  Agricultural Services Agency
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the annual report and accounts of the Scottish Agricultural Services Agency for 1992–93.

  Mr. Lang
  I have today published the report, and I shall arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Water and Sewerage Services
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what preparations he will make to establish new water and sewerage authorities as provided in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill.

  Mr. Lang
  Work to establish the new water and sewerage authorities will proceed as quickly as possible after Royal Assent is obtained to the legislation.
  120
  Restructuring of the industry is a major undertaking and it is essential that the chief executives of the new authorities should be in post at the earliest possible date following Royal Assent. Any delay is likely to incur inefficiencies and costs in implementing the restructuring. Selection of candidates will need to be thorough. It will also be time consuming. I therefore intend now to invite tenders for the appointment of executive search consultants to help identify candidates for chief executive posts.

  Substantial assets will need to be transferred from the existing local authorities to the new bodies. The asset transfer arrangements will be complex. A priority task will be to issue guidance to assist the regional and islands councils and the Central Scottish Water Development Board in their preparation of asset transfer schemes. To expedite this I also intend to invite tenders for the appointment of technical consultants to advise on the preparation of guidance on asset transfer schemes.

  Expenditure on these consultancies is a new service for which parliamentary approval will be sought in a winter supplementary estimate for the housing and environmental services, Scotland vote, class XIV, vote 7. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £200,000 will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

  Prison Rules
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will introduce new rules for prisons and young offender institutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The new Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 1994, which were the subject of wide-ranging public consultation late last year, have been laid before this House today. They will come into force on 1 November. The revised rules not only pull together and update the Prison (Scotland) Rules 1952 and the Young Offenders (Scotland) Rules 1965, but also lift out of the old Prisons (Scotland) Standing Orders
  121
  a number of matters which, because they concern prisoners' rights, more appropriately appear on the face of the rules so that they are subject to parliamentary and public scrutiny. They take account of the relevant European guidance, the European convention on human rights and the European prison rules. They represent a fundamental and wide-ranging overhaul of the rules governing the management of Scottish penal establish-ments, and are designed not merely to codify existing practice, but to introduce change.

  The rules provide inter alia for the making of directions. While the latter have legislative force, they do not require to be formally laid before Parliament. Nevertheless, so that hon. Members may see the detail of what is proposed, copies of the draft directions have been placed in the Library. In due course, the directions, like the rules, will be published.

  Childhood Cancer, Dounreay
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the recent update of the epidemiological data concerning the incidence of childhood cancer in the Dounreay area.

  Mr. Stewart
  Details of this work, which was carried out on behalf of the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment, were published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health on 16 June 1994. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  The study found that in the period 1985–91, four cases of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were observed in the one to 24 age group resident within 25 km of Dounreay, compared to 1.4 expected cases. The results have been examined by COMARE, which concluded that the results reinforced the previous findings that the raised incidence of childhood and young adult leukaemia in the area is a real phenomenon and is less likely to have arisen by chance. The committee concluded that further epidemiological research in the Dounreay area to try to determine causal mechanisms was not a practicable way forward at present. The Government accept this advice. Further studies are, however, under way on a national basis —one on the incidence of childhood cancer in the vicinity of all nuclear sites in Scotland, the other a case control study of childhood cancer in Scotland, linked with a parallel study in England and Wales.

  The full test of the Committee's advice is as follows:
  Comare statement
  Incidence of Leukaemia and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Children and Young Adults Resident in the Dounreay Area of Caithness, Scotland, in 1968–1991. Black R. J., Sharp L, Harkness E. F., McKinney P. A.
  Background
  The second report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE), entitled 'Investigation of the possible increased incidence of leukaemia in young people near the Dounreay Nuclear Establishment, Caithness, Scotland', which was published in 1988, concluded that for the period 1968–1984: "There is evidence of a raised incidence of leukaemia in young people living in the vicinity of Dounreay.".
  Further case-control and cohort epidemiological investiga-tions were recommended and undertaken in subsequent years [Case-control study of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children in Caithness near Dounreay nuclear installation. Uruquhart et al, BMJ 1991; 302, 687–692. Incidence of leukaemia and other cancers in birth and school cohorts in the Dounreay area. Black et al, BMJ 1992; 304, 1401–1405]. In the
  122
  light of this work and other considerations, COMARE requested that the epidemiological data for childhood leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the vicinity of Dounreay should be analysed to include the period 1984–1991.
  This work was undertaken by the Information and Statistics Division of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department and was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health on 16 June 1994.
  The Study
  The objective of this report was to review the geographical incidence of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children and young adults resident in the area less than 25km from the Dounreay nuclear installation, and in the reminder of the KW postcode area. The full-time period 1968–91 for which data are now available was studied to determine whether the excess incidence reported in the period up to 1984 has continued in subsequent years.
  In comparing observed and expected numbers of cases of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the expected numbers were based on Scottish national rates.
  The authors report that in 1968–91, 12 cases were observed compared with 5.2 expected in the zone within 25km of the Dounreay plant (p=0.007). In the latest period 1985–91, which was not included in the second COMARE report, 4 cases were observed compared with 1.4 expected (p=0.059).
  Comare's Advice to Government
  COMARE have considered this study and welcomed its publication.
  The Committee endorsed the methods used.
  Eight additional cases of childhood cancer are reported in this study for the period 1985–1991. Of these, 4 were within 25km of Dounreay and these cases give added weight to the previous findings that the raised incidence of childhood and young adult leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in this area is a real phenomenon.
  COMARE's second report concluded:
  "Although chance cannot be entirely dismissed as an explanation of the raised incidence of childhood leukaemia in the vicinity of Dounreay, we consider that it is now less likely than when Sellafield was considered in isolation".
  The new findings reinforce that view.
  Regarding the causation of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the area, the Committee considered that this study neither adds nor removes support for the "population mixing" hypothesis suggested by Professor Kinlen. The Committee also noted that the data in the case-control study [Urquhart et all 1991], which examined parental exposure to radiation, showed that the "paternal preconception irradiation" hypothesis put forward by Professor Gardner could not account for the observed excess and that the new data did not change this position.
  The Committee concluded that further epidemiological research in the Dounreay area to try to determine causal mechanisms is not considered to be a practicable way forward at present, because of the small number of cases involved. However, the incidence of any new cases of childhood leukaemia which might arise should continue to be monitored at appropriate time periods. Rigorous analysis of pathological material from such individuals should continue to be strongly encouraged.

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

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 7 July 1994]: The information requested is shown in the table below.

  Health visitors employed by the National Health Service in Scotland1 (whole time equivalent as at 30 September)

  1988

  19922

  Scotland

  1,515·9

  1,408·3

  Argyll and Clyde

  119·2

  116·3

  Ayrshire and Arran

  105·7

  88·1

  Borders

  26·1

  23·2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  37·3

  27·9

  Fife

  112·4

  112·7

  123

  1988

  19922

  Forth Valley

  89·6

  85·4

  Grampian

  161·3

  1539

  Greater Glasgow

  322·7

  264·3

  Highland

  46·0

  44·9

  Lanarkshire

  160·8

  153·6

  Lothian

  217·9

  211·0

  Orkney

  7·0

  5·0

  Shetland

  8·0

  6·7

  Tayside

  90·9

  107·7

  Western Isles

  11·0

  7·6

  1 Excludes combined duty nurses and health visitors in training. Includes field work teachers.

  2 Grades G to I. These staff are assumed to be qualified health visitors.

  Agricultural Schemes
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost in 1993 in Scotland 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, U) the farm woodland premium scheme, (g) the orchard grubbing scheme, (h) the optional five-year set-aside scheme, (i) the habitat scheme, (j) the moorland scheme, (k) the countryside access scheme and (1) the organic aid scheme; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1994.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The information is given in the table.

  1993–94 Actual expenditure £ million

  1994–95 Estimated expenditure £ million

  Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme

  0·963

  4·500

  Nitrate Sensitive Area Scheme

  nil

  0·100

  Farm and Conservation Grant Schemes

  5·325

  5·150

  Pilot Beef and Sheep Extensification Schemes

  0·074

  0·074

  Woodland Grant Scheme

  11·600

  12·600

  Farm Woodland Premium Scheme

  0·485

  1·134

  Orchard Grubbing Scheme1

  nil

  nil

  Five-year Set-Aside Scheme

  3·981

  2·423

  Habitats Scheme

  nil

  nil

  Moorland Scheme

  nil

  nil

  Set-Aside Access Scheme (Scottish equivalent of Countryside Access Scheme)

  nil

  nil

  Organic Aid Scheme

  nil

  0·950

  1 Scheme now closed.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost in 1993 in Scotland of payments under(a) the sheep annual premium, (b) the suckler cow premium, (c) the beef special premium and (d) the hill livestock compensatory allowances; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1994.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The expected values of the 1993 scheme payments in Scotland are detailed below:

  £ million

  Sheep Annual Premium Scheme

  99·1

  Suckler Cow Premium Scheme

  43·4

  Beef Special Premium Scheme

  24·8

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

  50·9

  124
  Estimates for the value of each scheme in Scotland for the 1994 scheme year are detailed below:

  £ million

  Sheep Annual Premium Scheme

  95·7

  Suckler Cow Premium Scheme

  53·4

  Beef Special Premium Scheme

  30·7

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

  40·8

  Wheelchair Service
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what changes in the basis of funding of the wheelchair service to individual disabled people he has made following the report to the Scottish Home and Health Department, "How should the Wheelchair Service develop in the Nineties?"; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether his Department has responded to the recommendations made to the Scottish Office Home and Health Department contained in the report "How Should the Wheelchair Service Develop in the Nineties?"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 July 1994]: No changes have been made to the funding arrangements for this financial year. At present, the six centres which provide wheelchair services are funded by direct allocations from the national services division of the Common Services Agency. The future funding arrangements are under review by that division and any decision will be taken in consultation with health boards which are responsible for assessing the health needs of resident populations and for purchasing the appropriate services.

  The views and recommendations expressed in the report "How should the Wheelchair Service develop in the Nineties?" have been noted by the Scottish Office Home and Health Department and have been drawn to the attention of the national services division and health boards.

  Community Care
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what developments are taking place in community care to accommodate psychiatric patients who are currently in hospital.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: The level of provision for community care for every patient will vary and in all cases will reflect and respond to the needs of the individual. The aim is to secure the most effective package of services to meet the needs of patients and carers.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which management consultants have been employed by his Department to assist in the assessment of applications for trust status; how much each was paid; and how many assessments they undertook, in each wave.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: The information requested is provided in the table:
  125

  Wave

  Consultants

  Number of Trust applicants assessed

  Payment (including VAT)

  First

  None

  3

  —

  Second

  KPMG Managemement Consulting

  14

  £44,885

  Third

  Coopers and Lybrand

  23

  £51,183

  In addition, KPMG Management Consulting was paid £3,760 to assist in the assessment of the merger between Royal Scottish National Hospital NHS trust and Forth Valley healthcare unit. They have also been appointed to assist in the assessment of the current fourth wave of NHS trust applicants.

  Traffic Offences
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of speeding offences recorded within Argyll and Bute district in each year since 1987; and what was the total number of successful prosecutions in each year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: The available information for 1987 to 1993 is detailed in the table:

  Speeding offences, number recorded by the police and number of charges proved in Argyll and Bute, 1987–1993

  Number of offences recorded by the police

  Number of charges proved

  1987

  168

  12

  1988

  139

  25

  1989

  137

  17

  1990

  296

  21

  1991

  407

  84

  1992

  383

  59

  1993

  361

  1—

  1 Not yet available.

  Notes:

  1. The result of court proceedings may well refer to offences committed in earlier years.

  2. Speeding offences may be dealt with by way of fixed penalties in addition to court proceedings.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many motorists were(a) charged with and (b) convicted of (i) failure to accord precedence at pedestrian crossings, endorseable offences, (ii) failure to comply with traffic sign, (iii) speed limit offences, (iv) driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs and (v) reckless driving and so on in Scotland in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: The available information for 1991 and 1992 is given in the Scottish Office statistical bulletins "Motor Vehicle Offences In Scotland 1988–91" and "Motor Vehicle Offences In Scotland, 1992", copies of which are in the Library. Information for 1993 is not yet available.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Permanent Secretaries' Handbook
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under what provision of the code of open government it has been decided to keep secret those parts of the permanent secretaries' handbook not related to national security.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: In addition to exemption 1 of the code of practice—defence, security and international relations—exemptions 2— internal discussion and advice—7—effective management of the public service—and 8—public employment, public appointments and honours—would be relevant to the handbook's contents.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the last amendments were made to the permanent secretaries' handbook.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The handbook is revised as new material becomes available.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the headings of all those sections in the permanent secretaries' handbook which do not relate to national security.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have nothing to add to my reply of 9 March,Official Report, column 256.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Light Bulbs
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee why more powerful light bulbs have been installed in various rooms and corridors of the Palace of Westminster; and what assessment he has made of the energy conservation efforts of this practice.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  The general policy on lighting in the Palace of Westminster over the last four years includes a rolling programme to install low-energy light bulbs wherever safety and the design of lighting allows. The result has been a 63 per cent. reduction in the use of electricity for lighting in those areas where such bulbs are used.

  There is an additional programme throughout the Palace to overhaul the lighting in the corridors and to install emergency lighting. The use of modern electrical fitttings in these areas gives more efficient lighting but with a reduction in power consumption. Any instances where more powerful light bulbs have been installed have been at the request of Members.

  I will ask the Director of Parliamentary Works to write to the hon. Member about the energy conservation programme.

  Upper Waiting Hall Exhibitions
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the skin care campaign to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 21 November to Friday 25 November.

  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 28 November to Friday 2 December.

  Details of permanent and temporary notified vacancies 11 October 1993 to 8 April 1994

  Period

  11 October 1993 to 7 January 1994

  10 January 1994 8 April 1994

  Region

  Permanent vacancies notified

  Temporary vacancies notified

  Permanent vacancies notified

  Temporary vacancies notified

  Northern Region

  15,619

  5,769

  18,809

  5,498

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  28,980

  8,466

  32,935

  8,530

  East Midlands and Eastern Region

  35,125

  12,076

  40,182

  8,906

  London and South East Region

  99,996

  30,770

  115,843

  24,927

  South West Region

  28,889

  9,637

  37,981

  8,107

  Office for Wales

  20,909

  13,155

  24,830

  10,413

  West Midlands Region

  32,415

  9,240

  38,040

  7,085

  North West Region

  54,348

  22,229

  63,767

  18,775

  Office for Scotland

  42,347

  16,614

  49,574

  13,534

  National total

  358,628

  127,956

  421,961

  105,775

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many construction workers were registered as unemployed in each of the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: Estimates from the labour force survey of the number of ILO unemployment people whose previous employment was in the construction industry are shown in the following table:

  Numbers of ILO Unemployed People Previously Employed in the Construction Industry (SIC 92—Section F).

  Great Britain

  Thousands (Not seasonally adjusted)

  Spring 1992

  401

  Spring 1993

  412

  Winter 1993–94

  369

  Source: Labour Force Survey.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 7 December,Official Report, columns 212–15, if he will update the information on the number of temporary and permanent vacancies at jobcentres in each region.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 19 July 1994:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question asking for an update of information given earlier about the number of temporary and permanent vacancies at Jobcentres in each region.

  In my earlier reply, I gave you details of temporary and permanent vacancies notified to Jobcentres from April 1987 to 8 October 1993. The updated information, covering the period I I October 1993 to 8 April 1994, is given in the attached table.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Disability
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what role will be played by his Department in any consultation on disability; and what plans he has to publish a consultation paper on countering unfair discrimination in employment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced the publication of a document entitled "A Consultation on Government Measures to Tackle Discrimination Against Disabled People" on 15 July, to which the Department contributed. This document includes proposals for measures to tackle unjustifiable discrimination against disabled people in the labour market. I would encourage everyone with an interest in these issues, especially disabled people themselves, to let us have their views. We shall be considering the responses that are made to the proposals during the consultation process.
  129

  Training
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will examine the criteria for output-related funding to make possible payment for completion of component units of national vocational qualifications in order to ensure the delivery of appropriate training to young people with special training needs.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department is experimenting with the scope for using units of national vocational qualifications as part of output-related funding pilots with a number of training and enterprise councils. However, TECs are already responsible for ensuring that suitable training is available for young people, including those with special training needs.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to develop a national policy on training which would enable the training and enterprise councils, the careers service, local authorities, educational institutions, training providers and industry bodies to co-ordinate fully the delivery of training to young people.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Training for young people is a strategic priority set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's vocational education and training strategy statement for Great Britain, "Prosperity through Skills" published in December 1993. Within this strategy, the development of specific initiatives such as modern apprenticeships requires all those involved in vocational education and training to work together at local, sectoral and national level. A copy of "Prosperity through Skills" is available in the Library.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to secure an improvement in co-ordination between all those organisa-tions involved in the delivery of training to young people.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Improvement in the delivery of training for young people requires concerted action by all those involved in vocational education and training at local, sectoral and national level. A series of strategic level indicators, some of which are linked to the national targets for education and training, are set out in "Prosperity through Skills"—my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement of vocational education and training strategy. Those indicators are intended to help planners and practitioners assess how vocational education and training activities are achieving progress in line with the statement, and identify scope for improved co-ordination. A copy of "Prosperity through Skills" is available in the Library.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women were serving an apprenticeship with companies or industries within the Greater London area at the latest available date.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Available information from the labour force survey shows that, in winter 1993–94, 14,000 men resident in the Greater London area, who were in employment, were undertaking apprenticeships. The sample size does not allow reliable estimates for women in this geographical area. Information based on the workplace is not collected.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Africa (Parliamentary Statements)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions since 1979 when a Foreign Secretary made a statement to the House on matters to do with Africa.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information requested as recorded in the JUSTIS database is:

  (1) 9 and 12 July 1984: Statements (further to that of the Home Secretary on 6 July) about the abduction of Mr. Umaru Dikko, the Nigerian ex-Minister on 5 July and subsequent developments to date.

  (2) 19 May 1986: Statement on South African incursions into Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

  There have additionally been a number of other general statements in which reference to Africa has been made.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances Her Majesty's Government will re-open discussions with Argentina concerning the sovereignty of the Falkland islands.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs informed the House on 4 May, he was able to reassure the Falkland islanders during his recent visit that sovereignty of the islands is not for discussion. We have no doubts about our sovereignty and we have made it clear to Argentina that the matter is not for negotiation. We support the right of the islanders to self-determination.

  Vietnamese Boat People
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people have been repatriated to Vietnam from Hong Kong in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information requested is as follows:

  Numbers

  1989

  874

  1990

  5,387

  1991

  7,747

  1992

  11,668

  1993

  12,751

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what compensation has been paid to Vietnamese boat people who lost possessions during the disturbance at the Whitehead detention centre, Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No compensation has been paid to Vietnamese migrants who claim that they lost possessions during the operation carried out in the Whitehead detention centre in Hong Kong on 7 April. The question of civil liability and damages, if any, will be considered only if and when any claims are received and will be determined by the courts of Hong Kong.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total number of
  131
  police and security forces that were used to quell the disturbances at the Whitehead Vietnamese detention centre, Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A total of 1,349 police and Correctional Services Department officers were involved in the operation which took place in the Whitehead detention centre on 7 April. The Governor of Hong Kong ordered an independent inquiry into the operation which concluded that the Correctional Services Department had acted correctly in deploying such a large contingent.

  Haiti
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sanctions he will support against Haiti; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom voted in favour of Security Council resolutions 841 and 917. These resolutions prevented the sale and supply of petroleum products and arms; imposed an import and export ban, subject to minor exceptions for humanitarian purposes; prohibited aircraft flights, except for scheduled passenger flights, taking off from, landing in, or overflying the United Kingdom if they are destined for or have come from Haiti; and restricted payments under bonds. The necessary legislation has been passed to bring these measures into effect.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to support the United States Government efforts to restore democracy to Haiti.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Along with our European Union partners, we have consistently reaffirmed our commitment to the restoration of democratic government in Haiti. We support the efforts of the Organisation of American States and the United Nations to bring about a political settlement. We are taking steps to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 917, which was adopted by the United Nations on 6 May 1994 to impose sanctions on Haiti.

  Chinese Hydrogen Bomb Test
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact he has had with the United States of America in relation to its criticism of the Chinese hydrogen bomb test on 10 June.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Officials are in regular contact with their United States counterparts on all aspects of nuclear testing, including the Chinese nuclear test on 10 June.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications for the Government's policy in relation to the test ban negotiations of the nuclear test by China on 10 June.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have made it clear that we regret the nuclear test carried out by China on 10 June. China is nevertheless contributing to the present negotiations for a comprehensive test ban treaty; we welcome this. We are committed to concluding, at an early date, a treaty which will make an effective contribution to the non-proliferation regime.
  132
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to China regarding its explosion of a hydrogen bomb underground in a test on 10 June; and what are his reasons for any action or inaction in this area.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 8 July,Official Report, column 362.

  Asil Nadir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had and with whom regarding the return to the United Kingdom of Mr. Asil Nadir; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Officials of the Serious Fraud Office have pursued their investigations in both northern Cyprus and Turkey. We have been in close touch with those involved in the investigation here and in Cyprus and Turkey.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contacts Her Majesty's Government have had with the Malaysian Government about the role of the British press, its editors and proprietors in relation to United Kingdom Malaysian relations; what was discussed; what action was taken(a) formally or (b) informally; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Malaysian Government are well aware of our concern that inaccurate reporting and speculative allegations in the press can be deeply damaging to British interests. They also fully understand that the British Government do not seek to intervene in or influence the editorial or management policy of the press.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development conference which meets in Nairobi on 18 July to consider the future of Sudan; and what they were.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have given strong political support to the IGADD initiative but have made no representations to the IGADD Governments on points of detail in advance of the third round of talks. Such points will be for the parties themselves to resolve. We are providing £25,000 in financial support for the IGADD secretariat.

  North Korea
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the United States Government on the future of the nuclear programme in North Korea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We discuss the issue of North Korea's non-compliance with its International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement regularly with the
  133
  United States Administration. Following the death of Kim Il-Sung we hope that talks between the United States and North Korea aimed at resolving this crisis will be rescheduled very soon, and that a new date for a summit between the leaders of North and South Korea will also be set. We believe that any solution to this crisis must reaffirm the IAEA's right to inspect all North Korea's nuclear facilities to the agency's satisfaction.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation he has made of the threat posed by the current North Korean nuclear programme; and what action he plans to take.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  As a result of North Korea's consistent failure to co-operate fully with its International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement, the agency's director general has stated that he cannot conclude that nuclear material has not been diverted for military use in North Korea. We urge North Korea to allay suspicions by complying fully with its IAEA safeguards agreement and affirming unequivocally its commitments to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. If dialogue between North Korea and the United States and South Korea fails, then we are ready to support further consideration of the matter by the United Nations Security Council including the imposition of sanctions.

