Written Answers of 20 July 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Compensation Awards
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many victims were asked by the courts to waive compensation awards in each of the last three years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department does not hold this information. Some information about compensation orders—for example, the number of offenders ordered to pay, is contained in "Home Office Criminal Statistics England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library of the House. Additional information about compensation orders could be collected only at a disproportionate cost.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for the future of the Legal Aid Advisory Committee.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Legal Aid Advisory Committee was set up in 1949. Its purpose then was to comment on the way in which the Law Society administered the legal aid scheme and to give the Lord Chancellor advice and recommendations about legal aid. The Committee has done much valuable work over many years and the Lord Chancellor and I are grateful to all its past and present members for the work they have done.

  The establishment of the Legal Aid Board in 1989 meant that a significant element of the committee's role no longer existed. The committee was however kept in being in order to establish whether there was a continuing useful role for it to play.

  The Lord Chancellor has recently reviewed the position in the light of experience since 1989 and has concluded that the changing circumstances since the Legal Aid Board was established have meant that there is no longer a need for a separate Legal Aid Advisory Committee.

  The Lord Chancellor and I have always welcomed advice from any quarter on the operation of the legal aid scheme, and will continue to do so. Unlike the position when the Legal Aid Advisory Committee was established, there are now many bodies and organisations that are interested in, and regularly comment on, developments in legal aid. The Lord Chancellor and I are satisfied that the advice that we receive from them, together with the independent advice, based on its experience of running the legal aid scheme, that we receive from the Legal Aid Board, and the involvement in legal aid matters of the Home Affairs Select Committee, give us access to the widest possible range of views and opinions. We also intend to develop our programme of research into legal aid matters.

  The Lord Chancellor will therefore shortly be laying before both Houses of Parliament an order providing for the dissolution of the Legal Aid Advisory Committee.
  224
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the 10 highest contributions made out of the legal aid fund to assist individuals in the last five years, the individuals involved and the nature of the proceedings.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 25 May 1994]: The table shows the 10 highest gross payments—including VAT—made in individual cases—excluding civil multiparty actions—in the last five years. It is not usually possible to disaggregate payments to individuals in cases involving more than one assisted party.

  £ million

  1. Barlow-Clowes (fraud)

  4·70

  2. Strangeways II (riot)

  2·77

  3. Britannia Park (theft)

  2·63

  4. Ankara II—Benn & Others (revenue law offence)1

  2·42

  5. Brinks-Matt (robbery)1

  2·16

  6. Actie & Others (murder)

  1·88

  7. Eagle Starr (fraud)1

  1·76

  8. Hatton & Others (fraud)

  1·75

  9. Strangeways I (riot)

  1·73

  10. Aveling-Barford (fraud)2

  1·52

  1 Subject to redetermination.

  2 Subject to appeal.

  The table details payments made only in respect of final bills submitted. It does not include cases where proceedings are continuing and where interim payments have been made. Excluding multi-party actions, only two cases involving interim payments of £1 million or more have been identified. In proceedings between Dr. Jawad Hashim and the Arab monetary fund, which concerns the administration of trusts, claims amounting to £4 million have been received to date and some 2.8 million has been paid on account. Some £1.8 million has been paid on account in respect of Graham and Graham, an action for damages to property. In civil proceedings, however, legal aid costs may be recovered, in part or in full, from any costs or damages received on behalf of the assisted party.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years;

  (2) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years;

  (3) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became (a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has not employed any special advisers during the past five years.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Population and Reproductive Health
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Overseas Development Administration's spending on population and reproductive health spending has changed in cash and constant price terms in the past five years.
  225
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Spending on population and reproductive health activities is estimated at some £32 million in 1993, compared with just over £17 million in 1989; this represents an 83 per cent. increase in cash terms and nearly a 50 per cent. increase in constant price terms.

  Street Children
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries and the amount of funding given by Her Majesty's Government to help develop projects involving street children in those countries.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The following amounts have been provided to non-governmental organisations to support projects aimed at assisting street children:

  Financial year

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  Albania

  —

  14,225

  —

  Bangladesh

  27,539

  52,280

  —

  Bolivia

  2,375

  2,375

  —

  Brazil

  8,628

  45,315

  88,527

  Bulgaria

  —

  —

  4,595

  Chad

  11,191

  3,103

  —

  Egypt

  8,048

  2,126

  —

  Haiti

  8,297

  —

  —

  India

  —

  28,743

  —

  Peru

  —

  51,515

  45,893

  Philippines

  —

  7,446

  7,284

  Romania

  3,000

  5,300

  900

  South Africa

  —

  —

  28,054

  Tanzania

  —

  —

  8,242

  69,078

  212,428

  183,495

EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he will take to enable training and enterprise councils to ensure that young people with special training needs receive support including counselling and advocacy which will enable them to complete their training successfully.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Training and enterprise councils are obliged through their contract with the Department to arrange for young people entering training to be assessed and given an individual training plan suited to their needs and abilities. Where special training needs are identified, the training plan must be individually designed to give the support and help required to enable the young people to make such progress towards general and vocational competences as lies within their reach. Training plans and progress against them are regularly reviewed and any necessary changes agreed between the trainee and the training provider.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to ensure that young people with special training needs will be able to take full advantage of the modern apprenticeship scheme.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that he wants to see modern 226
  apprenticeships open equally to all young people. We are asking industry training organisations to take account of all aspects of equal opportunities in apprenticeship models they develop including provision for the assessment and endorsement of special training needs. We shall continue to place a contractual requirement on training and enterprise councils to ensure equality of opportunity in all their activities.

  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment pursuant to his answer of 11 July,Official Report, column 406, whether he is satisfied with the apparent discrimination against the employment of men at the Equal Opportunities Commission.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Employing more people of one sex than the other does not of itself prove discrimination. The Commission follows good equal opportunities practice in recruiting its own staff, and as one would expect, considers all candidates on their merits regardless of gender, race or other factors.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of male and female unemployment within the Greater London area at the latest available date.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In June 1994, seasonally adjusted unemployment in Greater London stood at 323,000 for men and 111,000 for women, down 8 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively on December 1992.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the gender and ethnic origin of registered unemployed in the United Kingdom for each year since 1991–92.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The following table gives the information available from the labour force survey:

  Number of ILO unemployed people by gender and ethnic origin

  Thousands

  Not seasonally adjusted

  Great Britain

  Spring 1992

  Spring 1993

  Winter 1993–94

  All people

  2,649

  2,804

  2,737

  White

  2,422

  2,528

  2,461

  Non-white

  224

  276

  276

  Black

  86

  110

  103

  Indian

  59

  58

  61

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  43

  61

  58

  Mixed/other origins

  36

  48

  53

  Men

  1,785

  1,904

  1,833

  White

  1,633

  1,721

  1,650

  Non-white

  151

  183

  183

  Black

  60

  73

  65

  Indian

  34

  37

  37

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  34

  46

  45

  Mixed/other origins

  23

  27

  34

  Women

  863

  900

  904

  White

  789

  807

  811

  Non-white

  73

  93

  93

  Black

  27

  37

  37

  Indian

  25

  21

  24

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  1—

  15

  13

  Mixed/other origins

  13

  21

  20

  1 — Estimate less than 10,000 not shown.

  Source: Labour Force Survey.

  Race Relations
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers have sought guidance from the Race Relations Employment Advisory Service in each year since 1991–92.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Race Relations Employment Advisory Service does not keep records on the number of inquiries it receives. It has made the following advisory visits to employers: 1,113, 1991–92; 1,075, 1992–93; 1,177, 1993–94; and 320 in the currrent operational year, from 1 April to 30 June 1994.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what operational plans he has for the Race Relations Employment Advisory Service for the years 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In common with all parts of the Employment Department, the Race Relations Employment Advisory Service agrees an annual operational plan with its departmental line management. All such plans run from April to March and seek to implement the Employment Department's objectives.

  The aim of RREAS for 1994–95 is to provide advice and guidance on racial quality in employment to those employers who are either unaware of or initially resistant to equal opportunities or at an early stage in the development of an effective policy and require expert strategic advice and guidance in taking it forward.

  Plans for the service for 1995–96 will be agreed early in 1995.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the last five years four special advisers have joined this Department and four have left:

  1989—none joined, one left;

  1990—one joined, none left;

  1991—no joiners and no leavers;

  1992—two joined, two left;

  1993—one joined and one left.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became(a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;

  (2) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  Vocational Training
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals the Government have for further reform of the national vocational qualification system assessment and monitoring procedures.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The National Council for Vocational Qualifications and SCOTVEC in Scotland set 228
  the criteria for the assessment and quality assurance of national vocational qualifications, and Scottish vocational qualifications in Scotland. At my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's request, the NCVQ is currently reviewing the criteria.

  The White Paper on competitiveness, announced on 24 May by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, provides for NCVQ to strengthen its role in the local quality assurance arrangements for national vocational qualifications.

  The White Paper also included proposals for further work to enhance and improve the NVQ system.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to establish a departmental inquiry into allegations of inadequacies in vocational training in colleges of further education.

  Miss Widdecombe
  No. The Department's internal audit is investigating certain allegations related to the award of national vocational qualifications. No wider inquiry is planned by the Department.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans to conduct a prior options review of the Employment Service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As a next steps agency, the Employment Service is subject to the normal prior options tests set out in the 1993 "Next Steps Review", Cm. 2430. A prior options review of the Employment Service will now be undertaken, with the aim of reporting to Ministers by the end of March 1995.

  Comments and contributions from those with an interest in the Employment Service and its work would be welcome and should be sent by 28 October 1994 to Peter Makeham, Director of Strategy and Employment Policy Division, Employment Department, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NF.

  International Labour Conventions
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the application to the United Kingdom of international labour conventions Nos. 99 and 101.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In her statement of 14 July,Official Report, column 715, concerning the future of the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food referred to the need for the Government to be free to make suitable arrangements for the industry when considering the board's future. This reflects calls by employers in the industry for the Government to denounce International Labour Oganisation conventions 99 and 101 so that the requirements of the conventions will not present any obstacle to the development over the next few years of more flexible working arrangements within the industry. The Government propose to denounce both conventions.

  The denunciations will take effect 12 months after the date on which they are registered with the ILO.

  Employment Schemes
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what scheme will replace the learning for work courses.
  229
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 14 July 1994]: Learning for work will not be replaced by another scheme next year. The Department, through training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service, provides a range of programmes and services to help unemployed people prepare for work. Training for work, career development loans, job clubs and restart courses all play an important part in this package of help.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 June,Official Report columns 400–1, which other officials of the Hong Kong Government, including officials of the Law Officers' Department such as Crown prosecuting counsel, visited Malaysia in connection with the affair generally known as Carrian; on what dates; and on how many occasions, and for what purpose in relation to the Carrian investigation Mr. Warwick Reid visited Malaysia.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There are very few, if any, visits to Malaysia by members of the Attorney-General's chambers in connection with the Carrian case. Full details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the view of the credibility of Ibrahim Jaafar as expressed by judges of the Hong Kong High Court from time to time; and whether Mr. Jaafar adhered to the terms of his grant of immunity by co-operating with the relevant Hong Kong authorities.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Mr. Jaafar is a Crown witness in the BMFL trial in Hong Kong. To comment on his credibility would not be right.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 June,Official Report columns 397–98, on what dates and to whom parts of Mr. Mak's statement was relayed at any other time prior to his trial to parties other than those involved in the investigation.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  With the exception of the bodies named in my answer of today, this information is not centrally recorded, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 June,Official Report column 397, whether it is the policy of the Hong Kong Government to have the contents of statements made by suspects in custody relayed to Government Departments in London.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There is no reason why the content of a statement taken by law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong should not be relayed to Government Departments in London if it is in the public interest to do So.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the name of the Hong Kong official who granted immunity from prosecution to Mr. Ibrahim Jaafar; and what was the relationship between that official and Mr. Warwick Reid.
  230
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The immunity was granted by the then Director of Public Prosecutions in Hong Kong in consultation with the Hong Kong Attorney-General. The letter offering immunity was signed by Mr. Reid in his capacity as head of the commercial crimes unit of the prosecutions division of the Attorney-General's chambers.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 June,Official Report column 99, why Mr. Warwick Reid was dismissed from his post in January 1990; whether Mr. Reid was prosecuted; what process of law was used to obtain the return of Mr. Warwick Reid from the Philippines to Hong Kong; and which Government requested, and which Government executed, that legal process.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Mr. Reid was dismissed from his post in the Attorney-General's chambers when it was discovered that he had breached the conditions of his bail by absconding from Hong Kong. On his return to Hong Kong he was prosecuted, and convicted, for an offence of having in his control pecuniary resources or property disproportionate to his official emoluments contrary to section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. Mr. Reid was deported from the Philippines when he was found to have entered that country on a forged travel document and was repatriated to Hong Kong as his last known place of residence in accordance with procedures in the Philippines.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those occasions on which the Malaysian Attorney-General, Mr. Abu Talib, approached his Department or other Government Departments in London, in relation to the prosecution of Lorrain Osman; and if he will list those occasions on which the Malaysian Attorney-General approached Government officials in Hong Kong in relation to the prosecution of Lorrain Osman.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is established practice that exchanges of this kind between Governments are confidential.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 June,Official Report, columns 397–98, which parties named by Mr. Mak Foon Than were interviewed subsequently in relation to his statement; and on which dates they were interviewed.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The following persons named in Mak Foon Than's statement were interviewed by the Royal Hong Kong police:

  George Tan on 9 August 1983;

  Lorrain Osman on three occasions in July and August 1983;

  Henry Chin on seven occasions in July and August 1983 and on one occasion in March 1984;

  Ibrahim Jaafar in August 1983;

  Chueng Suk-Kwan on 8 August 1983;

  Raja Nasron on 15 September 1983;

  Tan Keng-Cheng on 16 September 1983; and

  Lee Chong-Kay on 19 September 1983.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the name of the Hong Kong official who made the charges initiated against Mr. Lorrain Osman in 1985; and what was the relationship between that official and Mr. Warwick Reid.
  231
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The charges against Mr. Lorrain Osman were drafted by counsel having the conduct of the case within the prosecutions division of the Attorney-General's chambers in consultation with leading counsel in London. Mr. Warwick Reid was not directly involved in the charging process other than in his capacity as head of the commercial crimes unit of those chambers in which it is likely that he would have been shown a copy of the charges settled by counsel.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 June,Official Report, column 397, who advised him of the contents of the statement made by Mr. Mak Foon Than; why that information was relayed to his Department; and what other Government offices, including the United Kingdom high commission in Malaysia, were informed of the contents of Mak Foon Than's statement prior to the trial of Mr. Mak.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Hong Kong Government kept the Foreign and Commonwealth Office informed of the progress of investigations related to the collapse of the Carrian Group and the affairs of Bank Bumiputra and its Hong Kong subsidiary BMFL. Papers connected with these investigations were copied to the Bank of England and to the British high commissioner in Malaysia.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Mr. Warwick Reid was interrogated or questioned or made a voluntary statement in relation to his role in the prosecution of Lorrain Osman at the time of his arrest or subsequently.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Mr. Reid was interviewed in relation to this matter.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of Vietnamese boat people still being held in detention centres in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On 1 July, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 24,920 Vietnamese migrants in detention centres in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he received a copy of the report of the incidents that took place at the Whitehead detention centre in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement on that report.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We received a summary of the report's main findings and recommendations on 15 June, the day the report was published. We received a copy of the report itself shortly afterwards.

  We accept the report's findings and welcome the Hong Kong Government's readiness to act on its recommendations.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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.
  232
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We 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 administration burdens. They also provide direct assistance where appropriate and are establishing a network of Business Links to provide high-quality business support across the country.

  The Department, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Overseas Trade Services, provides advice, information, and financial support to help United Kingdom exporters win overseas business. This work is particularly aimed at smaller and less experienced exporters. An independent survey of the delivery of the services shows a consistently high level of customer satisfaction and some 90 per cent. of respondents regularly say that they will use the services again. Details of these chargeable services are given in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office departmental report 1994.

  Small firms are given full opportunity to bid for business with the Department. It remains our firm policy to pay invoices on time.

  Business transacted by the Department with small firms in the United Kingdom was £35·7 million in 1993–94 when it accounted for 27·6 per cent. of total expenditure on the purchase of goods and services—1992–93: £35·8 million; 26·9 per cent.

  The Department has no specific targets to favour small business, but will ensure that small firms continue to be given full opportunity to compete equally and fairly.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Kuwait; what assistance has been given by the Foreign Office to British companies seeking to help with Kuwait's reconstruction programme following the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last visited Kuwait in May 1992 to attend an EC/Gulf Co-operation Council ministerial meeting. The British embassy in Kuwait was one of the first to open after liberation and its staff played an important role in helping United Kingdom companies win orders associated with the reconstruction programme. The FCO was also represented on a DTI/industry task force set up to help British exporters. In the first 12 months of the initial reconstruction phase, the United Kingdom won contracts and orders worth over £550 million.

  The official figures for United Kingdom exports to Kuwait for 1991, 1992 and 1993 are £178 million, £262 million and £312 million respectively. Exports are now at their highest level for six years.

  West Bank
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the allegations of torture against students from Bir Zeit university in the west bank who were arrested on 29 June in an Israel defence force raid; and what representations he intends to make to the Israeli Government on the issue.
  233
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The consulate-general in Jerusalem is in touch with Bir Zeit university and the International Committee of the Red Cross about the arrest of the students and about their conditions of detention. We, along with our EU partners, have raised the question of law enforcement in the occupied territories with the Israeli authorities, and stressed that it is important to avoid excessive use of force. We regularly remind the Israelis of their obligations under the fourth Geneva convention.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which section of the United Nations is responsible for arranging the deployment of United Nations forces in Rwanda; and whether he considers that section adequate in terms of quality of personnel, amount of resources and level of political support.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Kofi Annan, is responsible for arranging the deployment of United Nations forces in Rwanda. He enjoys the support of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and receives all necessary political support. The level of DPKO's resources and the quality of its personnel are kept under continual review by the Secretary-General. The United Kingdom is supporting DPKO through the provision of eight seconded British officers.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the principal causes of the further delay in the deployment of United Nations troops in Rwanda in terms of troops committed, and logistical support.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Nations has identified logistic support as the priority requirement to enable more troops to be deployed with the United Nations Aid Mission in Rwanda and while a number of countries have pledged troops they cannot be deployed until that support is in place. The United States, South Africa and the United Kingdom have offered logistical support in response to specific United Nations requests.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on a continued commitment of French troops in Rwanda beyond the end of July.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  United Nations Security Council resolution 929 of 22 June, which we supported, authorised the French Government to launch a two-month humanitarian mission to Rwanda. Their mandate does not expire until 22 August.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures exist in the United Nations for a change in the presidency of the Security Council if a country is unfit, for whatever reason, to take over the presidency.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council do not contain any provisions for changing the presidency of the Council in the circumstances described. However, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and 234
  Commonwealth Affairs gave him on 18 July, column 26, which said that consultations are in train over the question of Rwanda's presidency of the council.

  Taiwan
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the present procedures for the issuing of entry visas to citizens of Taiwan; for what reason a separate declaration of identity is required; and whether he has this system under review.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Visas for citizens of Taiwan are issued on form GV3 "Declaration of Identity for Visa Purposes".

  Declarations of identity are used because we do not recognise Taiwan as a state. We cannot therefore recognise passports issued by the "Republic of China", so the visa is stamped on a separate piece of paper rather than into the passport itself. This is inescapable for legal reasons. We have recently revised the format of the GV3 to make it as convenient as possible for the traveller.

  The visa handling unit of the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei provides a quick and efficient 24-hour service. We do not believe that the visa- issuing process discourages travellers, of whom there were nearly 52,000 in 1993.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In 1989, two special advisers left my Department and one joined. In 1990, one special adviser joined my Department and left in the same year. One special adviser joined in 1991. One special adviser left in 1993, and one joined.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became (a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  HGV Drivers
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom heavy goods vehicle drivers are currently in prison in(a) France, (b) Spain, (c) Portugal, (d) Italy and (e) the whole of the European Union except the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Those known by the British Government to be United Kingdom heavy goods vehicle drivers and currently in prison are as follows:

  France

  4

  Spain

  3

  Portugal

  0

  Italy

  1

  European Union

  10

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many spouses seeking entry clearance in Dhaka have been refused in each of the past four years; and what percentage they form of the total number of such applicants.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The number of spouses' entry clearance applications refused in Dhaka and the percentage of the total numbers of such applications during 1991–93 is:

  Year

  Total spouse applications

  Spouses refused

  Percentage

  1991

  1,852

  301

  16

  1992

  2,614

  414

  16

  1993

  2,446

  501

  20

  Comparable data are not available for earlier years.

  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officers have worked in Dhaka in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The number of entry clearance officers in Dhaka in each of the last four years is:

  1993—12+1 temporary duty

  1992—16+2 temporary duty

  1991—18

  1990—16

  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the average monthly number of refusals in the period since the abolition of appeals for visitors from Bangladesh; and what percentage they represent of the total number of applications.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The average monthly number of refusals of entry clearance applications for visitors from Bangladesh for the period July 1993 to May 1994 was 297. This represents 24·7 per cent. of the average monthly number of visitor applications. The comparable figure for the period August 1992 to July 1993 was 258, 22·3 per cent.

  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many appeals were rejected in each month in the year prior to the abolition of appeals for visitors from Bangladesh; and what percentage they represent of the total number of applications.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Available information on appeals relates to those against a refusal of entry clearance for temporary purposes. The number of such appeals by citizens of Bangladesh which were dismissed by adjudicators in the period August 1992 to July 1993 were:

  Number

  1992

  August

  47

  September

  75

  October

  134

  November

  43

  December

  69

  1993

  January

  105

  236

  Number

  February

  65

  March

  49

  April

  52

  May

  43

  June

  60

  July

  40

  782

  During the period August 1992 to July 1993, 13,870 such applications were made, of which 3,091–22·3 per cent.—were refused; 782 of those refused lodged appeals. Of that 782, 74 per cent. were dismissed, 13 per cent. withdrawn and 13 per cent. allowed.

  The figure for appeals dismissed therefore equates to 5·6 per cent. of the total number of visit applications received in Dhaka.

  Law of the Sea Convention
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answers of 14 June,Official Report, columns 401–2, whether Her Majesty's Government have now reached a conclusion as to whether to vote for the resolution and sign the agreement relating to the implementation of part XI of the United Nations convention on the law of the sea of 10 December 1982, and thereafter accede to that convention.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Yes, we will vote for the resolution and, should it be adopted by the General Assembly, sign the agreement. We intend to ratify the agreement and accede to the United Nations law of the sea convention in due course and once the necessary procedures are complete. The Government's objections to part XI of the convention, which were explained to the House by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) in 1984, have been satisfactorily addressed in the new agreement. The remainder of the convention is generally helpful to United Kingdom interests.

  North-West Kenya
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about ethnic clashes involving large-scale deaths in the Turcana tribe in north-west Kenya; what role has been played in this by the Kenyan and Sudanese Governments; and what representations he has made.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have no evidence of large scale deaths amongst the Turcana people in north-west Kenya caused by ethnic clashes.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the progress being made in the confinement and disarmament of Government and RENAMO forces in Mozambique.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As of 12 July, 95 per cent. of all forces in Mozambique had been assembled. Forty-eight per cent. of the Government of Mozambique forces and 82 per
  237
  cent. of RENAMO forces had been demobilised. Demobilisation is scheduled to be completed by 15 August.

  Immigration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library reports received by the Department from the clearing house centre for information discussion and exchange on the crossing of borders and immigration.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 18 July, Official Report, column 32.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests for information on third countries have been received from the clearing house centre for information discussion and exchange on the crossing of borders and immigration; and in respect of which countries.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply. None.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Lord President of the Council 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. Newton
  The functions of the Privy Council Office do not include the provision of assistance to small businesses.

WALES

  Nusery and Reception Classes
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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 Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on expenditure on nursery and reception classes cannot be identified separately from data collected centrally.

  Cancer Statistics
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will examine the paper by Rooney, Beral et al in the British Medical Journal, volume 307, pages 1391–97, on prostatic cancer causation, in so far as it applies to the population of Wales; and if he will make a statement on cancer studies undertaken by his Department.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Officials have examined the paper, which suggests a statistical association between the 238
  incidence of prostatic cancer and possible occupational exposure to certain radionuclides that tend to be associated with the working environment of heavy water reactors. Exposure to these radionuclides was found to be uncommon and did not affect the overall health of the Atomic Energy Authority work force. Members of the public are unlikely to be significantly exposed to these radionuclides, and so the findings of this study do not appear to be relevant to the population of Wales. If there are any implications of the study for the Welsh work force this would be a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

  Within the last six years two studies on cancer incidence in Wales have been published by the Welsh Office. These are:
  "A report of an investigation into the incidence of Leukaemia in the North Wales coastal strip" by Emeritus Professor H. Campbell, FRCP; and
  "Investigation of Incidence of Cancer around Wylfa and Trawsfynydd Nuclear Installations 1984 to 1986".

  Copies of both reports are available in the Library of the House.

  Floods Llandudno
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of financial and other assistance given by his office to assist(a) individuals, (b) the local authority and (c) other organisations following the flood in Llandudno in June 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Gwynedd county council and Aberconwy borough council are receiving financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme of some £.4·5 million towards the cost of temporary rehousing, cleaning-up operations, repairs to local authority buildings and infrastructure, and the social services flood support team.

  Housing grants and loans from the social fund were made available to those qualifying. The strategic development scheme will provide assistance for the flood support team during 1994–95 and 1995–96 and fund a post for three years under business in the community to encourage investment by the private sector in new and existing economic projects in the area.

  Houses in Multiple Occupation
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make funds available to local authorities to appoint additional staff to inspect houses in multiple occupation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Inspection of houses in multiple occupation is a revenue service which is funded through the annual local authority revenue settlement. It is for councils to determine the priority they give to these inspections alongside their other duties when apportioning resources.

  Rheumatologist, Gwynedd
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide funding to appoint a rheumatologist to serve Gwynedd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is a matter for individual health authorities and NHS trusts to decide whether funding should be made available to develop a particular service in accordance with perceived local needs.

  Student Accommodation
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for ensuring that there is enough suitable accommodation for students studying in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Further and higher education institutions are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for deciding their own priorities, including admissions policies and any arrangements for the accommodation of their students.

  All Full-time and Part-time, Undergraduate and Postgraduate students at each of the constituent colleges of the University of Wales1

  Colleges of the University of Wales

  1970–71

  1980–81

  1990–91

  1992–93

  Aberystwyth

  2,592

  3,318

  4,013

  5,070

  Bangor

  2,515

  3,149

  3,819

  5,015

  Cardiff2

  3,755

  6,266

  10,069

  12,134

  St. David's, Lampeter

  354

  810

  1,012

  1,332

  Swansea

  3,510

  4,295

  6,056

  7,823

  University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology2

  2,025

  3,038

  —

  —

  College of Medicine

  423

  791

  1,201

  1,738

  Total

  15,174

  21,667

  26,170

  33,112

  1 As at December of each year.

  2 In 1988 the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology merged with the University of Wales College Cardiff.

  Source: "Statistic of Education, Volume 6—Universities" and "University Statistics; Students and Staff' published by Universities' Statistical Record.

  Cereals
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will explain how the notional yields of 3·32 tonnes per hectare for less-favoured area farmers and 5·17 tonnes per hectare for non less-favoured area farmers was calculated for the purposes of arable area payments in 1993–94;

  (2) what historical information was available to his Department in calculating yields for the purpose of arable area payments for harvest year 1993–94; and what account was taken of it in calculating average yields;

  (3) what were the wheat yields for each county in Wales in 1986 to 1992, sorted by seven-year average, according to the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service study received by his Department in January 1993;

  (4) pursuant to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) of 20 June, Official Report, column 38, what was the average cereal yield for (a) farms wholly within the less-favoured area and (b) farms wholly outside the less-favoured area for the years from 1986 to 1992; and how those figures were calculated.

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

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is his policy that a single cereals region would be best for Wales for purposes of arable area payments.

  Mr. Redwood
  I accept that an England and Wales region would be best for Welsh cereal farmers, but this is not a decision that I can make on my own. All four Agriculture Ministers have to agree on the regionalisation plan and take into account the interests of growers throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount to be paid to Welsh farmers in

  University of Wales
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of students at the constituent colleges of the University of Wales in 1970, 1980, 1990 and 1994; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Information on the number of students at the University of Wales in 1994 is not yet available. The number of students at the constituent colleges of the University of Wales for the academic years 1970–71, 1980–81, 1990–91 and 1992–93, which is the latest available year, are shown in the table.

  arable area payments for the harvest year 1993–94; and how much is to be paid on land (a) in the less-favoured area and (b) outside the less-favoured area.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information will not be available until all the 1994 arable aid applications have been processed.

  Nurses
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide a breakdown of the spending at his Department on nurse education and training for the years 1990–91 to 1993–94, identifying spending allocated to(a) pre-registration education, (b) post-regristration education and (c) nurse teacher training and support.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Funding of post-regristration education is not identifiable centrally.

  Nurse Education and Training £ millions

  Nurse Teacher Training 000's

  1990–91

  31·8

  504

  1991–92

  33·9

  524

  1992–93

  28·5

  433

  1993–94

  27·1

  278

  Notes:

  1. The figures for 1990–91 to 1992–93 include Health Authority expenditure on student/pupil salaries and Welsh National Board revenue. The figures do not include overhead costs met by Health Authorities. 'The 1993–94 figure is the expenditure on nurse education under the Towards 2000 arrangements.

  2. The figures for nurse teacher training relate to funding by Welsh National Board.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps he is taking to provide for the redeployment of nurse tutors in the South East Wales Institute of Nursing and Midwifery Education displaced as a consequence of the proposed reduction in nursing student numbers;
  241
  (2) 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. Gwilyum Jones
  This is under consideration.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total cost of the changes in nurse education since 1989 resulting from the introduction of Project 2000.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The total cost to nurse education of the introduction in 1991 of Project 2000 is not seperately identifiable. Additional central funding of approximately £24 million was made to health authorities between

  Billing authority

  (a) Households with outstanding banding proposals

  (b) Total of proposals made

  (c) Total of households

  (d) (a) as percentage of (b)

  (e) (a) as percentage of (c)

  Aberconwy

  873

  1,227

  24,985

  71·15

  3·49

  Alyn and Deeside

  737

  1,197

  30,323

  61·57

  2·43

  Arfon

  728

  998

  24,257

  72·95

  3·00

  Blaenau Gwent

  306

  679

  32,466

  45·07

  0·94

  Brecknock

  975

  2,122

  18,402

  45·95

  5·30

  Cardiff

  2,398

  3,942

  120,783

  60·83

  1·99

  Carmarthen

  1,544

  2,384

  24,236

  64·77

  6·37

  Ceredigion

  2,285

  3,837

  30,247

  59·55

  7·55

  Colwyn

  749

  1,312

  25,487

  57·09

  2·94

  Cynon Valley

  514

  932

  27,914

  55·5

  1·84

  Delyn

  628

  1,171

  28,033

  53·63

  2·24

  Dinefwr

  1,243

  2,025

  17,157

  61·38

  7·24

  Dwyfor

  571

  792

  14,540

  72·10

  3·93

  Glyndwr

  746

  1,229

  18,571

  60·70

  4·02

  Islwyn

  400

  705

  26,846

  56·74

  1·49

  Llanelli

  637

  1,126

  32,350

  56·57

  1·97

  Lliw Valley

  578

  968

  26,849

  59·71

  2·15

  Meirionnydd

  452

  1,040

  17,909

  43·46

  2·52

  Merthyr Tydfil

  330

  672

  25,037

  49·11

  1·32

  Monmouth

  1,598

  2,695

  32,300

  59·29

  4·95

  Montgomeryshire

  685

  1,749

  23,754

  39·17

  2·88

  Neath

  468

  945

  27,545

  49·52

  1·70

  Newport

  413

  1,318

  55,602

  31·34

  0·74

  Ogwr

  1,097

  1,623

  54,757

  67·59

  2·00

  Port Talbot

  390

  678

  21,193

  57·52

  1·84

  Preseli Pembs

  1,566

  2,605

  31,020

  60·12

  5·05

  Radnorshire

  650

  1,177

  11,153

  55·23

  5·83

  Rhondda

  230

  691

  33,177

  33·29

  0·69

  Rhuddlan

  467

  817

  24,475

  57·16

  1·91

  Rhymney Valley

  514

  979

  41,449

  52·50

  1·24

  South Pembs

  859

  1,635

  19,876

  52·54

  4·32

  Swansea

  1,874

  3,454

  78,460

  54·26

  2·39

  Taff-Ely

  715

  1,334

  39,178

  53·60

  1·83

  Torfaen

  466

  911

  37,997

  51·15

  1·23

  Vale of Glamorgan

  1,314

  1,912

  47,202

  68·72

  2·78

  Wrexham Maelor

  974

  1,913

  48,020

  50·91

  2·03

  Ynys Mon

  1,069

  1,787

  31,378

  59·82

  3·41

  Totals

  32,043

  56,581

  1,224,928

  56·63

  2·62

  School Meals
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for each year since 1987, what was the percentage of school pupils entitled to free school meals.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The percentage of school pupils entitled to free school meals in Wales is shown in the following table. Data are not available prior to 1988–89.
  242
  1991–92 and 1993–94. From 1994–95 onwards this additional funding is within the authorities' allocations and is not identified separately.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for the latest available date for each district council area and for Wales as a whole(a) the number of households whose appeals against council tax bandings had not been resolved, (b) the total number of such appeals made, (c) the total number of households, (d) the proportion of (a) as a percentage of (b) and (e) the proportion of (a) as a percentage of (c).

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The position on 30 June 1994 was as follows:

  As at September each year

  Year

  Per cent

  1988–89

  18·5

  1989–90

  17·8

  1990–91

  18·4

  1991–92

  20·8

  1992–93

  22·8

  Welsh Health Staff College
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress he has made on the setting up of and resourcing of the Welsh Health Staff College; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The matter is still under consideration.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he expects the publication of the accounts for 1993–94 of the Welsh Development Agency; what special measures he proposes to make in the published accounts in relation to the independent legal advice received in relation to the ultra vires issue concerning Welsh Development Agency grant schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The accounts will be published today and will include a statement on legal powers and expenditure in relation to certain grants and loans.

  Dentists
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, column 771, regarding registered dentists, if he will make it his policy to collect information on what proportion of registered dentists offer a full national health service dental service.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  All dentists who are on the dental lists of family health services authorities are obliged, by their terms of service, to provide the full range of national health service treatment for patients registered with them under national health service arrangements.

  General dental practitioners are independent contractors and are free to decide how much of their time to devote to national health service work. The situation may vary from week to week. It would not be cost-effective to collect information centrally in the format suggested. Family health authorities have responsibility for managing general dental services in their area and are best placed to advise on the provision of national health service dental services locally.

  Hospitals (Information Systems)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the pilot scheme for information systems at Glan Clwyd hospital; and what is the number of hospitals not implementing hospital information support systems, and the cost thereof.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  An evaluation will be completed this year and a summary of a report published in July 1993 was widely circulated throughout the NHS. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Glan Clwyd has the most developed system but all major hospitals have made significant investment and information on costs is therefore not available in the form requested.

  Roads
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his plans for a successor document to "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s", published in 1989.
  244
  Mr. Redwood
  I have today published "Roads in Wales: 1994 Review". This sets out details of progress in improving the trunk road network since 1989; and establishes clear and identifiable priorities and plans for future improvements to the trunk road network. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be sent to all Welsh Members of Parliament, and for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Welsh Water Authority
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is now able to dissolve the residuary Welsh Water Authority.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend has today dissolved by order the residuary Welsh Water Authority.

  Further Education
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what conditions are attached to the disposal of Exchequer-funded land and buildings by institutions in the further and higher education sector.

  Sir Wyn Richards
  The conditions allow further and higher education institutions in Wales to retain the proceeds of sale of Exchequer-funded land and buildings, within specified limits agreed by the Secretary of State. These conditions are set out in the financial memoranda between the Welsh Office and the Welsh funding councils, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements have been made to ensure that there is sufficient flow of water for fish to pass during and after the construction of the Cardiff Bay barrage.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Suitable measures have been agreed by the National Rivers Authority. I have arranged for details to be placed in the Library of the House and the Cardiff Bay development corporation has agreed to have copies of the information available on request.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Horbury Convent, Wakefield
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners if he will investigate the circumstances of the recent sale of the former Horbury convent, Wakefield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners have no status in this matter. They did not own the former Horbury convent, Wakefield, nor did they have any involvement with its sale.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Bellamy's Restaurant
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee (1) if he will conduct a survey among hon. Members and their staff and officers and staff of the House to discover their views on the new arrangement for Bellamy's restaurant;
  245
  (2) how many representations he has received regarding the change of usage of parts of Bellamy's cafeteria; from whom these representations were received; and how many were in favour of the change.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  The changes to Bellamy's were undertaken following vigorous representations from hon. Members. I have received numerous representations regarding the change of use. I understand that the Director of Catering Services intends to take account of these representations when she reviews the operation of Bellamy's clubroom after Christmas. The Catering Committee has asked to be kept informed of the results of that review and will consider appropriate consultations at that time.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee (1) who was consulted by the Catering Committee before the decision was taken to restrict access to Bellamy's cafeteria in 1 Parliament street;

  (2) if he will make a statement to explain the criteria used to restrict usage of Bellamy's cafeteria.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  The rules of access to Bellamy's cafeteria have been changed twice, on both occasions because of overcrowding. In endorsing the decisions of the Director of Catering Services, the Catering Committee sought to ensure that the necessary consultation had taken place. The main criterion of the Refreshment Department, and of the Catering Committee, is to ensure that users requiring main meals are served without undue delay and in reasonable comfort.