  Algeria
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the security situation in Algeria; what estimate he has made of the risk to British citizens; and what are the implications for regional security.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The security situation in Algeria is serious. British citizens are at risk. We are advising that visitors should not travel to Algeria and that British residents should leave unless they have compelling reason to remain. So far, there is no evidence that the conflict has had any destabilising effect in other countries.

  European Union
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek representation for members of national Parliaments on the reflection group of representatives of Foreign Ministers; what is his assessment of the extent to which the group's discussions could be biased by association with the European Parliament only; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Details of the work and membership of the study group of Foreign Ministers' representatives have not yet been decided, but the Corfu European Council agreed that two representatives of the European Parliament will also participate in the work of the group. The study group would become unwieldy if each national Parliament was separately represented. We can see no reason, however, why national Parliaments should not put their own ideas to the study group, arid my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has suggested that the appropriate Select Committees should make representa-tions in due course.

  European Union (Accessions) Bill
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement in the House of 11 July,Official Report, column692–93, on Chancellor Kohl's views on the old idea of a United States of Europe, what assessment he has made of the new German policies for the future of Europe and of the recent comment by the German ambassador to Moscow, Otto von der Gablentz, on national sovereignty.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We look forward to close co-operation with the Germans during their presidency on such issues as competitiveness, deregulation, closer co-operation with central Europe, open markets and subsidiarity. I have not seen a text of what the German ambassador in Moscow is suggested to have said, but I certainly would not agree that"national sovereignty is becoming irrelevant and meaningless". Such comments would be hard to reconcile with statements by Chancellor Kohl, first, in a speech in Schwäbisch hall on 4 May 1994, that he "does not want a European superstate… In the Europe of the future, we will remain securely rooted in our homeland." or secondly, in a speech to the Bundestag on 11 November 1993, that
  "Unity in diversity is the only sensible alternative to dreary centralism."

  East Timor
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the information he has regarding the arrests and killing of students at the university of East Timor by Indonesian Government forces on 14 July.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are concerned about reports from East Timor of renewed clashes between students and the military, but the facts surrounding the events of 14 July are still far from clear. We have asked Her Majesty's embassy in Jakarta for a detailed report.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to(a) the Indonesian diplomatic mission in London and (b) the Indonesian Government regarding the killings and arrests by Government forces at the university of East Timor on 14 July.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Initial reports of events in Dili on 14 July differ widely. We have asked Her Majesty's embassy in Jakarta for a detailed report. A decision on whether representations are appropriate will be taken in the light of that report, in consultation with European Union partners.

  Diplomatic Service
  Mr Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will provide members of Her Majesty's diplomatic service with passports which clarify their diplomatic status in accordance with the practice of other countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  This matter was recently reviewed and the Government have decided to issue diplomatic and official passports to members of Her Majesty's service when serving abroad, staff from other Departments on
  135
  long-term attachments at our overseas posts and accompanying dependants. The new passports, for which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be responsible, are intended to clarify diplomatic status and remove scope for misunderstanding. They will be identical to standard common format passports except for the addition of "diplomatic" or "official" on the cover and two inside pages. This measure will rectify a long-standing anomaly in Britain's passport issuing practice and bring our diplomatic personnel into line with their colleagues elsewhere.

  Burundi
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in Burundi and the illegal importation of arms.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Latest reports indicate that the security situation in Burundi remains calm but tense. There is no mandatory United Nations embargo against the importation of arms into Burundi.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long a person applying for entry clearance on 31 March or the latest convenient date at each post in the Indian sub-continent could expect to wait, in each queue, for(a) first interview, (b) referral of

  Number of applicants for entry clearance visas waiting for first interview at 31 March 1994

  Number of persons

  Bombay

  Delhi

  Islamabad

  Madras1

  Dhaka2

  Queue 1

  Persons with a claim to the right of abode, dependent relatives over 70 years old, special compassionate cases

  —

  —

  45

  —

  330

  Queue 2

  Spouses and children under 18 years

  142

  277

  1,248

  —

  2,704

  Queue 3

  Fianc(es) and others applying for the first time for settlement

  321

  162

  209

  —

  337

  Queue 4

  Reapplicants

  292

  95

  629

  —

  337

  Total

  755

  534

  2,131

  34

  3,871

  1 Madras does not operate a separate queueing system.

  2 Only a proportion of applicants at Dhaka are listed as awaiting first interview. Other applicants will have their applications resolved without interview, where possible.

  Major Reginald Dunk and Mr. Alexander Schlesinger
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investiga-tions into the conduct of his Department he proposes to carry out following the acquittal on appeal of Major Reginald Dunk and Mr. Alexander Schlesinger.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Court of Appeal has yet to deliver its reasoned judgment. We shall consider whether to make any changes in the light of that judgment.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes in the policy and practice of his Department he proposes to institute following the acquittal on appeal of Major Reginald Dunk and Mr. Alexander Schlesinger.
  136
  the case to the Home Office and the requested information being received by the post, (c) decision after first interview and (d) for the explanatory statement prepared by the post in the case of appeal against any refusal to be despatched to the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  The only information which is available centrally is on expected waiting times to interview for applicants applying in the Indian sub-continent. This information is published in table 2·5 of the Home Office statistical bulletin issue 9/94, "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Third and Fourth Quarters and Year 1993", a copy of which is in the Library. Statistics for the first and second quarters of 1994 will be published in October.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) men, (b) women and (c) children were waiting in each queue at each post in the Indian sub-continent on 31 March or the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is given in the table. No information is available centrally on the gender of applicants in queues. In Calcutta there are no applicants awaiting first interview. Information on the number of applicants in Karachi is not centrally available but all applicants are expected to receive a first interview within three weeks.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to my answer to his previous question. Any investigation must similarly await the reasoned judgment of the Court of Appeal.

EDUCATION

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of primary school classes being taught by one teacher contain 20 or fewer pupils.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In January 1993, the latest date for which information is available, 11 per cent. of primary school classes taught by one teacher had 20 or less pupils.

  School Closures
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many proposals from local authorities to close or re-organise schools have been awaiting a decision from him for(a) up to three months, (b) three to six monehts, (c) six to nine months, (d) nine to 12 months and (e) more than 12 months.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  At 15 July, a total of 149 proposals published under either section 12 or section 13 of the Education Act 1980 were under consideration in the Department. Of these, 94 had been awaiting a decision for a period of up to three months, 28 for between three and six months, 14 for between six and nine months, six for between nine and 12 months and seven for in excess of 12 months. Proposals received by the Secretary of State within the last four months may in certain cases fall to the local authority for determination.

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the annual expenditure on discretionary awards by each local education authority in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Forth
  Returns made to the Department by local authorities about their expenditure on discretionary awards for the academic year 1992–93 will not be available for publication until August. Data for 1993–94 have not yet been collected.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 8 July,Official Report, columns 327–28, how many delegates attended each of the conferences on special educational needs.

  Mr. Forth
  The number of delegates attending each conference was as follows:

  Location

  Date

  Number

  London

  15 June

  218

  Manchester

  21 June

  200

  York

  24 June

  214

  Cardiff

  1 July

  129

  Bristol

  5 July

  166

  Birmingham

  7 July

  217

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress is being made on establishing the special educational needs tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I am pleased to be able to announce that regulations governing the tribunal's procedures have today been laid before the House. In addition, a guide to the tribunal, entitled "Special Educational Needs Tribunal: How to Appeal", which has been awarded the crystal mark by the Plain English Campaign, will be published shortly. The guide will suggest easy-to-follow steps for parents wishing to appeal to the tribunal. I am arranging for proof copies of the guide to be placed in the Library.

  Weapons Technologies (Access)
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the conclusion of his discussions with the representatives of the universities 138
  and colleges about means of ensuring that postgraduate students and researchers from countries of proliferation concern do not gain access to technologies which could assist in the development of weapons of mass destruction.

  Mr. Boswell
  I have written today to the chairmen of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, representing universities, and the Standing Conference of Principals, representing the higher education colleges, about the need agreed with them for careful consideration of applications from certain visiting researchers from overseas at postgraduate and post-doctoral levels in certain fields of scientific research. The Government have agreed to provide information and guidance to the universities and colleges on the countries and technologies of concern, for them to take into account when reaching their decisions. Copies of those letters have been placed in the Library.

  Road Safety
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the last research into the provision of road safety education was undertaken; and whether the results were published.

  Mr. Forth
  The last full survey of the provision of road safety education was undertaken in 1986–87 by Reading university, under contract to the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. The project was funded wholly by Government funds. The results were published in 1989.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on road safety training during each of the past 10 years for which records are available.

  Mr. Forth
  Most schools now have delegated budgets which allow them to invest in road safety training. The Department does not, itself, provide road safety training for school teachers.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what percentage of schools include road safety training in their normal programmes.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will ask the Office for Standards in Education to undertake a review of road safety education and to make recommendations on good practice and how road safety education can be improved.

  Mr. Forth
  No.

  Parental Choice
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of parents obtained their first choice of school for their children on transfer at 11 years in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Data on the percentage of parents securing their first choice of school for their children on transfer at 11 years are not collected centrally. Surveys commissioned by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities in 1992 and by The Times in 1993 suggest that some 90 per cent. of parents gain places for their children at their first choice of secondary school.

  Parents Charter
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment of potential advantages to recipients as a whole preceded the recent universal distribution of the updated parents charter.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The changes taking place in our schools are of great importance to everyone, not just to the parents of school-age children. Independent research carried out last year among a representative sample of parents supported the view that distribution by national doordrop would be the right course of action.

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what was the total public expenditure on(a) nursery schools and classes and (b) children under five in reception classes, in each year since 1989–90; and what was the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of the gross domestic product for England;

  (2) what was the average cost in 1993–94 of a full-time equivalent place in (a) a nursery class and (b) a nursery school.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Euducation what work has been, or is being, undertaken to examine the relative costs and benefits of providing education and day care services for children under the age of five years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government are exploring a range of possible ways of making education provision for children under five years old more widely available as resources allow. The review is examining the relative cost-effectiveness and quality of different forms of provision, bearing in mind the rich diversity of current provision and the preferences of parents. Day care provision for children is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring; and if he will set out his targets to help small businesses in the next year.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the United Kingdom economy. They help small firms by keeping inflation and interest rates low and by reducing legislation and administrative burdens. They also provide direct assistance where appropriate and are currently establishing a network of business links to provide high quality business support across the country.

  The Government's policies for increased participation in further education and vocational training, reinforced by their support for the national targets for education and training, will help small firms to improve the skill levels of their emloyees. The charter for further education sets out what employers have a right to expect from colleges in the further education sector.
  140
  The Department encourages small firms to tender for its contracts. It abides by the CBI prompt payment code; and each contract also includes a requirement to ensure sub-contractors are paid promptly. The Department monitors both the number and value of its contracts let to small firms. In the first four months of 1994–95, 58 per cent. of contracts were placed with small firms–35 per cent. by value. The corresponding figures for the previous 12 months were 46 per cent. and 22 per cent.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what role will be played by his Department in any consultation on disability; and what plans he has to publish a consultation paper on countering unfair discrimination against disabled people in education.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced the publication of a consultation document on 15 July. The Department for Education contributed to its preparation. I welcome the publication of this document and would encourage everyone with an interest in these issues, especially disabled people themselves, to let us have their views.

  There are no further plans for specific consultations on countering unfair discrimination against disabled persons in education since comprehensive new measures have been introduced by the Education Act 1993. In particular, the code of practice on the identification and assessment of special education needs, published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in May this year under the 1993 Act, reflects extensive consultation with schools, local education authorities, the health service and voluntary agencies.

  Primary Schools
  Mrs. Anne Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his present estimate of the number of surplus places in primary schools in total and in each local education authority area.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The latest figures available on a comprehensive basis were collected by the Department through a detailed survey of local education authorities in 1991. For figures derived from that survey, I refer the hon. Member for Warwickshire, North (Mr. O'Brien) on 31 January 1994,Official Report, columns 517–21. The total number of surplus places in primary schools in 1991 according to our survey was 639,696.

  Surplus places figures for 1994 will be available later this year once we have completed our analysis of the first information returns made by LEAs and the Funding Agency for Schools in accordance with the requirements of regulations made under section 21 of the Education Act 1993.

  Education Statistics
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the figures for(a) school leavers, (b) further education leavers and (c) higher education leavers for (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1992–93, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1990–91 and (v) 1980–81.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department does not have information on the numbers of school leavers for 1993–94
  141
  or 1992–93. The estimated numbers of school leavers in England in 1991–92, 1990–91 and 1980–81 were 519,200, 541,900 and 734,000 respectively. Comprehensive data on leavers from further and higher education are not collected centrally.

  Cycling
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with his colleagues at the Departments of Health, of Transport and of the Environment about encouraging children to bicycle to school, in order to reduce pollution and congestion, while encouraging health.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 18 July 1994,Official Report, column 71.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Castration and Tail-Docking
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many piglets were castrated in the last period of 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Soames
  Figures on the number of piglets which have been castrated are not available.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many lambs were(a) castrated and (b) tail-docked in the last period of 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Soames
  Figures on the number of lambs castrated and tail-docked are not available.

  Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she last met representatives of the fishing industry to discuss fisheries policy.

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss various aspects of fisheries policy. On 23 May I chaired an important seminar on fish marketing, with representatives from a wide range of interested parties.

  Deer
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what investigations her Department is undertaking in respect of the condition of deer frequenting the deer sanctuary at Baronsdown;

  (2) when she will report on the effect of administering uncontrolled doses of Panacur at the deer sanctuary at Baronsdown.

  Mr. Soames
  I am looking into several complaints which have been received about deer management on Exmoor and in particular the apparent administration of the drug Panacur to deer at the Baronsdown sanctuary.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is her policy in respect of administering the drug Panacur to wild deer.

  Mr. Soames
  Panacur, like any veterinary medicine, should be administered in accordance with the law. It is not 142
  currently specifically licensed for administration to deer. Under European legislation however, and in line with the code of practice adopted by the British Veterinary Association in 1991, a veterinarian may prescribe a veterinary medicine licensed for another species for administration to animals under his care.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessments she has made of the effect of administering(a) uncontrolled under-doses and (b) uncontrolled overdoses of the drug Panacur to wild deer.

  Mr. Soames
  It is for manufacturers of veterinary medicines to assess the proper dose rate for their product as they seek to satisfy the efficacy criterion to obtain the necessary license. Panacur does have a reasonable safety profile and moderate changes in dose rates should not give rise to unacceptable risks. Underdosing may, however, involve a theoretical risk of creating resistance to the drug in the target worms.

  Wormers
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which wormers are approved for administration to wild animals.

  Mr. Soames
  According to the information currently available to me, there are no wormers licensed for administration to wild animals.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research she has conducted into the epidemiology of BSE in the siblings of affected cattle.

  Mr. Soames
  The occurrence of BSE in siblings has naturally been an integral part of research studies to determine whether susceptibility to BSE has a genetic component. To date, these studies have revealed that the genetic make-up of cattle does not play a major role in their susceptibility to BSE.

  Diets and Nutrition
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people in the population were estimated in her Ministry's 1994 report of the 1986–87 dietary and nutritional survey to be below the lower reference nutrient intake recommended for energy, by age and sex, representing the lowest intakes which will meet the needs of some individuals in the group set out in paragraph 1.3.8 of the report of the panel on dietary reference values; and which family and socio-economic categories were disproportionately represented among them.

  Mr. Soames
  There are no lower reference nutrient intakes for energy in the report of the panel on dietary reference values.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the energy requirements defined for children of different age and sex and the minimum cost at standard market prices of meeting those requirements in 1994.

  Mr. Soames
  The estimated average energy require-ments published by the Department of Health in 1991 are:
  143

  Age

  Males

  Females

  MJ/day

  kcal/day

  MJ/day

  kcal/day

  0–3 months

  2·28

  545

  2·16

  515

  4–6 months

  2·89

  690

  2·69

  645

  7–9 months

  3·44

  825

  3·20

  765

  10–12 months

  3·85

  920

  3·61

  865

  1–3 years

  5·15

  1,230

  4·86

  1,165

  4–6 years

  7·16

  1,715

  6·46

  1,545

  7–10 years

  8·24

  1,970

  7·28

  1,740

  11–14 years

  9·27

  2,220

  7·72

  1,845

  15–18 years

  11·51

  2,755

  8·83

  2,110

  The minimum cost of meeting these requirements would require a diet consisting entirely of the cheapest sources of energy such as lard, sugar or flour. Such a diet would not be recommended as it would not meet children's need for a balance of nutrients.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the abattoirs in England and Wales.

  Mr. Soames
  There are 468 red meat and 99 poultry abattoirs licensed in England and Wales at the present time. I am depositing a list of these today in the House Library. The licensed poultry abattoirs have been licensed under the Poultry Meat (Hygiene) Regulations 1976, as amended, and the list is likely to change on 1 August 1994 when abattoirs will be licensed under the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1994. These regulations will bring more poultry abattoirs into the list of licensed premises, and will require rabbit and farmed game bird meat abattoirs to be licensed for the first time.

  Set Aside
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage of set-aside land in each EC member state.

  Mr. Jack
  In 1993, the set-aside requirement in all member states was 15 per cent. of the area on which arable area payments were claimed under the main scheme. The percentage of land set aside in each member state as a percentage of the total area claimed under both the main and the simplified scheme is as follows:

  Per cent.

  Belgium

  4·63

  Denmark

  11·36

  Federal Republic of Germany

  11·40

  Greece

  1·34

  Spain

  10·78

  France

  12·30

  Republic of Ireland

  8·92

  Italy

  5·60

  Luxembourg

  5·56

  Netherlands

  2·40

  Portugal

  11·40

  United Kingdom

  13·98

  EC (Total)

  10·83

  Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether imported beef, cheese, butter and meat products from EEC countries are examined for bovine immunodeficiency virus; and what evidence of bovine immunodeficiency virus has been found.

  Mr. Soames
  Intra-Community trade in these com-modities is governed by harmonised animal health rules, none of which currently provide for controls in respect of bovine immunodeficiency virus.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans her Department has to ensure that food labelling includes animal welfare criteria.

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: The Food Advisory Committee has recommended to the Government that information about methods of animal welfare should be conveyed to consumers by means other than labelling. The Government, therefore, have no plans to make statutory provision in this area, but have no objection to voluntary labelling schemes so long as the information is not presented misleadingly.

  Diets and Nutrition
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list(a) the estimated average requirements recommended by the 1991 panel on dietary reference values of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, (b) the recommended daily amounts defined previously 1979 to 1991 and (c) the corresponding recommended daily amounts in the United States for energy for (i) males and females of different age and (ii) males and females of different age and different levels of activity, as defined in annex 4 of the 1991 panel report.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the report from the Committee of the Medical Aspects of Food Policy "Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom" published in 1991, the estimated average requirement—EAR—is defined as an overall energy expenditure as a multiple of basal metabolic rate. EARs for energy for children and adolescents, and for men and women, at different activity levels are given in tables 1.1, 2.5 and 2.7 of the report. Different EARs for energy for children under 10 years of age were not made according to activity level.

  The 1979 COMA recommendations are listed in table 1 of the report "Recommended Daily Amounts of Food Energy and Nutrients for Groups of People in the United Kingdom". Copies of both reports are available in the Library. The 1989 United States recommended dietary allowances are shown in the table. The values in the three reports are derived in different ways and therefore are not directly comparable.

  United States recommended dietary allowances for energy: 1989

  Age (years)

  Kilocalories daily

  Infants 0–0·5

  650

  0·5–1

  850

  145

  Age (years)

  Kilocalories daily

  Children

  1–3

  1,300

  4–6

  1,800

  7–10

  2,000

  Males

  11–14

  2,500

  15–18

  3,000

  19–24

  2,900

  25–50

  2,900

  51 +

  2,300

  Females

  11–14

  2,200

  15–18

  2,200

  19–24

  2,200

  25–50

  2,200

  51 +

  1,900

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research, with specific reference to children, she has commissioned to satisfy the recommendation made by the panel on dietary reference values of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy in 1991 on investigations to be carried out into nutrient requirements of the United Kingdom population, their nutritional status and methods for its measurement, particularly for the elderly and for children.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  As part of the national diet and nutrition survey programme, run jointly by the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, a survey of children aged one and a half to four and a half years was completed in July 1993 and the report is expected to be published later this year. A survey of children aged five to 15 years is being planned. In 1993, the Department of Health and Medical Research Council's nutrition programme committee commissioned two research projects to examine the relationship between weight, height and nutritional status of children and their current and future health. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also has research programmes on optimum nutrient status and on dietary surveys, including improvements in methodology.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the difference in the energy requirements defined by her Department's dietary experts for a family with a boy aged eight and a girl aged six in which(a) both parents are unemployed and (b) both parents are in full-time employment; and what are the relative risks in each family of not being able to meet those requirements.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  Employment status is not known to have any direct influence on energy requirements.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what specific information about the energy requirements of children of different ages in families with different levels of income has been issued by her Department in the 1990s.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  The report from the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy—COMA—"Dietary Reference Values for
  146
  Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom", copies of which are available in the Library, provided estimates of average energy requirements by age, sex and activity level, but not income. Income is not known to influence energy requirements.

WALES

  Schools (Road Safety)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the Curriculum Council for Wales to(a) undertake research into the current provision of road safety education in schools, (b) identify examples of good practice and (c) recommend how such good practice might be extended.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No. Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have plans to invite the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales to conduct such research.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider including training of teachers in road safety education as a national priority area in grants for education support and training.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Details of the Welsh Office's 1995–96 grants for education support and training—GEST —programme were sent to local education authorities in June this year. Training in road safety education is not included in the programme which has been the subject of extensive consultations with LEAs. The Department will, in due course, consult LEAs on the priorities to be supported in the 1996–97 GEST programme and will consider any proposals for funding, including any relating to road safety education, as part of that exercise.

  Child Care Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total public expenditure on child care services for pre-school children under the age of five years, by sector, including all local authority provision and grants to the voluntary sector, for each year from 1989–90 to 1993–94; and what was the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of gross domestic product for Wales in each of these years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people work on the Welsh Development Agency industrial estates; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1986.

  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.

  Cancer Statistics
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of cancer have been identified in each years in Wales since 1979.
  147
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of malignant neoplasms registered in each year since 1979 is given in the following table. Figures for 1990 and later years are not yet complete for all hospitals in Wales.

  All Malignant Neoplasms ICD9 (140–208)

  1979

  12,456

  1980

  12,554

  1981

  12,642

  1982

  12,686

  1983

  13,737

  1984

  14,414

  1985

  14,848

  1986

  15,284

  1987

  15,241

  1988

  15,775

  11989

  15,397

  1 Provisional

  Source: Wales Cancer Registry

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what role will be played by his Department in any consultation on disability; and what plans he has to publish a consultation paper on countering unfair discrimination against disabled people in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for disabled people announced the publication of a consultation document on 15 July. The Welsh Office contributed to its preparation. My right hon. Friend and I welcome the publication of this document and would encourage everyone with an interest in these issues, especially disabled people themselves, to let us have their views.

  Out-of-school Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total public expenditure on out-of-school services for children from the age of five for each year since 1989–90; and what was the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of the gross domestic product for Wales for each of these years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not held centrally. Grant of £24,022, £40,872 and £18,240 were paid to Kids Club Network in financial years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 respectively, from the Department's child and family services grant scheme. In 1993–94 the Department launched its out-of-school children grant initiative through the training and enterprise councils in Wales with a grant of £153,000.

  Health Authorities (Legal Fees)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much(a) Clwyd, (b) East Dyfed, (c) Gwent, (d) Gwynedd, (e) Mid Glamorgan, (f) Pembrokeshire, (g) Powys and (h) West Glamorgan health authorities spent on legal fees in each year from 1983 to 1993.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
  148

  "Caring for the Future"
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of publishing "Caring for the Future"; and how many documents were published.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The cost of publishing 25,000 copies of the English language version of "Caring for the Future" was £22,600, equivalent to 90p a copy. The cost of producing 2,000 copies of the Welsh language version was £5,700, equivalent to £2·85 a copy.

  GP Lists (Removal of Patients)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details for each family health service authority area and for Wales as a whole of the number of patients removed from general practitioners' lists for the latest available year; and how many and what proportions of these were removed without their consent.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not available in the form requested. The following table shows the number of patients removed from general medical practitioners' lists in 1993 at the request of the doctor and the number of those who were re-allocated to another doctor in the same area by their family health services authority.

  Patients removed

  Patients reallocated

  Clwyd

  532

  1—

  Dyfed

  95

  49

  Gwent

  244

  126

  Gwynedd

  87

  31

  Mid Glamorgan

  407

  177

  Powys

  26

  24

  South Glamorgan

  831

  279

  West Glamorgan

  567

  261

  Wales Total

  2,769

  2927

  1Not available.

  2Financial year 1993–94.

  3Excludes Clwyd.

  Notes:

  1. All figures shown in the table have been provided by individual authorities and have not been statistically validated.

  2. Information on the specific numbers of patients removed from GPs' lists without their consent is not available. The table indicates the number of patients who transferred at the request of doctors and will include those who moved against their wishes. Other reasons for removal include patients who moved out of the practice area.

  3. If the patient has been transferred more than once during the year he/she will have been counted each time.

  4. Removals due to the death of the patient, emigration, adoption and the retirement of the doctor are not shown in the table.

  5. Patients reallocated by the authority are those who were unable to find another doctor within the area willing to accept their registration.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the current annual budgets of all the grant-maintained schools in Wales; and what are the capital and revenue allocations made by him to each such school during the current financial year.

  Mr. Redwood
  The annual maintenance grants, special purpose grants for development and capital grants allocated to grant-maintained schools in the current financial year are shown in the following table:
  149

  Capital Grants

  School

  County

  AMG £

  SPG(D) £

  Formula £

  Projects £

  Bryn Elian

  Clwyd

  1,682,885

  37,750

  27,100

  250,000

  Derwen

  Clwyd

  254,564

  9,400

  16,000

  300,000

  Eirias

  Clwyd

  2,301,715

  55,100

  34,040

  280,000

  Emrys ap Iwan

  Clwyd

  2,529,331

  58,750

  35,500

  579,726

  Maelor

  Clwyd

  1,223,319

  26,300

  22,520

  99,681

  Pen-y-Bryn

  Clwyd

  386,954

  15,000

  18,000

  50,000

  Brynmawr

  Gwent

  1,317,383

  27,000

  22,800

  685,469

  Cwmcarn

  Gwent

  881,624

  18,000

  19,200

  262,729

  Our Lady

  Gwent

  348,379

  10,800

  16,320

  180,000

  St. Albans

  Gwent

  1,339,177

  29,250

  23,700

  606,000

  Caergeiliog

  Gwynedd

  391,316

  12,700

  17,080

  262,000

  Llanerfyl

  Powys

  69,304

  5,000

  16,000

  73,000

  Mary Immaculate

  South Glamorgan

  1,423,755

  30,550

  24,220

  —

  St. Cyres

  South Glamorgan

  3,091,696

  71,250

  40,500

  540,000

  Stanwell

  South Glamorgan

  2,353,411

  53,600

  33,440

  1,972,752

  Bishop Vaughan

  West Glamorgan

  12,309,330

  48,350

  31,340

  594,283

  1Provisional.

  In addition, the Department would meet 50 per cent. of the school's premises insurance costs, and provide funding to help with the cost of VAT. Schools may also apply for a special purpose grant for restructuring in their first two years as a grant-maintained school.

  West Wales Task Force
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that, if the proposed closure of proof and experimental establishment Pendine is confirmed, he will consider as included in the west Wales task force area those communities of east Carmarthenshire directly affected by any closure or cut back and increase the funding of the task force accordingly.

  Mr. Redwood
  The position of the communities most directly affected can be considered once the consultations with staff on the proposal for a phased run down are complete. The consultation period ends on 14 October.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the estimated average times which will be taken under the tariff scheme of the criminal injuries compensation scheme (i) to make a first decision, (ii) to deal with a case subject to internal review and (iii) to decide a case which goes to appeal; and what is his projection of the estimated percentage of cases which will be concluded within 12 months.

  Mr. Maclean
  No realistic averages are yet calculable. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the challenging performance targets which have been set for the new Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. These are set out at paragraph 11.2 of the guide to the tariff scheme, which was published in March. A copy was placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average award of the criminal injuries compensation scheme in(a) 1965, (b) 1988 and (c) 1993 expressed at 1993 prices; and what annual real-terms rate of increase that represents.
  150
  Mr. Maclean
  The following information has been calculated using data given at annexe A to the White paper "Compensating Victims of Violent Crime", Cm. 2434, published in December 1993.

  At 1992–93 prices, the average award in 1964–65 was £2,737; in 1987–88, it was £3,376, and in 1992–93, it was £4,162. That represents an annual average rate of increase between 1964–65, and 1987–88 of 1 per cent. and between 1987–88 and 1992–93 of 5 per cent.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the staff required to administer the criminal injuries compensation tariff scheme in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97 will be paid over £35,000; and if he will publish a table of the grading of staff who presently administer the existing scheme and those required for the proposed scheme.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is expected that the number of staff administering the tariff scheme in the period 1994–97 who will earn more than £35,000 a year will be between two and four. The staff administering the two criminal injuries compensation schemes now, and the staff expected to be doing so at 31 March 1995, are set out in the following table. This does not include the 41 board members working on the old scheme.

  Grade

  Number now

  Number at 31 March 1995

  5

  1

  1

  6 (Legal)

  1

  1

  7

  1

  1

  7 (Legal)

  14

  14

  SEO

  4

  5

  HEO

  19

  33

  EO

  55

  54

  TM

  1

  1

  PS

  3

  3

  AO

  216

  212

  SGBI

  1

  1

  SGBII

  12

  12

  TYP

  18

  18

  AA

  88

  94

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assumptions have been made in estimating future costs of both the existing scheme of criminal injuries compensation and the proposed tariff
  151
  scheme with particular reference to projected levels of violent crime, the numbers of victims and applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

  Mr. Maclean
  The assumptions used to calculate the future costs of an unreformed scheme were given in a written answer to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) on 6 July,Official Report, column 201. In estimating the future costs of the tariff scheme, it was assumed that applications received would increase at a similar rate to an unreformed scheme and that the number of resolved cases attracting an award would be broadly the same. It was further assumed that the productivity improvements facilitated by the simpler tariff scheme would enable staff to resolve more cases.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much saving will be made in the criminal injuries compensation scheme in 1994–95; what proportion of victims will be adversely affected; and if he will make a statement on the basis for his calculations.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is currently expected that expenditure on compensation in 1994–95 will be some 10 per cent. higher than last year's figure of £166 million. The basis on which our forward costings are calculated has been explained again today in answer to other questions from the hon. Member. It has been estimated that, under the tariff scheme, 60 per cent. of claimants will receive as much as, or more than, they would have done under the old scheme.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the proposed remuneration arrangements for appeal panel members of the criminal injuries compensation scheme; how many person-days in each year it has been estimated will be necessary to deal with appeals; and what is the estimated total annual cost.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is currently expected that, when the residual old scheme cases have been cleared and the tariff scheme stands alone, some 40 to 50 appeals panel members will be required, sitting for an average of 40 to 50 days a year. Their remuneration will be at the same daily rate that members of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board receive when hearing appeals. Currently this is £259 a day. The annual cost is likely to be in the order of £500,000.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff will be required to administer the tariff scheme for the criminal injuries compensation scheme in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97.

  Mr. Maclean
  The White Paper "Compensating Victims of Violent Crime", (Cm 2434), explained at paragraph 30 that the old scheme and the tariff scheme would run in parallel for about two years, until the balance of old scheme cases had been resolved. The same administrative staff would work on both schemes, with a

  Number of proceedings and findings of guilt for certain motoring offences in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Police District 1990–1992

  Proceedings

  Findings of guilt

  Year and offence

  England and Wales

  Metropolitan police

  England and Wales

  Metropolitan police

  1990

  Neglect of pedestrian rights (endorsable offences)1

  14,003

  2,467

  12,248

  2,198

  Failing to comply with traffic signs

  25,358

  3,181

  21,253

  2,779

  152
  gradual cross-over of staff as the balance of work shifted from the old scheme to the new. This would keep the overall costs of administration as low as possible.

  It is not possible to predict precisely how quickly this change over will occur or how many staff will notionally be working on one scheme or the other during any particular period.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims are likely to receive less money under the revised criminal injuries compensa-tion scheme; and if he will break down the figures into bands(a) £500 to £1,000, (b) £1,000 to £5,000, (c) £5,000 to £10,000, (d) £10,000 to £50,000 and (e) over £50,000.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not available in the form requested, but the following estimates are based on calculations using data from the sampling exercise undertaken to set the tariff.

  About 8 per cent. of claimants might receive between £500 and £1,000 less under the tariff scheme than under the "old" scheme; about 15 per cent. might receive between £1,000 and £5,000 less; and about 4 per cent. might receive a payment lower by some £5,000 or more than it would otherwise have been.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the framework and frequency for upgrading the proposed tariffs under the criminal injuries compensation scheme.

  Mr. Maclean
  Paragraph 14 of the rules of the tariff scheme provides for the tariff to be revised from time to time by the Secretary of State; a copy of the rules was placed in the Library of the House.

  Environmental Information Regulations 1992
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for information on animals held in captivity for scientific purposes have been made to his department citing the Environmental Information Regulations 1992; and how many were accepted as falling within the scope of the regulations.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No such requests have been received.

  Driving Offences
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists were(a) charged with and (b) convicted of (i) failure to accord precedence at pedestrian crossings, endorseable offences, (ii) failure to comply with traffic signs, (iii) speed limit offences, (iv) driving and so on after consuming alcohol or taking drugs and (v) reckless driving in (i) the Metropolitan police area of London and (ii) for England and Wales in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available figures are as follows:
  153

  Proceedings

  Findings of guilt

  Year and offence

  England and Wales

  Metropolitan police

  England and Wales

  Metropolitan police

  Speed limit offences

  173,163

  9,501

  163,477

  9,187

  Driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs

  127,638

  19,521

  113,166

  16,562

  Reckless driving

  11,270

  629

  7,647

  500

  1991

  Neglect of pedestrian rights (endorsable offences)1

  14,003

  3,883

  11,771

  3,143

  Failing to comply with traffic signs

  32,705

  5,446

  27,529

  4,171

  Speed limit offences

  168,980

  13,002

  156,804

  11,870

  Driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs

  118,584

  19,378

  103,821

  16,031

  Reckless driving

  11,940

  878

  7,690

  600

  1992

  Neglect of pedestrian rights (endorsable offences)1

  12,898

  4,423

  10,433

  3,368

  Failing to comply with traffic signs

  40,077

  9,722

  34,229

  7,769

  Speed limit offences

  161,352

  14,376

  148,493

  12,471

  Driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs

  110,208

  17,319

  95,207

  13,876

  Reckless driving

  11,040

  964

  6,849

  535

  1 Includes also offences of neglect of pedestrian rights in controlled areas, on pelican crossings, in playstreets etc. in addition to zebra and pedestrian crossings.

  Figures for 1993 are not yet available.

  Betting Offices
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for changes in the controls on the displays and facilities in licensed betting offices.

  Mr. Howard
  I have carefully considered the responses to last year's consultation exercise on changes to the controls on the displays and facilities in licensed betting offices. I have now decided to ease these controls, so as to give consumers greater choice and lighten the burden on the betting industry.

  Since betting offices were first permitted in 1961, they have been required to operate behind obscured windows. In addition, licensees have not been allowed to advertise their services on shop windows or to display any moving text or images. Since 1986, betting offices have been allowed to provide a very limited range of refreshments and television sets have been permitted, but with restrictions on screen size and positioning so as not to be seen from outside.

  I propose that, in future, betting offices should be able to have clear windows and to provide a wider range of pre-packed snacks and sandwiches. They would be free to display information on the facilities available in their premises, the events on which betting is taking place, the range of bets available, and the odds offered on any particular event. In addition, the current restriction on the maximum size of television screens in betting offices would be lifted, as would the ban on displays incorporating moving text.

  I hope to bring these changes before the House later in the year.

  Bail (Amendment) Act 1993
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what effect the powers available to prosecutors under the Bail (Amendment) Act 1993 are being put since it came into force on 27 June.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is too early to draw conclusions, and I cannot comment on individual cases, but it has been reported that prosecutors made use of the powers—which 154
  allow an appeal against the granting of bail by a magistrates court-the day after the Act came into force, and as a result a defendant continued in custody.

  Animal Procedures Committee
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has received from the Animal Procedures Committee in respect of regulatory toxicity; and what action he proposes to take.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received the Committee's report on this subject, which was based on the work of the sub-committee chaired by Dr. Onora O'Neill, principal of Newnham college, Cambridge. I am grateful to Dr. O'Neill and the other members of the sub-committee for the efforts that they have put in to this difficult and important subject. The Home Office will be consulting with regulatory and other interested bodies about the committee's recommendations. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Additional copies of the report can be obtained from the Home Office Publications Unit, Room 1024, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW 1 H 9AT (£2·00 plus postage and packing).

  Immigration
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the effects of recent European Union visa proposals on controls on third-country nationals seeking to enter the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  On 13 July, the Commission outlined in a press statement proposals relating to a uniform format for visas, for which there is provision in article 100c of the treaty of Rome. The Commission has yet to publish its proposals. When it does so, they will be made available to Parliament in accordance with the normal scrutiny requirements.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance from(a) wives, (b) husbands, (c) fiancés and (d) fiancées made at British posts in (1) New Delhi, (2) Bombay, (3) Calcutta, (4) Madras, (5) Dhaka, (6) Islamabad, (7) Karachi and (8) Colombo for each quarter since January

  155
  1993 were (m) received, (n) granted and (o) refused; how many refusals at each post were (i) wholly and (ii) partly because the visa officer was not satisfied that the primary purpose of the marriage was not immigration; how many refusals at each post were (i) wholly and (ii) partly because the visa officer was not satisfied that the couple could support and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds; what was the refusal rate at each post; and what percentage of those refusals were (x) wholly and (y) partly on primary purpose grounds.

  Table1

  Spouses and fiancé(e)s in the Indian sub-continent applying for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom 1993 and first quarter 1994

  Number of persons and percentage

  1993

  1994

  Ql

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Year

  Ql

  Husbands

  New Delhi (including Calcutta)

  Applications received1

  70

  70

  70

  80

  280

  90

  Applications granted2

  60

  50

  50

  60

  210

  60

  Applications refused initially

  30

  20

  40

  40

  120

  50

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  32

  n/a

  Bombay (including Madras)

  Applications received1

  100

  100

  70

  60

  340

  100

  Applications granted2

  70

  70

  70

  70

  280

  70

  Applications refused initially

  30

  50

  40

  40

  160

  50

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  27

  n/a

  Dhaka

  Applications received1

  320

  260

  230

  260

  1,060

  270

  Applications granted2

  310

  210

  180

  260

  960

  230

  Applications refused initially

  80

  50

  60

  120

  310

  130

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  22

  n/a

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Applications received1

  770

  660

  610

  600

  2,640

  750

  Applications granted2

  660

  480

  470

  380

  1,990

  440

  Applications refused initially

  550

  470

  460

  410

  1,900

  310

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  43

  n/a

  Wives

  New Delhi (including Calcutta)

  Applications received1

  260

  240

  190

  180

  880

  320

  Applications granted2

  160

  150

  200

  220

  720

  220

  Applications refused initially

  40

  30

  60

  50

  180

  60

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  19

  n/a

  Bombay (including Madras)

  Applications received1

  380

  270

  200

  210

  1,060

  330

  Applications granted2

  130

  280

  280

  180

  940

  240

  Applications refused initially

  20

  30

  30

  40

  120

  50

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  9

  n/a

  Dhaka

  Applications received1

  420

  360

  310

  290

  1,380

  330

  Applications granted2

  290

  190

  240

  460

  1,180

  300

  Applications refused initially

  60

  50

  40

  40

  190

  40

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  13

  n/a

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Applications received1

  880

  760

  770

  290

  3,020

  910

  Applications granted2

  780

  610

  600

  460

  2,390

  600

  Applications refused initially

  160

  130

  180

  40

  620

  70

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  18

  n/a

  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.

  2 Granted initially or on appeal.

  3 Applications refused initially, minus applications granted on appeal, as a percentage of applications decided.

  4 Five or fewer; — nil; n/a not applicable.

  156
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information for the Indian sub-continent for each quarter of 1993 and for the first quarter of 1994 is given in the tables. Where the numbers are small, figures for individual posts have been combined. Information on reasons for refusals is not compiled for periods shorter than 12 months. Corresponding informa-tion for Colombo is not available centrally.
  157

  Number of persons and percentage

  1993

  1994

  Ql

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Year

  Ql

  Male fiancés

  New Delhi (including Calcutta)

  Applications received1

  30

  30

  20

  30

  110

  30

  Applications granted2

  20

  4—

  10

  10

  30

  10

  Applications refused initially

  30

  20

  20

  20

  100

  40

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  74

  n/a

  Bombay (including Madras)

  Applications received1

  30

  30

  10

  20

  90

  40

  Applications granted2

  20

  20

  20

  30

  90

  20

  Applications refused initially

  30

  30

  20

  20

  100

  20

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  36

  n/a

  Dhaka

  Applications received1

  4—

  4—

  4—

  —

  10

  10

  Applications granted2

  —

  4—

  4—

  —

  4—

  4—

  Applications refused initially

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  10

  4—

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  73

  n/a

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Applications received1

  40

  40

  40

  30

  140

  30

  Applications granted2

  30

  30

  20

  20

  100

  20

  Applications refused initially

  30

  30

  40

  20

  120

  20

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  47

  n/a

  Female fiancées

  New Delhi (including Calcutta)

  Applications received1

  40

  40

  40

  30

  140

  40

  Applications granted2

  30

  10

  20

  20

  80

  30

  Applications refused initially

  20

  10

  10

  10

  50

  20

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  37

  n/a

  Bombay (including Madras)

  Applications received1

  40

  30

  30

  30

  120

  40

  Applications granted2

  20

  30

  30

  30

  110

  20

  Applications refused initially

  4—

  4—

  10

  10

  30

  10

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  14

  n/a

  Dhaka

  Applications received1

  4—

  10

  10

  4—

  20

  4—

  Applications granted2

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  10

  4—

  Applications refused initially

  —

  —

  4—

  —

  4—

  4—

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  18

  n/a

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Applications received1

  50

  40

  60

  60

  200

  30

  Applications granted2

  30

  40

  30

  30

  120

  20

  Applications refused initially

  10

  4—

  10

  10

  30

  10

  Refusal rate (percentage)3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  15

  n/a

  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.