  Cardiff-Wales Airport
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans he has to meet freight forwarders at Cardiff-Wales airport to discuss future clearance arrangements for freight containers;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that a day-night, seven-days-a-week service for deliveries from the freight transit terminal is provided at Cardiff-Wales airport;

  (3) if he will make it his policy to seek the opinions of (a) inward investing firms and (b) the Confederation of British Industry in Wales concerning proposed changes to container and other freight clearance arrangements at Cardiff-Wales airport;

  (4) if he will make a statement on the use of Cardiff-Wales airport as an approved clearance point for sea freight containers;

  (5) what recent assessment has been made by his Department of the impact of the proposed changes to freight clearance arrangements at Cardiff-Wales airport upon (a) future throughput of freight, (b) levels of inward investment into Wales in future and (c) freight-forwarding agents based at the airport.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no plans for Ministers to meet freight forwarders at Cardiff-Wales airport. The head of the customs executive unit at Cardiff is responsible for approving freight clearance arrangements. It is customs policy to consult fully with trade interests.

  Customs place no restrictions on the times of delivery of cleared cargo. This is a matter for the approved transit shed operator at Cardiff-Wales airport.

  Approval for clearance of freight is a matter for customs in consultation with commercial interests. Since 1 July
  246
  1993, clearance of seafreight removed to Cardiff-Wales airport has ceased as examination facilities there are unsuitable for standard shipping containers.

  Nationally, customs are consulting trade interests through a joint consultative committee and trade associations on proposals for change to arrangements for freight clearance. No decisions have been taken in respect of Cardiff-Wales airport.

  Veal
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what was the country of origin and method of production of the veal served in House canteens in the week of 11 to 15 July.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  All veal used by the Refreshment Department is of British origin and is purchased only from suppliers who use the quantock method of rearing veal calves.

  Banqueting Rooms
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what new proposals he has to publish details of the organisations that use the banqueting rooms in the Palace of Westminster in the names of hon. Members.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  None.

  Upper Waiting Hall (Exhibitions)
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for the exhibition relating to "BTEC—A Decade of Achievement", 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 7 November to Friday 11 November.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to natural gas vehicles 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 5 December to Friday 9 December.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became(a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;

  (2) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sproat
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.
  247
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many special advisers have(a) joined and (h) left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sproat
  Secretaries of State for National Heritage have appointed three special advisers since the formation of the Department. The appointment of one of these is current.

  Museums and Galleries Commission
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the Museums and Galleries Commission's administration of its role in the acceptance in lieu scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sproat
  Yes. There are several stages involved in considering offers of pre-eminent works of art and other heritage items, and I am satisfied that the Museums and Galleries Commission handles these effectively in dealing with individual offers. It is helpful that the Museums and Galleries Commission has asked a number of key figures in the art world to form an advisory panel. This panel's expertise in identifying those best qualified to comment on pre-eminence and valuation, and subsequently in assessing this advice, is proving effective. I am satisfied that these new procedures contribute positively to the operation of the scheme.

TRANSPORT

  Motorway Use
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has as to the effect on traffic bunching on motorways of the use of the middle and outside lanes as cruising lanes rather than as overtaking lanes.

  Mr. Key
  Poor lane discipline on motorways causes delay and reduces vehicle throughput, particularly at high traffic flows.

  Seat Belts
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to publish the report into seat belt safety in respect of mini buses and coaches; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on 19 July,Official Report, columns 81–82.

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

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend, the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced the 248
  publication of a consultation document on 15 July. The Department of Transport contributed to its preparation. I welcome the publication of this document and would encourage everyone interested in these issues, especially disabled people themselves, to respond with their views.

  Mr Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with(a) manufacturers and suppliers and (b) representatives of the disabled regarding the design of taxi cabs in relation to access and safety for the disabled; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department has worked closely with manufacturers and suppliers of vehicles and equipment in the taxi industry and with representatives of people with disabilities over the past decade to develop features and facilities that will meet the needs of the wide range of elderly and disabled people who have mobility problems.

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that driving tests should not be held during the hours of darkness in any part of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief executive, Dr. Ford, and I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. The agency's deputy chief executive, Mr. Lobo, will answer in Dr. Ford's absence on leave.

  Letter from G. A. Lobo to Mr. Brian Wilson, dated 18 July 1994.
  The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Executive to reply to the question you have raised about holding driving tests during the hours of darkness. I am replying since Dr. Ford is on annual leave.
  The Driving Standards Agency is considering whether it would be sensible to conduct fewer driving tests per day during the winter, when the daylight hours are shorter, subject to extra tests being added to the summer programme. This could have the advantage of switching staff resources to be more in line with the seasonal pattern of demand.

  Motorway Accidents
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has regarding the percentage of drivers involved in accidents on motorways who have passed their driving test (i) less than three months previously, (ii) less than six months previously and (iii) less than 12 months previously.

  Mr. Key
  A recently completed research study of 29,500 learner and novice drivers revealed that, of the 7,079 drivers who answered questions on their accident experience 14—0·2 per cent. had had an accident on a motorway in the first three months; 23—0·32— in the first six months and 40—0·57 per cent. in the first year of driving. The accidents mainly involved damage to vehicles; only three were reported to have involved injury.

  Traffic Speeds
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce national and local targets to be achieved for reducing speeds driven for traffic on different types of road, including urban roads.

  Mr. Key
  Our target is to reduce road casualties. Reducing vehicle speeds can make a major contribution to this and is a key element in our road safety strategy. However, it is only one of many road safety measures and the speed distribution on different roads varies so widely that there would be little benefit in establishing secondary targets for reducing speeds.

  Consultants
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what part Sir Christopher Foster played in the Coopers and Lybrand bid for the consultancy contracts to establish a charging regime for track users during the time he acted as his special adviser.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 25 November,Official Report, column 102, what assessment he has now made of whether Sir Christopher Foster avoided any conflict of interest during his role as his special adviser.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend is satisfied that there was no conflict of interest.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Sir Christopher Foster's advice to him on rail privatisation included advice on the track access charging regime during the period that Coopers and Lybrand was bidding for or undertaking consultancy contracts on the charging regime.

  Mr. Freeman
  Sir Christopher Foster provided advice on railway restructuring and privatisation generally. He played no part directly or indirectly in the letting or management of any consultancy contracts.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the achievements of Sir Christopher Foster as his special adviser on rail privatisation.

  Mr. Freeman
  Sir Christopher fulfilled his remit to provide my right hon. Friend with expert advice on rail privatisation matters.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the final sum paid to Coopers and Lybrand in connection with its work on advising about a track access charging system.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 14 July,Official Report, columns 724–27.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the powers under which salary and expenses are paid to members of the Railtrack board; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Freeman
  Remuneration and expenses are paid to members of the Railtrack board as company directors in 250
  accordance with articles 87 and 88 of the articles of association of Railtrack Group plc. Remuneration is determined by the company by shareholders' decisions in accordance with article 87 and, as the company is wholly owned by the Government, such decisions are given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport. I am arranging for a copy of these articles to be placed in the Library.

  Transport Research Laboratory
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safeguards he will be implementing to ensure the long-term research functions of the Transport Research Laboratory when it is privatised.

  Mr. Key
  The privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory will have full regard to the need to satisfy the Government's continuing requirement for research, whether long-term or otherwise.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what stage his Department has reached in privatising the Transport Research Laboratory; and when he expects this process to be completed.

  Mr. Key
  My Department has recently appointed Price Waterhouse as financial advisers on the privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory, which we hope can be achieved during 1995–96. We expect to appoint legal advisers shortly to assist with the sale of TRL.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contacts his Department has had with possible bidders for the Transport Research Laboratory.

  Mr. Key
  Various bodies have approached the Department in confidence to express an interest in bidding for the Transport Research Laboratory.

  European Passenger Services
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it a condition of the transfer of European Passenger Services to the private sector that the channel tunnel link will be built.

  Mr. Freeman
  It will be a condition of the development agreement with the consortium selected to construct the Link that EPS will be returned to Government ownership if the link is not completed.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who will be responsible for the outstanding debt on trains built for European Passenger Services after they have been transferred to private ownership.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is intended to transfer European Passenger services to the private sector free of debt as part of the Government's contribution to the project to construct the new channel tunnel rail link. Any liabilities that arise after privatisation and particularly payments on trains that have been leased will be the responsibility of the new owner.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the means by which the Exchequer's interest in connection with the proposed privatisation of European Passenger Services can be safeguarded; and if he will make a statement.
  251
  Mr. Freeman
  The Government intend to transfer European Passenger Services to the winner of the competition to select the consortium to construct the new channel tunnel rail link and expect to receive full value for the company in the bids of those tendering for the project.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when the Vehicle Inspectorate intends to enter into negotiations with trade unions regarding their 1994 pay claim;

  (2) if he will list for each of the last five years the number of substantive traffic examiners employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate;

  (3) if he will list for each of the last five years the number of substantive vehicle examiners employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate.

  i. Vehicle Examiners

  Grade

  30 November 1990

  31 May 1991

  31 July 1992

  31 July 1993

  16 June 1994

  SPTO

  42

  41

  39

  38

  36

  HPTO

  104

  108

  103

  100

  82

  PTO

  470

  461

  465

  432

  409

  AVE

  49

  65

  89

  89

  83

  Total

  665

  675

  696

  659

  610

  ii. Traffic Examiners

  Grade

  30 November 1990

  18 July 1991

  31 July 1992

  31 July 1993

  16 June 1994

  Enforcement Coordinator

  10

  8

  7

  7

  5

  Supervising Traffic Examiner

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Senior Traffic Examiner

  43

  32

  32

  31

  25

  Traffic Examiner

  162

  163

  174

  167

  168

  Total

  216

  204

  213

  205

  198

  4. If you have any further questions about the Inspectorate please contact me.

  Coastguard Agency
  Mr. David Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about efficiency gains in the Coastguard Agency.

  Mr. Norris
  The chief executive of the Coastguard Agency has put forward a series of efficiency measures in response to the challenging target I set the Department. I have accepted his proposals which will lead to efficiency savings of nearly £1·5 million being achieved over the next two years. The measures will include rationalising the administrative services of the agency's Southampton headquarters and introducing more flexible manning arrangments at rescue centres. They will not involve the closure of any rescue centres; the agency's coastal response capability will be maintained. These measures are consistent with those set out in agency's current business and corporate plans. They will lead to greater value for money from the Coastguard Agency without compromising safety at sea and along the shoreline.
  252
  Mr. Key
  These are operational matters for the Vehicle Inspectorate. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dun woody, dated 18 July 1994:

  VEHICLE INSPECTORATE: PAY BARGAINING AND STAFFING

  1. The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about staffing and pay bargaining at the Vehicle Inspectorate (VI).

  2. On the matter of pay bargaining VI management intends entering into negotiations with the trade unions within the next two weeks.

  3. In answer to your questions on vehicle and traffic examiners, the figures below give a breakdown, by grade, of the number of staff in post over the past 5 years. Until recently our figures did not draw a distinction between substantive staff and those on temporary promotion. For the sake of consistency the figures for 1994 do not make this distinction either.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what alternative means he has considered of reducing losses of vehicle excise duty caused by evasion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The vehicle record maintained by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency plays a key role in the fight against crime. It identifies vehicle excise duty—VED—evaders and thus helps in the fight against vehicle and traffic offences but is also an important source of data for the police in tackling serious crimes. Defects in the record are, however, hindering these efforts, and give rise to significant shortfalls in VED revenue. I intend, therefore, to introduce changes that will tackle the theft of vehicles in particular as well as crime more generally. These changes will be directed against crime and against dishonest car owners and not law-abiding motorists.

  Evasion of vehicle excise duty amounts to £145 million a year. It costs the taxpayer a further £25 million in enforcement costs in my own Department, and in addition there are costs to the police and the courts in tracking down and prosecuting evaders. We continue to make improvements in the numbers of evaders brought to book but although the level of evasion seems to have been contained, we have been unable actually to reduce it.

  A major factor that frustrates our endeavours is that vehicles without a tax disc in the windscreen cannot be

  253
  tracked to their owners if they have not notified DVLA that they have acquired the vehicle. This is because, under the present procedures, a person who parts with a car is obliged to notify DVLA—but many do not; and the person who acquires it is also obliged to notify DVLA that he is now the keeper, and although most do, they often wait until the tax expires, which may be up to a year later.

  I am therefore proposing some fundamental changes to the present registration procedures to require those who part with a vehicle to notify DVLA, at the same time and on the same form, as those who acquire it. This would mean that the vehicle record could be brought up to date immediately. It would also allow us to replace existing vehicle registration documents with log books containing a number of improvements, in particular the inclusion of features such as a list of previous keepers and a record of mileage which I know motorists are keen to have, along with new security features.

  While a more accurate vehicle record would have many benefits, it could not eliminate VED evasion completely. This is because there are other ways in which VED can be evaded which are not picked up in the records. Because the present system allows for breaks in licensing when the keeper claims the vehicle is not in use, evasion of VED for short periods is difficult to detect. I therefore propose to introduce a system of continuous licensing based on possession, rather than use, for all cars and motorcycles.

  Naturally there are many details to be settled and the needs and wishes of those that will be affected must be taken into account. I will be issuing a consultation document shortly.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became(a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;

  (2) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The figures are:

  Number

  (a) 1992

  2

  1993

  0

  1994 to date

  1

  (b) 1992

  0

  1993

  1

  1994 to date

  0

  My Department did not exist in any comparable from before 1992. Figures for earlier years are therefore not available.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how the Government's proposals for the future of the civil service are compatible with their commitment as announced at the TUC conference on full employment on 5 July to policies in support of reducing the current high levels of unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend made it clear in his speech at the TUC conference that increasing employment depends on our competitiveness as a nation. That requires an efficient and effective public sector. The Government's proposals on the future of the civil service, set out in the White Paper published last week, Cm 2627, provide the framework for a further improvement in the performance of the civil service.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how his statement on 13 July concerning the future of the civil service will affect the completion and occupation of the new Inland Revenue offices in Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Agriculture and Food Research Council
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total number of scientists employed by the Agriculture and Food Research Council(a) for 1979 and (b) at present.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The number of scientists employed by the Agricultural and Food Research Council in 1979 was 3,417. As at 31 March 1994, the number was 2,025.

  Institute of Food Research
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many scientists were employed at the Institute of Food Research for each year since 1986.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The number of scientists employed at the Institute of Food Research since 1986 is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1986

  534

  1987

  514

  1988

  517

  1989

  463

  1990

  425

  1991

  308

  1992

  338

  1993

  335

  1994

  303

  Benevolent Fund
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement regarding the trustees of the Duchy of Lancaster benevolent fund.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Duchy benevolent fund has been operating as a registered charity for the past nine months. As Chancellor of the Duchy I appoint the trustees of the fund. Because of this I have felt that I should not be a
  255
  trustee. I will continue to appoint trustees and have invited the Lords Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and Merseyside to become trustees of the fund.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Family Credit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of extending family credit to(a) childless couples and (b) single persons assuming the present rules otherwise remain the same; and how many additional recipients there would be in each case.

  Mr. Burt
  The estimated cost of extending family credit to childless couples is £65 million with 70,000 additional recipients. The cost for single people is £1·5 billion with 1·5 million additional recipients.

  Note: Estimates are drawn from the 1989,90 and 91 family expenditure surveys and uprated to 1994–95 prices and benefit levels. The basis of the award is assumed to be the existing adult credit rate, without child credits, to people of 18 years of age and over. Estimates of the two costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million and £100 million respectively, and numbers of gainers are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and 100,000 respectively. These estimates do not include the financial effects of any behavioural response.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what sums were distributed in family credit and income support in the 12 months immediately(a) preceding and (b) following the abolition of the wages councils.

  Mr. Burt
  Levels of expenditure on family credit and income support are affected by a large number of factors.

  Information is available only for financial years. Figures for the last two years are as follows:

  Income support £M

  Family credit £M

  1992–93

  14,790

  929

  1993–94 (estimated)

  15,773

  1,091

  Note: Figures from Departmental Report March 1994

  Benefit Claims (Time Limits)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce a maximum period for claiming benefits in areas outside the area of residence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  We have no such plans. Every effort is made to ensure that benefit is paid only where the conditions of entitlement are satisfied. In particular, benefits for unemployed people are paid only to those who are available for, and actively seeking, work. Housing benefit is paid only to people who have a genuine rent liability on their home. The Government are not persuaded that it is desirable or practicable to time-limit benefit entitlement of people living outside their normal area of residence as the free movement of people is essential for the efficient operation of the labour market.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in
  256
  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. Hague
  The Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the United Kingdom econorny. 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 across the country.

  Measures introduced by the Department specifically to assist small businesses include:

  The Department has increased, from April 1994, the qualifying threshold for small employers' relief for statutory sick pay from £16,000 to £20,000.

  From April 1994, the Department improved and simplified the procedures for self-employed people claiming family credit, by including a new form in the claim pack on which self-employed people can provide earnings details straight away and by extending the fast-track service to the newly self-employed.

  Reductions in employers' national insurance contributions from April 1994 were substantially greater for lower-paid employees—earning under £200 a week. This is likely to help small businesses.

  From April 1994 changes have been made to the national insurance treatment of people, such as sub-postmasters, who have a salary from a main occupation as well as income from a subsidiary business. Where the income from the small business is low, they may now claim exception from self-employed national insurance even though, for income tax purposes, they chose to have all their earnings taxed together. Previously such people were liable for contributions as both employed and self-employed persons.

  Other measures aimed at business in general, which should help small businesses, include:

  Administration of the Statutory Sick Pay scheme will be simplified by abolition of the lower rate of SSP from April 1995.

  The three tests for entitlement to statutory maternity pay have been replaced by a single test for women expecting a baby on or after 16 October 1994.

  The Contributions Agency has completed the redesigning of all forms it sends out to businesses, with the aim of making them simpler to understand.

  The Department has a system to monitor proposals which have an impact on small business, to ensure that the needs and costs to small businesses are taken into account, but there are no performance indicators specifically for monitoring achievements in this area. However, we attach particular importance to action taken to help small businesses and will continue to explore further ways of doing so.

  Child Support Agency
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what figure has been agreed with Andersen Consulting for it to conduct a review into the Child Support Agency.
  257
  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Warley, West (Mr. Spellar) by the chief executive of the Child Support Agency on 18 July 1994.

  Information Technology Services Agency
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees of the Information Technology Services Agency there were(a) at its formation and (b) at the latest available date at each separate location and in total; and in how many cases staff have (i) been transferred to outsource contractors, (ii) accepted early retirement or (iii) accepted redundancy.

  Mr. Hague
  The available information is in the table. As at 18 July 1994 no staff have been transferred to outsource contractors, 130 have accepted voluntary early retirement/severance and there have been no redundancies.

  Number of staff

  Location

  1990 (launch of ITSA)

  1994 (as at 18 July 1994)

  Livingston

  206

  210

  Longbenton

  1,147

  1,120

  Washington

  293

  782

  North West1

  1,438

  2,294

  Swindon

  20

  6

  Reading

  196

  100

  London

  62

  96

  Sheffield

  0

  141

  Leeds

  0

  17

  Total

  3,342

  4,766

  1 North West includes Lytham and the surrounding area.

  2 Swindon operational from late November 1990.

  Child Care Disregard
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, columns 227–32, if he will now include figures showing for April and October the effects of the new child care disregard for a lone mother with two children aged four and six years working part time for 24 hours earning £80 a week.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table. The child care disregard will be introduced in October and will apply to the calculation of housing benefit, council tax benefit and disability working allowance as well as family credit. Up to £40 of child care costs for children under 11 will be disregarded against earnings, provided that care is arranged with a registered childminder or nursery.

  It should be noted that the child care costs, specified in accordance with the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 6 July at column 227–32, are significantly higher than those typically encountered at the level of earnings specified. Recent research' shows that the average weekly child care costs of working lone parents are £24·60 per week.
  1 "Families, work, and Benefit" (Policy Studies Institute, June 1993).

  Notes:

  1. The family is assumed to live in council property appropriate to their size and pay estimated average rent and council tax.

  2. The family is assumed to have no capital and take up entitlement to One Parent Benefit and all income-related benefits.
  258

  Lone Mother with 2 children aged 4 and 6 working part-time for 24 hours earning £80 per week with child care costs of £40

  Child Care allowance = £40

  Position at April 1994 £

  Position at October 1994 £

  Gross earnings

  80·00

  80·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  National Insurance

  3·44

  3·44

  Take home pay

  76·56

  76·56

  Family credit

  63·30

  66·70

  Child benefit

  24·60

  24·60

  Rent

  36·42

  36·42

  Rent rebate

  9·67

  33·46

  Council tax

  8·30

  8·30

  Council tax benefit

  0·07

  7·39

  Child care costs

  40·00

  40·00

  Total net income

  174·20

  208·71

  Net income after rent and council tax

  129·48

  163·99

  Net income after rent, Council tax and child care costs

  89·48

  123·99

  Pension Law Review Committee
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Government will respond to the fourth report of the Social Security Select Committee on the report of the Pension Law Review Committee.

  Mr. Hague
  The Government's response to the Select Committee's report is published today. Copies have been placed in the Library. We welcome the Committee's examination and recommendations on the Pension Law Review Committee report. We share its aim of safeguarding pension funds by effective regulation.

  The Government have outlined their proposals for pension reform in the recent White Paper, "Security, Equality, Choice: The Future for Pensions", Cm. 2594-I and Cm. 2594-II. In it we propose a range of practical solutions to assist pension provision and improve scheme security.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will make available the annual reports and accounts for each of his next steps agencies, and the revised framework document for the Information Technology Services Agency.

  Mr. Lilley
  The annual report for the Child Support Agency was published on 4 July. The accounts will be published in October.

  The 1993–94 annual reports and accounts for the other four executive agencies operating last year will be made available as follows: today for the Benefits Agency, Information Technology Services Agency and Resettlement Agency and tomorrow for the Contributions Agency. Copies of each report will be placed in the Library.

  The revised framework document for the Information Technology Services Agency for 1994–95 will also be published today and a copy placed in the Library.

  Benefits Agency
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to conduct a review of the Benefits Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  Under the terms of the original Benefits Agency framework document, provision was made for the review of the framework document by the Secretary of State. The status and organisation of all the next steps agencies are required to be periodically reviewed to establish whether further improvements in customer service and value for money can be made. I am accordingly authorising a review of the functions of the Benefits Agency to establish what future way of organising it will best support the cost-effective delivery of the social security benefits; serve the needs of those who use the benefits system; and improve value for money and security, in terms of both improved accuracy and fraud.

  The review will cover the evaluation of the agency's performance; the reconsideration of the way in which its functions are organised; and the revision of the framework document as appropriate. The current organisational structure has worked well over the past three years and there have been significant improvements in performance and value for taxpayers' money since agency status was achieved. Our aim is to build on this success.

  We shall be consulting customer representative groups to establish their views on the kind of service delivery they would like in the future. We shall also be asking business interests whether there is potential for private sector involvement in the Benefits Agency's work.

  Comments and contributions from those with an interest in the Benefits Agency and its work will be welcome by 28 October 1994. Anyone who would like to comment is asked, in the first instance, to contact:

  Garvin Bowen

  Department of Social Security

  Euston Tower

  286 Euston Road

  London

  NW1 3DN

  I expect to announce my decisions on the review early next year.

  Carers, Scotland
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentage of carers receive the carers' invalidity benefit in(a) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole;

  (2) how many carers (a) receive and (b) do not receive the invalid care allowance in (i) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, (ii) Strathclyde and (iii) Scotland as a whole.

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

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became(a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;
  260
  (2) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Hague
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is as follows:

  1994—none

  1993—one special adviser joined the Department and one left

  1992—one special adviser joined and one left

  1991—none

  1990—one special adviser joined.

  Prisoners (Housing Benefit)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will follow up a letter to the hon. Member for South Hams, dated 24 June, regarding the review of the current rules for paying housing benefit to prisoners, and the effect of this policy on Mr. and Mrs. Shelston of Wembury, near Plymouth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  We are currently looking at the issues involving the payment of housing benefit to certain prisoners. A statement will be made when these inquiries are completed.

  Severe Hardship Payments
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 June,Official Report, columns 148–49, what amount was paid for severe hardship in each quarter since September 1988.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The amount of income support paid to 16 to 17-year-olds claiming income support under the severe hardship provision is determined locally.

  Child Poverty
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children were living in poverty, as defined by(a) his Department and (b) the World Health Organisation, in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Burt
  No Government in the United Kingdom have ever accepted that it is possible to identify a single simple measure to define poverty in any meaningful way.

  Statistics on the distribution of household incomes, including those for children, can be found in "Households Below Average Income" 1979 to 1991–92, published on 14 July 1994, a copy of which is in the Library.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many public surgeries were held by the war pensions welfare service in Shetland since 1985.

  Mr. Hague
  This is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  261
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Wallace, dated 19 July 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of War Pensions surgeries held in Shetland.
  No War Pensions surgeries have been held in Shetland since 1985. The local Benefits Agency office in Lerwick are aware of the War Pensions Welfare Service and contact is on a regular basis, discussing any matters which may arise in connection with either existing or potential War Pensioners or Widows. The Lerwick office is regularly supplied with War Pensions publicity material including posters, claim forms and the War Pensions Welfare Officer's calling cards. In addition, the Welfare Office for the Highlands and Islands has visited Shetland yearly since 1984 and all those on the island who required or asked for assistance were contacted. The next visit is scheduled for August 1994. A member of the local War Pensions Committee, who also works for the Social Services Department on the island, is resident in Shetland and visits pensioners or widows when required.

  Number of housing benefit recipients in Great Britain 1988–1993 (000s)

  All private tenants

  Other private tenants (Excluding Housing Associations)

  Local Authority

  All private tenants

  Housing Associations

  Regulated

  Deregulated

  1988

  3,132

  69

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1989

  2,971

  958

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1990

  2,928

  1,067

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1991

  2,945

  1,085

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1992

  3,038

  1,290

  345

  378

  567

  1993

  3,053

  1,477

  412

  339

  726

  n/a=Not available.

  Source: Housing Benefit Management Information System quarterly caseload count in May of each year.

  Note:

  Information on Fair Rent is not collected. Data on Housing Association, regulated and deregulated rents is only available from May 1992.

  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 mean and median rents paid by recipients of housing benefit according to whether they live in local authority, housing association or private

  Mean and Median Rents (£/week) in Housing Benefit cases in Great Britain

  All private tenants

  Local authority

  All private tenants

  Housing associations

  Other private tenants (excluding housing associations)

  Regulated

  Deregulated

  Mean

  Median

  Mean

  Median

  Mean

  Median

  Mean

  Median

  Mean

  Median

  1988

  18·96

  18·23

  21·80

  20·15

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1989

  20·57

  20·03

  24·29

  22·50

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1990

  23·67

  22·59

  29·42

  25·98

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1991

  27·29

  25·45

  35·75

  30·50

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1992

  30·48

  28·29

  41·68

  35·50

  35·53

  32·91

  34·20

  30·50

  50·93

  43·20

  n/a = Not available.

  Source: Housing Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample of HB cases in May.

  Note: Information on Fair Rent is not collected. Data on Housing Association, regulated and dregulated rents only available from May 1992.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table setting out for each year since 1988–9 how many claimants of(a) rent rebate and (b) rent allowance, divided between those claimants who are housing association tenants and those who are private sector tenants, were unemployed and how many were
  262
  I hope you find my reply helpful.

  Housing Benefit
  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 housing association tenants and 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 1996–7; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  [holding answer 14 July 1994]: The available information is in the table. The projections for 1994–95 to 1996–97 will be announced at the time of the Budget and will be published in due course in the departmental report.

  sector accommodation, dividing the latter two groups into fair-rented and non-fair-rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  [holding answer 14 July 1994]: The available information is in the table.

  working but had earnings low enough to qualify for housing benefit; what proportion of total spending on each of these benefits is accounted for by unemployed claimants and those claimants who are working but have earnings low enough to qualify for housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  The available information is in the table.
  263

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Unemployed

  Working

  Unemployed

  Working

  Unemployed

  Working

  Rent Rebate

  35,000

  137,000

  67,000

  145,000

  77,000

  147,000

  Housing Association

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11,000

  14,000

  Private

  —

  —

  —

  —

  64,000

  65,000

  Total Rent Allowance

  20,000

  67,000

  54,000

  69,000

  75,000

  79,000

  Data source:

  The Housing Benefit Management Information system annual one per cent. enquiries of May for each year.

  Notes:

  1. No information on the proportion of total expenditure is available.

  2. Information for May 1988 and May 1989 is not available.

  3. The figures have been rounded to the nearest one thousand.

  4. The information relates to benefit units, a benefit unit may be a couple or a single person.

  5. Unemployed has been defined as in receipt of Unemployment Benefit.

  6. Claimants in receipt of Income Support and earnings have been excluded, therefore, the information includes Housing Benefit-only cases where either a claimant and/or partner receives earnings.

  7. Information on Housing Association tenants was not collected before 1992.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the names and addresses of those to be consulted on the Government's proposals to tackle discrimination against disabled people.

  Mr. Scott
  It is the Government's intention that this should be a wide-ranging public consultation. A copy of the names and addresses of the organisations on the initial consultation list will be placed in the Library and sent to the hon. Member shortly. The consultation document has also been sent to a number of individuals. In addition, advertising is to be placed in the national press to encourage other organisations and individuals with an interest to obtain a copy.

  Taxes as percentage of total taxes and social security contributions

  1978–79

  1991–92

  11993–94

  21994–95

  21995–96

  Rates3

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge/Council tax4

  —

  3

  4

  4

  3

  Business rates5

  —

  7

  6

  5

  6

  Expenditure taxes

  31

  35

  37

  37

  37

  Taxes on income

  40

  36

  34

  35

  36

  Taxes on capital

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Social Security receipts

  17

  17

  18

  18

  17

  1 Provisional outtum.

  2 From Treasury Summer Economic Forecast 1994.

  3 Includes domestic and non-domestic rates prior to introduction of community charge/council tax and business rates.

  4 Community charge for 1991–92; council tax from 1993–94. Includes some community charge arrears.

  5 Includes district council rates in Northern Ireland.

  Developing Countries (Debt)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what commitments were made at the Naples economic summit of 8 to 10 July on raising the level of debt relief for developing countries facing special difficulties beyond 50 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 11 July 1994,Official Report, col. 667–69.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 July,Official Report, column 379, what part of the total outstanding debt

TREASURY

  Rates and Taxes
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing), of 7 July,Official Report, columns 268–70, if he will publish a table on a similar basis, showing the share of tax accounted for by rates, community charge and council tax as a separate item and distinguishing between taxes on income and taxes on capital.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The information requested, set out in terms of the national accounts classification of taxes, is shown in the table.

  owed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Overseas Development Administration by developing countries is derived from defence-related contracts.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  None of the outstanding debt owed to the Overseas Development Administration by developing countries relates to defence-related contracts. I regret that the information requested for the Exports Credits Guarantee Department is not readily available and could be collected only at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what commitments were made by the Government of Japan at the Naples economic summit of 8 to 10 July to achieve the full implementation of the Trinidad terms for indebted developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Japan and our other G7 colleagues signed the summit communiqué encouraging
  265
  the Paris Club to offer additional concessions on debt relief for the poorest and most indebted countries facing special difficulties.

  Pension Contributions
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate total contributions to pensions by(a) employers, (b) self-employed and (c) employees; and if he will express (a) and (c) as a proportion of total earnings by employees.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The total contributions to pensions in 1992 were as follows:

  £ billion

  Pension Schemes

  Life Assurance Individual premiums for life policies

  State1

  Other

  (a) by employers

  19·5

  19·4

  —

  (b) by self employed

  1·0

  n/a2

  31·9

  (c) by employees

  13·2

  9·8

  —

  1 The National Insurance Fund plus the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS). National Insurance Fund contributions support payment by the fund of benefits other than pensions: there are no figures for contributions relating to pensions alone. However, a breakdown of benefits paid from the fund is given in Table 7·5 of the CSO United Kingdom National Accounts Blue Book, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  2 Not applicable.

  Total earnings in 1992 were £341·0 billion: employers contributions to pensions represented 11·4 per cent. of this.

  It is not possible to split life assurance figure between self-employed and employee contributions. Therefore, the employees' contributions proportion has not been estimated.

  Inland Revenue, Dewsbury
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what attempts have been made to extend the lease on the offices used by the Inland Revenue in Dewsbury;

  (2) what is the estimated cost of the move of the Dewsbury tax district office from Dewsbury to Leeds;

  (3) what is the estimated annual cost of running the Dewsbury tax district office from Leeds.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Further detailed work is required before final estimated figures are reached and before there can be any decision about whether the Dewsbury proposal will go ahead and it will be some months before an announcement can be made.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library tables showing estimates of the share of household income taken up by water charges, by region and quintile of income, on the income scale for 1988 and 1993.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  A table showing estimates for England and Wales in 1988, based on the 1988 family expenditure survey, will be placed in the Library. Details of water and sewerage expenditure for households in 266
  Northern Ireland and Scotland are not available from the 1988 FES. Data for 1993 are not available until 5 August 1994.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 July,Official Report, column 14, concerning the exchange rate and competitiveness, if he will publish a table showing the periods since 1970 when falls in the nominal exchange rate have been greater than that required to compensate for an increase in the general level of prices; and what evidence he has that such falls in the real exchange rate have been inflationary.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Tables showing sterling's exchange rate index and United Kingdom inflation can be found in "Financial Statistics" and "Economic Trends" respectively, published by the Central Statistical Office. Historical data can be found in table 5.1 of the annual supplement to "Economic Trends". Together these data can be used to calculate the information requested. The exchange rate is one of the indicators that is monitored in reviewing monetary conditions, but it is only one of a wide range of factors influencing inflation.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 July,Official Report, column 14, concerning the exchange rate and competitiveness, what evidence he has that the continued devaluation of the Italian lira has raised the rate of inflation; and if he will publish a table showing for the pound and the Italian lira the fall since August 1992 in the nominal and real exchange rates against the Deutschmark, the ecu and the United States dollar.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The exchange rate is only one of a wide range of factors influencing inflation. Monthly average exchange rates and inflation indices for the currencies requested can be found in "Financial Statistics" published by the Central Statistical Office and "Main Economic Indicators" published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development respectively. Together these data can be used to calculate the information requested.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the percentage increase for the United Kingdom and each EC country in imports and exports to non-EEC countries in terms of value in dollar terms for September 1992 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The trade data are set out in the EUROSTAT publication "Eurostatistics, Data for short-term economic analysis", published monthly.

  Money Circulation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current velocity of circulation of money relative to that in 1978; and if he will publish a table showing the annual change in velocity of circulation since 1978 together with the change in (i) gross domestic product, (ii) manufacturing output, (iii) employment and (iv) unemployment.
  267
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Between the fourth quarter of 1978 and the first quarter of 1994 the velocity of circulation of M0 increased by 75 per cent., while the velocity of circulation of M4 has decreased by 43 per cent. The annual changes of these velocities are published in "Financial Statistics", table 3.1B. The table sets out the publication details for the other statistics:

  Statistic

  Source

  Gross domestic product

  Economic Trends (June 1994) Table 2.1 and Economic Trends Annual Supplement (1994) Table 1.1

  Manufacturing output

  Economic Trends (June 1994) Table 1.1 and Economic Trends Annual Supplement (1994) Table 4.1

  Employment/unemployment

  Economic Trends (June 1994) Table 4.2 and Economic Trends Annual Supplement (1994) Table 3.2

  Central Statistical Office
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Central Statistical Office performed against its key targets for 1993–94.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Central Statistical Office's performance against its key targets for 1993–94 is described in the agency's annual report and accounts which are being laid before the House and published today. The CSO achieved 27 out of the 33 targets set for the year, including 17 out of 19 targets relating to the quality of key economic statistics.

  Central Statistical Office's targets have been progressively tightened during recent years in recognition of improvements in performance. There has been a further tightening of a number of targets for 1994–95. These are set out in the "CSO Programme Strategies 1994–95 to 1996–7", which was released on 19 April.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral statement by the Paymaster General of 19 May,Official Report, column 1002, what conclusions he has reached regarding the VAT liability for the teaching of English as a foreign language; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  In the light of the debate and the representations received I have decided that the order as drafted creates an unacceptable distortion in this sector of education and that VAT exemption should be available for all tuition in English as a foreign language. This expanded relief will be available from 1 August, the date the order comes into force, and will be administered by customs as a concession until such time as an amending order can be brought before the House.

  Ships (Capital Allowances)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are being made to publish the draft legislation on capital allowance balancing charges for ships announced on 21 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Inland Revenue is making available today the draft clauses which will implement the 268
  proposals on capital allowances for ships which I announced on 21 April 1994. These will allow balancing charges arising on the disposal of a ship to be rolled over for a period of up to three years from the date on which it is disposed of. The charge will be set against subsequent expenditure on ships within that period.