  2 Granted initially or on appeal

  3 Applications refused initially, minus applications granted on appeal, as a percentage of applications decided.

  4 Five or fewer; — nil; n/a not applicable.

  Table 2

  Spouses and fiancé(e)s in the Indian sub-continent refused entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom, 1993

  Number of persons and percentages

  Number refused because couple could not accommodate/ maintain themselves without recourse to public funds

  Number refused because pri-mary purpose of marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom

  Primary purpose refusals as a percentage of all refusals

  Solely for these reasons

  Partly for these reasons

  Solely for these reasons

  Partly for these reasons

  Solely on primary purpose grounds

  Partly on primary purpose grounds

  New Delhi (include Calcutta)

  Husbands

  10

  20

  60

  20

  50

  15

  Wives

  10

  40

  90

  40

  47

  22

  Male fiancés

  2—

  3—

  70

  3—

  74

  4

  Female fiancées

  2—

  3—

  40

  10

  67

  16

  Bombay (including Calcutta)

  Husbands

  2—

  20

  60

  20

  36

  15

  158

  159

  Number refused because couple could not accommodate/ maintain themselves without recourse to public funds

  Number refused because pri-mary purpose of marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom

  Primary purpose refusals as a percentage of all refusals

  Solely for these reasons

  Partly for these reasons

  Solely for these reasons

  Partly for these reasons

  Solely on primary purpose grounds

  Partly on primary purpose grounds

  Wives

  20

  20

  40

  20

  31

  15

  Male fiancés

  3—

  3—

  60

  3—

  57

  14

  Female fiancées

  3—

  3—

  10

  3—

  38

  19

  Dhaka

  Husbands

  110

  80

  110

  50

  36

  16

  Wives

  110

  30

  10

  10

  4

  4

  Male fiancés

  2—

  3—

  10

  3—

  182

  118

  Female fiancées

  2—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  150

  150

  Islamabad (including Karachi)

  Husbands

  320

  880

  560

  880

  30

  46

  Wives

  370

  80

  40

  60

  7

  10

  Male fiancés

  10

  50

  40

  50

  35

  46

  Female fiancées

  10

  10

  3—

  10

  7

  29

  Total Indian sub-continent

  Husbands

  440

  1,000

  800

  970

  32

  39

  Wives

  510

  170

  180

  130

  16

  12

  Male fiancés

  10

  50

  180

  60

  55

  17

  Female fiancées

  10

  20

  50

  20

  45

  20

  1 Percentages based on fewer than 15 applications refused

  2 Nil

  3 Five or fewer.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration as British citizens of children born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983 have been(a) received, (b) granted or (c) refused since 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Some 2,063 children born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983 have been registered as British citizens since 1 January 1993. The numbers of such applications received and refused are not available.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for(a) adult registration with entitlement, (b) naturalisation on grounds of residence, (c) naturalisation on grounds of marriage and (d) registration of minors his Department estimates it (i) will receive and (ii) expects to grant in 1994–95.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The latest estimate of the numbers of citizenship applications likely to be received and granted in 1994–95 is as follows:

  Passenger admissions1 and persons refused leave to enter and removed, for selected nationalities in 1993

  Nationality

  1st quarter 1993

  2nd quarter 1993

  3rd quarter 1993

  4th quarter 1993

  Year 1993

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Jamaica

  5,490

  114

  6,610

  119

  9,600

  98

  5,330

  157

  27,000

  488

  Turkey

  20,800

  59

  19,700

  59

  33,200

  50

  23,100

  65

  96,800

  233

  Morocco

  3,720

  9

  4,600

  18

  6,660

  27

  3,860

  21

  18,800

  75

  USA

  515,000

  227

  793,000

  245

  930,000

  257

  627,000

  257

  2,870,000

  986

  Australia

  78,400

  58

  141,000

  72

  161,000

  53

  114,000

  60

  494,000

  243

  Malaysia

  17,200

  58

  29,000

  110

  37,700

  106

  26,200

  80

  110,000

  354

  Hong Kong2

  17,800

  20

  23,100

  27

  36,000

  34

  13,700

  9

  90,600

  90

  Guyana

  1,090

  18

  1,590

  20

  2,310

  23

  1,250

  16

  6,230

  77

  Trinidad and Tobago

  3,140

  16

  4,150

  19

  7,090

  17

  3,570

  17

  18,000

  69

  Colombia

  4,180

  74

  5,800

  72

  6,620

  106

  5,320

  104

  21,900

  356

  Algeria

  3,050

  43

  3,560

  48

  5,890

  60

  3,590

  60

  16,100

  211

  160

  Intake

  Applications granted

  Adult registration

  4,200

  5,100

  Naturalisation (residence)

  17,000

  12,750

  Naturalisation (marriage)

  14,200

  12,950

  Minor registrations

  4,600

  9,100

  Total

  40,000

  39,900

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of(a) Jamaica, (b) Turkey, (c) Morocco, (d) the United States of America, (e) Australia, (f) Malaysia, (g) Hong Kong, (h) Guyana, (i) Trinidad, (j) Colombia and (k) Algeria were (i) granted and (ii) refused permission to enter the United Kingdom at ports of entry in each quarter since January 1993, and in total, to the nearest available date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested for 1993 is given in the table; corresponding data for quarters of 1994 are not yet available.
  161
  1 Rounded figures, numbers of journeys.

  2 Excluding Hong Kong stateless persons.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for settlement by wives and children in (i) Dhaka and (ii) Islamabad were(a)

  Applications for entry clearance for settlement made by wives and children in Dhaka and Islamabad, 1993 to 1994

  1993

  1994

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Year

  Q1

  Applications newly received1

  Dhaka

  720

  660

  580

  550

  2,510

  580

  Islamabad

  1,020

  870

  960

  760

  3,620

  1,040

  Applications granted2

  Dhaka

  540

  410

  440

  610

  2,000

  490

  Islamabad

  850

  730

  690

  430

  2,700

  620

  Applications refused initially

  Dhaka

  270

  200

  130

  110

  710

  200

  Islamabad

  200

  170

  240

  200

  810

  100

  Aplication withdrown or lapsed

  Dhaka

  20

  3—

  20

  20

  60

  60

  Islamabad

  80

  40

  80

  50

  250

  40

  Applications outstanding at end of period

  Dhaka

  2,340

  2,410

  2,410

  2,240

  2,240

  2,090

  Islamabad

  1,990

  1,980

  2,020

  2,170

  2,170

  2,510

  Applications awaiting first interview at end of period

  Dhaka

  980

  1,450

  1,720

  1,670

  1,670

  1,700

  Islamabad

  760

  890

  890

  1,060

  1,060

  1,010

  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.

  2 Granted initially or on appeal.

  3 Five or fewer.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers arriving at United Kingdom ports of entry during 1993 and the first quarter of 1994 were referred to port medical inspectors for examination; what are the most common diagnoses made; and how many people have been(a) refused entry (i) wholly or (ii) partly on medical grounds and for what medical reason or (b) required to report for further medical treatment after entry and for what medical reason.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Two passengers were refused entry principally on medical grounds in 1993. Corresponding information for the first quarter of 1994 is not yet available. The other information requested is not available centrally.

  1993

  1994

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Year

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  Persons subject to deportation action:

  Supervised departures

  363

  287

  300

  268

  1,218

  244

  191

  Departed voluntarily

  37

  46

  37

  76

  196

  25

  21

  Illegal entrants:

  Departed voluntarily

  68

  85

  114

  117

  384

  85

  80

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) husbands, (b) wives and (c) dependent children have been refused (i) extension of stay and (ii) settlement in the United Kingdom on the grounds
  162
  received, (b) granted, (c) refused, (d) deferred at first interview, (e) lapsed and (f) outstanding and awaiting first interview for each quarter since the beginning of 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is given in the table.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers applied to the Home Office to be allowed to depart voluntarily under(a) the supervised departure provisions and (b) the voluntary departure provisions of the immigration rules in each quarter since January 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The readily available informa-tion relates to persons subject to deportation action who were removed under the supervised departure procedures, or left voluntarily, and persons dealt with as illegal entrants who left voluntarily. This information is given in the table. Most of these persons will have been detained prior to departure. A number will have been subject to restrictions as an alternative to detention, but such cases could be separately identified only at disproportionate cost.

  that the Secretary of State is not satisfied that they can be maintained and accommodated without recourse to public funds, in each quarter since January 1993, and in total.
  163
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information relating to after entry cases is given in the table. Information on dependent children is not readily available.

  Refusals1 on grounds of maintenance and accommodation, of after-entry applications by husbands and wives (numbers of persons)

  Refusals to grant probationary year on grounds of:

  Accomodation

  Maintenance

  Maintenance and accommodation

  Refusals of settlement after probationary year2

  1993

  Quarter 1

  Husbands

  —

  1

  —

  14

  Wives

  —

  1

  —

  17

  Quarter 2

  Husbands

  —

  2

  —

  8

  Wives

  1

  3

  1

  13

  Quarter 3

  Husbands

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Wives

  —

  1

  1

  6

  Quarter 4

  Husbands

  —

  1

  3

  6

  Wives

  —

  —

  2

  6

  1994

  Quarter 1

  Husbands

  —

  —

  —

  12

  Wives

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1 Excluding dependents.

  2 Refusals of settlement after probationary year on general considerations, including recourse to public funds.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many appeals under the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 where cases have been dismissed but with a recommendation to the Home Office to reconsider the Home Office has(a) followed and (b) not followed the recommendation.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not separately identifiable in the statistics.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, by country, were granted

  Cases12 not recognised as refugees but granted exceptional leave, excluding dependants, by nationality, 1992 to 1994 (2nd quarter)

  Number of grants to principal applicants

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Nationality

  1st Qtr

  2nd Qtr

  3rd Qtr

  4th Qtr

  1st Qtr

  2nd Qtr

  3rd Qtr

  4th Qtr

  1st Qtr

  2nd Qtr

  Europe and Americas

  Bulgaria

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  *

  *

  Colombia

  —

  *

  5

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  5

  Romania

  5

  *

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Turkey

  80

  40

  445

  970

  560

  235

  40

  20

  30

  5

  Former USSR

  *

  —

  *

  —

  *

  *

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Former Yugoslavia

  —

  —

  *

  —

  —

  *

  5

  45

  220

  385

  Others

  *

  *

  5

  *

  5

  *

  *

  —

  —

  *

  Total

  90

  45

  455

  970

  565

  240

  55

  65

  255

  400

  Africa

  Angola

  —

  —

  *

  5

  *

  —

  *

  —

  —

  —

  Benin

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cameroon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Congo

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ethiopia

  30

  425

  855

  900

  1,465

  75

  25

  10

  10

  20

  Ghana

  5

  5

  10

  5

  —

  *

  5

  *

  —

  20

  Nigeria3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  *

  5

  5

  *

  5

  Sierra Leone3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  *

  *

  —

  5

  Somalia

  470

  505

  720

  510

  1,200

  1,280

  265

  330

  320

  305

  Sudan

  5

  5

  25

  80

  215

  425

  15

  5

  5

  5

  Togo and Ivory Coast

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  *

  *

  *

  —

  —

  Uganda

  5

  5

  175

  975

  805

  295

  15

  5

  10

  5

  Zaire

  *

  *

  *

  5

  5

  5

  *

  5

  —

  *

  164
  exceptional leave to enter or to remain in each month of 1992,1993 and 1994 to the latest convenient date; and how many of these were granted such leave because of (a) the situation in the country from which they claimed asylum or (b) the length of time the Home Office had taken to decide on their case.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information for 1992 to end June 1994, by quarter, on the number of grants of exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom, by nationality, is given in the table. Information on the reasons for which exceptional leave to remain is granted is not readily available.
  165

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Nationality

  1st Qtr

  2nd Qtr

  3rd Qtr

  4th Qtr

  1st Qtr

  2nd Qtr

  3rd Qtr

  4th Qtr

  1st Qtr

  2nd Qtr

  Others

  5

  5

  25

  50

  175

  120

  30

  25

  20

  20

  Total

  520

  960

  1,810

  2,530

  3,865

  2,205

  365

  390

  370

  380

  Middle East

  Iran

  50

  15

  280

  260

  65

  55

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Iraq

  60

  40

  455

  655

  145

  95

  45

  20

  50

  85

  Lebanon

  25

  5

  70

  505

  185

  70

  15

  5

  5

  5

  Others

  20

  5

  30

  70

  55

  30

  10

  5

  15

  10

  Total

  150

  70

  835

  1,495

  455

  245

  70

  30

  75

  100

  Asia

  China

  5

  *

  *

  10

  —

  5

  *

  *

  *

  *

  India

  185

  85

  125

  65

  20

  5

  5

  *

  5

  20

  Pakistan

  180

  80

  90

  50

  25

  5

  5

  *

  5

  10

  Sri Lanka

  270

  460

  2,060

  1,475

  2,285

  80

  30

  25

  20

  25

  Others

  100

  50

  65

  30

  65

  10

  5

  5

  *

  5

  Total

  740

  680

  2,345

  1,630

  2,395

  105

  45

  35

  35

  65

  Other, and nationality not known

  Grand Total

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grand Total

  1,500

  1,755

  5,445

  6,625

  7,285

  2,790

  530

  520

  730

  950

  1 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  2 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.

  3 Figures for 1992 not separately identified = n/a. Included in Others.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the(a) passengers in total and (b) persons treated as illegal entrants who were granted temporary admission/release in 1993 subsequently absconded; and how many (i) later reported voluntarily to the immigration authorities and (ii) were rearrested.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information relates to the number of persons who absconded, either from detention or by failing to respond to the terms of temporary admission/release, and is given in the table. The other information requested is not available.

  Absconders in 1993

  Category of person

  Number of persons

  Passengers1

  667

  Illegal entrants

  218

  DNA tests on children under the Government scheme, results received and outcomes 1993 to Ql 1994

  Number of children

  Country/post where application made

  Number of tests carried out

  Tests offered but not taken

  Number awaiting results received

  Number of results received

  Related as claimed to both parents

  Outcomes Related as claimed to one parent but not other

  Not related as claimed to either parent

  1993

  Indian sub-continent1 2

  1,306

  20

  616

  1,214

  1,050

  60

  89

  Bangladesh (Dhaka)2

  793

  5

  361

  824

  712

  32

  65

  Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi)

  409

  12

  242

  350

  300

  27

  23

  India (Bombay, New Delhi)

  104

  3

  13

  40

  38

  1

  1

  Outside of Indian sub-continent3

  138

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

  23

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Ghana (Accra)

  25

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Jamaica (Kingston)

  6

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Kenya (Nairobi)

  11

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Nigeria (Lagos)

  43

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Philippines (Manila)

  8

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Turkey (Istanbul)

  1

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Thailand (Bangkok)

  5

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Uganda (Kampala)

  6

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Yemen (Sana'a)

  11

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  166
  1 May include some abconders recorded as "illegal entrants".

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA tests to prove family relationships for immigration purposes have been carried out under the Home Office-funded scheme during(a) 1993 and (b) the first quarter of 1994, listed by country of origin; what was the average waiting period for the test and for its results: and in how many of those tests the family relationships were proved to be as claimed by the applicants.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is given in the table.

  The average waiting time from the taking of a blood sample to a decision being made on DNA tests is six to eight weeks.
  167

  Country/post where application made

  Number of tests carried out

  Test offered but not taken

  Number awaiting results at end of period

  Number of results received

  Related as claimed to both parents

  Outcomes Related as claimed to one parent but not other

  Not related as claimed to either parent

  Q1 1994

  Indian sub-continent4 5

  Bangladesh (Dhaka)5

  289

  9

  340

  303

  274

  7

  20

  Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi)

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  India (Bombay, New Delhi)5

  15

  —

  34

  13

  9

  —

  —

  Outside of Indian sub-continent3

  54

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

  28

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Kenya (Nairobi)

  9

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Nigeria (Lagos)

  7

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Philippines (Manila)

  4

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Thailand (Bangkok)

  4

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  Turkey (Istanbul)

  7

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  United Arab Emirates (Dubai)

  2

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a

  N/a Not available.

  — Nil return.

  1 In 1993, nine tests have also been carried out in Calcutta and one in Madras.

  2 Includes IS tests in Dhaka for which the outcome is not known.

  3 Refers to the number of tests for which an invoice has been received.

  4 In the first quarter of 1994, three tests wer also carried out in Calcutta.

  5 Includes four tests in Bombay, and two in Dhaka for which the outcome is not known.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were waiting for special quota vouchers in(a) India, (b) east Africa and (c) the rest of the world in (i) May 1993 and (ii) December 1993; when those issued with vouchers on those dates had applied; how many vouchers were issued in (1) India, (2) east Africa and

  Table.1. Persons applying for a special voucher for entry to the United Kingdom, 1993 and Ql 1994

  Number of persons

  Country of application

  Applications newly received

  Vouchers issued

  Applications awaiting a decision at end of

  1993

  Q1 1994

  1993

  Q1 1994

  Q2 1993

  Q4 1993

  India

  230

  40

  300

  —

  40

  40

  Kenya

  190

  40

  160

  40

  30

  90

  Tanzania

  15

  —

  10

  10

  60

  60

  Malawi

  —1

  n/a

  —1

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  Zambia

  10

  —2

  10

  —2

  10

  —2

  Rest of the world

  10

  —

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  450

  80

  490

  40

  140

  200

  1 Includes applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.

  2 5 or fewer.

  n/a Not available.

  — nil.

  Table 2. Waiting times for persons applying for a special voucher

  Months

  Waiting times to main interview for persons interviewed at end of

  Persons applying at end of1

  Q2 1993

  Q41993

  Ql 1994

  India

  3

  3

  —

  Kenya

  2

  0·25

  0·25

  Tanzania

  1

  1

  1

  Malawi

  —

  —

  n/a

  Zambia

  —

  —

  —

  Rest of the world

  —

  —

  —

  1 Data relate to expected waiting times.

  n/a Not available.

  — nil

  168
  (3) the rest of the world in (a) 1993 and (b) the first quarter of 1994; when those applying now can expect to receive vouchers; and how many applicants there were for vouchers in (v) India and (w) East Africa and (x) the rest of the world in (y) 1993 and (z) the first half of 1994.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information which is currently available is given in the tables.
  169
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were detained under Immigration Act powers for a period of more than two months on completion of a custodial sentence during 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Some 55 people who completed a custodial sentence in 1993 were detained for more than two months under deportation powers. This figure does not include those subject to removal as illegal entrants, in relation to whom the information is not readily available.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many operations against people alleged to be in the United Kingdom illegally involving both immigration officers and police took place during 1993, and 1994 to the latest convenient date; and for each operation by date, and by name how many(a) immigration officers and (b) police officers were involved; how many people were arrested and found to be (i) legally in the United Kingdom, (ii) in breach of immigration conditions, (iii) alleged illegal entrants and (iv) British citizens; how many requested and were granted legal advice before interview; how many were detained for (x) one day or less, (y) between a day and a week and (z) over a week; and how many have subsequently left the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Joint immigration service/police operations are undertaken at local level, and many are on a relatively small scale. Information in the form requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding immigration applications there are at Lunar house, at the latest convenient date from(a) students, (b) family members in the United Kingdom applying for variation of stay, (c) settlement entry clearance applications referred from overseas posts and (d) asylum seekers; and what are the average times applicants in each category might expect to wait before a decision.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is that at the end of June 1994 there were in total about 24,500 cases in the general immigration case-working groups, including referred entry clearance applications, the majority of which were under consideration or the subject of further inquiries, and about 50,000 cases in the asylum and special cases division.

  The estimated average length of time between the receipt of the application and the decision, for cases decided in case-working groups, in the first quarter of 1994, was about two months for students and about 13 months for asylum applications. Information on average waiting times for family members in the United Kingdom for variation of leave and for settlement entry clearance applications referred from overseas posts is not available.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from over-age reapplicants from the Indian sub-continent seeking to join a sponsor settled in the United Kingdom have been(a) made, (b) deferred, (c) refused and (d) granted in 1993 and the first quarter of 1994; and how many such reapplicants in each category had undergone successful DNA tests.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not available centrally.
  170
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people during 1993 and the first quarter of 1994 were(a) required to undergo a medical examination and (b) refused entry clearance abroad, and in which countries, for (i) settlement and (ii) other purposes on medical grounds; and what are the most common medical grounds for refusal.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of passengers detained overnight under Immigration Act powers during(a) 1993 and (b) the first quarter of 1994 by nationality.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested for 1993 is given in the tables; corresponding information for the first quarter of 1994 is not yet available.

  Passengers1 detained overnight or longer in 1993, by nationality

  Geographical region and nationality2

  Number of persons

  All nationalities

  5,571

  European Community

  79

  Belgium

  3

  Denmark

  1

  France

  36

  Germany

  —

  Greece

  1

  Italy

  4

  Luxembourg

  —

  Netherlands

  10

  Portugal

  24

  Spain

  —

  Other Western Europe

  333

  Austria

  5

  Cyprus

  51

  Finland

  4

  Malta

  4

  Norway

  3

  Sweden

  7

  Switzerland

  3

  Turkey

  192

  Yugoslav passport holders

  64

  Eastern Europe

  311

  Bulgaria

  9

  Czechoslovak passport holders

  26

  Hungary

  22

  Poland

  144

  Romania

  78

  USSR passport holders

  32

  Americas

  589

  Argentina

  8

  Barbados

  7

  Brazil

  72

  Canada

  30

  Chile

  1

  Colombia

  136

  Guyana

  18

  Jamaica

  194

  Mexico

  10

  Peru

  27

  Trinidad and Tobago

  8

  United States of America

  67

  Venezeula

  11

  Africa

  2,209

  Algeria

  131

  Angola

  55

  Egypt

  5

  Ethiopia

  70

  171

  Geographical region and nationality2

  Number of persons

  Ghana

  419

  Kenya

  152

  Libya

  38

  Mauritius

  28

  Morocco

  18

  Nigeria

  575

  Sierra Leone

  207

  Somalia

  148

  South Africa

  57

  Sudan

  14

  Tanzania

  66

  Tunisia

  6

  Uganda

  46

  Zaire

  145

  Zambia

  15

  Zimbabwe

  14

  Indian sub-continent

  397

  Bangladesh

  117

  India

  136

  Pakistan

  144

  Middle East

  113

  Iran

  26

  Iraq

  36

  Israel

  10

  Jordan

  2

  Kuwait

  4

  Lebanon

  21

  Saudi Arabia

  7

  Syria

  4

  Yemen

  3

  Remainder of Asia

  385

  China

  78

  Hong Kong3

  17

  Indonesia

  2

  Japan

  8

  Malaysia

  67

  Philippines

  9

  Singapore

  11

  South Korea

  12

  Sri Lanka

  181

  Thailand

  —

  Australasia

  12

  Australia

  9

  New Zealand

  3

  Admissions to the United Kingdom of BDTCs and BN(0)s from Hong Kong in 1993

  Admission category

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Year

  Visitors:

  Ordinary

  7,350

  13,500

  20,900

  8,160

  50,000

  Business

  1,680

  2,090

  1,790

  1,220

  6,780

  Students

  530

  370

  5,630

  810

  7,340

  Husbands and fiancés2

  1—

  10

  10

  1—

  20

  Wives and fiancées2

  40

  30

  30

  10

  110

  Parents and grandparents2

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  10

  Children2

  10

  10

  20

  10

  50

  1 5 or fewer

  2 Seeking, or accepted for, settlement in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for naturalisation have been made under the provisions of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990; and how many of them were(a) decided, (b) granted, (c) refused and (d) withdrawn, under each class and category of the scheme, in each quarter since January 1993 and in total throughout the existence of the scheme; and how many of these applications were from (i) heads of households or (ii) family members.
  172

  Geographical region and nationality

  Number of persons

  Others

  1,143

  British Overseas Citizens

  34

  Other countries not elsewhere specified

  727

  Stateless

  382

  1 Includes some illegal entrants and deportees.

  2 Or claimed nationality where the nationality is in doubt.

  3 Excluding Hong Kong stateless persons.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations are carried out by Her Majesty's Government into the background of residents of the republics of the former Soviet Union when considering visa applications.

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

  Entry clearance officers must be satisfied that all visa applicants, irrespective of their nationality, meet the requirements of the immigration rules before visas may be issued. In some cases, this will require inquiries to be made locally, in the United Kingdom, and/or of other overseas posts.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) British nationals and (ii) holders of certificates of identity from Hong Kong have been admitted to the United Kingdom in each quarter since January 1993 as(a) persons of independent means, (b) self-employed persons, (c) business people, (d) visitors, (e) students, (f) husbands and fiancés, (g) wives and fiancées and (h) other dependent relatives.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information for British dependent territories citizens and British nationals, overseas, from Hong Kong is given in the table. Corresponding data for quarters of 1994 are not yet available. Data on admissions of holders of certificates of identity from Hong Kong are not available.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  As at 30 June 1994, 108,502 applications had been received from heads of households. Information about family members is available only in respect of applications granted. Tables giving the other information requested are too lengthy to be printed in the Official Report and, therefore, copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  In the July to September 1993 quarter, a number of appplications previously refused were reopened, to replace applications that had been withdrawn. The number of refusals relating to that quarter has been reduced by the

  173
  total number of reopened cases, which has resulted in negative refusal figures appearing for some occupational groups. The decisions subsequently reached in the reopened cases have been counted in the quarters in which they were made.

  Asylum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were made(a) at ports of entry and (b) to the Immigration and

  Applications1 for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and decisions12 1993 to Q2 1994

  Number of principal applicants

  1993

  1994

  1st Quarter

  2nd Quarter

  3rd Quarter

  4th Quarter

  1st Quarter

  2nd Quarter

  Applications for asylum3

  5,905

  5,535

  5,280

  5,650

  7,110

  7,620

  Applied at port

  1,560

  1,640

  1,875

  2,245

  2,260

  2,280

  Applied in country

  4,345

  3,895

  3,405

  3,400

  4,850

  5,340

  Decisions2 3 4

  12,085

  5,500

  2,555

  3,265

  4,365

  4,995

  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum5

  740

  545

  160

  150

  180

  205

  Port

  135

  100

  55

  35

  55

  80

  In country

  605

  440

  100

  110

  125

  125

  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain

  7,285

  2,790

  530

  520

  730

  950

  Port

  3,770

  1,380

  215

  240

  335

  495

  In country

  3,415

  1,510

  315

  280

  395

  455

  Total refusals

  4,065

  2,165

  1,870

  2,590

  3,460

  3,840

  Refused asylum and ELR—after full consideration

  810

  835

  1,450

  1,605

  2,860

  3,010

  Port

  305

  150

  575

  625

  1,010

  995

  In country

  600

  585

  875

  980

  1,845

  2,015

  Refused under para. 180F6

  3,125

  1,130

  265

  720

  360

  590

  Port

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  In country

  3,125

  1,130

  265

  720

  360

  590

  Refused on safe third country grounds7

  130

  200

  150

  265

  240

  240

  Port

  130

  200

  140

  250

  230

  230

  In country

  —

  —

  5

  20

  10

  10

  1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5.

  2 Information is of initial determination decisions excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  3 Figures exclude information on applications made overseas

  4 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.

  5 Excludes South East Asian refugees.

  6 Paragraph 101 prior to 26 July 1993. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview to establish identity.

  7 Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how long people who applied for asylum in(a) June 1992, (b) June 1993 and (c) June 1994 can expect to wait for a decision on their case;

  (2) what was the average length of time in 1992, 1993 and 1994 at the latest convenient date that asylum applicants had waited for a decision on their case.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  For asylum applications resolved in 1992, 1993 and up to the end of June 1994, the average estimated length of time taken to reach a decision was 19.3 months, 18.8 months and 14.2 months respectively; and for applications received since the implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993–26 July 1993 to 30 June 1994–3.6 months.
  174
  Nationality Department in each quarter since January 1993; how many asylum applications have been (i) decided, (ii) granted, (iii) refused but exceptional leave granted or (iv) refused in each quarter; and how many applications are pending at the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information for 1993 and the first half of 1994 on the number of applications for asylum by location of application, and on decisions made, is given in the table. At the end of June 1994, the estimated number of applications for asylum outstanding was 50,040.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance in order to seek asylum in the United Kingdom were(a) received and (b) granted by country during 1993 and the first quarter of 1994.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not separately identifiable in the statistics.

  Deportations
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were recommended for deportation with no custodial sentence during(a) 1993 and (b) 1994 to the latest convenient date; and in how many such cases the courts directed release (i) subject to conditions and (ii) without conditions.
  175
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  During 1993, 13 people were recommended for deportation by the courts with no custodial sentence and 14 during the first half of 1994. The other information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average period of time for which a person has been held on remand in custody in prisons in England and Wales during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Maclean
  Estimates for the average number of days in custody in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales are published in table 2.1 of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales 1992", Cm. 2581, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. For the 12 months ending May, the average number of days in custody for untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners is provisionally estimated to be 56 days and 37 days respectively.

  Property Investment (Foreign Nationals)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations are carried out by Her Majesty's Government into the background of foreign nationals wishing to invest in property in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Under the immigration rules a person may be refused leave to enter on the ground that his exclusion is conducive to the public good, in the light of his character, conduct or associations. Inquiries into these matters are made where there is reason to do so, but there are no special arrangements in respect of people seeking admission with a view to investing in property.

  Extraditions (United States)
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last 30 years the Home Secretary has refused a request by the United States for extradition from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  In the past 30 years, the Secretary of States has not refused any request from the United States which has been considered and approved by the courts; but on at least two occasions his decision to order surrender to the USA has been set aside by the High Court in judicial review proceedings.

  Immigration Detention Centres
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people(a) men and (b) women were being held in either prisons or immigration detention centres in England and Wales on 8 July 1994.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 8 July 1994, there were 47,391 males and 1,842 females held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. A further 83 males were held in police cells. Information on immigration offenders relates to those detained on 14 July and shows that there were 353 males and 45 females detained in immigration service accommodation. A further 38 males and 10 females were held in police cells for immigration offences on that date.

  Criminal Records
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his policy to encourage enforced subject access to crimninal records; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. It is not our policy to encourage enforced subject access to criminal records.

  Prisoners (Movement)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria followed by his Department as to the movement of prisoners from one establishment to another; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 19 July 1994:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the criteria followed as to the movement of prisoners from one establishment to another.

  There is a wide range of factors which are considered when prisoners are moved from one establishment to another. These include whether the prisoner is unconvicted or sentenced, age, sex, security categorisation, type of offence, length of sentence, training or treatment needs, educational requirements, medical requirements, maintenance of control and good order, full utilisation of available accommodation, and the need to maintain family ties and prepare prisoners for release.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many minor children born to a British overseas citizen parent outside the United Kingdom have(a) been registered or (b) been refused registration as (i) a British citizen or (ii) a British overseas citizen in each year since 1 January 1992.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is not available in the form requested. Minor children may apply for registration as British overseas citizens under section 27 of the British Nationality Act 1981. The numbers of grants made under this section, most of which will have been made to minor children born abroad to a British overseas citizen parent, are as follows:

  Number

  1992

  18

  1993

  7

  1994

  0

  Prisons (Surplus Cell Capacity)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in England and Wales that had surplus cell capacity as of 8 July.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
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  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 19 July 1994:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about surplus cell capacity.

  The attached list shows the prisons which held a smaller number of prisoners than their certified normal accommodation on 8 July 1994. Current population pressures and daily fluctuations in prisoner numbers mean that none of the spaces empty on that date can be regarded as surplus to our needs.

  Local prisons and remand centres, which receive prisoners directly from courts on a daily basis, must have sufficient capacity to accept unpredictable numbers of prisoners. Vacancies in training prisons, where there is normally no overcrowding, are filled in groups so that efficient use is made of prisoner escorting arrangements. This can lead to some under occupation of training prison places.

  When new prisons are opened, the capacity available is filled gradually to assist in maintaining stability. This is currently the position at Doncaster.

  Establishments with population below CNA in use of 8 July 1994

  Acklington

  Kingston

  Albany

  Kirklevington

  Aldington

  Lancaster

  Ash well

  Latchmere House

  Askham Grange

  Leyhill

  Aylesbury

  Lindholme

  Bedford

  Littlehey

  Belmarsh

  Long Lartin

  Blakenhurst

  Kirkham

  Blundeston

  Maidstone

  Brinsford

  Moorland

  Brockhill

  Morton Hill

  Bullingdon

  Nottingham

  Bullwood Hall

  Onley

  Castington

  Oxford

  Channings Wood

  Parkhurst

  Coldingley

  Portland

  Dartmoor

  Prescoed

  Deerbolt

  Ranby

  Doncaster

  Reading

  Dover

  Risley

  Downview

  Rochester

  Drake Hall

  Rudgate

  Elmley

  Send

  Erlestoke

  Spring Hill

  Everthorpe

  Standford Hill

  Featherstone

  Stoke Heath

  Feltham

  Sudbury

  Ford

  Swalesside

  Foston Hall

  The Mount

  Frankland

  The Verne

  Full Sutton

  The Wolds

  Garth

  Thorn Cross

  Gartree

  Thorp Arch

  Grendon

  Usk

  Guys Marsh

  Wakefield

  Hatfield

  Wayland

  Haverigg

  Wellingborough

  Highdown

  Wellington

  Highpoint

  Wetherby

  Hollesley Bay

  Whatton

  Holloway

  Whitemoor

  Holme House

  Woodhill

  Huntercombe

  Wymott

  Information Technology
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the result of the market test of IT services in his Department.

  Mr. Howard
  The market test of ED5, the Home Office administrative IT services division, has now been concluded and it has been decided to award a contract to Sema Group plc, whose bid was judged to represent the best value for money.
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  Victim Support Schemes
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the value-for-money survey by Coopers and Lybrand into the National Association of Victim Support Schemes commissioned by his Department.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 8 July 1994]: I have done so today. The report, which was commissioned and paid for by the Home Office, was a value for money audit of the national office of victim support. It makes a number of recommendations about the relationship between victim support and the Home Office which require, and are receiving, careful consideration. They have still to be fully discussed with victim support. Our intention is to disseminate the report more widely when that consideration is further advanced.

  Blakenhurst Prison
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 48, which alterations at Blakenhurst prison were paid for by United Kingdom Detention Services; how much was paid for each of these alterations; which alterations were paid for by the Prison Service; and how much was paid for each of these alterations.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 11 July 1994]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock dated 19 July 1994:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about who has paid for the alterations to Blakenhurst Prison.

  United Kingdom Detention Services Limited have paid for a number of major alterations to the prison including providing prisoner shops (canteens) in four houseblocks; modifying the holding cells in reception; altering one spur of a houseblock to create a Vulnerable Prisoner Unit; and changing the majority of spy holes to polycarbonate. I understand that the cost of these and other minor alterations was greater than £200,000, including VAT, and has been met solely by UKDS.

  In their bid to run Blakenhurst, UKDS included proposals for a number of security enhancements. These included additional electronic locking and closed circuit television cameras. The cost of these was included in the price of the contract and paid for from the start-up costs which UKDS received in five monthly instalments before the prison opened.

  The Prison Service have paid for essential alterations to the water supply system; the kitchen ceiling; sports hall modifications and a small number of other projects. The total cost of these works was £91,500 including VAT, of which £80,000 was for the water supply system. The Prison Service would have incurred these costs regardless of who managed the prison.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  STEP Programme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what commitment in terms of expenditure and person years of staff time has been given to the STEP—standard for exchange of product data—programme in
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  1993–94; what similar commitment has been outlined for 1994–95; and what report has been made to Parliament on its progress.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The main United Kingdom commitment to the internatioinal development of STEP—ISO 10303; standard for the exchange of product model data—is undertaken through BSI/DISC. Within the DTI innovation budget, spend on STEP projects in 1993–94 was £336,444. For the current year, 1994–95, the forecast is £371,253, of which £88,181 has been committed. STEP is not specifically identified within the DTI manpower returns and no specific report has been made to Parliament.

  Civil Aircraft
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the future market for civil aircraft; and in what way he discusses those market prospects with British industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department of Trade and Industry currently estimates that around 12,000 commercial jet airliners and around 4,000 commercial turbo-prop airliners will be required over the next 20 years. The Department estimates that those sales will be worth in excess of £450 billion at current prices.

  This market opportunity is frequently discussed with the United Kingdom firms in this sector, both to promote the interests of the United Kingdom aerospace industry and in response to the Department's financial sponsorship commitments. The Department also uses a market panel, with members drawn from manufacturing and transport industries to advise on future civil aircraft issues.

  Business Links
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the business links established, their location, the partners involved in each business link, the current list of applications, the location of the current applications and the partners involved in the current application.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Plans have been approved for 33 areas in England, providing for 110 business link outlets. Some 34 business link outlets are currently operational. I expect around 60 business links to be open by the end of the year. The aim is that by the end of 1995, every firm in England will have access to a business link. I have today placed a list of established business links, current applications and partners involved, in the Library of the House.

  Isle of Man (Fraud)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to protect British investors from fraud operated from the Isle of Man.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have no new measures in mind. Any fraud perpetrated in the Isle of Man is subject to the laws and courts of the island. There is close co-operation between United Kingdom and Manx enforcement agencies in the detection and prosecution of fraud offences.

  Nuclear Electric (Staff)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many full-time, part-time and contract staff have been employed by Nuclear Electric for each year since 1989;

  (2) how many former full-time employees of Nuclear Electric have subsequently been re-hired by the company on a contract basis in each year since 1989; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how much has been spent by Nuclear Electric on contract staff in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Eggar
  These are commercial matters for Nuclear Electric.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his assessment of the effect of recently announced job losses of 2,000 personnel by Nuclear Electric on(a) safety, (b) design work and (c) export potential.

  Mr. Eggar
  I understand that the company has yet to decide where the reductions will be made. The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate will not allow the company to operate its nuclear facilities unless it is satisfied that they can be operated safely. Resources on design work and exports are commercial matters for the company.

  Telecommunications (Deregulation)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received regarding the regulations preventing BT and Mercury transmitting entertainment; what plans he has for deregulating this area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 June 1994,Official Report, column 227.

  Ferranti/ISC
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate(a) the volume of United Kingdom trade lost and (b) the number of jobs lost as a result of the collapse of Ferranti/ISC; and if he will list in full the communications between his Department and departments of the United States Government in Ferranti/ISC; and what action by way of reports, surveys or other specific measures his Department has taken as a result of the collapse of Ferranti/ISC.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department has made no estimate of the effect on trade or jobs of the ISC fraud, discovered in 1989. In January 1990, reference was made to the fraud at a meeting with the United States Treasury, and a request to DTI for United States officials to visit the United Kingdom was dealt with by the Serious Fraud Office. Since Ferranti International plc went into receivership last December, about 850 jobs have been lost, but over 1,050 have already been saved through disposals and the Department continues to keep in close touch with the receivers, who are seeking to dispose of the remaining businesses.

  Companies House
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of the Companies House agency's fees for inspection and filing annual returns and targets for 1994–95.

  Mr. Heseltine
  In October 1992, as part of our policy of reviewing the status and performance of next steps agencies, my Department appointed consultants to look at the options for the future of Companies House. The object of the review was to consider how best to ensure that Companies House continued to build on its record of improvements in efficiency, value for money and standards of service in the future.

  The consultants' report described a number of ways in which closer private sector involvement in the activities of Companies House could help those aims. I have now asked them to explore one of them by consulting further with the market on how best to contract out most of the services of Companies House in order to gain the commercial discipline and investment in technology skills of the private sector. Under this option, responsibility for the registrar's functions and ownership of the register would remain with my Department. On the distribution of information, the consultants will consider whether, and if so how far, the new Companies House should withdraw from those activities where it might compete with other parts of the business information industry. The consultants will seek the views of Companies House, its customers and users, and the business information industry.

  This work is due to be completed in the early autumn. I will make a further announcement about the future of Companies House in the light of the consultants' findings. In the meantime, however, I am pleased to announce that the fees for incorporating a company and for submitting annual returns to Companies House will be reduced to approximately half their current level. I propose that these reductions should be implemented in respect of those documents due after 1 October 1994. A statutory instrument will be laid before Parliament shortly.

  I have set Companies House executive agency the following targets for 1994–95:
  to make all statutory documents available for public inspection within a maximum of five working days of receipt in Companies House;
  to ensure that 31 March 1995 a minimum of 90 per cent. of fiche provided to customers are error free;
  to reduce real unit costs by an average of 5 per cent. in 1994–95;
  to achieve a 6 per cent. average annual rate of return based on operating surplus expressed as a percentage of average net assets employed at current values;
  to answer 90 per cent. of incoming telephone calls within six rings (20 seconds);
  to achieve an overall compliance rate for Companies filing annual returns and accounts of 90 per cent. by 30 June 1994;

  and for the remainder of the year
  to achieve, on average during the period July 1994 to March 1995, a monthly compliance rate for accounts submitted of 94 per cent. and for annual returns submitted of 91 per cent.

  In addition, I expect the chief executive of the agency to continue to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.

  Metrication
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation on phasing out the use of imperial units following the adoption of the 1989 amendment to the units of measurement directive; and if' he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My noble Friend Lord Strathclyde has today laid before Parliament the following instruments which implement the units of measurement directive in relation to the authorisation of units of measurement, and their use for weights and measures and price marking purposes:the Units of Measurement Regulations 1994;
  the Weights and Measures Act 1985 (Metrication) (Amendment) Order 1994;
  the Weights and Measures (Metrication) (Miscellaneous Goods) (Amendment) Order 1994;
  the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods and Quantity Marking and Abbreviations of Units) (Amendment) Regulations 1994;
  the Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations 1994; and
  the Price Marking (Amendment) Order 1994.

  The first three SIs have been laid in draft for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament. The last three have been made before laying and are subject to the negative resolution procedure. The legislation provides that the doorstep pint of milk and the pint of draught beer or cider in the pub will be allowed without time limit as well as the mile for road traffic signs, speedometers and odometers.

  For many purposes, the United Kingdom has already switched to the metric system. From 1 October 1995, almost all goods sold by quantity, including food pre-packed in variable weights such as cheese and meats that are not already traded in metric will have to be so traded. The principal exception is in respect of goods sold loose from bulk by the pound and ounce—primarily foods, such as meat, poultry, cheese, fish and fresh fruit and vegetables—which will not have to switch to metric until 1 January 2000.

  Retailers who price food sold loose from bulk or pre-packed in variable weights in metric during the transitional periods will be required to display a price conversion chart or to dual price items. The British retail consortium has agreed to adopt a code under which retailers will supplement this with further charts at any place where consumers select such food which is priced in metric. My Department is discussing with the trade other publicity measures.

  Insurance Intermediaries
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the European Commission's recommendation on insurance intermediaries.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Commission issued its recommendation in December 1991 as part of the single market programme. My Department issued a consultative document on it in November 1992. Most comments focused on the protection afforded to UK consumers by the current UK regulatory arrangements. Little evidence emerged to suggest that there are significant barriers to trade affecting insurance intermediaries which need to be addressed through Community legislation.
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  As regards the sale of most life insurance policies, the regulatory regime established under the Financial Services Act 1986 already meets the detailed provisions of the Commission's recommendations. As regards the activities of registered brokers, the rules of the Insurance Brokers Registration Council are also in accord with the recommendations. However, a number of respondents criticised the non-statutory arrangements under the Association of British Insurers' general business code of practice, "the ABI Code", which covers the sale of general insurance by company representatives, tied agents and independent intermediaries who are not registered brokers.

  The ABI Code was last revised in 1989 and its operation has since been monitored by an independent code monitoring committee chaired by Sir Kenneth Clucas. In January 1993, the committee recommended several changes to the code. The committee concluded, however, that overall the code provided reasonable protection to consumers and should continue rather than being replaced by statutory regulation. The ABI has expressed its willingness to act on the committee's recommendations. In those circumstances, I see no need to introduce more statutory regulation in this area. The most appropriate and cost-effective response to the Commission's recommendation is to build on the arrangements we already have.

  The ABI is today announcing a number of improvements in the operation of the code. These will clarify the code's provisions and will lead to more detailed procedural guidance for practitioners. The association has also agreed that changes in the IBRC's code of conduct and accounts rules will be reflected in the code. Further changes may be made to reflect aspects of the Commission's recommendation. There will be a publicity campaign to heighten awareness of the code and its application will continue to be monitored by the code monitoring committee, now under the chairmanship of Sir Terry Heiser. My Department will encourage nonmembers of the ABI to abide by the code's principles.

  The completion of the single market in insurance will undoubtedly increase competition in the sale of insurance products throughout the Community. I shall maintain a close interest in developments, and shall be sensitive to any emerging evidence of significant barriers to trade in this area.

  Export Market Information Centre
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will announce the results of his review of the Department's export market information centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Twelve organisations expressed initial interest in running an export market information centre —EMIC—and I invited six to make formal bids. I have selected the offer from the management of the existing centre. The other bids, from the British library and the joint venture headed by the Institute of Export, included, however, a number of attractive ideas capable of enhancing the services which EMIC could offer its customers. I am pleased to say that both organisations have agreed to offer services in a form of partnership with EMIC. Precise arrangements are being negotiated. The new combined services should commence in the autumn and allow EMIC to be fully integrated with market branches, export promoters and business links.
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  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a further statement about the arrangements for publishing compliance cost assessments to show the cost impact on business of complying with legislative proposals.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  Further to the answer I gave in my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 19 October 1993,Official Report, column 202, the Government have revised the arrangements for publishing compliance cost assessments for domestic legislative proposals which impact on business as follows:
  in the case of Government Bills, a summary of the CCA will form part of the Explanatory Memorandum to the Bill and will include a reference to where the full CCA can be obtained.
  in the case of Statutory Instruments, the Explanatory Note will contain a note that a CCA is available and where it can be obtained.
  in the case of Private Members' Bills, where the Government considers it is appropriate to prepare a CCA every effort will be made to produce it by the date first set down for second reading of the Bill.
  in the case of Private Bills the Government are still considering how the system can be extended to such Bills.