  Broadly speaking, the measure will apply to ships, including fishing vessels, disposed of on or after 21 April 1994 which are of a seagoing kind of 100 gross registered tonnes or more, but excluding those of a kind used for sport or recreational purposes. Ships brought into use by a shipowner on or after today will come within the scope of the measure where, for the first three years of use, they are registered in either the United Kingdom, its dependent territories or Crown dependencies, or another state within the European Union or European Economic Area. No registration requirement will apply to ships which the owners have used prior to today.

  Further details of the proposed measure are included in a press release issued by the Inland Revenue today. A copy of this together with the draft clauses will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons. Subject to the outcome of discussions with the European Commission we intend to introduce these clauses in next year's Finance Bill.

  Royal Family (Taxation)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 12 July at column 565, what are the titles of (a) the nine categories of deductible expenses in paragraph 4 and (b) the four categories of expenses under appendix B in the memorandum of understanding on royal taxation.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  There are no titles to the categories of deductible expenditure, but the categories were themselves published in the report of the Royal Trustees of 5 February 1993, House of Commons paper 464, which included the whole of the memorandum of understanding on royal taxation.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many special advisers have(a) joined and ( b) left his Department in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became (a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;

  (3) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The table shows the number of special advisers who have(a) joined and (b) left my Department in each of the last five years:

  (a) joined

  (b) left

  1989

  1

  0

  1990

  0

  2

  1991

  1

  0

  1992

  1

  2

  1993

  3

  3

  1994

  0

  0

  Special advisers are not required to provide details of their employers on leaving Government service.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Child Murders
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been murdered by members of their immediate family in each of the last five years in respect of whom a conviction has been obtained within a court.

  Mr. Maclean
  The table shows the number of offences recorded as homicide, as at 27 August 1993, where the victims were persons under the age of 16 years and the suspect was the parent or other relative and was convicted of homicide:

  Number

  1988

  62

  1989

  40

  1990

  38

  1991

  42

  1992

  22

  Figures for 1993 are not yet available.

  Young Offenders
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the options available to the courts for those under 21 years who are convicted of(a) theft from shops, (b) theft of a motor vehicle, (c) theft from a motor vehicle, (d) burglary of a dwelling house, (e) burglary of buildings other than dwelling houses, (f) assault and (g) criminal damage.

  Mr. Maclean
  The following sentencing options are currently available to the courts when a young person is convicted of the following offences—theft; taking a motor vehicle without authority; burglary from a dwelling place, burglary other than from a dwelling place; common assault; criminal damage:

  Where the young person is aged 10 and under 18 years

  Absolute or conditional discharge

  Fine

  Compensation Order

  Bind over of parent

  Supervision Order

  Attendance Centre Order

  Community Service Order (from age 16)

  Probation Order (from age 16)

  Combination Order (from age 16)

  Detention in a young offender institution (from age 15)

  Additionally, in respect of the offence of burglary from a dwelling place, a sentence of long-term detention under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act is available from age 14.

  Where the young person is aged 18 and under 21 years

  Absolute or conditional discharge

  Fine

  Bind over of parent

  Compensation Order

  Probation Order

  Attendance Centre Order

  Community Service Order

  Combination Order (from age 16)

  Detention in a young offender institution.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the members of the National Lottery Charity Board will be appointed; what qualifications will 270
  be taken into account in making appointments; when the board will first meet; who will be its chief executive; what will be its budget; when it will begin dispensing of lottery funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to announce the members of the National Lottery Charities Board within the next few days. The qualities taken into account include managerial skills, experience of grant administration and an understanding of the concerns for the voluntary sector across the United Kingdom. The object is to ensure that a wide range of expertise is available to the board.

  It will be for the board, once established, to arrange its meeting, appoint its staff, and decide when to start making grants. Subject to the policy and financial directions which my right hon. and learned Friend will be issuing, the board will also set its own budget for making grants and meeting its administrative expenses.

  Street Patrols
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to require security firms to become approved or registered before appointment to private street patrols;

  (2) what plans he has to investigate the incidence and operation of private street patrols;

  (3) what plans he has to draft a national code of practice for security firms involved in private street patrols.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We have no such plans.

  Immigration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for (1) entry clearance and (2) leave to remain as working holidaymakers have been(a) received, (b) granted and (c) refused to citizens of (i) India, (ii) Bangladesh, (iii) Pakistan, (iv) Australia, (v) Canada, (vi) Ghana, (vii) Nigeria and (viii) Malaysia during 1993 and 1994 to the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained under Immigration Act powers (1) overnight, (2) between one night and one month and (3) for a period of more than one month in(a) Harmondsworth detention centre, (b) the Queen's building, Heathrow, (c) terminal 4, Heathrow, (d) the Beehive, Gatwick, (e) Haslar holding centre, (f) Her Majesty's prison Pentonville, (g) Campsfield house detention centre and (h) other establishments, by name, during (1) 1993 and (2) 1994 to the latest convenient date; and how many of these people in each category were (i) women, (ii) children under 18 years and (iii) men.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is given in the table. The other information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Persons detained overnight or longer at certain locations1

  Location, length of stay, type of detainee

  1993

  19944

  Harmondsworth2

  345

  206

  Queen's Building, Heathrow

  1,321

  438

  Haslar

  432

  252

  Terminal 4, Heathrow3:

  Ovemight: Men

  688

  —

  271

  Location, length of stay, type of detainee

  1993

  19944

  Women

  515

  —

  Children under 18 years

  16

  —

  1,219

  —

  More than one night, less than one month:

  Men

  7

  —

  Women

  21

  —

  Children under 18 years

  —

  —

  28

  —

  One month or more

  —

  —

  The Beehive, Gatwick:

  Ovenight:

  Men

  1,279

  366

  Women

  335

  47

  Children under 18 years

  25

  4

  1,639

  417

  More than one night, less than one month:

  Men

  1,344

  1,019

  Women

  435

  318

  Children under 18 years

  33

  32

  1,812

  1,369

  One month or more

  —

  —

  Campsfield House, Kidlington

  Overnight:

  Men

  26

  11

  Women

  3

  5

  Children under 18 years

  1

  —

  30

  16

  More than one night, less than one month:

  Men

  95

  175

  Women

  15

  39

  Children under 18 years

  3

  2

  113

  216

  One month or more:

  Men

  64

  262

  Women

  16

  56

  Children under 18 years

  1

  1

  81

  319

  Stansted:

  Overnight:

  Men

  186

  84

  Women

  66

  16

  Children under 18 years

  2

  3

  More than one night, less than one month:

  Men

  279

  159

  Women

  76

  22

  Children under 18 years

  3

  —

  One month or more

  —

  —

  1 Unless otherwise stated, the data include persons detained initially elsewhere prior to being detained at the location given.

  2 Data mainly exclude persons detained initially elsewhere, and exclude illegal entrants and deportees detained.

  3 Not used for overnight detention after 22 October 1993.

  4 January to June 1994.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were received into prison department establishments under Immigration Act powers during(a) 1993 and (b) 1994 to the latest convenient: date, by individual prison establishment; what was the average daily population of persons so detained in each of those years; what was the average length of time spent in detention by persons so detained in each of those years; and if he will give a breakdown by nationality of persons so detained for each of those years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of detainees received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales 272
  under the Immigration Act 1971 is given in table 1 for 1993 and for January to May 1994. The number is shown by the establishment of initial reception.

  The average population in 1993, including persons originally received for a criminal offence, was 431. The average for January to May 1994 is 510. A breakdown of receptions into Prison Service establishments by nationality is given for 1993 and for January to May 1994 in table 2.

  The average period of detention for detainees released in 1993 and in January to May 1994 is provisionally estimated at 12 weeks and 15 weeks respectively.

  Table 1

  Receptions of persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales: by establishment 1993 and January-May 1994

  Number of Persons12

  Establishment

  1993

  1994

  Remand Centres

  Blakenhurst

  41

  32

  Brinsford

  5

  6

  Dorchester

  19

  2

  Exeter

  9

  8

  Feltham

  49

  4

  Glen Parva

  1

  1

  Haslar

  475

  188

  Low Newton

  2

  —

  Moorland

  6

  —

  Lancaster Farms

  —

  1

  Local Prisons

  Bedford

  23

  —

  Belmarsh

  38

  7

  Birmingham

  189

  84

  Bristol

  22

  8

  Brixton

  36

  22

  Bullingdon

  1

  2

  Canterbury

  130

  46

  Cardiff

  6

  1

  Chelmsford

  17

  —

  Dover

  35

  25

  Durham

  9

  2

  Elmley

  25

  15

  Gloucester

  8

  3

  Highdown

  56

  20

  Hindley

  1

  —

  Holloway

  59

  17

  Holme House

  10

  5

  Hull

  30

  6

  Leeds

  15

  6

  Leicester

  41

  —

  Lewes

  33

  —

  Lincoln

  12

  —

  Liverpool

  14

  14

  Manchester

  8

  17

  Norwich

  30

  16

  New Hall

  2

  —

  Pentonville

  204

  42

  Preston

  3

  —

  Pucklechurch

  3

  —

  Reading

  5

  3

  Risley

  2

  2

  Rochester

  13

  4

  Shrewsbury

  5

  6

  Swansea

  6

  7

  Wandsworth

  8

  8

  Winchester

  9

  6

  Wolds

  7

  1

  Wood Hill

  9

  —

  Wormwood Scrubs

  26

  11

  Establishment not recorded

  2

  2

  Nationality not recorded/other

  26

  11

  All Establishments

  1,785

  661

  273
  1 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Table 2

  Receptions into Prison Service establishments by nationality, 1993 to May 1994

  Number of persons12

  Nationality

  1993

  1 January to 31 May 1994

  Afghanistan

  5

  —

  Albania

  4

  3

  Algeria

  105

  49

  Angola

  39

  6

  Anguilla

  1

  1

  Armenia

  1

  —

  Ascensioni Island

  3

  —

  Austria

  1

  —

  Australia

  2

  —

  Bahrain

  1

  —

  Bangladesh

  36

  15

  Barbados

  —

  1

  Belgium

  1

  1

  Brazil

  3

  1

  Bulgaria

  3

  —

  Cameroon, United Republic of

  4

  1

  Canada

  2

  2

  Central African Republic

  2

  —

  Chad

  1

  —

  Chile

  1

  —

  China

  18

  6

  Colombia

  17

  3

  Congo

  4

  —

  Cyprus

  9

  3

  Czechoslovakia

  —

  1

  Denmark

  —

  1

  Dominica

  2

  1

  Djibouti

  1

  1

  Egypt

  12

  2

  Ethiopia

  5

  4

  Equador

  2

  —

  France

  19

  2

  Gambia

  4

  2

  Germany

  3

  1

  Ghana

  119

  55

  Grenada

  1

  —

  Guinea

  2

  —

  Guinea-Bissau

  1

  —

  Guyana

  3

  1

  Haiti

  —

  1

  Hong Kong

  13

  2

  Hungary

  1

  —

  India

  332

  130

  Indonesia

  2

  —

  Iran

  6

  1

  Irish Republic

  5

  2

  Indian Ocean Territories

  1

  —

  Israel

  6

  1

  Iraq

  2

  1

  Italy

  5

  —

  Ivory Coast

  16

  10

  Jamaica

  67

  18

  Japan

  —

  1

  Jordan

  1

  1

  Kenya

  18

  6

  Kuwait

  1

  —

  Lebanon

  11

  2

  Liberia

  11

  7

  Libya

  14

  2

  Malaysia

  9

  1

  Mali

  —

  2

  Morocco

  26

  7

  Mauritania

  1

  —

  Mauritius

  3

  1

  Malawi

  1

  —

  Mexico

  1

  —

  Mozambique

  —

  2

  Netherlands

  —

  5

  Netherland Antillies

  —

  1

  274

  Number of persons12

  Nationality

  1993

  1 January to 31 May 1994

  Nepal

  1

  3

  Nicaragua

  2

  —

  Niger

  5

  2

  Nigeria

  254

  87

  Pakistan

  87

  37

  Peru

  7

  —

  Philippines

  3

  —

  Poland

  12

  5

  Portugal

  3

  3

  Romania

  73

  10

  Russia

  10

  4

  Saudi Arabia

  1

  —

  Senegal

  1

  —

  Singapore

  1

  —

  Sierre Leone

  26

  4

  Slovakia

  —

  1

  Somalia

  22

  5

  South Africa

  9

  4

  Spain

  3

  —

  Sri Lanka

  24

  13

  St. Lucia

  2

  —

  Sudan

  4

  3

  Syrian Arab Republic

  1

  —

  Switzerland

  2

  —

  Tanzania

  11

  4

  Togo

  —

  1

  Thailand

  —

  1

  Trinidad and Tobago

  1

  —

  Tunisia

  4

  3

  Turkey

  117

  54

  Uganda

  12

  —

  United Arab Emirates

  4

  —

  United States of America

  9

  2

  Yemen, Arab Republic (North)

  2

  —

  Yemen, Peoples Democratic Republic (South)

  2

  —

  Yugoslavia

  9

  6

  Zambia

  3

  3

  Zaire

  39

  26

  Zimbabwe

  2

  2

  Nationality not recorded/other

  27

  11

  All

  1,785

  661

  1 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his answer of 26 May,Official Report, column 253, how many of the 29 entry clearance applications were successful, how many refused, and how many of those decisions were appealed against;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 26 May, Official Report, column 253, of the 29 entry clearance applications, what is the longest period of time which it has taken for the application to be determined from date of application to notification to the application of decision; what was the average length of time of decision making; and what was the shortest period of time within which a decision was reached.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his answer of 26 May,Official Report, column 254, what was the nationality of the citizens of the Union and the third-country national

  275
  spouses of the 39 applicants for residence documents who were interviewed in respect of their applications in 1993 and 1994;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 26 May, Official Report, column 254, how many of the 39 applications made between 1993 and 1994 for residence documents, in which an interview was carried out, applications were (a) granted, (b) refused and (c) were otherwise disposed; and in what way they were so disposed of.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18 July,Official Report, columns 36–38.

  Asylum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications for asylum have been refused with 48 hours in which to lodge an appeal since 26 July 1993; and how many people served with such notice have lodged appeals;

  (2) how many asylum applications, by nationality, have been refused as being unfounded (a) on safe third-country grounds and (b) on other grounds.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information, covering the period 1 August 1993 to 30 June 1994, on the number of refusals on safe third-country by nationality is given in the table. There were 845 third-country refusals, of which an estimated 300 were "fast-track" refusals who had 48 hours in which to lodge an appeal. In addition, provisional data suggest that about 300 cases have been refused on other without-foundation grounds.

  Information on the number of "fast-track" appeals lodged or on the nationality of those refused on other without-foundation grounds is not readily available.

  Decisions12 to refuse asylum and exceptional leave on safe third country grounds3, by nationality. 1 August 1993 to 30 June 1994

  Number of principal applicants

  Europe and Americas

  Number

  Bulgaria

  *

  Colombia

  10

  Romania

  20

  Turkey

  110

  Former USSR

  15

  Former Yugoslavia

  35

  Others

  30

  Africa

  Angola

  40

  Benin

  *

  Cameroon

  *

  Congo

  5

  Ethiopia

  30

  Ghana

  60

  Nigeria

  25

  Sierra Leone

  30

  Somalia

  80

  Sudan

  5

  Togo & Ivory Coast

  15

  Uganda

  10

  Zaire

  35

  Others

  80

  Total

  425

  Middle East

  Iran

  10

  Iraq

  20

  Lebanon

  5

  Others

  15

  276

  Europe and Americas

  Number

  Total

  45

  Asia

  China

  10

  India

  20

  Pakistan

  15

  Sri Lanka

  95

  Others

  10

  Total

  155

  Other and unknown nationalities

  *

  Grand total

  845

  1 Excluding dependants.

  2 Figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*'=1 or 2.

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

  Deportations
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women, have been deported in the first six months of 1994; and what was the nationality of each person.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women have been deported from Scotland in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The number of people whose departure was enforced as a result of deportation action initiated in Scotland in each of the years 1989–1993 is shown in the table. The table also shows separately the number of people who were removed as illegal entrants. The sex of those concerned is not recorded centrally and such a breakdown could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Deportation action

  33

  11

  29

  46

  16

  Illegal entry action

  18

  12

  37

  35

  15

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is as follows:

  year

  Number who joined

  Number who left

  1990

  1

  2

  1991

  1

  —

  1992

  2

  2

  1993

  2

  2

  11994

  —

  —

  1 To date.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many special advisers who left
  277
  his Department in each of the last five years became (a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;

  (2) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Howard
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  Fire Regulations
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make new Fire Precautions (Places of Work) Regulations; when they will take effect; what estimates he has made of the provisional costs to(a) the public sector generally and (b) schools of complying with the new regulations.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will implement the Fire Precautions (Place of Work) Regulations.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The report of the interdepart-mental review of fire safety legislation and enforcement recommended that the Home Office should not proceed with the proposed Fire Precautions (Places of Work) Regulations but that the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 should instead be amended to implement fully the framework and workplace directives relating to the health and safety of workers at work. The Government are considering those recommendations.

  The possible compliance costs to the public sector, including schools, have still to be finally assessed in the light of comments from other Government Departments. However, a compliance cost assessment will form part of any consultation document containing proposals for regulations to implement the general fire safety provisions of the framework and workplace directives.

  Racial Equality
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many race equality councils, or community relations councils, were in existence each year since 1988; and how many race equality officers, or their equivalent, grant-aided by the Commission for Racial Equality, were in post in each of these years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of racial equality councils—RECs—funded by the Commission for Racial Equality under section 44 of the Race Relations Act 1976 from 1988 is as follows. Almost all of these also receive local authority funding.

  Number

  1988

  85

  1989

  84

  1990

  83

  1991

  91

  278

  Number

  1992

  88

  1993

  91

  These figures do not include RECs which are funded only by the local authority. In 1993 the total number of RECs in the country was approximately 104.

  The numbers of racial equality officers funded by the Commission for Racial Equality since 1988 is as follows:

  Number

  1988

  199

  1989

  191

  1990

  201

  1991

  211

  1992

  192

  1993

  150

  Prison Statistics
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average cost per month of keeping someone in prison in 1993–94.

  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 A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the average cost per month of keeping someone in prison in 1993–94.
  The estimated net operating cost per prisoner per month for 1993–94 is £2,326.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ethnic breakdown of all prisoners received into prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the average cost per month of keeping someone in prison in 1993–94.
  The estimated net operating cost per prisoner per month for 1993–94 is £2,326.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ethnic breakdown of all prisoners received into prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking what was the ethnic breakdown of all prisoners received into prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.
  An ethnic breakdown by age and type of custody for prisoners received during the period July 1984 to March 1985 is shown in Tables 5 and 6 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 17/86 "The Ethnic Origins of Prisoners; the Prison Population on 30 June 1985 and Persons Received, July 1984—March 1985"; a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The corresponding information for receptions in 1990 is in the attached table.
  279

  Receptions into Prison Service establishments in 1990: by ethnic origin, age, type of custody and sex

  England and Wales

  Number and percentage1

  Ethnic origin

  Type of prisoner

  White

  West Indian Guyanese African

  Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi

  Chinese Arab Mixed origin

  Other, not recorded (including refusals)

  Totals

  MALES

  Number

  Aged under 21

  Untried

  15,033

  1,130

  388

  422

  268

  17,241

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners

  6,573

  414

  129

  159

  112

  7,387

  Under sentence

  Immediate custody

  12,463

  771

  323

  283

  159

  13,999

  Fine defaulters

  3,190

  71

  29

  36

  34

  3,360

  Non-criminal prisoners

  Immigration Act 1971

  2

  19

  6

  14

  7

  48

  Others

  45

  6

  —

  —

  2

  53

  Aged 21 and over

  Untried

  26,839

  4,041

  792

  640

  351

  32,663

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners

  8,514

  941

  181

  163

  76

  9,875

  Under sentence

  Immediate imprisonment

  30,121

  3,031

  746

  507

  332

  34,737

  Fine defaulters

  11,638

  540

  103

  117

  56

  12,454

  Non-criminal prisoners

  Immigration Act 1971

  37

  382

  199

  117

  110

  845

  Others

  1,103

  108

  48

  21

  12

  1,292

  Aged under 21

  Percentage

  Untried

  87·2

  6·6

  2·3

  2·4

  1·6

  100

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners

  89·0

  5·6

  1·7

  2·2

  1·5

  100

  Under sentence

  Immediate custody

  89·0

  5·5

  2·3

  2·0

  1·1

  100

  Fine defaulters

  94·9

  2·1

  0·9

  1·1

  1·0

  100

  Non-criminal prisoners

  Immigration Act 1971

  4·2

  39·6

  12·5

  29·2

  14·6

  100

  Others

  84·9

  11·3

  —

  —

  3·8

  100

  Aged 21 and over

  Untried

  82·2

  12·4

  2·4

  2·0

  1·1

  100

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners

  86·2

  9·5

  1·8

  1·7

  0·8

  100

  Under sentence

  Immediate imprisonment

  86·7

  8·7

  2·1

  1·5

  1·0

  100

  Fine defaulters

  93·4

  4·3

  0·8

  0·9

  0·4

  100

  Non-criminal prisoners

  Immigration Act 1971

  4·4

  45·2

  23·6

  13·8

  13·0

  100

  Others

  85·4

  84

  3·7

  1·6

  0·9

  100

  FEMALES

  Aged under 21

  Totals

  Untried

  562

  54

  4

  32

  27

  679

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners

  251

  12

  2

  10

  8

  283

  Under sentence

  Immediate custody

  319

  40

  4

  14

  4

  381

  Fine defaulters

  150

  5

  1

  4

  2

  162

  Non-criminal prisoners

  Immigration Act 1971

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Others

  8

  1

  —

  —

  —

  9

  Aged 21 and over

  Untried

  1,447

  340

  28

  103

  75

  1,993

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners

  550

  85

  8

  19

  21

  683

  Under sentence

  Immediate imprisonment

  1,351

  253

  15

  68

  47

  1,734

  Fine defaulters

  603

  46

  1

  22

  11

  683

  Non-criminal prisoners

  Immigration Act 1971

  —

  15

  1

  3

  1

  20

  Others

  29

  11

  2

  1

  1

  44

  Aged under 21

  Percentage

  Untried

  82·8

  8·0

  0·6

  4·7

  4·0

  100

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners

  88·7

  4·2

  0·7

  3·5

  2·8

  100

  Under sentence

  Immediate custody

  83·7

  10·5

  1·0

  3·7

  1·0

  100

  280 281

  Ethnic origin

  Type of prisoner

  White

  West Indian Guyanese African

  Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi

  Chinese Arab Mixed origin

  Other, not (including refusals)

  Totals

  Fine defaulters

  92·6

  3·1

  0·6

  2·5

  1·2

  100

  Non-criminal prisoners

  Immigration Act 1971

  33·3

  66·7

  —

  —

  —

  100

  Others

  88·9

  11·1

  —

  —

  —

  100

  Aged 21 and over

  Untried

  72·6

  17·1

  1·4

  5·2

  3·8

  100

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners

  80·5

  12·4

  1·2

  2·8

  3·1

  100

  Under sentence

  Immediate imprisonment

  77·9

  14·6

  0·9

  3·9

  2·7

  100

  Fine defaulters

  88·3

  6·7

  0·1

  3·2

  1·6

  100

  Non-criminal prisoners

  Immigration Act 1971

  —

  75·0

  5·0

  15·0

  5·0

  100

  Others

  65·9

  25·0

  4·5

  2·3

  2·3

  100

  1 Percentages rounded independently and may not add up to totals.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the ethnic breakdown of all prisoners in England and Wales at the latest available date.

  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.

  Population in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 31 May 1994 by sex and ethnic origin1

  Ethnic Origin

  White

  Black African, Carbbean, Other

  South Asian Bangladeshi, Indian Pakistani

  Chinese and Other Other Asian, Other, Indian Pakistani Chinese, Not recorded (including refusal)

  All persons

  Males

  39,028

  5,283

  1,372

  1,061

  46,744

  Females

  1,346

  363

  28

  51

  1,788

  Total

  40,374

  5,646

  1,400

  1,112

  48,532

  1 Provisional figures.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) sentenced and (b) unsentenced prisoners are currently being held in temporary allocation centres; and at which prisons in England and Wales.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the numbers of prisoners held in temporary allocation centres.
  The only temporary allocation centre is located at Risley prison. On 15 July, the Risley temporary allocation centre held 138 sentenced and 24 unsentenced prisoners.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male foreign nationals and (b) female foreign nationals were held in prison in England and Wales at the latest available date.
  282
  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question on the ethnic breakdown of all prisoners in England and Wales at the latest available date.
  The latest available provisional information is for 31 May 1994 and is given in the attached table.

  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 A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how many (a) male foreign nations and (b) female foreign nationals were held in prison in England and Wales at the latest available date.
  The latest available provisional information is for 31 May 1994. On that date there were 3,780 non-British citizens (3,470 males and 310 females) in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. This includes 600 male and 20 female nationals from the Irish Republic. A further 470 persons had no nationality recorded.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown by gender of all prisoners in England and Wales at the latest available date.

  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.
  283
  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking if he will give a breakdown by gender of all prisoners in England and Wales at the latest available date.
  On 15 July 1994 there were 47,247 males and 1,859 females held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. A further 121 males were held in police cells.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown by age of all prisoners in England and Wales at the latest available date.

  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 A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking if he will give a breakdown by age of all prisoners in England and Wales at the latest available date.
  The latest available information is for 31 May 1994. On that date there were 8,366 young offenders, ie persons aged under 21 years of age or 21 year old sentenced prisoners not classified as adults, and 40,166 adults held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. More detailed information by age for sentenced prisoners is published in "Prison statistics, England and Wales" (table 1·10 of the 1992 edition, Cm 2581), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which occasions since 1 April prisoners have been held three to a cell designed for one; at which prisons; and how many prisoners have been held three to a cell on each occasion.

  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 A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about prisoners sharing three to a cell designed for one.
  This information is reported by establishments on the last Friday of each month.
  Since 1 April 1994, no prisoners have been reported as sharing three to a cell designed for one.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners have committed suicide in the year 1994–95 to date; and how many of those were remand prisoners;

  (2) how many of the prisoners who committed suicide in 1993–94 were remand prisoners.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994.
  284
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about self-inflicted deaths in prison.
  This information is collected by calendar year, and is given in the following table.

  Year

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Remand

  Total

  Remand

  1993

  46

  19

  1

  1

  1994 (until 18 July)

  24

  10

  1

  0

  Firearms
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the level of firearms fees and extend the period of validity of a firearms or shotgun certificate.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in determining the level of fee paid for a firearm or shotgun licence.

  Mr. Howard
  We have been reviewing the level of fees under the Firearms Acts and considering whether the life of a firearm or shot-gun certificate should be increased. As a result of this, I will be laying an order in both Houses in the autumn increasing the following fees:

  Current Fee

  Proposed New Fee

  Firearm Certificate

  Issue

  46

  56

  Shot Gun Certificate

  Issue

  17

  43

  Renew

  11

  18

  Registered Firearm Dealer

  Issue of certificate

  94

  118

  Home Office Club Approval

  33

  84

  The following fees will remain at their current level:

  £

  Firearm certificate renewal

  46

  Firearm certificate variation

  26

  Firearm certificate replacement

  9

  Shotgun certificate replacement

  8

  Registered firearm dealer renewal

  50

  Register dealer in new area for purpose of game fair, etc.

  12

  Individual British visitor's permit

  12

  Group British visitor's permit

  60

  Museum licence

  1200

  Grant of coterminous certificate

  5

  1 Maximum.

  I also intend to lay an order before both Houses in the autumn increasing the life of firearm and shot-gun certificates from three to five years, using the power granted to me by the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1992. I intend that both orders will take effect from 1 January 1995.

  The proposed fee levels are designed to reflect the cost to the police service of operating the system, taking into account the best practice guidelines for administering the firearms licensing system which we issued to chief officers in 1991 and a subsequent costing exercise undertaken by the consultants Ernst and Young.
  285
  In calculating costs we have assumed that police forces are already well on the way to operating best practice and will continue to make efficiency savings during the five-year period over which costs have been calculated. In the case of shotgun fees the cost of additional checks required since the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 is reflected for the first time. In particular, on first application, the police must make a home visit to make sure that the requirement for safe keeping at all times is satisfied. The increase for issue of a shotgun certificate amounts to only £3 per year over the five-year period of certificate life. The fee for renewal of a shotgun certificate remains almost exactly the same per year as it is now.

  Those shooters who take advantage of the coterminous certificate arrangements will be better off as they will still pay £51 for five-year certificates instead of three-year certificates.

  Without these increases there would be a shortfall in income of some £8 million over the five years to meet the police costs, a shortfall which would have to be met at the expense of some other police activity.

  I have today placed in the Library of both Houses a copy of the Ernst and Young report "Firearms Licensing Costs".

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will be making a similar separate order in relation to fees in Scotland.

  Prisoners' Compacts
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which prisons in England and Wales prisoners' compacts were in operation at the latest available date.

  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 A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about prisons in England and Wales in which prisoners' compacts were in operation at the latest available date.
  On 30 June 61 establishments were operating prisoners' compacts. A list is attached as an annex.

  Annex

  Haslar

  Askham Grange

  Hatfield

  Aylesbury

  High Down

  Bedford

  Hindley

  Blakenhurst

  Hollesley Bay

  Blantyre House

  Hull

  Blundeston

  Kirklevington Grange

  Brinsford

  Leyhill

  Bristol

  Lincoln

  Bullwood Hall

  Lindholme

  Canterbury

  Long Lartin

  Chelmsford

  Low Newton

  Coldingley

  Maidstone

  Deerbolt

  Manchester

  Dorchester

  Moorland

  Downview

  The Mount

  Drake Hall

  New Hall

  Durham

  Nottingham

  Erlestoke House

  Northallerton

  Eversthorpe

  Norwich

  Featherstone

  Pentonville

  Feltham

  Risley

  Gloucester

  Rochester

  Grendon

  Send

  286

  Spring Hill

  Wakefield

  Stocken

  Werrington

  Stoke Heat

  Wetherby

  Swaleside

  Whitemoor

  Swinfen Hall

  Winchester

  Thorn Cross

  Wormwood Scrubs

  Thorp Arch

  Wymott

  Fine Defaulters
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) female fine defaulters and (b) male fine defaulters were received into prisons in England and Wales in 1993;

  (2) what percentage of receptions into prisons in England and Wales in 1993 were fine defaulters.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions asking how many (a) female fine defaulters and (b) male fine defaulters were received into prisons in England and Wales in 1993 and what percentage of receptions into prisons in England and Wales in 1993 were fine defaulters.
  Provisional information for 1993 shows that 21,280 males and 1,340 females were received into Prison Service establishments for fine default accounting for 30 per cent. of all persons received under sentence.

  Prison Drug Programmes
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 203, what assessment has he made of the effectiveness of drug addiction programmes in prisons; and what plans there are to increase the number of drug programmes available to prisoners.

  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 A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question on drug addiction programmes in prisons.
  The Prison Service are commissioning an external research team to evaluate a drug treatment programme that has been running in one establishment for over two years.
  An external researcher has also been commissioned to provide a literature review of different types of drug treatment programme used in the Prison Service, other prison systems and/or the community.
  The results of these two pieces of research will help to inform the Prison Service Strategic Plan on which treatment programmes are best suited to prisons and how many programmes will be required.

  Prison Accommodation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the(a) certified normal accommodation, (b) operational capacity and (c) actual population at each prison in England and Wales at the latest available date.
  287
  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 A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the capacity and population of prisons in England and Wales.
  The attached table shows the certified normal accommodation (CNA), operational capacity and actual population of each prison on 30 June 1994.

  Certified normal accommodation, operational capacity and population in prisons in England and Wales on 30 June 1994

  Establishment

  Certified normal accommodation in use

  Operational capacity

  Population

  Acklington

  658

  658

  597

  Albany

  436

  436

  427

  Aldington

  127

  127

  118

  Ashwell

  404

  404

  388

  Askham Grange

  126

  127

  100

  Aylesbury

  230

  233

  228

  Bedford

  303

  329

  294

  Belmarsh

  841

  841

  712

  Birmingham

  562

  850

  790

  Blakenhurst

  649

  649

  612

  Blantyre House

  95

  95

  94

  Blundeston

  408

  408

  395

  Brinsford

  446

  446

  439

  Bristol

  423

  473

  426

  Brixton

  484

  668

  597

  Brockhill

  111

  120

  79

  Bullingdon

  635

  635

  615

  Bullwood Hall

  125

  125

  120

  Camp Hill

  378

  441

  400

  Canterbury

  184

  275

  271

  Cardiff

  334

  450

  430

  Castington

  300

  300

  276

  Channings Wood

  594

  594

  569

  Chelmsford

  230

  393

  348

  Coldingley

  292

  292

  282

  Cookham Wood

  120

  120

  120

  Dartmoor

  538

  538

  497

  Deerbolt

  450

  450

  385

  Doncaster

  771

  120

  169

  Dorchester

  138

  232

  212

  Dover

  316

  316

  246

  Downview

  287

  291

  279

  Drake Hall

  255

  255

  226

  Durham

  399

  577

  629

  East Sutton Park

  94

  94

  84

  Elmley

  627

  627

  603

  Erlestoke

  250

  250

  243

  Everthorpe

  228

  228

  223

  Exeter

  274

  473

  385

  Featherstone

  599

  599

  566

  Feltham

  842

  842

  784

  Finnamore Wood

  106

  106

  11

  Ford

  536

  536

  450

  Frankland

  447

  432

  426

  Full Sutton

  604

  576

  551

  Garth

  512

  512

  504

  Gartree

  277

  277

  265

  Glen Parva

  767

  788

  769

  Gloucester

  211

  271

  255

  Grendon

  190

  186

  181

  Guys Marsh

  240

  180

  176

  Hollesley Bay

  365

  365

  298

  Haslar

  131

  131

  143

  Hatfield

  180

  180

  177

  Haverigg

  381

  381

  362

  Hewell Grange

  156

  179

  168

  Highdown

  549

  549

  529

  288

  Establishment

  Certified normal accommodation in use

  Operational capacity

  Population

  Highpoint

  679

  679

  610

  Hindley

  280

  319

  307

  Holloway

  517

  532

  483

  Holme House

  649

  649

  594

  Hull

  328

  430

  366

  Huntercombe

  226

  225

  210

  Kingston

  154

  154

  137

  Kirkham

  644

  620

  551

  Kirklevington

  74

  74

  71

  Lancaster Farms

  364

  364

  364

  Lancaster

  260

  246

  256

  Latchmere House

  145

  145

  142

  Leeds

  814

  1,168

  1,108

  Leicester

  192

  348

  335

  Lewes

  282

  377

  306

  Leyhill

  410

  410

  398

  Lincoln

  444

  628

  627

  Lindholme

  567

  567

  539

  Littlehey

  593

  583

  553

  Liverpool

  931

  1,267

  1,169

  Long Lartin

  362

  362

  350

  Low Newton

  198

  343

  253

  Maidstone

  485

  485

  476

  Manchester

  850

  850

  850

  Moorland

  635

  635

  621

  Morton Hall

  168

  168

  165

  New Hall

  169

  169

  180

  North Sea Camp

  201

  201

  108

  Northallerton

  150

  219

  159

  Norwich

  327

  476

  384

  Nottingham

  222

  222

  207

  Onley

  520

  520

  450

  Oxford

  107

  120

  46

  Parkhurst

  306

  266

  229

  Pentonville

  559

  765

  742

  Portland

  420

  420

  330

  Preston

  382

  545

  489

  Pucklechurch

  56

  81

  62

  Ranby

  347

  347

  348

  Reading

  182

  205

  150

  Risley

  751

  716

  700

  Rochester

  294

  330

  208

  Rudgate

  287

  300

  268

  Send

  113

  113

  111

  Shepton Mallet

  158

  211

  170

  Shrewsbury

  168

  307

  301

  Spring Hill

  210

  210

  211

  Stafford

  358

  530

  511

  Standford Hill

  384

  384

  389

  Stocken

  396

  396

  389

  Stoke Heath

  300

  300

  267

  Styal

  180

  209

  227

  Sudbury

  413

  348

  351

  Sudbury (Foston Hall)

  96

  96

  92

  Swaleside

  512

  512

  499

  Swansea

  155

  220

  209

  Swinfen Hall

  182

  182

  182

  Thorn Cross

  209

  209

  177

  The Mount

  484

  484

  490

  The Verne

  552

  538

  528

  The Wolds

  320

  368

  359

  Thorp Arch

  166

  166

  164

  Usk

  241

  241

  234

  Wormwood Scrubs

  714

  1,050

  850

  Wakefield

  718

  718

  693

  Wandsworth

  821

  1,033

  866

  Wayland

  580

  580

  543

  Wellingborough

  344

  314

  308

  Werrington

  110

  110

  101

  Wetherby

  196

  196

  174

  Whatton

  216

  216

  212

  Whitemoor

  534

  524

  486

  Winchester

  368

  492

  396

  Woodhill

  566

  566

  507

  Wymott

  432

  384

  376

  289

  Establishment

  Certified normal accommodation in use

  Operational capacity

  Population

  Total

  48,942

  52,767

  48,897

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average wait for all Bangladeshi applicants for entry clearance in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information available centrally is of waiting times to first interview. This 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.

  Game Licences
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to abolish the requirement for those who kill game to hold game licences.