  In all cases, a copy of the CCA will be available in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies will also be made available to the Vote Office and/or the Printed Paper Office for selected pieces of draft legislation, and to Committees considering Bills or statutory instruments where the Government judge it to be appropriate. The Government will also publish a command paper at six-monthly intervals to place on record those CCAs published over the preceding six month period and where they can be obtained.

  Milk Marketing
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes he proposes to competition law in the context of the impending reorganisation of milk marketing arrangements.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have today laid before the House the Monopolies References (Alterations of Exclusions) Order 1994. The order, which amends part II of schedule 7 of the Fair Trading Act 1973, will enable the Director General of Fair Trading to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the wholesale supply of milk in areas which are no longer covered by a statutory marketing scheme. This fulfills the commitment which the Government gave in 1993 during the passage of the Agriculture Act that, once the milk marketing schemes were revoked, milk trading should be fully subject to competition law in the same way as any other sector.

  The order comes into force on 31 October 1994. As each statutory scheme is revoked, the market it covered will become subject to scrutiny by the Director General of Fair Trading, who will be able to make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission if he considers it appropriate.

  Power Losses
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many losses of power at the Rheola relay station have occurred in each year since 1990; and what is the average across Britain.
  185
  Mr. Brooke
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information is not available in the form requested. The Independent Television Commission has determined national standards of reliability, measured in terms of service availability to viewer. For relay stations such as Rheola the minimum standard is 99 per cent. In 1993, there were seven periods in which electrical power was lost at the Rheola transmitter, of which five were for maintenances, resulting in transmissions being available to viewers for 99.5 per cent. of the time.

  Colliery Closures
  Mr. David Lidington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the measures taken so far to help those areas in England affected by recent colliery closures.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government provided a total of £200 million in regeneration funds to help the areas affected by pit closures. This funding was designed both to provide direct help and to encourage other public and private-sector investment in those areas: attracting new jobs, filling the funding gap for strategic projects and providing for other key activities such as retraining.

  Training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service play a key part in regenerating coalfield areas. That is why the £180 million package announced in October 1992 including £75 million for training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service for special training and employment measures, £75 million for a three-year English Partnership's programme of factory and site provision, and a number of other measures. The additional £20 million announced in March 1993 was to allow major strategic projects to go ahead.

  Since we announced the initial package, eight pits which were scheduled to close have been leased or licensed to the private sector. That means that the total number of collieries now operating is substantially more than would have been the case had the original closure proposals made in October 1992 gone ahead. That has further improved the prospects of the coalfield areas.

  Lord Walker was asked to co-ordinate this major effort to assist the coalfield areas and advise on the strategic projects. I am grateful for the effectiveness and enthusiasm with which he has carried out this task. He has established a network of contacts in each region. He has monitored and co-ordinated the various agencies responsible for delivering the original £180 million package and has made the necessary judgments on the allocation of the approximately £20 million made available for strategic projects. His role as chairman of English Partnerships gives him a continuing close interest in the regeneration of the coalfield areas.

  The main regeneration initiatives in each region are in the list. These will provide significant support in themselves, but they will also help attract further investment in the coal areas.
  North East Assisted Areas
  Restoration of Development Area status to Morpeth and Ashington TTWA.
  English Partnerships
  £16 million for the provision of industrial and commercial sites, in particular at Seaham Grange and Ashington. £1·75 million as a strategic project for improvements for site access in the Wansbeck area.
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  TECs and Employment Service
  £12·7 million additional budget allocation for coalfield areas.
  Coalfield Areas Fund
  £250k for regeneration projects in Easington.
  Enterprise Zone
  An Enterprise Zone comprising six sites to be designated in East Durham.
  Tyne and Wear Development Corporation
  £2 million for inward investment promotion and £2 million for development of strategic sites in Tyneside.
  Regional Selective Assistance
  Five large projects creating over 2,000 jobs (EMC Magnetics, Cramlington; Onwa Electronics and Interconnection Systems, South Tyneside; Lucas SEI and Goldstar, Wearside).
  Regeneration Partnerships
  The Government Office for the North East plays an active role in coalfield regeneration taskforces in East Durham and Northumberland and also in the Wansbeck Initiative.
  Yorkshire and Humberside English Partnerships
  £24 million for the provision of industrial and commercial sites. Plans announced:
  Barnsley–192,000 square feet of additional factory/ workshop space and 7.5 acres of land for further industrial schemes. Extra £6 million funding for Barnsley.
  Doncaster–1 10,000 square feet of factories and workshops. Extra £8 million funding for Doncaster.
  Rotherham–30,000 square feet of factories. Extra £6 million for Rotherham.
  Wakefield—Proposals to bring forward an industrial and commercial development of £4 million.
  Further and Higher Education
  Up to £2 million to support further and higher education provision in the Dearne Valley subject to the completion of negotiations.
  Road improvements
  Up to £3·75 million in Doncaster and Barnsley: contribution to Denaby on main diversion, access from the M18 into Doncaster Carr and design and preparation of access to Grimethorpe.
  TECs and Employment Service
  £25·3 million additional budget allocation for coalfield areas.
  Coalfield Areas Fund
  £1·2 million for regeneration projects.
  Enterprise Zone
  A 360 acre Enterprise Zone to be designated in the Dearne Valley.
  Department of Transport Main Programme
  Work is underway on the Dearne Towns Link Road and the Wath Manvers Spine Road.
  Assisted Area Status
  Barnsley and Doncaster upgraded from Intermediate to Development Area status.
  Wakefield & Dewsbury and Castleford & Pontefract upgraded from Non-Assisted to Intermediate Area status.
  Regional Enterprise Grants
  Regional Enterprise Grants extended to specific wards around Sharlston.
  Regional Selective Assistance
  Tunstall project in Barnsley: 600 jobs eventually, £11 million project.
  North West EC Objective 1 status
  Parkside Colliery has been identified as a key area for regeneration through targeted investment under the Objective 1 programme for Merseyside.

  187
  English Partnerships
  £4 million for the provision of industrial and commercial sites. Plans announced:
  88,000 sq ft of new factory space and the acquisition of 10 acres of land.
  TECs and Employment Service
  £2–2 million additional budget allocation for coalfield areas.
  Coalfield Areas Fund
  £270,000 for regeneration projects.
  East Midlands English Partnerships
  £21 million provision of industrial and commercial sites. Plans announced:
  173 acres acquired for development. the provision of 176,000 sq ft of new factory space.
  TEC and Employment Service
  £23·7 million additional budget allocation for coalfield areas.
  Robin Hood Line
  £6·5 million to help extend the Robin Hood Line from Newstead to Mansfield (Stage 2).
  Coalfield Areas fund
  £2·4 million regeneration projects in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
  East Midlands Development Organisation
  £650,000 two years funding for the new East Midlands Development Organisation, to promote inward investment.
  Annesley
  Flagship Business Park.
  Enterprise Zone
  Enterprise Zones to be designated in the districts of Mansfield, Ashfield, North East Derbyshire and Bassetlaw.
  Coal Authority
  To be based in Mansfield.
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  Assisted Area status
  Mansfield TTWA upgraded from Non-Assisted Area to Development Area Status.
  Alfreton and Ashfield; Chesterfield; Retford; and Worksop upgraded from Non-Assisted Area to Intermediate Area status.
  Regional Enterprise Grants
  Regional Enterprise Grants extended to specific wards in coalfield areas.
  Regional Selective Assistance
  Johnson Control: 450 jobs, £1–7 million grant.
  West Midlands English Partnerships
  £7 million for the provision of industrial and commercial sites. Plans announced:
  70,000 sq ft of new factory space at High Carr and 27,500 sq ft of factory space at Fenton, both in North Staffordshire. Negotiations continue regarding other sites in both North and South Staffordshire.
  TECs and Employment Service
  £8·4 million additional budget allocation for the coalfield areas of North Staffordshire, South Staffordshire and North Warwickshire.
  Coalfield Areas Fund
  £820,000 for regeneration projects in Stoke.
  Regional Enterprise Grants
  Regional Enterprise Grants extended to specific wards in the Trentham and Littleton areas.
  Objective 2 status
  Stoke will get Objective 2 status for the first time. Much of the southern Staffordshire coalfield will also be included.
  Strategic Projects
  Support for projects in Stoke:—Minton Hollins distribution centre;
  Fenton Manor Business Park—infrastructure works.
  Trentham: site investigations at Trentham North and provision for access at Trentham South.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Business Parks
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at which locations in the city of Belfast there are business parks; approximately how many persons are employed at each of these business parks; at which locations new business parks are proposed; and if he will make a statement on future public funding for business parks.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The development of business parks is a private sector initiative and the Department of Economic Development does not have access to the information requested.

  As far as public funding for business parks is concerned, limited assistance may be available to private developers from the Local Enterprise Development Unit under its property development scheme.

  War Veterans
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will meet representatives of Ards borough council and war veterans from that district to discuss problems in respect of their desire to link with Belgian veterans and communities celebrating the 50th anniversary of liberation this autumn;

  (2) if he will make an announcement on the visit to Belgium of war veterans living in the Ards borough council area before the parliamentary recess.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  My right hon. and learned Friend will be writing shortly to the hon. Member confirming that the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland is prepared to consider favourably the granting of approval to Ards borough council to fund a visit to Belgium by ex-service men from its district as part of the Belgian liberation celebrations. In these circumstances, a meeting would not seem to be necessary.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has held with the Data Protection Registrar, prior to the use of the national insurance number by the private sector, in relation to the Northern Ireland personal injuries claims register; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  There have been no discussions at ministerial level on this subject. There has been correspondence at official level with the Association of British Insurers which, in turn, has been in contact with the Data Protection Registrar about the use of national insurance numbers for the purposes of the association's Northern Ireland personal injuries register and this is continuing.

  Enterprise Centres
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at which locations in Belfast there are enterprise centres; how many persons are employed at these enterprise centres; at which locations in Belfast new enterprise centres are planned; and if he will make a statement on proposed public funding of enterprise centres.
  190
  Mr. Tim Smith
  The information is as follows:

  Total employed

  Enterprise centres

  Action Resource Centre

  12

  103–107 York Street

  Argyle Business Centre

  23

  39 Howard Street

  Brookfield Business Centre

  260

  333 Crumlin Road

  Farset Enterprise Park

  47

  638 Springfield Road

  Glenwood Enterprises

  90

  Springbank Industrial Estate

  Townsend Enterprise Park

  150

  28 Townsend Park

  Work West

  50

  301 Glen Road

  Westlink Enterprise

  66

  30–50 Distillery Road

  North City Business

  No tenants yet

  2, Duncairn Gardens

  New Enterprise Centres

  East Belfast Enterprise Park

  16 Castlereagh Street

  Ormagh Enterprises

  (location to be decided)

  In terms of public funding, the Local Enterprise Development Unit's local enterprise programme setting up the new enterprise centres is almost complete. Within the LEP strategy, LEDU is working with all the centres to build upon their achievements to date.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the salaries for each of the last 10 years for the chairman and chief executive of(a) the Equal Opportunities Commission, (b) the Fair Employment Commission, (c) the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, (d) the Health and Safety Agency for Northern Ireland, (e) the Labour Relations Agency, (f) the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, (g) the Industrial Development Board, (h) the Local Enterprise Development Unit, (i) the Social Security Agency and (j) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The salary of the chief executive of the Social Security Agency, which was established on 1 July 1991, is based on the Northern Ireland civil service grade 3 salary scale. The total gross remuneration paid to the chief executive from that date has been as follows:

  Year

  £

  1991–92

  49,866

  1992–93

  53,700

  1993–94

  55,878

  The information requested for the other bodies can be obtained from the Cabinet Office annual publication "Public Bodies", copies of which are held in the Library.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring; and if he will set out his targets to help small businesses in the next year.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Assistance towards small firms in Northern Ireland is delivered for the Department of Economic Development by its agency the Local Enterprise Development Unit.

  LEDU's strategy forms an integral part of the Government's approach to encourage competitiveness and growth among small business. LEDU had a successful year in 1993–94 and I am encouraged that it has continued to build upon its record-breaking performance in 1992–93. The turnover among LEDU client companies increased by 9·5 per cent. in 1993–94 and employment increased by 4·7 per cent.

  Key results for the past two years and similar key targets for next year are as follows:

  Performance indicators

  1992–93 results

  1993–94 results

  1994–95 targets

  Business start training (nos)

  3,716

  3,979

  3,000

  Small business accommodation

  22,000 sq m

  10,501 sq m

  8,200 sq m

  Growth implementing contracts signed

  147

  141

  152

  Contracts to companies engaged in projects to overcome barriers to growth

  447

  795

  760

  Nursery Schools
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total public expenditure on(a) nursery schools and classes and (b) children under five in reception classes, in each year since 1989–90; and what was the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of the gross domestic product for Northern Ireland.

  Appointment

  Duration

  Mr. David Cook

  As a City Council Trustee—Ulster Museum

  1 January 1973 to 1 June 1985

  Chairman—Health and Social Services Trust

  (Craigavon and Banbridge Unit of Management)

  23 November 1993 to 23 November 1997

  Chairman—Police Authority for Northern Ireland

  29 June 1994 to 28 June 1997

  Mrs. Fionnuala Cook

  Member—Northern Ireland Housing Executive Board

  5 November 1989 to 4 November 1995

  Chairman—Northern Health and Social Services Council

  1 April 1991 to 31 May 1995

  192
  Mr. Ancram
  Expenditure on nursery and reception classes in primary schools is subsumed in the total for primary schools, and could only be identified at disproportionate cost.

  Expenditure on nursery schools is as follows:

  £m

  percentage of GDP

  1989–90

  5·1

  .001

  1990–91

  5·6

  .001

  1991–92

  6·9

  .001

  1992–93

  7·3

  n/a

  1993–94

  17·8

  n/a

  1 estimated.

  Fair Employment Tribunals
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases have been heard since 1989 by fair employment tribunals consisting of(a) three Catholic members, (b) two Catholic members and one Protestant member, (c) one Catholic member and two Protestant members and (d) three Protestant members.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  A breakdown of the perceived religion of panel members for the fair employment tribunals which heard and determined cases since 1989 is shown in the table:

  FET Panel Constitution

  Number of cases

  Three Catholic members

  1

  Two Catholic and one Protestant member

  52

  One Catholic and two Protestant members

  61

  Three Protestant members

  —

  Total

  114

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the public appointments held by Mr. David Cook and Mrs. Fionnula Cook since 1980.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The following public appointments have been held by Mr. David Cook and Mrs. Fionnuala Cook since 1980.

  Driving Offences
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motorists were(a) charged with and (b) convicted of (i) failure to accord precedence at pedestrian crossings, endorseable offences, (ii) failure to comply with traffic signs, (iii) speed limit offences, (iv) driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs and (v) reckless driving in Northern Ireland in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Information on the number of persons with the0073e offences is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Readily available information is as follows:

  Persons Convicted of Motoring Offences in Northern Ireland 1991–1993

  Offence

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Failure to accord precedence at pedestrian crossings (Zebra and Pelican)

  5

  0

  4

  Failure to comply with traffic signs (Art. 158 Road Traffic Order)

  370

  288

  280

  Speed Limit Offences

  2,683

  2,535

  2,320

  All Drunk-in-Charge Offences

  2,675

  3,203

  3,167

  Reckless Driving Causing Death

  19

  10

  19

  Reckless Driving Causing Grievous Bodily Harm

  11

  8

  11

  Reckless Driving

  449

  392

  327

  Rents
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he holds on the levels of rent being charged in(a) the public sector, (b) the private sector and (c) by housing associations.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland holds information on the levels of rent being charged as follows:

  (a) public sector: average weekly rent of £29·63 from 1 April 1994 1

  (b) private sector: no information is held

  (c) housing associations: average rents at 31 March 1994 are shown on the table below.

  Dwelling type

  Controlled2£

  De-controlled3£

  Bedsit

  18·95

  28·46

  1 Bedroom

  22·51

  25·94

  2 Bedrooms

  26·88

  27·73

  3 Bedrooms

  31·63

  34·25

  4 Bedrooms

  33·40

  39·12

  1 Information is not held on rent levels by dwelling type.

  2 Controlled rents are for tenancies granted prior to 16 September 1992 and Departmental approval is required for rent increases.

  3 De-controlled rents are for tenancies grated from 16 September 1992 and rent increases are not subject to Departmental approval.

  Nurse Education and Training
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to provide for the retraining and redeployment of nurse teachers who are displaced as a result of the proposed reduction in the number of nursing students.

  Mr. Ancram
  The health and personal social services staff redeployment unit was established in June 1993 with the remit of setting up a clearing house system to allow 194
  staff who are declared redundant by their current employers to have first opportunity of applying for any posts for which recruitment is taking place elsewhere in the Northern Ireland health and personal social services. The fully computerised system agreed with participating employers covers all health and social services boards, units of management, health and social services trusts, together with the Northern Ireland Central Services Agency and the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  Following the introduction of the clearing house system, the staff redeployment unit has been encouraged to extend its activities to include the provision of information to employees faced with redundancy; the investigation of employment opportunities for redundant staff outside the statutory health and personal social services in Northern Ireland; and measures to enhance the employment opportunities for newly qualified nurses who are unable to obtain employment on completion of training.

  To date, the Northern Ireland national board has not found it necessary to make any of its nurse tutors redundant and has achieved reductions in staffing levels by means of voluntary early retirement.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown of the spending on nurse education and training for the years 1990–91 to 1993–94 identifying the spending allocated to(a) pre-registration education, (b) post-registration education and (c) nurse teacher training and support.

  Mr. Ancram
  It is not possible to identify separately spending on pre- and post-registration education. Otherwise the information is as follows:

  Nurse education and training £ million

  Nurse teacher training £000's

  1990–91

  10·7

  180

  1991–92

  15·4

  253

  1992–93

  27·4

  246

  1993–94

  27·3

  119

  Notes:

  1. The figures for Nurse Education and Training include National Board revenue, the cost of the community nurse training programme, the training element of the cost of salaries and bursaries for the years 1992–93 and 1993–94 and the implementation costs of Project 2000.

  2. It is not possible to identify the training element in salaries and bursaries for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost of the changes in nurse education since 1989 which result from the introduction of Project 2000.

  Mr. Ancram
  In the period 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1994, a total of £7·96 million has been allocated to the four health and social services boards and the Northern Ireland National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, to meet the additional costs of implementing Project 2000.

  Road Accidents (Pedestrians)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) children and (b) adults were (i) killed and (ii) seriously or (iii) slightly injured on or near pedestrian crossings in Northern Ireland in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
  195
  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  Accidents and casualties on or near pedestrian crossings

  Year

  Accidents

  Killed

  Serious injuries

  Slight injuries

  (i) Children (under 15 years)

  1991

  26

  0

  8

  22

  1992

  29

  0

  7

  25

  1993

  29

  0

  4

  29

  (ii) Adults (15 years and over)

  1991

  70

  1

  15

  94

  1992

  59

  1

  17

  84

  1993

  67

  2

  10

  97

  Rate Collection Agency
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Rate Collection Agency in 1994–95.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  For 1994–95 the following performance targets have been set for the agency:

  1. To reduce rating debt to 1–76 per cent. of the Gross Collectable Rate excluding late assessments by 31 March 1995.

  2. To achieve a reduction of 2 per cent. in the real value of the direct unit costs of collecting rates per hereditament.

  3. To generate refunds to 97 per cent. of ratepayers so entitled within 14 days of credits being identified.

  4. To process by 31 March 1995 80 per cent. of applications for the incoming year received from existing Housing Benefit recipients before 15 March 1995.

  5. To achieve a reduction of 2 per cent. in the real value of the direct unit costs of processing Housing Benefit cases.

  6. To assess 97 per cent. of Housing Benefit claims free of error.

  Public Record Office
  Sir James Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for the future organisation of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The Government have decided that the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, which is responsible for the identification and preservation of Northern Ireland's archival heritage and for ensuring public access to that heritage, should become a next steps agency from 1 April 1995. This will give the Public Record Office the freedom to operate as an independent organisation within a framework of appropriate efficiency targets and performance measures. Accountability for the organisation will remain with the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

  Ordnance Survey
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland in 1994–95.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  For 1994–95 the following performance targets have been set for OSNI:

  1. to survey 25,000 house units in the continuous revision programme;

  2. to complete 850 data capture units representing 1,630 basic scale map sheets converted to digital format;

  3. to update the digital topographical database with 90 per cent. of the surveyed change within 7 days of receipt of the field data;

  4. to dispatch, within 7 working days, 90 per cent. of orders for folded and basic scale maps;

  196

  5. to reduce unit costs so that the weighted mean percentage reduction of selected representative activities is 3 per cent.; and

  6. to recover from the supply of goods and services, 24 per cent. of the total costs incurred by OSNI.

  Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency
  Mr. Wolfson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets have been set for the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency in 1994–95.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  For 1994–95 the following performance targets have been set for the agency:Vehicle Test appointments—5 weeks average waiting time. Driving Test appointments—10 weeks average waiting time. Productivity—(Vehicle Testing)—16·15 units per man per day.
  Productivity—(Driver Testing)—7·7 units per man per day. Error Rate: Faulty inspections not to exceed 0·3 per cent. of tests conducted.
  Level of complaints about booking arrangements—less than 2 per cent. of applications received.
  Level of complaints about the conduct of tests—less than 2 per cent. of applications received.
  Level of customer satisfaction with booking arrangements —greater than 80 per cent.
  Level of customer satisfaction with test procedures—greater than 90 per cent.
  Number of compensation payments for cancelled tests—not more than 1 per cent. of applications received.
  Composite unit cost—£16–32.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which management consultants have been employed by his Department to assist in the assessment of applications for trust status; how much each was paid; and how many assessments they undertook, in each wave.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: IHSM Consultants has been engaged by the Department of Health and Social Services to assist in the assessment of the management capacity of trust applicants in each of the three waves to date. The payments, which include fees and expenses in each case, and number of assessments in each wave are set out below:

  1st Wave £9,51945 in respect of one assessment

  2nd Wave £16,559·52 in respect of ten assessments

  3rd Wave £10,413–30 in respect of two assessments

  Raw Wool Purchases
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has about persons or firms from the Irish Republic purchasing raw wool from farmers in Northern Ireland and about the price offered for such wool by purchasers in Northern Ireland; and what is his estimate of the consequences of wool being moved across the land frontier to the Republic.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: The British wool marketing scheme permits the sale of wool in its raw state—that is, unsorted and ungraded—to buyers outside the United Kingdom. Little information is available about persons or firms from the Republic of Ireland who purchase raw wool from farmers in Northern Ireland or about the prices offered for such wool by such purchasers. The quantity of wool exported to the Republic of Ireland in 1993, however, was insubstantial and the prices paid are likely to have been lower than those paid for

  197
  wool sold to the British wool marketing board. The effect on the British wool market of exports of such small quantities is not expected to be significant.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost of the appointment of Andersen Consulting as consultants to the Child Support Agency.

  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 shortly.

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. David Hanson:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the cost of Andersen Consulting to the Child Support Agency.

  I am afraid that I am unable to provide you with information about Andersen Consulting in particular as this information is confidential due to its commercial nature. I can tell you however, that the Agency spent a total of £23 million on consultants in 1993–94.

  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much the Child Support Agency has spent on consultants in 1993; and what is the estimated expenditure on the contract with Andersen Consulting.

  Benefit recipients in England

  Benefit

  Number of recipients (000's unless stated*)

  1964

  1971

  1981

  1991

  1993/latest

  Attendance Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  293

  771

  760

  Child Benefit

  3,199

  3,672

  6,058

  5,813

  5,919

  Rent Rebate

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2,337

  2,451

  Rent Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  977

  1,338

  Community Charge Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  5,475

  n/a

  Council Tax Benefit (CTB)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4,523

  Disability Living Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1,033

  Disability Working Allowance*

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2,990

  FIS/Family Credit

  n/a

  n/a

  85

  278

  429

  Guardians Allowance*

  n/a

  n/a

  2,695

  1,501

  1,630

  Supplementary Benefit/Income Support

  n/a

  2,398

  3,131

  3,743

  4,795

  Industrial Disablement Benefit

  n/a

  158

  150

  152

  169

  Invalidity Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  468

  971

  1,072

  Maternity Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  48

  40

  Mobility Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  174

  545

  n/a

  One Parent Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  399

  692

  757

  Sickness Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  282

  83

  109

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  107

  237

  245

  Unemployment Benefit

  122

  346

  951

  543

  501

  Widows Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  335

  269

  261

  Benefit recipients in Scotland

  Benefit

  Number of recipients (000's unless stated*)

  1964

  1971

  1981

  1991

  1993/latest

  Attendance Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  30

  84

  74

  Child Benefit

  405

  439

  679

  615

  621

  Rent Rebate

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  466

  458

  Rent Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  74

  91

  Community Charge Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  646

  n/a

  Council Tax Benefit (CTB)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  573

  Disability Living Allowance*

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  146

  Disability Working Allowance*

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  341

  FIS/Family Credit

  n/a

  n/a

  14

  41

  60

  Guardians Allowance*

  n/a

  n/a

  487

  255

  247

  198
  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. John Speller:

  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the Agency's expenditure on consultants.

  In 1993–94 the Agency spent £2·3 million on consultants.

  I am afraid that I am unable to provide the other information you request as it is confidential due to its commercial nature.

  Benefits
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the resident population in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales are in receipt of benefits other than retirement pensions; and what were the numbers in (i) 1964, (ii) 1971, (iii) 1981 and (iv) 1991.

  Mr. Burt
  Information on a territorial basis is not available for all benefits. Such information as is available is in the tables. The numbers provided are based on awards of benefit and contain a degree of overlap as people may be in receipt of more than one benefit.

  It is not possible to determine the percentage of the resident population represented by the figures as information on the number of individuals covered by each award is not readily available.
  199

  Benefit

  Number of recipients (000's unless stated*)

  1964

  1971

  1981

  1991

  1993/latest

  Supplementary Benefit/Income Support

  n/a

  322

  371

  487

  543

  Industrial Disablement Benefit

  n/a

  18

  16

  17

  19

  Invalidity Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  88

  181

  200

  Maternity Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4

  2

  Mobility Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  21

  82

  n/a

  One Parent Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  48

  87

  97

  Sickness Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  44

  15

  17

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  18

  34

  35

  Unemployment Benefit

  36

  72

  141

  55

  57

  Widows Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  48

  39

  38

  Benefit recipients in Wales

  Benefit

  Number of recipients (000's unless stated*)

  1964

  1971

  1981

  1991

  1993/latest

  Attendance Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  28

  63

  56

  Child Benefit

  190

  212

  362

  355

  357

  Rent Rebate

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  152

  154

  Rent Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  56

  74

  Community Charge Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  341

  n/a

  Council Tax Benefit (CTB)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  273

  Disability Living Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  102

  Disability Working Allowance*

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  245

  FIS/Family Credit

  n/a

  n/a

  6

  22

  32

  Guardians Allowance*

  n/a

  n/a

  180

  94

  100

  Supplementary Benefit/Income Support

  n/a

  189

  221

  257

  305

  Industrial Disablement Benefit

  n/a

  25

  22

  19

  18

  Invalidity Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  71

  147

  159

  Maternity Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2

  2

  Mobility Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  15

  60

  n/a

  One Parent Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  21

  39

  43

  Sickness Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  26

  12

  12

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  8

  22

  22

  Unemployment Benefit

  14

  23

  73

  29

  26

  Widows Benefit

  n/a

  n/a

  23

  19

  18

  Notes:

  1. n/a indicates information not available—benefit not in existence or no caseload data available for the year shown.

  2. Figures are in thousands and are rounded to the nearest thousand except for Guardians Allowance and Disability Working Allowance where the actul numbers of recipients are given.

  3. Supplementary Benefit was introduced in 1966. No figures are available for the numbers receiving National Assistance in 1964.

  4. Council Tax Benefit replaced Community Charge Benefit in April 1993.

  5.Disability Living Allowance replaced Mobility Allowance (and Attendance Allowance for persons under 65 years) in April 1992.

  Benefits Poverty Trap
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimates his Department has made for the total number of people classified as falling within the benefits poverty trap in(a) May 1992, (b) May 1993 and (c) the latest available date;

  (2) what estimates his Department made for the total number of people classified as falling into the benefits poverty trap in (a) May 1992, (b) May 1993 and (c) the latest available date.

  Mr. Burt
  The term "poverty trap" is often used to describe a situation where, because of a combination of tax and national insurance deductions, and the withdrawal of income-related benefits, a person working on low pay receives little or no increase in income when earnings rise.

  The combined rate at which tax and national insurance are deducted from earnings and income-related benefits are withdrawn is known as the marginal deduction rate. Estimates of the numbers with marginal deduction rates at
  200
  or above certain rates in 1992–93 and 1993–94 can be found in the "Social Security Departmental Report", Cm. 2513, published in March this year. A copy is in the Library.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of family credit at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  The estimated outtum for family credit for 1993–94 is £1,091 million.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families were in receipt of family credit; what was the number of dependent children living in these families; and what was the average family credit payment at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  There are 1,055,000 dependent children in the 520,000 families who receive family credit. The average weekly award is £46.

  Source: Family Credit Statistics: Final Quarterly Tables October 1993.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families where both spouses, or
  201
  partners living as husband and wife, are working were in receipt of family credit at the latest date for which figures are available; and what percentage this is of the total number of families in receipt of family credit.

  Mr. Burt
  There are 22,500 families receiving family credit where both partners are working. This is 4·3 per cent. of the 520,000 families receiving family credit.

  Source: Family Credit Statistics: final quarterly tables October 1993.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons without accommodation were income support recipients in England at May 1992 and at the latest available date, breaking down the figures by age and by whether or not they were employed at the time.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 7 February 1994,Official Report, column 29.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect on social security fraud of a national identity card; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  Most social security fraud arises from failure to declare true circumstances—for example, working and claiming—and only a small percentage results from misrepresentations about identity. We are looking at a range of initiatives including better ways of establishing identity, to prevent or detect multiple claims and instrument of payment frauds.

  Compensation Recovery Unit
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the policy of the compensation recovery unit in respect of the repayment of benefits by those who have paid appropriate national insurance contributions if they win damages arising out of an industrial disease, medical neglicence, road traffic accident or industrial injury; and whether the compensation recovery unit will require those who have not paid appropriate national insurance contributions to pay back income support if they win damages arising out of industrial disease, medical negligence, road traffic accident or industrial injury.

  Mr. Scott
  Both contributory and non-contributory benefits, including income support, are prescribed in compensation recovery legislation. Recovery applies only when benefits are paid in consequence of the accident, injury or disease for which compensation is awarded.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to change the operations of the compensation recovery unit in so far as it affects asbestosis sufferers.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans for any such change.

  Pensions (Regulation)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost to the pensions industry of the proposed pensions regulator.
  202
  Mr. Hague
  Initial estimates of the cost of the new regulatory authority which was announced in the White Paper, "Security, Equality, Choice", Cm 2594, are in the order of £10 million per annum. In addition, it is expected that there will be start-up costs of around £2 million. It is proposed that these costs will be met by an annual levy on occupational pension schemes.

  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to consult on the levies to fund the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority and the compensation scheme, as announced in his White Paper "Security, Equality, Choice: The Future for Pensions", published on 23 June.

  Mr. Hague
  A consultation paper is being issued today. The paper explains how the levies will be structured, seeks views on how the costs of the levies should be distributed across the range of scheme sizes and gives some indication of the potential effect on schemes. It is being issued automatically to a number of interested parties and is available to others on request. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Independent Tribunal Service
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to conduct a quinquennial review of the independent tribunal service.

  Mr. Lilley
  In keeping with our commitment to continuing improvement in customer service and value for money in public services, reflected in the citizens charter, the Government have an established programme for regular reviews of non-departmental public bodies. As part of this programme, in consultation with my noble and learned Friends the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Advocate, my Department will shortly begin a quinquennial review of the organisation and management of the Independent Tribunal Service. The review will fully respect the independence of the judicial functions of the service.

  Anyone who has an interest in the work of the Independent Tribunal Service is welcome to send in their views, by 30 September 1994, and, to do so, is asked first to contact:

  Elizabeth Thorp

  DSS

  Room 1820

  Euston Tower

  286 Euston Road

  London

  NW1 3DN

  The results of the review will be announced in due course.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest information held about pensioners' income; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have today published the latest information, which is for 1992. The figures show that, on average, pensioners' total net income has risen by 50 per cent. over inflation since 1979; or 58 per cent. after housing costs have been deducted. In particular, the amount that pensioners receive from occupational pensions has increased by an average of 62 per cent., to an average weekly amount of nearly £72.
  203
  Further details are in the table.

  Table 1: The average incomes of pensioner units by source, 1974–1992

  Average income

  Growth

  Average income from each source as a percentage of total income

  £per week. July 1992 prices

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Income source

  1974

  1979

  1992

  1974–79

  1979–92

  1974

  1979

  1992

  (a) Pensioner Couples

  Earnings

  32·10

  26·10

  20·50

  -19

  -22

  21

  16

  9

  Benefit Income

  77·80

  87·70

  107·10

  13

  22

  50

  53

  45

  Investment Income

  18·40

  17·50

  49·90

  -5

  186

  12

  11

  21

  Occupational Pension

  27·00

  32·60

  66·10

  21

  102

  17

  20

  28

  Other Income

  0·10

  0·90

  1·40

  819

  61

  *

  1

  1

  Total Gross Income

  155·70

  164·80

  237·80

  6

  44

  100

  100

  100

  Deductions

  22·20

  23·80

  31·60

  7

  33

  14

  14

  13

  Total Net Income1

  133·50

  141·00

  206·20

  6

  46

  86

  86

  87

  Total Net Income AHC2

  116·60

  122·20

  190·70

  5

  56

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  (b) Single Pensioners

  Earnings

  8·10

  5·90

  5·10

  -27

  -14

  10

  7

  4

  Benefit Income

  51·80

  58·00

  70·80

  12

  22

  64

  69

  56

  Investment Income

  12·00

  9·30

  25·20

  -23

  172

  15

  11

  20

  Occupational Pension

  8·70

  10·10

  24·50

  16

  142

  11

  12

  19

  Other Income

  0·10

  0·60

  0·70

  326

  29

  *

  1

  1

  Total Gross Income

  81·30

  83·90

  126·40

  3

  51

  100

  100

  100

  Deductions

  10·80

  17·00

  1700

  -5

  65

  13

  12

  13

  Total Net Income3

  70·50

  73·60

  109·40

  4

  49

  87

  88

  87

  Total Net Income AHC

  59·10

  60·70

  93·00

  3

  53

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  (c) All Pensioner Units

  Earnings

  16·40

  12·90

  10·90

  -22

  -16

  15

  12

  6

  Benefit Income

  60·80

  68·20

  84·40

  12

  24

  57

  61

  50

  Investment Income

  14·20

  12·10

  34·50

  -15

  185

  13

  11

  21

  Occupational Income

  15·10

  17·90

  40·00

  19

  123

  14

  16

  24

  Other Income

  0·10

  0·70

  100

  459

  46

  *

  1

  1

  Total Gross Income

  107·10

  111·80

  168·10

  4

  50

  100

  100

  100

  Deductions

  14·70

  14·90

  22·40

  1

  50

  14

  13

  13

  Total Net Income5

  92·40

  96·90

  145·60

  5

  50

  86

  87

  87

  Total Net Income AHC6

  79·00

  81·90

  129·50

  4

  58

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Median net income, at 1992 prices, was £107·60 in 1974, £111·80 in 1979 and £162·90 in 1992.

  2 Median net income after housing costs, at 1992 prices, was £103·20 in 1974, £97·90 in 1979 and £145·80 in 1992.

  3 Median net income, at 1992 prices, was £60·70 in 1974, £66·80 in 1979 and £86·30 in 1992.

  4 Median net income after housing costs, at 1992 pricess, was £48·70 in 1974, £52·10 in 1979 and £62·80 in 1992.

  5 Median net income, at 1992 prices, was £65·60 in 1974, £68·40 in 1979 and £93·50 in 1992.

  6 Median net income after housing costs, at 1992 prices, was £5000 in 1974, £62·00 in 1979 and £76·40 in 1992.

  Notes:

  1. Components may not sum to totals owing to rounding.

  *denotes a figure of less than 0.5 per cent.

  3. All average amounts are means unless otherwise stated.

  4. All figures are before housing costs unless otherwise stated.

  5. Pensioner units are defined as single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age.

  6. "1990–91" denotes estimates from the combined sample for 1990–91. One quarter of the 1991 Family Expenditure Survey sample has been omitted because of problems in the collection of information on Community Charge payment following the delayed issue of bills in April 1991. As a result the sample size in that year is too small to provide reliable estimates of pensioner's incomes. For this reason the remaining date for 1991 has been combined with that for 1990.

  7. "n/a" means Not Applicable.

  Table 2: Proportion of pensioner units with investment income and the average amount for those in receipt

  Percentage of units with investment income

  Average amount for those in receipt (£ per week, 1992 prices)

  Percentage growth in average amount since 1979

  1974

  1979

  1992

  1974

  1979

  1992

  1992

  (a) All pensioner units

  Pensioner couples

  58

  71

  84

  31·70

  24·50

  59·70

  144

  Single pensioners

  49

  57

  71

  24·40

  16·40

  35·60

  117

  All pensioner units

  52

  62

  76

  27·20

  19·70

  45·60

  132

  (b) Recently retired pensioner units

  Pensioner couples

  60

  73

  83

  32·10

  26·00

  73·50

  182

  Single pensioners

  54

  60

  67

  20·40

  15·20

  51·20

  236

  All pensioner units

  58

  68

  77

  28·30

  22·00

  65·80

  199

  204
  Copies of this reply will be placed in the Library.
  205
  Notes:

  1. Recently retired pensioner units are defined as: women aged 60–64; single men aged 65–69; and couples in which the husband is aged 65–69.

  2. All average amounts are means.

  Table 3: Proportion of pensioner units with occupational pension and the average amount for those in receipt

  Percentage of units with occupational pension

  A verage amount for those in receipt (£ per week, 1992 prices

  Percentage growth in average amount since 1979

  1974

  1979

  1992

  1974

  1979

  1992

  1992

  (a) All pensioner units

  Pensioner couples

  53

  65

  72

  51·30

  52·80

  92·20

  75

  Single Pensioners

  24

  32

  46

  37·20

  35·00

  52·90

  51

  All pensioner units

  34

  43

  56

  44·80

  44·40

  71·80

  62

  (b) Recently retired pensioner units

  Pensioner couples

  53

  68

  73

  56·20

  62·10

  100·30

  62

  Single pensioners

  24

  37

  47

  46·40

  37·70

  71·70

  90

  All pensioner units

  43

  55

  63

  54·30

  55·30

  91·90

  66

  Notes:

  1. Estimates of the percentage of pensioner units in receipt of occupational pension income are based upon data from the Family Expenditure Survey and the GAD Survey of Occupational Pension Schemes. Due to this use of additional information, it is not possible to derive the overall average occupational receipt from the estimates in this table.

  2. Recently retired pensioner units are defined as: single women aged 60–64; single men aged 65–69; and couples in which the husband is aged 65–69.

  3. All average amounts are means.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had, and what provision he has made in his budget, in relation to the victims of crime who will no longer be sufficiently compensated by the tariff scheme of the criminal injuries compensation scheme to be able to be independent of state benefits.

  Mr. Burt
  None. A wide range of income-related benefits are paid to those whose income falls below a level set each year by Parliament. There are no cash limits to the income-related benefit budget as payment is made to all those who qualify.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to review water charges paid by women in safe housing; if he will consider introducing a water rebate scheme for those on low incomes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  No. Water charges should be treated in a similar manner to other items of expenditure in the family budget.

  Over-60s Card
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to make available the concessions and benefits of the European Community over-60s card to people in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hague
  No country has yet implemented the EC recommendation for an over-60s card. We are continuing our discussions with interested parties with a view to securing successful implementation in the United Kingdom.

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which bodies have been consulted on his plans to introduce a test of habitual residence in the United 206
  Kingdom as a condition of entitlement to income support, housing benefit and council ax benefit; what will he the position of United Kingdom nationals who retired abroad and wish to return to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The local authority associations were consulted on the proposal to introduce a habitual residence test into income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit. The proposal was also formally referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee, which undertook a public consultation. The habitual residence test will apply to all people who claim these benefits. In the case of returning United Kingdom nationals, the adjudication authorities will be looking at whether the person has an established link with this country, for example whether they have any ties here, such as family, and why they have come back.

  Rent Rebates and Allowances
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table setting out for each year between 1988–89 and 1993–94 the number of claimants of rent rebate and rent allowance, divided into fair rented and non-fair rented private sector tenants; if, following the Treasury's Summer Economic Forecast 1994, he will publish projections for each of the years from 1994–95 to 1996–97; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 14 July 1994]: The information is not available.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give, in real terms, the cost to local authorities of a reduction in the rate of direct subsidy to local authorities for housing benefit of(a) 1 per cent., (b) 2 per cent., (c) 3 per cent. and (d) 4 per cent.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]If there were no comparable increase in the revenue support grant,
  207
  the housing benefit direct subsidy paid to local authorities would fall by approximately £100 million per annum for each 1 per cent. reduction in the rate of direct subsidy.

HEALTH

  Research and Development
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) of 4 July,Official Report, column 97, on employment data on administration of research and development in the national health service, if she will now make it her policy to establish arrangements to collect the data centrally.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have no current plans to collect centrally such comprehensive data.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the priority-setting exercises which have been undertaken by her Department and NHS regions, and those currently under way, giving in each case (i) the amount of research funds to be allocated in each year and (ii) the total costs of the exercise in each year, showing separately the costs(a) to the Department of Health and NHS executive, (b) to the lead NHS region, (c) in time spent by research staff funded by the Department, (d) in time spent by other academic staff employed by universities, (e) in time spent by other NHS staff and (f) other costs.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 15 July 1994]: The current list of research priority setting exercises for the national health service research and development programme is shown in the table.

  review exercises completed

  Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

  Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke

  Physical and Complex Disabilities

  Primary and Secondary Care Interface

  Health Technology

  Cancer

  review exercises underway

  Mother and Child Health

  Methods of implementing research findings in the Health Service

  Dentistry

  Diabetes

  The financial costs for each of these exercises cannot be disaggregated.

  The other information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the total costs of her Department's research and development programme in each year from 1991–92 to 1993–94, what are the estimated costs for 1994–95 and the projected costs for each of the next five years; and if she will show, in each case, the funds allocated to (i) the centrally-funded research programme, (ii) the national health service research and development programme, (iii) running costs in the Department of Health, (iv) running costs in the NHS executive and (v) other costs, listing all significant areas of expenditure.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 15 July 1994]: Details on the Department's central research and development expenditure, including the National Health
  208
  Service executive, are collected annually in the "Forward Look of Government Funded Science, Engineering and Technology".

  The total costs of the Department's research and development programme, including the NHS executive research and development programme for 1991–92 to 1993–94, as quoted in the 1994 forward look are set out below. These costs are based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Frascati definition of research which excludes running costs. Details on the running costs of the Department's research and development division, which oversees the centrally commissioned and NHS executive R and D programmes, are given in the second column of the table. The running costs include all manpower and non-manpower expenditure.

  Year

  £ million Research cost Total

  £ million Actual running cost Total

  1991–921

  27·4

  1·77

  1992–931

  31·3

  2·27

  1993–941 2

  33·9

  32·55

  The estimated costs for 1994–95 are as follows:

  1994–951

  41·2

  2·58

  1 Forward Look of Government Funded science Engineering and Technology 1994, Statistical Supplement (HMSO) for details of total R and D spend. The information on running costs is drawn from the Departmental sources.

  2 Estimated outturn for 1993–94.

  3 Actual running costs, 1993–94.

  The R and D costs of the Department of Health sponsored non-departmental public bodies are not included in the table.

  All future spending and running costs of these programmes, including the NHS executive R and D programme, are subject to departmental discussions and to the decisions arising out of public expenditure rounds.

  A copy of the 1994 forward look is available in the Library.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people resident in each family health services authority area were registered with a general practitioner in 1993–94 and in the first three months of 1994–95.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The latest available information is published in the health service indicators set, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Child Care
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total public expenditure on child care services for pre-school children under the age of five years, by sector, including all local authority provision and grants to the voluntary sector, for each year from 1989–90 to 1993–94; and what was the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of the gross domestic product for England in each of these years.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not available in the form requested.
  209
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost per annum in 1993–94 of a place in(a) a local authority day nursery, (b) a local authority family centre and (c) a local authority playgroup.

  Mr. Bowis
  Figures are not yet available for 1993–94.

  Child Minders
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered child minders there are in each local authority area; and what is the average weekly payment in each area.