  Mr. Howard
  I have decided that the licensing requirements for those who take or kill game, contained in the Game Act 1831 and the Game Licences Act 1860, should be abolished. Such abolition will also apply in Scotland.

  Firearms Licences
  Sir IvanLawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to establish a national firearms licensing board.

  Mr. Howard
  The proposal to establish a national firearms licensing authority to take over the administration of firearms licensing from the police was the subject of a public consultation paper in 1992, following a brief feasibility study. That study indicated that it would be feasible to introduce a national civilian-operated system which could be more cost-effective and achieve greater consistency in decision making.

  A comprehensive revision of the original feasibility study has now been completed and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. It concludes that the establishment of a national licensing authority would generally improve the efficiency of the system, improve the quality of service to shooters in some areas and bring a consistency of approach to decision making. It did not address the question of how this could best be achieved but made a number of suggestions to improve the administration of the firearms licensing system.

  However, the report also indicates that the original study, because of its limited remit, significantly underestimated the amount of work involved in the licensing system and that the staffing required for a national authority would be substantially higher than the levels originally proposed. The original study estimated start-up costs of £2·5 million and annual running costs of approximately £6 million. The revised study estimates that start-up costs would amount to about £4·1 million with an annual running cost in excess of £10 million. This is substantially more than the estimated cost of operating the current police system, which in 1994–95 is £7·6 million.
  290
  The report also identifies the need for a significant amount of continued police involvement in firearms licensing, the risk of duplication of effort and the difficulties involved in the interface of any licensing authority and the police.

  After careful consideration of all the factors involved, I have decided not to proceed with the proposal to establish a separate firearms licensing authority. I accept that despite the efforts of police licensing departments there is still considerable scope for improving the efficiency and the consistency of approach of the existing firearms licensing system to the benefit of both the shooting fraternity and the police. Now that the future direction of the licensing system is settled, we must concentrate on building upon the improvements already achieved and I will be pursuing with the Association of Chief Police Officers and Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary how existing "best practice" guidelines can be more consistently implemented.

  Similar action will be taken on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Prison Staff
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of(a) staff posts and (b) actual numbers in post in each prison in England and Wales by rank, gender and race.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 26 May 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 A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 20 July 1994
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about staff posts and numbers in post in prisons in England and Wales.
  Table A lists target staffing figures (TSF) or funded posts and total staff in post at each prison on 30 April 1994. On 1 April 1993 Prison Service Headquarters devolved to governors the responsibility for recruiting prison officers and, subject to the maximum set by target staffing figures, deciding the number and mix of staff within their running costs budget. For historical reasons, some TSFs reflect former complements which were unfunded. Establishments now generally use funded posts, ie the number of posts assumed in setting the budget, as their yardstick for staffing purposes.
  A breakdown of prison officer grades in post at every prison, showing the numbers in each grade who are women or member of ethnic minorities is at tables B and C. A breakdown of other staff could only be produced at disproportionate cost. The readily available information in table D shows the numbers in each grade who are women or members of ethnic minorities for the Service as a whole. The figures for Doncaster, which opened on 27 June, have not been given as it is not yet fully staffed.
  A copy of these tables has been placed in the House of Commons library.

  EU Citizens
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many United Kingdom citizens live and work in other EU member states; and how many citizens of each other EU member states live and work in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have been asked to reply.

  Estimates of the number of foreign nationals from each EU member state who are in employment and living in the

  291
  United Kingdom are available from the labour force survey and are shown in the table. Information on the number of United Kingdom nationals working in other EU member states is not held centrally.

  Numbers of foreign nationals of each EU member state in the United Kingdom

  United Kingdom—Spring 1993

  Number aged 16 or over living in the United Kingdom and in employment

  Nationality

  Thousands

  Ireland

  223

  Italy

  41

  France

  27

  Portugal

  18

  Federal Republic of Germany

  14

  Netherlands

  11

  Spain

  11

  Greece

  10

  Denmark

  1—

  Belgium

  1—

  Luxembourg

  1—

  Source:

  1 Estimates below 10,000 not shown.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has that identity cards containing electronicallystored information have contributed to a reduction in fraud in countries where they have been used.

  Mr. David Davis
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department holds no evidence of the contribution to the reduction in fraud levels relating to ID cards containing electronically stored information.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has instigated into the percentage or degree of error inherent in reading electronic identity cards.

  Mr. David Davis
  I have been asked to reply.

  No research has been instigated into the percentage or degree of error inherent in reading electronic ID cards. In the context of a wider study on smart cards, Office of Public Service and Science officials have discussed the error rates relating to cards used within the banking sector. The false rejection rate is believed to be in the order of one in 100,000 uses.

SCOTLAND

  Skin Cancer
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has received from the Association of Dermatologists on education about skin cancer in schools.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has not received any advice from the Association of Dermatologists on education about skin cancer in schools.

  NHS asset Sales
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in each case since 1991–92 of land having been sold by a health board or NHS trust, whether the land was(a) donated to the NHS, (b) donated to a body pre-dating the creation of the NHS or (c) bought with public funds.
  292
  Mr. Stewart
  Comprehensive information of the kind requested is not held centrally. This sort of detail is usually obtainable only from deeds, which are delivered to the purchaser on sale, and even these will not necessarily contain the appropriate information.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will require health board and NHS trusts to make public their decisions on what to do with the proceeds of sales of surplus land and buildings; and if he will require them to be used for improving patient services.

  Mr. Stewart
  It is for the NHS body managing the sale to consider what publicity should be given to decisions on the use of proceeds. For many years it has been the position that these proceeds should be used for the improvement of patient care.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced the publication of a consultation document on 15 July. The Scottish Office contributed to its preparation. En welcoming its publication, my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, invited everyone in Scotland with an interest in the issue, especially disabled people themselves, to let us have their views.

  Child Care
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 Scotland for each of these years.

  Mr. Stewart
  Details of public expenditure on out-of-school services have not been separately identified. Indications are, however, that the number of such schemes is growing. This is being assisted by the Government's £45 million initiative aimed at encouraging the establishment of viable out-of-school and holiday schemes for school age children and by the support provided under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for the Scottish Out-of-School Childcare Network.

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest available information about public expenditure on nursery schools and classes since 1989–90 is:
  293

  £ million

  1989–90

  39·69

  1990–91

  45·25

  1991–92

  51·23

  1992–93

  56·03

  That expressed as a percentage of estimated Scottish GDP is:

  Per cent.

  1989–90

  0·11

  1990–91

  0·11

  1991–92

  0·12

  1992–93

  0·13

  Information on expenditure related to children under five who attend primary schools is not recorded separately.

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total amount of funding allocated by his Department to Highlands and Islands Enterprise for development initiatives in Kintyre(a) in the current financial year and (b) over the past three financial years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The allocation of funds to specific areas for economic and social development purposes is the responsibility of Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost to the nearest £10,000 of market testing and related operations in the Scottish Prison Service.

  Lord James-Douglas Hamilton
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Scottish Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Tam Dalyell, dated 20 July 1994:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the cost of market testing and related operations in the Scottish Prison Service.
  The best estimate of cost to date, including staff time and consultancy fees in connection with market testing and related operations in the Scottish Prison Service, is approximately £950,000.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Lang
  My Department has employed two special advisers over the last five years, one of whom left in 1990 and was replaced.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years;
  294
  (2) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became (a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants.

  Mr. Lang
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  Foreign Prisoners
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the official foreign language prison documents that are available to foreign prisoners being held in prisons.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Scottish Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman Godman, dated 20 July 1994:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about official foreign language prison documents available to foreign prisoners being held in prisons.
  The Scottish Prison Service provides "Notes for Guidance of Prisoners on Reception into Prison" in a number of languages. There is also available to foreign prisoners a Home Office Immigration and Nationality Department information leaflet which provides information on prisoners' rights and welfare matters. An SPS Prisoner's Information Pack is in course of preparation and consideration is being given to its translation in other languages.
  In every establishment a member of staff has been appointed to act as Ethnic Minority Liaison Officer with responsibility for monitoring the welfare and progress of foreign prisoners. Their role includes interviewing such prisoners on admission and arranging interpreter facilities for prisoners with language difficulties.

  Homelessness
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to make a statement following the responses to his consultation paper "Tackling Homelessness".

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend received a large number of detailed responses to the consultation paper which he will consider carefully before making decisions to deal with homelessness in Scotland.

  Wheelchairs
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many disabled persons were provided with powered wheelchairs by the Wheelchair Service in each of the past five years; and how many such applications were turned down in the same period of time;

  (2) how many wheelchairs have been distributed to disabled people in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what is the expected life of a wheelchair issued by the Wheelchair Service; and after what interval a user may seek a replacement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information is not held centrally.

  On average 5,500 new wheelchairs, both manual and powered, are purchased annually for NHS patients, but wheelchairs can be issued and re-issued on more than one

  295
  occasion in the course of a year if returned as being no longer required. There is no stipulated period for replacement of a wheelchair since this will depend on usage, the condition of the chair and whether repair is possible. It is for the staff in wheelchair centres to decide when a replacement chair would be appropriate.

  Food Poisoning
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of food poisoning were repotted in Scotland in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Stewart
  The numbers of cases of food poisoning notified by doctors to health boards are set out as follows:

  Year

  Number of notifications

  1979

  2,657

  1980

  2,299

  1981

  2,920

  1982

  2,880

  1983

  2,632

  1984

  2,391

  1985

  1,967

  1986

  2,436

  1987

  2,480

  1988

  2,998

  1989

  3,197

  1990

  3,024

  1991

  2,938

  1992

  3,317

  1993

  3,255

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of laboratory reports of salmonella in foodstuffs in Scotland in each year since 1979; and what is the latest available figure for this year.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Information on the number of such reports of salmonella in foodstuffs is not held centrally; data are available on reported cases of salmonellosis, but these do not distinguish between cases originating from food or other sources.

  Operating Theatres
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest figures for operating theatre sessions postponed or cancelled in each of the past four years because there were insufficient appropriate operating theatre staff available in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is not centrally available.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest figures and those for the previous four years of the number of operating theatre sessions postponed or cancelled because the appropriate back-up resources were absent or insufficient for(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is not centrally available.

  Carers
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest figures for the number of carers in(a) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.

  Mr. Stewart
  The 1990 general household survey estimated that there were 150,000 carers in Scotland who were looking after someone with whom they lived, and a further 600,000 carers providing help to people who lived elsewhere. No information on individual local authorities is held centrally.

  Scottish Enterprise
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current membership of Scottish Enterprise along with the cost associated with servicing it and remuneration or expenses paid to its members in respect of their duties.

  Mr. Stewart
  The current membership of Scottish Enterprise and the remuneration, and so on, paid to its members in respect of their duties are set out in Scottish Enterprise's annual report and accounts which were laid before Parliament on 13 July 1994. The associated administrative cost of servicing the membership of Scottish Enterprise is an operational matter for that body and I have asked its chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  School Meals
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, for each year since 1987, what was the percentage of school pupils entitled to free school meals.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested taken from annual school meals census returns is as follows:

  Percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals

  Per cent.

  1988

  n/a

  1989

  n/a

  1990

  16·8

  1991

  16·9

  19921

  17·2

  1993

  18·2

  1 Excludes data for 28 nursery schools in Ayr Division of Strathclyde, and 21 special schools in Dumfries and Galloway.

  n/a = Not available.

  Figures for 1994 are not yet available.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much Scottish Homes spent hosting its landlord awareness seminar at its headquarters in June;

  (2) how much Scottish Homes is paying Management Consultancy Services for examining its management structure;

  (3) how much Scottish Homes has spent on its membership of the Quality Scotland Foundation;

  (4) how much Scottish Homes expects to spend pursuing its application for the charter mark under the charter mark scheme;

  (5) if he will make a statement on the costs incurred by Scottish Homes in holding its informal lunch for new employees in June;
  297
  (6) how much Scottish Homes has spent on corporate hospitality during the last 12 months.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked its chairman, Sir James Mellon, to write to the hon. Member.

  Charter Marks
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which public bodies under the operational control of the Scottish Office are now in receipt of the charter mark.

  Mr. Lang
  The following six public bodies which are sponsored by my Department are in receipt of charter mark awards:

  Her Majesty's Prison, Dungavel, Lanarkshire

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  Dumfries and Galloway Police

  Dumfries and Galloway Fire Brigade

  Tayside Police

  University of Strathclyde, Careers Advisory Service

  Her Majesty's Prison, Dungavel received its award in 1992. The other bodies received their awards in 1993.

  Agricultural Payments
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the total areas claimed by arable farmers in the Scottish non-less favoured area for crops and set-aside under the arable area payments scheme in 1994; how those figures relate to the baseline areas declared to the European Commission; what estimate he has made of the overshoot; and if he will make a statement on the scale of penalty that is likely to arise from such an overshoot.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 14 July 1994]: The total areas claimed by arable farmers in the Scottish non-less favoured area under the arable area payments scheme in 1994, and so far recorded, are as follows:

  Hectares

  Cereals

  270,491

  Linseed

  259

  Oilseeds

  63,155

  Protein Crops

  2,042

  Set-aside

  69,671

  less uncompensated set-aside1

  2,190

  Simplified scheme

  19,395

  Total

  422,823

  1 The uncompensated element of the set-aside claim is not counted against the base area.

  These figures are provisional and my Department's analysis of the claims is not yet complete. In particular, they do not include details of arable claims in respect of Scottish non-LFA land submitted to the other United Kingdom Agriculture Departments. In addition to the AAPS areas claimed, the EC rules also require that five-year set-aside land and land forming part of a forage area claim but growing cereals, linseed, oilseeds or protein crops—CLOPs—must also be counted against the base area. My Department's provisional estimate of these areas against the base area already submittted to the European Commission is as follows:
  298

  Hectares

  Total of arable claims (as above)

  422,823

  Estimate of Scottish non-LFA land submitted to the other United Kingdom Agriculture Departments

  2,721

  Five-year set-aside (provisional)

  8,810

  CLOPs in forage

  12,471

  Total

  446,825

  BASE AREA

  430,467

  Overshoot (PROVISIONAL)

  16,358

  (3·8 PER CENT.)

  Because of the measures which the Government obtained in Brussels to reduce the impact of the 1993 overshoot, only 20 per cent. of the penalties due in respect of the 1994 harvest in the Scottish non-LFA will be applied. A 3·8 per cent. overshoot would result in a 0·76 per cent. additional uncompensated set-aside requirement in 1995 and a corresponding reduction in AAPS payment rates this year. Regardless of the overshoot, between the autumn and next spring my Department will be paying over £120 million to Scottish farmers under the arable regime. This is a significant increase on last year's payments.

  Psychiatric Beds
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his target for the number of psychiatric beds by 1999; and what is the current number of such beds.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: There are no such targets setting the number of psychiatric beds although there is a long-term aim to reduce long-stay beds by around 8,000. It is for individual health boards to determine future in-patient bed numbers, based on assessment of patients who are likely to require continuing specialist medical and nursing supervision.

  The current average number of staffed psychiatric beds available is shown in the table.

  Psychiatric speciality

  Number of beds

  Adolescent psychiatry

  63

  Child psychiatry

  56

  Mental illness

  5,120

  Psychogeriatrics

  5,960

  Psychiatric specialties

  11,199

  This excludes long-stay provision for people with learning disabilities and for the frail elderly.

  Nurse Training and Education
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. Stewart
  [holding answer 19 July 1994]: It is for health boards as employers of Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery teaching and other staff, to determine what action should be taken in relation to surplus staff, in the light of local circumstances.
  299
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total cost of the changes in nurse education since 1989 which result from the introduction of Project 2000.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 19 July 1994]: The total cost to nurse education of the introduction in 1992 of Project 2000 is not separately identifiable. However, additional specific funding of approximately £57 million was made to health boards between 1990–91 and 1993–94. From 1994–5 onwards this additional funding is not identified separately in the health boards' allocations.

  Airports
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the transfer of ownership of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. to him from the Civil Aviation Authority to take place, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 July 1994]: The transfer can be effected without the need for legislation. A number

  Value of the standard maintenance grant and loan

  Academic Years

  Standard maintenance grant (cash terms) £13

  Student loan (cash terms) £23

  Total (grant+loan)

  1979–80

  1,245

  (1,287)4

  —

  —

  1980–81

  1,430

  (1,478)4

  —

  —

  1981–82

  1,535

  (1,587)4

  —

  —

  1982–83

  1,595

  (1·649)4

  —

  —

  1983–84

  1,660

  (1,716)4

  —

  —

  1984–85

  1,775

  —

  —

  —

  1985–86

  1,830

  —

  —

  —

  1986–87

  1,901

  —

  —

  —

  1987–88

  1,972

  —

  —

  —

  1988–89

  2,050

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  2,155

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  2,265

  —

  420

  2,685

  1991–92

  2,265

  —

  580

  2,845

  1992–93

  2,265

  —

  715

  2,980

  1993–94

  2,265

  —

  800

  3,065

  1994–95

  2,040

  —

  1,150

  3,190

  1 Applies to students in England and Wales living away from home and studying outside London. It excludes any supplementary allowances.

  2 Applies to students in England, Wales and Scotland living away from home and studying outside London. Final year students get a lower level of loan because it does not cover the summer vacation period. The 1994–95 final year loan will be £840.

  3 Different rates of grant and loan apply to students studying in London and those living in the parental home.

  4 Includes adjustments to figures for 1983–84 and earlier for travel costs: up to, and including 1983–84, students claimed and were individually reimbursed full travelling expenses; from 1984–85 a flat—rate amount for travelling costs was incorporated within the main rate of grant.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became (a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants.

  Mr. Forth
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Forth
  The information is as follows:
  300
  of important issues require to be resolved before the transfer takes place, including arrangements for future funding and for employee pensions. Subject to resolving the outstanding issues the transfer will take place by or before 1 April 1995.

EDUCATION

  Student Loans
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will list the value of the student loans for each year since their introduction;

  (2) if he will list the value of the student grant for each year since 1979 and for the 1994–5 academic year.

  Mr. Boswell
  Student loans were introduced in the academic year 1990–1. The table shows the value of the loans for that and subsequent academic years, and of student grants since 1979.

  Year

  Joined

  Left

  1989

  1

  1

  1990

  1

  1

  1991

  1

  0

  1992

  1

  2

  1993

  0

  0

  Pupil Numbers
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his forecast for pupil numbers in(a) nursery and primary and (b) secondary schools for the academic years 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The projected numbers of pupils in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England are as follows:
  301

  Thousands

  Nursery and primary schools

  Secondary schools

  At January of each academic year

  1994–95

  4,192

  2,989

  1995–96

  4,268

  3,023

  1996–97

  4,316

  3,061

  1997–98

  4,347

  3,094

  School Meals
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education for each year since 1987, what was the percentage of school pupils entitled to free school meals.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals was collected from maintained schools in England for the first time in January 1993. At this time, 20 per cent. of pupils were reported as known to be eligible for free school meals.

  Special Schools
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which local education authorities have submitted plans for the discontinuance of a special school under section 14 of the Education Act 1981 and section 183 of the Education Act 1993 and have not received final replies; which of these have been waiting(a) three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six and 12 months and (d) more than 12 months; and if he will name the schools affected in each case.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is provided in the table. There are proposals from four LEAs which have been outstanding for more than 12 months. In all these cases further information has had to be sought from the LEAs concerned. My right hon. Friend has decided, in the light of the new consolidated statutory regime under section 183 of the Education Act 1993, to set a general target of seven months for the determination of special school proposals, and has asked officials to consult LEAs about ways of improving the information contained in LEA proposals to help expedite decisions.

  LEA proposals for the closures of special schools which have not had determinant or "minded to" decisions, as at 19 July 1994

  Waiting time in months

  LEA and school

  <3

  3–6

  6–12

  >12

  Derbyshire Ashe Hall

  *

  Kent Beech House

  *

  Northamptonshire

  Eastfield

  *

  Fairlawn

  *

  Brookfield

  *

  Nottinghamshire

  Appletongate

  *

  Linden

  *

  St Ann's Hospital

  *

  Kinder Hospital

  *

  University Hospital

  *

  City Hospital

  *

  Hopwell

  *

  Bassetlaw

  *

  Ewing

  *

  Oxford

  Tesdale

  *

  302

  Waiting time in months

  LEA and school

  <3

  3–6

  6–12

  >12

  Bennet House

  *

  East Sussex

  Robert Mitchell

  *

  Walsall

  Beacon

  *

  Lambeth

  Aspen House

  *

  Hyde Farm

  *

  Lansdowne

  *

  Barking and Dagenham

  Bentry

  *

  Castle

  *

  Faircross

  *

  Hampshire

  Furzebrook

  *

  Knowsley

  Cartbridge

  *

  Lancashire

  Longridge

  *

  Liverpool

  Harold Magnay

  *

  Sandfield Park

  *

  Finchlea

  *

  Longmoor

  *

  Millstead

  *

  Palmerston

  *

  Princes

  *

  Okfield

  *

  North Yorkshire

  Field Hospital

  *

  Gateshead

  Joicy Road

  *

  Bradford

  Ashfield

  *

  School Closures and Mergers
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which local education authorities have submitted plans for closure, re-organisation or merger of schools under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 and have not received final replies; which of these have been waiting(a) three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six and 12 months and (d) more than 12 months; and if he will name the schools affected in each case.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I am placing in the Library a table listing schools named in proposals under either section 12 or 13 of the Education Act 1980 which have been under consideration in the Department for(a) three months or less, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six and 12 months and (d) more than 12 months. Some statutory proposals affect more than one school.

  Proposals received by my right hon. Friend within the last four months may in certain cases fall to the local authority for determination.

ENVIRONMENT

  Bicycling
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with his colleagues at the Departments of Health, Education and Transport about encouraging children to bicycle to school, in order to reduce pollution and congestion, while encouraging health.
  303
  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given and by the Minister for Roads Official Report, column 71.

  Housing
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on current trends in the number of permanent dwellings(a) started, (b) under construction and (c) completed.

  Sir George Young
  [pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1994, c. 307]: My right hon. Friend announced on 7 July, Official Report, column 307, the publication of the latest state of the construction industry report, produced jointly with the construction industry; copies are available in the Library. It points to a period of sustained modest growth, with private housing showing an improvement on last year. With steady growth in the economy and low interest rates, a vigorous and competitive construction industry is well set to take advantage of a period of steady sustained growth.

  Urban Regeneration
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the information on urban regenerations pending given in his answer of 18 March 1993,Official Report, columns 365–67, so as to correspond with the single regeneration budget information sought in the later question.

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1994, columns 36–38]: I regret that the table of figures included in my reply contained some errors. I therefore have revised the table which I have also placed in the Library to the House.

  Expenditure on programmes within the SRB (£ million) UDCs

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  37

  73

  1982–83

  62

  114

  1983–84

  95

  167

  1984–85

  88

  148

  1985–86

  82

  130

  1986–87

  89

  137

  1987–88

  160

  234

  1988–89

  255

  347

  1989–90

  477

  609

  1990–91

  607

  718

  1991–92

  602

  667

  1992–93

  515

  552

  1993–94

  372

  387

  1994–95

  286

  286

  *1995–96

  253

  —

  *1996–97

  245

  —

  HATS

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  1987–88

  —

  —

  1988–89

  —

  —

  1989–90

  —

  —

  1990–91

  —

  —

  1991–92

  10

  11

  304

  Year

  a

  b

  1992–93

  27

  29

  1993–94

  78

  81

  1994–95

  88

  88

  *1995–96

  90

  —

  *1996–97

  90

  —

  URA

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  1987–88

  —

  —

  1988–89

  —

  —

  1989–90

  —

  —

  1990–91

  —

  —

  1991–92

  —

  —

  1992–93

  —

  —

  1993–94

  22

  23

  1994–95

  181

  181

  *1995–96

  211

  —

  *1996–97

  221

  —

  City Grant1

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1983–84

  8

  14

  1984–85

  15

  25

  1985–86

  24

  38

  1986–87

  24

  37

  1987–88

  28

  41

  1988–89

  28

  38

  1989–90

  39

  50

  1990–91

  45

  53

  1991–92

  41

  45

  1992–93

  44

  47

  1993–94

  24

  25

  1994–95

  —

  —

  *1995–96

  —

  —

  *1996–97

  —

  —

  DLG

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  30

  59

  1982–83

  61

  112

  1983–84

  68

  120

  1984–85

  70

  117

  1985–86

  75

  119

  1986–87

  82

  126

  1987–88

  80

  117

  1988–89

  78

  106

  1989–90

  65

  83

  1990–91

  71

  84

  1991–92

  89

  99

  1992–93

  116

  124

  1993–94

  99

  103

  1994–95

  —

  —

  *1995–1996

  —

  *1996–97

  —

  —

  Urban Programme2

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  94

  186

  1982–83

  160

  295

  1983–84

  156

  275

  1984–85

  278

  466

  1985–86

  254

  404

  1986–87

  237

  365

  305

  Year

  a

  b

  1987–88

  246

  359

  1988–89

  224

  305

  1989–90

  223

  285

  1990–91

  226

  267

  1991–92

  238

  264

  1992–93

  236

  253

  1993–94

  170

  177

  1994–95

  83

  83

  *1995–96

  —

  —

  *1996–97

  —

  —

  Task Forces

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  1987–88

  5

  7

  1988–89

  23

  31

  1989–90

  20

  26

  1990–91

  21

  25

  1991–92

  21

  23

  1992–93

  24

  26

  1993–94

  18

  19

  1994–95

  16

  16

  *1995–96

  —

  —

  *1996–97

  —

  —

  CATS

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  1987–88

  —

  —

  1988–89

  —

  —

  1989–90

  4

  5

  1990–91

  8

  9

  1991–92

  8

  9

  1992–93

  5

  5

  1993–94

  3

  3

  1994–95

  1

  1

  *1995–96

  —

  —

  *1996–97

  —

  —

  City Challenge

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  1986–87

  —

  —

  1987–88

  —

  —

  1988–89

  —

  —

  1989–90

  —

  —

  1990–91

  —

  —

  1991–92

  —

  —

  1992–93

  52

  56

  1993–94

  221

  230

  1994–95

  214

  214

  *1995–96

  —

  —

  *1996–97

  —

  —

  306

  Estaate Action

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  1985–86

  —

  —

  1986–87

  45

  69

  1987–88

  75

  110

  1988–89

  140

  191

  1989–90

  190

  243

  1990–91

  180

  213

  1991–92

  268

  297

  1992–93

  348

  373

  1993–94

  358

  372

  1994–95

  373

  373

  *1995–96

  —

  —

  *1996–97

  —

  —

  Rest of SRB3

  Year

  a

  b

  1981–82

  50

  98

  1982–83

  60

  111

  1983–84

  67

  118

  1984–85

  63

  106

  1985–86

  69

  110

  1986–87

  73

  113

  1987–88

  76

  111

  1988–89

  70

  95

  1989–90

  94

  120

  1990–91

  108

  128

  1991–92

  226

  251

  1992–93

  215

  230

  1993–94

  258

  269

  1994–95

  201

  201

  *1995–96

  778

  —

  *1996–97

  768

  —

  Notes:

  a=Cash Terms.

  b=Current Prices.

  *=Current Plans.

  1includes UDG and URG.

  2includes Urban Crime Fund payments in 1992–93.

  3Up to 1994–95. Rest of SRB is made up from: Regional Enterprise Grant, Safer Cities, section 11. Ethnic Minority Grant, Ethnic Minority Business Initiatives, Programme Development Fund (PDF), TEC Challenge, Business Start-up Scheme, Local Initiative Fund, Compacts, Education Business Partnerships, Teacher Placement Service and GEST 19. From 1995–96 Rest of SRB also includes Urban Programme, Task Forces, City Action Teams (CATS), City Challenge, and Estate Action. PDF=figures are for Great Britain, except for 1994–95 when they are for England only.

  s11 (urban)=figures include payments to non-UPA ILEA authorities prior to 1991–92.

  City Challenge=also supported by £19 million per year from the Housing Corporation.

  Urban Regeneration Agency (URA)—from 1994–95 subsumed City Grant and Derelict Land Grant.

  County Hall
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria were used to distribute to the London boroughs the proceeds from the sale of County hall; if he will make a statement about the balance between the receipt from the sale of County hall and the sum distributed to the London boroughs;and when the London Residuary Body received full paymetent from the sale of the riverside building.

  Mr. Curry
  The proceeds received before 30 November 1993 from the disposal of the riverside building of County hall were distributed by the London Residuary
  307
  Body to the London boroughs in proportion to the total populations of each borough in accordance with the London Reorganisation (Capital Money) (Greater London) (Amendment) Order 1993. The terms of the sale—including the sale price—are a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what interest has been expressed recently in the purchase of the unsold parts of the County hall complex; and what were the conditions of sale for the riverside building and for the unsold part of the County hall complex.

  Mr. Baldry
  The sale of the remainder of the County hall site is a matter for the London Residuary Body. The conditions of the sale of the riverside building and any conditions for the sale of the remainder of the site area are a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Local Government, Worthing
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that any public consultation document issued to ascertain views on the draft recommendation of the Local Government 308
  Commission affecting Worthing will include a status quo option, as well as the two alternatives put forward which are identical as far as the Worthing constituency is concerned.

  Mr. Curry
  The period of public consultation on the Local Government Commission's draft recommendations for the future local government in east and west Sussex began on 12 July 1994 and will end on 26 September 1994. The recommendations themselves and the method of consultation on them are matters for the commission, not for the Government.

  Before submitting its final recommendations to the Secretary of State the commission must take into consideration any representations made to it during the consultation period. The commission's final recommendations may differ from the preliminary recommendations, as a result of its consultations. Once the final report of the commission has been submitted there is a minimum period of six weeks during which representations can be made to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State can accept, modify or reject the commission's recommendations, or can direct the commission to conduct a further review. Any order implementing structural change is subject to affirmative resolution in both Houses.
  309

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Review
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether adequate statutory powers exist for elections at the commencement of shadow periods of all new unitary authorities established consequent upon the local government review for England, including new authorities which have boundaries coterminous with either(a) an existing county authority or (b) an existing district authority; and if he will specify the source of those powers.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are satisfied that the statutory powers contained in sections 17 and 19 of the Local Government Act 1992 are adequate for such elections.

  Rural Housing Trust
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are taken to ensure that the Rural Housing Trust accounts for public funds received by the trust from the Housing Corporation.

  Sir George Young
  The Rural Housing Trust—RHT— is not a registered housing association and does not therefore receive allocations of housing association grant —HAG—from the Housing Corporation. The corporation provides HAG to registered rural housing associations which work closely with the RHT. All registered rural housing associations are subject to the corporation's regulatory framework and their development projects are subject to the corporation's sample scheme audits.

  The RHT received a revenue grant from the corporation for £7,590 in October 1992 to develop and investigate appropriate tenant involvement in four rural housing associations in the midlands. The corporation considers that the project achieved value for money.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funding is provided for help in the removal of toxic waste deposits from former industrial sites in the Greater London area.

  Mr. Atkins
  Under the "polluter pays" principle, the responsibility for funding the removal of toxic wastes rests with the owner or operator of the site. The availability of any public funds to help will depend on the particular circumstances. Removal of such waste as part of a regeneration scheme might be eligible for grant aid by English Partnerships. A local authority involved in a removal operation might be able to apply this Department for a supplementary credit approval.

  Diabled People
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what role will be taken by his Department in any consultation on disability; and what plans he has to publish a consultation paper on countering unfair discrimination in building access.

  Mr. Baldry
  On 15 July, the Government published a consultation document on measures to tackle discrimina-tion against disabled people. My Department will continue 310
  to be involved with other Departments in the development of measures arising from that consultation. I aim to publish, by the end of the year, a consultation paper on ways in which the building regulations could be extended to require provisions in new dwellings for the benefit of disabled people.

  Homelessness
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses his Department had on the homelessness consultation document; and how many were supportive of the Government proposals.

  Sir George Young
  We received about 10,000 responses to the consultation paper "Access to Local Authority and Housing Association Tenancies". The paper contained at least 10 distinct proposals, some of which commanded widespread support from the more informed commentators. The responses are available for inspection in my Department's library.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received from the waste-to-energy industry regarding his Department's circular 8/91;

  (2) what plans he has to update his Department's circular 8/91;

  (3) if he will recommend improvements to the local authority tendering process for waste disposal contracts in his Department's response to the report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution on incineration.

  Mr. Atkins
  We have received representations from the Energy from Waste Association, formerly the recycling waste-to-energy group, about the advice given to waste disposal authorities in circular 8/91—competition for local authority waste disposal contracts and new arrangements for disposal operations—on the duration of waste disposal contracts. In particular, the industry wishes us to emphasise the importance to waste-to-energy schemes of long-term contracts. Similar representationss have been made by the producer responsibility group in its proposals for recovering value from packaging waste.

  My Department is currently reviewing the guidance given to local authorities in circular 8/91 about tendering for waste disposal contracts and we intend to issue updated guidance later this year. Among other things, the updated guidance will re-emphasise the importance of taking environmental factors into account in the tendering process, including the benefits of the waste-to-energy option in appropriate circumstances and the contractual arrangements most likely to facilitate its development.

  The Government will publish their response to the Royal Commission on environmental pollution's report on incineration shortly. Our response will address the royal commission's recommendation that waste disposal authorities should be encouraged to enter into long-term contracts with operators of incineration plants, extending over 10 years or more. However, this is not an appropriate vehicle for offering detailed guidance on the considera-tions which should be taken into account by authorities in the tendering process.
  311

  Water and Sewerage Charges
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will replace the present rateable valuation system by a system based on council tax banding as the basis of charging for water and sewerage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 14 July 1994,Official Report, column 766.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many samples, and from how many sites, were taken in each European member state from the sea during each of the last three years for the purpose of assessing compliance with the European Community directive on bathing water quality; how many field staff were involved; and what have been the results in respect of salmonella and enteroviruses;

  (2) how many samples were taken from the sea in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years as part of the nation's bathing water quality survey; how many staff were involved; how many samples were taken; how many sites were identified for the purposes of assessing compliance with the European Community directive on bathing water quality; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Information on the numbers of coastal bathing water sites monitored under the bathing water Directive, the number of samples and the results for each member state, but not the number of field staff involved, is included in the EC Commission annual report on bathing waters. Information for 1991, 1992 and 1993 is contained in the 1992 and 1993 reports, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The reports show the high standard of the United Kingdom monitoring programme and the continuing steady improvement in United Kingdom bathing water compliance.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which countries have received funds from the European Union for cleaning up their beaches and improving the quality of their water supplies in each of the last three years; and what are the amounts received.

  Mr. Atkins
  For the period 1989 to 1993, the European Commission allocated to member states grants from the European regional development fund of the amounts shown. ERDF grant assistance may be used for a wide variety of activities, including the provision of water infrastructure and environmental projects. There are no published figures available which show the amounts specifically allocated to the cleaning of beaches or for the improvement of water quality.

  ERDF

  (MECU 1992 Prices)

  Belgium

  330

  Denmark

  60

  Germany

  2,482

  Greece

  4,508

  Spain

  9,071

  France

  2,151

  Irish Republic

  2,019

  312

  (MECU 1992 Prices)

  Italy

  6,631

  Luxembourg

  31

  Netherlands

  166

  Portugal

  4,592

  United Kingdom

  3,235

  Total

  35,276

  Harassment (Landlords)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the harassment of women in private rented accommodation by their landlords; what representations he has received by(a) women individually and (b) women's organisations; if he will list the women's organisations concerned; and what is the total number of complaints he has received.

  Sir George Young
  We are aware of and deplore this kind of behaviour by a small minority of unscrupulous landlords. It was for this reason that the Housing Act 1988 strengthened the provisions against harassment in the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, to increase protection for all tenants.

  Since 1991, we have received a total of 24 complaints from private tenants alleging harassment by their landlords. Of these, five were from individual women, but only one of these implied sexual harassment. No representations have been received from women's organisations.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received from women's organisations for dealing with harassment by private landlords; what consultations he has had with(a) women's organisations and (b) private landlords about harassment; and what proposals he has for dealing with harassment of women in private accommodation by landlords.

  Sir George Young
  No proposals for dealing with harassment have been received from women's organisations, nor have there been any recent consultations on this issue.

  Local authorities are empowered to prosecute landlords who harass tenants under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. Many local authorities have tenancy relations teams to investigate complaints of harassment.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for more investment in social housing based on need.

  Sir George Young
  My Department's expenditure plans for the period 1994–5 to 1996–7 are set out in its annual report, Cm 2507. Directing public spending towards the areas and households thart are in greatest need is a high priority for our housing programmes.
  313

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became (a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants.

  Mr. Gummer
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is:

  Joined

  Left

  1989

  2

  1

  1990

  1

  1

  1991

  6

  1

  1992

  1

  5

  1993

  1

  1

  So far this year, one special adviser has joined and one has left this Department.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures on the number of properties in each of the eight council tax bands(a) in figures and (b) in percentage terms.

  Mr. Curry
  The latest available figures are for May 1994. The numbers and percentages of dwellings in England in each valuation band are listed.

  Valuation band

  Number of dwellings

  Percentage

  A

  5,326,406

  26·3

  B

  3,888,174

  19·2

  C

  4,408,430

  21·8

  D

  2,950,065

  14·6

  E

  1,819,759

  9·0

  F

  970,612

  4·8

  G

  735,148

  3·6

  H

  117,278

  0·6

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many people in England and Wales have had their council tax bill reduced(a) through a discount, (b) through the disability reduction scheme, (c) through the council tax benefit and (d) through the second adult rebate;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing, for each collecting local authority in England and Wales, the latest figures available of the level of take-up of (a) the single person discount and (b) discounts excluding the single person discount.

  Mr. Curry
  Information on local authorities in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Information on numbers of people having a reduction in their council tax bill is not held centrally. The available information is as follows:
  314

  (a) the number of dwellings in England on 1 December 1993 subject to a single (25 per cent.) discount was 6,090,000. An additional 500,000 dwellings were subject to a double (50 per cent.) discount;

  (b) 96,000 dwellings in England on 1 December 1993 were eligible for a reduction for disabled relief;

  (c) the average caseload in England in 1993–4 for recipients of council tax benefit was 4,570,000—(Source: Department of Social Security);

  (d) the average caseload in England in 1993–4 for recipients of second adult rebates was 43,000—(Source: Department of Social Security).

  I have arranged for a table showing the number of council tax discounts for each local authority in England to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to aid local authorities in their promotion of the take-up by council tax payers of the various ways of reducing their council tax bills.

  Mr. Curry
  My Department and the Department of Social Security have produced a range of leaflets explaining entitlement to council tax discounts, exemptions and rebates. I am not aware that local authorities feel in need of further assistance.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to monitor local authorities' use of bailiffs to enforce council tax payments.

  Mr. Curry
  I have no plans to do so. Local authorities normally use bailiffs only when other means of recovery, such as attachment of earnings and deductions from income support, have been unsuccessful or are inappropriate to the circumstances.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of properties within band A is valued at(a) £10,000 or less, (b) £10,000 to £19,999, (c) £20,000 to £29,999, or (d) £30,000 to £40,000.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is not available. Valuations of dwellings for council tax are carried out in order to list them in the appropriate band. Precise values are not determined.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for each collecting local authority in England and Wales the latest figures available of the level of use of distress to enforce council tax payments.

  Mr. Curry
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider introducing a requirement on local authorities to report on the remedies used to collect council tax debts once a liability order has been made.

  Mr. Curry
  My Department collects statistics on the number of liability orders obtained by local authorities in respect of council tax debts, but I have no plans to introduce a requirement for authorities to submit data on the precise method of recovery they use in each case. Having obtained a liability order, most authorities will apply an attachment of earnings if the person is working, or apply for deductions to be made direct from income support if this is appropriate. Where this is not possible, or other arrangements break down, the authority will normally seek to levy distress.
  315

  Parish Meetings
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of parish meetings in England and Wales; and what proportion of the total number of parish authorities this represents.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not held centrally.

  Local Government Expenditure
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local education authority for each year since 1989–90(a) the total revenue expenditure of the relevant council on all services, (b) the total revenue expenditure on all education services and (c) (b) as a percentage of (a).

  Mr. Baldry
  I have arranged for the information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Water Seepage and Flood Damage
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints he has received with regard to water seepage and flooding from residents in Coventry; and what was their nature.

  Mr. Atkins
  No recent complaints of this kind can be traced.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the responsibilities of water authorities to the consumer for water seepage and flood damage and for the costs involved; and how the responsibility is determined.

  Mr. Atkins
  Water undertakers have the same responsibilities as anyone else under the law of torts for damage caused by water escaping from their mains and pipes. In addition, there are specific statutory obligations under section 209 of the Water Industry Act 1991, which generally makes water undertakers strictly liable for loss or damage caused by the escape of water from their pipes and under schedule 12 to that Act which imposes strict liability for, among other things, damage to land or buildings attributable to the exercise of water and sewerage undertakers' works powers. Compensation under schedule 12 is assessed by the lands tribunal or an arbitrator, according to the provision concerned. other claims are a matter for the ordinary courts.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the responsibilities of the regulator for the water industry in dealing with seepage and flooding and determination of responsibility in these matters.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Director General of Water Services has duties under the Water Industry Act 1991, among other things:

  (a) to consider complaints by consumers that a water or sewerage undertaker is in breach of requirements enforceable under section 18 of that Act and, in appropriate circumstances, to take suitable enforcement action;

  (b) to investigate complaints about water and sewerage undertakers' carrying out works on private land and, if appropriate, to award payments of up to £5,000 to the complainant for any failure, loss, damage or inconvenience;

  316

  (c) to investigate, either directly or through a customer service committee established by him, other complaints about water and sewerage undertakers' discharge of their functions, and to take such action as he thinks appropriate, including making representations to the company concerned.

  Depending on their nature, complaints about seepage and flooding from the activities of water and sewerage undertakers could come under any of these arrangements.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure the proper co-ordination between the Severn Trent water authority and environmental health authorities in Coventry in dealing with water seepage resulting in flooding; and if he will investigate the methods used by the Severn Trent water authority for establishing the source of the seepage and flooding of the Wykes family home at 19 Lindley road, Coventry, and why they have failed to accept responsibility for dealing and establishing the source of the flooding.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Severn Trent water authority ceased to function on 31 August 1989. Responsibility for water supply and sewerage in Coventry now lies with Severn Trent Water Limited, a private-sector company. Co-ordination between that company and Coventry city council is a matter for those bodies. Statutory arrangements exist under the Director General of Water Services for investigating complaints by consumers against water and sewerage undertakers. It would not, therefore, be appropriate for the Secretary of State to intervene.

  Elephants
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is Her Majesty's Government's current position towards a resumption of the inter-nation trade in elephant products;

  (2) what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to encourage South Africa to withdraw its proposals to downlist the African elephant;

  (3) if Her Majesty's Government intend to support the appendix 1 listing all African elephant populations at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Specicies meeting to be held in November;

  (4) what is the current position of Her Majesty's Government towards any resumption of the trade in ivory.

  Mr. Atkins
  At the last meeting of the conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora—CITES—in Kyoto in March 1992, the Government opposed proposals on the part of some southern African countries to resume trade in ivory and to downlist some African elephant populations from appendix I to appendix II.

  As for the forthcoming meeting of the conference of the parties to be held in Fort Lauderdale in November, the Government have not yet reached any conclusions on the proposals tabled by South Africa and the Sudan. Before doing so, we wish to consider the report of the panel of experts, established by CITES, and to take account of reactions of other African elephant range states. The Government's overall position is that we would not support any change in the status of the African elephant under CITES, unless we were satisfied that this would not put at risk elephant populations in the country concerned or any other country.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the countries that have been
  317
  invited, and will be invited, to participate in the forthcoming meeting organised by the United Kingdom and designed to develop greater understanding between the range states, potential consumer states and other interested parties on the African elephant issue in the context of CITES.

  Mr. Atkins
  At the last meeting of the conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora—CITES—in Kyoto in March 1992, the then President of the EC Environment Council urged that there should be more intersessional dialogue between parties on controversial issues including that of the elephant and the rhino. Since then, the European Union has been exploring the possibility of such a dialogue between the main countries concerned with the status of the African elephant. After widespread consultation among African and other Governments, including an exploratory mission, the EU has concluded that there is an opportunity for such dialogue.

  The meeting is being arranged in Botswana in September this year, and a list of those invited follows:

  Africa

  Botswana

  Namibia

  Burkina Faso

  Nigeria

  Cameroun

  South Africa

  Central African Republic

  Sudan

  Congo

  Tanzania

  Ethiopia

  Togo

  Gabon

  Uganda

  Ghana

  Zaire

  Kenya

  Zambia

  Malawi

  Zimbabwe

  Mali

  Rest of world

  France

  Germany

  Japan

  United Kingdom

  United States of America

  European Commission

  In addition, representatives of CITES, the United

  Revised LCPD national plan NO1 limits for England and Wales (in kilotonnes)

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  National Power

  418

  401

  386

  369

  354

  340

  (402)

  (387)

  (371)

  (356)

  Powergen

  256

  247

  236

  227

  217

  209

  (237)

  (228)

  (218)

  England and Wales Sub-total

  674

  648

  622

  596

  571

  549

  (649)

  (624)

  (599)

  (574)

  Refineries

  25

  25

  25

  25

  25

  21

  (24)

  (23)

  (22)

  (22)

  1 The figures in the National Plan prior to the changes are shown in parentheses where any change has been made.

  Sir Bedivere
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take with regard to the regeneration of north Tyneside following the decision on the Sir Bedivere contract.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government fully appreciate the concern on Tyneside over the future of Swan Hunter following the decision on the Sir Bedivere refit. The receiver will wish to consider the position and I am asking the regional director of the Government Office for the north-east to contact him, the local authorities, Tyne and Wear development corporation, Tyneside training and
  318
  Nations Environment Programme, the world conservation union—IUCN—and a small number of expert advisers have been invited.

  The aim of the meeting is to exchange information and to discuss positions of the countries involved. It is not to make resolutions or to pre-empt discussions at the wider meeting of the CITES conference of the parties. The United Kingdom is taking the lead in organising the meeting, on behalf of the European Union and in consultation with the presidency.

  Combustion Plants (Emissions)
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the operation of the United Kingdom national plan implementing the EC large combustion plants directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The sector emission limits specified in the national plan have consistently been observed. However, the Government keep the operation of the plan under review, in order to take account of changes in the pattern of industrial activity, the structure of industries and the pace of technological change and its effects on emissions. In the light of a recent review, and after consultation with the industries concerned, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has decided, in exercise of his powers under section 3(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to make a minor revision to the plan to allow a small increase in the sector limit for emissions of oxides of nitrogen, NOx, from the refineries in England and Wales. The increase will be offset by an equivalent reduction in the NOx. sector limit for the electricity supply industry in England and Wales. There will thus be no increase in the overall sector limits for England and Wales. The revised figures are set out in the table.

  enterprise council and other interested parties as a matter of urgency to discuss the next steps. I, as sponsor Minister for Tyne and Wear, will be on Tyneside this Friday and will be available to meet all the interested parties.

  Horses
  Mr. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's planning policy in relation to applications for horse-based development in the countryside; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Development that supports the rural economy and maintains and enhances the countryside is to
  319
  be encouraged. Planning applications for development which is in accordance with the development plan shall be allowed unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

  Within this framework, the Government wish to see a positive approach towards planning applications for horse-based development. Paragraph 2.21 of planning policy guidance note 7 makes it clear that the keeping and riding of horses for recreational purposes or as part of commercially based equestrian activities can help provide new opportunities for employment and land use in the countryside. Annexe F of the same document gives further guidance on development involving horses.

  "Streamlining Planning"
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the consultation paper, "Streamlining Planning".

  Mr. Curry
  I am pleased to announce today that we shall be taking forward proposals in the "Streamlining Planning" consultation paper to relax planning controls in respect of flats over shops; extensions to schools, colleges, universities and hospitals; flat advertisements at householders' sites and other advertisement controls. We shall also be abolishing the special industrial use classes, so that planning permission will not be required for changes between all general industrial uses within existing buildings.

  Taken together, these reforms will represent a significant benefit to business without reducing protection for the environment of amenity. They will also help improve the overall efficiency of the planning system by relieving local authorities from determining some relatively minor planning applications.

  These changes will apply equally in Wales.

  Open Government
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish his scheme for charging for the release of information under the open government code of practice and to publish details of how his Department deals with the public.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have today made available guidance on the charging arrangements operating in my Department in respect of requests for information under the code of practice on access to Government information. I have also released an index to the explanatory material which is currently available on my Department's dealings with the public. The index contains details of how to obtain this material and will be updated at regular intervals. Copies of the index and charging arrangements have been placed in the Library of the House and are available from my Department's Libraries and from the Government Offices in the regions.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the coal industry in the context of the proposed reform of old minerals permissions he announced in March.

  Mr. Baldry
  When my Department published the consultation paper on the reform of old mineral permissions in March 1994 we said that coal was being considered separately.
  320
  We have completed that consideration and, in accordance with the Government's general policy that, for planning purposes, coal should be treated no differently from other minerals, the Government intend that the proposals in the consultation paper—all of which will require primary legislation—should apply equally to coal. This would mean that old coal mining permissions will be subject to initial updating of their conditions and thereafter all coal mining permissions would be subject to periodic review at 10-yearly intervals.

  Such reviews should include ancillary mining development. However, as the consultation paper makes it clear, conditions imposed following a review should not fundamentally affect the economic structure of the operation.

  As a consequence of coal privatisation the General Development Order is being revised to attach restoration conditions to surface development at GDO mines. The Government would not therefore expect GDO mines, which will only recently have had restoration conditions imposed on them as part of that process, to require immediate further review. They would be looked at again at the start of the second phase of the initial updating programme. The consultation proposals envisage that that second phase would commence three years after any new legislation had been brought into force. In practical terms this is likely to mean that GDO mines will be exempt from further review for at least five years.

  Litter
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the report of his Department's advisory group on litter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a summary of the report of the advisory group on litter which has been reviewing the litter provisions contained in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and elsewhere. The group has concluded that overall the 1990 Act has made a significant effect but there are some areas of the legislation in England and Wales which could be usefully improved. The key recommendations of the advisory group are:Publication of information to inform the citizen about how their local authority plans to fulfil its litter duty;
  improvements to the way in which litter on private land can be dealt with by local authorities;
  improved powers to enable local authorities to target business or commercial activities which result in litter on adjacent public areas;
  replacement of the existing patchwork of dog fouling byelaws with a national offence of failure to clear up after one's dog in most public areas;
  improvements to the litter fixed penalty system so local authority contractors can, subject to certain safeguards, issue penalty notices and to allow extension of the fixed penalty system to dog fouling offences;
  increasing the fixed penalty from £10 to £25 in line with the general increase in fine levels since the litter provisions were brought into effect.

  The full report will be available on request from my Department.

  I am grateful to the members of the advisory group for its work in producing this report. I am sure that there will be wide interest in these recommendations. In view of this, I am publishing the summary report as a consultation document. I would encourage all interested parties to let my Department have their views by 14 October 1994.
  321

  Wildlife Sales Controls
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of his review of wildlife sales controls in Great Britain.

  Mr. Atkins
  I announced the outcome of the first stage of the review on 25 April 1994. This focused mainly on changes in the bird registration system. The rest of the review covered a range of issues concerning secondary controls on native and exotic wildlife, and enforcement.

  We plan to make some changes which should take effect from 1 October. These will simplify paper controls and improve enforcement. There are seven main elements:

  (i) The Registered Sellers of Dead Birds—RSDB—scheme allows people, mainly taxidermists, registered with the Department to sell dead birds. In return for a triennial fee, registered sellers do not have to submit individual sales applications to the Department. However they are required to fix a marker to specimens and to keep records which are returned to the Department every six months. The scheme was intended to discourage the taking of birds from the wild for taxidermy and to allow people already legitimately trading in birds to continue to do so without the need to apply for individual sales licences. We believe that these objectives can be achieved more effectively by issuing a general licence allowing the sale of captive-bred and legally-taken dead birds. The wording of the licence would make it clear that sellers must be able to demonstrate conclusively that the legal requirements have been met. We shall be issuing a formal consultation letter shortly.

  (ii) The Department issues about 2,500 individual sales licences each year to allow the sale of live or dead wildlife specimens, or parts thereof, for example where they have been bred in captivity or artificially propagated, or are needed for research. This means that substantial resources are being devoted to authorising legitimate activities which have little or no apparent effect on the conservation of the species concerned. We shall therefore be moving to a control system base on wider use of general sales licences which will enable us to operate more effective checks on specimens for which individual licences will continue to be required. The new system will rely on the increased use of DNA tests to check claims that specimens have been bred in captivity.

  (iii) My Department has financed research on the use of DNA testing to identify the parentage of birds, and I shall place a copy of the results in the library of both Houses as soon as they are available. DNA tests have already been used in four recent and successful prosecutions, and further cases are in the pipeline. We shall be looking into the feasibility of extending the use of DNA testing where appropriate to help enforce controls on other endangered species.

  (iv) Four amphibian species are subject to sales controls, but not a prohibition on the killing, injuring or taking of wild specimens, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981—the common toad, common frog, smooth newt and palmate newt. At present these species can be sold only if an individual licence has been issued or if the vendor has obtained a 'trader' licence. The reported level of trade in these species, which is in the low thousands, is unlikely to have a discernible effect on populations in the wild, which run into millions. We shall therefore be issuing a general licence for these four species, subject to conditions agreed with our scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, restricing the times and locations when they can be collected. We shall also be asking the JNCC to look carefully at the effectiveness of sale-only controls in its next quinquennial review of schedules 5 and 8 of the Act.

  (v) In the past, some species have been subject to sales controls under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976. In many instances, these controls
  322
  have been superseded by the EC CITES regulation or duplicated by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These controls have taken precedence and the sale of most of the small number of species remaining has been permitted under an open sales licence for some time. In December 1992, the then Minister, my noble Friend Lord Strathclyde, announced that 200 additional species would be made subject to sales controls following the establishment of the single market. On further investigation we are not convinced that sale controls are an effective means of controlling trade in these species and we do not now propose to introduce these measures. Furthermore, we do not propose to add any new species to the Act for the purposes of sales controls unless our scientific advisers judge that an undesirable level of trade in any wide specimens of particular species is taking place.

  (vi) We believe that there is room for improving controls on the import of CITES species. In particular, the Department will give greater emphasis to its powers to impose conditions on import permits and to ensure that conditions which have been imposed are complied with. Where an import of a CITES appendix I (or EC Regulation Annex C1) specimen is allowed only because of the purpose for which it will be used, for example for specific research or breeding projects, a condition will be imposed requiring prior authorisation from the Department before it is used for any other purpose. We will continue to make use of the provision to restrict the movement of a specimen from the address specified on the import permit. The Department's wildlife inspectors will carry out more inspections to ensure that specimens are used and kept as proposed.

  (vii) The Department already monitors advertisements offering endangered species for sale in a range of specialist journals. More journals will be scrutinised and advertisements followed up; to guard against possible sale offences.

  We also propose to make a number of changes which will take longer to implement. First, we will review our publicity on both primary and secondary controls, with a view to issuing additional material by March 1995. Secondly, we shall consider whether there is any scope for the conservation agencies assuming responsibility for some of the licensing controls currently operated by my Department. Thirdly, we will begin work to consider amending the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to exclude captive-bred birds and remove duplication with the EC CITES regulation.

  These changes as a whole will reduce bureaucracy, and release resources to improve enforcement of the import and sales controls which protect genuinely endangered species. The additional enforcement measures I have described—more inspections, DNA tests, stricter import conditions and monitoring of advertisements—will be introduced by October this year.

  We also recognise the scope for further improvements in enforcement and in the links between enforcement agencies. These need to be considered in detail with other interested groups, including the voluntary bodies. I therefore propose to establish an official level working group on enforcement involving relevant enforcement agencies and non-Governmental organisations. Its composition and detailed terms of reference will be announced shortly.

  I have placed a paper giving more about these proposals and the background to them in the Libraries of both Houses in accordance with our commitment to open government.
  323

  Departmental Houses
  Mr. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will respond to the report of the task force on Government Departments' empty houses; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  I am pleased to announce that the final report of the task force on Government Departments' empty houses was published today, along with a Government response to its seven recommendations. A copy of both documents has been placed in the Library.

  The Government welcome the task force's report and believe it has made a valuable contribution to making more effective use of empty residential Government properties. We will consider how the draft code of practice prepared by the task force to help achieve reductions in the number of empty properties can best be adopted by each relevant Government Department. I plan to circulate the code to local authority and housing association managers.

  Where a residential property in an area of housing stress has stood empty for six months and no sale has taken place, the Government will implement the policy whereby sale or short-term leasing for social housing shall have priority. The Government also propose to set annual targets for empty residential property and to publish the Department's achievements at the end of each year.

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the prepartions for the establishment of the new environment agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Good progress is being made in preparing and drafting the main legislation to establish the environment agencies for England and Wales and for Scotland, and I intend to publish relevant legislative provisions in draft before the end of the recess. In these circumstances, we have decided that it is no longer necessary to seek paving powers in the present Session.

  I propose to establish a new advisory committee on arrangements for the proposed agency in England and Wales and to appoint to it persons who I hope will play a continuing role in overseeing the new body if Parliament approves the necessary legislation. I am planning on the basis that it will prove possible to establish the new agency during 1995 and incorporate the existing bodies into it at the beginning of the 1996–97 financial year.

  I am today publishing the report on a study conducted for the Department by Touche Ross which considers potential models for the geographic and management structure of the environment agency and provides an initial assessment of their strengths and weaknesses. Interested organisations have been invited to comment by 31 October. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government intend to respond to the Royal Commission on environmental pollution's 17th report on incineration of waste.
  324
  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have responded to the Royal Commission on environmental pollution's 17th report on incineration of waste today. Copies of the Government's response are available in the Library."The Royal Commission's support for incineration is based on the new generation of plant, which differs from the old in two important respects: first, provision will normally be made for electricity generation or combined heat and power, with the consequence that the process involves energy recovery and is therefore higher in the waste management hierarchy; second, the need to meet the new EC emission limits will provide much greater safeguards for health and local amenity.
  "We agree with the Royal Commission that incineration of waste in suitably located plants designed to meet these new standards is an environmentally acceptable form of waste disposal and should no longer represent a cause for concern to those who live and work close to such plants. We agree also on the desirability of recovering energy from wastes as part of a sustainable approach to waste management.
  "The Government will publish later this year, as a basis for consultation, a draft waste management strategy for England and Wales. This will set out in greater detail the potential role of incineration in relation to other waste management options."

  Gosport Borough Council
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet considered the response by Gosport borough council to the notice served on the authority on 9 May under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend has carefully considered the response of Gosport borough council to the notice which was served in respect of the award of a contract for other cleaning work to the authority's direct labour organisation. He accepts that the council may not have intended to act anti-competitively, but takes the view that the council's actions were likely to have the effect of restricting or distorting competition, and in the event did so. Consequently he has today given the authority a direction under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988.

  The direction requires the council to re-tender the relevant contract so that new arrangements are in place by 1 October 1995, and to seek my right hon. Friend's consent should they wish to re-assign the work to the in-house team.

  The authority restricted competition in that, prior to the return of tenders, they asserted that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)—TUPE— Regulations would apply and decided to consider only TUPE-based bids. They also failed to provide tenderers with substantive details regarding the possible availability of depot space.

  The Government will continue to act against councils whose actions amount to anti-competitive behaviour. We are determined to ensure that obstacles which stand in the way of full and fair competition are removed, so that taxpayers continue to get value for money for quality services.

  Pollution
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government have taken since 1979, following the reduction and elimination of lead in petrol, to measure and record any significant increases in the quality and quantity of pollutants in the gases emitted from motor vehicles; and if he will publish the findings.
  325
  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 19 July 1994]: The Government have established an extensive air quality monitoring network to measure levels of transport-related air pollutants. Results are published in the Department of the Environment's annual "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics", copies of which have been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information the United Kingdom Government have formally supplied upon request from the European Commission as required by article 15.2(c), on the effect on the application of directive 85/210/EEC and the consequent introduction of low-lead—.0·15g lead/l—and unleaded petrols into the 12 member states with particular reference to article 6 on the development of concentrations of polluting substitutes for lead in the atmosphere.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 19 July 1994]: The Government have received no requests from the European Commission for information under these articles.

  Air Quality
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans exist to promote greater public awareness of air quality levels in urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 14 July 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 July, Official Report, column 44.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Space Industries
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the funding provided for space activities through his Department for the exploitation by United Kingdom space industries of markets in telecommunications and earth observation.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Funding for space activities, which is kept under constant review, is concentrated on the practical applications of space, and on enabling United Kingdom space industries to secure business advantage in both established markets such as telecommunications and the emerging markets for earth observation data.

  Trade Associations
  Mr. Page
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what communications he has had with trade associations to ensure that they speak with a coherent voice in each industrial sector.

  Mr. Heseltine
  As I made clear in a speech on 17 June last year, I want to see trade associations that are powerful, effective and influential and which play a significant role in promoting the international competitiveness of their sectors. These views are shared by many industrialists, and I am pleased that trade associations in a number of sectors are now coming together.
  326

  Brewing Industry
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the director of the Office of Fair Trading to discuss the brewing industry.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the Director General of Fair Trading from time to time to discuss a wide range of competition issues. There have been no specific discussions on brewing recently. However, my officials are in regular and close contact with those at the Office of Fair Trading on this issue.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment has been made by his Department of the likely impact on British industry if the social chapter provisions were adopted.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment has been made by his Department of the effect on British industry of the adoption of the provisions of the social chapter.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department of Trade and Industry has made no such assessment but the Department of Employment produced cost estimates last year. I am arranging for these to be sent to my hon. Friend.

  Post Office
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Post Office to discuss the Green Paper on its future.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I meet the chairman of the Post Office regularly, but no date has been set for our next meeting.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the impact of the cut in the post office users council budget on its service to Post Office business users and others.

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what evaluation his Department has made of the impact of the cut in the post office users council budget on its service to post office domestic customers and others.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am confident the Post Office Users National Council will continue to fulfil its statutory functions to its users.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what would be the cost of running Post Office Counters as a separate business.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) earlier today.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received on the future of rural post offices and sub-post offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have received a number of representations from individuals, companies and consumer organisations on the future of the Post Office. Some of these include views on rural post offices and sub-post offices.
  327
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will place in the Library the schedule of variable payments to sub-post offices and other post offices according to the volume of Department of Social Security transactions, together with the total number of transactions within each volume payment band;

  (2) if he will place in the Library a memorandum explaining the internal cross-subsidy system from large-volume to small-volume post office outlets within Post Office Counters Ltd.; and what changes have been made in that system in the last three years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  This information is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, as part of his consultation on the Post Office Green Paper, he will place in the Library the 1991 strategic review of Royal Mail delivery and other services.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contribution was made to(a) external financing limit targets and (b) overall profits by each Post Office subsidiary over the last three years with an estimate for the current year.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The external financing limit is a target which is set for the Post Office Group as a whole. The businesses are not given EFL contribution targets and, therefore, information is not collected or available on this basis.

  The profits of the main Post Office businesses over the last three years are as follows:

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Royal Mail

  266

  252

  296

  Parcelforce

  (24)

  (13)

  (19)

  Post Office Counters Ltd.

  26

  25

  25

  Subscription Services Ltd.

  7

  8

  6

  It is not the Post Office board's policy to publish profit forecasts. The Post Office Group has been set a negative EFL for 1994–5 by the Government of £226 million.

  Small Firms
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to assist small firms in obtaining long-term finance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Government firmly believe that finance for all businesses is a commercial matter for the banks and other financial institutions. However, where there are clearly identified gaps in provision, the Government intervene with measures such as the small firms loan guarantee scheme. We will continue to remind the banks and others of the need to provide more long-term finance for small businesses.

  China
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy for promoting trade with China.

  Mr. Needham
  China, as the world's fastest-growing economy, is a major trade promotion priority for the DTI.328
  Together with the China Britain Trade Group, we are implementing a strategy to ensure that British business is well placed to take maximum advantage of the opportunities in the market. This includes targeted geographical and sectoral initiatives and a wide range of high profile trade missions. I have made four trade promotion visits to China since July 1992 and hope to lead another team of senior business people there in October.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the President of the Board' of Trade what was the balance of trade in manufactured goods(a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Needham
  In 1979, the United Kingdom had a surplus of £2·7 billion—1·4 per cent. of GDP—in manufactured trade. In 1993, there was a deficit of £8·3 billion—1·3 per cent. of GDP.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to meet the British Iron and Steel Producers Association to discuss prospects for the steel industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough, (Mrs. Jackson).

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response he has had from companies to his White Paper on competitiveness.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer my hon. Friend to the response given to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess) earlier today.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to meet the Association of British Chambers of Commerce to discuss the White Paper, "Competitiveness: Helping Business to Win"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My officials and I maintain close contact with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce on a wide range of issues, including competitiveness.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the competitiveness of British industry and its export performance.

  Mr. Needham
  My officials and I maintain close contact with representatives from the CBI on a range of issues, including exports.

  Energy and Telecommunications
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the prospects for the creation of a single market in energy and telecommunications in the light of the decisions of the Corfu European Council.
  329
  Mr. Heseltine
  The Government welcome the Corfu Euopean Council's call for the extension of the single market to telecommunications and energy. The Government's objective is to reach rapid agreement on the Commission's proposals for market opening in these sectors.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the prospects for involving the private sector in the United Kingdom coal industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  With the recent passing of the Coal Industry Act 1994 we are on course to privatise British Coal's coal mining assets by the end of the year. Twenty-six applicants have prequalified for one or more of the regional coal companies. In addition, nine collieries which were offered for lease/license by British Coal have now been taken over by the private sector. British Coal is also pressing ahead with plans for the disposal of a large number of its non-mining businesses.

  Lloyd's
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet the chairmen of Lloyd's to discuss arrangements to deal with past debts.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have no current plans to do so.

  Business Confidence
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the implications for British industry of the Confederation of British Industry quarterly trend survey on business confidence.

  Mr. Heseltine
  CBI surveys continue to show that British manufacturers are increasingly confident about the future. Output expectations remain positive and total order books are at the highest level for five years. These results provide further evidence of the strength of recovery taking place throughout British industry.

  Design Council
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the decision was taken that bids for separate parts of the Design Council's services should be invited; on what grounds that decision was taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department wrote to the Design Council on 20 June to say that all the proposals which had previously been submitted for the transfer of the Design Council's services to industry on an integrated basis would involve a significant and unacceptable subsidy from the Government. As a result of the failure of these proposals, the Department encouraged the Council to explore the best terms on which piecemeal disposal might be carried forward.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the support offered to the Design Council and the design museum in cash and real terms since 1989; and what provisions are made in the estimates for 1994–95.
  330
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Offers of grant in aid for the Design Council in the financial years 1989–90 to 1994–95 were as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1989–90

  6·271

  1990–91

  6·435

  1991–92

  6·775

  1992–93

  7·100

  1993–94

  7·500

  1994–95

  7·200

  These amounts do not include free-standing contracts and funding for stand-alone activities and projects negotiated separately for, among other things, the enterprise initiative consultancy scheme, the materials information service and the "Managing in the '90s" programme. Nor do they include separate sums agreed for restructuring costs.

  Offers of running cost support for the design museum were as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1989–90

  0·300

  1990–91

  0·200

  1991–92

  0·150

  1992–93

  0·150

  1993–94

  —

  1994–95

  —

  These amounts do not include free-standing contracts and funding for specific projects negotiated separately for design exhibitions and seminars at home and overseas.

  The above amounts are in cash: figures in real terms since 1989 are not readily available.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether guidelines similar to the Overseas Development Administration good government criteria are applied in the offering of Export Credits Guarantee Department cover; and how much the ECGD liaises with the ODA on such issues.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 12 April,Official Report, column 111. ECGD liaises with ODA on cases where aid is involved and ODA' s good government criteria are therefore relevant.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Defence of 11 January,Official Report, column 168–9, what was the size of the line of export credit to Jordan.

  Mr. Needham
  ECGD provided guarantees for export credit loans of up to £236 million for two defence lines of credit to Jordan, signed in 1986 and 1987 respectively, which could be used to support contracts totalling up to £310 million.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost of ECGD's fixed-rate export finance scheme in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Needham
  The cost of the scheme in each of the last five years was as follows, in round millions:
  331

  Year

  £ million

  1989–90

  349

  1990–91

  413

  1991–92

  237

  1992–93

  111

  1993–94

  1Minus 53

  1 Provisional

  Inquiries
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of uses in each year of operation of(a) the environmental inquiry point and (b) the innovation inquiry line.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have nothing further to add to the reply given to the hon. Gentleman by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy, on 28 April,Official Report, column 250.

  South America
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies he has undertaken through his overseas project fund with Knight Piésold Consulting Engineers about increasing United Kingdom trade with South America.

  Mr. Needham
  The DTI has awarded to Knight Piésold one grant under the overseas projects fund. This was to assist with the costs of preparing a feasibility study. Details of these grants are commercially confidential. Where appropriate in accordance with scheme rules, grants are repaid.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to improve ECGD terms to South American countries.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 12 July 1994,Official Report, columns 513–14, about the credit cover given to Latin America by the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom's major industrial competitors.

  I assure the hon. Gentleman that we keep the terms and conditions of ECGD support under close review, to ensure that these are the best possible in the context of the prevailing economic and political conditions in each market.

  Patent Office
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidance he has issued to the Comptroller General of the Patent Office about public comments on the future status of the Patent Office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None. The Government will make a statement when the current review of the Patent Office has been completed.

  Gas Interconnector
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it is his policy to construct an interconnector for gas between Britain and the continent of Europe; and if he will make a statement.
  332
  Mr. Eggar
  The industry project to build a major grid-to-grid gas interconnector between Bacton and Zeebrugge would benefit the United Kingdom by contributing to the continued development of the United Kingdom continental shelf, and, by providing access to gas from other sources, thereby enhance security of supply.

  British Coal
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what were the figures for British Coal stocks at each site in the United Kingdom in 1992, 1993 and at the latest available date;

  (2) what was the percentage of British Coal stocks to output for each British Coal region in the United Kingdom in 1992, 1993 and the latest available date.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for British Coal.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what safeguards are in place during the sale of British Coal to prevent the future owners of the regional coal companies being disadvantaged in negotiations on future coal sale contracts by disclosure of confidential information to other bidders who have interests in power generation.

  Mr. Eggar
  All pre-qualifiers for the regional coal companies have signed strict confidentiality undertakings covering the disclosure or use of any information made available to them. Breach of those undertakings could lead to forfeit of their deposits, disqualification from the tender and, if appropriate, legal proceedings.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much and what percentage of British Coal's privatisation costs in 1993–94 were spent on consultants.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for British Coal.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much his Department spent in 1993–94 on advice on coal privatisation by consultants.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department's expenditure on coal privatisation consultants in 1993–94 was approximately £10·2 million, including VAT.

  Imports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 15 June,Official Report, column 602, what consideration was given to including D65, textiles, D84, clothing; D67, iron and steel; D78.1, motor cars and parts; D87, scientific etc. instruments; D71, power-generating machinery etc; D72, specialised industrial machinery; D74, general industrial machinery; D75, office machines and ADP machines; D76, telecommunications etc. equipment; ex-SITC5, chemicals; and D66, non-metallic mineral manufactures among the principal import competing export industries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Information on output of industries is available only according to the standard industrial classification and the reply was given on this basis. Each activity heading within manufacturing, as defined by the SIC, was considered.

  The various divisions of the standard international trade classification listed in the present question are groups of products and not industries. Consequently no consideration was given to their inclusion.
  333

  Coal Authority
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the criteria which will be used to select members of the Coal Authority.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will, in accordance with the Coal Industry Act 1994, have regard to the desirability of appointing people with experience of, or who have shown capacity in, matters relevant to the Coal Authority's functions.

  Investment Aid
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy in future to consult industry about the implications for existing companies prior to reaching conclusions about the award of investment aid to encourage overseas companies to open facilities in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not possible to consult directly with industry for reasons of commercial confidentiality in dealings with applicants. However, to be eligible for investment grants, projects must show they will bring a national economic benefit. Part of that test requires an assessment of the impact of the new investment on existing businesses.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to inform the House whenever his Department commissions consultations to consider the implications for existing companies of applications for inward investment aid; if he will ensure that the reports of such consultants are available to right hon. and hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  For reasons of commercial confiden-tiality it is not possible to provide this information.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department relayed to the Northern Ireland Office the estimate of job losses provided by Sir David Alliance CBE to him at a meeting of the Manufacturing and Construction Industries Alliance on Monday 13 June and associated with the award of investment aid to the Hualon Corporation in connection with the development of new textile facilities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Northern Ireland Office has this information.

  Electricity
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade by what authority and on the basis of what formula regional electricity companies are permitted to deduct from payments to the levy collector an amount equivalent to green ticket payments to Electricite de France.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Electricity Act 1989 provides for levy payments to the collector to be calculated by reference to the aggregate amount charged by each licensed electricity supplier for leviable electricity supplies only: "leviable electricity" excludes electricity which is generated by a non-fossil generating station that is not contracted within the NFFO.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Director General of Electricity Supply and 334
  the regional electricity companies are required to take to ensure power supplied by Electricity de France comes from non fossil-fuelled power stations.

  Mr. Eggar
  Regulations 8 and 12 of the Fossil Fuel Levy Regulations 1990 set out information that licensed electricity suppliers must provide to satisfy the Director General of Electricity Supply about the electricity that they supply, including non-leviable electricity.

  Gas Supply
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what legislative proposals he will put forward in the next parliamentary Session to extend competition in the gas supply industry.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 18 July 1994,Official Report, column 23.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans his Department or OFTEL has to investigate the coupling of the sale of mobile phones with airtime agreements.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Neither my Department nor OFTEL have any current plans to investigate the linking of the sale of mobile phones with airtime agreements. OFTEL's position is that packages linking handsets with airtime contracts are not unreasonable so long as a satisfactory range of alternatives is available. OFTEL is not aware of complaints that customers wishing to purchase handsets and airtime contracts separately are unable to do so.

  Mr. Asil Nadir
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the outcome of the application under section 279(3) of the Insolvency Act 1986 in the case of Mr. Asil Nadir, made by the official receiver.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The official receiver's application under section 279(3) of the Insolvency Act 1986 was heard on 1 July 1994. The court ordered that Mr. Nadir's bankruptcy should not be discharged until he complies with the following conditions:that he disclose and deliver to the trustee of his estate all property and documents possessed or controlled by him;
  that he provide the trustees with a full account of his business dealings, and all property and income to which he has become entitled since being made bankrupt;
  that he do all that is reasonably required of him by the trustee to assist them in realising and getting in property belonging to him, whether it be in and out of this jurisdiction; and
  that he fully comply with a number of orders made by the court which as at 1 July he had failed to do.

  The order is subject to appeal.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what additional criteria his Department will take account of in considering applications for regional selective assistance.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None. Any change in the criteria of the scheme would be announced before it is introduced.
  335

  Exhaust Emissions
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been his response to the Warren Spring laboratory report on the compound hyperform—FXI—as a method of reducing exhaust emissions.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 15 July 1994]: I understand that Warren Spring laboratory tested a compound called FX1 for a private company in 1993. It is not departmental policy to endorse or refute the claims made for particular commercial products.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those countries which do not need to produce(a) an end-user certificate and (b) an export licence when buying arms from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 19 July 1994]: Items subject to control under part III, group I of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 require an export licence for all destinations. In considering export licence applications

  Total expenditure—pre-school children

  £000

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Health Board expenditure

  Pre-school playgroups

  407

  415

  359

  239

  Grants to voluntary organisations

  1,314

  1,211

  1,238

  1,663

  1,721

  1,626

  1,597

  1,902

  DHSS expenditure

  Grants to voluntary organisations

  147

  159

  180

  199

  Total

  1,868

  1,785

  1,777

  2,101

  Total expenditure as a percentage Gross Domestic Product

  0·02

  0·02

  0·02

  n/a

  Notes:

  1. Financial data for the 1993–94 financial year is not yet available.

  2. Gross domestic product figures for the 1992–3 year are not available

  Further Education
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total capital expenditure for minor and major works for each college of further education in Northern Ireland during each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  [pursuant to his answer, 22 June 1994, c. 166]: The figure spent in the Southern education and library board during 1992–3 on minor repairs was £150,000 and not £105,000 as originally answered.

  War Veterans
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Thurrock in relation to the desire of Ards borough council to help fund the travel of war veterans to liberation celebrations in Belgium this autumn.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 19 July.
  336
  full information as to end use is always required and, depending on circumstances, this may take the form of an end-user certificate, letter of undertaking or a copy of an order or contract.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Child Care Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 provisions and grants for the voluntary sector, for each year from 1989–90 to 1993–94; and what was the total public expenditure on their services as a percentage of the gross domestic product for Northern Ireland in each of these years.

  Mr. Ancram
  The total expenditure borne by the Department of Health and Social Services and its sponsored bodies for the provision of child care services to pre-school children under the age of five years for each year from 1989–90 to 1992–93 is outlined in the table.

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

  Mr. Ancram
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced the publication of a consultation document on 15 July. The consultation document extends to Northern Ireland and the relevant Northern Ireland Departments have contributed to its preparation.

  Out-of-school Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland for each of these years.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is not available in the form requested.
  337
  The Department of Health and Social Services grant-aids the Northern Ireland Childminding Association, whose members can care for school age and pre-school children. Since 1989–90, funding has been as follows:

  £

  1989–90

  15,000

  1990–91

  24,000

  1991–92

  24,000

  1992–93

  31,000

  1993–94

  46,000

  However, it is not possible to distinguish an out-of-school element in this support.

  In addition, in 1992–93 Northern Ireland's health and personal social services boards spent £1·7 million on family day centres, which provide a specialist support service to families at risk. These centres also provide specialist services for other families in the community. Again it is not possible to distinguish an out-of-school element in this expenditure.

  Water Services
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what study his Department has made on the reform of charging for water services; which other organisations his Department has consulted relating to privatising the water services industry in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what preparations his Department is making to carry out preparatory work on the reform of charging for water services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Options for new charging arrangements for water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland are being examined and I intend to publish a policy document in advance of the introduction of new arrangements.

  Discussions have taken place about water privatisation with elected representatives, district councils and representatives of interested groups. Water privatisation will require legislation and the proposal for a draft order will be published for consultation.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress his Department has made towards the development of a private finance strategy and programme for the water services industry In Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  As I announced on 30 March 1994,Official Report, columns 836–37, consultants have been appointed to carry out a study into the scope for attracting private sector finance to the Department of the Environment's water and sewerage construction programme. The consultant's report will be available very soon and it will form the basis for deciding how the private finance initiative is to be taken forward.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with the Price Waterhouse study announced on 30 March into the scope for attracting private sector finance to the water and sewerage construction and improvement programme in Northern Ireland; if he intends to make the report public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The feasibility study commenced in April 1994 and a report is expected before the end of July 338
  1994. The study was commissioned on a confidential basis because of commercial sensitivities of the issues involved. I have no plans to publish the report.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent consecutively in each of the last three years on agency fees in preparation for the privatisation of the water services industry in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The following sums have been paid in each of the last three years to consultants and other non-Government organisations for preparations related to the privatisation of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland:

  £ million

  1991–92

  Nil

  1992–93

  1·8

  1993–94

  1·9

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received concerning disconnections of domestic water supply.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Representations have been received from 23 individuals and 21 groups arguing against water companies having the power to disconnect domestic supplies when water and sewerage services are privatized in Northern Ireland. These concerns will be taken into consideration in determining new charging arrangements for water and sewerage services.

  All-Ireland Occupational Health and Safety Institute
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy in respect of the establishment of an all-Ireland occupational health and safety institute; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  While I support cross-border co-operation in areas where substantial benefits can be achieved for both parts of the island, the viability of an all-Ireland occupational health and safety institute, from a Northern Ireland perspective, would be heavily dependent on the extent to which it could attract local support for its services and the degree to which its activities would be self-financing.

  Compensation Agency
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has begun the triennial review of the Compensation Agency.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  A review of the agency status of the Compensation Agency has commenced. The performance of the Compensation Agency will be evaluated, and a prior options review of its activities will be carried out.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became(a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;
  339
  (2) how many special advisers have (a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years;

  (3) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  One special adviser has joined the Northern Ireland Office in the last five years. He was appointed in December 1991, resigned in March 1992 and was re-appointed as my special adviser in June 1992. There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes have been sold under the right-to-buy legislation in each year since its introduction; and what was the number of public sector housing starts in each of those years.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The Northern Ireland Housing Executive operates a scheme for the sale of its houses to secure tenants which mirrors the statutory right-to-buy scheme operating in England and Wales. The chief executive has advised me that house sales under the scheme, together with the number of new build starts, are as follows:

  Year

  Dwellings sold

  New build starts

  1980–81

  1,994

  1,224

  1981–82

  7,042

  4,680

  1982–83

  5,554

  3,947

  1983–84

  5,440

  3,705

  1984–85

  5,422

  2,430

  1985–86

  4,103

  1,508

  1986–87

  3,184

  1,675

  1987–88

  2,807

  1,633

  1988–89

  3,368

  1,554

  1989–90

  4,638

  1,405

  1990–91

  4,092

  1,007

  1991–92

  3,191

  814

  1992–93

  3,228

  1,005

  1993–94

  3,972

  1,064

  Total

  58,035

  27,671

  Investment Aid
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answers of 8 July,Official Report, columns 359–60, if he will identify the leading independent internationally recognised consultants from whom he sought advice in connection with the implications for existing companies prior to reaching conculsions about the award of investment aid to encourage the opening of new facilities in Northern Ireland by the Hualon Corporation; what was the cost of that advice; if he will arrange for a copy of the advice to be made available in the Library; what was the basis upon which the consultants were appointed; what steps were taken to ensure that they had no conflict of interest with other clients; what procedures are adopted in commissioning such consultants; by whom the appointment was made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The international consultants were Kurt Salmon Associates.
  340
  KSA conducted a detailed and comprehensive appraisal of the Hualon project—including technical, production and market aspects—and it is not possible to isolate the cost of the advice relating solely to the implications for existing companies.

  The KSA report contains commercially confidential information and therefore will not be made available in the Library.

  The consultants were appointed on the basis of their international reputation and specialist expertise within the global textile industry.

  It is the established code of practice among major international consultancy firms to declare any potential conflict of interest prior to taking on any assignment. No such conflict of interest was declared by KSA prior to accepting the Hualon assignment.

  In commissioning such consultants due weight is given to the extent and availability of their expert resources, their track record and their international standing.

  KSA was selected and appointed by the Industrial Develpment Board from an internal register of specialist consultants.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answers of 8 July,Official Report, columns 359–60, how much money is being made available, and when, to the Hualon Corporation in the form of inward investment and other incentives to encourage it to proceed with plans to open a new facility in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Total selective financial assistance offered towards the establishment of the Hualon textile plant is approximately £61 million. It will be paid out over a 10-year period as the project proceeds through its four phases, mainly in the form of grants towards capital expenditure on buildings, plant and machinery.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations his Department has received concerning estimated job losses associated with the award of investment aid to the Hualon Corporation in connection with the development of new textile facilities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  My Department has received two representations concerning potential job losses as a consequence of the Hualon project.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answers of 8 July,Official Report, columns 359–60, if he will now make it his policy in future to consult industry both in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom about the implications for existing companies prior to reaching conclusions about the award of investment aid to encourage the opening of new facilities in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  In reaching any decision to offer assistance to encourage new investment in Northern Ireland my Department is required to consider carefully the implications for existing companies both in Northern Ireland and in the rest of the United Kingdom. My Department does not consult industry or companies about such decisions and will not do so in future. This policy is
  341
  the same as that applied in other parts of the United Kingdom where regional assistance is available and I see no reason to change this policy.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his Department's contribution to the deregulation programme.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Northern Ireland Departments are playing a full part in the deregulation initiative and have already made significant progress in the following areas:

  (i) Enforcement Codes

  Twenty three Enforcement Bodies in Northern Ireland have produced codes of practice outlining in simple language the standards of service businesses should expect from them and detailing clear complaints procedures in the event of dissatisfaction with the service received.

  (ii) Review of "Non-parity" Legislation

  A review has been conducted of the 30 items of legislation unique to Northern Ireland which impact on business. As a result of this review, it was decided to revoke five of these items.

  (iii) Deregulation and Contracting-Out Bill

  The Deregulation and Contracting-Out Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, includes four specific measures which have been extended to Northern Ireland.

  The remaining measures in the Bill which require action in Northern Ireland will be contained in a composite Northern Ireland Deregulation and Contracting-Out Order-in-Council.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sites of special scientific interest are listed in Northern Ireland, giving in each case their location and indicating which are at risk from proposed developments.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  There are currently 55 areas of special scientific interest in Northern Ireland; a list of them, with locations, has been placed in the Library.

  It is believed that no areas of special scientific interest are threatened by development at this time.

  Environmental Protection Agency
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards the establishment of an environmental protection agency in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  In Northern Ireland most of the functions of the proposed agency in England and Wales are already carried out by one body, the Environment Service of the Department of the Environment. I will decide whether or not any proposals for change in Northern Ireland should be made when final details of the proposed agency in England and Wales are known and when I have received the results of the prior options study of the Environment Service which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 18 January 1994.

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards the Government's target of recycling 25 per cent. of reusable household waste.
  342
  Mr. Tim Smith
  Information on the volume of recyclable material collected in Northern Ireland is not held centrally. The recyclable materials most commonly collected in Northern Ireland are wastepaper; glass; aluminium cans; oil. Collection facilities are based mainly on "bring" centres. Under new legislation currently being prepared district councils will be required to prepare recycling plans for their districts.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received from United Kingdom or foreign non-governmental organisations concerning the environmental risks of THORP.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  None. Responsibility for the regulation of the THORP plant rests with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Gas Pipes
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what agency or department owns the remnant gas pipe network in Derry city; and what departments or agencies have responsibilities relating to its maintenance adaptation or disposal.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The Londonderry Gaslight Company, which formerly owned the underground gas pipes, was wound up on 14 July 1993 and dissolved on 14 October 1993. Ownership of the underground gas pipes is currently under legal consideration.

  Science and Watercourse Management Division
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will make a statement about possible executive agency status for the science and watercourse management division of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have decided that the science service and the watercourse management division of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland should be considered as candidates for executive agency status, under the next steps initiative. Prior options studies will be undertaken to establish whether agency status or other options would be appropriate. I would welcome comments from interested parties.

  Comments on the Veterinary Sciences Division should be sent to:

  The Secretary

  Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland

  Veterinary Sciences Division

  Stoney Road

  Belfast BT4 3SD

  Comments on Watercourse Management Division should be sent by 1 September to:

  The Secretary

  Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland

  Watercourse Management Division

  Hydebank

  4 Hospital Road

  Belfast BT8 4RP

  343

  Mentally Infirm People
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the admission policy in each health board area in Northern Ireland in respect of(a) the elderly mentally infirm and (b) Alzheimer's disease sufferers.

  Mr. Ancram
  Information on admission policy in each health board area in Northern Ireland in respect of(a) elderly mentally infirm and (b) people with Alzheimer's disease is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In general terms, admission to hospital, residential homes and nursing homes will be based on clinical judgment, multi-disciplinary assessment of the individual's need and the availability of appropriate services.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many patients in the Northern health board area in each of the last three years have been assessed as

  Recruiting statistics—RUC

  Total

  CB1

  CB2

  CB3

  CB1 Per cent.

  CB2 Per cent.

  CB3 Per cent.

  1990 Applications

  1,113

  842

  116

  155

  75·65

  10·42

  13·93

  1990 Intakes

  182

  159

  13

  10

  87·36

  7·14

  5·49

  1991 Applications

  1,704

  1,313

  191

  200

  77·05

  11·21

  11·74

  1991 Intakes

  180

  156

  17

  7

  86·67

  9·44

  3·89

  1992 Applications

  2,317

  1,716

  231

  370

  74·06

  9·97

  15·97

  1992 Intakes

  421

  368

  39

  14

  87·41

  9·26

  3·33

  1993 Applications

  733

  518

  86

  129

  70·67

  11·73

  17·60

  1993 Intakes

  207

  165

  14

  28

  79·71

  6·76

  13·53

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the goals and timetables set for the RUC and the RUC Reserve under section 31 of the Fair Employment Act; and what success the RUC and the RUC Reserve have had in achieving them.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: I understand that the RUC has no plans to publish the goals and timetables set for the RUC and the RUC Reserve under section 31 of the Fair Employment Act 1989, or to report on the success they have had in achieving them. A copy of the review prepared by the RUC under section 31 of the Act has been made available to the Fair Employment Commission.

  Table 1: Royal Ulster Constabulary RUC By Rank and Perceived Religious Affiliation 1990–1993

  Community Background

  Rank

  CB1

  CB2

  CB3

  Total

  CB1 Per cent.

  CB2 Per cent.

  CB3 Per cent.

  1990

  Chief Officers

  10

  3

  1

  14

  71·4

  21·4

  7·1

  Chief Superintendent

  35

  8

  1

  44

  79·5

  18·2

  2·3

  Superintendent

  104

  17

  2

  123

  84·6

  13·8

  1·6

  Chief Inspector

  135

  22

  4—

  161

  83·9

  13·7

  2·4

  Inspector

  421

  43

  17

  481

  87·5

  8·9

  3·5

  Sergeant

  1,213

  119

  30

  1,362

  89·1

  8·7

  2·2

  Constable

  5,445

  427

  186

  6,058

  89·9

  7·0

  3·1

  Total

  7,363

  639

  241

  8,243

  —

  —

  —

  CB as Percentage of Total

  89·32

  7·75

  2·92

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1991

  344
  requiring EMI—elderly mentally infirm—nursing care; and how many have been placed in (a) residential homes and (b) nursing homes;

  (2) how many patients suffering from dementia are presently placed in (a) residential homes and (b) nursing homes in each health board area in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for membership of the RUC were made in each year since 1983; from which community they came; and how many from each community were recruited.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Information is not available prior to 1990.

  Available information is as follows:

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what were the percentage make-up and absolute number of the RUC and RUC Reserve perceived by religious affiliation for each year since 1983;

  (2) what is the absolute and percentage numbers by perceived religious affiliation in each rank of the RUC and the RUC Reserve to the latest convenient date and each year since 1983.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: This information is not available prior to 1990. Available information is as follows:
  345

  Community Background

  Rank

  CB1

  CB2

  CB3

  Total

  CB1 Percent.

  CB2 Per cent.

  CB3 Per cent.

  Chief Officers

  10

  3

  1

  14

  71·4

  21·4

  7·1

  Chief Superintendent

  36

  7

  1

  44

  81·8

  15·9

  2·3

  Superintendent

  103

  16

  0

  110

  86·6

  13·4

  0·0

  Chief Inspector

  139

  20

  4

  163

  85·3

  12·3

  2·4

  Inspector

  422

  42

  18

  482

  87·5

  8·7

  3·7

  Sergeant

  1,228

  124

  28

  1,380

  89·0

  9·0

  2·0

  Constable

  5,407

  423

  190

  6,020

  89·8

  7·0

  3·2

  Total

  7,345

  635

  242

  8,222

  —

  —

  —

  CB as Percentage of Total

  89·33

  7·72

  2·94

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1992

  Chief Officers

  11

  2

  1

  14

  78·6

  14·3

  7·1

  Chief Superintendent

  35

  6

  1

  42

  83·3

  14·3

  2·4

  Superintendent

  104

  17

  1

  122

  85·2

  13·9

  0·9

  Chief Inspector

  139

  20

  4

  163

  85·3

  12·3

  2·4

  Inspector

  426

  47

  17

  490

  86·9

  9·6

  3·5

  Sergeant

  1,250

  123

  24

  1,397

  89·5

  8·8

  1·7

  Constable

  5,617

  456

  182

  6,255

  89·8

  7·3

  2·9

  Total

  7,582

  671

  230

  8,483

  —

  —

  —

  CB as Percentage of Total

  89·38

  7·91

  2·71

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1993

  Chief Officers

  10

  1

  1

  12

  83·3

  8·3

  8·3

  Chief Superintendent

  34

  7

  1

  42

  80·9

  16·7

  2·4

  Superintendent

  103

  17

  3

  123

  83·7

  13·8

  2·4

  Chief Inspector

  140

  22

  2

  164

  85·4

  13·4

  1·2

  Inspector

  427

  45

  17

  489

  87·3

  9·2

  3·5

  Sergeant

  1,261

  123

  24

  1,408

  89·6

  8·7

  1·7

  Constable

  5,575

  454

  203

  6,232

  89·4

  7·3

  3·3

  Total

  7,550

  669

  251

  8,470

  —

  —

  —

  CB as Percentage of Total

  89·14

  7·90

  2·96

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Table 2: RUC Reserve (Full Time)

  Community background

  Full time reserve

  CB as percentage of total

  1990

  CB1

  2,699

  90·27

  CB2

  163

  5·45

  CB3 Total

  128

  4·28

  Total

  2,990

  1991

  CB1

  2,731

  89·78

  CB2

  177

  5·82

  CB3

  134

  4·40

  Total

  3,042

  1992

  CB1

  2,817

  89·15

  CB2

  192

  60·07

  CB3

  151

  4·78

  Total

  3,160

  1993

  CB1

  2,822

  88·60

  CB2

  200

  6·28

  CB3

  163

  5·12

  Total

  3,185

  346

  Table 3: RUC Reserve (Part Time)

  Community background

  Part time reserve

  CB as percentage of total

  1990

  CB1

  1,479

  95·05

  CB2

  61

  3·92

  CB3

  16

  1·03

  Total

  1,556

  1991

  CB1

  1,440

  94·92

  CB2

  62

  4·09

  CB3

  15

  0·99

  Total

  1,517

  1992

  CB1

  1,360

  94·97

  CB2

  56

  3·91

  CB3

  16

  1·12

  Total

  1,432

  1993

  CB1

  1,320

  95·03

  CB2

  52

  3·74

  CB3

  17

  1·22

  Total

  1,389

  Note:

  CB1—Perceived Protestant Community.

  CB2—Perceived Roman Cartholic Community.

  CB3—Other.

  All statistics are compiled as at end of year.

  The RUC Reserve consists only of Constables.
  347

  Contracts
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 12 July,Official Report, columns 589–90, which company was finally awarded the contract; which company was originally recommended by officials; and what were the reasons for giving a direction.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 18 July 1994]: The criteria for awarding public service contracts include such aspects as value for money, price and quality. Although officials had recommended that the contract in question be awarded to a previous contractor to the Northern Ireland civil service on the basis of, among other relevant criteria, a highly satisfactory performance, the Minister directed that it be awarded to a new contractor, Mount Charles Catering Ltd., on the determining factor of lowest cost.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fur Farms
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the number of licensed mink farms in(a) 1964, (b) 1974, (c) 1984 and (d)

  Mr. Soames
  Information is readily available only from 1989. At 31 March 1989 there were 52 mink farms in England; at 31 March 1994 there were 12.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will show the estimated number of arctic fox fur farms in the United Kingdom in(a) 1964, (b) 1974, (c) 1984 and (d)

  Mr. Soames
  The keeping of arctic fox is not subject to control in England, Wales and Scotland and information is not collected on the number of farms keeping this animal. In Northern Ireland, the keeping of arctic foxes is subject to licensing under the Arctic Fox (Importation and Keeping) Regulations 1988. No licences have been issued in Northern Ireland to keep this animal since the regulations came into force and information on the number of farms was not collected prior to the legislation being introduced.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to her answer of 13 July, when it became Ministry policy not to discuss details of licences of mink farms; why this decision was taken; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  It has been Ministry policy over a number of years not to disclose details of licences of individual mink farms; this is to protect mink fur farmers from the attentions of individuals or organisations who might seek to disrupt by unlawful means the activity of licensed fur farming.

  Durum Wheat, Italy
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 13 July,Official Report, column 656 about durum wheat, if she will make it her policy to gather information about the durum wheat areas measured by remote sensing in Italy and the action taken by the Italian authorities.
  348
  Mr. Jack
  Responsibility for ensuring that member states fulfil their obligations to prevent fraud rests with the European Commission. The Ministry does not have the resources to monitor the level of compliance in other member states.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are taken to ensure that market traders and slaughterers make sure that farmers declare whether their cattle come from a BSE-infected herd.

  Mr. Soames
  Responsibility for checking that animals presented for slaughter and intended for the production of bone-in beef for intra-Community trade are accompanied by declarations confirming that they do not originate from BSE-infected premises rests with the slaughterhouse operator. The health certification for bone-in beef which must accompany such consignments cannot be completed by the official veterinarian unless such a declaration has been seen. As far as the export of live calves to EC member states is concerned, it is the responsibility of the official veterinarian completing export health certification to ensure that, for each of the animals being exported, an owner's declaration has been received confirming, inter alia, that the animal is not the progeny of a dam in which BSE is suspected or has been officially confirmed. Where calves for export are sold through a market the official veterinarian must be in receipt of such declarations for each calf or, alternatively, a declaration from the auctioneer confirming that the required owner's declarations for all the animals to be exported have been received and retained. In addition, computer checks are carried out on the validity of owner or auctioneer declarations.

  Rabbit Control
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will set out the areas of research funded by her Department with regard to establishing cost-effective and humane rabbit control.

  Mr. Soames
  Listed are the research projects currently funded by the Ministry on the control of rabbits by non-lethal means:

  1. Predicting damage to winter wheat in relation to the density of rabbits and the timing of population control.

  2. Developing humane, environmentally acceptable and cost-effective techniques for reducing rabbit numbers or otherwise preventing crop damage.

  3. Modelling rabbit populations and designing control packages.

  4. Irreversible immunocontraception for the control of wild rabbits.

  5. The management of mammal pests in farm woodlands.

  The Forestry Commission is carrying out research on the use of tree guards against rabbits.

  Herbal Products
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries. and Food whether she will make it her policy in future not to introduce bans on herbal products, whether voluntary or compulsory, without first consulting the House.

  Mr. Soames
  Compulsory bans on foodstuffs can be made by means of orders under existing legislation. Such
  349
  orders must be approved by Parliament. Voluntary bans on foodstuffs do not have the force of law and are not therefore appropriate for clearance by Parliament.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for how many years since 1964 comfrey products have been consumed in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Soames
  Consumers have been free to choose to consume comfrey products since they have existed. Since March 1993 there has been a voluntary trade withdrawal of certain comfrey products because of their potential to give a high intake of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. If consumers wish to continue consuming comfrey they may do so in the form of tea made from comfrey leaves as such products were not part of the voluntary withdrawal.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she is taking to harmonise animal welfare standards of the remaining European Union countries with British standards; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The Government are pressing for the adoption of high welfare standards throughout the European Union. The arguments put by my right hon. Friend to the June Council of Ministers for improvements to the proposed rules on animal transport are a case in point.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many special advisers who left her Department in each of the last five years became(a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;

  (2) if she will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left her Department in each of the last five years

  Mr. Jack
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left her Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jack
  The number of special advisers who have joined or left the Department in the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  Joined

  Left

  1990

  1

  1

  1991

  —

  —

  1992

  —

  —

  1993

  2

  1

  1994

  —

  1

  Commissions
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many commissions her Department had with the Agriculture and Food Research 350
  Council for each year since 1979; how many such commissions she expects to make this year; and what is the value of those commissions in (a) cash and (b) constant prices.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My Department has issued a single commission for its research and development programme with the Agriculture and Food Research Council covering all its institutes each year. Details of the amounts spent in cash and constant prices are as follows:

  Year

  Cash £ million

  Constant Prices1 £ million

  1979–80

  30·4

  72·4

  1980–81

  37·4

  75·2

  1981–82

  44·3

  81·3

  1982–83

  48·6

  83·2

  1983–84

  51·3

  84·0

  1984–85

  52·8

  82·3

  1985–86

  51·8

  76·5

  1986–87

  47·9

  68·7

  1987–88

  44·2

  60·2

  1988–89

  46·4

  59·2

  1989–90

  46·0

  54·9

  1990–91

  45·6

  50·3

  1991–92

  34·5

  35·8

  1992–93

  34·8

  34·8

  1993–94

  36·0

  34·8

  To date, the value of the MAFF Commission with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council for 1994–95 in cash and constant prices is

  32·7

  30·4

  1 using the GDP deflator (1992–93=100)

  Institute of Food Research
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total expenditure on the Institute of Food Research for each year since 1986 in(a) cash and (b) constant prices.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information on MAFF funding of research and development at the Institute of Food Research for each year since 1986 in cash and constant prices is as follows:

  Year

  Cash £ million

  1 Constant Prices £ million

  1986–87

  7·6

  10·9

  1987–88

  7·5

  10·3

  1988–89

  8·0

  10·2

  1989–90

  7·7

  9·1

  1990–91

  7·0

  7·8

  1991–92

  5·8

  6·0

  1992–93

  6·1

  6·1

  1993–94

  5·8

  5·6

  1 Using the GDP deflator (1992–93=100).

  Veterinary Service
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest figures available for the number of vets employed by the State Veterinary Service.
  351
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The number of veterinary surgeons employed by the state veterinary service as at 1 June 1994 was 403. This figure includes veterinary staff at Tolworth HQ.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current number of veterinary investigation centres in operation; what plans there are to develop these centres; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There are currently 13 veterinary investigation centres and one veterinary investigation unit in operation in England and Wales. Last year two new purpose-built centres were opened at Bury St. Edmunds and at Luddington in Warwickshire. Major redevelopments have been carried out at a number of the centres and final plans are now being prepared for major redevelopment at Penrith and Thirsk veterinary investigation centres.

  Resrarch and Developmentent
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current number of personnel employed in her Department's research and development programme; and what were the figures for each year from 1979–80.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The numbers of personnel employed by my Department in its research and development programme are as follows:

  Number

  1984–85

  2,264

  1985–86

  2,062

  1986–87

  1,924

  1987–88

  1,919

  1988–89

  2,201

  1989–90

  1,801

  1990–91

  2,514

  1991–92

  2,420

  1992–93

  2,552

  11993–94

  2,575

  1 Provisional figure.

  Figures include personnel at MAFF agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

  Figures prior to 1984 are not available.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been her Department's total research and development expenditure for each year since 1979 in(a) cash and (b) constant terms.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My Department's total research and development expenditure for each year since 1981–82 in cash and constant prices is as follows:

  Year

  Cash £ million

  Constant prices1 £ million

  1981–82

  106·8

  195·9

  1982–83

  113·9

  195·0

  1983–84

  118·6

  194·1

  352

  Year

  Cash £ million

  Constant prices1 £ million

  1984–85

  119·4

  186·1

  1985–86

  118·4

  174·8

  1986–87

  118·3

  169·7

  1987–88

  113·8

  155·0

  1988–89

  115·0

  146·8

  1989–90

  112·2

  133·9

  1990–91

  119·1

  131·5

  1991–92

  121·5

  126·2

  1992–93

  132·9

  132·9

  21993–94

  137·3

  132·9

  1 Using the GDP deflator (1992–93 = 100).

  2 Provisional.

  Figures for 1979–80 and 1980–81 are not available.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the allocated budget for the environmentally sensitive area schemes in England and Wales for each year since 1989.

  Mr. Jack
  The provision for environmentally sensitive areas in England and Wales at the beginning of each financial year since 1989 is as follows:

  England

  Wales

  1988–89

  8,300

  1,025

  1989–90

  8,430

  1,000

  1990–91

  7,850

  1,700

  1991–92

  8,687

  1,700

  1992–93

  21,442

  4,533

  1993–94

  30,200

  5,787

  1994–95

  31,234

  6,863

  Wheat Yields
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the wheat yields for each county in England in 1986 to 1992, sorted by seven-year average, according to the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service study received by her Department in January 1993.

  Mr. Jack
  The average wheat yield for each county in England for 1986 to 1992 including the seven-year average, as presented in the ADAS study, is given in the table.

  These figures are derived from the annual cereals production survey—CPS—which samples about 3,000 cereal growers. However the CPS is not designed to produce reliable estimates of county yields, and in some counties with few cereal growers the sample size may be very small. Yields also tend to be more variable within counties than between counties. The figures at county level, therefore, cannot be regarded as entirely reliable.
  353

  Wheat yields in England 1986–92 (by county)

  County

  1986 harvest

  1987 harvest

  1988 harvest

  1989 harvest

  1990 harvest

  1991 harvest

  1992 harvest

  7 year average

  Greater London (SE)

  4·38

  4·61

  4·80

  59·8

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4·94

  West Midlands

  5·43

  5·27

  n/a

  3·64

  5·52

  6·65

  6·49

  5·50

  Surrey

  6·17

  5·56

  5·57

  5·15

  6·92

  5·86

  5·50

  5·82

  Lancashire

  5·61

  4·64

  5·39

  4·62

  6·52

  6·68

  6·74

  5·74

  Devon

  6·23

  6·24

  5·88

  6·39

  6·57

  6·21

  5·81

  6·19

  Greater London (E)

  4·12

  n/a

  5·00

  6·16

  n/a

  6·71

  n/a

  5·50

  Buckinghamshire

  6·73

  5·31

  5·62

  5·81

  6·37

  6·60

  6·00

  6·06

  Gloucestershire

  6·54

  6·10

  5·95

  5·12

  5·61

  5·72

  6·20

  6·03

  Cornwall

  5·70

  5·87

  6·15

  6·85

  6·18

  6·34

  5·99

  6·16

  Berkshire

  6·87

  5·80

  6·03

  5·87

  5·76

  6·48

  5·95

  6·11

  East Sussex

  6·18

  5·82

  6·32

  6·33

  6·58

  5·65

  6·56

  6·20

  Avon

  6·12

  6·11

  6·33

  5·77

  6·61

  6·23

  6·24

  6·20

  Cumbria

  7·10

  6·39

  5·55

  4·59

  8·52

  5·80

  6·42

  6·34

  Greater Manchester

  8·55

  n/a

  5·73

  5·00

  5·47

  6·81

  6·46

  6·34

  Staffordshire

  6·87

  6·25

  5·94

  5·82

  6·66

  7·52

  6·50

  6·51

  Merseyside

  6·80

  5·81

  6·59

  5·71

  6·06

  6·91

  6·02

  6·27

  Derbyshire

  6·76

  6·16

  5·77

  5·79

  6·42

  7·11

  6·20

  6·32

  Hertfordshire

  6·15

  5·57

  5·78

  6·77

  6·17

  7·05

  6·21

  6·24

  Bedfordshire

  7·04

  5·48

  5·66

  6·23

  6·15

  7·46

  6·29

  6·33

  Leicestershire

  7·16

  5·74

  6·22

  6·44

  6·18

  7·40

  6·27

  6·49

  Tyne and Wear

  6·53

  5·51

  5·55

  4·74

  8·01

  7·26

  7·70

  6·47

  Nottinghamshire

  7·07

  6·25

  5·63

  6·68

  6·57

  7·15

  6·23

  6·51

  Warwickshire

  6·65

  5·83

  6·06

  6·10

  6·28

  7·56

  6·63

  6·44

  Oxfordshire

  6·79

  6·00

  6·04

  6·32

  5·89

  6·72

  6·43

  6·31

  Northamptonshire

  6·86

  5·76

  5·99

  6·93

  6·59

  7·46

  6·52

  6·59

  Wiltshire

  6·64

  6·32

  6·26

  6·42

  6·48

  6·88

  5·84

  6·41

  Isle of Wight

  7·80

  6·98

  6·08

  6·02

  5·19

  7·27

  5·94

  6·47

  Hereford and Worcester

  6·92

  6·16

  6·48

  5·86

  6·37

  7·38

  6·79

  6·57

  Shropshire

  7·00

  6·31

  6·62

  5·95

  6·79

  7·67

  6·78

  6·73

  Cheshire

  6·55

  5·68

  6·62

  6·07

  5·77

  7·84

  7·26

  6·54

  South Yorkshire

  6·98

  6·17

  6·41

  6·57

  6·72

  7·68

  6·46

  6·71

  Kent

  6·84

  5·96

  7·20

  6·75

  7·06

  6·52

  7·24

  6·80

  Dorset

  6·72

  6·54

  6·68

  7·12

  6·62

  6·45

  6·29

  6·63

  Hampshire

  7·05

  6·08

  6·36

  6·48

  6·55

  6·45

  6·89

  6·52

  Somerset

  7·07

  6·89

  5·71

  6·25

  6·67

  6·87

  6·40

  6·52

  West Yorkshire

  6·78

  6·46

  6·24

  6·86

  6·47

  7·25

  7·11

  6·74

  West Sussex

  6·69

  6·25

  6·85

  6·55

  7·40

  6·14

  6·50

  6·63

  Cambridgeshire

  6·72

  5·84

  6·16

  6·86

  7·22

  7·21

  6·76

  6·68

  North Yorkshire (Northallerton)

  7·41

  6·15

  6·56

  7·76

  7·49

  7·56

  7·35

  7·04

  Cleveland

  6·93

  5·78

  6·34

  6·58

  7·85

  8·21

  7·61

  7·04

  Essex

  6·88

  5·68

  6·38

  6·63

  7·10

  7·58

  7·08

  6·76

  Durham

  7·17

  5·97

  6·87

  6·14

  7·87

  7·32

  7·69

  7·01

  North Yorkshire (Beverley)

  7·62

  6·21

  6·00

  7·11

  7·87

  7·86

  7·12

  7·11

  Northumberland

  6·87

  6·61

  6·55

  6·80

  8·18

  7·90

  8·15

  7·30

  Lincolnshire

  7·45

  6·14

  6·37

  7·58

  7·34

  7·91

  7·10

  7·13

  Norfolk

  7·02

  5·99

  6·35

  7·73

  7·85

  7·68

  7·38

  7·14

  Suffolk

  6·92

  5·52

  6·40

  7·45

  7·86

  7·42

  7·52

  7·01

  Humberside

  7·72

  6·77

  7·22

  7·58

  8·11

  8·20

  7·47

  7·58

  Trees
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will show for each of the last three years the area planted with(a) conifers and (b) broad leaf trees under each scheme for private planting and indicate the average area of each scheme for (i) conifers and (ii) broad leaves.

  Mr. Jack
  The information for England is set out in the table.

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Area Planted (hectares)

  Conifer

  2,143

  2,097

  2,052

  Broadleaf

  5,865

  6,766

  8,144

  Total

  8,008

  8,863

  10,196

  Average Area Approved (hectares)

  Conifer

  1·3

  2·2

  2·6

  Broadleaf

  2·0

  3·2

  3·0

  Arable Area Payments
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average yield used for the purpose of arable area payments for farmers for harvest year 1993–94; and how it was calculated.

  Mr. Jack
  As required by EC Council regulation 1765/92 the average yield figures for England are calculated on the basis of the historical average cereal and oilseed yields from 1986–87 to 1990–91, excluding the highest and lowest years during that period. The cereal yields determine the cereals, protein and set-aside payments, and the threshold for the simplified scheme. The oilseed yields determine the oilseed payment rate. The average yield figure for cereals used to calculate arable area payments in England is 5·93 tonnes per hectare, and the average yield figure for oilseeds is 3·08 tonnes per hectare.
  355

  Horticulture Development Council
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she has completed her consultation on the future of the Horticultural Development Council; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am pleased to announce that, having consulted the council and representative organisations in England, Scotland and Wales, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have decided that the Horticultural Development Council should continue with its present constitution and functions for a further five years.

  Our consultations with the industry have clearly demonstrated that the HDC commands a high level of

  Regional service centres comparative performance data for financial year 1993–94 Unless otherwise specified

  Percentage rates

  Bristol

  Cambridge

  Carlisle

  Crewe

  Exeter

  Northallerton

  Nottingham

  Reading

  Worcester

  1Total

  Farm woodland premium scheme

  Applications

  100

  99

  100

  100

  100

  99

  98

  100

  98

  99

  Claims

  99

  99

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  99

  Five year set-aside scheme

  1992–93 scheme year claims

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  99

  99

  99

  99

  Environmentally sensitive areas

  Applications

  90

  86

  100

  88

  4—

  100

  100

  100

  4—

  91

  Claims

  95

  100

  96

  92

  100

  100

  100

  100

  4—

  98

  Nitrate sensitive areas

  Claims

  96

  4—

  4—

  100

  4—

  100

  100

  100

  4—

  99

  Hill livestock compensation allowance

  1994 scheme claims

  99

  4—

  99

  98

  96

  97

  96

  4—

  99

  98

  Sheep annual premium scheme

  1993 scheme payments claim2

  82

  73

  92

  87

  86

  88

  86

  80

  86

  86

  Farm and conservation grant scheme

  Applications

  100

  100

  100

  100

  95

  89

  100

  100

  93

  97

  Claims3

  88

  96

  99

  100

  98

  98

  99

  100

  95

  98

  Agriculture improvement scheme

  Plan claims3

  100

  100

  97

  100

  100

  94

  100

  4—

  100

  97

  Ministers consent to a short-term letting or licence

  Target

  93

  98

  88

  85

  100

  98

  99

  100

  100

  98

  Permit to purchase strychnine

  Target

  94

  97

  96

  100

  100

  95

  99

  100

  93

  97

  Injurious weed complaints

  Target

  100

  100

  4—

  94

  4—

  100

  93

  100

  100

  98

  Agriculture wage inspections

  Target3

  100

  4—

  100

  100

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  97

  1 Numerical totals processed expressed as a percentage of number received.

  2 SAPS lower success rate is largely due to problems associated with quota allocations.

  3 Period July 1993 to March 1994.

  4 Not entered as numbers dealt with 10 or less—numbers of cases are included in calculation of total percentage success rates. Non plan claims for AIS, and AHDS, FHDS and FDGS schemes, omitted from table as numbers are de minimis.

HEALTH

  Deprivation Scores
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average tabular index deprivation score, used in the payment of general practitioners, for each
  356
  confidence among growers. My right hon. Friends and I welcome this positive expression of industry support for the council's work. A strongly supported grower base for research and development is vital if our industry is to compete effectively in an increasingly tough marketplace.

  Service Delivery Targets
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress her Department has made in meeting service delivery targets set out in "Commitment to Service".

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The list shows the percentages of cases dealt with by each regional service centre which have met the targets set in "Commitment to Service".

  family health services authority in order of deprivation and the average per capita spending for each family health services authority, in order of spending.

  (2) what is the average primary care deprivation score for each family health services authority; and what is the average deprivation score for all them, taken together.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information given below is a simple average of professor jarman's under-privileged area
  357
  scores, grouped by FHSA. The electoral ward data have not been weighted by resident population. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 26 May, Official report, column 305 about the per capita spending figures for each family health services authority in England, which was placed in the Library.

  The average under-privileged area scores for family health services authorities in England are:

  Average

  City and East London

  36·57

  Camden and Islington

  29·62

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  28·60

  Manchester

  28·49

  Birmingham

  26·17

  Bradford

  21·11

  Liverpool

  20·55

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  19·42

  Newcastle

  18·51

  Wolverhampton

  18·47

  Rochdale

  18·10

  Salford

  16·92

  Kirklees

  16·05

  Sandwell

  16·00

  Oldham

  15·72

  Coventry

  14·76

  South Tyneside

  14·35

  Bolton

  14·15

  Brent and Harrow

  14·06

  Sunderland

  13·69

  Calderdale

  13·59

  Enfield and Haringey

  13·08

  Gateshead

  12·63

  Tameside

  11·82

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  11·20

  Leeds

  11·03

  Cleveland

  10·16

  North Tyneside

  9·51

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  9·03

  Sheffield

  8·64

  Redbridge

  7·97

  Greenwich

  7·49

  Walsall

  6·70

  Wirral

  6·60

  Bury

  5·52

  Barnet

  5·28

  Durham

  5·22

  Wigan

  5·11

  Doncaster

  4·98

  Rotherham

  4·33

  Croydon

  3·97

  Lancashire

  3·71

  Isle of Wight

  3·49

  East Sussex

  3·03

  Wakefield

  2·86

  Sefton

  2·80

  Hillingdon

  2·34

  Trafford

  1·88

  Barnsley

  1·76

  Barking and Havering

  1·49

  Kensington

  0·84

  Kingston and Richmond

  0·47

  Cornwall

  0·43

  Dudley

  0·28

  Humberside

  0·05

  Stockport

  -0·07

  Kent

  -1·42

  Dorset

  -1·68

  Northamptonshire

  -1·87

  Northumberland

  -2·31

  West Sussex

  -2·59

  Devon

  -2·82

  Nottinghamshire

  -3·00

  Suffolk

  -3·02

  Bedfordshire

  -3·02

  358

  Average

  Derbyshire

  -3·20

  Cumbria

  -3·53

  Cambridgeshire

  -3·61

  Lincolnshire

  -3·79

  Berkshire

  -3·89

  Norfolk

  -4·00

  Wiltshire

  -4·04

  Hampshire

  -4·21

  Shropshire

  -4·26

  Somerset

  -4·52

  Cheshire

  -4·56

  Oxfordshire

  -5·24

  Gloucestershire

  -5·42

  Bromley

  -5·48

  Leicestershire

  -5·77

  Staffordshire

  -5·89

  Essex

  -6·54

  North Yorkshire

  -6·60

  Hereford and Worcester

  -6·54

  Avon

  -6·60

  Solihull

  -6·65

  Warwickshire

  -6·82

  Hertfordshire

  -7·44

  Buckinghamshire

  -7·74

  Surrey

  -9·69

  The average figure for all family health services authorities in England is 4·92.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average deprivation score for each district health authority; and what is the average deprivation score.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Jarman index of under-privileged area scores is used by the Department of Health only at family health services authority level for the purpose of calculating general practitioner deprivation payments.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 27 October 1993,Official Report, column 697.

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current infant mortality rate in each regional health authority in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Infant mortality rate for the United Kingdom by Regional Health Authority and Standard Area for 1992 and District Council Area for 1991 (latest year for available data in Northern Ireland is 1991)

  Infant mortality1

  United Kingdom

  26·6

  England and Wales

  36·6

  England

  6·5

  Northern RHA

  7·1

  Yorkshire RHA

  6·6

  Trent RHA

  6·9

  East Anglian RHA

  4·6

  North West Thames RHA

  5·5

  North East Thames RHA

  7·1

  South East Thames RHA

  6·4

  359

  Infant mortality1

  South West Thames RHA

  5·7

  Wessex RHA

  5·5

  Oxford RHA

  6·0

  South Western RHA

  5·5

  West Midlands RHA

  8·2

  Mersey RHA

  7·7

  North Western RHA

  7·7

  Wales

  6·0

  Scotland

  6·8

  Standard Areas

  5·9

  Borders

  5·9

  Central

  6·1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  7·4

  Fife

  6·7

  Grampian

  6·0

  Highland

  6·7

  Lothian

  7·3

  Strathclyde

  7·3

  Tayside

  5·3

  Orkney Islands

  8·4

  Shetland Islands

  3·1

  Western Isles Islands

  6·0

  Northern Ireland (1991)

  7·4

  District Council Areas

  Ards

  3·2

  Belfast

  7·1

  Castlereagh

  6·8

  Down

  9·2

  Lisburn

  5·3

  North Down

  8·1

  Antrim

  5·3

  Ballymena

  8·9

  Ballymoney

  2·9

  Carrickfergus

  17·4

  Coleraine

  8·4

  Cookstown

  8·1

  Larne

  4·6

  Magherafelt

  4·8

  Moyle

  49·1

  Newtownabbey

  8·5

  Armagh

  7·8

  Banbridge

  3·9

  Craigavon

  9·1

  Dungannon

  8·5

  Newry and Mourne

  5·9

  Fermanagh

  3·5

  Limavady

  9·2

  Deny

  9·3

  Omagh

  7·7

  Strabane

  14·9

  1 Rate per 1,000 live births.

  2 United Kingdom 1992 figure based on provisional numbers and estimates for Northern Ireland 1992.

  3 Data for the rates have been assigned to the area of usual residence as stated at the registration of each event. If the address of usual residence is outside England and Wales, these events have been included in the England and Wales aggregate but excluded from the figures for individual RHAs.

  4 1990 latest year available.

  Fundholding Practices
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average level of funding per capita has been allocated for 1994–95 to fundholding general practitioner practices in(a) England and (b) each regional health authority to enable fundholding practices to purchase those services covered by the fundholding regulations.
  360
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Regional information on average fundholder budget allocations per capita is not directly comparable because of variations locally in the methods of compiling fundholder population data and differences in regional information systems. In addition, variations in average budgets per patient between regions are influenced by a number of factors, including differences in the age structures and relative levels of morbidity of regions, variations in local provider prices, as well as differences in historic referral and prescribing levels between practices in the scheme.

  With these caveats, the following table shows estimated average budget allocations per patient made by regional health authorities to general practitioner fundholders in 1994–95.

  Estimated average budget allocations per patient made by regional health authorities to general practitioner fundholders in 1994–95

  Region

  1994–95 £

  Northern and Yorkshire

  180

  Trent

  160

  Anglia and Oxford

  160

  North Thames

  150

  South Thames

  160

  South and West

  160

  West Midlands

  160

  North West

  170

  England

  160

  Cornwall Health Care Trust
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the national health service will underwrite the legal costs of the non-executive directors of the Cornwall health care trust in respect of the forthcoming libel action.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No decision on the question of underwriting the costs can be made until the outcome of a preliminary hearing is known later this year.

  Nurses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many learner or student nurses were employed in England in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 17 December 1993,Official Report, column 1017.

  General Practitioner Lists
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions she has had with the North East Thames regional health authority regarding the number of patients on doctors' lists; and how many patients were removed at the instigation of the doctor in the area in(a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c) in the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) what discussions she has had with North East Thames regional health authority regarding the reasons doctors give when removing patients from their lists; how many patients were removed from lists in the last period for which figures are available without any reason being given to the patient; and what percentage of the total this represents;
  361
  (3) what discussions she has had with North East Thames regional health authority regarding the number of patients on doctors' lists; and how many patients in the area covering the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency were removed at the instigation of a doctor in (a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c) the last year for which figures are available;

  (4) what discussions she has had with the North East Thames regional health authority regarding the reasons doctors give when removing patients from their lists; how many patients in the area covering the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency were removed from lists with no reason being given in the last period for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total number this represents.

  Mr. Bowis
  No discussions have taken place. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Ynys Mon (Mr. Jones) today for the available information.

  Yearly trend in report ofHIV-1 Infected Persons: Geographical area of reporting laboratories, England to end December 1993

  Number of reports each year

  Region

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  England

  Northern

  33

  29

  37

  24

  36

  20

  Yorkshire

  47

  41

  53

  52

  71

  44

  Trent

  42

  44

  90

  42

  82

  89

  East Anglia

  26

  27

  18

  35

  43

  29

  North West Thames

  502

  548

  734

  770

  568

  615

  North East Thames

  316

  390

  416

  593

  585

  661

  South East Thames

  179

  224

  262

  335

  310

  326

  South West Thames

  57

  68

  93

  146

  138

  111

  Wessex

  29

  37

  45

  42

  80

  38

  Oxford

  50

  34

  37

  53

  49

  63

  South Western

  41

  40

  54

  58

  42

  36

  West Midlands

  47

  42

  92

  66

  90

  80

  Mersey

  32

  14

  17

  14

  26

  18

  North Western

  104

  69

  76

  82

  135

  90

  Legal Fees
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the amount spent on legal fees by each district health authority in each year since 1983–84.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the amount spent on legal fees by district health authority is not available centrally.

  Health Promotion
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will instruct commissioning agencies to continue to employ sufficient public health doctors, with sufficient support from other health professionals, to monitor the health of their local populations, advise on priorities in the commissioning process and provide leadership to the health alliances mentioned in "The Health of the Nation".

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Health service guidelines issued in November 1993, HSG(93)56, copies of which are available in the Library, set out clearly the requirement for district health authorities to employ public health doctors.

  Mr. John Shepard
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she intends to take regarding(a) the conduct of Mr. Peter Raine, executive director of Brent
  362

  Mental Health
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it costs on average to keep someone in a long-stay mental hospital at 1993–94 prices; how much it costs to resettle someone in the community for a year at 1993–94 prices; and what are the consequences for funding of health services in the community of the difference between those costs.

  Mr. Bowis
  It is not possible separately to identify the cost of care in a long-stay psychiatric hospital.

  HIV
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the growth in each NHS region of persons with a positive HIV diagnosis in each year since 1988.

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

  social services department, in relation to investigation of the case of the late John Shepard, (b) maladministration and racial discrimination within Brent social services department, and (c) Mr. Raine's failure to present a report on Mr. Shepard to Brent social services committee and the suspension of a black home-help organiser.

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) on 18 July,Official Report, column 20 and 19 July.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many special advisers who left her Department in each of the last five years became(a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;

  (2) how many special advisers have (a) joined and (b) left her Department in each of the last five years;

  (3) if she will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left her Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service. The number of special advisers joining and leaving the Department in the last five years is shown in the table:
  363

  Joining

  Leaving

  1989

  1

  0

  1990

  2

  1

  1991

  1

  0

  1992

  1

  3

  1993

  0

  0

  1994

  0

  0

  Food Poisoning
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of food poisoning notifications to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Sackville
  There were 68,587 food poisoning notifications in England and Wales in 1993. The provisional number of notifications in 1994, up to and including the week ended 14 July, was 36,437. The provisional number of notifications in 1993, up to and including the week ended 16 July, was 34,058.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of laboratory reports of salmonella in foodstuffs to the Public Health Laboratory Service in England and Wales for each year since the introduction of the new reporting system; what are the latest figures available for this year; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The new reporting system introduced by the Public Health Laboratory Service in January 1992 was designed to enhance surveillance of cases of human salmonellosis and not the reporting of foods positive for salmonella.

  The number of reported cases of human salmonellosis in England and Wales since 1992 is as follows:

  1992 - 31,352

  1993 - 30,654

  Asthma
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to introduce an approved code of practice covering respiratory sensitizers used by asthma sufferers; what representations she has received on the subject; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to do so; we have received no representations on the subject.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of out-patient admissions to hospital emergency units for asthmatic complaints(a) from 24 to 26 June 1994 and (b) from 24 to 26 June 1993; and what assessment she has made of the reasons for the difference.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is not available in the form requested. The cause of the very high number of asthma cases on 24 and 25 June 1994 is as yet unknown. We have written to directors of public health seeking information on the scale and extent of the episode.

  Infertility Services
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's policy in respect of the provision of infertility services to lesbian couples and 364
  unmarried women; what specific guidance is issued by her Department on the interpretation of the requirement to give due consideration to the need of a child for a father; whether adherence to that guidance is a prerequisite for licensing by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  In accordance with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, a woman shall not be provided with assisted conception treatment unless prior account has been taken of the welfare of any child born as a result of treatment including the need of that child for a father. Guidance on the application of this requirement is set out in a code of practice published by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority—the body that licenses assisted conception treatment. Copies of the code are available in the Library. It is a condition of the HFEA licence that licensed centres abide by the code of practice.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has already said that she would not expect the NHS to provide fertility treatment unless there were a mother and father and that she would expect them to be married. Appropriate guidance will be issued to the NHS in due course.

  Clinical Appointments
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she holds on the postponement of clinical appointments at trust hospitals to enable consultants to attend audit meetings; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Information Division
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure of her Department's information division in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  Expenditure for the Department's information division which now includes the recently established public inquiry office and the rationalisation of the Department's printing services are as follows:

  Publicity £ million

  Manpower and running costs £ million

  1985–86

  4·513

  —

  1986·87

  12·627

  —

  1987–88

  12·381

  —

  1988–89

  10·799

  —

  1989–90

  17·248

  0·890

  1990–91

  21·008

  1·250

  1991–92

  24·471

  1·491

  1992–93

  20·710

  1·749

  1993–94

  119·405

  1·897

  1 Estimated.

  Note: Information on publicity expenditure for the year 1979 to 1984–85 and on manpower and running costs for the years 1979 to 1988–89 are not available in the form requested.

  Healthcall
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings she has had with Healthcall in the last year; and what has been her conclusion of those meetings.

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no formal meetings with Healthcall in the last
  365
  year. On 13 June 1994, my right hon. Friend attended a fundraising event in aid of the Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund, at the invitation of Healthcall.

  Official Secrets Acts
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if employees in the regional outposts of the national health service executive and the new combined regional health authorities are asked to sign an acknowledgement that they understand the terms and conditions on which they are employed, including the terms of the Official Secrets Acts.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 7 July,Official Report, column 311.

  Staff employed in the national health service sign their employment contract on appointment and in so doing they acknowledge the terms and conditions contained therein. There is no standard contract. Most of the staff employed in the regional outposts, which now form part of the new

  Hospital medical consultants by population in each region England—as at 30 September each year

  1989 Whole-time equivalent per 100 thousand population

  1990 Whole-time equivalent per 100 thousand population

  1991 Whole-time equivalent per 100 thousand population

  1992 Whole-time equivalent per 100 thousand population

  Northern

  30·5

  30·6

  31·6

  33·3

  Yorkshire

  28·3

  26·5

  27·3

  30·6

  Trent

  25·7

  26·2

  26·7

  28·2

  East Anglia

  28·4

  30·6

  31·4

  29·9

  North West Thames

  27·0

  29·9

  30·3

  27·0

  North East Thames

  31·2

  32·8

  32·5

  35·7

  South East Thames

  30·0

  31·0

  31·8

  31·6

  South West Thames

  26·4

  27·7

  28·4

  26·9

  Wessex

  26·2

  26·6

  27·6

  28·0

  Oxford

  26·1

  26·5

  26·7

  27·4

  South Western

  25·3

  26·0

  26·7

  27·0

  West Midlands

  27·2

  27·9

  28·7

  29·1

  Mersey

  28·6

  29·9

  30·4

  31·2

  North Western

  30·7

  32·3

  32·6

  32·3

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the number of whole-time equivalent consultants employed in the NHS in the London implementation zone area, per head of population, in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Bowis
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Whole-time equivalent consultants employed in the national health service in inner London per 100,000 population (estimated)

  1989

  51·7

  1990

  50·7

  1991

  50·8

  1992

  52·1

  Note: The figures refer to "Inner London" (as defined in the Tomlinson report).

  Patients' Choice
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what degree of patients' choice as to place of treatment was available(a) before and (b) after April 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A key aim of the national health service reforms is to improve patient choice. Since 1991, district health authorities and general practitioner
  366
  regional offices of the national health service executive, are on secondment from national health service organisations and so their original contract remains valid. Crown servants employed in the regional offices are subject to the Official Secrets Act 1989. It is normal good practice to ensure that secondees are fully aware of the obligations and responsibilities associated with the post to which they are appointed. The changes introduced on 1 April 1994 did not necessitate the issue of new contracts of employment.

  NHS Consultants
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the number of whole-time equivalent national health service consultants employed per head of population, by district health authority, in each of the last four years.

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

  fundholders have been able to purchase services, on behalf of their patients, and in consultation with them, in whatever place of treatment offers the best quality and value for money.

  Patient Participation
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 28 June,Official Report, column 534, if she will list those health authorities that have not made significant progress to ensure arrangements were in place to seek and act upon the views of local people.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No. We have asked the chief executive of the national health service executive to follow up any shortcomings with the regional directors to ensure that any necessary remedial action is taken.

  Parental Leave
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the policy of the national health service on parental leave and leave for family reasons.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  For staff employed on national terms and conditions of service, special leave for domestic, personal and family reasons is available under an agreement of the general Whitley council, copies of which are available in the Library. Under the National Health
  367
  Service and Community Care Act 1990, national health service trusts have the freedom to determine their own leave arrangements for staff on trust contracts.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the options she has put forward for(a) NHS fee scale and (b) maintenance treatment in connection with her Green Paper on dental treatment.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) on 14 July,Official Report, column 702.

  Paper
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much paper was used by the national health service in each of the last five years; and what percentage of it was recycled.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available.

  Equipment
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of equipment used in the national health service in each of the last five years has been disposable.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available.

  Abortion
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the review of current arrangements for approving and monitoring places under the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, has been completed; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Further to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Tredinnick) on 18 January 1994,Official Report, column 531. The review of current arrangements for approving and monitoring non-national health service premises under the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, has been completed. Conditions that have to be met for approval—known as assurances—have been updated and brought together with other guidance in a single document, known as the compendium of guidance. Copies will be placed in the Library shortly.

  The approval period for non-NHS premises carrying out termination of pregnancy has been extended from two years to four years. All non-NHS premises approved under the Abortion Act 1967 will continue to be subject to monitoring and inspection by medical, nursing and administrative officials from the Department of Health, and will also be subject to the requirements of the Registered Homes Act 1984. Proprietors have been invited to seek
  368
  re-approval under these arrangements from 1 August 1994. Relevant extracts from the compendium will be sent to the NHS as guidance for those purchasing and providing termination of pregnancy treatment. The compendium of guidance includes assurances required of registered pregnancy advice bureaux.

  Administrative Costs
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the average percentage of total budget spent by(a) district and (b) regional health authorities on (i) managerial, (ii) administrative and (iii) clerical costs in each year since 1991–92;

  (2) if she will list the three regional and district health authorities which spent (a) the lowest percentage and (b) the highest of their budget on (i) managerial, (ii) administrative and (iii) clerical costs in each year since 1991–92.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 19 May 1994]: Such comparisons cannot readily be made. The information available on regional and district health authorities' total expenditure and on staff costs is derived from two different sources and covers different territory. Information about the total budgets of health authorities is derived from annual accounts which do not include the total costs of directly managed units—DMUs—and common services, such as blood transfusion and ambulance services, which may be funded from a variety of sources. Information on staff costs is derived from the financial returns of health authorities covering all employees including those in DMUs and common services. The budgets for authorities will remain the same whether or not the authorities run DMUs or common services. When a health authority has no directly managed services it will operate with a much reduced number of employees and have a consequently lower percentage of wages as a proportion of total costs. Directly managed services are the labour-intensive part of an organisation and a health authority with a DMU or regional common services will return far higher staff costs than one without. Such organisations will have income from other health authorities and other sources in addition to its own parent authority. The salary costs of staff may therefore be met from sources other than the employing health authority. It is therefore not possible to provide meaningful information in the form requested.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the numbers of patients for each area and for England as a whole removed from general practitioners' lists for the latest available year; and how many and what proportion of these were removed without their consent.

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 19 July 1994]: The information is shown in the table:
  369

  Region

  (1) Registered Population

  (2) Total Number of patients deregistered from GP Lists

  (3) Column 2 as a percentage of Column 1

  (4) Number of patients de-registered excluding at request of GP

  (5) Column 4 as a percentage of Column 2

  (6) Number of patients de- registered at request of GP

  (7) Column 6 as a percentage of Column 2

  Northern

  3,152,959

  359,784

  11·4

  356,466

  99·1

  3,318

  0·9

  Yorkshire

  3,759,258

  464,879

  12·4

  457,771

  98·5

  7,108

  1·5

  Trent

  4,847,452

  593,050

  12·2

  587,442

  99·1

  5,608

  0·9

  East Anglia

  2,079,549

  249,494

  12·0

  247,667

  99·3

  1,827

  0·7

  North-West Thames2

  2,990,238

  557,198

  18·6

  546,690

  98·1

  10,508

  1·9

  North-East Thames

  4,209,244

  665,292

  15·8

  651,376

  97·9

  13,916

  2·1

  South East Thames

  3,994,252

  529,485

  13·3

  523,796

  98·9

  5,689

  1·1

  South West Thames

  3,196,570

  524,493

  16·4

  521,030

  99·3

  3,463

  0·7

  Wessex

  2,991,639

  438,328

  14·7

  436,936

  99·7

  1,392

  0·3

  Oxford

  2,676,585

  365,527

  13·7

  362,980

  99·3

  2,547

  0·7

  South Western

  3,550,215

  475,284

  13·4

  473·098

  99·5

  2,186

  0·5

  West Midlands

  5,454,584

  689,416

  12·6

  678,618

  98·4

  10,798

  1·6

  Mersey

  2,485,666

  293,162

  11·8

  288,606

  98·4

  4,556

  1·6

  North Western

  4,103,179

  486,466

  11·9

  480,389

  98·8

  6,077

  1·2

  England

  49,491,390

  6,691,858

  13·5

  6,612,865

  98·8

  78,993

  1·2

  Note—Figures include patients who have left GP area/died.

  2 Does not include data for Hertfordshire as this is not available.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 10 December 1993,Official Report, column 354, what was the total number of general practitioners and the total number of secretaries, administrators, receptionists and practice managers by each family health services authority at (a) October 1993, (b) April 1994 and (c) October 1990.

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 19 July 1994]: Information relating to October 1993 and October 1990 will be placed in the Library. Data for April 1994 are not yet available.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 June,Official Report, columns 26–27, (1) what is the average budget per patient for those of general practitioner fundholders in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94, for England and by region;

  (2) what is the average budget per patient for general practitioner fundholders in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 for England and by region.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 8 July 1994]: Regional information on average fundholder budget allocations per patient is not directly comparable because of variations locally in the methods of compiling fundholder population data and differences in regional information systems. In addition, variations in average budgets per patient between regions are influenced by a number of factors, including differences in the age structures and relative levels of morbidity of regions, variations in local provider prices, as well as differences in historic referral and prescribing levels between practices in the scheme.

  Moreover, these data are not directly comparable over time as, from 1993–94, the scope of the general practitioner fundholder scheme was expanded to include the purchase of community health services; in addition, the minimum list size criterion for joining the scheme was reduced from 9,000 to 7,000 patients per fund.

  With those caveats, the following table shows estimated average budget allocations per patient made by regional health authorities to general practitioner fundholders in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.
  370

  Estimated average budget allocations per patient made by regional health authorities to general practitioner fundholders 1991–92 to 1993–94

  Region

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  Northern

  130

  140

  170

  Yorkshire

  120

  140

  160

  Trent

  110

  120

  140

  East Anglian

  120

  130

  160

  North West Thames

  110

  120

  160

  North East Thames

  110

  100

  130

  South East Thames

  100

  110

  150

  South West Thames

  100

  110

  140

  Wessex

  110

  130

  150

  Oxford

  100

  110

  130

  South Western

  100

  120

  150

  West Midlands

  120

  130

  150

  Mersey

  110

  130

  160

  North Western

  110

  120

  150

  England

  110

  120

  150

  Tuberculosis
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is held by her Department on the number of children infected by tuberculosis in(a) each of the London boroughs and (b) England.

  Mr. Sackville
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 April 1994, c. 152–3]: I regret that there were inaccuracies in my previous reply.

  Revised information is given in the table. Occasional variations in the figures appear because some physicians continue to notify children who are receiving chemoprophylaxis rather than full therapy for tuberculosis. The Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys excludes these as far as possible from the aggregated data but it is not always easy to identify them.

  The team running the 1993 survey of notifications at the Public Health Laboratory Service is examining continuing ambiguities in the notification system for tuberculosis and will report later this year. Any changes in the surveillance of tuberculosis will be discussed then.
  371

  Number of cases of tuberculosis for children aged 0–16 years in England and London boroughs for 1990–92

  1990

  1991

  1992

  England

  443

  506

  561

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  Barking and Dagenham London Borough

  2

  0

  1

  Barnet London Borough

  5

  4

  16

  Bexley London Borough

  2

  4

  2

  Brent London Borough

  2

  12

  9

  Bromley London Borough

  0

  3

  3

  Camden London Borough

  2

  10

  7

  Croydon London Borough

  6

  4

  6

  Ealing London Borough

  2

  7

  9

  Enfield London Borough

  1

  4

  2

  Greenwich London Borough

  5

  2

  4

  Hackney London Borough

  6

  7

  7

  Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough

  4

  0

  3

  Haringey London Borough

  3

  4

  8

  Harrow London Borough

  1

  5

  4

  Havering London Borough

  0

  0

  1

  Hillingdon London Borough

  0

  4

  6

  Hounslow London Borough

  2

  1

  10

  Islington London Borough

  4

  2

  3

  Kensington and Chelsea London Borough

  6

  3

  0

  Kingston upon Thames London Borough

  0

  0

  0

  Lambeth London Borough

  3

  2

  8

  Lewisham London Borough

  6

  1

  1

  Merton London Borough

  1

  1

  0

  Newham London Borough

  13

  13

  9

  Redbridge London Borough

  6

  7

  2

  Richmond upon Thames London Borough

  0

  0

  0

  Southwark London Borough

  9

  9

  9

  Sutton London Borough

  1

  2

  0

  Tower Hamlets London Borough

  5

  9

  9

  Waltham Forest London Borough

  6

  5

  1

  Wandsworth London Borough

  0

  3

  1

  City of Westminster London Borough

  3

  6

  5

  Note:

  Although excluded as far as possible some of these include cases where chemoprophylaxis is being given rather than full therapy for tuberculosis.

  Nutrition
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answers of 27 June,Official Report, columns 413–14, and 12 July, Official Report, columns 525–26, if she will list the reports issued by her Department since 1985 in which information is specifically given about the relationship between family disposable income and the extent to which the daily amounts for energy and nutrients, recommended by the panels and committees appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture, have been met.

  Mr. Jack
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information on the relationship between nutrient intake and family disposable income is not available. However, each annual report of the National Food Survey Committee gives the percentage of the estimated average requirements for energy and reference nutrient intake for nutrients met by the household diet in families in different income groups based on the gross income of the head of household. Copies of these reports are in the Library of the House.
  372

DEFENCE

  Royal Yacht
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he had received prior to the announcement that the royal yacht Britannia is to be decommissioned; and what representations he has subsequently received.

  Mr. Hanley
  Over the last year, my Department received a number of letters on the subject of the royal yacht, in which a wide range of views was expressed. Since the decision to decommission Her Majesty's yacht Britannia was announced, my Department has received some 60 letters from hon. Members and members of the public.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cost and effectiveness studies have been made of(a) the royal yacht Britannia and (b) the royal Danish yacht; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The decision to decommission the royal yacht Britannia was reached after an extensive and detailed review of the issues involved, including the cost and effectiveness of the yacht. My Department has made no specific study of the royal Danish yacht.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 116, if he will name the people described by him as honest and independent, who concluded that the Iraqi Government are deliberately trying to harm the Shia marsh Arabs.

  Mr. Hanley
  The answer referred, in the main, to the work of trained analysts in my Department. It is not our practice to reveal the names of officials engaged in work of this nature, but their conclusions are consistent with those of the United Nations special rapporteur on Iraq and the wetland ecosystem research group at Royal Holloway university of London.

  Hercules Replacement
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the Hercules future large aircraft replacement.

  Mr. Aitken
  My colleagues and I have been contacted in recent months by a number of interested parties.

  Spearfish Torpedoes
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he now intends to proceed with the procurement of Spearfish torpedoes for Trident submarines as well as the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Spearfish torpedo, which entered service with the Royal Navy earlier this year, replaces the Tigerfish torpedo in all Royal Navy submarines. The tender for the main production order for Spearfish torpedoes is currently being considered.
  373

  PEE Pendine
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which establishment the dynamic test track work currently undertaken at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, will be transferred.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is the subject of further detailed study. On present assumptions it is planned to transfer the dynamic test track work to PEE Shoeburyness.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the establishments to which he expects the work currently undertaken at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, to be transferred.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is the subject of further study but, on present assumptions, it is planned to transfer this work to PEE Shoeburyness, but some work may also be transferred to PEE Eskmeals and the test and evaluation establishment, Larkhill.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will complete further studies of the technical aspects and the assessment of the likely future work load in a trading environment of the long and short test tracks at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine.

  Mr. Aitken
  The technical studies and the initial assessment of future work load should both be completed by the end of the current financial year. Under another recommendation of the defence costs study, it is planned that the Directorate General of Test and Evaluation will become part of the proposed science and technology agency and be managed within its trading fund. The effects of trading will not be clear until some time after trading starts, currently planned for 1 April 1995.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his evaluation of the possible reprovision of facilities currently at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, for work formerly undertaken at Cold Meece will be completed.

  Mr. Aitken
  We hope to conclude this evaluation by the end of this calendar year.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which establishment the work currently at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, and formerly carried out at Cold Meece will be transferred.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is the subject of further study. On present assumptions it is planned to transfer this work to PEE Shoeburyness, but some work may also go to PEE Eskmeals and TEE Larkhill.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his best estimate of the decontamination costs of the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, following its proposed closure.

  Mr. Aitken
  If the closure of this establishment is confirmed following consultation, it is planned to place a commercial contract for this work. The estimates of cost are, therefore, commercially confidential. I can confirm, however, that these costs are included in the summary investment appraisal attached to the Director General Test and Evaluations consultative document.
  374
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the rundown of the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, to(a) begin and ( b) be completed, if the decision to close the establishment is confirmed after consultation.

  Mr. Aitken
  Precise timings are still under consideration but, if closure is confirmed, a phased rundown is expected to begin in 1995. The duration of the rundown will depend on further studies of the technical aspects and the impact on demand for DGTE's facilities of full cost trading in the light of the organisation's move to the proposed science and technology agency.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence staff and contractors currently employed at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, he expects will be offered work at other establishments if and when work is transferred from Pendine.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is too early to give an accurate assessment of how many Ministry of Defence staff at PEE Pendine would be offered work elsewhere in the Department. Recruitment of ex-contractor's staff by contractors at other establishments would be a matter for them.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what increase in low-flying activity he expects to arise from the increases in training announced as part of "Front Line First" and from the relocation of RAF personnel from Germany to the United Kingdom; and whether he will ensure that any increase in low-flying is not borne by areas which currently experience intensive levels of low flying.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is too early to say whether the overall increase in aircrew flying training hours, and the changes to the organisation of RAF Germany, will lead to an increase in the amount of low flying carried out in the United Kingdom. We will, however, continue to spread low flying activity within the United Kingdom as widely as possible.

  "Front Line First"
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the planned level of defence expenditure for each of the next three years following the publication of "Front Line First";

  (2) what percentage of gross national product will be spent on defence in each of the next three years taking into account "Front Line First".

  Mr. Hanley
  Planned levels of defence expenditure for 1994–95 to 1996–97 announced last December and set out in the "Statement of the Defence Estimates 1994", Cm 2550 are unchanged as a consequence of "Front Line First". Spending in each year as a percentage of forecast gross domestic product is expected to be as follows:

  Per cent.

  1994–95

  3·4

  1995–96

  3·1

  1996–97

  2·9

  375

  Music Training
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the costs of training military bandsmen in each service on a comparable basis which is consistent in its treatment of(a) music training and (b) military training and sets out under appropriate accounting headings the direct and indirect costs and in addition separates out excess security costs arising from military establishments with surplus capacity.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) on 20 June 1994,Official Report, column 64.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the capital and repair costs incurred at(a) the RAF music training school at Uxbridge, (b) Kneller hall and (c) Royal Marines school of music at Deal in each year since 1986; and if he will show separately rebuilding and security costs incurred as a result of the IRA bombing of Deal.

  Mr. Hanley
  Central records are not available which give the information requested in the form available, or over the period requested in all cases. Where readily available, the information is as follows:

  Year

  Maintenance £

  New works £

  RMSM Deal

  1986–87

  1,079,605

  34,604

  1987–88

  864,127

  36,487

  1988–89

  90,831

  224,231

  1989–90

  1,090,000

  50,000

  1990–91

  1,694.000

  260,000

  1991–92

  1,631,000

  126,500

  1992–93

  1,277,000

  61,000

  1993–94

  982,000

  163,000

  Expenditure as a result of bomb incident:

  Security works £784,697. Building works £193,852.

  RMSM Kneller Hall

  1989–92

  2,008,000

  1992–93

  230,000

  1993–94

  156,000

  Maintenance and new works

  RAFSM Uxbridge

  £

  1990–91

  14,476

  1991–92

  19,785

  1992–93

  17,676

  1993–94

  20,088

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the current market value for the freehold sites at(a) the RAF music school, Uxbridge, (b) the Army music school at Kneller hall, Twickenham and (c) the Royal Marines school of music at Deal on the basis of an arm's-length sale of land and buildings in their present state and condition.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is commercial in confidence.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the financial and accounting reports produced by the defence costs study dealing with military music and the Royal Marines school of music at Deal.
  376
  Mr. Hanley
  The reports prepared by the defence costs study teams are internal working documents. It is not our normal practice to publish such documents. Relevant financial information on the proposal to transfer Royal Marines music training from Deal will, however, be included in a consultative document to be issued in due course.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Aitken
  The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance.

  Measures operated by my Department to assist small businesses include:
  1. The services of the New Suppliers Service (NSS) which meets and corresponds regularly with several thousand suppliers each year, a very large proportion of which are small firms, offering advice on ways in which they can bring their goods and services to the attention of our buyers. The NSS also supports the Training and Enterprise Councils which provide business counselling and support small businesses.
  2. We continue to promote the many opportunities which exist to sell to my Department by publicising contracts in various publications including the Defence Contracts Bulletin, which is a particularly useful source of sub-contract opportunities.
  3. Businesses of various sizes have been successful in tendering competitively for the provision of contracted-out services for the Department.
  4. My Department is systematically reviewing its contracting processes to ensure that all administrative procedures are still required and to reduce any unnecessary burdens on businesses. When considering new contracting policies and procedures, we take particular account of the implications for businesses of all sizes.

  Challenger Tanks
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to place an order for further Challenger 2 tanks.

  Mr. Aitken
  An order was placed with Vickers plc for a further 259 Challenger 2 main battle tanks on 14 July.

  Service Redundancies
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel he expects to make redundant by the end of 1994.

  Mr. Hanley
  In the financial year 1994–5, 11,095 service personnel are due to leave on redundancy terms. Over 90 per cent. of these personnel are volunteers.

  Civilian Employees
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether civilian employees applying for employment with the Ministry of Defence are always security-vetted by the Royal Ulster Constabulary prior to taking up employment.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not our practice to discuss in detail the ways in which security vetting is carried out.
  377
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether all employees working in Fort Whiterock or Northern Howard Street Mill bases from 1988 to the present were security vetted.

  Mr. Aitken
  All civilian staff employed in Northern Ireland by my Department are vetted to the appropriate security level.

  Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes(a) he has recently made or (b) he proposes to make in the funds available to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department will continue to honour to the full its obligation to fund the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in maintaining the war graves and memorials of British and other Commonwealth war dead to the very high standard they deserve.

  Rio Declaration
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 198, if he will identify the specific training activities for members of the armed forces which are undertaken in connection with treaty obligations under the terms of the Rio declaration in relation to providing protection for the environment in time of armed conflict; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the likely willingness of potential future military opponents to abide by the terms of the Rio declaration and to protect the environment in time of armed conflict; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact upon the United Kingdom's military effectiveness of treaty obligations under the terms of the Rio declaration to protect the environment in time of armed conflict; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) pursuant to his answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 198, what specific guidance is given by his Department to the armed forces on the interpretation of treaty obligations under the terms of the Rio declaration to protect the environment in time of armed conflict;

  (5) if he will list those weapons and defence systems the use of which he has identified as being contrary to treaty obligations under the terms of the Rio declaration to protect the environment in time of armed conflict; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Rio declaration is a statement of principles, balancing environmental concerns with the need for economic development. The declaration is not an international treaty which places specific obligations on signatory states. Principle 24 of the declaration states:"Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development. States shall therefore respect international law providing protection for the environment in times of armed conflict and cooperate in its further development, as necessary".
  Accordingly, chapter 39 of agenda 21 identifies the UN General Assembly and its sixth committee as the appropriate forums for the development of international law to protect the environment in times of armed conflict. The United Kingdom is participating in the work of the sixth committee, which is being undertaken in conjunction
  378
  with the International Committee of the Red Cross. This work has not yet reached the stage which would enable specific guidance to be issued to the armed forces.

  Wrens
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Wrens have served at sea on Royal Naval vessels since the introduction of this policy by his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  Between the introduction of sea service for female personnel on 1 September 1990 and mid-July 1994, 1,673 have served at sea in royal naval vessels. This figure consists of 265 female RN officers, 1,365 female RN ratings and 43 female ratings from the Queen Alexandra RN Nursing Service.

  Salisbury Plain and Otterburn
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of alternatives to the use of AS90s and multiple launch rocket systems on Salisbury plain and Otterburn; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 15 July 1994:] My Department keeps possible alternative training areas under review. Apart from Salisbury plain and Otterburn, however, there are no training areas in the United Kingdom able to accommodate AS90 and MLRS. As far as overseas locations are concerned we will of course consider any viable alternatives while taking account of the financial and political implications of such training.

  The only existing overseas training area which could accommodate the training needs of AS90 and MLRS is the British Army Training Unit at Suffield, Canada (BATUS). This facility is already utilised extensively by the British Army for battle group training. Climatic conditions and the emphasis placed by the Canadian authorities on their own increased in-country training requirements may not allow additional British training to take place.

  Research Agency
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what targets he has set for the Defence Research Agency in 1994–95.

  Mr. Aitken
  The targets recently set for the Defence Research Agency in 1994–95 and subsequent years are as follows:

  a. To meet profit and cash targets consistent with a 6 per cent. ROCE.

  b. To maintain overall utilisation at a level of 51 per cent.

  c. To reduce the total overhead expressed as a percentage of total variable costs from 15 per cent. at 1 April 1994 to 12 per cent. at 31 March 1995.

  d. To market test 4 per cent. of DRA's turnover; to achieve secondary competition amounting to 3 per cent. of turnover; and to achieve competition in subcontracts amounting to 6 per cent. of turnover.

  e. To maintain achievement on time of customers' milestones at the 1993–94 level of 85 per cent.

  f. From December 1993 survey baseline to achieve 2 per cent. improvement in overall performance by December 1994 and a 4 per cent. increase in the quality and project management measures.

  g. To have met by the 31 March 1995 all 1994–95 rationalisation project milestones as specified in BP94 and to have achieved a running cost reduction of £70 million per annum.

  h. To achieve a non-MOD income of £64 million in 1994–95.

  To achieve formal quality certification to 1S09000 for one sector by 31 December 1994.

  379

  Analytical Services Agency
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what performance targets have been set for the Defence Analytical Services Agency for 1994–95.

  Mr. Hanley
  The following key targets have been set for the chief executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency for this financial year and beyond. These reflect the continuing need to secure economies in defence spending and an increased capability to meet the Department's evolving needs. They build on progress already made by the agency in meeting its targets in 1992–93 and 1993–94. The revised targets are as follows:

  Delivery of customer services

  a. About three quarters of the Agency's business is suitable for coverage by Service Level Agreements with Customers, which set out targets and standards for the level of service, timeliness and quality of work. For this part of the business Key Targets are:

  1. To increase the coverage to 100 per cent. for Service Level Agreements in the areas suitable.

  2. To meet at least 95 per cent. of the timeliness and quality targets set in the established Service Level Agreements.

  b. For the remaining parts of the business (for which Service Level Agreements are not appropriate) to meet at least 95 per cent. of the timeliness and quality targets in each Project Agreement.

  c. For all parts of the business, to achieve, in the annual Customer Satisfaction Survey, at least 90 per cent of customers expressing themselves satisfied or better with the timeliness, quality of work and helpfulness of staff.

  Efficiency and use of resources

  The agency will be expected, by using improved information technology, to increase efficiency in the production of regular satistical reports by 5 per cent. The chief executive will also be responsible for the development and implementation of a system for identifying the full cost of each of DASA's outputs.

  Decoy System
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans to upgrade the existing decoy system fitted to Royal Navy frigates and destroyers.

  Mr. Aitken
  I am pleased to announce that, following a competition, we have recently placed a contract worth around £80 million with GEC-Marconi Defence Systems Ltd. covering the development and initial production of an offboard active decoy and a ship fitted control system for the Royal Navy.

  The offboard active decoy, known as DLH, will upgrade the existing SEAGNAT decoy system. It will be fitted to all frigates and destroyers as well as major auxiliaries as a soft kill device forming an integral part of the Royal Navy's layered defence in anti-air warfare by providing a means of decoying radar homing anti-ship missiles through the use of electronic protection measures.

  The work is expected to last six years and maintain approximately 100 jobs at GEC-Marconi initially at Stanmore, and then around 250 jobs at the company's Portsmouth site as the project moves into the production phase, as well as sustaining a similar additional number of jobs within their sub-contractors.

  This order is good news for the Royal Navy and for GEC-Marconi.
  380

  Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation Defence Agency has reported its performance in financial year 1993–94; and what targets have been agreed for it in financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. Hanley
  In respect of financial year 1993–94, copies of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation Defence Agency's annual report and accounts have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  In respect of financial year 1994–95, the Director General Aircraft (Navy), acting as the owner of the agency on behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence under the terms of the agency's framework document, has been set the following targets for the coming financial year:

  Quantity:

  To complete 100 per cent. of the funded task as detailed in the DGA(N) Tri-Service Schedule of Identified Repair Work.

  Cost and Productivity:

  The target achieved to be maintained or improved.

  Quality:

  To improve quality by reducing the NARO index by 2.

  Timeliness:

  To complete more than 95 per cent. of contracts on time.

  Efficiency:

  To improve the NARO efficiency index to 65.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has begun his review of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation Defence Agency.

  Mr. Hanley
  A review of the agency status of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation has now started. As a defence agency the performance of the NARO will be evaluated and NARO activities will be subject to the normal prior options tests set out in the 1993 "Next Steps Review", Cm 2430.

  Comments from interested parties should be sent by 23 September 1994 to Rear-Admiral Roger Moylan-Jones, Director General Aircraft (Navy), Ministry of Defence, Room 114, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA 1 2YP.

  Gulf Trust
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for the winding up of the Gulf trust.

  Mr. Hanley
  The trust deed governing the Gulf trust expires on 31 July. As originally envisaged, the united services trustee, which is the trustee of the trust, will pass the remaining money, including the accrued interest, to the three service benevolent funds—the King George's Fund for Sailors, the Army Benevolent Fund and the RAF Benevolent Fund. It is the three service benevolent funds which have been dealing with individual applications for assistance from the Gulf trust from eligible personnel. The provisional amounts being passed to each of the benevolent funds are set out; these may change marginally to take account of payments out and interest accruing between 11 July 1994 and the date the Gulf trust is formally wound up. The money will be held separately for the exclusive use of those eligible to benefit from the Gulf trust for as long as is necessary to ensure, so far as reasonably practical, that all accepted claims are fully provided for. This will be for a minimum of 10 years. Provision is also being made for portions of the money to be transferred between the benevolent funds, if necessary,
  381
  for the benefit of personnel covered by the Gulf trust. These arrangements are designed to ensure that the objectives of the Gulf trust continue to be met and in particular fulfil the stated intention of meeting needs arising from the conflict over the long term.

  £

  King George's Fund for Sailors

  153,108

  Army Benevolent Fund

  2,238,318

  RAF Benevolent Fund

  427,017

  Criminal Justice
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average length of time which elapses between the committal of an offence and a court martial hearing in the military criminal justice system.

  Mr. Hanley
  The average length of time between the date an offence was committed—or it was discovered, or investigation of it started, where appropriate—and the date of the court martial hearing, across all three services, is about six months.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proportion of the Army legal aid scheme budget was spent on the employment of civilian lawyers in 1991, 1992 and 1993;

  (2) in what proportion of cases soldiers and NCOs use civilian rather than Army advocates when facing district courts martial;

  (3) how many soldiers were retained and for how long, despite the expiry of their time in the Army, awaiting the conclusion of a district court martial proceeding in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Chinook Helicopters
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has taken from pilots of Chinook helicopters regarding their experiences with the computerised control box, the FADEC.

  Mr. Hanley
  As part of normal flight safety procedures, all Chinook helicopters are required to submit reports on any unusual occurrence experienced with the aircraft systems and this includes the full authority digital engine control—FADEC—system.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions there has been an engine cut out while a Chinook helicopter in flight was using the computerised control box, the FADEC.

  Mr. Hanley
  There have been no incidents of an engine cut-out in flight on RAF Chinook helicopters using the full authority digital engine control—FADEC—system.

  Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 July,Official Report, column 437, if he will set out the reasons for his departmental conclusion that the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament report's proposals do not represent a realistic approach to disarmament.
  382
  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's speech to the Centre for Defence Studies on 16 November 1993 set out the reasons for the approach to disarmament adopted by Her Majesty's Government. A copy of this has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications he has had with Mr. Mick Roche in regard to claims for compensation for former soldiers who have been involved in experiments on chemical and biological warfare protection as scientific guinea pigs at the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department is aware of a number of letters from a Mr. T. M. Roche about participation in trials at Porton Down, but we know of no specific compensation claims from either him or other individuals on the matter.

  Naval Equipment Programme
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future naval equipment programme following the decisions taken in the defence costs study

  Mr. Aitken
  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State made clear in his statement to the House on 14 July, the defence costs study "Front Line First" has enabled us to make a number of significant enhancements to our front-line naval capability. During the course of the statement, an order was announced for a further batch of seven Sandown class single role minehunters, and an invitation to tender for the design and build of a second batch of the highly successful Trafalgar class of nuclear-powered submarines. We shall also shortly issue an intiation to tender for two new assault ships to replace HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid. In addition, we plan to issue an invitation to tender for a further batch of type 23 frigates during the coming year. The Government will assess the case thereafter on the basis of price and operational need. The purchase of additional antisubmarine and gunnery targets was also announced, and this will allow more realistic training for ships and naval aircraft deployed away from usual target facilities.

  We announced that we will be examining the case for acquiring conventionally armed Tomahawk land attack missiles for the Navy, and we will be seeking information from the Government of the United States of America and from industry.

  Other major projects in the future naval equipment programme, such as Trident, the common new generation frigate—Project Horizon—and the EH101 Merlin helicopter, continue to make good progress.

  This is a substantial programme of investment in new equipment, and the decision announced on 14 July represent a major boost to British industry, as well as providing vital enhancements to the Royal Navy.

  Defence Spending
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latest figures available for defence spending as a percentage of gross domestic product for each of the members of the NATO alliance and the same figures for the year 1985.
  383
  Mr. Hanley
  Details of NATO countries' defence expenditures in 1993 as a percentage of gross domestic product, are contained in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1994", Cm 2550. Corresponding figures for 1985 are set out in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986", Cm 9736-I. Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, at 1993–94 prices, the total for United Kingdom defence spending for each year since 1970 including the planned total for 1994–95.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  £000

  1970–71

  16,467

  1971–72

  17,015

  1972–73

  18,815

  1973–74

  19,668

  1974–75

  21,387

  1975–76

  22,193

  1976–77

  22,524

  1977–78

  21,872

  1978–79

  21,799

  1979–80

  23,134

  1980–81

  23,798

  1981–82

  24,267

  1982–83

  25,881

  1983–84

  26,596

  1984–85

  28,091

  1985–86

  27,854

  1986–87

  27,279

  1987–88

  26,717

  1988–89

  25,339

  1989–90

  25,610

  1990–91

  25,453

  1991–92

  26,352

  1992–93

  23,776

  1993–94

  22,881

  1994–95

  22,222

  Notes:

  1. Figures include exceptional expenditure on Falklands/Gulf conflicts but exclude Gulf burden sharing contributions from other Governments.

  2. Figures from 1978–79 take account of the technical changes in the treatment of Armed Forces and civilian pensions described in the 1992 Autumn Statement (Cm 2096) and other classification changes. It has not been possible to adjust figures for years before 1978–79 on to a fully consistent basis and comparisons with 1978–79 and later years may therefore be unreliable.

  3. Figures from 1992–93 onwards exclude provision for the security and intelligence services.

  4. Figures for 1993–94 reflects provisional outturn as published in the Cash Limit Outtum White Paper on 14 Jul 94 (Cm 2617) and is adjusted in line with Note 3.

  Research and Procurement Projects
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response he has made to the statement issued on behalf of 11 European defence manufacturers associations on 21 June; and if he will list the current defence research and procurement projects on which he is engaged with partners in Europe.

  Mr. Aitken
  I have noted the views of industry as expressed in the statement made on behalf of 11 European defence manufacturers associations on 21 June. Details of our current collaborative defence projects are given in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1994".

  Al Yamamah Programme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a table showing the unit price in each year of the barrels of oil used as a basis of payment in the Al Yamamah programme.

  Mr. Aitken
  No. It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on detailed matters concerning individual defence export sales.

  Sir Bedivere
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in considering the bids for the contract for the refurbishment of the motor vessel the Sir Bedivere, he will apply the same attention to the foreign business links of all bidders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  All bids have been evaluated against the same criteria.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many parliamentary questions have received(a) written and (b) oral answers from his Department in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is, however, a matter of public record.

  Departmental Papers
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the White and Green papers and consultative documents published by his Department in the last five years.

  Mr. Hanley
  Records are not held centrally.

  My Department does, however, issue an annual White Paper entitled "Statement on the Defence Estimates". Other White Papers and consultative documents are issued as appropriate and copies are placed in the Library of the House.

  Ship Refitting Contracts
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on current ship refitting contracts.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Bates) on 19 July,Official Report, columns 114–15.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became(a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;

  (2) how many special advisers have (a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years;

  (3) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The figures for the special advisers in my Department are given in the table.
  385

  (a) Joined the Department

  (b) Left the Department

  1990

  —

  1

  1991

  1

  —

  1992

  1

  1

  1993

  1

  1

  1994

  —

  —

  Special advisers are not obliged to advise the Department of their subsequent employer upon leaving.

  RNSD Eaglescliffe
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement setting out the precise reasons why RNSD Eaglescliffe is to close;

  (2) when he will publish consultation papers on the future of RNSD Eaglescliffe;

  (3) when he next intends to visit RNSD Eaglescliffe.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is estimated that the proposal to close RNSD Eaglescliffe would save my Department some £52 million over 10 years and £7 million per annum thereafter. Savings on this scale are made possible as a result of continuing reductions in the level of naval stocks coupled with more efficient operating arrangements. The closure of RNSD Eaglescliffe would be part of a long-standing process of rationalising the naval logistic support area through concentrating storage facilities closer to the waterfront and away from inland areas. The rationale for, and implications of, the proposal to close RNSD Eaglescliffe will be set out in a detailed consultative document which will be issued to all interested parties as soon as possible.

  (All figures in £000)

  Year

  Eskmeals

  Shoeburyness

  ETC Foulness

  Pendine

  1989–90

  1,338·52

  1,219·6

  —

  805·11

  1990–91

  1,008·98

  720·9

  13·6

  661·92

  1991–92

  1,049·32

  1,077·4

  3·33

  1,043·77

  1992–93

  694·77

  432·0

  66·3

  651·51

  1993–94

  915·64

  1,006·9

  80·0

  580·39

  Note: The Proof and Experimental Establishments at Inchterf and Cold Meece, which closed in 1992 and 1993 respectively, are excluded from these figures. P and EE Lavington is included in the figures for P&EE Shoeburynes.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the capital costs incurred in facilitating the transfer of small arms and cannon work from Cold Meece to Pendine.

  Mr. Aitken
  The cost was £858,300.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legally enforceable powers covering gunnery range safety currently exist at(a) Shoeburyness and (b) Pendine.

  Mr. Aitken
  The following statutory instruments have been made under the provisions of the Military Lands Acts 1892 to 1903:

  (a) Shoeburyness

  Number 1189 of 1935

  Number 714 of 1936

  (b) Pendine

  Number 1627 of 1973

  Number 475 of 1981

  386
  Although neither my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence nor I have any current plans to visit RNSD Eaglescliffe, we will consider all representations made concerning our proposals as part of the consultation process, the period of which has been extended to three months from 14 July.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions he has given the defence land agent to consult the work force at RNAD Trecwn about the suitability of bidders before disposing of the site.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is not our practice to do so.

  Proof and Experimental Establishments
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the existing length and area of the gunnery range at(a) Shoeburyness and (b) Pendine.

  Mr. Aitken
  The area and maximum length of the numerous gunnery ranges are as follows:

  (a) Shoeburyness

  Area: Over 34,000 acres including foreshore Gunnery Range: 25·7km.

  (b) Pendine

  Area: Over 4,700 acres including foreshore Gunnery Range: 20km.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the gross income generated from private contractors by each of the proof and experimental establishments in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his best estimate of the capital costs required to facilitate the proposed transfer of small arms and cannon work from Pendine to Shoeburyness.

  Mr. Aitken
  If the closure of the establishment is confirmed it is planned to place a commercial contract for this work. The estimate of cost is, therefore, commercially confidential. I can confirm, however, that the costs are included, but not separately identified, in the summary investment appraisal, attached to the Director General Test and Evaluation's consultative document.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those customers of the dynamic test bracks at proof and experimental establishment, Pendine who have been consulted by his Department during the Directorate General of Test and Evaluation study.

  Mr. Aitken
  The commercial customers concerned were the Society of British Aerospace Companies and Royal Ordnance plc. Discussions were also held with relevant internal Ministry of Defence customers including the Defence Research Agency.
  387
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the gross income generated by the dynamic test tracks of proof and experimental establishment, Pendine in each of the last five years; and how much of this was from(a) private contractors and (b) Government organisations.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information requested is as follows:

  Private £'000

  Government £'000

  FY 1989–90

  253·18

  —

  FY 1990–91

  260·73

  —

  FY 1991–92

  485·23

  —

  FY 1992–93

  5·55

  —

  FY 1993–94

  —

  1,086·60

  The large amount of Government work in financial year 1993–94 is explained by the move of the Defence Research Agency to a trading fund.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the decontamination costs to date at Cold Meece.

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

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his best estimate of the total decontamination costs for Cold Meece.

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

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of MOD police for proof and experimental establishment, Pendine in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information is as follows:

  £K

  1990–91

  553

  1991–92

  570

  1992–93

  598

  £000

  Year

  Eshneals

  Shoeburyness

  ETC Foulness

  Pendine

  1989–90

  —

  24·6

  —

  —

  1990–91

  —

  0·8

  —

  —

  1991–92

  —

  112·4

  —

  —

  1992–93

  —

  61·0

  —

  —

  1993–94

  536·57

  1,139·7

  —

  1,678·62

  Note: The Proof and Experimental Establishments at Inchterf and Cold Meece, which closed in 1992 and 1993 respectively, are excluded from these figures. P and EE Lavington is included in the figures for P and EE Shoeburyness. Figures for financial year 1993–94 are higher than previous years because of the Defence Research Agency's move to a Trading Fund.

  Music Schools
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the requirements for prior training in basic music which apply to bandsmen entering(a) the Royal Marine school of music at Deal, (b) the military music school at Kneller Hall and (c) the Royal Air Force school of music; how many musical instruments bandsmen are fully trained at each of those schools; and to what level of orchestral playing bandsmen are trained at each of those schools.

  Mr. Hanley
  The entry qualifications at each of the three schools is as follows:Deal
  There is no set musical grade ability requirement. On completion of the normal recruitment procedures and a musical assessment, all entrants are subject to a week long audition which determines
  388

  £K

  1993–94

  630

  1994–95

  1640

  1 Estimated for full year.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current restrictions on safety grounds at the gunnery ranges at(a) Shoeburyness and (b) Pendine.

  Mr. Aitken
  The proof and experimental establishment has no nett explosive quantity limitation but of the 20 batteries currently in use only eight can be used at any one time because of safety considerations. PEE Pendine, which has an NEQ limit of 125 kg, has 22 facilities of which up to 12 could be used at any one time.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his best estimate of the capital costs required to facilitate the transfer of small arms and cannon work from proof and experimental establishment, Pendine to Shoeburyness.

  Mr. Aitken
  If the closure of the establishment is confirmed it is planned to place a commercial contract for this work. The estimate of cost is, therefore, commercially confidential. I can confirm, however, that the costs are included, but not separately identified, in the summary investment appraisal, attached to the Director General Test and Evaluation's consultative document.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the gross income generated from Government Departments by each of the proof and experimental establishments in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information requested is as follows:musical ability. Guidance given to RN/RM careers officers is that potential recruits will require a minimum musical standard equivalent to a grade 5.
  Kneller Hall
  A musician with some experience in bands or orchestras who holds a certificate of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music at grade 8 or equivalent.
  Uxbridge
  The RAF requires potential bandsmen to be of a minimum Grade 8 Associated Board standard in one instrument. It is current practice, however, to recruit musicians direct from music college/University.
  The numbers of bandsmen who undertake basic bandsmen training at the three establishments are as follows:

  Deal — 15–0 per annum (Note 1)

  Kneller Hall — 100 per annum (Note 2)

  Uxbridge — Nil

  The levels of orchestral playing to which bandsmen are training at each of the schools is as follows:

  389

  Deal

  Musicians: Performance Diploma

  Sergeant: Pre-course to LRSM

  Bandmaster: LRSM

  Kneller Hall

  Musicians: O-A Level, GCSE/Diploma

  Sergeants: A Level, GCSE/Diploma

  Serg Majors: Diploma

  Bandmaster: Diploma/Degree

  Director of Music: Advanced Diploma/Degree

  Uxbridge

  The structure of further musical training at RAF Uxbridge enables bandsmen to attain a high level of orchestral playing.

  Notes:

  1. In addition, some 10–5 Corporals, Sergeants and Bandmasters also undertake further musical training at Deal each year on courses of varying length.

  2. In addition, around 100 Sergeants, Sergant Majors, Bandmasters and Directors of Music undertake further musical training at Kneller Hall each year on courses of varying length.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the proposal to move the Royal Marines school of music from Deal has been fully appraised in accordance with commitment by the then permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence set out in paragraph 510 on page 7 of the "11th Report of the Committee of Public Accounts for Session 1985–86"; and if he will publish the investment appraisal.

  Mr. Hanley
  A full appraisal has been made of the proposal to transfer the training of Royal Marine musicians from Deal, in accordance with the commitment by the then permanent secretary. A consultation document setting out the options considered and the rationale for our proposals will be issued as soon as possible. Except for commercially sensitive details, this will include all relevant financial information.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to shorten the training of Royal Marines bandsmen from the present period of two years and eight months.

  Mr. Hanley
  As indicated in the defence cost report "Front Line First", further work is in hand to establish whether there is scope to conduct the initial training of military musicians through bursary or scholarship schemes at civilian colleges of music. This could be expected to have implications for the duration of training.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will conduct an investment appraisal to determine the savings to the Exchequer resulting from the intelligence centre moving to the marine barracks at Deal assuming(a) the Royal Marines school of music remains at Deal with the intelligence centre and (b) a combined defence school of music is set up at Deal with the intelligence centre.

  Mr Hanley
  As announced in the report on the outcome of "Front Line First", we intend to transfer Royal Marines music training from Deal by 1 April 1996. Further work is in hand on the future requirement, and on possible locations for a defence school of music. The role of the defence intelligence centre, and the suitability of its current location, is being examined in the context of the continuing study into defence intelligence, which is being carried out under "Front Line First".

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the requirements in terms of(a) training on a second instrument and (b) orchestral training for the bandsmen who played on board the royal yacht
  390
  Britannia and for heads of state at the recent D-day commemorations; and which military school of music provides these requirements.

  Mr. Hanley
  All members of the Royal Marines band service are currently trained at Deal and are required to learn a military band instrument and an orchestral instrument. The members of the Royal Yacht band are drawn from the Royal Marines band Portsmouth and are able to perform as a marching band, a concert band, a dance band and as an orchestra.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the consultation procedure to be followed in relation to proposals involving the future of the Royal Marines school of music at Deal; if he will list and place in the Library the investment appraisals which(a) have been carried out and (b) are to be carried out; and if he will make available accounting and other relevant information concerning (i) retaining the Royal Marines school of music in Deal and (ii) establishing a defence school of music in Deal.

  Mr. Hanley
  The proposal to transfer the training of Royal Marines musicians from Deal will be subject to the same consultative period applicable to the whole series of "Front Line First" initiatives which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced to the House on 14 July 1994; this lasts until 14 October. The proposal has resulted from a detailed study of the current costs of military music provision and music training in all three services. Further work is in hand to establish whether there is scope to conduct the initial training of military musicians through bursary or scholarship schemes at civilian colleges of music.

  Intelligence Centre, Templar Barracks
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the annual economic contribution of the intelligence centre at Templar barracks to East Kent including the value of goods and services purchased from local suppliers and direct and indirect employment.

  Mr. Hanley
  The defence intelligence centre buys in local goods and services to the approximate value of £220,000 a year. The centre employs 108 civilian and 136 military personnel, the majority of whom live locally and so contribute to the local economy.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the number of(a) civilian and (b) military personnel employed in the school of intelligence and the security school at the Templar barracks intelligence centre; and what is the maximum accommodation requirement for students during the course of a normal year.

  Mr. Hanley
  The defence intelligence and security school is an integral part of the defence intelligence centre. The centre employs 108 civilian and 136 military personnel of which 21 civilian and 45 military personnel work in the defence intelligence and security school. The centre has a throughput of approximately 3,000 students a year, around 2,500 of which attend courses at the defence intelligence and security school. The maximum number of students requiring accommodation at any one time is around 300.
  391
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect the construction of a channel tunnel high-speed rail link will have on whether the intelligence centre can remain in Templar barracks at Ashford.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the intelligence centre based at Templar barracks in Ashford and the long-term suitability of that location.

  Mr. Hanley
  The future organisation of defence intelligence is still being examined as part of continuing defence costs study into defence intelligence, which, as indicated in the report "Front Line First", is due to report by the end of July. The role of the defence intelligence centre at Templar barracks, Ashford, and the long-term suitability of that location in the light of the channel tunnel rail link, is being addressed in that context.

  Portland Bases
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money he has planned to spend in transferring facilities from Portland naval base into Portland naval air station; how much has already been spent; and what plans he has to reduce this spending consequential on the announcement of his intention to close the air station by 1999.

  Mr. Hanley
  The original estimate of the cost of transferring facilities to Portland naval station following the decision to close Portland naval base was £3,900,000, of which £83,000 has been spent to date. The current estimate of total costs has been revised to £2,900,000 to reflect the planned closure of the naval air station.

  Abbey Wood Building
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned spending on providing, equipping and staffing the new Ministry of Defence building at Abbey Wood; how much has already been spent; and how many staff could be accommodated at Abbey Wood.

  Mr. Aitken
  The estimated works cost of the Abbey Wood development, inclusive of site acquisition, construction, fitting out, professional works management fees and VAT is £254·136 million at 1993 prices with an additional £93 million for non-works elements, inclusive of staff relocation and removaUrecommissioning of IT systems existing at the time of collocation. The construction programme continues to proceed within budget and a total of £72·138 million, at the same price base, has been approved for payment to date. As a result of the use of more stringent space standards and work undertaken in support of the defence costs study, it is anticipated that a maximum of some 5,700 personnel could be accommodated within the existing scheme. The estimate for the non-works costs will be revisited in the light of the recently announced decisions resulting from the defence costs study.

  Naval Support Command
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed by the naval support command; where they are currently located; and where it is planned to locate these staff.
  392
  Mr. Hanley
  At 1 April 1994 there were some 24,000 staff employed in the naval support command—NSC—at a variety of locations throughout the United Kingdom, overseas and at sea. The largest concentrations were in the naval bases and, for headquarters staff, in the Bath area. Some locations will be affected by the defence costs study and details are contained in the report "Front Line First". For those elements of the headquarters staff who need to be collocated, we are looking at the most suitable site in the Bath/Bristol area.

  Capital Projects (Portland and Weymouth)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list and give the cost of the major capital projects undertaken in Portland and Weymouth over the past 10 years, with, where appropriate, the payback period for these projects as calculated when these projects were approved by the Treasury.

  Mr. Hanley
  In the past 10 years there have been 19 capital works projects—over 300,000 in value—in the Portland and Weymouth area, at a total cost of £44·5 million. Only one project, the building of the new wardroom and senior rates' mess at HMS Osprey, which cost £30 million, required Treasury approval. Details of the payback period are not available because the Property Services Agency—PSA—was responsible for the submission to Treasury in 1985–86 and the records are not available.

  The projects were as follows:

  Capital projects in Portland/Weymouth

  £000

  DRA

  1992 DRA Southwell telephone exchange

  535

  1994 DRA Bincleaves refurbishment

  620

  HMNB

  1985 RM building improvements

  677

  1985 Shore to ship services

  974

  1986 Rotherham Road Construction

  940

  1986 New build for QHM

  927

  1986 Portland Bill transmitter upgrade

  570

  1986 Verne reservoir and pump house

  1,000

  1988 FOST building extension

  1,500

  1992 Connections to local authority sewer

  484

  1992 Breakwater maintenance

  690

  HMS Osprey

  1988 Osprey Wardroom/Senior Rates' mess

  30,006

  1990 Storage

  1,604

  1991 Secondary surveillance radar

  336

  1990 Permanent DWO

  1,186

  1989 Car parking

  510

  1990 Security enhancements

  312

  1994 Hillside stability monitoring

  412

  1994 Hardy site remedial works

  1,175

  Helicopters
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned spending on new hangars and facilities to accommodate the Merlin EH101 helicopters at Culdrose; how much money has already been spent; what other plans the Ministry of Defence has to expand helicopter facilities throughout the United Kingdom; and how many helicopters the Ministry of Defence has now and plans to have by 1999.
  393
  Mr. Hanley
  The cost of new hangars and facilities that would be required to accommodate the Merlin EH101 at Culdrose naval air station is estimated to be between £80,000,000 to £100,000,000, none of which has yet been spent. Helicopter facilities elsewhere in the United Kingdom may change depending on the investment appraisal of the options for a joint helicopter basic flying training centre and decisions on future RAF support helicopters which have yet to be taken. The number of helicopters currently owned by my Department is published annually in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates". The number of helicopters that we will have in 1999 depends on the equipment decisions which have yet to be taken.

  Farnborough Airfield
  Mr. Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of flying at Farnborough airfield beyond 2000.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Ministry of Defence is committed to making Farnborough airfield available to the Society of British Aerospace Companies for the biennial airshow until the year 2000. Against the background of the collocation of procurement executive flying at Boscombe Down, the concentration of Defence Research Agency activity on part of the Farnborough site and the consequent requirement to dispose of the remainder of the site, an interdepartmental group of officials has been set up, under the chairmanship of the Department of Trade and Industry, to consider the future of Farnborough airfield, including its use for the SBAC airshow.

  Aircraft and Equipment
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which foreign Government received the aircraft and equipment as listed under Appropriation Accounts, class 1, vote 2, "Other Notes".

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer, 18 July 1994]: The Government of Saudi Arabia.

  Menwith Hill Station
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has, under the provisions of part IV, paragraph 21 of circular 18/84, to refer to the Secretary of State for the Environment to determine whether the development should proceed of two radomes, support buildings, security fencing and extension to a service road at Menwith hill station, Harrogate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 13 July 1994]: The local planning authority raised no objection to this development. It did, however, draw to my Department's attention a number of objections received by the local council. We have considered the substance of these pursuant to paragraph 21 of part IV of circular 18/84 and have concluded that there is nothing in these objections that would make it appropriate to refer the matter to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Ferranti/ISC Fraud
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all those charged with offences relating to the Ferranti/ISC fraud; and if he will list, in each case, the pleas entered and the sentences imposed.

  The Attorney-General
  The investigation by the Serious Fraud Office commenced in September 1989 and was carried out in close co-operation with the United States prosecuting authorities because it was apparent that all the potential defendants were United States citizens residing in the United States.

  At the conclusion of the investigation, a United States grand jury indicted 17 individuals and three corporations on charges of fraud. They included James Guerin, the former deputy chairman of Ferranti International Signals plc—the company which resulted from the merger of Ferranti and ISC in 1987.

  In December 1991, Guerin and subsequently various other defendants pleaded guilty before the federal court in Philadelphia to offences involving fraud in respect of the merged company, committed both in the United Kingdom and the USA. All offences which might have been the subject of a United Kingdom trial were fully encompassed in the United States indictment which alleged, inter alia, the creation of fictitious contracts, with attendant false accounting designed to bolster the share price of ISC and achieve the merger with Ferranti. Accordingly, no extraditions can be, or have been, sought and no persons were charged in the United Kingdom with any offences in relation to the Ferranti investigation. Guerin was sentenced in June 1992 to a total of 15 years imprisonment and confiscation of substantial personal assets. Other defendants have yet to be sentenced and at least one trial is still pending.

  At the conclusion of the investigation stage, the United States Attorney for Philadelphia issued the following statement:
  "The US Government received extensive co-operation and assistance from Britain's Serious Fraud Office and the Metropolitan Police. Their efforts exemplify the level of international law enforcement co-operation essential for the prosecution of criminal activity that ignores national boundaries."

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many special advisers have(a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became (a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;

  (3) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.

  The Attorney-General
  No special advisers have either joined or left my Department during the last five years.

  LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION
  LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION
  CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS CONVENTION
  CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS CONVENTION
  US CONGRESS: REPORTS
  US CONGRESS: REPORTS
  NAGORNO KARABAKH
  NAGORNO KARABAKH
  AFGHANISTAN
  AFGHANISTAN
  RWANDA
  RWANDA
  COASTGUARD AGENCY
  COASTGUARD AGENCY
  PRISONERS: TRANSFER BETWEEN JURISDICTIONS
  PRISONERS: TRANSFER BETWEEN JURISDICTIONS
  LEGAL AID ADVISORY COMMITTEE
  LEGAL AID ADVISORY COMMITTEE
  FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT: COST OF PURCHASE OF BEHALF OF TENANTS
  FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT: COST OF PURCHASE OF BEHALF OF TENANTS
  CORMORANTS AND GOOSANDERS FISHING LICENCES
  CORMORANTS AND GOOSANDERS FISHING LICENCES
  CORMORANT NUMBERS
  CORMORANT NUMBERS
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS SHEEP DIP: BULK PURCHASE
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS SHEEP DIP: BULK PURCHASE
  COMPENSATION AGENCY
  COMPENSATION AGENCY
  NORTHERN IRELAND AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT DIVISION: AGENCY STATUS
  NORTHERN IRELAND AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT DIVISION: AGENCY STATUS
  ENVIRONMENT AGENCIES: PAVING BILL
  ENVIRONMENT AGENCIES: PAVING BILL
  WILDLIFE SALES CONTROLS REVIEW
  WILDLIFE SALES CONTROLS REVIEW
  AFRICAN ELEPHANT: ENDANGERED SPECIES CONFERENCE
  AFRICAN ELEPHANT: ENDANGERED SPECIES CONFERENCE