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of registered child minders in each local authority area is published in "Children's Day Care Facilities at 31 March 1993, England", a copy of which is available in the Library. Information on payments is not recorded centrally.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) of 23 June,Official Report, column 305, what research she has undertaken into the link between growth hormone treatment, fertility treatment and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

  Mr. Sackville
  So far, research supported by the Department has concentrated on tracing the patients treated with pituitary derived hormones and monitoring their health status. The researchers also keep in close touch with developments in other countries where these treatments were used. It is hoped that biomedical research on spongiform encephalopathies will eventually lead to the identification of the agent by which Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is transmitted.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what correspondence she has had with Dr. Bangham, former director of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, on the investigation into Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease undertaken in Australia.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department was first alerted to evidence linking Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with growth hormone treatment and fertility treatment.

  Mr. Sackville
  On 11 April 1985.

  Confidentiality
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement concerning the reason for the delay in publishing a code of practice or guidance in relation to the confidentiality of medical information.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The handling of personal health information raises complex legal and ethical issues. When we have concluded our consideration of these, we will issue the draft guidance.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she has given to the view expressed in the 10 report of the Data Protection Registrar on whether 210
  Crown copyright will be readily enforceable as a remedy to counter possible extraneous uses of the new NHS number; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is seeking further legal advice on the opinion expressed in the Data Protection Registrar's report.

  Patient Complaints
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of written patient complaints received by her Department in 1993.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department receives huge amounts of correspondence in the course of a year covering the full range of its responsibilities. No separate statistics are kept of written patient complaints or letters of appreciation.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 13 July,Official Report, column 605, when the information about the number of official complaints received from NHS patients by each NHS hospital or trust between January and March 1994 will be available; and if she will provide the information for the most recent quarter for which figures are available.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Statistics on written complaints are collected centrally on an annual basis. The latest data available are for the financial year 1992–93—"Written Complaints by or on behalf of Patients, England" and copies are available in the Library.

  Capital Schemes
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all the NHS major capital schemes costing £1 million or more that have been approved since 1 April 1991; and if in each case(a) whether the scheme is managed by an NHS trust or an NHS directly managed unit and (b) what is the parliamentary constituency in which the development took place.

  Mr. Sackville
  A list of all major national health service capital schemes costing £1 million or more approved since 1 April 1991 will be placed in the Library. To identify whether each scheme is managed by a NHS trust or directly managed unit, and the parliamentary constituency in which the development took place, could be done only at disproportionate cost.

  The earlier schemes were usually initiated by directly managed units and nearly all schemes currently in progress are managed by trusts.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the achievements of(a) her policies and (b) her Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; if she will publish the performance indicators by which her Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring; and if she will set out her targets to help small businesses in the next year.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the United Kingdom economy. The Government help small firms by keeping
  211
  inflation and interest rates low and by reducing legislation and administrative burdens. They also provide direct assistance where appropriate and is currently establishing a network of business links to provide high-quality business support around the country.

  The Department of Health helps small businesses through effective and proportionate regulation which takes account of the interests of small businesses, by encouraging sensible enforcement, through deregulation and by specific support and assistance.

  The Department and the national health service provide equal opportunities to all potential suppliers, of whatever size, to trade on a value for money basis. Some 75 to 80 per cent. of national health service suppliers are small businesses.

  On deregulation, the removal of unnecessary burdens on small business is an important consideration in the Department's review of regulations which we aim to complete by December 1994. The Department is active in promoting exports of health care goods and services, many of which are produced by small businesses. The prompt payment of bills, especially important to small businesses, is also taken seriously. In 1993–94, this Department paid 87.1 per cent. of its bills within an agreed credit period, or within 30 days. Prompt payment of creditors is also vigorously pursued in the national health service.

  As it is not practicable to monitor centrally the precise extent to which the national health service or the Department makes use of small businesses, no perfor-mance indicators are maintained.

  Nurses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to ensure there will continue to be adequate numbers of qualified nurses to maintain the national health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  Regions commission training places for non-medical staff, including nurses, based on provider unit forecasts.

  Publications
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were(a) the design and publication cost, (b) the number printed, (c) the printing costs and (d) the distribution costs of the "National Health Service News" issued of 3 June.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is as follows:

  £

  Design

  376

  Number printed

  17,000

  Printing costs

  5,436

  Distribution costs

  3,809

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were(a) the design and publication costs, (b) the numbers printed, (c) the printing costs and (d) the distribution costs of the publication "Women Managers in the National Health Service".
  212
  Mr. Sackville
  Some 5,000 copies of "Women Managers in the NHS—A Celebration of Success" were produced. The costs were:

  £

  Design and publication costs

  11,350·73

  Printing costs

  20,570·00

  Distribution of the publication was carried out by the Department's in-house distribution unit and these costs cannot be separately identified.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were(a) the numbers printed, (b) the printing costs and (c) the distribution costs of the publication, "Code of Conduct—Code of Accountability".

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested for printing and distribution of "Code of Conduct—Code of Accountability" is shown in the table.

  Cost

  Number printed

  20,000

  Printing costs

  £7,509

  Distribution costs

  £1,922

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were(a) the design and publication costs, (b) the numbers printed, (c) the printing costs and (d) the distribution costs of the publication "Opportunity 2000: The Challenge in General Practice".

  Mr. Sackville
  Some 5,000 copies of "Opportunity 2000: The Challenge in General Practice" were produced. In addition, 500 copies of ancillary reports are expected to be produced in this financial year at no extra cost. The photographs taken for this publication will be used in other publications.

  Costs are as follows:

  £

  Writing/Design/Photography

  13,342

  Print

  5,638

  Distribution of the publication was carried out by the Department's in-house distribution unit and these costs cannot be separately identified.

  Family Health Services
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 21 February,Official Report, column 35–6, on family health services expenditure, if she will update the information to include figures for 1993–94 and estimates for 1994–95; and if she will recalculate the appropriate figures in the new table on the basis of current prices.

  Mr. Sackville
  The latest available information has been incorporated in the table.
  213

  Family health services net expenditure England

  £ million

  Year

  1 5FHS expenditure

  2 5Drugs bill expenditure

  3Drugs bill expenditure at 1994–95 prices

  4 5Other FHS expenditure

  3Other FHS expenditure at 1994–95 prices

  5FHSA administration expenditure

  3FHSA administration expenditure at 1994–95 prices

  1973–74

  522

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  13

  83

  1974–75

  630

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1975–76

  854

  277

  1,176

  577

  2,444

  n/a

  n/a

  1976–77

  993

  361

  1,348

  632

  2,361

  n/a

  n/a

  1977–78

  1,123

  461

  1,515

  662

  2,175

  n/a

  n/a

  1978–79

  1,329

  554

  1,638

  775

  2,292

  n/a

  n/a

  1979–80

  1,549

  633

  1,603

  916

  2,320

  n/a

  n/a

  1980–81

  1,923

  766

  1,641

  1,157

  2,477

  n/a

  n/a

  1981–82

  2,208

  876

  1,711

  1,331

  2,599

  n/a

  n/a

  1982–83

  2,547

  1,009

  1,838

  1,538

  2,803

  n/a

  n/a

  1983–84

  2,730

  1,130

  1,968

  1,600

  2,786

  n/a

  n/a

  1984–85

  3,010

  1,192

  1,976

  1,818

  3,014

  n/a

  n/a

  1985–86

  3,188

  1,275

  2,002

  1,914

  3,006

  45

  71

  1986–87

  3,419

  1,378

  2,103

  2,041

  3,115

  47

  72

  1987–88

  3,802

  1,536

  2,226

  2,265

  3,282

  49

  71

  1988–89

  4,293

  1,744

  2,368

  2,549

  3,460

  55

  75

  1989–90

  4,531

  1,942

  2,466

  2,589

  3,287

  67

  85

  1990–91

  5,156

  2,080

  2,443

  3,076

  3,614

  104

  122

  1991–92

  5,944

  2,317

  2,561

  3,627

  4,009

  136

  150

  1992–93

  6,593

  2,641

  2,809

  3,952

  4,203

  162

  172

  1993–94

  6,976

  2,951

  3,040

  4,025

  4,146

  n/a

  n/a

  1994–95

  7,401

  3,177

  3,177

  4,224

  4,224

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Net expenditure, after taking account of patient charges and other receipts, on the General Medical, General Dental, General Ophthalmic and Pharmaceutical Services. Excludes administrative costs of FHSAs and other bodies and GP Fundholders budgets for purchasing secondary care services. Information is based on the relevant year's Appropriation Account unless otherwise indicated.

  2 Represents the cost of items prescribed by GPs. Dispensing fees are not included. Costs are not separately identifiable in 1973–74 and 1974–75.

  3 Converted to 1994–95 prices using GDP deflator.

  4 Balance of net FHS expenditure minus the cost of the drugs bill. Consists mainly of the cost of remuneration and practice expenses of FHS contractors.

  5 1993–94 outturn figures are provisional; 1994–95 figures are estimates.

  Note:

  Net administrative expenditure of Family Health Services Authorities (known as Family Practitioner Committees before September 1990, and as Executive Councils before April 1974). The administrative functions of FHSAs and their precedessors have changed over time as their management responsibilities have been developed. Expenditure was not separately identifiable in the period 1974–75 to 1984–85. Excludes expenditure on national administrative bodies such as the Prescription Pricing Authority and the Dental Practice Board. Information is based on FHSA's income and expenditure accounts. 1993–94 information is not yet available on a comparable basis with previous year's figures. No forecast is available centrally for 1994–95 as FHSA administrative budgets are determined locally by Regional Health Authorities from within their overall cash limit.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what considerations underpinned her decision not to provide a Minister or civil servant to be interviewed for the BBC "Panorama" programme on the health risks of mercuric amalgam used in tooth fillings, broadcast on 11 July.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department gave the programme makers a statement on the safety of dental amalgam.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been commissioned by her Department into the potential threats posed from mercury vapours leaking from amalgam used as tooth fillings.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has undertaken into mercury contamination arising from fillings.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. French) on 14 July,Official Report, column 702.
  214

  Out-of-school Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total public expenditure on out-of-school services for children from the age of five for each year since 1989–90; and what was the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of the gross domestic product for England for each of these years.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not available centrally in this Department for all the services provided locally and nationally, directly and indirectly.

  Community Health Councils
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions she has had with the National Association of Community Health Councils; and what plans she has to meet representatives of the National Association of Community Health Councils in the near future.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I addressed the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales' conference on complaints on 14 June and spoke at the association's annual general meeting both last year and on 12 July this year. I also met the chairman and director of ACHCEW on 4 July. We will continue to have regular contact with representatives of ACHCEW.
  215

  Community Care
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take measures to ensure that a percentage of the special transitional grant to local authorities for community care spending is ring fenced for spending in the independent health care sector.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have already required local authorities to spend 85 per cent. of the social security transfer element of their special transitional grant in 1993–94 and 1994–95 on services provided by the independent sector.

  Corporal Punishment
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue guidance as to the age of a child to which a child minder may administer corporal punishment with parental consent.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have studied the recent High Court judgment. I have already met representatives of Families for Discipline and voluntary sector organisations representing day care providers and I shall shortly be meeting local authority representatives. In due course we shall consider whether any clarification of the Department's guidance is necessary.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 13 July,Official Report, column 605, when the information about the average time that patients in (a) England, (b) each English regional health authority and (c) each hospital or trust waited from the date that their general practitioner referred them to a consultant until the date of their first out-patient appointment in the period January to March 1994 will be available; and if she will provide the information for the most recent quarter for which figures are available.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 13 July,Official Report, column 605.

  Nurse Education and Training
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to provide for the retraining and redeployment of nurse teachers who are displaced as a result of the proposed reduction in the number of nursing students.

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for individual employers.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total cost of the changes in nurse education since 1989 which result from the introduction of Project 2000.

  Mr. Sackville
  Between 1989–90 and 1994–95, the Government have invested £431 million to introduce Project 2000 in England.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide a breakdown of the spending on nurse education and training for the years 1990–91 to 1993–94 identifying the spending allocated to(a) pre-registration education; (b) post-registration education and (c) nurse teacher training and support.
  216
  Mr. Sackville
  Figures for the total expenditure by regional health authorities on nurse education and training for 1991–92 and 1992–93 are shown in the table. A breakdown in the requested categories was not available centrally in those years. Information for 1990–91 was not collected centrally, figures for 1993–94 are currently being collected.

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Total Annual Expenditure by RHAs on Nurse Education and training

  476·837

  521·637

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision was made in allocations for regional health authorities for nurse education in each of the last three financial years; how much was spent by regional health authorities in each of those years; and how she treats funds so allocated but not spent for the purpose of nurse education.

  Mr. Sackville
  For 1991–92 and 1992–93, the following allocations towards the cost of pre-registration nurse education and nurse teacher training were made to the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting; and to regional health authorities in respect of Project 2000 costs. For 1993–94, funds for pre-registration nurse education were transferred to regional health authorities. Funds allocated to the board are returnable to the Department to the extent that they are not used for the purposes specified. Those allocated to regions may be used for other education and training purposes if the demand for pre-registration nurse education and training has been met in full.

  £ million

  Allocations

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  National Board

  132

  138

  10

  Regional Health Authorities

  62

  87

  238

  Alternative Therapists
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been received about alternative therapists in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  These figures are not available centrally.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to regulate alternative therapists and subject them to codes of practice;

  (2) if she will consider the regulation of psychic healers and hypnotherapists; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health has no plans to impose regulation on alternative therapists such as psychic healers and hypnotherapists. We do, however, encourage voluntary regulation schemes that have an enforceable code of practice.

  Homoeopathy
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what caused the North Mersey national health service trust to close the homoeopathic ward at Mossley Hill hospital;
  217
  for how long the ward will be closed; what resources are provided for homoeopathy in the north-west of England; what other homoeopathic wards exist in the region; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  These are matters for North Mersey community national health service trust and for North West regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. R. James, chairman of North Mersey community NHS trust, and Sir Donald Wilson, chairman of North West regional health authority, for details.

  Medical Devices Directorate
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress towards establishing her Department's medical devices directorate as an executive agency.

  Mr. Sackville
  I am pleased to be able to announce that the medical devices directorate will be established as the Medical Devices Agency from September.

  The primary purpose of the MDA is to protect the public health and safeguard the interests of patients and users by ensuring that medical devices and equipment meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and performance. The agency will be the competent authority for the United Kingdom under European Community directives for medical devices. The MDA's aim, objectives and functions are set out in a framework document, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  The chief executive has been set a number of performance targets for 1994–95, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Pensions Agency
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for reviewing the NHS Pensions Agency.

  Mr. Sackville
  The NHS Pensions Agency is responsible for the administration of the national health service pensions scheme. As part of its already announced programme of market testing, the agency was intending this year to carry out a scoping study to identify which of the agency's core functions might be suitable for market testing in some form. This study would, by its nature, have looked at most of the questions which would be addressed in the prior options exercise which forms part of the normal three-year agency review process.

  In the case of the NHS Pensions Agency, the three-year review is due to be completed by the end of 1995. I have therefore decided to formalise the agency's market-testing scoping study and subsume it within the first, prior options, stage of the agency's review, which will be publicised in the usual way. This part of the review will take place in the autumn of 1994. The other elements of the full review of the agency—evaluation of its performance and revision of the framework document—will then be carried out in late–1995 to the usual timetable. This two-stage process will avoid what would otherwise have been an unnecessary duplication of effort next year.

  I would welcome contributions to the prior options review from those with an interest in the work of the agency. The review will have the usual terms of reference
  218
  —viz, to look again at the prior options questions for the NHS Pensions Agency by re-examining the feasibility of abolition, privatisation, sub-contracting, or market-testing, of any of the agency's functions. Comments should be sent by 30 September 1994 to:

  Ms Ann Gross

  NHS Pensions Review Team

  Room 259C

  Skipton House

  80 London Road

  Elephant and Castle

  London SE1 6LW.

  Health Promotion
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to encourage the national health service trusts to collaborate with environmental health and education services and other public services within local authorities in the prevention of illness and disease.

  Mr. Sackville
  Joint interim guidance from the Departments of Health and the Environment, HSG(93)56, "Public Health Responsibilities of the NHS and Roles of Others", was issued on 24 November 1993 and copies are available in the Library. The guidance emphasises the need for all authorities and agencies to work within a co-ordinated and comprehensive public health strategy and share information to achieve the best possible health for their population including arrangements for the control of communicable disease and infection and for dealing with the health aspects of non-communicable environmental hazards.

  The handbook "Working Together for Better Health", published in July last year in the context of the "Health of the Nation" strategy, set out the importance of collaboration between the national health service, local authorities and other local groups in the prevention of illness; gave guidance on the setting up and maintenance of healthy alliances; and gave examples of alliances in which both NHS trusts and local authorities are involved. Copies of the handbook will be placed in the Library.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with local purchasing health authorities regarding the performance of hospital trusts; and if she will specify the authorities concerned and the content of the discussion.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  As part of their performance management responsibilities, regional offices of the national health service executive discuss with purchasers factors which affect local purchasing decisions, including changing patterns of service provision. These, in turn, will be affected by the performance of individual trusts.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements have been made to improve transmission information between trusts and national health authorities in order that they may make the purchase of patient care more accurate.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service executive, in partnership with the national health service, is working,
  219
  through a national information management and technology strategy, to create an environment to improve the quality and sustain the effective sharing of information across the health service.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he ensures that health authorities are producing appropriate levels of health care.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The regional offices of the national health service executive assess progress in key areas of the work of the NHS.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of health authorities moving funds between different budget heads on health care and the provision of social services.

  Mr. Bowis
  None.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will redistribute funds from fundholding general practitioners who have underspent to those who have overspent.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had about, and what provisions she has made in her budget for, victims of crime who will no longer be sufficiently compensated by the tariff scheme of the criminal injuries compensation scheme to be independent of the national health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  Treatment under the national health service is provided free to all at the point of delivery on the basis of clinical need irrespective of whether that need results from a criminal injury. I have no plans to make any additional provision.

  Mr. John Shepard
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action she proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. John Shepard in Brent;

  (2) if she will establish an independent inquiry into the circumstance surrounding the death of Mr. John Shepard and the subsequent actions of Brent council;

  (3) whether she has received notification from Brent council of its decision not to establish an independent inquiry into the death of Mr. John Shepard.

  Mr. Bowls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 18 July,Official Report, column 20. We expect the local authority to take any necessary action. We have no plans for Government action in addition to this.

  Elderly People (Care)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities as to the management of the care of elderly people living on their own in local authority property.

  Mr. Bowis
  Policy and practice guidance issued by the Department about the care of elderly and other vulnerable people applies equally to local authority tenants and those living in other forms of accommodation.

  GPs (Practice Administration)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 833, how many hours weekly on average were actually spent by general practitioners on practice administration between November 1992 and November 1993, as found by the survey of general practitioners' work loads; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The results for the full survey period are being analysed. For the interim results, based on the first seven months' data, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 17 March at column 833.

  Psychologists (Availability)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many more psychologists have become available since the introduction of care in the community to facilitate the programme; and how is the increase funded.

  Mr. Bowis
  Clinical psychologists are employed in the national health service on a variety of duties in both the hospital and community health sectors. The total number of clinical psychologists working in the national health service in the period since 1984 is shown in the table.

  Clinical psychologists England

  30 September 1984 to 1992

  Whole-time equivalents

  Year

  Number

  1984

  1,180

  1985

  1,310

  1986

  1,380

  1987

  1,430

  1988

  1,660

  1989

  1,740

  1990

  1,730

  1991

  1,760

  1992

  2,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  2. Assistants and trainees are excluded.

  Organ Donation
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on assisting the voluntary donation of organs of the body both before death and after death; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: The Government encourage people to donate their organs after death; are committed to increasing the supply of donor organs for transplantation; and have introduced a number of initiatives to this end. In March 1993, the use of television advertising was used for the first time and this was followed up with a further television campaign last March. Also from 1 March last year, all new driving licences now contain a donor declaration box. Other measures include improved procedures for hospitals and staff involved in organ procurement, a reimbursement scheme for hospitals whose intensive care units look after potential donors, research into the reasons why some

  221
  relatives refuse permission to use organs and a feasibility study into a computerised national register of organ donors. Publicity material is made available to the public in support of organ donation and the donor card scheme.
  222
  The possibility of donation by a live donor is a very serious matter requiring expert counselling of the patient and the potential donor by experienced doctors. The final decision to participate in such a procedure must remain with the potential donor.

  RWANDA: VISIT OF RPF SECRETARY-GENERAL
  RWANDA: VISIT OF RPF SECRETARY-GENERAL
  RWANDA: MISSING PERSONS
  RWANDA: MISSING PERSONS
  INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE: UN AID
  INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE: UN AID
  EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, PROTOCOL 11: SIGNATURE BY ITALY
  EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, PROTOCOL 11: SIGNATURE BY ITALY
  DIPLOMATIC SERVICE: PASSPORTS
  DIPLOMATIC SERVICE: PASSPORTS
  REGULATORY TOXICITY: ANIMAL PROCEDURES COMMITTEE REPORT
  REGULATORY TOXICITY: ANIMAL PROCEDURES COMMITTEE REPORT
  UNITS OF MEASUREMENT DIRECTIVE: IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION
  UNITS OF MEASUREMENT DIRECTIVE: IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS PESTICIDES
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS PESTICIDES
  DRIFT NETTING
  DRIFT NETTING
  HOUSE OF LORDS: VEAL SERVED 20TH-24TH JUNE
  HOUSE OF LORDS: VEAL SERVED 20TH-24TH JUNE
  STUDENT INCOME
  STUDENT INCOME
  CHINESE GOODS; FORCED LABOUR ALLEGATION
  CHINESE GOODS; FORCED LABOUR ALLEGATION
  EUROPEAN UNION: HYPOTHETICAL SAVINGS ARISING FROM WITHDRAWAL
  EUROPEAN UNION: HYPOTHETICAL SAVINGS ARISING FROM WITHDRAWAL
  LONDON TRANSPORT: CHAIRMAN
  LONDON TRANSPORT: CHAIRMAN
  SEATBELTS ON MINIBUSES AND COACHES
  SEATBELTS ON MINIBUSES AND COACHES
  DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT RESEARCH EXPENDITURE
  DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT RESEARCH EXPENDITURE
  NORTHERN IRELAND PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
  NORTHERN IRELAND PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE