Written Answers of 4 March 1994

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Investments
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what was the income from gilt stripping for 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992; and what has so far been the size of the erosion of the capital base by gilt stripping in each of these years.

  Mr. Alison
  The income from gilt stripping in the years in question was:

  £ million

  1989

  6·6

  1990

  6·1

  1991

  4·9

  1992

  8·9

  Gilt stripping refers to the accounting policy of recording interest on gilt-edged securities on a receipts basis rather than an accruals basis. To the same extent that the income so recorded is higher than it would have been under the accruals basis, there will be a reduction in the increase, or an addition to the decrease, of the valuation of the capital base.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to his answer of 25 February,Official Report, columns 525–26, if gilt stripping covers dividend stripping.

  Mr. Alison
  The phrase "gilt-stripping" was used by the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) in his question of 25 February and was taken to refer to the accounting policy described in my earlier answer.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to his answer of 25 February,Official Report, columns 525–26, if he will place in the Library a copy of counsel's opinion on the commissioners' methods of accounting for capital and income; and what is meant by
  "maintaining the integrity of the commissioners' portfolio".

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners have taken counsel's opinion on their methods of accounting in order to assist their compliance with the relevant legislation. It is recognised that legal advice is given in confidence: the commissioners would feel constrained in taking legal advice, on this or any other issue, if such advice had to be written in anticipation of the possibility that it might be made public.

  It is the commissioners' aim to maintain the major part of their investments in assets which will generate increasing returns over the long term. Investment of a significant part of their assets in fixed interest securities such as gilts would not satisfy this aim for that part of their
  882
  investments. There is a natural conflict between the need to limit the short-term cuts in allocations and the long-term requirement for growth.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list details of those assets which the commissioners believe will produce above average capital growth and their estimate of the size of this growth; and by what date that capital growth will be realised.

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners invest in a wide range of properties and securities with the expectation that the portfolio as a whole will produce returns by way of a combination of income and capital growth. Those investments which currently yield less than an average income are retained by the commissioners in the expectation that they will return more than average capital growth. It is not practical or realistic to list details of all such investments, nor would it be in the interests of the commissioners or the Church of England to disclose such commercially sensitive details of individual investments.

TRANSPORT

  Road Construction
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contacts he has had with Professor John Whitelegg of Lancaster university as to the relationship between new road construction and inward investment.

  Mr. Key
  Although I am aware of Professor Whitelegg's work in this area and his views on this relationship, I do not have any formal contact with him at present.

  The relationship between road construction and inward investment is not straightforward. Although road investment appears not to be a sufficient condition for local development, it is clear that satisfactory transport links are an important factor in decisions by industry where to locate.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in respect of Union Rail's recent statement that double-deck trains on the proposed channel tunnel rail link will be unable to enter Ashford international passenger station.

  Mr. Freeman
  The international rolling stock that will run on the new rail link is single deck and can serve Ashford international passenger station for many years to come. If a future generation of international trains were to be double deck, any necessary adjustments could be made to the track and line side structures if there was a need for access to the IPS by these larger trains.

  Aircraft Accidents
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) fatal and (b) non-fatal aircraft accidents have occurred in each of the last 10 years in respect of aircraft flown by holders of a private pilot's licence in which heart-related illness was found to be a factor.

  Mr. Norris
  According to records of the Civil Aviation Authority's safety data and analysis unit, the accidents in
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  the last 10 years, involving an aircraft flown by holders of a private pilot's licence, in which heart-related illness was found to be a factor, are as follows:

  Injuries

  Date

  Aircraft type

  Fatalities

  Non-fatalities

  9 August 1985

  Aeroplane

  1

  —

  13 March 1986

  Aeroplane

  1

  1

  8 May 1987

  Microlight

  1

  —

  4 October 1991

  Aeroplane

  1

  —

  3 March 1992

  Aeroplane

  1

  —

  Air Miss Reports
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate the air miss incident that occurred south-west of Ebbw Vale on 19 January; how many air miss reports were made; how many were withdrawn; and what reasons were given for this.

  Mr. Norris
  The responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. The authority has provided me with the following information about this incident:

  (i) Only one air miss report had been filed; this was by the commander in charge of one of the aircraft.

  (ii) The air miss report was subsequently withdrawn by the aircraft commander.

  (iii) the aircraft commander—correctly—withdrew his air miss report when he realised that, although the standard separation—five nautical miles, horizontally, or 2,000 ft vertically—had not been provided, there had in fact been no risk of the aircraft actually colliding.

  An air miss is defined as a situation in which it is considered that an aircraft has been endangered by the proximity of another aircraft to the extent that a risk of collision existed. The decision fo file an air miss report appropriately rests with the commander of any aircraft involved. There are occasionally instances, such as this, when an air miss report is later withdrawn by the pilot who had filed it, when he realises that there had in fact been no risk of collision.

  This loss of standard separation is, however, the subject of an active occurrence investigation by the CAA's air traffic control investigation section. When the investigation has been concluded a report on it will be circulated as part of a routine—monthly—occurrence publication. I will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a copy of this publication in due course.

  Road Traffic Projection Calculations
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether road traffic projection calculations are based on(a) the full economic potential of an area. or (b) current economic performance.

  Mr. Key
  Local road traffic projection calculations take account of the best available views about the economic performance of an area. They are consistent with projections of local changes in population, numbers of households, numbers of jobs and land use. They assume a uniform rate of growth in average household income across Great Britain, consistent with the rates of economic growth used in the preparation of the 1989 national road traffic forecasts.
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  Brecqhou
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department received from the Civil Aviation Authority before refusing a permit for the use of a M1L M1-26 helicopter on Brecqhou.

  Mr. Norris
  In considering this application for a permit the Department, as usual, sought the advice of the CAA safety regulation group on safety aspects. The CAA advised that it had received inconclusive details from the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation about the helicopter's civil certificate of airworthiness. In the circumstances, the CAA could not recommend that the aircraft should operate; nor could it offer advice on the operation or maintenance standards due to a lack of available information. Accordingly, the Department was unable to issue a permit for this operation.

  Motorways
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make individuals working on the motorway widening unit redundant.

  Mr. Key
  None. The motorway widening unit with its staff will transfer to the new Highways Agency on 1 April as part of the road programme directorate. The staffing of the unit from that date will be a matter for the chief executive of the agency.

  A27
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 28 February,Official Report, columns 562–63, why he maintains that those on the proposed route for the A27 who have to sell their property because of urgent personal problems can do so at a market price.

  Mr. Key
  Owner-occupiers of property which would be physically affected by the proposals for the A27 at Worthing can ask the Department to purchase them under the statutory blight provisions. Those whose property would not be physically affected by the proposals, but whose enjoyment of their property would be seriously affected by them, can apply to the Department for purchase under the Secretary of State's discretionary powers. These are exercisable in cases where there is a recognised urgent need to move. In both cases, property which is accepted for purchase would be bought at the full market value calculated as if the scheme had never been proposed.

  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 28 February,Official Report, columns 562–63, why he is attempting to sell now rather than wait for the outcome of the public inquiry.

  Mr. Key
  The Department is obliged to sell surplus property and, with advice from the district valuer, may do so throughout the planning and development stages of any scheme. At Worthing a small number of properties are being offered for sale which would not be affected by the published proposals or by any alternative route proposed at the current public inquiry.

  Speed Limiters
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to require all new cars to be fitted with speed limiters.
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  Mr. Key
  No. Speed limiters work at one preset maximum speed and most accidents involving cars occur in built-up areas where the speed limit is well below the maximum of 70 mph.

  London Bus Strategy
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all organisations to which his Department sent, and from which it has received responses regarding the consultation paper on a bus strategy for London, together with the addresses of each such organisation.

  Mr. Norris
  A list of those who responded to the consultation paper was deposited in the Library in July 1991.

ENVIRONMENT

  City Grant
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those sites covered by British Gas where discussions are taking place about the possible approval of city grant;

  (2) what is the current situation regarding his Department, English Partnerships and British Gas over grant applications; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how many applications for city grant there have been concerning sites owned by British Gas in the last two years;

  (4) how city grant applications have been approved for sites owned by British Gas in the last two years; what were the amounts in each case; and what was the amount of clawback of grant in each case.

  Mr. Baldry
  On 10 November 1993 English Partnerships took over from my Department responsibility for the city grant programme—although not for the analogous grant offered by urban development corpora-tions in their own areas—including responsibility for on-going discussions over possible projects involving British Gas sites at the Greenwich peninsula, Foleshill gasworks, Coventry, and Pleck gasworks, Walsall. These discussions are at various stages.

  In the last two years, one formal application for city grant has been received by the Department and English Partnerships in respect of a British Gas site—for Foleshill—and none has yet been approved.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the schemes given city grant in the west midlands region in the last two years with the amounts in each case; and what were the amounts of clawback of grant.

  Mr. Baldry
  The schemes in the Department of the Environment's west midlands region for which the provision of city grant was approved since April 1992, and the approved level of grant, are set out in the table. None of these schemes has yet reached the date for determining the level of any clawback. The urban development corporations offer their own grants analogous to city grant; schemes funded in this way are not included.
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  Project

  Approved Grant (£)

  Birmingham

  Bordesley Village housing phase 3

  206,000

  Branston Street units

  364,000

  Trafalgar Road housing

  657,000

  Newton Road housing

  264,000

  Coventry

  Parkside offices phase 1

  580,000

  Dudley

  Waterfront phase 8

  2,432,420

  Waterfront Point North offices

  2,903,025

  Wollaston Road housing

  1,302,612

  Addison Road housing

  760,000

  Cosley Housing

  250,000

  Walsall

  Reedswood Park mixed development

  8,000,000

  Wolverhampton

  Bushbury Lane industrial units

  113,000

  Bell Place offices

  107,000

  Wolverhampton Racecourse redevelopment

  3,037,000

  Shaw Park offices

  112,000

  Cannock Road warehouse units

  720,000

  Spring Road industrial units

  670,680

  Springvale industrial units

  2,282,000

  Wrekin

  Station Road, Telford housing

  434,000

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning possible abuse of city grant.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much city grant was given by his Department in each of the English regions in the last financial year.

  Mr. Baldry
  The total value of grants for city grant applications approved in 1992–93 for each of the Department of the Environment's regions is set out in the table. The figures do not include grants analogous to city grant, made by urban development corporations.

  Region

  Total Approved Grants

  West Midlands

  13,638,737

  North West

  12,393,565

  Northern

  11,552,480

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,915,428

  London

  1,999,528

  East Midlands

  2,212,155

  Merseyside

  14,157,312

  South East

  0

  South West

  3,705,204

  Shalfleet Bridge
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach a decision in respect of the application for listed building consent in respect of Shalfleet bridge; and when he received it.

  Mr. Baldry
  The application for listed building consent in respect of Shalfleet bridge envisaged total demolition
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  and reconstruction. Experts from English Heritage, the Secretary of State's statutory advisors on listed building matters, are not satisfied that this is necessary. They have written to the island technical unit, explaining their concerns, and await a reply. Once this is received, the matter can be given further consideration.

  The application was originally received on 4 January, before the building was listed. The Department wrote to the island planning unit on 27 January informing it that the application would be treated as if it had been received on 20 January, the date of listing.

  Council Houses
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many specific consents for the sale of part II housing—council houses—were give to(a) Westminster and (b) Wandsworth council in each year since 1980.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 25 January 1994]: The number of special consents for the sale of council houses and flats given to each authority for the years 1988 onwards are below. Our records of special consents do not enable us to extend back to earlier years.

  Westminster

  Wandsworth

  1988

  5

  4

  1989

  nil

  nil

  1990

  9

  nil

  1991

  6

  1

  1992

  7

  nil

  1993

  21

  nil

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were sold by(a) Westminster council and (b) Wandsworth council under general consent in each year from 1980 to date.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 25 January 1994]: Local authority statistical returns on the sale of their housing do not enable us to identify the number of sales made under the general consents.

  Artillery Mansions
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will visit the squat at Artillery mansions, 75 Victoria street, London SW1 to discuss homelessness and the lack of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  I have no plans to visit Artillery mansions. I frequently meet staff of the voluntary sector agencies working with homeless people in central London and regularly visit projects managed by these agencies. I also launched the empty homes agency in February 1992.

  On 8 February 1994, I chaired a meeting attended by a wide range of representatives from voluntary sector organisations and central London local authorities to discuss the considerable progress being made under the Government's rough sleepers initiative, which by March 1996 will have provided around 3,300 permanent new homes for people with a history of sleeping rough in the centre of the capital.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has 888
  regarding the ownership of Artillery mansions, 75 Victoria street, London SW1; if he will discuss its future with Westminster city council; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  I have no official information regarding the ownership of Artillery mansions, although I have seen media reports suggesting that Great Bear Ltd. are the owners.

  It would not be appropriate for me to discuss with Westminster city council the merits of any action that it might take in relation to the building, since the owners might have a right of appeal to the Secretary of State in respect of such action.

  Population Control
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policies his Department has as regards population control; and what plans he has to review them.

  Sir George Young
  None.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Malaysia
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what letters were sent and on what date in June 1988 by the British high commissioner in Kuala Lumpur to Ministers in the Malaysian Government on the issue of allocating aid to Malaysia for projects to be agreed between the Governments of Malaysia and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: The British high commissioner in Kuala Lumpur wrote to the Malaysian Minister of Finance on 28 June 1988.

  Samanalawena Dam, Sri Lanka
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the attempts made to resolve the technical problems that have arisen with the Samanalawena dam in Sri Lanka.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: We responded to the technical problems by funding an international panel of experts to consider the best way to resolve the leakage on the right bank to the dam. They endorsed the procedure of sealing the floor of the reservoir with clay without draining out the water. We will consider offering further technical assistance for the remedial works when project partners have decided how they wish to proceed.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out those guidelines on linking arms sales to aid which are non-statutory.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government do not link arms sales and aid. Nor do we use the aid programme to finance arms sales.
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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will give details of the public appointments he is responsible for making in addition to those identified in "Public Bodies 1993", including non-executive agency and other departmental management boards.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In addition to appointments listed in "Public Bodies" the Lord Chancellor makes the following non-judicial appointments from members of the public:

  the legal services ombudsman, appointed under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990;

  the Lord Chancellor's investment advisory committee which has five members and advises the Public Trust Office and the Court of Protection on investment matters;

  the Magistrates Courts rule committee, which has 14 members;

  the Advisory Committee on the Children Act, which has 13 members;

  Review Committee: Insolvency Rules—Northern Ireland—which has seven members;

  County Court rules committee—Northern Ireland—which has 10 members;

  Supreme Court rules committee—Northern Ireland—which has nine members;

  Crown Court rules committee—Northern Ireland—which has 11 members;

  Family Proceedings rules committee—Northern Ireland—which has 12 members; and

  Magistrates Courts rules committee—Northern Ireland

  From time to time, the Lord Chancellor also makes other appointments on request, sometimes jointly with other appointing authorities.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total legal aid budget for 1993–94; how much of it was spent; and what unused funds have been used for.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) on 20 January, at columns 719–20, and the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 3 February, at column 809. In accordance with Government accounting rules, unused funds are surrendered to Her Majesty's Treasury at the end of the financial year.

  Age Limits
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what age limits are(a) recommended and (b) required for service by (i) the judiciary, (ii) the magistracy, (iii) chairs and members of industrial tribunals and (iv) jury service; and in each case what are the reasons for the age limits set.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Information is as follows:

  (i) The Judiciary

  The statutory qualifications for appointment to judicial offices, which generally prescribe a given number of years' professional standing, are set out in the booklet "Judicial Appointments: the Lord Chancellor's Policies and Procedures", a copy of which is in the Library. The booklet also sets out the age ranges within which the Lord Chancellor normally makes or recommends appointments
  890
  to judicial office. The statutory qualifications and the age levels for appointment reflect the need for candidates for judicial office to have acquired the necessary professional experience and maturity of judgment. The ages below which appointments are not normally made also reflect the principle that before appointment to full-time office candidates must first serve in an appropriate part-time capacity long enough to establish their competence and suitability. The ages beyond which appointments are not normally made are designed to allow those appointed to hold office for a reasonable period after appointment and to provide for the prospect of progression from part-time to full-time office or to a more senior post on an appropriate timescale. The compulsory retirement ages for the judiciary currently vary. When the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 is brought into force later this year, judicial office holders first appointed thereafter will have to retire at the age of 70, subject in most cases to a power of continuance in office up to the age of 75 where this is in the public interest. This strikes a balance between the benefits of experience and expertise and the demands placed on older judges.

  (ii) The Magistracy

  It is rare for the Lord Chancellor to appoint a lay magistrate below the age of 27 or above the age of 60. There is no minimum statutory age for appointment. By section 8 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979, lay magistrates must retire from active service on the bench when they reach the age of 70 years except for the chairman of a bench who may continue until the end of the year in which he or she attains the age of 70. These limits reflect the need for public confidence in the administration of justice. A lay magistrate must have the experience and maturity to sit in judgment on others and offer the prospect of a reasonable period of service after appointment.

  (iii) Chairmen and members of industrial tribunals

  Those appointed to the panel of chairmen of industrial tribunals must have a seven-year general qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. Appointments to the panel of part-time chairmen are rarely made under the age of 35 or over the age of 62. Full-time chairmen are appointed from among experienced part-time chairmen. Like other members of the judiciary, chairmen of tribunals must have professional experience and maturity of judgment and offer the prospect of a reasonable period of service in office. By the terms of their appointment, both full-time and part-time chairmen of industrial tribunals must retire at the end of the completed year of service in which they attain the age of 72. As for other judicial offices, the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993, as described above, introduces a compulsory retirement age of 70 for chairmen of industrial tribunals.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Employment is responsible for appointment to the panels of lay members of industrial tribunals.

  (iv) Jury Service

  The qualifying ages for jury service are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. However, I understand that generally those who are aged between 18 and 70 are eligible to be summoned for jury service, although any prospective juror over the age of 65 is entitled to be excused if he so wishes.

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  Eighteen is the normal age of majority and is the age at which persons appear on the electoral register from which jurors are drawn. The upper age limits seek to avoid imposing demands that might be unwelcome or unreasonable for many elderly people.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Marine Aggregates Industry
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what responsibility his Department has for promoting the interests of the marine aggregates industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Responsibility for promoting the interests of the marine aggregates industry belongs to the Department of the Environment.

  Electricity (VAT)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to require electricity suppliers to make available facilities to avoid payment of value added tax in the first year of the new tax regime to electricity customers paying their electric bills by direct debit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  No.

  Campaigns
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, columns 572–73, what was the number of applications and responses to the (a) export services, (b) business in Europe, (c) small firms merit award for research and technology scheme, (d) inward investment and (e) Queen's awards campaigns during this financial year.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information is as follows:Export services/Business in Europe
  Responses and calls to the campaign hotlines are running at a rate equivalent to about 30,000 for the full year.
  SMART
  The 1994 competition has not yet closed, and responses and applications are still coming in. There were over 6,200 responses to the 1993 campaign and nearly 1,500 applications.
  Inward Investment
  The latest available figures show that overseas publicity by the Invest in Britain Bureau was associated with 3,718 enquiries handled by the bureau in London and 182 new investment projects out of 396 dealt with during the year. Investment projects take several months, and often years, to come to fruition and so a direct link between general promotion and one year's projects cannot be made.
  Queen's Awards
  Details of application numbers will be released when the 1994 award winners are announced in April. For the 1993 awards there were over 11,000 inquiries and 1,822 applications.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, columns 572–73, what was the budgeted and the actual cost of each of the public information campaigns listed.

  Mr. Eggar
  Expenditure in the current financial year is expected to be as follows:892

  £

  Export services/business in Europe advertising (joint campaign)

  200,000

  SMART publicity campaign

  250,000

  Firework safety publicity campaign

  166,500

  Inward investment advertising

  942,000

  Queen's awards publicity campaign

  280,000

  Expenditure will be broadly in line with budgets.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of(a) the advantages and (b) the disadvantages of foreign ownership of United Kingdom manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 2 March 1994,Official Report, column 717.

  Aviation Services
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the progress of general agreement on tariffs and trade negotiations on aviation services.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her on 3 March 1994,Official Report, columns 802–03.

  Wind Turbines
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies he has undertaken as to the impact on British manufacture of wind power turbines and employment in the wind energy sector of United Kingdom wind farms of different sizes.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: I have not undertaken any studies. A British manufacturer has supplied 70 wind turbines to wind farms in the United Kingdom, worth nearly £20 million, and my Department estimates that there are over 400 people currently employed in the wind energy sector in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the size of the world wind turbine market at present; what its growth has been over the last four years; what share of it is held by British manufacturers; and what proportion of wind turbines in the United Kingdom have been manufactured within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: The Government do not have statistics of the world market for wind turbines. The following estimates have been based on available published data:

  (i) The total capacity currently installed world-wide: 2600 MW.

  (ii) The total capacity installed worldwide in each of the past four years:

  Year

  Megawatts

  1990

  300

  1991

  150

  1992

  250

  1993

  300

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  (iii) The total capacity world-wide supplied by British manufacturers: 55 MW.
  (iv) 20 per cent. of the wind turbines in the United Kingdom are of British manufacture.

  Mine Detectors
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether mine detectors may be exported to the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: Mine detectors are covered by the military list of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992 and therefore fall within the United Nations arms embargo of former Yugoslavia under the terms of United Nations Security Council resolution 713 of 1991. The temporary export of detectors for humanitarian purposes, for example under the auspices of the United Nations, would, however, be given sympathetic consideration.

  Coal Mines (Drainage)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the future Coal Authority will carry responsibility for discharges of mine water; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 2 March 1994]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 9 February 1994, Official Report, column 315.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bulb Growers
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information she has received from the other member states of the European Union about the charges they propose to make on bulb growers for field inspection for the purpose of a passport.

  Mr. Jack
  I have no precise details of the charges made by other member states on bulb growers for field inspections for the purpose of a plant passport. However, I have general details of the plant passporting charges in many northern European member states, including the Netherlands. Although direct comparisons are difficult to make, the principle of setting fees which achieve full cost recovery is a common element.

  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what requirements are imposed by the EC Commission on the Council of Minsters of member states to impose a charge on bulb growers when their records of bulb passports are examined.

  Mr. Jack
  At the present time, there is no EC requirement that member states should charge for any aspect of plant passport authorisation checks. However, it is the policy in many member states, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, France and Germany, that the industry, rather than the taxpayer, should meet the cost of providing a range of plant passport services.
  894

  Apples
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she is taking to ensure a level playing field in the market for apples, with particular reference to Coxes, in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jack
  The principal problem facing English apple growers is oversupply within Europe. The objective of the EC regime in fruit and vegetables is to provide for fair competition. However, the intervention system sustains over-production, distorts the market and needs reform. The Council of Ministers has asked the Commission to come forward with proposals and we shall be pressing for these to take full account of the needs of the market, including that for our Coxes.

  Agricultural Development Advisory Service
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Hargreaves), of 25 February,Official Report, columns 492–93, what reductions in staffing she envisages will result from the proposed changes to the Agricultural Development Advisory Service.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Responsibility for this matter is delegated to ADAS and I have asked the chief executive to reply to the hon. Gentleman direct.

  Letter from Dr. J. M. Walsh to Dr. Gavin Strang, dated 4 March 1994

  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question as to what reductions in staffing ADAS envisages will result from its proposed re-structuring.
  Our cost recovery target of 63 per cent. from April 1994 onwards as agreed in PES 1993 is significantly more testing than hitherto. This rate of growth is achievable, but cannot be produced from revenue growth alone and requires a rapid and fundamental change in our working practices and cost base.
  The total reduction in ADAS consultancy and administrative support posts anticipated during 1994–95 is of the order of 325 out of a total number of posts of 2,500. I must stress, however, that redundancies will be kept to a minimum and that the necessary administrative post reductions will be managed in the following way:

  resettlement of staff into MAFF, Welsh Office and other Government Departments where possible;

  a reduction in the number of casual staff, and; natural wastage.

  It is hoped that the reduction in the number of consultancy posts can mainly be achieved through a programme of:

  voluntary redundancy;

  early retirement, and;

  natural wastage.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will estimate in real terms the increase in farming incomes in(a) 1992 and (b) 1993; and by how much she estimates farming incomes will rise in 1994.

  Mr. Jack
  Total income from farming, which represents the total income from agriculture of the group with an entrepreneurial interest in the industry—farmers and spouses, non-principal partners and directors and their spouses and family workers—showed an increase in real terms in 1992 of 19·6 per cent. compared with 1991. The provisional figure for 1993 is 38·6 per cent. higher than in 1992. Figures for 1994 are not available.
  895

  Farm and Food Prices
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will estimate by how much(a) farm prices and (b) food prices have increased in the United Kingdom since September 1992.

  Mr. Jack
  Between September 1992 and December 1993 farm prices—as shown by the index of producer prices for agricultural products—rose by 1·9 per cent. Food prices—as shown by the food component of the index of retail prices—rose by 1·8 per cent. over the same period and by 2·3 per cent. through to January 1994.

  Offshore Oil Licensing
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if she will list all the blocks her Department recommended should be excluded from the 14th round of offshore oil licensing; and what was the specific reason in each case;

  (2) what areas of concern her Department asked the DTI to address in deciding which blocks to license during the 14th round of offshore oil licensing.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer to the reply I gave on 28 February 1994, at column 591, and to the one given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy on 16 February 1994, at column 835.

  Veterinary Medicines
  Mr. French
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current position on the establishment of maximum residue limits for active ingredients used in veterinary medicines for horses; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Under Council regulation 2377/90, maximum residue limits must be established by 1996 for active ingredients in veterinary medicines used in food-producing species. The European Commission has now confirmed that, in line with existing United Kingdom policy, if a horse is not destined for human consumption, maximum residue limits will not be required. In addition, the Commission has emphasised that it is not the intention of regulatory authorities to deny veterinarians the possibility of treating animals.

  In the United Kingdom, therefore, we shall continue to require that where no MRLs have been established, the product should be clearly marked as not to be used on any animal that might be intended for human consumption. This applies to all horses, irrespective of value. I am satisfied that this provides the necessary guarantees to consumers of the safety of food while safeguarding animal health and welfare.

EDUCATION

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which grant-maintained schools do not have premises insurance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There are four grant-maintained schools which do not have full premises insurance cover,896
  out of a total of 814 currently operating. These are Edenham high school, Croydon; the Radcliffe school, Wolverton, Milton Keynes; Wood End middle school, Middlesex and Wrenn school, Wellingborough.

  The position on each school is:

  Edenham high school: has full premises cover apart from cover for subsidence; the school has been awarded a capital grant allocation for funding in 1994–95 to remedy the problem.

  Radcliffe: the school has insurance cover apart from premises insurance; it has recently been surveyed and negotiations are continuing.

  Wood End middle school: has cover for contents and employers liability; capital grant has been allocated to rebuild the school.

  Wrenn school: has all the required insurance cover apart from subsidence cover which relates to past problems with its caretaker's house.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what considerations govern his reference of parliamentary questions on the Child Support Agency to the director of the agency; what consideration has been given to answering such questions himself; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. McMaster) on 7 February at columns 33–34.

  EC Nationals
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from the European Commission and others regarding his proposal to introduce a test of habitual residence in the United Kingdom affecting EC nationals seeking work in the United Kingdom; how he proposes to introduce the test; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Representations have been invited by the Social Security Advisory Committee from organisations and individuals who have views on the proposed introduction of a test of hibitual residence into the income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit schemes. The test will be introduced by laying regulations before the House, together with a Command Paper addressing the issues raised by those representations. We have received no representations from the European Commission on this matter.

  Ms. Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many inquiries have been received by the Child Support Agency from hon. Members on behalf of their constituents since its introduction; how many inquiries have received a full reply within(a) one month, (b) two months and (c) three and over; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
  897
  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Ms. Ann Coffey, dated 3 March 1994:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of enquiries received from Members of Parliament by the Child Support Agency.
  I am sorry, but the Agency does not collect statistics in the precise form in relation to clearance times which you have requested. I have received over 3,700 letters from Members of Parliament, and by 25 February, I had replied to over 1,900. Set out in the table below are the average clearance times for such correspondence:

  Per cent.

  Cleared 1–15 days

  16·61

  Cleared 16–20 days

  8·66

  Cleared 21–40 days

  26·76

  Cleared over 40 days

  47·98

  In addition, over 1,300 letters have been sent to Agency Centres.
  As you know, the Agency has set up a telephone help-line for Members of Parliament. From 13 December 1993, the date on which the service began, to 25 February 1994, we had received 663 calls.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which areas in the United Kingdom were triggered for cold weather payments in February.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Winnick, dated 3 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking which areas in the United Kingdom were triggered for cold weather payments in February.
  The attached appendix shows the weather stations which were triggered in February and the Benefits Agency Districts they cover, in whole, or in part. The relevant periods of cold weather are also shown together with an indication as to whether the trigger was due to a forecast or recording.
  I hope you find my reply helpful.

  Areas which were triggered for cold weather payments in February 1994

  Weather station and Benefits Agency district office

  Period

  Trigger

  Eskdalemuir

  East Lowlands

  16–22 February

  Forecast

  Motherwell

  23 February to 1 March

  Forecast

  North Cumbria

  South West Scotland

  Aviemore

  Grampian and Shetland

  12–18 February

  Recording

  Highland and Islands

  21–27 February

  Forecast

  Tayside

  Wilsden

  Barnsley

  10–16 February

  Recording

  Blackburn

  17–23 February

  Recording

  Bradford

  Central Derbyshire

  Kirklees

  Leeds North

  Leeds South

  North Derbyshire

  898

  Weather station and Benefits Agency district office

  Period

  Trigger

  North Staffordshire

  Oldham

  Pendle and Rossendale

  Sale/East Cheshire

  Sheffield West

  Stockport

  Tameside

  West Pennine

  Yorkshire Pennine

  Glasgow airport

  Clyde Coast and Cowal

  13–19 February

  Recording

  Coatbridge

  Forth Valley

  Glasgow West

  Glasgow City

  Glasgow Lauriston

  Glasgow South West

  Irvine and Kilmarnock

  Lomond and Argyle

  Lothian West

  Motherwell

  Renfrew

  South West Scotland

  Spring and Cumbernauld

  Leuchars

  Fife

  13–19 February

  Recording

  Forth Valley

  Tayside

  Leeming

  East Yorkshire

  15–21 February

  Recording

  Newcastle

  North Durham

  North Tees

  North Tyneside

  Northumberland

  North Yorkshire

  South Durham

  South Tees

  South Tyneside

  Wearside

  Edinburgh airport

  Coatbridge

  16–22 February

  Recording

  East Lowlands

  Fife

  Forth Valley

  Lothian Central

  Lothian West

  Motherwell

  Tayside

  Finningley

  Barnsley

  16–22 February

  Recording

  Doncaster

  East Yorkshire

  Hull

  Chesterfield and Worksop

  North Nottinghamshire

  Rother and Dearne

  Sheffield East

  Sheffield West

  Wakefield

  Waddington

  Cambridgeshire

  16–22 February

  Recorded

  Wash Coast

  East Yorkshire

  Hull

  North Leicestershire

  South Humberside

  West Lincolnshire

  Kinloss

  Grampian and Shetland

  24 February to 2 March

  Forecast

  899

  Weather station and Benefits Agency district office

  Period

  Trigger

  Highlands and Islands

  Lomond and Argyle

  Coltishall

  Norwich

  17–23 February

  Forecast

  Suffolk

  Honnington

  Cambridgeshire

  17–23 February

  Recorded

  Wash Coast

  North Essex

  Norwich

  Suffolk

  Marham

  Wash Coast

  18–24 February

  Recorded

  Norwich

  Watnall

  Central Staffordshire

  18–24 February

  Recorded

  Central Derbyshire

  East Nottinghamshire

  Northamptonshire

  North Derbyshire

  North Leicestershire

  North Nottinghamshire

  North Staffordshire

  South Leicestershire

  Warwickshire

  West Lincolnshire

  West Nottinghamshire

  Rother and Deame

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Market Testing
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress his Department has made towards market testing recruitment monitoring.

  Mr. David Davis
  A draft invitation to tender for recruitment monitoring services has been drawn up. The approval of the Privy Council is currently being sought for a minor amendment to the civil and diplomatic service Orders in Council 1991 which will allow the Civil Service Commissioners to delegate to others their recruitment monitoring functions and thus to market test the operation. Subject to Privy Council approval, we hope to issue invitations to tender shortly.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his oral statement of 24 February,Official Report, columns 463–75, if he will publish the list of known Labour supporters appointed to public bodies to which he referred.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  From my own knowledge, I had constructed the following list for the purposes of the debate:

  Lord Cocks, Deputy Chairman, BBC

  Baroness Jay, Member, Kensington Chelsea and Westminster health authority

  Baroness Blackstone, Natural History museum

  Clive Wilkinson, Chairman, Sandwell health authority

  Helene Hayman, Chairman, Whittington trust

  Margaret Hodge, Local Government Commission

  Dr. Dickson Mabon, Chairman, London homeopathic hospital trust

  900

  Dr. Edmund Marshall, Member, Wakefield FHSA

  Lord Barnett, Victoria and Albert museum

  Rosie Barnes, Non-executive director, Greenwich healthcare trust

  Bill Kilgallon, Chairman, Leeds mental health trust

  Bob Cryer, British Film Institute

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Shortages
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research is being conducted by the Department or elsewhere into the long-term implications of the decline of the population of working age compared with that of retirement age and the extent to which there will be an additional need for immigrant labour to overcome labour shortages.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department does not project the demand for labour. It publishes projections of the labour force, as well as expected demographic changes and the trends in economic activity. The most recent projections go up to the year 2006. "Labour force projections: 1993–2006" is published in the Employment Gazette, April 1993 pp139–147. The Employment Gazette is available from the Library.

  In addition, reports of Carnegie inquiry into the third age, which was co-funded by the Employment Department, are now published. The inquiry explored aspects of the aging of the work force and population. The reports are available from the Library.

  Immigrant Labour
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research his Department has commissioned on the relationship between immigrant labour and unemployment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The labour force survey provides information on the number of immigrants unemployed in the United Kingdom, according to the International Labour Office definition of unemployment.

  Information form the LFS can be obtained from the Library via computer link.

  In 1981 the Policy Studies Institute published "Unemployment and Racial Minorities". This work was commissioned by the Department of Employment and the Manpower Services Commission.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research has been conducted by his Department on the impact which immigrant labour has had on the labour market since 1964.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department has commissioned the following relevant research studies:"The role of immigrants in the labour market" by the Department of Employment Unit for Manpower Studies—March 1977.
  "Foreign workers and the UK labour market" by John Salt and Robert Kitching, Employment Gazette, November 1990, pages 538–46.
  "Foreign workers and the UK labour market: a correction", Employment Gazette, July 1991, pages 405–8.
  "Irish nationals in the British labour market" by Christopher Woolford, Employment Gazette, January 1994, pages 29–32.

  Information on the number and occupation of immigrants in the United Kingdom labour market since

  901
  1984 is collected in the labour force survey. This can be obtained from the Library via computer link. The Employment Gazette is also available from the Library.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research his Department has cornmissioned on the extent to which refugees and immigrants, other than those for whom an employer has a work permit, are successful in the labour market, and the extent to which language ability affects their employment prospects.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Employment Department has commissioned no research on this issue.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research his Department has carried out on whether immigrant labour has displaced, or com-plemented, the indigenous work force in different sectors of employment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This issue is explored in reports of two research projects conducted for the Employment Department."The role of immigrants in the labour market" by the Department of Employment Unit for Manpower Studies—March 1977.
  "Foreign workers and the UK labour market" by John Salt and Robert Kitching, Employment Gazette, November 1990, pages 538–46.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research has been conducted on the occupational attainment of immigrants and refugees in the British labour market compared with the occupational level in their previous country of residence.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department has not conducted and is not aware of any studies on this issue.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what empirical research on future labour market needs is conducted by his Department in order to inform those officials responsible for decisions on work permit applications.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department draws on a range of labour market information and consults professional bodies and trade federations.

  EC Workers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research has been conducted, is being conducted or is planned into the impact of other EC workers on the British labour market and into the potential impact of allowing third-country nationals resident in other member states to work without restrictions in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department has commis-sioned the following relevant research studies on the impact of European Union workers on the British labour market."Foreign workers and the United Kingdom labour market" by John Salt and Robert Kitching, Employment Gazette, November 1990, pages 538–46.
  "Foreign workers and the United Kingdom labour market: a correction", Employment Gazette, July 1991, pages 405–408.
  "Irish nationals in the British labour market: by Christopher Woolford, Employment Gazette, January 1994, pages 29–32.

  The Employment Gazette is available from the Library.
  902
  Information on the number and occupation of European Union workers in the United Kingdom labour market since 1984 is collected in the labour force survey. This can be obtained from the Library via computer link.

  The Department has not conducted research into the impact of allowing third-country nationals resident in other member states to work without restrictions in the United Kingdom.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in slaughterhouses in each county of England in each year since 1985.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Due to the small number of employers in each county operating slaughterhouses, the confidentiality restrictions of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 prevent this information from being released.

  Employment estimates are available for the standard economic regions in England from the periodic censuses of employment. The most recent of these was conducted in September 1991. The estimates can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library, subject to the confidentiality restrictions of the 1947 Act.

  Youth Training
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide an up-to-date table showing for the counties of England, for each year since 1989, the number of places on youth training schemes and the number of people who have been waiting for eight weeks for a place.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information is available for England and training and enterprise councils in England, but not on a comprehensive basis for English counties. Information about the number of available places is not collected centrally. The number of young people on youth training at the end of each financial year and at the latest date are given at tables 1 and 2. TEC level data are not available prior to 1991–92.

  Information on the number of people waiting for eight weeks or more has only been collected since autumn 1992 and the first reliable TEC level data are available from March 1993. These and the latest data are given at table 3.

  Table 1

  Youth training (inc youth credits) in training TECs in England

  March 1992

  March 1993

  November 1993

  Hampshire

  5,000

  6,200

  6,310

  Heart of England

  1,880

  1,690

  1,790

  Isle of Wight

  640

  570

  590

  Kent

  6,080

  5,760

  5,640

  Milton Keynes

  1,250

  1,340

  1,380

  Surrey

  1,910

  2,030

  1,830

  Sussex

  3,970

  4,500

  3,760

  Thames Valley

  4,420

  3,270

  5,660

  AZTEC

  1,180

  1,280

  1,300

  Central London

  1,700

  2,070

  2,020

  CILNTEC

  1,910

  2,250

  2,290

  London East

  4,760

  4,190

  4,550

  North London

  1,350

  1,560

  1,140

  North West London

  1,110

  930

  730

  SOLOTEC

  2,460

  3,000

  2,340

  South Thames

  3,040

  3,320

  2,790

  West London

  2,450

  2,450

  2,370

  903

  March 1992

  March 1993

  November 1993

  Bedfordshire

  1,960

  2,170

  2,130

  Cambridgeshire

  920

  1,040

  1,280

  Essex

  5,280

  5,990

  6,300

  Greater Peterborough

  1,710

  1,560

  1,550

  Hertfordshire

  3,720

  3,230

  4,460

  Norfolk and Waveney

  4,470

  4,090

  4,440

  Suffolk

  2,750

  2,810

  2,700

  Avon

  4,600

  4,370

  4,390

  Devon and Cornwall

  6,920

  6,540

  6,580

  Dorset

  2,510

  2,540

  2,430

  Gloucestershire

  2,460

  2,910

  2,870

  Somerset

  2,730

  2,150

  2,130

  Wiltshire

  2,240

  2,560

  2,240

  Birmingham

  5.340

  4,630

  5,080

  Central England

  1,590

  1,590

  1,660

  Coventry

  4,900

  3,900

  4,270

  Dudley

  2,050

  1,630

  1,930

  Hawtec

  2,120

  2,040

  2,010

  Sandwell

  1,820

  1,890

  1,970

  Shropshire

  2,630

  2,430

  2,320

  Staffordshire

  6,320

  7,610

  5,670

  Walsall

  1,410

  1,330

  1,420

  Wolverhampton

  1,770

  1,780

  1,660

  Greater Nottinghamshire

  3,210

  3.950

  4,170

  Leicester

  4,820

  4,530

  5,310

  Lincolnshire

  3,920

  3,770

  3,800

  North Derbyshire

  1,970

  1,750

  1,910

  North Nottinghamshire

  2,910

  3,100

  2,980

  Northamptonshire

  1,880

  2,310

  2,150

  South Derbyshire

  3,210

  2,830

  3,020

  Humberside

  6,620

  5,780

  6,230

  North Yorkshire

  2,470

  2,720

  2,760

  Wakefield

  1,780

  1,580

  1,550

  Sheffield

  3,010

  2,730

  3,060

  Rotherham

  1,360

  1,650

  1,830

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  3,900

  4,050

  4,070

  Leeds

  2,710

  2,700

  2,700

  Bradford

  2,920

  2,250

  3,380

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  3,280

  3,050

  3,480

  Bolton/Bury

  2,600

  2,530

  3,070

  Manchester

  6,750

  6,090

  6,660

  Metrotec

  1,820

  1,890

  2,280

  Oldham

  1,660

  1,510

  1,570

  Rochdale

  1,210

  1,530

  1,690

  South and East Cheshire

  2,060

  2,720

  2,890

  Stockport and High Peak

  2,080

  1,700

  1,800

  Cewtec

  3,000

  3,000

  3,030

  Cumbria

  3,670

  3,610

  3,960

  Eltec

  3,750

  3,860

  3,840

  Lawtec

  4,960

  5,260

  5,380

  Merseyside

  8,170

  7,900

  7,340

  Normidtec

  2,730

  2,570

  2,810

  Qualitec

  1,790

  1,630

  1,710

  County Durham

  4,430

  3,630

  4,030

  Northumberland

  2,080

  2,230

  1,980

  Teesside

  4,610

  5,410

  5,160

  Tyneside

  5,770

  6,410

  6,900

  Wearside

  2,750

  2,400

  2,500

  Source: Tec operating agreement (Annex J).
  904

  Table 2

  Youth trainees (including youth credits) in training, England

  Number

  March 1989

  306,100

  March 1990

  279,200

  March 1991

  1191,500

  March 1992

  233,200

  March 1993

  231,800

  November 1993

  239,000

  1 Excluding all trainees in training with nationally contracted providers.

  Sources:

  YTS trainee database.

  TBC operating agreement—annex J.

  Youth training (including youth credits) guarantee young people waiting more than eight weeks TECs in England

  March 1993

  February 1994

  Hampshire

  207

  5

  Heart of England

  15

  5

  Isle of Wight

  37

  5

  Kent

  338

  0

  Milton Keynes

  32

  4

  Surrey

  94

  5

  Sussex

  66

  12

  Thames Valley

  185

  12

  AZTEC

  156

  0

  Central London

  136

  9

  CILNTEC

  143

  0

  London East

  439

  0

  North London

  66

  3

  North West London

  111

  4

  SOLOTEC

  206

  0

  South Thames

  476

  0

  West London

  36

  2

  Bedfordshire

  115

  12

  Cambs

  69

  1

  Essex

  373

  0

  Greater Peterborough

  23

  0

  Hertfordshire

  107

  7

  Norfolk and Waveney

  4

  9

  Suffolk

  13

  5

  Avon

  88

  14

  Devon and Cornwall

  66

  1

  Dorset

  23

  2

  Gloucestershire

  28

  0

  Somerset

  97

  13

  Wiltshire

  68

  0

  Birmingham

  110

  I

  Central England

  14

  3

  Coventry

  79

  4

  Dudley

  2

  2

  Hawtec

  19

  4

  Sandwell

  10

  3

  Shropshire

  19

  0

  Staffordshire

  4

  16

  Walsall

  3

  3

  Wolverhampton

  2

  2

  Greater Nottingham

  32

  0

  Leicester

  27

  3

  Lincolnshire

  19

  1

  North Derbyshire

  42

  2

  North Nottingham

  91

  2

  Northants

  62

  0

  South Derbyshire

  25

  0

  Humberside

  47

  0

  North Yorkshire

  79

  0

  Wakefield

  18

  1

  Sheffield

  156

  0

  905

  March 1993

  February 1994

  Rotherham

  4

  0

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  36

  1

  Leeds

  37

  1

  Bradford

  15

  1

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  18

  0

  Bolton/Bury

  41

  0

  Manchester

  106

  0

  Metrotec

  21

  0

  Oldham

  36

  5

  Rochdale

  18

  0

  South and East Cheshire

  0

  0

  Stockport and High Peak

  16

  0

  Cewtec

  18

  1

  Cumbria

  33

  0

  Eltec

  19

  9

  Lawtec

  40

  7

  Merseyside

  42

  9

  Normidtec

  13

  5

  Qualitec

  20

  0

  County Durham

  62

  4

  Northumberland

  47

  2

  Teesside

  45

  2

  Tyneside

  60

  16

  Wearside

  0

  0

  England

  5,424

  240

  Source: TEC returns.

  Jobcentres
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy regarding the use of jobcentres to advertise for(a) jobs in areas of armed conflict, (b) mercenaries and (c) jobs that support military forces in areas of armed conflict; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from M.E. G. Fogden to Dr. David Clark, dated 4 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Employment has asked me to reply to your question about our policy on advertising for people to work in areas of military conflict.
  The Employment Service (ES) aims not to handle vacancies where jobseekers would be put at risk, or where our reputation would be damaged thereby reducing our capacity to help unemployed people find jobs. Vacancies for mercenaries or those where the work actively supported a hostile military campaign would not meet these criteria and would not therefore be accepted.
  All vacancies for work abroad have to be cleared with the Overseas Placing Unit within my Head Office before they can be advertised in Jobcentres. To try to protect our jobseeker clients, careful checks are made about the employer and the work offered.
  It is our practice not to accept a vacancy if it is known that the job requires a person to work in an area where there is armed conflict. If, however, a job was to work in a country where there was conflict but in a part where our clients would not be at risk, we would then consider servicing the vacancy. Where there is doubt about a particular area then advice is sought from the Foreign and Commonwealth office
  In recent months we have been involved in helping to recruit people in a variety of trades to work in the former Yugoslavia. The jobs were specifically to work on UN contracts to support
  906
  their peacekeeping mission, and were located away from the areas of armed conflict. Advice was taken from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as described.
  I hope this is helpful.

WALES

  Building Renovation Grants
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the funding by the Welsh Office of building renovation grants to(a) Cyngor Dosbarth Dwyfor, (b) Cyngor Bwrdeisdref Arfon and (c) throughout Wales in each of the last five years; and what is the money allocated to each of these three categories for this purpose for 1994–95.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is as follows:

  Specific public expenditure cover provided by the Welsh Office for home renovation grants

  £ million

  Year

  Dwyfor

  Arfon

  Wales

  1990–91

  1·174

  2·319

  101·900

  1991–92

  1·493

  3·947

  124·800

  1992–93

  2·377

  2·960

  169·300

  1993–94

  3·060

  3·816

  171·900

  1994–95

  2·973

  3·262

  177·000

  Comparative figures for years prior to 1990–91 are not available because of changes in (i) the public expenditure treatment of local authority capital programmes, (ii) the arrangements for the control of local authority expenditure, and (iii) the home renovation grant system.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made as to how many of those pupils currently covered by the assisted places scheme would have entered private education without the support offered by the scheme.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No such assessment has been made. It is unlikely that numbers would be high. Over 40 per cent. of parents in Wales pay no contribution to fees because of the low level of their incomes.

  Tai Cymru
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the main building contractors currently engaged in capital projects funded by Tai Cymru, Housing for Wales, through housing associations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  This is primarily a matter for Housing for Wales. The chief executive has been asked to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Road Contractors
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the main building and engineering contractors currently engaged in road construction projects funded by the Welsh Office; and if he will make a statement.
  907
  Mr. Redwood
  The building and civil engineering contractors currently employed by the Welsh Office on major motorway and trunk road contracts—those valued at over £3 million—are listed as follows:

  Morrison Construction Ltd.

  Kier/Hochtief Joint Venture

  Mowlem Construction Ltd.

  Costain Civil Engineering

  Amey Construction Ltd.

  Laing Construction Ltd.

  Alfred McAlpine Construction Ltd.

  Trafalgar House

  Technology Schools Initiative
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many schools in Powys were successful in receiving grant aid under the technology schools initiative; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will set out the criteria for provision of receiving grant aid under the technology schools initiative for (a) grant-maintained school and (b) other schools; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will list the schools which have secured grant aid under the technology schools initiative and the amount of grant in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The criteria are set out in a Welsh Office circular letter dated 21 May 1993 which was sent to all directors of education and chairpersons of grant-maintained schools in Wales. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  The criteria apply to both grant-maintained and other schools. However, grant-maintained school strategies are funded by capital grant and LEA maintained schools by local authority capital credit approvals.

  On this occasion, none of the successful schools was located in Powys. Strategies have been approved for the following schools for the amounts shown:

  £

  Bedwas comprehensive school

  250,000

  Bishop Vaughan grant-maintained school

  245,000

  Cynffig comprehensive school

  223,000

  Morriston comprehensive school

  210,000

  Queen Elizabeth Maridunum school

  244,000

  Risca comprehensive school

  245,000

  Ysgol David Hughes

  237,000

  Ysgol Morgan Llwyd

  239,000

  In addition, £212,000 was approved for Denbigh technological and vocational education centre.

  The technology schools initiative represents a considerable investment in improving technology teaching in the schools which submitted successful proposals. My Department is considering how best to build on the success of this initiative. This will include, in due -course, a review of the criteria for receiving support under the initiative.

  Residents of Wales Principal medical condition

  ICD Number and Condition

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  655 Known or suspected foetal abnormality affecting management of mother

  183

  185

  150

  127

  135

  136

  118

  108

  655.0 Central nervous system malformation in foetus

  48

  40

  54

  28

  40

  46

  33

  36

  655.1 Chromosomal abnormality in foetus

  25

  31

  19

  16

  22

  30

  19

  16

  908

  NHS Consultants
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the basic salary, merit awards and domiciliary visit payments made to the 20 highest paid consultants working in the national health service in Wales in 1992–93; and which directly managed units and health trusts employed them.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were employed in slaughterhouses in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  Levels of employment in slaughter-houses are given in the table. Figures are available only for years when a census of employment was carried out.

  Year1

  Employees in employment

  1987

  400

  1989

  300

  1991

  600

  1As at September.

  Source: Employment Department.

  Abortions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many abortions in Wales were carried out because of(a) known or suspected foetal abnormality affecting the mother, (b) central nervous system malformation in the foetus since 1979 and (c) chromosomal abnormality in the foetus since 1979.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on legal abortions in England and Wales, at the level of detail requested, has been published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys annually since 1984 according to area of residence —in "Abortion Statistics". To provide these data by the area in which the abortion took place would involve disproportionate cost. The numbers of residents of Wales having an abortion in the categories specified, in each year from 1984 to 1991, the most recent year available, are given in the table. Information for previous years is not readily available.

  Less detailed information on the number of legal abortions carried out in Wales is published in "Health and Personal Social Services in Wales", copies of which are in the Library of the House.
  909

  Forestry Committee
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who are the present members of the committee set up for Wales under section 2(3) of the Forestry Act 1967; and if he will also list the dates and venue of the committee meetings.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Under the Forestry Act 1967 the Forestry Commissioners are statutorily obliged to appoint a committee for Wales. However, the role of the committee was effectively diminished in 1965 when the commissioners abolished national directorates as part of a streamlining exercise to remove a management tier. Its current members are Mr. C. R. Woosnam CBE, Mr. R. T. Bradley, Mr. M. A. McLaggan and Mr. D. M. Hughes. The committee last met in 1985.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has in relation to the incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease as regards(a) suspected cases and (b) officially notified cases in Wales in the past two years; how many suspected cases notified informally to his Department are undergoing tests for the disease at present; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since May 1990 details of suspected cases of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease in the United Kingdom have been notified to the national CJD surveillance unit in Edinburgh. Suspected cases are classified as definite, probable, possible and other. Separate Welsh data on "other" cases is not easily identifiable. During the period 1 May 1991 and 30 April 1993 there were eight definite, two probable and one possible case of CJD from Wales.

  The Department is aware of one patient in Wales who is currently undergoing tests. CJD cannot be confirmed in this case at this stage.

  EC Committee of the Regions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from the Committee of the Welsh Districts and the Assembly of the Welsh Counties in relation to reporting-back procedures for Welsh delegates to the European Community Committee of the Regions.

  Mr. Redwood
  Both the Committee of Welsh Districts and the Assembly of Welsh Counties have written to me regarding various aspects of the proposed report-back body. I have also recently written to both associations inviting them to consider the establishment of a forum which could hear the reports of the Welsh members of the Committee of the Regions. I await their responses.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the health authorities in Wales concerning the disposition of the £1 million waiting list initiative funds; in which hospitals it will be spent and in which principal specialties; and what is his current estimate of its impact on waiting list levels.

  Mr. Redwood
  The allocation of moneys between hospitals and specialties is a matter for health authorities to 910
  decide upon in the light of local need and circumstances. Their use of the allocation will be subject to formal evaluation by my Department, in the normal way.

  The funding should ensure that all of the patients charter waiting times guarantees are met by 31 March.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has in relation to the numbers of(a) trust hospitals and (b) directly managed unit hospitals which are no longer able to treat (i) elective surgery cases and (ii) new out-patients referred by the purchasing side of the corresponding local health authority.

  Mr. Redwood
  Information on the management of individual service contracts within the NHS is not collected centrally as a matter of routine. Health authorities and NHS trusts are held to account for their overall performance against targets agreed annually with my Department. The emphasis is on the delivery of timely and effective services for patients, and the first class stewardship of resources. A judgment is also made of the skill with which the contracting process as a whole is managed in each area.

  Mr. Geoff Drake
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the appointments of Mr. Geoff Drake both as a member of the board of TARGED, the training and enterprise council for north-west Wales, and also to the post of chairman designate of the Gwynedd health trust; what consultations his office made before confirming these appointments; what further investigations on consultations have been undertaken as a result of representations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 February 1994]: I have received one letter requesting information about the chairman of the Gwynedd hospitals NHS trust, a letter from the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan), a letter from the clerk of Llanrug community council, in addition to two letters from the hon. Member about Mr. Geoffrey Drake.

  I am confident that Mr. Drake's skills and experience in industry and his membership of the Gwynedd health authority from November 1992 to December 1993, make him eminently suitable for the post he holds.

  I am not responsible for appointments to TARGED which is a private company limited by guarantee and as such elects its own directors.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Wrigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in making appointments to(a) the Gwynedd health trust (b) TARGED and (c) other nominated authorities in Wales, he advertises the posts; what consultations he undertakes locally on the suitability or otherwise of such nominations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 February 1994]: In future, my Department will make public, by means of press notices, forthcoming important vacancies on NHS and other public bodies in Wales to which I make appointments.
  911
  I am not responsible for appointments to TARGED, which is a private company limited by guarantee and as such is responsible for the appointment of its members.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Personal Allowances
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the saving to the revenue if personal allowances were treated as tax credits and deducted from a taxpayer's tax liability after the calculation of the amount of tax due, (as for the married couple's allowance in the 1994 Finance Bill), on the assumption that the value of the personal allowance for a basic rate taxpayer remained the same as at present and a basic rate of income tax of 20 per cent.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The hypothetical regime specified, with the value of the personal allowance for a person aged under 65 retained at £861·25p—£3,445 at 25 per cent—but given as a deduction from tax at a rate of 20 per cent. would result in a revenue cost of over £11 billion in a full year.

  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of full transferability of the personal tax allowance between married couples based on a tax rate of 25p in the pound on the basis that married couples allowance no longer existed.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 1 March 1994]: There is insufficient information in the question on which to base a meaningful reply.

  Family Incomes
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he arrived at his forecast that the increase in taxation on an average family would be more than offset by an increase in average earnings of £30 per week; and if he will break that figure down to show (i) the increase in earnings by median and deciles and (ii) manufacturing and non-manufacturing.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The figure of £30 per week is not my forecast. It is the hypothetical increase in earnings assumed by the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms Harman) in the question to which I replied on 17 February 1994,Official Report, columns 891–96.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue saving of the abolition of mortgage interest tax relief, assuming present rates of interest in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The cost of mortgage interest relief is estimated to be £4·3 billion in 1993–94, £3·4 billion in 1994–95 and £2·8 billion in 1995–96. These estimates are based on actual mortgage interest rates throughout 1993–94 and the assumption that they remain at their current levels for the next two years. They assume relief is available at 25 per cent. in 1993–94, 20 per cent. in 1994–95 and 15 per cent. in 1995–96.
  912

  Wine, Spirits and Cigarettes
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change since the establishment of the single market in the quantity of wine, spirits and cigarettes for personal consumption imported.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs and Excise estimate that legitimate imports for personal consumption in the year to 31 December 1993 increased by approximately 40 million litres in the case of wine, 10 million litres of bottled spirits and 400 million cigarettes.

  Domestic Fuel (VAT)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had from environmental groups against the imposition of VAT on domestic fuel.

  Sir John Cope
  I have received a number of representations from environmental groups on the imposition of VAT on domestic fuel. Friends of the Earth, for example, have been"broadly supportive of Government moves to increase energy prices by imposing VAT on domestic fuel and power".

  Energy Companies (Government Stores)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Her Majesty's Treasury intends to dispose of its holdings of shares in National Power and PowerGen.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Treasury intends shortly to appoint a merchant bank to advise on the sale of some or all of its National Power and Powergen shares. Subject to market conditions, this will take place in 1994–95. No decisions have been taken on the precise timing, size or structure of any sale.

  Convergence Programme
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to update the convergence programme produced by the United Kingdom in May 1993.

  Mr. Nelson
  An update of the United Kingdom's convergence programme has today been sent to the European Commission. Copies are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Private Health Insurance
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Treasury rules permit loss of revenue from business tax relief on the expense on providing private health care for employees to exceed the income derived from the tax due on the private health care given as a benefit to those same employees.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: If an employer incurs expenditure on providing health care for employees, the expenses incurred will qualify as a deduction when calculating the trading profits of the business if the expense is incurred wholly and exclusively for business purposes. A director or employee earning at the rate of £8,500 or more a year is liable to tax on the expense incurred in connection with the provision of the benefit. The reduction in tax for the employer and the additional tax charged on the employees depend on their individual circumstances.
  913

SCOTLAND

  Training
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the training companies in the Inverclyde area and the sums of money paid out of public funds to each of them over the past five years; how many trainees each of them trained over the same period of time; of these trainees, how many found full-time employment when their training programmes were completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 2 March 1994]: The information requested by the hon. Member is not available for the Inverclyde area in the period before April 1991, when responsibility for the delivery of Government training programmes in lowland Scotland was transferred from the Training Agency to Scottish Enterprise and its network of local enterprise companies. Since then the allocation of funding for training, and the numbers of trainees trained in each local enterprise company area has been an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked the chairman of Scottish Enterprise to write to the hon. Member.

  Campaigns
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, columns 949–50, if he will place in the Library the results of research conducted on the campaigns listed; and if he will publish an estimate of (a) the number of responses received to the children's panel recruitment campaign, (b) the number of responses received to the teacher recruitment campaign, (c) the number of requests for the right to buy information booklet and (d) the number of responses received to the national continence week telephone hotline.

  Mr. Lang
  The details requested are as follows:

  (a) Children's panels. A total of 2,262 responses were received via the telephone number and advertisement coupon which featured in the Scottish national press. Weekly newspapers published a local authority telephone number; number of responses not yet available.

  (b) Teacher recruitment—2,408 responses.

  (c) Right to Buy—7,I82 responses.

  (d) National continence week from 13 to 19 March publicises the existing all-the-year round help service. The telephone number featured is that of the continence resource centre at the Southern General hospital NHS trust, Glasgow where help can be sought.

  Accessibility to the Scottish Office. Data based on post campaign research have just been received and are still being analysed.
  Drugs and solvent misuse. The pre-campaign qualitative research on the drugs and solvents campaign was commissioned by the Department of Health. These are working documents used to inform management decision making and are not generally made available.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were employed in slaughter-houses in each year since 1985.
  914
  Mr. Tim Smith
  The information requested is available from the Northern Ireland census of employment only for the years 1987, 1989 and 1991. The table provides the total employees in employment at those dates.

  Year

  Employees in employment

  1987

  1,031

  1989

  865

  1991

  910

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 1034, if he will provide whatever information is available on those occasions on which he, or other Ministers in his Department, signed public interest immunity certificates, and for what reasons.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Since I became Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, I have signed the following public interest immunity certificates. In one certificate, signed in May 1992, I made a claim for certain members of the security forces to be screened from the public in inquest proceedings and for the protection of certain documentary and oral evidence from disclosure on grounds of national security relating to methods used to gather intelligence about terrorists. I signed a similar certificate in relation to an inquest which took place in March 1993. In another certificate, signed in February 1993, made for the purposes of criminal proceedings, I made a claim in relation to certain police. files. The remaining certificates were to protect the identity of prison officers and methods of control in prisons in connection with civil proceedings by prisoners.

  No other Northern Ireland Office Minister has signed any public interest immunity certificate during this time.

HEALTH

  Mental Health
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the commonly held misconceptions about mental health and community care, cited in their evidence to the Health Select Committee on 9 December 1993—HC, 1993–94, 102-i—that the mental health task force aims to correct.

  Mr. Bowis
  I have nothing to add to the evidence given on 9 December 1993.

  Ambulance Negotiating Body
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what groups are currently represented on the ambulance negotiating body;

  (2) what plans she has to widen representation on the ambulance negotiating body, in particular to include ambulance officers and control room assistants.

  Mr. Sackville
  The staff side of the ambulance negotiating body consists of representatives of the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel. The management side consists of representatives of national
  915
  health service bodies and the health departments. The ANB was set up in 1989 to operate in parallel with the existing ambulance Whitley council. There are no plans to include ambulance officers and control room assistants under the purview of the ANB.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what happens to the interest which accrues from surplus sums deposited in the regional savings account by fundholding practices.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Fundholders may accrue savings for up to four years. These are held by the appropriate regional health authority as part of their usual cash management programme. The question of interest does not therefore arise.

  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial arrangements are made with the fund-holding practices which end the year in deficit.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Any overspending by a general practitioner fundholder will be met from regional health authority contingencies. Where overspending is the result of mismanagement, the GP fundholders may have their fundholding status withdrawn.

  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sum has been deposited as surplus by fundholding practices in the Wakefield area in the regional savings account.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Regional health authorities are responsible for managing the general practitioner fundholding scheme in their areas. For local information in the Yorkshire region the hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Bryan Askew, chairman of the Yorkshire regional health authority.

  Office of Population Censuses and Statistics
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what have been the running costs of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for the last 10 years for which figures are available; what type of projects it carries out; and how its work is monitored.

  Mr. Sackville
  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys' net running costs from 1984–85 to 1993–94 were:

  Net running costs

  Year

  £ million

  1984–85

  22·4

  1985–86

  24·2

  1986–87

  24·8

  1987–88

  26·8

  1988–89

  20·3

  1989–90

  22·7

  1990–91

  36·8

  1991–92

  88·3

  1992–93

  24·1

  1993–94

  27·7

  Notes:

  1. Running costs are net of receipts.

  2. For comparison purposes, superannuation, which became a vote cost from April 1993, has been excluded from all the figures. The amount involved is £3 million in 1993–94.

  3. Running costs decreased in 1988–89 due to the move to repayment for Social Surveys.

  916

  4. Running costs peaked 1991–92 because of expenditure on the 1991 Census.

  5. Final outturn figures are given for all years except 1993–94, for which the actual Vote provision is shown.

  OPCS's main functions are:

  to administer the Marriage Acts and to direct and control the local registration of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales:

  to produce the estimates and projections of local and health authority populations which are used in allocating resources to them;

  to produce and publish statistics on population levels, on migration, on fertility and on abortions, mortality, morbidity and other health matters;

  to take the census of population in England and Wales; and to process, analyse and publish the resulting statistics;

  to conduct social surveys for Government Departments and public sector bodies and to give survey advice to Departments;

  to run the national health service central register for the Department of Health;

  assisting in the supply of statistics and statistical analysis for particular purposes, such as the nation's health;

  to provide secretarial and analytical support to the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England and Wales.

  Further detail is given in OPCS's business plans and annual reports, copies of which will be placed in the Library. OPCS is a Government Department, and is accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health in the normal way.

  NHS Management
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of national health service management in the Huddersfield health authority area in(a) 1987–88 and (b) 1992–93.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  General and senior management posts were introduced in phases from 1986 before which the national health service was clearly undermanaged. The pay costs for NHS managers within Huddersfield health authority amounted to £137,537 in 1987–88 and £1,559,120 in 1992–93. Comparisons over the years are meaningless because the growth in numbers and costs is mainly due to the reclassification of staff previously included in other administrative and professional categories as managers.

  Pathology
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what rules a fundholding practice is allowed to spend its money on major equipment with particular reference to pathology analysis.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The rules setting out how general practitioner fundholder savings may be used are in paragraph 24 of the National Health Service (Fundholding Practices) Regulations 1993.

  Prescription Medicines
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate she can make of changes to the pattern of inward investment by American and Japanese pharmaceutical companies should her Department's recent proposals on changes to the system of prescribing medicines by doctors and their generic substitution be implemented;
  917
  (2) what evaluation she has made of the possible effects on pharmaceutical research and development in the United Kingdom of any introduction of a scheme or schemes of generic substitution of medicines by pharmacists when dispensing doctors' prescriptions.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department has opened discussions with the medical and pharmaceutical professions about possible schemes for generic sub-stitution and will shortly be meeting the pharmaceutical industry.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the income from prescription charges in 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The answer is £267 million.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances a community pharmacist can substitute a generic product for a branded medicine prescribed by a doctor.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A pharmacist is not allowed to substitute any product, whether generic or otherwise, for a specifically named product without the approval of the prescriber, except in an emergency.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the annual rate of growth of the total real cost of national health service medicines since 1978.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Annual real terms increase in cost of national health service drugs (FHS drugs bill plus expenditure on HCHS drugs)

  Year

  Percentage increase in Real terms

  11978–79

  8·1

  1979–80

  -0·9

  1980–81

  2·0

  1981–82

  4·5

  1982–83

  7·3

  1983–84

  6·5

  1984–85

  0·2

  1985–86

  1·2

  1986–87

  4·9

  1987–88

  5·7

  1988–89

  5·4

  1989–90

  3·7

  1990–91

  -0·2

  1991–92

  7·7

  1992–93

  8·4

  1 Percentage increase in 1978–79 is based on family health service drug cost as no hospital and community health services cost is available for the previous year.

  Operations (Statistics)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will state the most recently available average costs of(a) hip replacement operations, (b) cataract removal and (c) coronary artery bypass graft operations; and if she will make a further statement on the number of these operations in 1992 and in 1993.

  Mr. Sackville
  The latest available information is shown in the table.
  918

  Finished Consultant Episodes

  Estimated average cost1

  1989–902

  1990–912

  Hip replacement operations

  £3,810

  50,790

  50,725

  Cataract extraction

  £1,230

  392,184

  397,894

  Coronary artery bypass grafts

  £5,870

  10,612

  12,041

  1 The estimated national average costs at 1991–92 prices—including an allowance for capital charges.

  2 Source: Hospital episode statistics.

  3 Eye lens operations—mainly cataracts.

  Clunis Inquiry
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the findings of the health authorities' inquiry into the case of Christopher Clunis.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Ritchie report into the care and treatment of Christopher Clunis was published on 24 February.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has following the report of the Clunis inquiry to modify(a) her Department's draft circular on the discharge of psychiatric patients from hospital and their continuing care in the community and (b) Government policy on the reduction in the number of psychiatric beds.

  Mr. Bowis
  Our policy remains to encourage the development in every health district of a comprehensive range of services for mentally ill people, including sufficient in-patient facilities for those who need admission to hospital on either a short term or long term basis.

  The draft guidance on the discharge of psychiatric patients is currently being considered in the light both of the comments received during the period of consultation, including the Ritchie report recommendations.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Ms. Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the accident and emergency departments in London together with the number of people treated in each year since 1989 and the number of patients they were designed to treat.

  Mr. Sackville
  Details of the number of accident and emergency departments in London, and their attendances during the period 1989 to 1993, will be placed in the Library. It should be noted that the London ambulance service also transport patients to 10 accident and emergency departments outside London when appropriate.

  Information about the number of patients accident and emergency departments were designed to treat is not routinely collected.

  Wandsworth Health Authority
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total budget for the Wandsworth health authority for each of the last 10 years.
  919
  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for the South West Thames regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the regional chairman, Professor Marian Hicks, for details.

  Lone Parents
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide a ranking by county of the percentages of families headed by a female lone parent.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not readily available precisely in the form requested. However, two closely related statistics have been derived from published 1991 census tables, and this information will be placed in the Library.

  Medical Research
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are applied by her Department in making funding available for research into medical conditions.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC is an independent body deciding what research to support on its own expert judgement. The council is always willing to consider for support soundly based new scientific proposals in competition with other applications.

  The purpose of the Department's centrally commissioned programme of research is to secure a scientific basis for departmental policies, with an emphasis on public health, policy on health services and personal social services rather than on medical conditions. The principles governing the commissioning of departmental research are set out in its code of practice for the commissioning and management of research and development, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  The strategic framework for the national health service research and development strategy, which is co-ordinated through the Department, is set by the central research and development committee. NHS issues, appropriate for research and development, are being identified in relation to six overlapping perspectives, one of which is disease related. Within each of these perspectives, broad areas are defined on the basis of burden of disease, service relevance, timeliness and likely benefits of research.

  Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

  Mr. Sackville
  The incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been estimated as 2·5 in 100,000 population per year—The British Medical Journal, 13 February 1993.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration she has given to research undertaken into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy outside the United Kingdom;

  (2) if she will make funding available from her Department for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy research;
  920
  (3) how much money her Department has allocated for research into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

  Mr. Sackville
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Within the Department of Health research funding is determined by priorities identified in accordance with national policy and the advice of specialist committees which take into account existing domestic and international research. Hypertrophic car-diomyopathy is not one of the Department's research priorities. The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association does, however, currently receive a section 64 grant from the Department.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people, broken down into age categories, have received private eye tests in each year since the introduction of NHS sight test charges.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available.

  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of eye tests carried out following the introduction of regulations on visual display unit usage.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No such estimate has been made.

  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received an NHS eye test in each of the last 10 years; and if she will indicate the numbers in groups(a) under 16, (b) between 16 and 40, (c) between 40 and 60 and (d) over 60 years of age for each year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of sight tests paid for by family health services authorities is shown in the table:

  Sight tests - England

  Millions

  Year

  Total

  Children under 16

  1983–84

  9,266

  —

  1984–85

  9,882

  —

  1985–86

  10,246

  —

  1986–87

  10,615

  —

  1987–88

  11,695

  —

  1988–89

  12,493

  —

  1989–901

  1,631

  —

  1989–902

  3,649

  31,541

  1990–91

  4,154

  1,560

  1991–92

  4,979

  1,843

  1992–93

  5,528

  2,013

  1 Old scheme.

  2 New scheme. From 1 April 1989, national health service sight tests were restricted to certain groups in the population. The sight tests paid for in this period are split between those conducted prior to 1 April and those conducted after 1 April.

  3 This figure is not comparable with those for subsequent years since there will be an additional number of sight tests paid for in this period which were conducted prior to 1 April 1989. Since everyone was then entitled to a NHS sight test, patient eligibility was not relevant.

  Note: Apart from children under 16 for the years shown, information on the age of patients is not available.

  Empty Hospitals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in(a) Lancashire and (b) England have been empty since 1989.
  921
  Mr. Sackville
  Health authorities and National Health Service trusts are responsible for disposing of surplus NHS property in accordance with Government procedures.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she is planning to publish the Government's response to the Bloomfield report and the oral health strategy.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell) on 18 February at column 1042.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from the British Dental Association about the publication of the response to the Bloomfield report and oral health strategy; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The British Dental Association wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 9 February.

  Blindness
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the three most common conditions resulting in blindness in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the causes of blindness is collected at 10 year intervals, annual information is not available.

  Unpublished data from the survey "Causes of blindness and partial sight in England and Wales April 1990 to March 1991" show the most common causes of blindness are:

  Degeneration macula and posterior pole

  Glaucoma

  Diabetic retinopathy

  Optic atrophy

  Cataract

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffer from multiple sclerosis in(a) Pendle, (b) Lancashire and (c) England.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Health Authority Directors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the method of payment to non-executive directors of health authorities to relate the amount paid more closely to the number of hours worked.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have no plans to review the current arrangements for the remuneration of non-executive directors on national health service bodies.

  Nurses
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the shortest contractual period for which nurses are employed by national health service trusts.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is for the individual trust to decide.
  922

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to amend general practitioners' contracts so that targets are specified for the immunisation of children against TB.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 5 November 1993 at column 536.

  Trent Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is being allocated in 1994–95 to Trent regional health authority to purchase health care from other regions; and what the figures were for 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  Health authorities are funded to enable them to purchase health care for their resident population. There is no separate funding for care purchased from within or from outside regional boundaries and it is for health authorities themselves to determine the most appropriate place to purchase health care.

  Day Cases
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many day cases were treated in the national health service in 1992–93.

  Mr. Sackville
  The answer is 1,806,859.

  St. James's Hospital, Leeds
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the professional qualifications of Mr. Bernard Chalk, deputy director of finance at St. James's hospital, Leeds; and when those qualifications were attained.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The relevant qualifications for national health service staff are a matter for the employing authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. John Greetham, chairman of the St. James's university hospital NHS trust, for details.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Dementia
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many suspected and confirmed cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob dementia have been reported to the surveillance units at Great Ormond Street, London and Edinburgh in the past 12 months; and what was the location of each case;

  (2) if national health service clinicians are required to report suspected and confirmed cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob dementia to the surveillance units based at Great Ormond Street, London and Edinburgh.

  Mr. Sackville
  Suspected cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in the United Kingdom are reported to the national CJD surveillance unit in Edinburgh.

  In the 12-month period to 28 February 1994, 48 cases of suspected CJD were referred to the national surveillance unit. Of this number, 31 are now deceased and their cause of death have been classified as:

  923

  Number

  Definite

  18

  Probable

  2

  Possible

  10

  Other

  1

  Of the remaining 17 two are definite—CJD having been confirmed by biopsy—and four are probable.

  The definite and probable cases were distributed throughout the United Kingdom reflecting population density, as shown in the table:

  Number of definite and probable cases of CJD 1 March 1993 to 28 February 1994 by standard region

  Number

  Scotland

  4

  Northern Ireland

  2

  North

  2

  North West

  1

  Yorks/Humberside

  4

  Wales

  2

  West Midlands

  1

  East Midlands

  2

  East Anglia

  1

  South West

  2

  South East

  5

  Total

  26

  The unit based on the Institute of Child Health—Great Ormond Street hospital—is concerned with following up and counselling patients who received human pituitary derived growth hormone and who may now be at risk of contracting CJD. It is not involved with routine surveillance of CJD.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland regarding the notification of suspected and confirmed cases of Creuzfeldt-Jakob dementia to her Department; and if she will place a copy of all related correspondence in the Library.

  Mr. Sackville
  Officials in the four Health Departments are in regular contact on these as on other matters of mutual interest.

  Hospital Beds, London
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the survey carried out by Professor Brian Jarman for the Government in 1989 on bed numbers in London; if the results of the survey were known to Professor Tomlinson prior to publication of his report; what account she has taken of Professor Jarman's findings in her Department's policies; and if she will call a halt to hospital closures and bed reductions in London.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Sir Bernard Tomlinson received evidence directly from Professor Jarman. His work was taken into account in the Government's response to the Tomlinson report.

  NHS Trust Managers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) of 11 February,Official Report, column
  924
  537, how many general and senior managers were employed by trusts in each year since 1991–92; and what percentage of the total number of regional senior and general managers this represented.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 28 February 1994]: At 30 September 1991, some 1,500 whole-time equivalent staff in national health service trusts were identified as general and senior managers, representing 12·4 per cent. of the total 12,110 throughout the NHS. At 30 September 1992, the figures were 3,810 and 26·8 per cent. of the total 14,250 respectively. The growth in numbers reflects the increase in the number of trusts. Figures for September 1993 will not be available until later this year.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Cross-media Ownership
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what inquiry he intends to carry out before decisions are taken on the issue of cross-media ownership and its consequences; and whether he proposes to issue a Green Paper on the subject to stimulate widespread public discussion.

  Mr. Brooke
  I invited written representations from the industry by 25 February. These are now being considered by an inter-departmental group of officials, who will seek meetings to supplement the material they have received. I have no plans to publish a Green Paper.

  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which organisations have made representations concerning the review of cross-media ownership rules; and how these will be handled.

  Mr. Brooke
  We have received 49 representations, from those listed, and have had an indication that others may yet make late submissions. All these representations will be carefully considered by an inter-departmental group, with the aim of concluding the review by the summer. Officials will supplement the written material they have received by meetings with the industry.

  Actors' Church Union

  Associated Newspapers Ltd.

  Association of British Editors

  Association of Independent Radio Companies Ltd.

  British Broadcasting Corporation

  British Film Institute

  British Media Industry Group

  Broadcasting Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)

  Broadcasting for Scotland Campaign

  Broadcasting Standards Council

  Brodies (Solicitors)

  British Sky Broadcasting Ltd.

  Cable Television Association

  Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom

  Carlton Communications plc

  EMAP plc

  Enterprise Radio Holdings Ltd.

  Roger Gale Esq, MP

  GMTV Ltd.

  Guardian Media Group plc

  GWR Group plc

  Hammond Suddards (Solicitors)

  Hooper Communications

  The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers Ltd.

  Independent Television Commission

  Institute of Local Television

  Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)

  925

  Interspace

  ITN

  LWT

  Mercury Communications Ltd.

  Midland Indepedent Newspapers Ltd.

  National Union of Journalists

  National Viewers' and Listeners' Association

  News International plc

  The Newspaper Society

  Pearson plc

  The Radio Authority

  S4C

  Scottish Newspaper Publishers' Association

  Scottish Television plc

  SelecTV plc

  The Telegraph plc

  Trinity International Holdings plc

  Ulster Television plc

  Virgin Radio Ltd.

  Voice of the Listener and Viewer

  University of Westminster (Centre for Communication and Information studies)

  The Writers Guild of Great Britain

  Ancient Monuments
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the expenditure on the number of(a) repair grants under section 24 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and (b) management agreements under section 17 of the Act for each year since 1986.

  Mr. Brooke
  Grants under section 17 and 24 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 are made by English Heritage out of its grant in aid and were as follows:

  £ thousands

  Year

  Section 17

  Section 24

  1986–87

  115

  795

  1987–88

  84

  1,127

  1988–89

  107

  1,213

  1989–90

  105

  2,720

  1990–91

  131

  1,411

  1991–92

  112

  1,638

  1992–93

  105

  1,689

  Following the regionalisation of the Conservation Group in 1991, section 24 grants were no longer accounted for separately, but were included with grants made under section 3A of the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 for the repair or maintenance of buildings. The figures shown for section 24 grants for 1991–92 and 1992–93 therefore relate to offer levels rather than actual expenditure in those years and are the best available.

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give details of the public appointments he is responsible for making in addition to those identified in "Public Bodies 1993", including non-executive agency and other departmental management boards.

  Mr. Brooke
  In addition to the bodies identified in "Public Bodies 1993", I am responsible for the following public appointments:

  The chairman of the South Bank board

  The chairman and members of the Royal National Theatre board

  One member of the council of the Royal Albert hall

  926

  Seven members of the Architectural Heritage Fund Council of Management

  The chairman and members of the Treasure Trove Reviewing Committee

  The members of the Public Library Development Incentive Scheme Advisory Committee

  The chairman of the sportsmatch sports sponsorship scheme

  The members of the Royal Parks advisory group

  The members of the Historic Royal Palaces advisory group

  The Director General of the Office of the National Lottery

  Register of Playing Fields
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what public access there is to the register of playing fields in England and Wales; what is the cost of each inquiry for members of the public; and what is the total cost to public funds of the register of playing fields in England and Wales.

  Mr. Brooke
  Public access to the register of recreational land is widely available through local authorities. The cost of each inquiry depends on the extent of the inquiry but in most cases it is negligible.

  The cost of the register to public funds has been £600,000, of which £500,000 was to compile the database and the remainder to update and maintain the database.

  Box Office Receipts
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of total box office receipts in the United Kingdom were captured by films from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the EC and (c) the USA in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Brooke
  I regret that detailed figures on box office receipts are not available from any central source.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Service
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Director General of the Prison Service will be receiving a performance-related bonus for the year 1993–94; and what criteria will be used to determine the level of payment.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the maximum performance bonus available to the chief executive of the Prison Service in 1993; and what will be the maximum bonus he can attain in 1994;

  (2) what is the annual salary of the chief executive of the Prison Service for 1993, including details of performance bonuses;

  (3) what is the criterion upon which a performance bonus can be paid to the chief executive of the Prison Service.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The salary of the Director General of the Prison Service is £125,000 a year. In addition, he is eligible for a performance bonus of up to 35 per cent. of basic salary. For the period from his appointment on 6 January 1993 to 31 March 1993 the director general 's performance was assessed solely on the basis of his personal contribution. For the period 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 his performance will be assessed partly on his personal contribution and partly on the achievement by
  927
  the agency of its key targets, set out in the agency's business plan for 1993–94, a copy of which is in the Library. The details of the arrangements for assessing the performance of the director general are personal to him and I have no plans to publish them. His salary, including his performance bonus, will, however, be published in the agency's annual accounts, a copy of which will also be placed in the Library. The arrangements for determining his performance bonus for 1994–95 have not yet been finalised.

  Escapees
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of escapes(a) from prison establishments and (b) from escorts expressed (i) in absolute numbers and (ii) as a percentage of the average prison population in each of the last three years and for 1993–94 to the latest available date.

  Average prison population

  Escapes from establishments3

  Per cent.

  Escapes from escort

  Per cent.

  Totals

  Per cent.

  1990–91

  44,350

  225

  0·51

  111

  0·25

  336

  0·76

  1991–92

  45,162

  308

  0·68

  155

  0·34

  463

  1·03

  1992–93

  43,913

  237

  0·54

  152

  0·35

  389

  0·89

  1993–94 (April to February inclusive)

  45,606

  179

  10·43

  2130

  10·31

  2309

  10·74

  Notes:

  1 The percentage figures for 1993–94 are annualised to provide a comparison with previous years.

  2 To provide a proper basis for comparison, 1993–94 figures exclude 34 escapes from magistrates' courts and escort to and from magistrates courts which are now the responsibility of the Prison Service in Humberside-East Midlands but which were the responsibility of the police in previous years.

  3 The Prison Service's key performance indicator for escapes excludes prisoners immediately recaptured. Excluding immediate recaptures, there have been 259 escapes so far in 1993–94—0·62 per cent. annualised—compared to 347 escapes in 1992–93—0·79 per cent.

  Slopping Out
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on ending slopping out since the statement by the Home Secretary contained in "Custody, Care and Justice" in September 1991.

  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 4 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the Prison Service, to reply to your recent Question about the progress made with the Prison Service's programme of installing integral sanitation in prison establishments.
  The number of prisoners with 24 hour access to sanitation has now risen to 90 per cent. compared with 60 per cent. in 1991. The target for the Prison Service for 1993–94 is to provide through the accelerated sanitation programme 24 hour access to sanitation in at least 4,700 existing prison places. In addition a further 2,400 newly constructed and renovated places are scheduled for completion this year, all of which will have integral sanitation.
  As stated by the Home Secretary in his written reply to Sir Ivan Lawrence on 2 February 1994 the December 1994 target for ending slopping out cannot now be met since this would lead to unacceptable levels of overcrowding. By the end of 1994, however, more than 95 per cent. of prisoners will have access to sanitation at all times.
  The Prison Service continues to give very high priority to completing the sanitation programme as soon as possible, within
  928
  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 4 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the number of escapes (a) from prison establishments and (b) from escorts expressed (i) in absolute numbers and (ii) as a percentage of the average prison population in each of the last three years and for 1993–94 to the latest available date.
  The attached table lists the information you require for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and April 1993-February 1994 (inclusive), as recorded by the Incident Management Support Unit.
  the constraints imposed by the prison population and we aim to complete the programme no later than February 1996, the date recommended by Lord Woolf in his report.

  Prisons
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average cost per prisoner place; and what was the average cost per prisoner place in each of the last three 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 4 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the current average cost per prisoner place and the average cost in each of the last three years.
  The available information on current expenditure per baseline certified normal accommodation place, which is now a key performance indicator for. the Prison Service, is as follows:

  Year

  £

  11993–94

  23,164

  1992–93

  22,722

  1 Provisional.

  Figures for the two previous years are not available in this form.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners are held in establishments where, prisoners are unlocked for a total of at least 12 hours each weekday at the latest available date; and what steps are being taken to increase this number.
  929
  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 4 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what percentage of prisoners are held in establishments where prisoners are unlocked for a total of at least 12 hours each weekday at the latest available date; and what steps are being taken to increase this number.
  On 31 January 1994, 27·1 per cent. of prisoners were held in establishments where prisoners are unlocked for at least 12 hours on weekdays. Increased time unlocked, together with increased constructive activity for prisoners, remains a key target for the Prison Service. Many establishments are working on new shift systems with a view to increasing time unlocked and to introducing 12 hour unlocking on weekdays.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were being held three to a cell in accommodation intended for one prisoner on the last day of each month from April 1992 to January 1994.

  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 4 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about cell sharing.
  The attached table shows how many prisoners shared three to a cell intended for one prisoner at the end of the months listed. As this information was collected on a quarterly basis between September 1992 and April 1993, it is not possible to give figures for every month in the period detailed in your Question.

  Month

  Number sharing three to a cell

  April 1992

  1,038

  May 1992

  1,005

  June 1992

  789

  July 1992

  720

  August 1992

  543

  September 1992

  498

  December 1992

  210

  March 1993

  108

  April 1993

  114

  May 1993

  126

  June 1993

  132

  July 1993

  123

  August 1993

  114

  September 1993

  93

  October 1993

  42

  November 1993

  84

  December 1993

  57

  January 1994

  39

  Police Cells
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held in police cells during each month from January 1993 to January 1994 and during February 1994 to the latest available date.
  930
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  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 4 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about how many prisoners were held in police cells during each month from January 1993 to January 1994 and during February 1994 to the latest available date.
  It is not possible to give a breakdown by number of those prisoners held in police custody, as some may be retained in police custody for more than one night. However, the number of prisoner nights being charged to the Prison Service are as follows:

  Number of prisoner nights

  1993

  January

  7,451

  February

  1,048

  March

  nil

  April

  nil

  May

  nil

  June

  nil

  July

  nil

  August

  nil

  September

  nil

  October

  nil

  November

  134

  December

  307

  1994

  January

  20

  February (up to 26 February)

  4,190

  Prison Searches
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who was consulted prior to the announcement by the Prison Service that authorised employees would be given powers to search in Her Majesty's prisons;

  (2) who he envisages will be the designated authorised employees who shall have the power to search prisoners for unauthorised property;

  (3) what training authorised employees will receive to assist them with the search of prisoners for unauthorised property;

  (4) what working definition he will use of reasonable force in pursuance of powers of search of prisoners by authorised employees for unauthorised property.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Because of the need to take the opportunity offered by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill to legislate, there was not time for formal consultation before the measure was announced. If the legislation is enacted, we shall be drawing up guidance to governors on how to implement the power. We shall consult the trade unions representing the staff concerned before issuing the guidance.

  The guidance will cover which categories of staff may be authorised to search. At present it is envisaged that the employees concerned will be civilian staff involved in the custody or supervision of prisoners, e.g. instructors in workshops, caterers in charge of kitchen parties, night patrol staff and night custody officers. They will not be staff whose duties do not involve direct contact with

  931
  prisoners. Governors will be able to choose which categories of staff within the guidelines should be authorised to conduct searches in the particular circumstances of their establishment.

  The guidance will also advise governors to arrange local training for any staff who will be exercising the power. The kind of search involved is a simple "rub down" search, similar to the kind frequently conducted on passengers passing through airport security, so it is a fairly straightforward procedure.

  The proposed power of search is backed by the power to use reasonable force if necessary. As at present envisaged, the guidance will make it clear that prison officers should be called in if any prisoner offers resistance to being searched. Civilian staff will not be asked forcibly to search prisoners.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the proposed drugs testing of suspected drug users in prison will be compulsory; and if participation will be linked to the granting of privileges;

  (2) who will carry out the proposed drugs testing on prisoners;

  (3) in what circumstances a drugs test will be authorised on a prisoner; and who will be able to authorise such a test;

  (4) if the proposed drugs tests on prisoners will use urine or blood samples or both;

  (5) if the results of any drugs tests carried out on prisoners will be subject to medical confidentiality;

  (6) if any positive result of a drugs test on a prisoner will be used in subsequent disciplinary proceedings.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Testing prisoners for drugs is a key element in our plans to control drug misuse in prisons.

  The proposals for drug testing in prisons brought forward in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill will give prison officers powers to require prisoners to undertake drug tests. This will be backed up by new prison rules making the use of drugs in prison and refusal to undertake a test a disciplinary offence. Prisoners may not be compelled to undertake a test but as has been explained refusal will be a disciplinary offence.

  We expect drug testing to be used in a number of different circumstances, for example:

  where there is "reasonable suspicion" prisoners have misused drugs;

  on a random basis as a deterrent to drug misuse;

  as part of compacts with prisoners, relating, for example, to entry into drug rehabilitation units or seek privileges such as home leave. There are no plans to link participation in tests more generally to the granting of privileges, but this will be considered as detailed plans are developed.

  Our current expectation is that tests will use urine samples but as technology improves we maj, be able to use hair samples. The proposals before Parliament specifically exclude the use of blood and other intimate samples.

  Prison officers will oversee the provision of urine specimens by prisoners. We are currently considering the most appropriate arrangements for analysing the specimens and will be providing detailed guidance on this for prison governors.

  Prison governors will authorise the use of drug testing in their establishments and again the Prison Service will provide detailed guidance on when testing would be
  932
  appropriate and how it should be conducted. We have already explained the main circumstances in which we expect drug testing to be used.

  A positive drug test which results from a specimen provided to a prison officer under these proposals could be used as evidence under the Prison Service disciplinary arrangements. As such it would not be subject to medical confidentiality.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 1028, if he will provide whatever information is available of those occasions on which he, or other Ministers in his Department, have signed public interest immunity certificates, and for what reasons.

  Mr. Howard
  Since I became Home Secretary, I have signed four public interest immunity certificates. In two certificates, signed in July and September 1993, I made a claim for protection of certain documentary and oral evidence from disclosure on grounds of national security relating to the work of the Security Service, in a criminal prosecution involving explosives and firearms charges and in civil proceedings in the High Court respectively. In the third certificate, signed in November 1993, I made a claim for protection from disclosure of an internal inquiry report into a prison riot and related documents, in connection with criminal proceedings arising out of the riot. In the fourth certificate, also signed in November 1993, a claim was made in connection with judicial review proceedings brought by a prisoner and related to the disclosure of documents considered by the category A committee when assessing what security conditions should apply to certain prisoners. No other Home Office Minister has signed any public interest immunity certificate during this time.

  Whitemoor Prison
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many appointments made by legal representatives of prisoners at Her Majesty's prison Whitemoor have been incorrectly scheduled by the prison officials since 20 December 1992;

  (2) how long legal representatives have to wait, on average, to see their clients in Her Majesty's prison Whitemoor when appointments have been previously made.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Maclennan, dated 4 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your two recent Questions about visits to prisoners at Whitemoor prison by their legal representatives.
  There is no record of any incorrectly scheduled appointments at Whitemoor since 20 December 1992. The average time taken to bring a prisoner to meet his legal representative is about ten minutes, but if the prisoner has chosen to go to work or classes instead of waiting in his cell, it will take longer to bring him to the visiting area.
  If you have any specific details about cases of incorrectly scheduled appointments, I would be happy to arrange to have these investigated further.
  933

  Prisoners (Legal Access)
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets he has set the Prison Service to ensure efficient and convenient access to prisoners by their legal representatives; and to what degree these targets are met.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Maclennan, dated 4 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Prison Service targets designed to ensure efficient and convenient access by prisoners to their legal representatives.
  There is at present no set target for the Prison Service in relation to legal visits. Demand for such visits varies significantly from place to place and over time. Rule 37 of the Prison Rules, a copy of which is in the Library, requires that legal advisers shall be allowed reasonable facilities for interviewing prisoners, and may do so out of the hearing but in the sight of prison staff. Governors are aware that it is important to allow advisers swift and prompt access and most prisons operate an appointment booking system specifically for legal visits.
  Statistical information on legal visits is not held centrally but a review of practice at a number of prisons completed in May 1993 showed that in general legal advisers were able to visit their clients within two or three working days of a request being made. However, at times of increased demand, longer waiting periods may be unavoidable because of competing pressures on visiting facilities.

  Electoral Law
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the conclusions of the working groups set up to review electoral law and practice.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  After the last general election, the Home Office asked all the political parties and the representative groups of the local authorities for proposals to improve any aspects of the electoral system they felt were capable of improvement. Following receipt of their comments and meetings at the Home Office, five working groups were established, consisting of Home Office officials and a small number of experienced electoral administrators, with the remit of considering changes in the system, in the light of the comments which had been received.

  The reports of four of the working groups have today been placed in the Library, and are being issued to the political parties and local authority associations for comment. These reports cover absent voting, automated vote counting—also including consideration of access for disabled people to the electoral process—electoral registration and forms. The report of the fifth working group, on returning officers' fees and expenses, has not yet been finalised.

  Officials will meet the political parties in March to discuss the reports, and the local authority associations in June, following the completion of the local and Europoean parliamentary elections. Following this, Ministers will consider options for change.
  934

  EC Budget (Fraud)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals the Government has to tackle the problem of fraud committed against the European Community budget.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government attach the highest importance to ensuring that effective action is taken to protect the financial interests in the Community. To this end, I have written to the president of the Justice and Home Affairs Council proposing the major new initiative to combat fraud against the budget, involving a legally-binding joint action by the member states of the European Union under title VI of the Maasatricht treaty.

  The proposal, which is designed to achieve concerted action by the Twelve to protect the Community's financial interests through member states' criminal laws, will shortly be presented for discussion at a meeting of the relevant EU judicial co-operation working group.

  I will arrange for copy of the joint action proposal to be made available to the Select Committee on Home Affairs and to the Scrutiny Committees of both Houses with an explanatory memorandum.

  Murder (Parole)
  Mr. Dixon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1985 the Parole Board has recommended release on licence of a person serving a life sentence for murder who has neither admitted responsibility for the offence nor shown contrition for the alleged offence.

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

  Ethnic Minority Funding
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the schools in the London borough of Wandsworth that receive funding under section 11.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We understand that posts funded under section 11 are currently allocated to the following schools in the London borough of Wandsworth:

  Primary

  Albermarle

  Alderbrook

  Balham Nursery

  Belleville

  Bolingbroke

  Broadwater

  Chesterton

  Christchurch CE

  Danebury

  Eardley

  Earlsfield

  Falconbrook

  Fircroft

  Franciscan

  Furzedown

  Granard

  High View

  Hillbrook

  Honeywell Infants

  Hotham

  John Burns

  John Milton

  Joseph Tritton

  935

  Latchmere

  Penwortham

  Secondary

  Battersea Technology College

  Chestnut Grove

  Elliott

  Ernest Bevin

  John Paul I

  Southfields

  St. Francis Xavier

  Ravenstone

  Riversdale

  Roehampton CE

  Ronald Ross

  Sacred Heart

  Sacred Heart Infants

  Sacred Heart JMI

  St. Anne's

  St. Anslem's

  St. Boniface

  St. Faith's

  St. George's

  St. Joseph's

  St. Mary's REC

  St. Michael's

  Swaffield

  St. Mary's

  Sellincourt

  Shaftesbury Park

  Sir James Barrie

  Smallwood

  Trinity St. Mary's

  Wandle

  West Hill

  Wix

  Special Schools

  Garratt Park

  Oak Lodge

  Paddock

  Grant-maintained Schools

  Burntwood

  Graveney

  Salesian

  Immigration Laws (Employment)
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which member states of the EC currently have legislation making it a criminal offence for employers to employ foreign nationals without permission to work.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 7 February 1994, column 17, to his previous question on this matter.

  Brecqhou
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the constitutional status of Brecqhou;

  (2) what rules relating to immigration, and rights of foreigners to work, apply to Brecqhou.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Brecqhou forms part of the baliwick of Guernsey and its constitutional status in relation to the United Kingdom is the same as any other part of the bailiwick. The bailiwick is an internally self-governing dependency of the Crown, which is ultimately responsible for the bailiwick's good government. The United Kingdom is directly responsible for the bailiwick's defence and international relations. In exercising its responsibilities for the bailiwick, the Crown operates through the Privy 936
  Council and my right hon. and learned Friend is the Privy Counsellor with particular responsibility for bailiwick matters.

  Immigration control from outside the common travel area to Brecqhou is the same as that to any other part of the bailiwick. Rules relating to immigration and the rights of foreigners to work are governed by the Immigration Act 1971, and the rules made thereunder, as amended and extended to the bailiwick.

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the public appointments he is responsible for making in addition to those identified in "Public Bodies 1993", including non-executive agency and other departmental management boards.

  Mr. Howard
  I am responsible for the following public appointments which are not identified in "Public Bodies 1993":

  The Firearm Consultative Committee

  National Board for Crime Prevention

  Civil Emergencies Adviser

  Panel of advisers on deportations made at my personal direction under section 3(5) (b) of the Immigration Act 1971. Persons appointed under schedule 2 to the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 to advise me in relation to representations against exclusion orders made under the Act.

  Person appointed to review the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989.

  Criminal Law Revision Committee.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Spratly Islands
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received from the Government of Malaysia about the Spratly islands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  None, although we regularly descuss regional security issues with Malaysia and other countries in the region.

  East Timor
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he discussed the situation in East Timor with the Portuguese Government during his recent visit to Portugal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs assured the Portuguese Government of our support for the continuing efforts to find a solution to East Timor through the dialogue with Indonesia under the United Nations Secretary-General's auspices. My right hon. Friend also confirmed that we would be working at the current session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to encourage the Indonesian Government to live up to its human rights obligations.

  Turkey
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 459, if he

  937
  has now received from the Turkish ambassador the results of the inquiry into the maltreatment of Manchester United supporters by Turkish police officers and others; what further contacts there have been with the Turkish Government since 18 January; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I wrote again to the Turkish ambassador on 4 February seeking further clarification of some points. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs also raised the matter with Turkish Foreign Minister Cetin during his visit to Turkey on 19 and 20 January. We will continue to press the Turkish authorities both in London and Ankara.

  EC Nationals
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from EU states concerning the proposal of the Secretary of State for Social Security to introduce a test of habitual residence in the United Kingdom affecting EC nationals seeking work in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Irish Minister for Social Welfare has requested a meeting with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security to discuss this proposal. We have had no representations from other European Union states.

  Qayyam Abdul
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer from the Home Secretary of 1 March,Official Report, column 635, whether a decision has been taken by the high commission in Islamabad on the issuing of a visa to Qayyam Abdul—Ref. TH/63011/93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  An entry clearance was issued to Abdul Qayyum on 24 February.

  Wahid Akhtar
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer from the Home Secretary of 1 March,Official Report column 635, whether a decision has been taken by the high commission in Islamabad on the issuing of a visa to Wahid Akhtar—Ref. TH/2480/93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  An entry clearance was issued to Wahid Akhtar on 3 February.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 1036, if he will provide whatever information is available on those occasions on which he, or other Ministers in his Department, have signed public interest immunity certificates, and for what reasons.

  Mr. Goodlad
  This information is not immediately available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman.
  938

  Israel
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the procurement of defence equipment from Israel.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Subject to the constraints of security, the Ministry of Defence has a policy of open competition for its equipment requirements. Israeli firms may respond to invitations to tender wherever they believe they can offer the best value for money.

  Where such responses contain proposals for United Kingdom industrial participation in the project these would be considered only if it were possible to verify that any United Kingdom components involved which would normally be subject to the arms embargo would not ultimately be used by Israel or an unacceptable third party.

  Malaysia (Defence Sales)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) of 25 January,Official Report, column 146, regarding the proposed memorandum of understanding on defence procurement, on what date in June 1988 the Secretary of State for Defence wrote to the Malaysian Minister to say that aid could not be linked to defence sales.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: On 28 June 1988.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 124, regarding the protocol agreed in March 1988 between the then Secretary of State for Defence and the Government of Malaysia, how the issue of the linkage of aid and defence sales was eventually taken up.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: As I made clear in my reply of 8 February, Official Report, column 124, the Secretary of State for Defence wrote to the Malaysian Minister of Finance in June 1988 to say that aid could not be linked to defence sales. As a result the issue was not taken up in the memorandum of understanding on defence procurement signed in September 1988.

DEFENCE

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the public appointments he is responsible for making in addition to those identified in "Public Bodies 1993", including non-executive agency and other departmental management boards.

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

  Mozambique
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel have been assisting the armed forces of Mozambique in both Mozambique and Zimbabwe in each year since 1980.
  939
  Mr. Hanley
  British military personnel have been assisting the armed forces of Mozambique since 1986. Early that year, the Mozambique training team was formed to advise and train units of the Mozambican army. This training took place at Nyanga in Zimbabwe, finally concluding in December 1993. The strength of the team was about 25, rising to 30 in 1993.

  Additionally, a British Army specialist visited Mozambique in September 1988 to advise on logistics matters, and a short-term training team of five mechanical engineers was deployed between May and September 1992. This team increased to seven between September 1992 and January 1993.

  Since January of this year, the Mozambique short-term training team of 14 has been engaged in supervising and monitoring the work of Mozambican instructors in Mozambique.

  St. James's Palace
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who authorised the deployment of armed military personnel around St. James's palace following the recent break-in; why the civil authorities were not asked to carry out the task; what consideration was given to using civilian personnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department received no specific request to deploy armed military personnel around St. James's palace following the incident in question. Under a procedure agreed between the general officer commanding London district and the Metropolitan police, military sentries patrol at royal palaces as a normal part of their guard duties.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will state the number of occasions each year since 1979 when his Department has brought forward planning applications using special urgency procedure;

  (2) what discussion his Department has had with Buckinghamshire county council, Hughenden Valley parish council, Lacey Green parish council and other organisations about the likely impact of the construction traffic on local roads during the building of the proposed F block at Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what is his planned timetable for the construction and completion of the proposed F block at Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe; and what is the planned cost;

  (4) what criteria he uses to decide which planning applications by his Department use the special urgency procedure;

  (5) what effect he expects the defence costs study to have on his Department's need to build a three-storey office block at Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe;

  (6) what environmental impact assessment his Department has made of its proposals to build a three-storey office block at Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe;

  (7) what steps he has taken to consult Hughenden Valley parish council over his Department's plans to build a three-storey office block at Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe;
  940
  (8) what plans he has to consult the Chiltern Society about his Department's plans to build a three-storey office block at Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe;

  (9) how long after the completion of the proposed F block at Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe, his Department proposes to demolish the temporary buildings now being used;

  (10) if he will state the nature of the special urgency which led his Department to invoke special urgency procedure in the case of its proposal to build a three-storey office block at Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe;

  (11) what criteria he uses in determining the design of new Ministry of Defence buildings in areas of green belt or areas of outstanding natural beauty;

  (12) if he will give the reasons why his Department decided to use special urgency procedure for consultation over its proposal to build a three-storey office block at Headquarters Strike Command, High Wycombe.

  Mr. Hanley
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.

  Army Redundancies
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Evans), of 23 February,Official Report, column 217, if he will now list the current locations of all those Army personnel who have been selected for redundancies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The breakdown by, theatre at the time of my answer of 23 February,Official Report, column 217, is as follows:

  Phase 3 redundancy by theatre

  Number

  Great Britain

  Officers

  539

  Soldiers

  3,621

  TOTAL

  4,160

  Northern Ireland

  Officers

  36

  Soldiers

  479

  TOTAL

  515

  BAOR

  Officers

  89

  Soldiers

  1,871

  TOTAL

  1,960

  NATO

  Officers

  5

  Soldiers

  25

  TOTAL

  30

  Cyprus

  Officers

  6

  Soldiers

  129

  TOTAL

  135

  Hong Kong

  Officers

  16

  941

  Number

  Soldiers

  44

  TOTAL

  60

  North America

  Officers

  3

  Soldiers

  14

  TOTAL

  17

  Former Yugoslavia

  Officers

  10

  Soldiers

  67

  TOTAL

  77

  Belize

  Officers

  1

  Soldiers

  19

  TOTAL

  20

  Rest of world

  Officers

  15

  Soldiers

  26

  TOTAL

  41

  Grand total Officers

  720

  Grand total Soldiers

  6,295

  GRAND TOTAL

  7,015

  Note: Some 85 per cent. of these redundancies were voluntary.

  Equal Opportunities
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to ask the Commission for Racial Equality to investigate equal opportunities policies in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is our policy to offer equal opportunities to all racial groups but we do consult the Commission for Racial Equality when we require advice on race relations issues.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 482, if he will make it his policy to announce the results of his consideration of whether or not to publish a breakdown of the ethnic origins of serving personnel by regiment or unit.

  Mr. Hanley
  Yes, when a decision is made in due course.

  Peacekeeping Manual
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 484, what non-MOD organisations or individuals have been consulted in the course of preparing the new manual on peacekeeping; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  We have consulted widely at the United Nations and the Western European Union, and among allies and academic bodies with an interest in peacekeeping.
  942

  Desert Storm Syndrome
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 February,Official Report, column 65, if he will place in the Library copies of all information that he has received on the subject of alleged Desert Storm syndrome from the United Stales Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and from the Congressional Record; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Arrangements will be made for copies of all information relating to the alleged Desert Storm syndrome which has been received by my Department from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defence and from the Congressional Record, and for which their permission has been granted for release into the public domain, to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Military Lawyers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 483, if he will provide a detailed breakdown of all military lawyers employed by his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  The breakdown of legal officers in the armed services is as follows:

  Number

  Royal Navy

  27

  Army

  55

  Royal Air Force

  20

  Yugoslavia
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated annual cost of Operation Grapple; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is estimated that the extra cost of Operation Grapple for financial year 1993–94 will amount to approximately £76,000,000.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with the British contribution to United Nations operations in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The cost of the British contributions to the United Nations operations in the former Yugoslavia is estimated to be some £81,000,000 in financial year 1993–94. A breakdown of these costs is as follows:

  £76,000,000 for Operation Grapple in Bosnia;

  £1,000,000 for Operation Hanwood, the field ambulance which withdrew from Croatia in September 1993;

  £3,900,000 for Operation Cheshire, the British contribution to the Sarajevo airlift.

  In addition the United Kingdom assessed contributions to UNPROFOR paid by the FCO during the financial year is estimated to be between £38,000,000 and £40,000,000.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated annual cost of the British contribution to Operation Deny Flight; and if he will make a statement.
  943
  Mr. Hanley
  The additional cost to the defence budget for financial year 1993–94 is currently estimated to be around £25,000,000.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 23 February,Official Report, column 223, if he will account for the difference in size of the British Army mortar locating troop deployed in Sarajevo, as given in his answer and in his Department's bulletin of 24 February on events in the former Yugoslavia and Iraq.

  Mr. Hanley
  Following the original decision to deploy the mortar locating troop to Bosnia, it was decided to increase its size by an additional 10 personnel. This accounts for the difference between my answer of 23 February,Official Report, column 233, and the parliamentary bulletin of 24 February.

  Landing Platform Dock Replacements
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his intention to equip the landing platform dock replacements with close-in air defence systems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Pending the outcome of project definition studies for the landing platform dock replacement it is our current intention to equip the vessel with close-in air defence systems.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown), of 23 February,Official Report, column 217, which company has been awarded the contract for further project definition work on the command system for the landing platform dock.

  Mr. Aitken
  A contract has been placed with Ferranti International plc—in administrative receivership—for further project definition in respect of the command system for the landing platform dock—replacement.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his intention to purchase landing platform dock replacements with a smaller capability to accommodate troops; and if he will make a statement.
  944
  Mr. Aitken
  Project Definition studies for the landing platform dock—replacement—are still underway and are due to complete this spring. These studies are looking at, among other matters, the embarked force capability of the vessel.

  Military Bands
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 33, if he will write to (a) the chairman of the Conservative party and (b) the organisers of the Conservative party function at Ayton castle on 28 January to remind them of the regulations relating to military bands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 22 February,Official Report, column 133.

  United Nations Secretariat
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 483, if he will make it his policy to offer military personnel to be attached to the United Nations secretariat; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 10 February,Official Report, column 483.

  Britannia Royal Naval College (Garage)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 133, how much the new garage for the private cars of the captain of the Britannia Royal Naval college has cost.

  Mr. Hanley
  The cost of the garage, which has been resited as a result of a specific security recommendation, was £25,000.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will answer the questions from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton tabled for answer on 27 January regarding the appointments he makes to public bodies.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have now done so.

  Fraud
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to limit legal aid to those charged with fraud to 1 per cent. of the sum involved or a sum of £10,000 whichever is the lower.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I am examining the provision of criminal lega aid as a whole as part of the fundamental review of my Department's expenditure currently underway, but any changes that may be made will need to take account of the presumption of innocence.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the political balance of magistrates in(a) Barnsley, (b) Doncaster, (c) Rotherham, (d) Sheffield, (e) Humberside, (f) north Yorkshire and (g) west Yorkshire.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The political balance of magistrates in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Humberside, north Yorkshire and west Yorkshire on the latest information available is as follows:

  Con

  Lab

  Lib/Dem

  Independent/Not known

  Barnseley

  46

  50

  15

  3

  Doncaster

  101

  62

  23

  6

  Rotherham

  46

  52

  62

  38

  Sheffield

  101

  112

  52

  84

  Humberside

  153

  73

  37

  49

  North Yorkshire

  233

  62

  93

  29

  West Yorkshire

  572

  397

  220

  163

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Recession and Recovery
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his technical definitions of recession and recovery.
  2
  Mr. Nelson
  There is no universally accepted definition of either recession or recovery. Although there are widely used conventions, an element of judgment is always necessary.

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

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Economic and Finance Council of the European Union, ECOFIN, met in Brussels on 14 February. I represented the United Kingdom.

  There was a general discussion in open session of the work programme of the Greek Presidency. The main topics were the follow-up to the Commission's recent White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment; implementation of stage 2 of economic and monetary union; and I and others raised the need for the Commission and member states to step up their efforts to tackle fraud against the Community budget.

  The Council examined the revised Portuguese convergence programme covering the period to 1997. It welcomed the determination of the Portuguese Government to pursue convergence according to the treaty on European Union. The Council noted that to achieve the programme's target of a budget deficit below 3 per cent. of GDP by 1997 would require a thorough and vigorous implementation of all aspects of the fiscal consolidation strategy. In this regard, the Council welcomed the commitment of the Portuguese Government to adopt additional measures if necessary to compensate for any adverse budgetary developments which put at risk achievement of the programme's targets. On inflation, the Council recognised the substantial progress already made but noted that wage settlements would need to be restrained, both to maintain external competitiveness and to maintain downward pressure on inflation. This would also help to reduce nominal interest rates.

  The Council discussed the follow-up to the Commission's White Paper. It agreed that ECOFIN should have, in addition to its work on the trans-European networks, a wider role in other areas where it has an interest. While the proposed networks were an important part of the White Paper, there was a need to give equal emphasis to other parts of the paper, especially those referring to structural unemployment problems and the need for all national Governments to take measures to increase the flexibility of labour markets.

  The Council discussed ways to improve procedures for monitoring economic developments in stage 2 of EMU.

  The Commission briefly outlined its intention to produce further proposals to combat fraud in the Community budget. There were outstanding remits and resolutions from the June 1993 ECOFIN, the Copenhagen European Council and the November 1993 Interior/Justice Council. Moreover article 209A of the Maastricht treaty now places an obligation on member states to take the same measures to combat fraud against the Community's financial interests as they did to protect their own. The Commission attached great priority to this dossier, and would be presenting its overall strategy to the March ECOFIN in the context of the annual report on fraud.

  There were no formal votes on issues discussed in the Council.

  Taxation
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide estimates for 1994–95, or the latest year for which they are available, for the number of(a) lower rate taxpayers, (b) basic rate taxpayers and (c) higher rate taxpayers in each county of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table provides estimates of numbers of taxpayers liable only to basic rate tax and to higher rate tax for each English and Welsh county and Scottish region for 1991–92, the latest available year for which information can be provided below United Kingdom level. It is only possible to give numbers for the whole of Northern Ireland. There was no lower rate of tax in 1991–92.

  Basic and higher rate taxpayers 1991–92

  (thousands)

  County/region

  Taxpayers liable at only basic rate

  Taxpayers liable at higher rate

  English/Welsh county

  Cleveland

  171

  7

  Cumbria

  256

  10

  Durham

  221

  11

  Northumberland

  141

  7

  Tyne and Wear

  429

  16

  Humberside

  327

  18

  North Yorkshire

  359

  24

  South Yorkshire

  505

  14

  West Yorkshire

  862

  37

  Cheshire

  413

  29

  Greater Manchester

  1,040

  42

  Lancashire

  601

  30

  Merseyside

  561

  21

  Derbyshire

  395

  17

  Leicestershire

  384

  21

  Lincolnshire

  257

  11

  Northamptonshire

  288

  17

  Nottinghamshire

  431

  16

  Hereford & Worcester

  317

  15

  Shropshire

  169

  7

  Staffordshire

  426

  18

  Warwickshire

  210

  16

  West Midlands

  1,040

  37

  Cambridgeshire

  326

  20

  Norfolk

  355

  17

  Suffolk

  294

  15

  Bedfordshire

  230

  18

  Berkshire

  313

  43

  Buckinghamshire

  259

  43

  East Sussex

  312

  20

  Essex

  709

  61

  Greater London

  3,020

  331

  Hampshire

  707

  63

  Hertfordshire

  441

  57

  Kent

  656

  52

  Oxfordshire

  240

  25

  Surrey

  477

  83

  West Sussex

  354

  35

  Isle of Wight

  54

  1

  Avon

  423

  25

  Cornwall

  202

  6

  Devon

  503

  24

  Dorset

  304

  16

  Gloucestershire

  250

  18

  Somerset

  211

  10

  Wiltshire

  266

  15

  Clwyd

  188

  5

  Dyfed

  189

  4

  Gwent

  155

  6

  Gwynedd

  70

  3

  Mid Glamorgan

  220

  5

  Powys

  70

  4

  South Glamorgan

  171

  6

  West Glamorgan

  144

  5

  Scottish region

  4

  County/region

  Taxpayers liable at only basic rate

  Taxpayers liable at higher rate

  Borders

  68

  5

  Central

  116

  6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  75

  1

  Fife

  144

  6

  Grampion

  207

  24

  Highlands

  112

  3

  Lothian

  349

  18

  Strathclyde

  916

  39

  Tayside

  196

  6

  Island Authorities

  25

  1

  Northern Ireland

  491

  22

  Insurance Premium Tax
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide estimates for the cost of £30,000 home contents insurance and the resulting amount that will be paid under the new 3 per cent. tax in the constituencies of(a) Peckham, (b) Liverpool, Riverside, (c) Manchester Central, (d) Congleton, (e) Mid Norfolk and (f) Devizes.

  Sir John Cope
  The average household with home contents insurance would expect to pay a premium of £2.40 per week in 1994–95 which represents an insurance premium tax of 6p per week. The costs facing individuals will depend on the sum insured, the area in which they live and the precautions taken. Figures for insurance costs by individual parliamentary constituencies are not available.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  "Maxwell the Musical"
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Attorney-General when he was first aware that "Maxwell—the Musical" was to be produced.

  The Attorney-General
  Solicitors acting for Mr. Evan Steadman first informed my office in June 1993 of their client's intention to produce a musical provisionally entitled "Maxwell—the Musical". Officials explained that the Attorney-General cannot give legal advice to individuals or companies and that the producer should look to his own legal advisers for advice as to how the law of contempt might affect his intentions. A letter was also received on 17 June from solicitors acting for one of the defendants in the criminal proceedings.

  In August and September 1993 solicitors representing one of the defendants drew attention to a proposed private preview scheduled for 12 September. They were not in a position to detail the contents of the production.

  The solicitors acting for the producer subsequently wrote to my office on 30 December to say that the musical was intended to open in February 1994 and offering sight of the script. Having received a complaint on 11 January 1994 that the musical would prejudice the forthcoming trial, I asked on 18 January for a copy of the script which was received the following day. After taking advice from counsel specialising in the law relating to contempt, I concluded that the interests of justice required that I make an application to the High Court for an order restraining production of the musical. The solicitors acting for the producer were informed of my decision on Wednesday 2 February.

ENVIRONMENT

  Mersey Estuary
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department intends to comply with the European urban waste water directive, in respect of the Mersey estuary; whether it is intended that additional costs will have to be met by consumers of water in the region; what is the timetable for the clean-up of the Mersey estuary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The United Kingdom is committed to fulfilling the objectives of the urban waste water treatment directive. The directive sets various implementation dates depending on the size of the discharge and the nature of the receiving water. In England and Wales the Director General of the Office of Water Services will be setting price limits for the water companies which will take into account their legal obligations including the urban waste water treatment directive.

  Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the workings of section 54 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have received a number of representations, from various quarters and at various times, about the provisions in section 54 of the 1981 Act requiring the reclassification of roads used as public paths.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend section 54 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 so that historic vehicular use does not necessitate the reclassification of roads used as public paths as byways open to all traffic.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am considering the operation of these procedures. Highway authorities already have, however, powers to regulate or restrict vehicular use, where necessary, on byways open to all traffic.

  Parish and Town Councils
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the results of the 1992 consultation exercise on the future role of parish and town councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are considering the responses to the consultation paper on the future role of parish and town councils in the context of the recommendations we have so far received from the Local Government Commission in relation to its review of the structure of local government in England.

  Part II Housing Sales
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many special consents for the sale of part II housing were given to(a) Sheffield city council and (b) the London borough of Islington in each year since 1988.

  Sir George Young
  The number of special consents for the sale of council houses and flats given to each authority are as follows:
  6

  Sheffield

  Islington

  1988

  2

  5

  1989

  1

  4

  1990

  5

  nil

  1991

  9

  3

  1992

  13

  6

  1993

  11

  3

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the monitoring of transport-related air pollution.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government fund a number of air quality monitoring stations which measure levels of transport-related air pollutants. This includes 43 continuous automatic sites of which:

  —29 monitor ozone,

  —24 monitor nitrogen dioxide,

  —19 monitor carbon monoxide,

  —12 monitor fine particles (PM10)

  —and 7 monitor 26 hydrocarbons including benzene. 1, 3, butadiene and ozone precursors.

  Nitrogen dioxide is also monitored at over 1,100 sites in the United Kingdom in collaboration with local authorities using non-automatic techniques.

  In the second anniversary report of the 1990 Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" the Government made a commitment to extend their urban air quality monitoring network to cover all major cities by 1997 where transport-derived pollutants are expected to be at their highest. In addition, the Government are currently considering responses to the recently published consultation paper on "The Future of Air Quality Monitoring Networks in the United Kingdom", in which proposals were made to develop a framework which draws local and national air quality monitoring together into a coherent quality assured network.

  Rent Increases
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the average percentage increase in rents for private unfurnished lettings set by rent officers in each year since 1979 in(a) inner London and (b) the rest of the country.

  Sir George Young
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Average yearly percentage increase in registered fair rents—private unfurnished lettings

  Year

  Inner London

  Rest of England

  1979

  5·7

  12·3

  1980

  21·1

  15·6

  1981

  14·9

  11·0

  1982

  4·7

  18·4

  1983

  3·7

  6·3

  1984

  13·1

  11·6

  1985

  1·9

  6·2

  1986

  14·4

  12·3

  1987

  1·3

  5·8

  1988

  18·8

  14·2

  1989

  1·9

  2·6

  1990

  16·2

  16·9

  1991

  3·7

  11·9

  1992

  12·2

  13·2

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account has been taken in standard spending assessment calculations for 1994–95 of income from charging for personal social services other than residential care; and what income was assumed from these charges for each local authority.

  Mr. Baldry
  The method by which the standard spending assessment, SSA, for residential care services for the elderly is calculated includes an explicit element relating to income from charges. The methods by which the other personal social services SSAs are calculated do not include such an element.

  Wildlife Sales Controls
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current position on his Department's review of wildlife sales controls; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My hon. Friend the then Minister for the Environment and Countryside announced on 1 December 1992 that we would be reviewing the operation of wildlife sales controls in Great Britain to see how they could be made more effective.

  During the course of the review, we have consulted a wide range of interested individuals and organisations and have received a substantial volume of comments and suggestions. Some of these are still being considered, and we will announce our conclusions in full later in the spring. As a first stage, we have concluded that the existing bird ringing and registration system should be modified to reduce unnecessary regulation and to ensure that the controls are targeted and implemented more effectively. We have decided to announce our proposals now, with a view to completing the changes in time for the main breeding season for birds.

  Since the introduciotn of registration in 1982, there have been significant changes affecting the position of British birds of prey, which have always been the main focus of the registration scheme. The wild populations of many species are back to the levels of the mid-1950s, following the introduction of strict controls on the use of pesticides. Captive breeding has proved more successful than expected. As a result, some 16,000 individual birds are now registered, as compared with an estimate of 1,500 when the scheme was set up. We do not believe it is justified to require captive birds to be registered unless there is evidence to suggest that removal of specimens from the wild for aviculture or falconry is adversely affecting wild populations to a significant degree or is likely to do so in the foreaseeable future. In the light of these considerations, we propose to reduce substantially the scope of the existing scheme by removing the requirement to register the common buzzard, the sparrowhawk and the kestrel, all non-native birds of prey, except the Barbary Falcon, certain birds of prey which occur very infrequently in Britain, and certain birds which are unlikely to be kept in captivity in significant numbers.

  We see no need to continue registering birds which have been temporarily imported for falconry purposes, and which pose no threat to native species. Accordingly, we propose to issue a general licence to exempt them from the registration requirements.
  8
  At the same time, we propose to tighten up inspection and monitoring of the more less-common species which will continue to be subject to the ringing and registration requirements. We are also considering carrying out a small number of DNA tests to check captive-breeding claims.

  We also propose to improve the monitoring of the existing scheme by inviting our scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, to develop criteria for reviewing the species subject to registration, and to undertake such a review in 1995 and at five-yearly intervals thereafter. This will bring the arrangements for bird registration into line with those which already exist for other animals and plants.

  We are consulting widely on these proposals in accordance with section 26 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. A copy of the Department's letter setting out the details has been placed in the Library.

  Green Belt Policy
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's response to the research report on "The Effectiveness of Green Belt Policy", commissioned by his Department and published by HMSO in July 1993.

  Mr. Curry
  The aim of the research was to assess the effectiveness of green belt policy and investigate how it might be improved. The report concluded that the policy was working well and achieving its main purposes of preventing urban sprawl and the merging of towns. Alterations to boundaries in development plans had affected less than 0·3 per cent. of green belts in the last eight years. Most planning approvals had been for small-scale changes which did not significantly affect the rural appearance of green belts. Planning appeal decisions strongly upheld green belt policy. This illustrates the strength of the Government's continuing commitment to green belts.

  We have considered the report's recommendations for increasing still further the effectiveness of green belt policy. We have today published for public consultation a draft revision of Planning Policy Guidance Note 2, "Green Belts". This includes limited amendments designed to reinforce policy by making greater allowances for environmental and economic factors and addressing some practical difficulties in operating it. I hope these will make our green belts even more highly valued in the future.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is considering the research report's recommendations for Scotland's green belts separately. The draft planning policy guidance note is for England only.

  Revision of PPG2 will complete the comprehensive review of planning guidance which we have carried out since publication of the environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" in 1990.

  Regional Offices (Employees)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of employees employed by each of the regional offices of the single regeneration budget; how many are(a) black or (b) Asian; and if he will publish a breakdown of the positions held by and the responsibilities of black and Asian employees.

  Mr. Baldry
  The figures in the table should be read taking into account the following points:
  9

  (i) They are estimates of the likely numbers. The integrated regional offices, IROs, come into being in April 1994. There could be minor changes in the numbers brought about by postings, retirements, resignations etc which take place before then;

  (ii) From April a Merseyside office will be set up. Separate information is not yet available for this office;

  (iii) The DTI currently has an office covering London and the south-east regions with a headcount of 143 which will be split into an office for London and an office for the south-east. In the table DTI staff are all shown in the south-east figures. After April there will be an approximately 50:50 split;

  (iv) The table shows the combined staff totals of the regional offices of the Departments of the Environment, of Employment and of Trade and Industry who are expected to be in the IROs;

  (v) Figures for the Department of Transport are not included. The majority of DOT staff who currently deal with highways matters will transfer to the Highways Agency; a relatively small number will be in the IROs. The Department is currently in the process of identifying which individuals will be in the IROS and is not yet in a position to provide a breakdown of the ethnic origin of these staff;

  (vi) The figures for Asian and black staff are drawn from voluntary ethnic origin surveys conducted by the three Departments;

  (vii) The figures are provided on a combined grade level basis to avoid personal disclosure.

  Estimated future breakdown of integrated regional office staff showing staff of Asian and black ethnic background

  Region

  Total staff

  Grades

  Asian staff

  Black staff

  North East

  381

  G7 and Over

  —

  —

  SEO-EO

  —

  —

  AO-AO

  2

  —

  TOTAL

  2

  0

  North West

  457

  G7 and Over

  —

  —

  SEO-EO

  2

  —

  AO-AA

  2

  7

  TOTAL

  4

  7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  302

  G7 and Over

  —

  —

  SEO-EO

  1

  1

  AO-AA

  5

  2

  TOTAL

  6

  3

  West Midlands

  347

  G7 and Over

  —

  —

  SEO-EO

  —

  2

  AO-AA

  5

  20

  TOTAL

  5

  22

  East Midlands

  239

  G7 and Over

  —

  —

  SEO-EO

  3

  —

  AO-AA

  2

  2

  TOTAL

  5

  2

  Eastern

  186

  G7 and Over

  1

  —

  SEO-EO

  —

  2

  AO-AA

  1

  2

  TOTAL

  2

  4

  South East

  295

  G7 and Over

  —

  —

  SEO-EO

  6

  6

  AO-AA

  9

  9

  TOTAL

  15

  15

  South West

  216

  G7 and Over

  —

  —

  SEO-EO

  1

  1

  AO-AA

  2

  1

  10

  Region

  Total staff

  Grades

  Asian staff

  Black staff

  TOTAL

  3

  2

  London

  166

  G7 and Over

  2

  1

  SEO-EO

  10

  5

  AO-AA

  3

  11

  TOTAL

  15

  17

  OVERALL TOTAL

  2,589

  58

  72

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the total surface area of waterways covered by the southern region of the National Rivers Authority is located in the county of Hampshire.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer Thursday 17 February]: I am advised by the National Rivers Authority that information on surface area is not available but that the total length of main river in the NRA's southern region is 2,649 km, of which 25 per cent. is located in Hampshire.

  Petrol Stations (Pollution)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions his Department has held with petrol retailers, the EC and environmental campaigners regarding proposed directives to compel garages to install forecourt pollution control measures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: There is currently no proposal to require garages to install forecourt pollution control measures. We have been expecting proposals from the European Commission for some time. If such a proposal emerges then we will, of course, discuss it with the EC, industry, retailers and other interests.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Race Relations
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed in his Department dealing with race relations issues; what is the total cost of their employment; and if he will list the main categories of staff and work involved.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Thirty-five full-time equivalent staff are employed in the community relations division, dealing principally with race relations legislation and policy; grants under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 and other smaller programmes, the Commission for Racial Equality and international interests. The total staff costs in 1993–94, including accommodation and other non-pay costs, is expected to be £904,000.

  Race relations issues are relevant to the work of staff in most Home Office departments, including police, criminal policy, immigration and the Prison Service, but disaggregation of the numbers and costs involved could not be achieved except at disproportionate cost.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in reviewing the operation of the law relating to wheel-clamping; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are still considering what action it might be appropriate to take. Our aim is to ensure that any measure introduced to prevent or deter irresponsible and heavy-handed wheel clamping on private land does not prevent sensible measures being taken to control genuine parking problems. We will make our conclusions known as soon as possible.

  Women's Refuges
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Seccretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider allowing women's refuges to be classified as places of fixed abode for bail purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Decisions as to whether or not bail should be granted are matters for the courts under the Bail Act 1976. Among the factors which the courts take into consideration in deciding whether the statutory right to bail is overtaken by any of the exceptions allowed for in that Act are the character, antecedents and community ties of the person seeking bail. But it must be for the court to decide, in the circumstances of the case before it, the relevance of residence at a particular type of accommodation when considering the defendant's community ties.

  Prisoner Transportation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the specially designed cellular vans to be used by Securicor Custodial Services Ltd. for the transportation of prisoners in the Metropolitan police district from June have been designed to accommodate the needs of(a) pregnant women and (b) women with babies and toddlers.

  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 21 February 1994:

  COURT ESCORT AND CUSTODY SERVICE
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the transportation by Securicor of female prisoners in the Metropolitan Police district.
  The contract with Securicor requires female prisoners who are pregnant or whose babies or young children are with them in prison to be transported to and from court by saloon car. They must also be accompanied by a female prisoner custody officer and a trained nurse.

  New Prisons
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many companies have expressed an interest in the financing, building and operation of the planned six new prisons; and how many are non-United Kingdom companies.
  12
  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 Mr. A. J. Butler to Mr. Stephen Byers dated 21 February 1994:
  DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in Derek Lewis' absence from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the design, construction, management and finance of the new prisons.
  Detailed work has started on only two of the planned six new prisons. These will be at Fazakerley in Merseyside and Bridgend in South Wales. 52 companies expressed an interest in the design, construction, management and finance of these two proposed prisons and attended a bidders meeting in December. We have since received 10 proposals from companies and consortia. Each of these involves, to a varying extent, a number of other companies: in total 27 separate companies have a major interest. Of these, three were non-United Kingdom registered and three had non-United Kingdom registered parent companies. The remaining companies were registered in the United Kingdom.

  Secure Training Centres
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many companies have expressed an interest in financing, designing, building-refurbishing, operating and maintaining secure training centres; how many are non United Kingdom companies; and how many of the proposed sites are on existing Home Office land or on alternative sites.

  Mr. Maclean
  A total of 25 companies, all United Kingdom registered, have expressed an interest in tendering for the financing, designing, building-refurbishing, operating and maintaining of five secure training centres. The notice placed in the Official Journal of the European Communities invited interested parties to confirm the ability to provide alternative sites on which to build STCs should the Home Office decide not to use its own sites. One site was specified by an interested party at this stage of the tendering cycle.

  Pre-sentence Reports
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes are proposed to the requirement in the Criminal Justice Act 1991 relating to pre-sentence reports.

  Mr. Howard
  The Criminal Justice Act 1991 placed on the courts a requirement to obtain and consider a pre-sentence report in all cases involving an offence triable either way before passing a custodial or major community sentence. This requirement has yielded a number of benefits in terms of consistency and availability of relevant information, but I have concluded that it is too inflexible and imposes unnecessary fetters on the courts and costs for the criminal justice system as a whole in its present form. My conclusion takes account both of the views of judges and magistrates and of the results of a review of the way in which the present arrangements work in practice undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of probation. Although all probation services were asked last year to guarantee a same-day service for reports where a custodial remand would otherwise be needed, despite good work in some areas it is clear that such remands are taking place in circumstances where the courts are satisfied that the delay adds little of value to the sentencing process or outcome.
  13
  I have therefore decided to bring foreward an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill which will give the courts a discretion to dispense with the requirement to obtain a report where they are satisfied that they can properly sentence without one. This is the same discretion as now applies in the case of offences triable only on indictment, which has not proved problematic. I am sure that the courts will wish to exercise an enlarged discretion with care, bearing in mind the potential value of good pre-sentence reports in bringing out relevant information about the offender and offence, including aggravating as well as mitigating circumstances.

  The Government recognise that special considerations apply in the case of juvenile offenders, to whose welfare requirements the courts must have proper regard. We therefore propose that in their case the discretion to dispense with a report will be subject to the court concerned concluding, having had regard to a previous report on the offender concerned, that a further report is unnecessary.

  I believe that the change in the law which I propose will retain the benefits of the 1991 Act changes while avoiding unnecessary delays and costs, but I shall naturally want to keep the operation of new arrangements under review.

  Prison Staff (Assault)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison staff were on long-term sick leave due to assault for each year since 1988.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 14 February 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 Mr. A. J. Butler to Mr. Doug Hoyle dated 21 February 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in Derek Lewis' absence from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how many prison staff were on long term sick leave due to assault for each year since 1988.
  As at 10 February 1994, 36 members of staff had been on sick leave for periods of at least two months as a result of assault by prisoners. I regret that information relating to earlier years is not available.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Consultants
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the(a) accountancy firms and (b) merchant banks to which the Office of Public Service and Science awarded private consultancy work in 1992 and 1993, together with a list of consultancies concerned and the amount paid.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The full details and the total cost of consultancy contracts awarded by the Office of Public Service and Science and its agencies to accountancy firms in 1992–93 are available only at disproportionate cost. The identified cost for 1992–93 is £475,000, which does not include full details of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, which does not hold the information centrally in the form requested for that year.

  The costs of individual contracts have been aggregated to maintain commercial confidentiality. On this basis the
  14
  figure for consultancy contracts awarded by the Office of Public Service and Science to accountancy firms in 1993–4 to date is £660,000 and includes full CCTA information. No merchant banks were employed by the Office of Public Service and Science.

  The Central Office of Information awarded no consultancy contracts to accountancy firms in 1992–93 and none have been awarded in 1993–94 to date. No merchant banks were employed.

  HMSO awarded no consultancy contracts to accountancy firms in 1992–93 and the aggregated cost in 1993–94 to date is £205,625. No merchant banks were employed.

  The firms and assignments for the Office of Public Service and Science for 1992–93 and the Office of Public Service and Science and HMSO for 1993–94 to date are as follows:

  1992–93

  Accountancy firm

  Assignment title

  Baker Tilly

  Advice on setting up commercial accounting systems.

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Supercomputing management study, charging regimes.

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Consultancy extension for strategic assignments consultancy service.

  Ernst and Young

  Relationship between agencies and businesses.

  KPMG

  VAT services.

  KPMG

  Speaker for managing change workshop.

  KPMG

  Study of fees and charges used by research councils for contracts.

  KPMG

  Trading fund asset management.

  KPMG

  Developing personal review systems.

  Price Waterhouse

  Core performance profiles for grades 5–7 repeat consortium project.

  Price Waterhouse

  Objective setting in personal review.

  Price Waterhouse

  Charterline (project planning, management and evaluation.

  Touche Ross

  Review of financial information systems.

  1993–1994 to date

  Accountancy firm

  Assignment title

  Andersen Consulting

  Charter Mark Assessment

  Baker Tilly

  Advice on commercial accounting systems

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Supercomputing Management Study— Structural Options

  Elaine Brandt

  Product Costing and Profitability Reporting

  Elaine Brandt

  Trading Fund Status

  Ernst and Young

  Internal Audit Market Test

  Ernst and Young

  Development Study to plan the production of Version II of Information Technology Infrastructure Library

  Ernst and Young

  Consultancy support for production of guidelines on business process redesign in the public sector

  Ernst and Young

  Study on the future of Government Telecommunications Network/Metropolitan Service

  Ernst and Young

  Case studies on Programme Management

  KPMG

  Welfare Market Test

  KPMG

  Training Market Test

  KPMG

  GIS Market Test

  KPMG

  Charging Model Study

  KPMG

  Navy Support Command Study (undertaken by CCTA on behalf of the Ministry of Defence)

  KPMG

  Financial Strategy for CCTA

  KPMG

  Financial Systems Replacement

  KPMG

  Review of Debtors

  Price Waterhouse

  Senior Open Structure Core Criteria Project

  Price Waterhouse

  Charterline (System Development)

  15

  Accountancy firm

  Assignment title

  Price Waterhouse

  Charterline (Selection of pilot region media and communications, regional seminars, data collection, acceptance testing, financial modelling)

  Touche Ross

  CCTA Risk Analysis Management Methodology Training and Support (Computer System Security)

  Touche Ross

  Government Telecommunications Network (Long Distance) Outsourcing Project

  Touche Ross

  Case Studies on Porgramme Management

  Touche Ross

  CCTA Risk Analysis Management Methodology Training and Support (Software Support Project)

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who are the members currently appointed to the Science and Engineering Research Council.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The current members of the Science and Engineering Research Council are as follows:

  Sir Mark Richmond, FRS (Chairman)

  Dr. A. E. Hughes (Acting Chief Executive)

  Professor P. G. Burke, CBE FRS

  Dr. G. W. Robinson

  Mr. D. A. Davis

  Professor A. Donnachie

  Dr. G. H. Fairtlough, CBE

  Dr. K. W. Gray, CBE

  Professor R. E. Hester

  Sir Gordon Higginson, FEng

  Professor S. D. Iversen

  Dr. A. Ledwith

  Professor J. S. Mason

  Professor Sir D. E. N. Davies, CBE FEng FRS

  Professor J. T. Stuart, FRS

  Professor J. O. Thomas, CBE FRS

  Professor D. J. Wallace, FRS

  Professor A. W. Wolfendale, FRS

  Professor R. E. Smallman, CBE FEng FRS

  Mr. J. Speirs

  Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to extend the scope of the citizens charter to cover the quality and safety of public sector and private sector rented accommodation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  From 1 April 1994, local authority tenants in England will enjoy new citizens charter rights to have repairs carried out and a right to be compensated for certain improvements they have made when their tenancy expires. Also from 1 April, tenants will have the statutory right to manage their homes, which with the extension of the council tenants charter to housing management, will raise the standards of council housing management. Comparable arrangements will come into effect in Scotland—subject to the separate consultation exercise being carried out by the Scottish Office—Wales and Northern Ireland.

  These will be set out in an updated council tenants charter. Similar rights to repair and compensation will be introduced for housing association tenants through a revised tenants' guarantee. Where building work is involved in both private and public sectors, reasonable provision for health and safety is ensured through the building regulations.

  The citizens charter does not extend to private landlords, but codes of practice on the management of
  16
  residential property in the private sector are being prepared by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Association of Residential Housing Managers.

  Administration
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will provide a substantive answer to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Cardiff, West for answer on 16 December concerning the administrative expenditure of his Department.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have replied to the hon. Member today.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total expenditure by his Department on administration in 1992–93; what is the estimated outturn for expenditure by his Department on administration for 1993–94 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in 1992–93 prices; and what is his estimate for expenditure on administration by his Department for 1994–95 in(a) cash terms and (b) 1992–93 prices.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The final outturn for the recurrent costs of running the Office of Public Service and Science in 1992–93 is £26·490 million. The estimated outturn for 1993–94 is (i) £59·044 million in cash terms and (ii) £57.185 million in real terms. My Department's planned running cost expenditure for 1994–95 will be published in March 1994 in the Cabinet Office Departmental report. I expect this expenditure will be about £65 million in cash terms—£60 million in real terms.

  The increase in cash expenditure between 1992–93 and 1993–94, estimated, is attributable mainly to the transfer to OPSS of provision for the Government centre for information systems from the Treasury, citizens charter and the Science and Technology Secretariat from the Cabinet Office and science branch from the then Department of Education and Science.

  The increase in expenditure between 1993–94, estimated, and plans for 1994–95 is attributable mainly to the cost of relocating the Government Centre for Information Systems to Norwich, and increased spending on the European fast stream programme. Provision for future years may change if a rationalisation of functions, currently under consideration, between the Cabinet Office: other services vote, class XIX, vote 1 and the Office of Public Service and Science vote, class XVIII, vote 1 is implemented.

EDUCATION

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much(a) capital and (b) revenue money has been spent by city technology colleges each year since the first CTC opened; and how many pupils attended a CTC in each of those years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Total spending on city technology colleges by the Department since the first CTC opened, and the number of pupils on roll in CTCs each year, are shown in the following tables.
  17

  DFE expenditure

  £million

  Financial year

  Capital cash

  Revenue cash

  Total cash

  11988–89

  9·0

  0·4

  9·4

  1989–90

  23·9

  2·5

  26·4

  1990–91

  43·4

  9·0

  52·4

  1991–92

  30·0

  23·3

  53·3

  1992–93

  13·3

  35·4

  48·7

  1 Figures from 12 September 1988, ie the date of the opening of the first CTC.

  Start-up costs and allowances for the diseconomies associated with the build-up of pupil number are included in the revenue figures.

  Numbers of pupils on roll at city technology colleges

  Academic year

  Numbers

  1988–89

  180

  1989–90

  766

  1990–91

  3,429

  1991–92

  7,789

  1992–93

  9,973

  Special Needs
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many appeals are currently with his Department in respect of children who have been statemented by Lewisham local education authority; how many statements have been issued; and how many children have been made the subject of formal assessment by Lewisham local education authority for each year since 1986;

  (2) how many children have been (i) statemented and (ii) formally assessed by Lewisham local education authority in each year since 1986, whose special need is as a result of diagnosis of dyslexia;

  (3) how many appeals from Lewisham local education authority relating to dyslexia are being dealt with by his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department is currently dealing with two appeals in respect of children with special educational needs from Lewisham local education authority. One of these concerns a child with specific learning difficulties, and both are in respect of children who have been made the subject of a statement.

  Information on the number of formal assessments and statements made by Lewisham LEA, for the calendar years 1991, the first full year of the authority's existence, and 1992 is shown in the table below. Information for the 1993 calendar year is still being collated, and is not yet available.

  Statements of special educational needs Lewisham LEA

  Calendar year

  1991

  1992

  Children for whom a statement was made for the first time

  55

  322

  Children assessed for whom no statement was issued

  0

  6

  Total

  55

  328

  Information on pupils who have been made the subject of a formal assessment or a statement is not categorised by disability.
  18
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many formal assessments are currently being undertaken by Lewisham local education authority; what lengths of time each stage of the assessment has taken so far; and whether the time taken exceeded the current legislative maximum time for each stage.

  Mr. Forth
  The Lewisham local education authority, LEA, has told my officials that it is currently undertaking 163 formal assessments. Information about the length of time taken for each stage of assessment is not available centrally. There is at present no statutory maximum time for making a formal assessment, or for the various stages of an assessment. However, subject to Parliament's approval, regulations made under the Education Act 1993 will set statutory time limits for the making of assessments and statements, with effect from the autumn of this year.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many appeals have been submitted to his Department from within Lewisham local education authority since 1986; what length of time each has been with his Department; and in which cases that time has exceeded the current legislative maximum time for such appeals.

  Mr. Forth
  Since 1 April 1990, the Department has received a total of four appeals under the 1981 Act from within Lewisham local education authority, LEA. The table below provides information on the length of time each of these appeals has been with the Department. Information is not available on appeals received from within Lewisham LEA prior to 1 April 1990.

  Appeal

  Date Received

  Date Resolved

  A

  1—

  1—

  B

  23/3/92

  2/12/92

  C

  15/9/93

  2—

  D

  19/7/93

  2—

  1 Information not available.

  2Appeal not yet resolved.

  There is no statutory maximum time for resolving appeals under the 1981 Act. However, the Department is currently consulting upon draft regulations and rules of procedure which will, subject to Parliament's approval, govern the operation of the new special educational needs tribunal, to be established under the 1993 Education Act. The tribunal will set time targets for the various stages of an appeal. These will be set out in the tribunal's guide for parents. Performance will be assessed in the tribunal's annual report.

  Parents Charter
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give a breakdown of the cost of producing and distributing the revised parents charter to every household in the country specifying the cost of(a) design and printing, (b) translation and printing in ethnic minority languages, (c) recording of audio cassette versions and (d) distributing a copy to every home.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The costs of the revised parents charter can be only estimated as its production has not been completed. The cost of the design and printing is estimated at £1,600,000. The cost of translating and printing the charter in ethnic minority languages is expected to be some
  19
  £80,000. No decision has been taken on whether to produce the charter in an audio cassette version. The cost of distributing 20 million copies of the booklet is estimated at some £500,000.

  School Holidays
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to change the pattern of school holidays in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  None. This is a matter for the LEA in the case of county, voluntary controlled and maintained special schools, and for the governing body in voluntary aided, special agreement and grant-maintained schools.

  Capital Grant Bids
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list each bid for capital grants made by both operational and approved grant-maintained schools in Essex by financial year; and if he will give for each school the purpose of their bids and the value of the allocation made in relation to each bid.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  St. Thomas's High School
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what undertakings have been given to St. Thomas's high school, Exeter, in relation to funding under the technology college initiative.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department has not received an application for technology college status from St. Thomas's high school. No undertakings have been given by the Department to the school in relation to funding under the technology college initiative.

  Inner-City School Funding (Liverpool)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations his Department has received about funding inner-city schools in Liverpool.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received three representations about the funding of inner-city schools in Liverpool. Two representations have been received from the same source, but through different channels, about proposed changes to the LEA's local management of schools funding formula, on which it has recently consulted. The third representation related to the possibility of additional funding for technical resources for an inner-city secondary school. I discussed this particular school with his grace, the Archbishop of Liverpool, when I visited Merseyside on 15 February 1994.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Serbia and Montenegro
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes he has made to the open general supply licence to Serbia and Montenegro which came into force on 26 November 1992; and if he will place a copy of the licence in the Library.
  20
  Mr. Needham
  Since my reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith), 7 June 1993,Official Report, column 159, two companies have been added to the list of 36 persons "connected with Serbia and Montenegro" attached to the open general supply licence—authorised recipients, Serbia and Montenegro. The revised licence came into force on 9 July 1993. I will arrange for a further copy of the licence to be placed in the Library of the House.

  British Nuclear Fuels
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if British Nuclear Fuels sought permission from his Department, or had discussions with his Department, prior to establishing(a) BNFL Insurance Ltd. and (b) BNFL Indemnity Ltd. in Guernsey in 1992.

  Mr. Eggar
  The establishment of BNFL Insurance Ltd. was a management matter for BNFL.

  In December 1992, in accordance with section 19(1) of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, my Department, with the consent of the Treasury, approved BNFL's arrangements to insure its £20 million statutory liability under that Act with BNFL Indemnity Ltd. in Guernsey.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many visits abroad the Minister for Trade made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.

  Mr. Needham
  During 1993 I made 14 visits abroad. The visits and their purposes are set out below together with an estimate of the costs which covers travel and subsistence for me and those who accompanied me:

  Cost

  Purpose/Place

  £11,034·78

  Trade promotion, Japan.

  £5,036·00

  Trade promotion, Dubai and Doha.

  £12,114·00

  Trade promotion, Korea and Hong Kong

  £943·60

  Internal Market Council, Denmark.

  £13,900·38

  Trade promotion, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.

  £1,797·70

  Trade promotion, Turkey.

  £784·40

  Trade promotion, Czech and Slovak Republics.

  £ 12,777·00

  Trade promotion, Japan and Malaysia.

  £6,340·50

  Trade promotion, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

  £11,171·60

  Trade promotion, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

  £801·66

  Internal Market Council, Luxembourg.

  £903·56

  Trade promotion, Republic of Ireland.

  £8,007·15

  Trade promotion, India.

  £13,545·00

  Trade promotion, China, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

  Power Stations
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effects that the agreement with the Office of Electricity Regulation by PowerGen and National Power to use their reasonable endeavours to sell or dispose of 3,000 to 4,000 MW of coal-fired plant will have on the market for coal in the United Kingdom and the economic justification of increased use of gas as a fuel for power stations.

  Mr. Eggar
  The undertakings which the Director General of Electricity Supply has received from National Power and from PowerGen relate in total to the possible disposal of about 6,000 MW of coal or oil-fired generating plant.
  21
  It will be for purchasers of coal-fired plant to determine how that plant should operate and the amount of coal to be used.

  The choice of fuel for power stations is a commercial decision for the generating companies concerned.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what effects the proposed reductions in the electricity supply voltage will have on the power factor correction requirements of heavy inductive loads.

  Mr. Eggar
  No effects are currently anticipated for equipment connected to the public electricity supply system.

  Voltage Reductions
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will produce figures that show, for a given power consumption, the effects that the proposed voltage reductions will have on electricity charges made to industry based on(a) the reactive power charge, (b) the peak load charge and (c) the unit charge per KVAh.

  Mr. Eggar
  I do not anticipate that the proposed voltage reductions will have any significant effects on electricity charges made to industry.

  British Coal (Privatisation)
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it is his intention to name those involved in the bidding process during the privatisation of British Coal.

  Mr. Eggar
  No decision has been made on this issue.

  Mr. Asil Nadir
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has called for papers from the trustees in bankruptcy relating to the case of Mr. Asil Nadir; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  My officials have received from the Official Receiver a document prepared by the trustees concerning Mr. Nadir's conduct in the bankruptcy proceedings. That document is being considered.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received from the trustees in bankruptcy in the case of Mr. Asil Nadir.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  None.

  Insurance Premiums
  Ms Harman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the link between levels of crime and levels of insurance premiums.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The cost of insurance is based on a number of factors, including the incidence of crime-related claims in certain sectors of the market.

  Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Ministers, and on what occasion and for what reasons, have signed public interest immunity certificates since 1979.
  22
  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: There is no central record containing the information requested.

  Departmental Reorganisation
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of Mr. Ray Reardon's essay on the reorganisation of the DTI.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: The Library of the House has confirmed that a copy is on order.

  Biwater Group
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will describe the assistance given to the Biwater Group in connection with overseas contracts since 1983, listing the value, locations and nature of the projects involved and the nature of the tendering process for each;

  (2) what involvement his Department had with the Malaysian rural water supply schemes undertaken by Biwater;

  (3) what assistance Her Majesty's Government have given to the Biwater Group in securing overseas contracts since 1983.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 8 February 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member on 17 February, Official Report, column 937 and the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 14 February, Official Report, column 568.

  In addition, the DTI has awarded Biwater a number of grants under the overseas projects fund to assist with the pre-contractual costs of pursuing overseas contracts. Details of these grants are commercially confidential. Where appropriate, in accordance with scheme rules, grants are repaid.

  Overseas Projects Board
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the membership of the Overseas Projects Board for each year since 1983, giving the names, occupation and employing firms of each of the members, together with their terms of office;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 9 February, Official Report, column 323 when the Overseas Projects Board was established.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answers 16 February 1994]: The Overseas Projects Board was established in 1977. Listed in a table are the names of the board members for each year since 1983 together with their occupations and employing firms, and their terms of service or, for current members, their appointment dates. That table has been placed in the Library.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Rented Homes
  Mr. Bendel
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many homes let to tenants by the Church Commissioners contain untreated amosite.
  23
  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners are not aware of any instance where amosite has been discovered in their residential property. However, it was used extensively in the building trade as heating insulation from circa 1930 to circa 1970, although it is not toxic when in a stable condition.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, (1) how many complaints were(a) lodged and (b) substantiated against the Church Commissioners in their capacity as landlords in each year between 1983 and 1993;

  (2) which body is responsible for investigating complaints against the Church Commissioners in their capacity as landlords.

  Mr. Alison
  There is no specific body responsible for investigating complaints against the Church Commissioners or other private landlords. The commissioners' tenants, in common with others, may have recourse to the local authority's environmental health officer, or to the courts, as appropriate. The commissioners and their managing agents receive complaints from time to time and these are dealt with as the circumstances require.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the Royal Fine Art Commission.

  Mr. Sproat
  The current membership of the Royal Fine Art Commission are as follows:

  Lord St. John Fawsley (Chairman)

  David Carter

  Sir Phillip Dowson

  Mark Girouard

  The Duke of Grafton

  Donald Hamilton-Fraser

  Michael Hopkins

  Stuart Lipton

  Richard MacCormac

  Professor Margaret MacKeith

  Hal Moggridge

  Diane Nutting

  Sir Phillip Powell

  Professor John Steer

  James Sutherland

  Wendy Taylor

  Michael Whitfield

  John Winter.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the board of Geffrye museum.

  Mr. Sproat
  The members of the board of trustees of the Geffrye museum are:

  The Baroness Brigstoke (Chairman)

  Michael Foster Esq.

  Mrs. Daphne Gould OBE

  John Jacob Esq.

  Robert Marshall-Andrews Esq QC

  Peter Metcalfe Esq.

  John Morley Esq.

  Antony Moss Esq.

  Michael Oliver Esq.

  Colin Smith Esq.

  Frank Smith Esq.

  Lady Marina Vaizey.

  24
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Victoria and Albert museum.

  Mr. Sproat
  The members of the board of trustees of the Victoria and Albert museum are:

  Lord Armstrong of Ilminster GCB CVO (Chairman)

  Rt. Hon. Lord Barnett JP

  Sir Michael Butler GCMG

  Miss Nina Campbell

  Sir Clifford Chetwood

  The Viscountess Cobham DL

  Edward G. J. Dawe Esq

  Rodney Fitch Esq CBE

  Prof. Christopher J. Frayling MA PhD

  Ronnie Gorlin Esq

  Lady Pamela Harlech

  Sir Terence Heiser GCB

  Sir Nevil Macready CBE MA

  Miss Anna Plowden

  Prof. Michael Podro PhD MA FBA

  Maurice Saatchi Esq

  Prof. John Steer MA DLitt

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the advisory committee on the Government art collection.

  Mr. Sproat
  The members of the advisory committee on the Government art collection are:

  Mr. John Tusa (Chairman)

  Mr. Neil MacGregor

  Mr. Nicholas Serota

  Dr. Charles Saumarez-Smith

  Dr. Wendy Baron (all appointed ex-officio)

  Mr. Richard Shone

  Mr. Andrew Graham-Dixon

  Building Classification
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many buildings are classified by his Department in categories(a) I, (b) II and (c) III; how many in each category fulfil no present function; and how many are falling down.

  Mr. Brooke
  The total number of list entries recorded by my Department in December 1993 and the number of buildings estimated to be at risk in the 1992 English Heritage sample survey of buildings at risk are as follows:

  Total list entries

  Listed buildings at risk

  List grade I*

  6,000

  700

  List grade II

  18,000

  1,700

  List grade III

  419,000

  34,000

  Figures for the number of vacant properties by list grade are not available. However, based on a sample of 25 per cent. of the listed buildings stock, English Heritage estimates that approximately 28,000 of those listed buildings which can be occupied are vacant at present.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the timetable for the replacement of the Director General of the Sports Council; and when it is expected that the post will be(a) advertised and (b) filled.

  Mr. Brooke
  Under its royal charter, the Sports Council is responsible for the appointment of a director general,
  25
  subject to my approval. I understand that the council has decided to suspend the selection process until decisions have been taken on the future structure of the council.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Anguilla
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Governor of Anguilla regarding the international obligations of Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Ministers and officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in close and regular contact with the governor concerning our international obligations and the implications these have for Anguilla, as they are with the governors of all the dependent territories.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secetary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when her Majesty's Government intend to reinstate the offshore banking regime in Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Anguilla has an extant offshore banking sector. Her Majesty's Government provide considerable assistance towards developing the sector's regulatory framework and expertise.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stake Her Majesty's Government have acquired in the privatisation of the Anguilla Electricity Corporation; and how much that acquisition cost.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Her Majesty's Government hold no shares in the Anguilla Electricity Corporation.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether senior customs officials in Anguilla are required to declare that they have businesses in the country.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The terms and conditions of employment for all public employees in Anguilla include a requirement to declare private business interests.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty will be staying at the governor's mansion when she visits Anguilla; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Her Majesty did not stay at the governor's residence during her recent visit to Anguilla. The residence is currently undergoing refurbishment and is not suitable for accommodating guests overnight.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why offshore banks and financial services in Anguilla were closed down by Her Majesty's Government when they took over offshore financial services.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A number of overseas financial institutions previously registered with Anguilla's offshore sector had their licence revoked in the past, due to activities incompatible with the provisions of that licence.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when is the latest date on which a general election can be held in Anguilla
  26
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Under the present constitution in Anguilla, a general election must be called every five years, with a maximum permissible extension of two months beyond the date of the first sitting of the House of Assemby after the previous election. The present sitting of the Assembly commenced on 3 April 1989, following the election in February that year. The next election must therefore take place no later than 3 June 1994.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Anguilla Parliament has no parliament building; and what plans there are to build one.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Agreement for the construction of separate accommodation for Anguilla's House of Assembly features in the country policy plan, CPP, signed between the Government of Anguilla and ourselves in August 1993. The relevant section of the CPP calls for the drawing up of detailed plans for the building in the financial year 1994–95, with construction scheduled to commence the following year.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many offshore banks and insurance companies that had offices in Anguilla have been closed down since Her Majesty's Government took control of offshore financial services; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The report of Mr. Rodney Gallagher, Coopers and Lybrand, on the survey of offshore finance sectors in the Caribbean dependent territories, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 19 January 1990, details on page 10, paragraphs 16 and 17, the number of banks and insurance companies in Anguilla prior to the offshore sector becoming a reserved power of the Governor.

  At the beginning of 1994, three offshore banking licences had been issued to:

  Barclays Bank Plc

  Hansa Bank and Trust Company

  Maruya Bank and Trust Company.

  At the same date, there was one insurance company licensed for offshore business, Physicians Excess Insurance Company Ltd.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the review of the Anguillan Companies Act; and when new legislation will be introduced to replace the Act.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The review of the Companies Act forms part of the larger exercise reviewing offshore finance legislation. The package of legislation was drafted by the Anguilla Financial Services Association and was recently forwarded to the United Kingdom for scrutiny by a British QC.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the appointment of the son of one of the Anguilla Government Ministers to the post of Chief Magistrate and Acting Judge; what representations the Governor has received about the age and experience of the new Chief Magistrate; and from whom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The appointment of the Acting Magistrate and Registrar in Anguilla falls within the
  27
  reserved powers of the governor. It was a decision taken on the advice of the Attorney-General of Anguilla and has been endorsed by the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the contracts for auditing the accounts of the Government of Anguilla were put out to competitive tender.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The award of the contract to audit the accounts of the Government of Anguilla was made following the standard Overseas Development Administration tender procedure. The Dependent Territories Regional Secretariat offers close support to the Government of Anguilla in audit matters. The Financial Secretary of the Government of Anguilla will be attending the United Kingdom Government Auditors Conference, to be hosted by Her Majesty's Treasury.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to appoint a permanent judge in Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. Anguilla is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. The Chief Justice has indicated that he intends to appoint a judge jointly for Anguilla and Montserrat.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what youth or community centres exist in Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  This is a matter for the Government of Anguilla. However I understand that most churches in Anguilla have related youth and community centre facilities and that there are active scout and guide groups on the island. Part of the grounds at Government house forms a designated campsite for scouts and guides.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to prohibit senior customs officials from owning businesses in Anguilla.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Such a policy already exists.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the delays in the processing by customs officials of the goods of Anguillan business people.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The operation of customs in Anguilla is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Anguilla. Specific cases can be taken up direct with that Ministry.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given to the imminence of a general election in Anguilla when the decision as to the timing of Her Majesty's visit was taken.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The timing of the visit of Her Majesty the Queen to the Caribbean, Latin American countries and Bermuda in the spring of 1994 was not connected in any way with any political events.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the terms of 28
  reference of the review of offshore financial services in Anguilla; what were its recommendations; which ones were accepted by Her Majesty's Government; and who carried out the review.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The review was carried out by Mr. Rodney Gallagher of Coopers and Lybrand. His report, which covered all the dependent territories in the Caribbean, was ordered to be printed as an HMSO publication by the House of Commons in January 1990. A copy was sent to the hon. Member by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in December 1993.

  India
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation in the Punjab, India, and of the recent raids on the Aj Di Awaz newspaper and arrests of its staff; and what representations he is making on the matter.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The dramatic decrease in deaths recently shows that the situation in Punjab has improved. The increasingly high turnout at elections during the last 18 months is a clear indication that the majority of people there have rejected violence.

  Her Majesty's high commission in New Delhi has informed us that eight people were arrested during the raid on the Aj Di Awaz newspaper offices. All eight appeared before a magistrate in January, and are being detained under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

  Knighthoods (Caribbean)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the practice for residents of Caribbean countries receiving knighthoods to be dubbed in those countries; and on what dates in the last 10 years this has been done.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The honour of knighthood is normally conferred by the bestowal of the accolade, the act of dubbing, and investiture. This ceremony can be performed only by the Queen, or by some other person, usually a member of the royal family or a governor-general, specially authorised by Her Majesty.

  Details of precisely when and where residents of the Caribbean were invested with the honour of knighthood over the past 10 years are not readily available and to compile this information would involve disproportionate cost.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made towards fulfilment of the NATO ultimatum on Sarajevo.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Muslim and Bosnian-Serb forces have begun to hand over heavy equipment or withdraw it outside Sarajevo exclusion zone. The ceasefire continues to hold. UNPROFOR continues to monitor compliance.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to urge that United Nations and NATO policy towards the relief of Sarajevo is confined to that city and will not involve military action in the rest of Bosnian-Serb-controlled Bosnia-Herzegovina or against Serbia itself.
  29
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The UN-NATO decision relates specifically to a 20 km radius around Sarajevo, excluding a 2 km zone around Pale.

  Embassies and High Commissions
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on accommodation, office facilities, communications and other facilities for Ministry of Defence personnel in post in embassies and high commissions in each of the past four financial years.

  Mr. Goodlad
  I regret that expenditure incurred by the FCO on accommodation, office facilities, communications and other facilities on behalf of Ministry of Defence personnel cannot at present be identified without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the citizenship status of non-Chinese ethnic minority residents in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I have received a number of such representations. These have included letters from hon. Members and representations from Hong Kong's Legislative Council—particularly its sub-committee on nationality.

  Parliament looked carefully at the position of the non-Chinese ethnic community in considering the passage of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990. The conclusion drawn was that the future of these people was adequately safeguarded.

  The joint declaration provides for those who are permanent residents of Hong Kong to continue to enjoy right of abode there after July 1997. But if members of the non-Chinese ethnic communities with solely British nationality ever came under pressure to leave Hong Kong and had nowhere else to go, we have made it plain that the Government of the day would be exptected to consider with particular sympathy any request from such people for admission to the United Kingdom.

  We looked again at the provisions in place following representations made in 1993 by the Legislative Council and the Hong Kong Government. We saw no reason to change its established policy. This remains our view.

  Intelligence Services Bill
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the Intelligence Services Bill[Lords]; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  I am aware that reports on the Intelligence Services Bill[Lords] have been prepared and circulated by Liberty and by the Religious Society of Friends—Quakers —committee on concern for truth and integrity in public affairs.

  Bosnian Refugees
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications for family reunion are outstanding for 30
  Bosnians now resident in Britain outside the quota system; and what is the average time taken to consider these visa applications.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There is no British mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Statistics on visa applications made by Bosnians at other overseas posts are not centrally recorded according to nationality or to category of application. This information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Nigeria regarding human and civil rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. and noble friend the Minister for Overseas Development met the Nigerian Foreign Minister on 6 February in Abidjan. She reaffirmed our strong desire to see a return to civilian democratic rule, unhindered by the military in Nigeria.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current relations with Nigeria.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The cancellation of the June elections and the military takeover on 17 November in Nigeria last year were steps backward, for Nigeria and for Africa as a whole. However, we place great value on our relationship with Nigeria and we continue to take every opportunity to encourage the Government to take concrete steps towards the restoration of democracy.

  German Unification
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress of German unification; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  An assessment of the progress of German unification is essentially a German domestic matter.

  I should, however, like to say that German unification is something which we welcome. It has meant the end of over 40 years of division in Europe. We are happy to work together with the new united Germany as an ally and partner in pursuit of a more stable and prosperous Europe.

  I am especially glad that with our encouragement some 160 British firms are represented in Berlin and in eastern Germany, making Britain one of the leading foreign investors there. This represents an important contribution to the process of unification.

PRIME MINISTER

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 17 December,Official Report, column 958, what reply has been sent to the Members of the United States Congress, Japanese Diet and hon. and right hon. Members on their appeal for a review and public inquiry on THORP; and on what date.
  31
  The Prime Minister
  My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside replied to right hon. and hon. Members on 16 February.

  Royal Family (Education)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the education and upbringing of those in line to the throne.

  The Prime Minister
  No. This has traditionally been regarded as a matter for the royal family.

  International Investments Ltd., Gibraltar
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will ask the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic to appoint a High Court inspector to investigate International Investments Ltd., Gibraltar—in liquidation—and its associated companies in the Irish Republic during their next meeting.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The Royal Ulster Constabulary is, however, carrying out investigations into the affairs of International Investments Ltd., with the assistance of the authorities in the Republic of Ireland.

  Government Leader
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister which Minister is authorised in the event of his temporary incapacity through injury of illness, to head the Government in the immediate period following such incapacity and before Her Majesty the Queen is able to make a temporary appointment of a chief Minister.

  The Prime Minister
  The arrangements made would depend on the circumstances at the time.

  Highfield Hospital
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Prime Minister what response he has made to the letters sent to him by the Save Highfield Hospital Campaign on 20 November 1993 and 31 January 1994 and to the petition on Highfield hospital which was handed in to 10 Downing street on 20 November 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has replied on my behalf.

  Devon and Cornwall
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the results of the Government's policies in Devon and Cornwall since 1983; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will list, by Government Department, the principal aid given to Devon and Cornwall in each year since 1983.

  The Prime Minister
  Since 1983, the Department of Trade and Industry policy and programmes have committed more than £71·4 million in grants and loans to industry and commerce in Devon and Cornwall. This has created or safeguarded more than 21,000 jobs spread across 3,363 companies.

  In addition, the Devon and Cornwall Development Bureau has received over £4·25 million to assist in the attraction of inward investment to the two counties. Overseas investment in the area was more than £164 million.
  32
  Government policies of low inflation, low interest rates and less regulation provide the foundation for growth across the country.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold) of 4 February,Official Report, column 972, if he will give those details on the number of public appointments made by Ministers or by the Crown or nominations by Ministers that can be compiled without incurring disproportionate cost.

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Hazel Grove on 4 February 1994,Official Report, column 972.

  Design Council
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the representations that he has received from Mr. Ivor Owen, the former director-general of the Design Council, about the British railway manufacturing industry, together with a copy of his reply to Mr. Owen.

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware, I have received no such letter.

  Official Gifts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the official gifts he has received since November 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister how many conventions have been agreed by the Council of Europe since 1964; and how many have been acceded to by Her Majesty's Government in full or in part.

  The Prime Minister
  Seventy-two conventions have been agreed by the Council of Europe since—and including—1964. The Government have acceded to 34 of these and signed, but not yet ratified, a further seven.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he is having with President Clinton and President Mitterrand about the increase in malnutrition-related marasmus and other diseases in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 January,Official Report, column 153. We are also in regular touch with France over Iraq, including the humanitarian situation.

  Departmental Accounting Officers
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions since 1979 when Ministers have issued written instructions to override a Department's accounting officer's objections.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 2 February /994]: The issue of such an instruction is entirely a matter for the Minister and accounting officer concerned. Therefore, no central records are maintained.

  Pergau Project
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister when he was first informed that the Foreign Secretary intended to issue a direction to the accounting officer in respect of the Pergau project.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 February 1994]: In February 1991.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions Tan Sri Arumugam, joint managing director, GEC-Malaysia, has visited his office in the past three years; and if he will list the occasions.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 February 1994]: Once, in 1992, on the occasion of an official dinner for the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

  President Yeltsin
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister what views he received from President Yeltsin on the NATO ultimatum to the Bosnian Serbs during his discussion with him on Tuesday 15 February; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: I described the specific terms of the North Atlantic Council's response to the United Nations Secretary General's request for NATO assistance at Sarajevo. I agreed with President Yeltsin that our objectives were the same. Both the United Kingdom and Russia wanted to see an effective ceasefire implemented in Sarajevo, with heavy weapons brought under United Nations control. We both strongly supported the negotiations for a peaceful settlement.

  We discussed President Yeltsin's decision to send a personal emissary to Belgrade. He told me that he was considering sending additional Russian troops to assist UNPROFOR in maintaining control over heavy weapons. I welcomed this, and agreed with President Yeltsin that it was important for Russia and her western partners in the European Union and the United States to use their channels of influence to promote a ceasefire in Sarajevo and an overall settlement. President Yeltsin stressed that Russia wished to be a full participant in this process, and I welcome his Government's announcement on 17 February that the additional forces will be made available to UNPROFOR.

  Regional Offices
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Prime Minister which of Her Majesty's Government's Departments have been incorporated into integrated regional offices since 1992.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: New Government offices for the regions will come

  Family health services net expenditure England

  £ million

  Year

  1Family health services expenditure

  2Drugs bill expenditure

  3Drugs bill expenditure at 1993–94 prices

  4Other family health services expenditure

  3Other family health services expenditure at 1993–94 prices

  5FHSA administrative expenditure

  3FHSA administrative expenditure at 1993–94 prices

  1973–74

  522

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  13

  83

  1974–75

  630

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1975–76

  854

  277

  1,141

  577

  2,371

  n/a

  n/a

  1976–77

  993

  361

  1,308

  632

  2,291

  n/a

  n/a

  34
  into being in April, combining the existing regional offices of the Departments of the Environment, of Employment, of Trade and Industry and of Transport.

HEALTH

  Nurses and Carers
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the ratio of trained nurses to carers working in(a) London's and (b) England's national health service hospitals in (i) 1992 and (ii) 1993.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information for 1992–93 is shown in the table.

  The number of in-patients is not collected centrally. The table shows the number of ordinary admissions, which is the term used for in-patient consultant episodes.

  Ordinary admissions, (includes midwifery admissions)

  Nursing and midwifery staff (WTE)

  London

  1,158,449

  61,570

  England

  7,829,403

  378,790

  Notes:

  Admission figures are for the year 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993.

  Nursing figures are taken at 30 September 1992 and are for nursing and midwifery, including traditional learners but exclude Project 2000 nursing students who are supernumerary, and those nurses who have transferred to senior management terms and who cannot be identified separately from other senior managers.

  Primary Health Care
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of net NHS current expenditure on primary health care excluding hospital and community health service expenditure for each year since 1973–74; and what was the net expenditure each year on (i) administration including executive council, family practitioner committee or family health service authority administration and general practitioner practice administration, (ii) prescription items and (iii) other items including the remuneration of primary health care professionals, expressed in 1993–94 prices adjusted by(a) the gross domestic product deflator and (b) changes in input unit costs.

  Mr. Sackville
  Primary health care consists of the community health and family health services. The information available, excluding expenditure on the community health services, is shown in the table. Indices are not available to adjust drugs bill, other FHS, and family health services authorities' expenditure for changes in input unit costs.
  35

  Year

  1Family health services expenditure

  2Drugs bill expenditure

  3Drugs bill expenditure at 1993–94 prices

  4Other family health services expenditure

  3Other family health services expenditure at 1993–94 prices

  5FHSA administrative expenditure

  3FHSA administrative expenditure at 1993–94 prices

  1977–78

  1,123

  461

  1,470

  662

  2,111

  n/a

  n/a

  1978–79

  1,329

  554

  1,589

  775

  2,224

  n/a

  n/a

  1979–80

  1,549

  633

  1,555

  916

  2,251

  n/a

  n/a

  1980–81

  1,923

  766

  1,592

  1,157

  2,403

  n/a

  n/a

  1981–82

  2,208

  876

  1,660

  1,331

  2,522

  n/a

  n/a

  1982–83

  2,547

  1,009

  1,784

  1,538

  2,719

  n/a

  n/a

  1983–84

  2,730

  1,130

  1,909

  1,600

  2,704

  n/a

  n/a

  1984–85

  3,010

  1,192

  1,917

  1,818

  2,925

  n/a

  n/a

  1985–86

  3,188

  1,275

  1,943

  1,914

  2,917

  45

  69

  1986–87

  3,419

  1,378

  2,040

  2,041

  3,022

  47

  69

  1987–88

  3,802

  1,536

  2,160

  2,265

  3,185

  49

  69

  1988–89

  4,293

  1,744

  2,298

  2,549

  3,358

  55

  72

  1989–90

  4,531

  1,942

  2,393

  2,589

  3,189

  67

  82

  1990–91

  5,156

  2,080

  2,371

  3,076

  3,507

  104

  118

  1991–92

  5,944

  2,317

  2,484

  3,627

  3,889

  136

  146

  1992–93

  6,593

  2,641

  2,727

  3,952

  4,081

  162

  167

  1 Net expenditure, after taking account of patient charges and other receipts, on the General Medical, General Dental, General Ophthalmic and Pharmaceutical Services. Excludes administrative costs of FHSAs and other bodies and GP Fundholders budgets for purchasing secondary care services. Information is based on the relevant year's Appropriation Account.

  2 Represents the cost of items prescribed by GPs. Dispensing fees are not included. Costs are not separately identifiable in 1973–74 and 1974–75.

  3 Converted to 1993–94 prices using GDP deflator.

  4 Balance of net MS expenditure minus the cost of the drugs bill. Consists mainly of the cost of remuneration and practice expenses of FHS contractors.

  5 Net administrative expenditure of Family Health Services Authorities (known as Family Practitioner Committees before September 1990, and as Executive Councils before April 1974). The administrative functions of FHSAs and their predecessors have changed over time as their management responsibilities have been developed. Expenditure was not separately identifiable in the period 1974–75 to 1984–85. Excludes expenditure on national administrative bodies such as the Prescription Pricing Authority and the Dental Practice Board. Information is based on FHSAs' income and expenditure accounts.

  Barnsley FSHA
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the amount, recipient and date of all the grants made by Barnsley family health services authority since 1990.

  Year

  Grants to general medical service trainers £

  Grants to supervisors of ophthalmic optician trainees £

  Practice teams and premises improvements— Revenue £

  Practice teams and premises improvements— Capital £

  1990–91

  29,294

  1,250

  —1

  19,897

  1991–92

  30,935

  750

  0

  216,699

  1992–93

  19,714

  1,500

  0

  139,498

  1 In 1990–91 the expenditure was reported on a different basis to that in subsequent years i.e. as "improvement grants", not analysed between revenue and capital.

  Source:

  Barnsley Family Health Services Authority's annual accounts.

  Consultants
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will state the value of consultancy contracts awarded by her Department each year since 1988, both in current prices and at constant 1994 prices.

  Mr. Sackville
  Expenditure on fees and expenses for contracts awarded by the Department of Health paid under the general management consultancy budget for the financial years 1989–90 to 1992–93 was:
  36
  Mr. Sackville
  Detailed information is not held centrally. The information in the annual accounts of Barnsley family health services authority is shown in the table.

  Financial year

  Expenditure at current prices (£ million)

  Expenditure at constant 1993–94 prices (£ million)

  1989–90

  48·870

  5·999

  1990–91

  2·870

  3·272

  1991–92

  2·806

  3·008

  1992–93

  3·526

  3·641

  Prior to 1989–90 management consultants were funded from a joint health-social security budget and it is not possible to identify expenditure solely on health. Expenditure figures for the current 1993–94 year will not be available until after the end of the financial year. The

  37
  Department also employs specialist consultants, particularly on information technology projects, and other consultants on specific projects which are funded from other budgets.

  NHS (Fraud)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of fraud against health service managers are currently pending.

  Mr. Sackville
  We do not routinely monitor the progress of fraud investigation in the national health service.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to surcharge national health service directors in respect of fraud or incompetence.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no such plans.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to issue revised advice to NHS authorities and trusts on the action to be taken in cases of corruption and fraud.

  Mr. Sackville
  Guidance on action to be taken in the case of fraud is currently being routinely updated and will be issued in due course.

  NHS Trading Undertakings
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the privatisation of national health service trading undertakings.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government are committed to a publicly funded health service with national health service units, both trusts and directly managed units, firmly within the public sector. However, our policy is to encourage health service bodies to concentrate their management skills on the core activities of the NHS and to use their expertise, where possible, to seek better value for money and improved quality in the provision of non-core activities. If trading undertakings prove to be commercially viable, we would expect that they would ultimately become independent businesses.

  Geriatric Care
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her estimate of the cost of geriatric care in(a) 2004 and (b) 2014;

  (2) what is her estimate of the percentage increase in the cost of geriatric health care between (a) 1980 and 1990, (b) 1990 and 2000 and (c)

  Mr. Bowis
  Hospital and community health service spending on non-acute services for elderly people between 1980–81 and 1990–91 increased by 21 per cent. in real terms, as measured by the gross domestic product deflator. The costs of future service provision will depend on a number of complex factors including social and demographic change, advances in medical technology and care skills, and the success of our long-term strategy for health promotion and sickness prevention in later life.

  Dental Treatment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what way dental patients who are registered with dentists on the NHS are to be notified that if they do not have dental 38
  treatment over a two-year period, the obligations of the dentist towards that patient lapses; and if he will clarify this position.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There is no requirement for patients to be notified. Patients who register for national health service treatment with a dentist receive continuing care over a two-year period normally requiring their attendance at the dental surgery during that period, at which point the arrangement can be rolled on for a further two years. The dentist receives a monthly fee for every patient registered and many operate systems to recall patients.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the greatest distance or greatest journey time which the NHS in England regards as reasonable for a patient to have to travel in order to secure dental treatment on the NHS; and what guidance his Department has issued in order to ensure that such targets are achieved locally;

  (2) what action she has taken to ensure that every citizen who wishes to receive dental treatment on the NHS can do so expeditiously and conveniently in every area; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Dental treatment under the national health service is available throughout England. Patients who experience difficulty in obtaining treatment should contact their local family health services authority who will help them find treatment.

  Private Health Care
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of the United Kingdom population is currently covered by private health care plans;

  (2) what is her estimate of the current savings to the NHS budget as a result of patients covered by private health care plans.

  Mr. Sackville
  About 12 per cent. of the population are covered by private health care. It is for the individual to decide whether or not to seek private health care. The national health service will remain available to all on the basis of clinical need, not the ability to pay. It is not possible to quantify the saving to the NHS.

  Adoption
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was allocated to funding post-adoption services for the current financial year, for 1991 and for 1985.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not held centrally.

  Clothier Report
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources she will provide to the NHS for the discharge of the additional duties recommended by the Clothier report; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinny
  The recommendations contained in the Allitt inquiry report represent good practice, which we expect national health service authorities and trusts to follow within existing resources.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to monitor the incidence of tuberculosis; what are the current trends; and what variations appear in its distribution.

  Mr. Sackville
  The incidence of tuberculosis is monitored by examination of routinely obtained information and the results of special surveys. Deaths from and notifications of cases of tuberculosis are collated by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and published regularly. Special detailed surveys of tuberculosis notifications have been carried out at approximately five-yearly intervals in order to study the occurrence of the disease in population subgroups. The most recent survey, which is being conducted as a collaboration between the Public Health Laboratory Service, the British Thoracic Society and the Department of Health, will be reporting its results by the end of this year.

  Variations in the incidence of tuberculosis are apparent between different age-sex groups, and in different ethnic groups. For instance, the incidence of tuberculosis increases with increasing age as a result of reactivation of infection acquired many years previously. In recent decades tuberculosis notifications have continued to decline. However, in the mid to late 1980s, in common with a number of other European countries, notifications stopped declining and small increases have been seen in most recent years.

  Private Treatment
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received alleging that staff at certain hospitals are advising patients to pay for operations rather than wait for them; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Dental Decay
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of five-year-old children in England and Wales had dental decay(a) in 1990 and (b) in 1993;

  (2) if she will publish a table indicating for five-year-old children for (a) 1991 and (b) the most recent date for which information is available, the average number of teeth suffering from dental decay, analysed by region for England.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department has commissioned the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys to conduct surveys of the dental health of children at 10-year intervals. The most recent survey was carried out in 1993 and the report will be published later this year. Copies of previous survey reports are available in the Library.

  Information on dental decay among five-year-old children is available from surveys by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry. Copies of the latest published report, which relates to a survey conducted in 1989–90, are available in the Library.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the formula for compensating for loss of office as a consequence of re-organisation of the chairs of regional health authorities.
  40
  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are no plans to compensate the chairmen who will be standing down from 1 April.

  Walsgrove Hospital Trust
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent by the Walsgrove hospital trust in Coventry on office accommodation re-organisation in the financial year 1992–93 and so far in the current financial year.

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for Walsgrave Hospital trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Robert Jordan, the chairman, for details.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to heighten awareness among mental health professionals that people from culturally different communities have different mental health needs; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  It is already our policy to heighten awareness among mental health professionals by issuing publications, such as the "Health of the Nation, Mental Illness Key Area Handbook" and "Health of the Nation, Ethnicity and Health—A Guide for the National Health Service" and "Mental Health and Britain's Black Communities". The mental health task force is holding a series of regional conferences for black service users and health service professionals aimed at improving understanding by all of the mental health needs of black people and how they might be met. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has been funded by the Department to mount a conference on 1 March on "The Provision of Mental Health Services for Minority Ethnic Patients in Britain".

  Cancer
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to undertake or sponsor research on the possible link between electromagnetic fields and cancer, especially in children; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 9 February at column 325.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to encourage the enactment of a prudent avoidance policy with regard to electrical powerline work, which ensures that all future powerlines will be sited away from schools and houses until the possible link between electromagnetic fields and cancer is disproved; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Radiological Protection Board and Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment have considered this question and concluded that the available information does not establish that electromagnetic fields cause cancer. The significance of an epidemiological study depends, among other things, on the strength of the association, the presence of a dose-response relationship, supporting experimental evidence and a credible biological explanation. These tests for causality are not satisfied for the link between electromagnetic fields and cancer. On the basis of present
  41
  evidence, the two bodies have not recommended the adoption of a policy of prudent avoidance. The position is being kept under review.

  Private Medical Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the President of the Board of Trade following the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on private medical services.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures exist to regulate the advertising by consultants within the private medical market; and what amendments she is considering to the regulations.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Under the Medical Act 1983 the General Medical Council has statutory responsibility for the regulation and registration of all doctors, including those offering private medical services. The GMC's "Blue Book"—"Professional Conduct and Discipline: Fitness to Practise" contains guidance to doctors on the advertising of medical services. Failure to abide by the council's guidance may call a doctor's professional conduct. into question. The GMC keeps its policy on advertising under constant review, but we understand there are no plans to amend the guidance at present.

  Community Care
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for(a) the shire counties and (b) metropolitan areas, the amount each district authority received in special transitional grants for care in the community for (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and what was the percentage increase or decrease for 1994–95 in each case.

  Mr. Bowis
  The figures for individual local authorities will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much money was made available in 1993–94 for care in the community in the form of special transitional grant;

  (2) how much money is available in the form of special transitional grant for care in the community in 1994–95;

  (3) what is the percentage increase in the amount of money available for care in the community in the special transitional grant scheme for 1994–95 compared with 1993–94.

  Mr. Bowis
  A special transitional grant of £565·4 million was made available in 1993–94 to local authorities in England for their new community care responsibilities.

  The grant will be £735·9 million in 1994–95, an increase of 30 per cent. on the 1993–94 figure. In addition, £538·6 million from the 1993–94 grant will be rolled into local authorities' 1994–95 baseline funding, making a total of over £1·2 billion available. 'These figures are in addition to the personal social services standard spending assessment, which contributes to the cost of community care as well as other social services areas of spending.

  Children (Limb Defects)
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to investigate the significance of the reported clusters of children born with limb defects in coastal areas; and what advice is being issued to pregnant women in those areas.

  Mr. Sackville
  Investigations of suspected or reported clusters of limb reduction defects have been initiated by district health authorities, in concert with the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. OPCS has, for the last 30 years, maintained a national monitoring system for collecting data on malformations among newborn babies. The significance of reported clusters is currently being assessed by comparative analyses with the national data. This work is expected to be completed shortly.

  Discussions have also been held between the Department of Health, OPCS and the environmental epidemiology unit, London school of hygiene and tropical medicine, which incorporates the small area statistics unit, to identify and make the necessary provisions for any additional expertise that may be required.

  Decisions about any further action necessary will be taken as quickly as possible, once the results of these investigations are known.

  Oral Health
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when she will publish the oral health strategy;

  (2) when she will publish her response to the Bloomfield report.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell) on 18 February at col.1042.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish for each year since 1990, by region, the incidence of dental decay in(a) children and (b) adults.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally in the form requested. The Department commissions the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys to conduct surveys of the dental health of adults and children at 10-year intervals. The report of the last adult dental health survey carried out in 1988 was published in 1991 and copies are available in the Library. The most recent survey of children was carried out in 1993 and the report will be published later this year.

  Information on dental decay among children is available from surveys by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry. Copies of the latest report published will be placed in the Library.

  Personal Social Services
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy with regard to charging for personal social services other than residential care for users or carers in receipt of(a) income support payments, (b) disabled living allowance and (c) attendance allowance; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for each local authority to decide what charges to make for day and domiciliary services. Local authorities should have regard to individual service users'
  43
  income and overall financial circumstances in assessing their ability to pay. They may take into account all types of income, except the mobility component of disability living allowance.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the expected saving resulting from making incapacity benefit payable in respect of any day at one seventh rather than one sixth of the weekly rate.

  Mr. Scott
  This measure will produce both gainers and losers, depending on whether a Sunday is included in a part-week payment, or in the waiting days at the start of a claim. We estimate that the overall expenditure consequences of this change will be minimal.

  Benefit

  Number1 of pensioners2 England

  Number1 of pensioners2 Great Britain

  Date of statistical sample

  Attendance allowance3

  760,000

  890,000

  31 March 1993

  Community charge benefit

  2,216,000

  2,621,000

  May 1992

  Disability living allowance4

  283,000

  354,000

  30 November 1993

  Disability working allowance

  17

  19

  31 August 1993

  Family credit

  280

  320

  31 July 1993

  Housing benefit

  1,387,000

  1,675,000

  May 1992

  Income support

  1,289,000

  1,524,000

  February 1993

  Industrial injuries disablement benefit5

  62,000

  79,000

  4 April 1992

  Invalidity benefit

  198,000

  264,000

  4 April 1992

  Invalid care allowance

  n/a

  11,000

  31 December 1993

  Reduced earnings allowance5

  47,000

  62,000

  4 April 1992

  Retirement pension

  8,141,000

  9,476,000

  31 March 1993

  Graduated retirement benefit only

  116,660

  134,130

  31 March 1993

  Sickness benefit

  1,000

  1,000

  4 April 1992

  Severe disablement allowance

  31,000

  40,000

  4 April 1992

  Unemployment benefit

  60

  60

  13 May 1992

  Widows' benefit

  40,000

  48,000

  31 March 1993

  1 Figures shown are rounded to the nearest thousand except in relation to disability working allowance, family credit and unemployment benefit where exact figures have been shown.

  2 A pensioner is defined as any person over state pension age—ie a man aged 65 or over and a women aged 60 and over.

  3 Attendance Allowance is for persons aged 65 and over.

  4 Disability Living Allowance was introduced in April 1992 to replace attendance allowance for the under 65s and mobility allowance.

  5 Figures for industrial injuries disablement benefit and reduced earnings allowance are provisional and relate to pensions/assessments in payment not recipients.

  n/a = Not available.

  Note:—A benefit listed may be payable to a pensioner with any other benefit or benefits listed (subject to offsetting where appropriate) except in the cases of the following combinations:—

  Famiily credit or disability working allowance and income support, invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance, sickness benefit or unemployment benefit.

  Retirement pension or graduated retirement and invalidity benefit, sickness benefit, unemployment benefit or widows' benefit.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of extending the linking rule for incapacity benefits to two years.

  Mr. Scott
  The expenditure consequences of extending the linking rule would depend on the extent to which claimants subsequently gave up incapacity benefit to attempt work, training or other activities. There is no reliable information on which to base an assessment of these possible behavioural changes.

  Pensioners (Benefits)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the most accurate up-to-date figures he has of the number of pensioners on benefit in(a) Southwark, (b) London, (c) England and (d) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested. Figures are not available in relation to Southwark and London. Figures are available for England and Great Britain. Information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The figures relate to the numbers of pensioners receiving individual benefits: they do not represent the total number of pensioners receiving benefit —subject to the exceptions shown in the footnotes a pensioner may receive any combination of the benefits listed.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply of 11 February,Official Report, columns 499–500, concerning children in families in receipt of invalidity benefit, what is the earliest year for which such information is available.

  Mr. Scott
  The earliest date for which information is available is 31 March 1984. The information is as follows:Number of child dependency increases in payment to invalidity benefit recipients in Wales 23,000.

  Source: 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ensure that any appellants against having their invalidity benefit terminated should, if they so wish,
  45
  be entitled to a professional advocate to speak on their behalf at any hearing, without the cost of such representation falling on the appellants or their families.

  Mr. Scott
  Appeals against decisions on invalidity benefit are heard by a social security appeal tribunal. The hearings are intended to be informal, with the tribunal and the presenting officer assisting the appellant to make his or her case. In these circumstances the provision of an advocate would be inappropriate.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated saving to his Department from applying the new incapacity test to severe disablement allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  The new incapacity test will not be applied to existing severe disablement allowance recipients and the majority of new beneficiaries. Savings, if any, are therefore expected to be negligible.

  Learning Disabilities
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of income support payments to people with learning disabilities covers the cost of meeting day care charges.

  Mr. Burt
  Particular items of expenditure are not identified in income support, although people with learning

  Standard rate of category A retirement pension man or woman on own insurance

  Rate (£)

  Percentage increase over previous rate

  Increased by earnings or RPI

  Year-on-year percentage RPI increase April to April

  November 1969

  5·00

  11·1

  —

  5·5

  1970

  5·00

  —

  —

  5·6

  September 1971

  6·00

  20·0

  —

  9·4

  October 1972

  6·75

  12·5

  —

  6·3

  October 1973

  7·75

  14·8

  —

  9·2

  22 July 1974

  10·00

  29·0

  —

  15·2

  7 April 1975

  11·60

  16·0

  Earnings

  21·7

  17 November 1975

  13·30

  14·7

  Earnings

  21·7

  15 November 1976

  15·30

  15·0

  RPI

  18·9

  14 November 1977

  17·50

  14·4

  RPI

  17·5

  13 November 1978

  19·50

  11·4

  Earnings

  7·9

  12 November 1979

  23·30

  19·5

  RPI

  10·1

  24 November 1980

  27·15

  16·5

  RPI

  21·8

  23 November 1981

  29·60

  9·0

  —

  12·0

  22 November 1982

  32·85

  11·0

  —

  9·4

  21 November 1983

  34·05

  3·7

  —

  4·0

  26 November 1984

  35·80

  5·1

  —

  5·2

  25 November 1985

  38·30

  7·0

  —

  6·9

  28 July 1986

  38·70

  1·0

  —

  3·0

  6 April 1987

  39·50

  2·1

  —

  4·2

  11 April 1988

  41·15

  4·2

  —

  3·9

  10 April 1989

  43·60

  6·0

  —

  8·0

  9 April 1990

  46·90

  7·6

  —

  9·4

  8 April 1991

  52·00

  10·9

  —

  6·4

  6 April 1992

  54·15

  4·1

  —

  4·3

  12 April 1993

  56·10

  3·6

  —

  1·3

  Source:

  The Abstract of Statistics for Social Security Benefits and Contributions and the Indices of Retail Prices and Average Earnings.

  Notes:

  1. Prior to 1975 pensions were increased by an Act of Parliament rather than by an annual up-rating order.

  2. Retirement pension was not increased in 1970.

  3. April to April uprating introduced in 1987.
  46
  difficulties may be entitled to receive a disability premium. Social services authorities have discretionary powers to make charges for day care services for adults. Charges are not uniform.

  Christmas Bonus
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the value of the Christmas bonus in the next financial year if it had increased in line with(a) prices and (b) earnings since 1979.

  Mr. Hague
  [pursuant to his reply 14 February 1994, c. 599]: The information contained a typographical error. The value of the Christmas bonus in 1994–95 if increased in line with prices should read £24·50.

  Pension Increases
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing(a) the percentage increase in the state pension each year from 1970 to 1993, (b) whether the pension was uprated in line with earnings or the retail prices index in each year from 1970 to 1980 and (c) whether the percentage increase in the pension each April 1970 to 1993 was higher or lower than the year-on-year April to April retail prices index rise for the relevant year.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the table.

  Benefit Statistics
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people, and what percentage of the population in England, Wales and Scotland, receive(a)

  Benefit (April/May 1992)

  England

  Percentage of population

  Scotland

  Percentage of population

  Wales

  Percentage of population

  Sickness benefit

  109,000

  0·28

  17,000

  0·42

  12,000

  0·52

  Invalidity benefit

  1,072,000

  2·78

  200,000

  4·90

  159,000

  6·91

  Industrial injuries disablement benefit1

  163,000

  0·42

  18,000

  0·44

  18,000

  0·78

  Income support2

  4,282,000

  11·10

  519,000

  12·70

  287,000

  12·47

  Unemployment benefit

  582,000

  1·51

  58,000

  1·42

  28,000

  1·23

  Housing benefit2

  3,572,000

  9·26

  539,000

  13·19

  217,000

  9·43

  Community charge benefit

  7,116,000

  18·45

  861·000

  21·07

  437,000

  18·98

  1 More than one pension may be in payment.

  2 Numbers represent benefit units.

  Notes:

  1. Recipients may be in receipt of more than one benefit.

  2. Benefit figures are rounded to nearest thousand.

  3. Population figures represented by those aged 16 and over.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Angola
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to assist Angola in emergency aid during 1994.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We expect to maintain a substantial programme of humanitarian aid to Angola this year. A mission will visit in mid-March to assess the situation.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much bilateral and multilateral aid each EC member state has given to Angola since the outbreak of war in 1992.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We provided £1·8 million of bilateral aid in 1992–93 and have allocated £10 million of humanitarian aid for Angola in 1993–94. Our share of EC aid to Angola in 1993 was £3·5 million. We do not have figures for other EC member states for 1992 and after.

  Dominica
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Prime Minister of Dominica, on the discussions within the European Union on bananas; what action he is taking as a consequence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister for Overseas Development and I have discussed the EC banana regime with Dame Eugenia Charles. Dame Eugenia gave my right hon. and noble Friend a document on restructuring the Windward Islands banana industry on Saturday in Dominica and this is now being studied.

  World Bank Group
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each year since 1988 the amount of(a) United Kingdom subscription
  48
  income support, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) sickness —invalidity benefit, (d) industrial disablement benefit and (e) housing/council tax benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  to the World bank group in the form of callable shares (b) the amount of United Kingdom subscription to the World bank group consisting of callable shares which have actually been paid in and (c) the above figure as a percentage of the total United Kingdom subscription to the World bank group.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In 1988, a general capital increase (GCI) of $74·8 billion, with a 3 per cent. paid-in element, was agreed for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The United Kingdom subscribed to 30,450 shares with a value of $3·67 billion, of which $110·2 million (3 per cent.) was paid-in over the period 1988–93.

  In 1985, a capital increase of $650 million was approved for the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The United Kingdom subscribed to 30,500 shares with a value of $30·5 million, all fully paid-in in five equal instalments over the period 1986–89. In 1991, a further capital increase of $1 billion was agreed. The United Kingdom is subscribing to 52,615 shares, fully paid-in, in five equal instalments over the period 1993–96.

  The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) was established in 1988 with a capital stock of SDR1 billion ($1·1 billion). The United Kingdom subscribed to 4,860 shares at a value of $52·6 million, of which 10 per cent. was paid in cash in 1988, 10 per cent in the form of a promissory note and the balance callable.

  Payments since 1988 associated with these subscriptions to capital stock are shown in the table. The table excludes payments to the International Development Association (IDA) which relies on contributions from donors, not subscriptions to capital stock, to finance its activities.

  United Kingdom Payments to World Bank Group Capital increases 1988–93

  £ million

  IBRD

  IFC

  IFC

  MIGA

  1988 GCI

  1985 GCI

  1991 GCI

  1988

  6·561

  3·558

  —

  3·098

  1989

  12·646

  3·678

  —

  —

  1990

  10·209

  —

  —

  —

  1991

  11·741

  —

  —

  —

  1992

  10·219

  —

  —

  —

  1993

  12·887

  —

  14·174

  —

  49
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all contributions made by Her Majesty's Government to the World bank group, excluding those made by the Overseas Development Administration, since 1988.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Department of Trade and Industry has contributed £570,000 since 1988 to the United Kingdom consultants trust fund administered by the World bank.

EMPLOYMENT

  Careers Service
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many bids have been received to run the careers service for each of the 13 pathfinder areas he designated in July 1993; and how many in each case and in total were submitted by private employers.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information on organisations which submitted bids to provide careers on services is commercial-in-confidence while negotiations on business plans continue.

  Race Discrimination
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the limit on awards available to tribunals in racial discrimination cases.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government announced on 1 November 1993 that they would seek a suitable opportunity to remove the limit on compensation which may be awarded by industrial tribunals in racial discrimination cases, and to allow interest to be included in compensation awards.

  The Government are supporting a Private Members' Bill, the Race Relations (Remedies) Bill, introduced by the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 16 December 1993, which offers an early opportunity to pursue the Government's own objective in this area. The Bill had its Second Reading, Committee and Report stages on Friday 18 February. If it is passed by Parliament, commencement will be by the autumn of this year.

  At present, the limit on compensatory awards is reviewed each year, although there is no compulsion to do so.

  >Education Allowance
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently on full-time vocational courses within the Barnsley, East constituency as a consequence of the education allowance introduced in the budget statement in March 1993.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In November 1993 there were 34 people participating in the learning for work programme in the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council area. The information requested is not collected at constituency level.

  Unemployment Costs
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average estimated yearly cost to the Treasury of an unemployed person; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest available estimate of gross benefit payments to the unemployed is £9·3 billion for the 1992–93 financial year. If the assumption of 2·8 million unemployed is used, this gives an average benefit cost of £3,300 per unemployed person per year.

  Long-term Unemployment
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons have benefited since 1992 from back-to-work bonus schemes in inner city areas for the long-term unemployed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mr. M. Fogden to Mr. David Rendel, dated 21 February 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Back to Work Bonus schemes.
  The Government launched two pilots of a back to work bonus scheme called the Jobfinder's Grant on 7 February this year in my East Midlands and Eastern and West Midlands Regions. Up to 15 February, 65 grants has been issued in the East Midlands where 2,000 grants of £200 are available to people previously unemployed for more than two years who find work. Thirty three grants has been issued in the West Midlands where 1,000 grants of £100 are available to people, previously unemployed for more than two years and who live within the areas of Birmingham, Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton or Walsall.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Health and Safety (Children)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information is collected by the Health and Safety Executive on the incidence of accidents at work involving school-age children.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: The Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) gathers information on accidents to employees, including those aged under 16. Under regulation 3 of RIDDOR, incidents involving people who are not themselves at work —including school children—must also be reported to the Health and Safety Executive if the person sustains an injury
  "arising out of or in connection with work activity".

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what date he expects all the measures put forward in the Scottish Office document "A Partnership for Good" to be fully implemented, with particular reference to the proposed changes in the procedures of the Scottish Grand Committee.
  51
  Mr. Lang
  The majority of proposals have already been implemented. Some others will take effect from April and the remainder are either in hand or are on-going. As regards the procedures of the Scottish Grand Committee on 10 February, I placed in the Library of the House proposed amendments to Standing Orders which will implement our commitment to expand the role of the Committee.

  The amendments will be tabled in due course.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who are the members currently appointed to the Extra Parliamentary panel.

  Mr. Lang
  The current membership of the panel appointed for 1991–95 is shown in the table:

  Professor Hugh Begg

  Professor Christopher Blake

  Mrs. Ruth Blackie

  Mr. William Cook

  Mr. Alexander Hamilton, CBE

  Professor J. Ross Harper, CBE

  Miss Ethel Houston, OBE

  Mr. John Langan

  Professor Brian Loasby

  Mr. Duncan Macleod, CBE

  Mr. E. Lowson, MBE

  Mr. Donald MacGregor

  Mr. James McPherson, CBE

  Mrs. Jean Morris, CBE

  Mr. David Myles, CBE

  Mr. David Patterson

  Mrs. Kathleen Rennie

  Mr. James Stobo, OBE

  Professor Urlan Wannop

  Mr. Bruce Weatherstone.

  Homosexual Offences
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many alleged cases of consensual homosexual acts have been reported since December 1991 by procurators fiscal to the Crown Office for Crown Counsel's consideration; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Only two such cases have been reported to the Crown Office for Crown Counsel's consideration since December 1991.

  Consultancies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of consultancy contracts awarded by his Department each year since 1979, both in current prices and at constant 1994 prices.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 February 1994]: The following information on annual expenditure on management consultancy is readily available:

  Year

  Current price (£)

  Constant price December 1993 (£)

  1984–85

  47,512

  74,594

  1985–86

  491,864

  732,877

  1986–87

  569,038

  819,415

  1987–88

  193,338

  275,690

  1988–89

  1,162,108

  1,522,361

  1989–90

  374,620

  457,036

  1990–91

  806,343

  888,077

  1991–92

  1,028,000

  1,079,400

  1992–93

  3,510,000

  3,580,200

  Old Royal High School
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he plans to put for former Crown Office building, the Old Royal high school in Edinburgh, on the market.

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to my reply, 14 February 1994, c. 593]: In accordance with the guidance set out in the Scottish Office Circular 38/1992 "Disposal of Surplus Government Land—The Crichel Down Rules", Property Holdings in my Department has today written to the City of Edinbrugh district council, the former owners, to offer to sell to them at market value the Old Royal high school Edinburgh which is now surplus to Government requirements.

  The district council has two months to exercise the option to purchase and if it declines or fails to respond within this period then the property will be offered for sale on the open market.

  Prison Officers
  Mr Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to alter the status of prison officers in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 December 1993, c. 733]: I intend to table a clause for inclusion in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill which will give prison officers and governors in Scotland, and prisoner custody officers performing custodial duties, the power to detain in any place in the prison, on reasonable suspicion, any person suspected of bringing in prohibited artricles—for example, drugs or weapons—on to prison property, until police officers arrive and have the opportunity to question the person. The clause will permit searching of any person by prison officers and governors on reasonable suspicion that the person was bringing in a prohibited article. Searching will not include intimate searching and will be restricted to "rub-down" searching in relation to prohibited articles other than controlled drugs, firearms and ammunition. It will also permit any prohibited article so found to be seized and detained. These measures will assist prison officers in the fight against the smuggling of drugs into prisons, and will in substance give them the same powers as their counterparts in the rest of the United Kingdom.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  NHS Waiting Lists
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of NHS waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  Additional funding to reduce waiting lists and times has been made available in the last two years and significant progress has been made over this period.

  In March 1991 a total of 27,086 people were waiting for inpatient treatment, 8,600—32 per cent.—of whom were waiting more than one year, and 5,071—19 per cent.—more than two years. By the end of September 1993, the number waiting was down to 25,420, of whom 4,675—18 per cent.—were on the list for more than one year, while 1,041—4 per cent.—were on it for more than two years. I

  53
  am confident that the charter guarantee of 18 months will be reached by the end of this year for most, if not all patients.

  Although these figures represent a considerable achievement, the Government wish to see further progress as soon as possible. The chief executive of the HPSS management executive has written recently to boards urging continued and positive action on waiting lists and the position will be closely monitored at all times.

  Hearing Aids (Children)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which agency is responsible for monitoring the provision and maintenance of hearing aids for(a) pre-school children, (b) children at school and (c) young people aged 16 years and above who are in full-time education; and what plans there are to change the present arrangement.

  Mr. Ancram
  Hearing aids are available from health and social services boards for anyone who needs one. There are no plans to change the present arrangements.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the conditions under which children and young people are entitled to be provided with the most appropriate heearing aid whether or not this is part of the national health service range of hearing aids.

  Mr. Ancram
  It is for the clinician concerned to decide on the basis of assessed need which is the most appropriate hearing aid in each case, whether it is from the standard range or purchased by hearing aid centres from a commercial source.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which agency monitors the provision of insurance on hearing aids for children and young people; and what plans there are to change the present arrangement.

  Mr. Ancram
  Hearing aids are provided on loan. There is, therefore, no requirement for the patient, or in the case of a child under 16, the child's parent to insure the appliance they receive. There are no plans to change the present arrangements.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about job creation and industrial development in Northern Ireland, with particular reference to inward investment in South Down and other areas of high unemployment.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  One of the Government's priority objectives is to improve employment prospects in all parts of Northern Ireland. In pursuit of this objective the IDB and LEDU are working with their client companies to encourage them to develop their international competitiveness, thus creating the conditions for growth in durable employment.

  During the current year the Industrial Development Board has continued to attract an increasingly high number of new inward investment projects to Northern Ireland. IDB cannot direct promoters as to where to locate projects within Northern Ireland. However, every effort is made to encourage inward investors to establish their new businesses in the areas of highest unemployment including South Down.

  Community Care
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision has been made for convalescent care in the figures prepared by officials of the health and social services boards.

  Mr. Ancram
  All residents of independent sector homes entitled to income support, including those receiving convalescent care, were taken into account when the funds to transfer from the social security vote to health and social services boards were being calculated. People requiring convalescent care were not identified separately.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision is to be made for the training of assessors of proposed candidates for care in the community.

  Mr. Ancram
  Health and social services boards received £1·1 million in 1991–92, £0·62 million in 1992–93 and £4·82 million in 1993–94 for the development of their infrastructure for the delivery of community care services. These allocations include money for the recruitment and training of professional and other staff required to carry out assessments and operate the care management procedures. All four boards have developed training programmes for staff responsible for the assessment and review of the care needs of clients requiring community care services.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what framework has been established to create feedback and dialogue on the policy of community care.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Department, as part of its preparation and support for the introduction of the new community care arrangements established a joint DHSS/health and social services board "People First" liaison group to facilitate feedback and dialogue on the implementation of the new arrangements. A monitoring framework has also been established to obtain quarterly information about boards' assessment and care management performance.

  Boards have also established various systems to obtain feedback on the way in which the new arrangements are working, to ascertain user satisfaction and to work with statutory and independent providers in developing the range of residential and non-residential services required.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the(a) average and (b) target length of time between the inquiry and assessment and the making of a decision to provide care in the community for an elderly person.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is not available in the form requested. Health and social services boards have reported that during the six-month period from April to September 1993, 92 per cent. of assessments of elderly people were carried out within one week of referral and 83 per cent. of care packages for elderly people commenced within one week of completion of the assessment.

  The Department is currently reviewing community care standards in the charter for patients and clients. Standards will include local waiting times for access to various services, including access to care management and the provision of community care services.
  55
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what savings he expects to result from the closure of homes for the elderly and a reduction in home help and community care budgets.

  Mr. Ancram
  None. Health and social services boards are responsible for managing the financial resources at their disposal and for determining the appropriate level of resources to be committed for the purchase of particular services. Boards are following a policy for the development of community care services which involves a shift from institutional care to domiciliary and day care. To support this policy additional resources of £29 million have been made available to boards this financial year.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what appeals procedure is available to carers and applicants for assistance under the community care initiative.

  Mr. Ancram
  Clients and carers who are dissatisfied with any aspect of their treatment in relation to community care have recourse to the comprehensive complaints procedures which are in place in each health and social services board. Anyone who is dissatisfied with a board's written response to his or her complaint can appeal to a review panel, which includes a member who is independent of the board. Details of the procedures and arrangements for review are published by each board.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advice has been issued to the Eastern health and social services board on the future numbers of independent homes for the elderly and the numbers of statutory homes which should be maintained.

  Mr. Ancram
  None. It is for the board to assess the needs of its resident population and determine the nature and level of services it wishes to provide to meet those needs within the available resources.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what joint forums have been established to permit independent homes to have an input in community care policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  None. Government policy for the provision of community care is clearly set out in the 1990 policy document "People First" and the regional strategy for the Northern Ireland health and personal social services 1992–97. A wide range of interested parties, including independent sector care providers, were consulted during the preparation of both these documents. Future policy developments will be subject to similar consultation.

  Residential Homes
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what figure for the numbers of people in private and independent homes at 31 March 1993 he based his budget; what was the actual figure for capacity on that date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  The amounts of money to transfer from the social security budget to health and social services boards for community care were calculated on the basis of the estimated numbers of income support claimants resident in independent sector residential and nursing homes at mid-year in each of the financial years 1993–94,56
  1994–95 and 1995–96. The estimated numbers of such residents for each of these years were 11,112, 13,247 and 15,382 respectively. The total number of residents in independent sector homes at 31 March 1993 is not known.

  Details of the transfer calculation were explained in a memorandum widely distributed throughout Northern Ireland in December 1992. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figure his Department has arrived at for placement of persons in homes for the elderly; and what involvement independent sector providers had in the selection of this figure.

  Mr. Ancram
  There is no pre-determined figure for the numbers to be placed in homes for elderly people. The number of people placed in residential and nursing homes by health and social services boards will be determined by the outcome of comprehensive assessments of patients' and clients' need for community care. Where care in residential or nursing home settings is indicated this will be arranged.

  Personal Injury Awards
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the level of personal injury awards in Northern Ireland; and what comparison he has made with costs elsewhere.

  Sir John Wheeler
  In Northern Ireland the statutory criminal injuries compensation scheme makes provision for compensation for the victims of violent crime. On 15 December 1993 my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary published a White Paper outlining his proposals for reform of the criminal injuries compensation scheme in Great Britain. I am currently considering what lessons might be learnt from this for Northern Ireland. If, as a result, changes are proposed to the current compensation scheme in Northern Ireland, there will be consultation with all interested parties.

  Awards for personal injury at common law are a matter for the courts.

  Car Insurance
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effects of the levels of charges for private car insurance in Northern Ireland; and what comparisons he has made with costs elsewhere.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  None.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect of the privatisation of Northern Ireland Electricity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The privatisation of Northern Ireland Electricity has been a great success. Competition has been introduced to the industry, enterprising new companies have entered the electricity market, an effective regulatory regime has been established to protect consumers' interests, and NIE employees and consumers have been able to invest in the industry.

  Care of the Elderly
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contingency plans are being made for the care of the elderly in Northern Ireland in the event of insufficient accommodation for the elderly being available locally and to provide transport for their families; and at what cost.

  Mr. Ancram
  Health and social services boards are responsible for developing appropriate contingency arrangements in the event of residential care and nursing home failures. The level of accommodation available throughout Northern Ireland is such that residents who might need to be relocated on closure of a home will have a reasonable choice of alternative accommodation.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The current membership is:

  Chairman:

  Mr. Charles Hill QC

  Members:

  Mrs. Joan Harbison CBE

  Mrs. Mary Clark-Glass CBE

  Mrs. Jane Corr

  Miss Geraldine Keegan

  Professor Simon Lee

  Mr. Al Mackle OBE

  Mr. Dermot Nesbitt

  Mr. Aidan Sherrard

  Mrs. Joan Smyth

  Ex-Officio Members:

  Mr. Bob Cooper CBE

  Mrs. Jill McIvor QSM

  There is one vacancy.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The members currently appointed to the Arts Council for Northern Ireland are as follows:

  Mr. Jim Aiken

  Sir Charles Brett, CBE (Vice-Chairman)

  Councillor Fred Cobain

  Mr. Donnell Deeny, QC (Chairman)

  Mr. Patrick Donnelly

  Ms Rita Duffy

  Dr. Tess Hurson

  Ms Kate Ingram

  Mr. Nicholas Livingston

  Professor Edna Longley

  Councillor William O'Connell

  Mr. Richard Pierce

  Ms Chrissie Poulter

  Mrs. Irene Sandford

  Professor Robert Welch.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Northern Ireland tourist board.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The current members of the Northern Ireland tourist board are as follows:

  The Hon. Hugh O'Neill, (Chairman)

  Mr. Brian Adgey

  Mr. Colin Anderson

  Mr. Tony Hopkins

  58

  Mr. Alan Lambert

  Mr. John Lavery, OBE

  Mr. Ian McQuiston

  Dr. Mary Peters, CBE

  Ms Diane Toner.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  For security reasons it is not our policy to disclose the names of members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the staff commission for education and library boards.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  Chairman

  Mr. M. Moroney

  Members

  Mrs. D. Boyd

  Mr. J. Corey

  Mr. J. Donaghy

  Mr. J. Gallagher

  Mr. P. A. Kilpatrick

  Rev. J. McAllister

  Mrs. E. McClurg

  Mr. J. N. Montgomery

  Mr. T. Nolan

  Dr. R. J. Rodgers

  Mr. G. Topping

  Mrs. M. E. Torrans

  Loyalist Paramilitaries
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of arrests of loyalist paramilitaries have occurred while pursuing criminally inspired acts in each of the last three years; and how many individuals were involved in such arrests.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 15 February 1994]: The information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the major study on a blood test for bovine tuberculosis has been completed; if he will publish the results; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  The field study on a blood test for bovine tuberculosis is not yet completed. No decision has yet been made on whether the results should be published. It is not possible to anticipate the outcome of the study.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Privy Councillors' Oath
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the reason for maintaining the convention that the terms of the Privy Councillors' oath are confidential.

  Mr. Newton
  The convention, which is of long standing, reflects the principle that matters spoken of in council are exclusive to the Sovereign and to members of the Privy Council.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Kitchens
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee what financial provision is being made to enable the House of Commons kitchens to reflect present-day health and safety requirements.

  Mr. Channon
  Some £1·3 million have been included in the works services vote for 1994–95. Further sums will be allocated in future years depending on the House's decision on the recent report of the Catering Committee on refreshment services for the House of Commons.

  Cost-benefit Analysis
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what proportion of the budget of the National Audit Office will be spent on cost-benefit analysis in 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Sir Peter Hordern
  In 1992–93 the National Audit Office delivered 51 major value-for-money outputs, which comprised about half the work of the NAO, and plans to continue deliveries at the same level in future. The selection of topics for investigation is based on a systematic review of expenditure and value for money. The NAO's investigations employ cost-benefit analysis techniques where appropriate, but it is not possible to isolate the costs of such analyses.

  Visitors (Facilities)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission what provisions has been made in the estimates for improving facilities for visitors to the House of Commons.

  Mr. Beith
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs).

  Child Care Allowance
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what consideration he has given to introducing a child care allowance for hon. Members' staff.

  Mr. Newton
  I have no plans to propose such an allowance. It is up to individual Members to make arrangements to suit their own staff.

  Sittings of the House
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when he proposes to bring forward proposals to modify the sitting hours and procedures of the House.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has to act upon the report of the Select Committee on sittings of the House.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has to implement the recommendations of the Select Committee on Sittings of the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer hon. Members to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn).

  EC Legislation (Scrutiny)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of parliamentary scrutiny of EC legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The arrangements for parliamentary scrutiny of EC legislation are kept under continuing review and were the subject of examination by the Select Committee on Procedure in 1989 and 1991; in general they work well. Problems at the end of last year with the late arrival of certain Community documents are being investigated.

  Wine Sales
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what were the receipts by the House of Commons Refreshment Department from the sale of wine for the three years up to and including 1993; what assumptions have been made in the House's estimate on receipts in future years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  The House of Commons Refreshment Department does not record separately details of receipts from the sale of wine, although sales of alcoholic beverages are recorded and are included in the financial objectives for the Refreshment Department.

  Day Nursery
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will make a statement on the provision of a day nursery in the Palace of Westminster.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what progress has been made towards the establishment of a day nursery in the Commons.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave on 9 February 1994,Official Report, column 278.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what further plans he has to assist disabled people who wish to lobby hon. Members.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  Facilities available to disabled people visiting the House and arrangements for their reception when lobbying Members are described in leaflets available from the Serjeant at Arms which are also incorporated into the Members' Handbook. In addition, special arrangements are made whenever mass lobbies, including a significant number of disabled people, are expected. These arrangements have recently been reviewed by the Administration Committee and include, as appropriate, the use of Westminster Hall. Plans for the next such lobby on Wednesday 9 March are in hand.

  I understand that proposals to improve physical access to Parliament for disabled people are also being considered by the Accommodation and Works Committee.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  Monitoring (Non-elected Agencies)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what assessment the Commission has made of whether the National Audit Office has sufficient staff effectively to monitor non-elected agencies.

  Sir Peter Hordern
  The National Audit Office's corporate plan for 1994–95 to 1998–99 was considered and approved by the Commission in July 1993. This includes provision for financial audit of Government Departments, executive agencies, including those expected to be established over the next five years, and other public sector bodies; for inspection visits to a wide range of non-departmental and other public sector bodies; arid for value-for-money investigations.

DEFENCE

  Italian Air Force
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft, and of what types, were involved in the Italian air force deployment to RAF Leeming during November 1993; which RAF squadron hosted the exchange visit; what were the dates of the deployment; how many low-level sorties were undertaken by Italian aircraft during the deployment, and at what minimum authorised altitudes; and how many of these sorties included use of the Spadeadam range.

  Mr. Hanley
  Six AMX aircraft of the Italian air force deployed to RAF Leeming between 19 and 26 November 1993. The deployment was hosted by No. 11 Squadron RAF. The IAF booked eight low level sorties down to a minimum height of 500 ft; four of the sorties included use of the range at RAF Spadeadam.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft, and of what types, were involved in the Italian air force deployment to RAF Waddington during September 1993; which RAF squadron hosted the exchange visit; what were the dates of the deployment; how many low-level sorties were undertaken by Italian aircraft during the deployment, and at what minimum authorised altitudes; and how many of these sorties included use of the Spadeadam range.

  Mr. Hanley
  Six AMX aircraft of the Italian air force deployed to RAF Waddington between 6 and 10 September 1993. The deployment was hosted by the Wing Operations/Visiting Aircraft Section at RAF Waddington. The IAF booked 23 low level sorties down to a minimum height of 500 ft; 21 of the sorties included use of the range at RAF Spadeadam.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the level of utilisation of RAF Spadeadam and

  Exercise name

  Location

  Start date

  End date

  Polar Nomad 11/89

  Holz Minden

  20 January 1989

  5 February 1989

  Quick March 11/89

  Hameln

  24 February 1989

  7 March 1989

  Hungry Bear 13

  Holstein

  5 July 1989

  21 July 1989

  Treaty 89

  Herford

  18 August 1989

  25 August 1989

  White Rhino 89

  Munster

  4 September 1989

  25 September 1989

  Zodiac Rhino 89

  Steinfurt

  6 September 1989

  9 September 1989

  62
  access to the United Kingdom low flying system by Italian air force aircraft in the past year were related to the extent to which RAF aircraft deployed to Gioia del Colle, Italy, conduct low-flying training in Italian airspace.

  Mr. Hanley
  No.

  Exercise Hardcore
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role is performed by the Dutch air force 3 guided missile group in the air defence of the United Kingdom; what role was performed by this unit during Exercise Hardcore 94; and what role the unit has performed in previous exercises involving Royal Air Force Harriers.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Dutch Air Force 3rd guided missile group does not have an assigned role in the air defence of the United Kingdom. During Exercise Hardcore 94 the unit was providing simulated target defences, as it has in previous exercises involving RAF Harriers.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reasons why the location for Exercise Hardcore was switched from Norway to Scotland this year; and what are his plans for holding further exercises in this series in Scotland.

  Mr. Hanley
  The exercise was never scheduled to take place in Norway. Exercise Hardcore is an annual exercise held in the United Kingdom. It will normally involve flying sorties in Scotland, subject to training requirements and prevailing weather conditions at the time.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many live bombing sorties were flown by RAF Harriers during Exercise Hardcore 94.

  Mr. Hanley
  During Exercise Hardcore 94, 22 live bombing sorties were flown by RAF Harriers.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties were undertaken during Exercise Hardcore 94; and how many of these were authorised at heights of less than 250 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  Sixty-two low-level sorties were flown during Exercise Hardcore 94; 38 of the sorties were conducted at heights less than 250 ft.

  Field Training, Germany
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the titles, locations and dates of all field training exercises in Germany involving British Army units of battalion size. or larger, since 1988.

  Mr. Hanley
  A list of all field training exercises carried out in Germany since 1989 involving British Army units of more than 500 troops is given in the table. The information requested on exercises conducted in 1988 is no longer available.
  63

  Exercise name

  Location

  Start date

  End date

  Morning Glory 89

  Hameln

  2 September 1989

  10 September 1989

  Galloping Bugle 89

  Lubbecke

  18 September 1989

  5 October 1989

  Grand Canyon 89

  Steinfurt

  28 September 1989

  14 October 1989

  Key Flight 89

  Osnabruck

  1 September 1989

  30 September 1989

  Garreg Wen 89

  Fallingbostel

  12 October 1989

  27 October 1989

  Noble Aries 89

  Paderborn

  13 October 1989

  28 October 1989

  Iron Wagon 3/89

  Bielefeld

  15 October 1989

  28 October 1989

  Kyrenia Curfew 89

  Iserlohm

  9 November 1989

  18 November 1989

  Hungry Mick

  Helmstadt

  24 September 1990

  11 October 1990

  Holstein Bugle

  Hildeshein

  31 August 1990

  21 September 1990

  Mosquito Mick

  Segeberg

  7 September 1991

  30 September 1991

  Moving Dragon 91

  Segeberg

  4 October 1991

  20 October 1991

  Quick March 1/91

  Segeberg

  8 November 1991

  22 November 1991

  Highland Monarch 91

  Holz Minden

  11 November 1991

  22 November 1991

  Roaring Dragon 92

  Harburg

  6 March 1992

  26 March 1992

  Twisted Spear 92

  Lubbecke

  14 May 1992

  23 May 1992

  Last Chance 92

  Eustkirchen

  4 October 1992

  23 October 1992

  Sussex Way

  Northeim

  9 November 1992

  18 November 1992

  New Shield 92

  Gifhorn

  16 November 1992

  27 November 1992

  Rampant Rose 2/92 - Hungry Bear

  Segeberg

  20 November 1992

  10 December 1992

  Forest Chase

  Soest

  1 March 1993

  25 March 1993

  Kilted Warrior

  Aachen

  3 May 1993

  14 May 1993

  Wet Gap

  Hameln

  4 September 1993

  20 September 1993

  Hungry Bear 1/93

  Lubbecke

  15 September 1993

  24 September 1993

  Hungry Bear 2/93

  Holz Minden

  4 November 1993

  3 December 1993

  Flame Thunder 94

  Hameln

  6 April 1994

  26 April 1994

  Flame Rocket 94

  Dortmund

  6 May 1994

  21 May 1994

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training man days were spent by British Army units on the Bergen training area, Germany, in each year since 1988; and if he will provide a breakdown of these figures into activity by(a) infantry, (b) armoured and (c) other units.

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

  Soltau-Luneberg area comparison of usage rates

  Year

  Man/days

  Tank/days

  Light AFV/days

  Gun/days

  Wheels/days

  1988

  426,074

  20,203

  38,204

  681

  49,631

  1989

  438,356

  16,503

  43,961

  960

  46,482

  1990

  210,704

  9,245

  19,791

  1,405

  21,711

  1991

  137,813

  6,142

  12,526

  80

  20,339

  1992

  113,648

  4,885

  10,258

  292

  14,297

  1993

  91,870

  4,900

  8,251

  504

  11,889

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military units currently stationed in the Fallingbostel area; and if he will list the principal equipment in use by these units.

  Mr. Hanley
  The major units currently stationed in the Fallingbostel area, and their principal equipment, are as follows:

  2nd Royal Tank Regiment—Challenger main battle tank.

  The Queen's Royal Hussars—Challenger main battle tank.

  1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment—Warrior armoured combat vehicle.

  Live Bombing Training
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum authorised altitude for Harrier aircraft on live bombing training sorties.

  Mr. Hanley
  Within an air weapon range danger area, the minimum authorised altitude for Harrier aircraft on live bombing training is 120 ft minimum separation distance.
  64
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training man days were spent by British Army units on the Soltau-Luneberg training area, Germany, in each year since 1988; and if he will provide a breakdown of these figures into activity by(a) infantry, (b) armoured and (c) other units.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested for activity on the Soltau-Luneberg training area since 1988 is given in the table.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the regulations concerning overflight of towns and villages by aircraft carrying live bombs(a) at low level and (b) at heights greater than 2,000 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  The regulations state that overflight of built-up areas is to be avoided. No distinction is made with respect to the altitude of the aircraft.

  Buccaneer
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what laser designation support is currently provided by Royal Air Force Buccaneers to Dutch air force F-16s; and if this task will be continued when the Buccaneer is replaced by the Tornado.

  Mr. Hanley
  RAF Buccaneers have provided laser designation support to Dutch air force F-16s during exercises since 1987. While there is no formal
  65
  commitment, if required RAF Tornados equipped with thermal imaging airborne laser designator pods could offer a similar service.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on authorising low flying at less than 250 ft during military exercises in the United Kingdom; what changes have occurred in this policy since 1990; and if he will list each exercise which has involved flying at less than 250 ft since 1990.

  Mr. Hanley
  RAF aircraft are permitted to fly below 250 ft during military exercises in the United Kingdom provided that prior authorisation has been obtained from the air officer commanding of the group concerned. There have been no changes to this policy since 1990. Records of requests for operational low flying are not maintained on a basis which differentiates between exercise and non-exercise activity.

  Desert Storm Syndrome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark), of 7 February,Official Report, column 117, if he will set out the criteria he uses to judge the scientific merits of the information on alleged Desert Storm syndrome; and from which departments of the United States Government or other United States authorities he has received information.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department has applied standard epidemiological and statistical criteria, universally employed by the medical profession when researching existing or possible new diseases, in judging the scientific merits of all information received relating to the alleged Desert Storm syndrome. The application of such criteria to information available to date has not identified any scientific evidence proving the existence of a new medical condition peculiar to service in the Gulf conflict.

  Information originating in the United States and relating to the alleged Desert Storm syndrome has been received from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and from the Congressional record.

  RAF Stafford and Carlisle
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what conditions of sale in the event of closure the land at 14MU RAF Carlisle is held by his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  Following reports from local trade unions, I have agreed that the consultation period for our proposals to close 14MU RAF Carlisle be extended to 31 March 1994. If closure is confirmed and there is no alternative defence use for, or likely former owner interest in the site, it will be offered for sale on the open market with the most favourable planning permission achievable so as to maximise the return to the taxpayer. Arrangements are already in hand for the disposal of areas of the site declared surplus before the announcement on 15 December 1993,Official Report, columns 739–40, of possible closure.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current life expectancy of the recently refurbished buildings at RAF Carlisle.
  66
  Mr. Hanley
  Thirty years.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on refurbishment and upgrading of technical facilities over the past 10 years at(a) RAF Carlisle and (b) RAF Stafford.

  Mr. Hanley
  Because of changes in budgeting arrangements detailed financial records are not available for all elements of the programmes of refurbishment and upgrading of technical facilities undertaken over the past 10 years at RAF Stafford and Carlisle. Our estimate of expenditure is as follows:

  (a) £28,000,000 at RAF Carlisle.

  (b) £49,000,000 at RAF Stafford.

  Radioactive Material (Storage)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the storage at RAF Stafford of radioactive material.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is proposed that hazardous storage, including the storage and preparation for disposal of low-grade radioactive material, primarily luminous paint, will be undertaken by a contractor on behalf of the RAF.

  RAF Equipment Supply Depots
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Cranfield institute of technology study into the relative costs of freight distribution as between each of the current RAF equipment supply depots.

  Mr. Hanley
  Yes.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British forces currently serving with the United Nations in Bosnia-Herzegovina are equipped to deal with any situation which might arise should a full-scale conflict break out involving united United Nations ground forces.

  Mr. Hanley
  British forces are deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of UNPROFOR in support of the humanitarian relief effort. Their numbers and equipment reflect this role. Contingency plans for the safety of British troops are in place and could be activated at short notice, if it became necessary to safeguard or reinforce British troops for their own protection.

  Sergeant Tomlinson
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will intervene in the case of Sergeant Tomlinson, 242 92 616, on the timing of his disciplinary hearing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The investigation by the Royal Military Police is continuing. I am unable therefore to comment on the timing of any disciplinary hearing.

  Northumberland National Park
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to hold a public inquiry in connection with any proposals to increase military activity in the Northumberland national park.
  67
  Mr. Hanley
  Any proposals relating to the further development of military facilities in the Northumberland national park will be subject to the formal planning consultation process as laid down in the Department of Environment circular 18/84.

  Maritime Operations
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have taken place in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation concept of maritime operations since 1989.

  Mr. Hanley
  NATO's concept of maritime operations has been revised to reflect changes in the strategic environment. The emphasis has shifted from defence against the threat posed by the former Warsaw pact to promoting stability, peacekeeping and crisis management.

  Operations Cauldron and Hesperus
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 January,Official Report,, columns 396–97, to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen), if he will place in the Library a copy of all papers relating to Operations Cauldron and Hesperus in 1952 and 1953, including a description of the pathogens used and the results of the experiments, plus the means of storage on land and at sea; and if he will commission an independent inquiry into the hazards to the Scottish public from these and similar experiments.

  Mr. Hanley
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Squadrons

  Detached Flights

  Volunteer Gliding Schools

  Air Experience Flights

  England

  733

  68

  21

  11

  Scotland

  97

  13

  3

  1

  Wales

  76

  2

  3

  0

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning the Air Training Corps.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Air Training Corps serves not only to foster a practical interest in the RAF and aviation, but to develop qualities such as leadership and self-disclipline. The Air Cadet Organisation is also an effective means of introducing the public to the RAF, particularly in areas where the adult service is not represented.

  The defence costs study—"Front Line First"—announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 1 December last year, is examining all aspects of support. The Air Training Corps is being studied as part of this process. It is as yet too early to speculate on the outcome of this work.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will allocate the Air Training Corps extra moneys to enable it to develop its youth work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no plans to provide extra moneys to the Air Training Corps for the purpose of developing its youth work.
  68
  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 21 February 1994:

  Parliamentary Question 35, Order Paper 14 February 1994

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking about Operations CAULDRON and HESPERUS in 1952 and 1953 has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The papers relating to Operations CAULDRON and HESPERUS are classified and it would not be in the national interest to make these available as the information therein could be misused by states seeking to acquire a biological weapons capability. The pathogens used were as follows:

  (a) Operation CAULDRON: the pathogens that cause brucellosis and plague.

  (b) Operation HESPERUS: the pathogens that cause brucellosis and tularaemia.

  The results of these trials are as indicated in the Official Report, 27 January, column 396–97.

  3. The safety aspects of handling, transport and packaging were all carefully addressed to ensure that there was no danger to any of those engaged in the trial whether on land or at sea. As indicated in the Official Report, 9 February, column 360, there is no cause to believe that there was any hazard to the public or the environment and there is no evidence to the contrary. Consequently, there is no reason to commission an independent inquiry into these trials.

  Air Training Corps
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Air Training Corps units there are in England, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested, as at 15 February 1994, is as follows:

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will visit the Air Training Corps squadron located at Hawarden, Deeside, Clwyd.

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has no current plans to visit this Air Training Corps squadron.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Air Training Corps squadrons he has visited in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Wales.

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has not visited any Air Training Corps squadrons during his term of office.

  British Arms Manufacturers
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which unit in his Department advises foreign Governments about which British arms manufacturers are suitable contractors; and to whom this unit is accountable.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Defence Export Services Organisation, which is accountable to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, gives advice to foreign Governments on all aspects of
  69
  procurement of defence equipment from companies in the United Kingdom. The choice of contractor is a matter for the purchaser.

  Malaysian Defence Contracts
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are working in the unit set up to oversee the defence contracts made between United Kingdom contractors and the Malaysian Government as a result of the 1988 memorandum of understanding; and how many of these are based(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Malaysia.

  Mr. Aitken
  There are 22 people working in the Malaysian project office, of which 10 are based in the United Kingdom and 12 in Malaysia—of those, five are locally employed staff.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has given advice to the Malaysian Government since September 1988 on the suitability of United Kingdom companies to carry out defence contracts; and to what extent this advice has included the rating of companies by reliability.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department frequently advises on the technical competence of companies, but does not make firm recommendations.

  The choice of contractors lies solely with the Malaysian Government, who have negotiated contracts directly with United Kingdom companies.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total value of the loans made available to the Government of Malaysia since September 1988 to assist them in the purchase of defence exports from the United Kingdom; when these loans will be repaid; and on what terms.

  Mr. Aitken
  All the defence purchases by Malaysia under the 1988 memorandum of understanding have been made on a cash basis.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts have been awarded to United Kingdom companies as a result of the 1988 memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian Government.

  Mr. Aitken
  Since the 1988 memorandum of understanding was signed defence contracts totalling over £1 billion pounds have been awarded to United Kingdom companies by Malaysia. These contracts cover radars and electronic equipment, training aircraft together with a flight simulator, frigates and associated equipment and air defence missile systems.

  Chinook Helicopters
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total operating costs of the RAF's Chinook helicopter fleet during the past 10 years; how many aircraft have been in service on average at any one time out of the total available; and how many hours of operational flying have been achieved in the same period.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 26 January 1994]: The total number of hours flown during the past 10 years is 99,528. Records of operating costs are not available prior
  70
  to 1989–90, since when costs have been approximately £232,000,000 and during which time some 44,200 hours have been flown. Operating costs include personnel costs and fuel and maintenance but exclude depreciation, interest on capital and station and administration costs.

  On average, 18 of of 32 aircraft have been available for front-line service at any one time. These figures reflect the need for planned maintenance and servicing.

  Piers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 528, what value was placed by his Department on the piers prior to their sale.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 21 January 1994]: The information is commercial in confidence, but the sale prices represented the market value.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those responsible for making appointments of(a) chairs and (b) members of the boards to each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 15 February 1994]: In respect of MOD executive NDPBs, appointments are made as follows:

  (a) CHAIRMEN

  Navy Museums
  Except for the Fleet Air Arm Museum (ex-officio appointment) chairmen for all other Navy Museums are appointed by the respective Museum Board.

  RAF Museum
  Appointed by Secretary of State for Defence.

  Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC)
  Appointed by SSVC council.

  Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA)
  Appointed by Secretary of State for Defence.

  (b) MEMBERS

  Navy Museums
  The Director for each Navy Museum is appointed by a special Board of the appropriate museum. All Trustees are appointed by the respective Museum Board.

  National Army Museum (NAM)
  The Director of the Museum is appointed by the council of the NAM and the Trustees are appointed by the Army Board.

  RAF Museum
  The Director of the Museum is appointed by the Trustees and the Trustees are appointed by the Secretary of State.

  Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC)
  The Board of Management is appointed by the SSVC council.

  Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA)
  Members are appointed by the Secretary of State.

  Merchant Navy (Deaths)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many men have been killed while serving in the Merchant Navy in each year since 1964.

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.
  71
  The number of Merchant Navy personnel reported as having been killed in, or who died as a result of an accident involving a United Kingdom registered merchant vessel of 100 gross tons and over since 1964 is:—

  Year

  Number of deaths

  1965

  66

  1966

  122

  1967

  78

  1968

  41

  1969

  50

  1970

  77

  1971

  29

  1972

  95

  1973

  49

  1974

  47

  1975

  71

  1976

  46

  1977

  40

  1978

  71

  1979

  47

  1980

  67

  1981

  38

  1982

  44

  1983

  15

  1984

  14

  1985

  7

  1986

  13

  1987

  44

  1988

  13

  1989

  7

  1990

  5

  1991

  8

  1992

  3

  1993

  4

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Goosanders
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 107, if she will give details of the number of goosanders shot on the Duke of Devonshire's estates; and what non-lethal scaring methods were first tried.

  Mr. Soames
  Between 1 October 1993 and 31 January 1994, seven goosanders have been shot on the Duke of Devonshire's estates. A range of non-lethal scaring methods including human presence, netting and scarecrows have been previously employed.

  Total number of cases by month confirmed and county

  County/Month: Year

  Jan-92

  Feb-92

  Mar-92

  Apr-92

  May-92

  June-92

  July-92

  Aug-92

  Sept-92

  Oct-92

  Nov-92

  Dec-92

  Total

  Avon

  53

  37

  55

  59

  47

  87

  55

  41

  55

  36

  94

  57

  676

  Bedfordshire

  7

  6

  3

  12

  12

  7

  12

  3

  9

  10

  4

  11

  96

  Berkshire

  17

  14

  9

  15

  12

  22

  17

  16

  22

  7

  14

  17

  182

  Borders

  11

  8

  6

  5

  10

  4

  5

  9

  15

  9

  9

  9

  100

  Buckinghamshire

  18

  21

  20

  14

  31

  24

  28

  19

  24

  14

  24

  17

  254

  Cambridgeshire

  7

  14

  5

  6

  11

  7

  9

  7

  8

  5

  8

  4

  91

  Central

  4

  4

  1

  3

  1

  1

  4

  1

  5

  3

  6

  5

  38

  Cheshire

  86

  75

  111

  89

  174

  122

  209

  98

  182

  167

  118

  86

  1,517

  Cleveland

  5

  1

  4

  2

  4

  3

  4

  1

  6

  3

  6

  2

  41

  Clwyd

  31

  36

  31

  63

  51

  59

  38

  33

  47

  52

  45

  51

  537

  Cornwall

  200

  181

  180

  201

  260

  309

  170

  184

  166

  244

  185

  175

  2,455

  Cumbria

  92

  85

  54

  101

  103

  132

  86

  97

  102

  115

  107

  79

  1,153

  Derbyshire

  74

  64

  60

  58

  109

  72

  93

  62

  78

  55

  86

  65

  876

  Devon

  216

  263

  240

  253

  344

  427

  264

  236

  235

  337

  250

  200

  3,265

  Birds (Killing)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 7 February,Official Report, columns 108–09, if she will give reasons in each case for the granting of licences to kill greenfinches, robins and blackbirds in 1990, and robins, blackbirds, thrush, blue tits and wrens in 1992.

  Mr. Soames
  In each case, the birds were shot for the purpose of preserving public health when they had become trapped inside premises where food supplies were at risk of contamination and where non-lethal methods of removing the birds were ineffective or impractical.

  Agricultural Wages Board
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she expects to make a decision on the future of the Agricultural wages board.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 11 January 1994,Official Report, column 50.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence she has that bovine spongiform encephalopathy is vertically transmissible, from cow to calf, or horizontally transmissible, from cow to cow.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Laboratory-based studies and epidemiological analyses have provided no unequivocal evidence of either vertical or horizontal transmission of BSE. Research is continuing to address these questions and the results will be published in due course.

  A letter published in the veterinary record of 12 February stated that the Ministry is aware of 534 confirmed cases of BSE that were offspring of dams which were confirmed cases. This in itself does not prove that transmission was from dam to calf since interpretation of data has been complicated by the fact that most of the positive offspring had also been exposed to ruminant protein.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list, by county, the number of cases of BSE in each month since January 1992.

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of cases of BSE in Great Britain listed by month of confirmation and county from January 1992 to January 1994 inclusive, are as follows:
  73

  County/Month: Year

  Jan-92

  Feb-92

  Mar-92

  Apr-92

  May-92

  June-92

  July-92

  Aug-92

  Sept-92

  Oct-92

  Nov-92

  Dec-92

  Total

  Dorset

  185

  191

  174

  199

  165

  272

  145

  130

  148

  117

  205

  127

  2,058

  Dumfries

  67

  40

  36

  26

  22

  49

  54

  36

  52

  41

  51

  44

  518

  Durham

  9

  10

  12

  5

  19

  26

  13

  7

  21

  17

  14

  12

  165

  Dyfed

  144

  147

  159

  118

  199

  219

  146

  146

  155

  165

  121

  144

  1,863

  Essex

  7

  8

  15

  19

  9

  15

  22

  5

  10

  13

  18

  27

  168

  Fife

  3

  4

  6

  4

  5

  7

  0

  4

  3

  2

  5

  12

  55

  Glamorgan Mid

  7

  2

  1

  5

  2

  2

  1

  6

  4

  7

  6

  2

  45

  Glamorgan South

  10

  7

  13

  7

  11

  6

  9

  11

  10

  10

  11

  5

  110

  Glamorgan West

  2

  0

  1

  2

  2

  5

  2

  5

  5

  1

  2

  1

  28

  Gloucestershire

  53

  38

  46

  56

  49

  87

  46

  63

  69

  38

  61

  61

  667

  Grampian

  15

  14

  14

  26

  14

  26

  22

  22

  26

  27

  30

  31

  267

  Gwent

  15

  16

  30

  17

  21

  21

  18

  16

  15

  20

  27

  16

  232

  Gwynedd

  8

  6

  8

  13

  14

  14

  12

  14

  18

  13

  17

  18

  155

  Hampshire

  63

  60

  39

  59

  58

  77

  86

  54

  52

  41

  65

  75

  729

  Hereford and Worcester

  32

  26

  60

  38

  56

  65

  55

  26

  79

  46

  32

  32

  549

  Hertfordshire

  5

  4

  4

  9

  6

  12

  16

  6

  7

  15

  9

  6

  99

  Highland

  4

  2

  6

  5

  4

  4

  1

  4

  10

  6

  7

  7

  60

  Humberside

  8

  10

  12

  3

  15

  22

  7

  3

  11

  10

  12

  22

  135

  Isle of Wight

  14

  8

  9

  13

  10

  18

  11

  9

  19

  7

  9

  10

  137

  Kent

  46

  33

  20

  26

  44

  44

  39

  32

  21

  21

  32

  41

  399

  Lancashire

  70

  89

  70

  121

  104

  142

  107

  125

  86

  147

  124

  115

  1,300

  Leicestershire

  65

  45

  43

  35

  58

  59

  47

  59

  67

  41

  60

  36

  615

  Lincolnshire

  15

  15

  14

  19

  13

  20

  25

  16

  17

  13

  9

  21

  197

  London

  2

  2

  1

  2

  3

  3

  4

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  23

  Lothian

  6

  3

  0

  3

  7

  3

  1

  1

  3

  5

  7

  3

  42

  Manchester

  3

  5

  3

  5

  1

  5

  3

  4

  6

  7

  9

  6

  57

  Merseyside

  4

  3

  1

  5

  1

  4

  4

  2

  4

  1

  4

  1

  34

  Norfolk

  80

  64

  26

  55

  96

  109

  87

  59

  49

  33

  52

  86

  796

  Northamptonshire

  32

  26

  9

  20

  31

  17

  14

  29

  15

  20

  28

  28

  269

  Northumberland

  7

  11

  11

  21

  34

  31

  21

  8

  24

  19

  31

  22

  240

  Nottinghamshire

  14

  19

  7

  10

  24

  18

  31

  18

  14

  7

  28

  16

  206

  Orkney

  0

  3

  0

  2

  2

  0

  1

  1

  2

  3

  3

  3

  20

  Oxford

  60

  51

  28

  30

  54

  48

  56

  32

  34

  24

  28

  58

  503

  Powys

  29

  20

  25

  32

  59

  63

  51

  23

  45

  43

  37

  34

  461

  Shropshire

  49

  40

  82

  50

  81

  131

  73

  66

  91

  69

  64

  63

  859

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Somerset

  239

  239

  214

  249

  209

  361

  206

  187

  204

  164

  309

  126

  2,707

  Staffordshire

  39

  64

  70

  87

  95

  141

  81

  43

  116

  89

  76

  59

  960

  Strathclyde

  41

  34

  23

  18

  25

  31

  43

  25

  43

  46

  40

  29

  398

  Suffolk

  32

  32

  17

  19

  36

  37

  44

  35

  31

  24

  25

  24

  356

  Surrey

  20

  27

  15

  20

  30

  25

  27

  21

  22

  13

  17

  30

  267

  Sussex, East

  38

  35

  23

  30

  32

  46

  39

  19

  37

  11

  27

  37

  374

  Sussex, West

  70

  56

  43

  62

  62

  58

  52

  43

  57

  28

  46

  68

  645

  Tayside

  3

  11

  4

  7

  6

  8

  3

  6

  17

  18

  15

  14

  112

  Tyne and Wear

  2

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  2

  1

  1

  0

  10

  West Midlands

  1

  0

  4

  0

  3

  6

  4

  2

  3

  2

  2

  0

  27

  Warwickshire

  21

  19

  22

  18

  31

  47

  31

  11

  20

  18

  17

  39

  294

  Wiltshire

  124

  111

  127

  136

  103

  182

  154

  94

  119

  119

  69

  98

  1,436

  Yorkshire, North

  96

  97

  106

  95

  153

  175

  124

  85

  164

  115

  120

  141

  1,471

  Yorkshire, South

  4

  6

  11

  10

  6

  16

  12

  5

  12

  10

  16

  8

  116

  Yorkshire, West

  12

  9

  18

  11

  24

  24

  13

  3

  25

  19

  17

  20

  195

  Total number of cases by month confirmed and county

  County/Month: Year

  Jan-93

  Feb-93

  Mar-93

  Apr-93

  May-93

  June-93

  July-93

  Aug-93

  Sept-93

  Oct-93

  Nov-93

  Dec-93

  Total

  Avon

  82

  63

  65

  55

  59

  53

  38

  37

  31

  57

  58

  37

  635

  Bedfordshire

  11

  8

  13

  7

  4

  11

  8

  6

  6

  2

  9

  13

  98

  Berkshire

  21

  14

  14

  8

  18

  9

  8

  13

  13

  15

  17

  7

  157

  Borders

  15

  20

  15

  11

  15

  15

  5

  9

  10

  10

  13

  16

  154

  Buckinghamshire

  46

  37

  30

  23

  33

  21

  19

  27

  19

  23

  34

  21

  333

  Cambridgeshire

  14

  15

  13

  7

  12

  16

  11

  7

  6

  9

  12

  8

  130

  Central

  3

  9

  10

  1

  5

  2

  11

  5

  3

  4

  9

  5

  67

  Cheshire

  166

  172

  136

  122

  115

  142

  98

  125

  100

  109

  166

  106

  1,557

  Cleveland

  6

  8

  7

  4

  4

  5

  0

  9

  2

  5

  3

  5

  58

  Clwyd

  48

  67

  54

  53

  39

  67

  51

  50

  48

  54

  49

  44

  624

  Cornwall

  145

  318

  222

  209

  129

  205

  156

  79

  151

  218

  135

  157

  2,124

  Cumbria

  149

  134

  117

  150

  88

  94

  79

  83

  104

  90

  145

  95

  1,328

  Derbyshire

  96

  84

  130

  75

  54

  103

  47

  64

  79

  63

  96

  50

  941

  Devon

  285

  330

  250

  242

  209

  218

  214

  281

  232

  208

  253

  190

  2,912

  Dorset

  180

  181

  162

  203

  107

  181

  110

  163

  124

  131

  178

  102

  1,822

  Dumfries

  72

  58

  68

  45

  66

  66

  36

  56

  22

  68

  68

  46

  671

  Durham

  23

  16

  14

  12

  13

  14

  3

  12

  12

  20

  16

  16

  171

  Dyfed

  190

  229

  179

  157

  151

  149

  136

  119

  133

  130

  194

  136

  1,903

  Essex

  20

  14

  21

  13

  19

  18

  14

  18

  11

  15

  22

  14

  199

  Fife

  13

  8

  7

  8

  10

  6

  3

  9

  10

  8

  9

  14

  105

  74 75

  County/Month: Year

  Jan-93

  Feb-93

  Mar-93

  Apr-93

  May-93

  June-93

  July-93

  Aug-93

  Sept-93

  Oct-93

  Nov-93

  Dec-93

  Total

  Glamorgan Mid

  5

  4

  5

  5

  3

  4

  4

  1

  4

  1

  10

  5

  51

  Glamorgan South

  8

  16

  11

  5

  9

  7

  7

  8

  9

  9

  10

  7

  106

  Glamorgan West

  6

  2

  1

  0

  6

  3

  3

  0

  2

  6

  4

  3

  36

  Gloucestershire

  95

  57

  82

  52

  50

  40

  31

  47

  41

  60

  63

  34

  652

  Grampian

  35

  43

  29

  36

  26

  34

  29

  21

  27

  36

  47

  33

  396

  Gwent

  27

  37

  31

  19

  25

  11

  16

  22

  13

  13

  23

  18

  255

  Gwynedd

  17

  20

  19

  11

  14

  12

  9

  12

  16

  17

  17

  22

  186

  Hampshire

  91

  39

  106

  51

  81

  63

  51

  49

  67

  40

  72

  29

  739

  Hereford and Worcester

  54

  77

  52

  55

  61

  38

  35

  50

  58

  50

  70

  46

  646

  Hertfordshire

  17

  9

  12

  6

  19

  22

  4

  15

  8

  14

  16

  14

  156

  Highland

  12

  7

  7

  5

  4

  9

  4

  11

  4

  6

  9

  11

  89

  Humberside

  31

  19

  19

  15

  20

  16

  12

  22

  17

  16

  13

  14

  214

  Isle of Wight

  14

  8

  24

  14

  13

  18

  3

  5

  8

  11

  13

  6

  137

  Kent

  64

  17

  34

  25

  63

  52

  23

  30

  48

  25

  35

  39

  455

  Lancashire

  158

  105

  130

  173

  103

  125

  78

  89

  104

  95

  120

  75

  1,355

  Leicestershire

  88

  38

  67

  59

  37

  68

  51

  39

  61

  38

  78

  40

  664

  Lincolnshire

  27

  5

  24

  13

  23

  31

  11

  16

  14

  34

  25

  29

  252

  London

  2

  1

  8

  3

  3

  4

  0

  4

  1

  3

  1

  4

  34

  Lothian

  8

  8

  5

  6

  3

  8

  3

  4

  3

  9

  3

  8

  68

  Manchester

  9

  3

  12

  8

  12

  12

  6

  4

  4

  8

  11

  5

  94

  Merseyside

  2

  1

  4

  5

  0

  1

  1

  1

  5

  0

  4

  1

  25

  Norfolk

  106

  25

  80

  29

  95

  107

  80

  111

  76

  64

  105

  88

  966

  Northamptonshire

  43

  15

  30

  17

  35

  23

  15

  20

  22

  19

  23

  20

  282

  Northumberland

  38

  18

  32

  13

  22

  20

  13

  23

  14

  33

  19

  35

  280

  Nottinghamshire

  19

  18

  26

  21

  27

  19

  13

  16

  19

  9

  19

  6

  212

  Orkney

  2

  4

  5

  3

  2

  1

  1

  2

  2

  5

  3

  3

  33

  Oxford

  66

  39

  44

  44

  33

  39

  21

  49

  20

  24

  46

  29

  454

  Powys

  56

  59

  46

  49

  33

  47

  45

  48

  56

  36

  66

  53

  594

  Shropshire

  98

  98

  80

  68

  74

  90

  59

  79

  61

  71

  101

  67

  946

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Somerset

  287

  268

  270

  220

  110

  316

  163

  167

  216

  175

  227

  116

  2,535

  Staffordshire

  78

  113

  97

  67

  72

  118

  70

  96

  92

  66

  74

  49

  992

  Strathclyde

  59

  66

  47

  29

  47

  50

  19

  32

  26

  60

  61

  44

  540

  Suffolk

  56

  22

  33

  35

  48

  54

  22

  44

  28

  32

  47

  43

  464

  Surrey

  36

  11

  32

  17

  40

  24

  16

  13

  17

  16

  26

  21

  269

  Sussex, East

  50

  19

  36

  26

  48

  49

  13

  26

  22

  24

  50

  31

  394

  Sussex, West

  97

  36

  62

  51

  80

  66

  42

  58

  50

  40

  58

  62

  702

  Tayside

  19

  13

  11

  12

  13

  4

  12

  10

  10

  17

  11

  12

  144

  Tyne and Wear

  3

  3

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  16

  West Midlands

  3

  1

  4

  5

  3

  1

  1

  3

  2

  0

  7

  5

  35

  Warwickshire

  34

  27

  43

  27

  34

  29

  22

  35

  27

  30

  35

  27

  370

  Wiltshire

  168

  163

  166

  108

  123

  127

  79

  93

  97

  85

  145

  81

  1,435

  Yorkshire, North

  181

  151

  164

  97

  160

  130

  106

  157

  97

  143

  93

  141

  1,620

  Yorkshire, South

  14

  16

  24

  8

  9

  7

  12

  13

  12

  15

  5

  10

  145

  Yorkshire, West

  29

  26

  20

  13

  21

  16

  17

  23

  12

  25

  18

  23

  243

  Number of confirmed cases in January 1994 by county

  Number

  Avon

  19

  Bedfordshire

  5

  Berkshire

  8

  Borders

  20

  Buckinghamshire

  18

  Cambridgeshire

  6

  Central

  8

  Cheshire

  102

  Cleveland

  7

  Clwyd

  44

  Cornwall

  79

  Cumbria

  69

  Derbyshire

  78

  Devon

  93

  Dorset

  75

  Dumfries

  86

  Durham

  17

  Dyfed

  131

  Essex

  9

  Fife

  7

  Mid Glamorgan

  1

  South Glamorgan

  10

  West Glamorgan

  2

  Gloucestershire

  21

  Grampion

  29

  Gwent

  10

  Gwynedd

  10

  76

  Number

  Hampshire

  90

  Hereford and Worcester

  21

  Hertfordshire

  5

  Highland

  13

  Humberside

  27

  Isle of Wight

  11

  Kent

  14

  Lancashire

  76

  Leicestershire

  49

  Lincolnshire

  11

  London

  1

  Lothian

  6

  Manchester

  4

  Merseyside

  3

  Norfolk

  38

  Northamptonshire

  13

  Northumberland

  40

  Nottinghamshire

  19

  Orkney

  3

  Oxfordshire

  20

  Powys

  55

  Shropshire

  70

  Somerset

  115

  Staffordshire

  62

  Strathclyde

  53

  Suffolk

  30

  Surrey

  9

  East Sussex

  31

  West Sussex

  40

  77

  Number

  Tayside

  18

  Tyne and Wear

  3

  West Midlands

  1

  Warwickshire

  18

  Wiltshire

  41

  North Yorkshire

  161

  South Yorkshire

  19

  West Yorkshire

  30

  Grants and Licences
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list all grants and licences issued by her Department; what is the target response time for applications for these grants and licences; in what form this information is published; and what was the comparable situation in April 1992.

  Mr. Jack
  An extensive, but not exhaustive, list of grants and licences with relevant target times was published in the Ministry's regional service standard "Commitment to Service" in December 1992. A copy of that document is in the Library of the House. It is planned to publish a revision of "Commitment to Service", which will extend targets to other grant and licence schemes, in May this year. Comparative information on performance against targets will be published later in the year and copies will be available on request from Ministry regional service centres.

  EU Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations she proposes to have with representatives of the fishing industry to discuss the EU proposal for a Council regulation fixing management objectives and strategies for certain fisheries or groups of fisheries for the period 1994 to 1997; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  This complex proposal has recently been published by the European Commission. It requires clarification and careful study, including by scientists. When Fisheries Departments have obtained fuller information from the Commission and have analysed its implications, discussion will be arranged with representatives of the fishing industry.

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make it her policy to grant notifiable livestock disease status to sheep scab; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Most of the detailed measures on the control of sheep scab were removed by the repeal of secondary legislation in July 1992. The Government have already announced that they intend to use the deregulation order making powers in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill, if enacted, to complete this process by amending the Animal Health Act 1981 to remove(a) the powers of Ministers to make orders under it on the periodic treatment of sheep scab and (b) the obligation on farmers to notify outbreaks of sheep scab. We propose to achieve the second point by removing sheep scab from the definition of "disease" in the Act.
  78
  I have no other plans to require the notification of sheep scab.

  Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make it her policy to grant notifiable livestock disease status to bovine immunodeficiency virus; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  We have no such plans. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler),Official Report, 10 February column 430.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents of bovine immunodeficiency virus have been reported for each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  No cases of disease caused by bovine immunodeficiency virus have been identified by the Department in the last five years. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones),Official Report, 18 February column 1057–58.

  Agricultural Development Operational Programme
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions she has had with her ministerial colleague in Northern Ireland concerning the reinstatement of the agricultural development operational programme scheme; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  I have been asked to reply on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. She has not had any discussions with my noble Friend concerning the reinstatement of the ADOP scheme. The successor to ADOP forms part of the Northern Ireland structural funds plan that has been submitted direct to the European Commission. Officials from the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland are currently negotiating with the Commission on the detail of the new community support framework, which will implement the plan, and it is hoped that agreement will be reached by May with implementation following as soon as possible thereafter.

  Special Conservation Areas
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to ensure that additional resources will be made available to(a) English Nature, (b) the Countryside Council for Wales, (c) the Nature Conservation Committee and (d) Scottish Natural Heritage for the designation and management of special areas of conservation in accordance with the EC habitants and species directive 43/92/EEC.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have been asked to reply.

  Grant-in-aid to English Nature for the financial year 1994–95 will be £40·4 million, an increase of 6·5 per cent. over 1993–94. Scottish Natural Heritage will receive £39·9 million and the Countryside Council for Wales £20·6 million, increases of 10·4 per cent. and 3·8 per cent. respectively. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee receives its funding from the grants-in-aid made to the other nature conservation agencies, but the level of their funding for 1994–95 has not yet been determined. Resources made available to all the agencies responsible

  79
  for countryside and nature conservation have increased by over 240 per cent. in real terms over the past 10 years. The Secretaries of State for the Environment, Scotland and Wales have asked nature conservation agencies to give implementation of the habitats directive the highest priority for available resources.

TRANSPORT

  Rail Services (Competition)
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what priority the Government will give to competition in the future development of rail services.

  Mr. Freeman
  One of the objectives of our railway policy is to increase competition. This will be achieved by, for example, the competitive letting of passenger franchises and by competition between rail freight operating companies.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future route of the east London river crossing.

  Mr. Norris
  The way ahead for the crossing is being considered as part of the national review of the trunk road programme. An announcement will be made in due course.

  Blackwall Third Crossing
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement about the Blackwall third crossing.

  Mr. Norris
  We still need to give a good deal of thought to what we should do to respond to the public consultation exercise. Considerable concern was expressed about the environmental consequences of the bridge option. But I also recognise that development of the Greenwich peninsula and other areas of docklands could be hampered by ever-increasing congestion at the current Blackwall crossings. I will make an announcement in due course.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has from previous privatisations of transport industries that passengers will benefit from the privatisation of British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Airways has been transformed into one of the world's leading airlines since privatisation, with passengers benefiting from its innovative approach and commitment to high standards of service which regularly win international awards.

  The privatisation of bus companies has resulted in great efficiency, more choice, more bus miles, innovative services and lower cost to the taxpayer.

  The best way to achieve our obective of improving the quality of service for rail users is to give the private sector similar opportunities to provide existing, and new, rail services.

  Heathrow (Night Flights)
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the current restrictions on night flights at Heathrow.

  Mr. Norris
  The current winter season lasts from 24 October 1993 until 27 March this year. During the preceding consultation, we received representations from local authorities, environmental groups, the airports, airlines and aviation bodies. We have aimed to maintain the balance between the needs of the aviation industry and the concerns of local people.

  Tower Hill-west Docklands River Crossing
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how investigations are proceeding into the Tower hill-west docklands river crossing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The relevant local authorities feel it prudent to take a closer look at the condition and operation of Tower bridge and Rotherhithe tunnel. I am sure they are right to do so. The results will help them to decide what, if any, further steps are needed. Therefore, no plans for new river crossings currently exist or are being pursued.

  Motorway Charges
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the first toll-paying motorway to be opened.

  Mr. Key
  The introduction of tolling on existing motorways will depend on the development of suitable electronic technology and on Parliament's approval of the necessary legislation. It is not possible to give a target date, although we expect tolling to be technically feasible within about five years.

  The privately financed Birmingham northern relief road, a new road which is being promoted under existing legislation, could be open at about the turn of the century, subject to satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he can give comparative figures for the level of motorway charges in other European countries compared with the levels mentioned in his Green Paper, "Paying for Better Motorways".

  Mr. Key
  As I said in my answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 79, average tolls for cars on motorways in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal are between about 5p and 10p per mile. In Greece, they are up to 4p per mile. The levels of electronic tolls for cars discussed in the Green Paper were between 0·5p and 1·5p per mile.

  A1
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to widen the Al at Newcastle; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  There are no current plans to widen the Al at Newcastle.

  East Coast Main Line
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with local authorities in the north-east of Scotland relating io the electrification of the east coast main line between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 29 November 1993,Official Report, column 347.

  Northern Line
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects London Transport to complete modernisation of the Northern line.

  Mr. Norris
  The implementation of individual investment schemes is a matter for London Underground. I understand that the timing of this project is currently under review.

  Transatlantic Air Routes
  Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made towards liberalisation of transatlantic air routes.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) earlier today.

  Twyford Down
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date the contract with Bray's Detective Agency for surveillance of the Twyford down section of the M3 began; and on what date it will end;

  (2) what is the total cost to date of the contract with Bray's Detective Agency for surveillance of the M3, Twyford down section.

  Mr. Key
  Bray's Detective Agency, Southampton, has been employed since March 1992 to service papers and collect evidence of trespass on the M3 construction site. At present, its contract runs until the end of July 1994. By the end of January this year, the agency had been paid approximately £228,000.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total cost to date of legal action taken against protestors concerning the Twyford down section of the M3.

  Mr. Key
  The total cost of legal fees to date in connection with action against trespassers on the M3 construction site is approximately £165,000, excluding value added tax.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when it is expected the Twyford down section of the M3 will be completed.

  Mr. Key
  The motorway is due to be completed in the autumn.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost to date of running the vehicle registration office review in the DVLA; and what budget has been set aside for the whole review.
  82
  Mr. Key
  The sums are £66,000 and £115,000, including VAT.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total running cost of the voluntary redundancy scheme in the DVLA last year; what were the numbers and grades of the staff taking advantage of the scheme; and from which budget the money originated.

  Mr. Key
  There were no redundancies. Some 194 staff left DVLA under a voluntary early retirement scheme in March 1993:

  Grade

  Numbers

  Support grades 2

  22

  Support grades 1

  2

  Adninistrative assistants

  51

  Administrative officers

  66

  Executive officers

  26

  Higher executive officers

  11

  Senior executive officers

  3

  Grade 7

  4

  Medical officer

  1

  Typists

  5

  Personal secretary

  1

  Typing manager

  1

  Chief typing manager

  1

  Stores officer Gd D

  1

  194

  The total running costs of the scheme, including advance funding of the principal civil service pension fund, amounted to some £3 million from the agency's voted running costs provision.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many grade 7s and above in the DVI,A received bonus payments and what was the total cost of those payments, in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Key
  The figures are as follows:

  Number of payments

  Total Value

  1990–91:

  1

  £400

  1991–92:

  5

  £2,500

  1992–93:

  1

  £2,250

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each visit made by the chief executive of the DVLA to the Department of Transport Headquarters in Marsham street in the last six months.

  Mr. Key
  Between, August 1993 and January 1994, the chief executive visited the headquarters on 3 August, 2, 17, 22, 27 and 28 September, 12, 22, 27 and 28 October, 4, 5, 12, 23 and 29 November, 7 and 15 December, 10, 12, 13, 17 and 30 January.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much additional funding was made available this financial year to vehicle registration office staff to clear unactioned reports; and from which budget this money came.

  Mr. Key
  Some £100,000 was made available in November 1993 for selected offices to recruit casual staff or work overtime until 31 March 1994 to meet very high
  83
  receipts of offence reports from police and traffic wardens. This sum was made available from in-year efficiency savings on other activities of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the figures for travel and subsistence made by the chief executive of the DVLA in the last six and 12 months.

  Mr. Key
  Expenditure on the chief executive's travel and subsistence over the periods requested were:

  Six months

  August 1993 to January 1994

  £3,530

  12 months

  February 1993 to January 1994

  £8,100

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why additional funding was made available to the DVLA to clear unactioned reports this financial year; and whether extra funds will be made available for the same purpose next year.

  Mr. Key
  Some £100,000 was made available to deal with specific problems of high levels of unactioned reports. The extra funding is expected to produce 10,000 more successful cases this year worth £640,000 in additional revenue.

  The targets and budgets for next year have yet to be decided.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of the official car supplied to the chief executive of the DVLA; what was the cost of purchase; and what are then actual running costs.

  Mr. Key
  The chief executive does not have an official car.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each visit made by the chief executive of the DVLA to vehicle registration offices, London enforcement offices and DVLA area offices in the last six months.

  Mr. Key
  During the period August 1993 to January 1994, the chief executive visited:

  Stoke on Trent vehicle registration office, 5 August.

  Birmingham vehicle registration office, 6 August and 28 January.

  Edinburgh vehicle registration office and the area office, 18 November.

  Dundee vehicle registration office, 18 November.

  London enforcement office, Great Marlborough street, 13 December.

  M1
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cause of a 10-mile tailback on the MI north of the junction with the M25 on Monday 14 February; and what steps were taken to issue warning of extensive delays on BBC and other radio stations.

  Mr. Key
  Following adverse weather conditions, and despite treatment of the carriageways, there were numerous breakdowns on the M1 and M25 motorways during Monday 14 February. As a result there were queues of traffic much greater than normally experienced on Monday mornings.

  As is usual in such situations, the media and motoring associations were in regular contact with the police. General and specific warnings of delays and extreme driving conditions were given by national and local radio stations, based on the information provided.
  84
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest estimate of the cost for widening the M1 between junctions 28 and 32.

  Mr. Key
  The works cost will depend on what options are pursued, but on present estimates it is likely to be around £170 million at 1992 prices.

  Cherished Number Transfers
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list which vehicle registration offices offer over-the-counter service for cherished number transfers.

  Mr. Key
  Provision of an over-the-counter service will be determined by a number of factors including the variable demand for this service at different offices and at different times; the need for inspection of the donor vehicle, the availability of trained staff and limitations on parking for vehicles to be inspected.

  Currently the service availability is as follows:

  Offices providing an over-the-counter service, where no inspection is required.
  Aberdeen, Bangor, Bristol, Cardiff, Chester, Exeter, Gloucester, Guildford, Haverfordwest, Hull, Liverpool, Sheffield, Swansea, Taunton.

  Offices providing a service within 24 hours, where no inspection is required.
  Birmingham, Bournemouth, Leicester, Northampton, Nottingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Shrewsbury, Stoke, Truro.

  Offices providing a service within 10 working days.
  Brighton, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Coventry, Croydon, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Ilford, Inverness, Ipswich, Leeds, Lincoln, London Central, Luton, Maidstone, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Norwich, Peterborough, Stanmore, Swindon, Worcester.

  Of the 51 offices, 14 provide an over-the-counter service, 12 offices provide a 24-hour service, the remaining 25 offices meet the 10-day target date. The majority complete the full processing including inspection within five days.

  St. Paul's Avenue, Blackburn
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decision has been made with regard to the application by Blackburn borough council for the closure to vehicles of St. Paul's avenue, Blackburn.

  Mr. Key
  We have decided to advertise the proposal. A final decision on it will not be taken until any objections have been considered.

  Vehicle Registration Office
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account will be taken in the vehicle registration office review of the effect on people with disabilities of the possible closure of the VRO network.

  Mr. Key
  The needs of all VRO customers, including those with disabilities, will be taken into account when I consider the options for the future of the VRO network.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to discuss with the Police Federation or any disabled groups as part of phase 2 of the vehicle registration office review the options arising from phase 1 of the review.
  85
  Mr. Key
  The consultants conducting the review on my behalf are taking into account the views of representatives of the police and disabled organisations and other VRO customers in making recommendations on the future of the VRO network.

  Drink-driving
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a breakdown by sex, age and occupation of those arrested for drink-driving over the Christmas period.

  Mr. Key
  Information for the 1993 Christmas campaign is not available. Information about three previous campaigns, relating to convictions rather than arrests, is as follows:

  (a) Drink-drive convictions for offences committed between 19 December and 1 January, male and female:

  Year

  Male

  Female

  Total

  1990–91

  4,195

  356

  4,551

  1991–92

  3,955

  343

  4,298

  1992–93

  2,994

  264

  3,258

  (b) Age distribution of drivers convicted under (a):

  Year

  20 or less Per cent

  20–30 Percent

  Over 30 Per cent

  1990–91

  11·6

  39·9

  48·5

  1991–92

  9·6

  41·5

  48·9

  1992–93

  10·0

  38·8

  51·2

  Information on occupation or socio-economic group of drivers convicted is not available.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to conduct a sociological study of hardcore drink-drivers in order to re-evaluate the drink-drive campaigns.

  Mr. Key
  We have recently established such a study in collaboration with the Portman Group.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) drink related accidents, (b) fatal accidents arising from drink-driving and (c) drink-related accidents during the Christmas period campaigns occurred in each year since 1986.

  Mr. Key
  The following table gives estimates of the number of road accidents in each year since 1986 in which at least one driver or motorcycle rider was above the legal alcohol limit and at least one person was(a) injured or (b) killed. Similar information relating to the periods of the Chistmas campaigns is not available.

  (a) Drink-related road accidents

  (b) Drink-related fatal road accidents

  1986

  16,940

  850

  1987

  15,560

  780

  1988

  14,520

  680

  1989

  14,390

  700

  1990

  13,210

  650

  1991

  11,690

  570

  1992

  10,840

  510

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the findings of his review into the provision of seat belts in buses which take children to and from school; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  I expect to receive a report on the review of the full technical and cost implications of the compulsory fitment of seat belts in minibuses and coaches within the next few weeks. I cannot anticipate when decisions will be taken; but we shall be publishing our conclusions.

  Rail (Financing Limit)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is now in a position to announce the external financing limit for British Rail, Railtrack and the franchising director from 1 April for the financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. Freeman
  The external finance limits for the railway industry were announced in the unified Budget. The division of these external finance limits between British Rail and Railtrack, and the grant level for 1994–95 will be published in the Department of Transport Report in March.

  European Passenger Services Ltd
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his plans are for the future ownership of European Passenger Services Ltd.

  Mr. MacGregor
  On 11 November 1993 I announced the Government's intention to privatise EPS by transferring it as part of the Government's financial contribution, to the private sector partner chosen to construct and operate the channel tunnel rail link, CTRL. As a first step in this process I have decided to transfer the company to Government ownership as soon as the necessary legal and contractual changes can be made. Mr. P. J. Butler, CBE, FCA, the immediate past senior partner of KPMG Peat Marwick will become a member of the BR board on 1 March and chairman of EPS in April. Mr. Butler will manage the tranfer of EPS from BR to Government ownership.

  Woodford Aerodrome
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Tansport if the Civil Aviation Authority has granted full category 4 standard, as laid down by documents CAP 168, at Woodford aerodrome in Greater Manchester; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the safety regulation of civil aviation in the United Kingdom. Its fire safety branch has informed me that its records show that in accordance with document CAP 168, the scale of rescue and fire-fighting services, RFFS, provided at Woodford aerodrome has been to category 4 standard for the past five years. There is no evidence of a proposal to change the scale of protection currently being provided.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will answer the questions from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton tabled for answer on 27 January regarding the appointments he makes to public bodies.

  Mr. Norris
  Some questions have already been answered. The others will be answered in due course.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work the railway inspectorate of the health and safety inspectorate has done to determine if a long tunnel under Boxley valley on the channel tunnel rail link would have to be a twin bore tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The extra cost of the mid Kent long tunnel compared with the short tunnel is around £65 million, based on twin track in a single bore, which the Government did not consider was justified. Union Railways needs take no further its safety studies and discussions with Her Majesty's railway inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive on the acceptability of a single bore for the rejected long tunnel option. Single tracks in twin bores would have cost a further £50 million for the long tunnel.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation arrangements will apply for those properties affected by the channel tunnel rail link which lie outside the safeguarded zone.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer to the answers given on 15 February to my hon. Friend and to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith),Official Report, column 724.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision has been made for appeal against decisions by Union Railways on compensation due to the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Lands Tribunal would settle any disputes on statutory compensation for compulsory purchase and compensation for loss of value due to the physical effects of the operation of the railway—available 12 months after the railway opens under part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973. If agreement cannot be reached on advance voluntary purchase of homes within the surface safeguarded area, blight notices could be served and any disputes could then be settled by the Lands Tribunal. The purchase scheme in cases of hardship, for homes likely to be affected by noise above the threshold for noise insulation compensation, is not a statutory requirement and decisions are entirely at the discretion of Union Railways. Provision for property purchases has been made within the present public expenditure survey.

  Typists
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by annual staff report marking the number of typists receiving box 1, box 2, box 3, box 4 and box 5 performance markings in the last year.

  Mr. Norris
  In the reporting year 1991–92—the last full year for which figures are available—six typists received box 1; 147 box 2; 181 box 3; and four box 4 ASR markings. No typist received a box 5 marking.

  Track Charges
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning access to track charges on Britain's railways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend received various representations since the Government's proposals for charging for access to the railways were first set out in February 1993. The proposed approach to initial charges to be adopted by Railtrack from 1 April was set out in my right hon. Friend's reply to a question from the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 15 February,Official Report, columns 716–17.

  Horse Users and Cyclists, London
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of horse users and cyclists using the roads of London currently and 10 and 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department has no records of the numbers of horses owned or ridden in London.

  The estimated number of Londoners—defined here as people resident within the M25—using cycles on a typical weekday, excluding school holidays, is:

  Year

  Number

  1991

  138,000

  1981

  185,000

  Data are not available for 1971.

  Stonehenge
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take part in the international conference and exhibition in support of the proposal by English Heritage for a long bored tunnel under the Stonehenge world heritage site to take traffic at present using the A303 trunk road.

  Mr. Norris
  Yes. Those attending would wish to know the highway authority's requirements for the safe construction, use and maintenance of such a solution in such a location.

  Class A Roads
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the locations at which road calmers have been allowed on class A roads.

  Mr. Key
  This information is not collected centrally. Where highway authorities wish to use road humps or other traffic calming features which conform with the established regulations, they are free to do so without reference to the Department of Transport.

  M25
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to publish full and final proposals for link roads alongside the M25 between junctions 12 and 15; and when he expects the public inquiry to begin.
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  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 17 February 1994]: I expect to publish draft orders for the M25 link roads between junctions 12 and 15 following completing of the road programme review. This should lead to the public inquiry starting towards the end of the year.

  Sir Christopher Thompson
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the appointment of Sir Christopher Thompson, his special adviser on the privatisation of British Rail, as a director of Railtrack.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]:I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 25 November 1993, Official Report, column 102.

  Sir Christopher Foster
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 25 November,Official Report, column 102, if he will set out those terms of his original appointment of Sir Christopher Foster which prevented conflicts of interest arising between his role as adviser to the Department of Transport and his position as a director of Coopers and Lybrand.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: The arrangements for Sir Christopher Foster's secondment to the Secretary of State for Transport as special adviser stated that he would be subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Acts and would be expected to abide by the conditions and rules governing the conduct of civil servants. In particular, he would be required to observe the rules governing political activities and the need to avoid situations that may lead to conflicts of interest.

  Greece (Marine Pollution)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made to the Greek authorities since May 1993 in respect of the alleged dumping of coal residue in international waters west of Shetland in 1992 by the Greek registered vessel MV Tigris; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: Following the outcome of the investigation by the Greek authorities, notified to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in May 1993, and set out in my reply to the hon. Member on 15 June at column 530, no further representations have been made to the Greek authorities.

  My Department has discussed with the Treasury Solicitor and the aviation and maritime department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office whether the case can be taken further, either in the United Kingdom or with the Greek authorities, to try to secure a prosecution under MARPOL. The outcome of these discussions is that without any new evidence, no further progress can be made.

  Number of full-time nurses

  Health Authority area

  Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Pembrokeshire

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Common services authority1

  Wales

  Excluding learners

  1979

  1,785

  21,375

  2—

  1,947

  1,138

  2,404

  530

  2,023

  1,463

  —

  12,665

  1980

  1,900

  21,406

  2—

  2,083

  1,167

  2,530

  567

  2,111

  1,514

  —

  13,278

  Railtrack
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that a fixed minimum proportion of Railtrack's income from rail franchisees is re-allocated to the franchise director; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: My right hon. Friend set out the approach to charges for access to Railtrack's network in his reply to a question from the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 15 February at column 716. Income to Railtrack from franchised train operators will be set at a level to allow Railtrack to recover its costs, including a return on capital. The franchising director will have sufficient grant to enable franchisees to pay access charges in respect of socially necessary services.

  Stanwell Buses Ltd.
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects Stanwell Buses Ltd., trading as Westlink, to be sold.

  Mr. Norris
  London Buses Ltd. sold Stanwell Buses Ltd., trading as Westlink, to a management buy-out team for £1·937 million on 19 January.

WALES

  Woodland Planting Schemes
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to offer new grants to encourage the participation of farmers in woodland planting schemes in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Government are keen to encourage the participation of farmers in woodland planting schemes in Wales. The forestry review group is now reviewing the effectiveness of the current incentives for forestry investment, and Ministers expect to receive the review group's advice soon.

  Nurses
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the total number of full-time nurses employed by the national health service for each health authority and for Wales as a whole for each year since 1964.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information available, which relates to directly employed nursing and midwifery staff in post as at 30 September, is given in the tables. Information for years prior to 1979 is not readily available.
  91

  Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Pembrokeshire

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Common services authority1

  Wales

  1981

  2,021

  21,427

  2—

  2,153

  1,244

  2,691

  576

  2,246

  1,653

  —

  14,011

  1982

  2,095

  1,192

  291

  2,194

  1,217

  2,729

  617

  2,408

  1,723

  —

  14,466

  1983

  2,139

  1,269

  277

  2,292

  1,245

  2,778

  682

  2,373

  1,807

  —

  14,862

  1984

  2,200

  1,355

  301

  2,328

  1,316

  2,869

  676

  2,529

  1,841

  —

  15,415

  1985

  2,233

  1,314

  321

  2,321

  1,433

  3,003

  688

  2,698

  1,934

  —

  15,945

  1986

  2,259

  1,373

  317

  2,305

  1,386

  3,094

  668

  2,690

  1,994

  —

  16,086

  1987

  2,223

  1,403

  309

  2,291

  1,432

  3,285

  660

  2,782

  2,052

  —

  16,437

  1988

  2,190

  1,382

  324

  2,322

  1,448

  3,265

  700

  2,952

  2,028

  2

  16,613

  1989

  2,194

  1,371

  339

  2,438

  1,478

  3,289

  704

  3,033

  2,057

  6

  16,909

  1990

  2,163

  1,436

  346

  2,450

  1,492

  3,321

  666

  3,050

  2,068

  10

  17,002

  1991

  2,246

  1,420

  365

  2,380

  1,502

  3,312

  688

  2,943

  2,076

  66

  16,998

  19923

  2,275

  1,449

  344

  2,343

  1,519

  3,461

  651

  3,122

  2,189

  67

  17,420

  19933

  2,221

  1,443

  238

  2,216

  1,567

  3,409

  618

  3,087

  2,217

  68

  17,084

  Learners4

  1979

  468

  2316

  2—

  509

  237

  767

  59

  736

  498

  —

  3,590

  1980

  467

  2339

  2—

  509

  268

  708

  66

  767

  506

  —

  3,630

  1981

  541

  2330

  2—

  521

  290

  758

  81

  843

  571

  —

  3,935

  1982

  552

  282

  60

  524

  275

  784

  76

  811

  562

  —

  3,926

  1983

  527

  262

  54

  501

  241

  726

  77

  799

  534

  —

  3,721

  1984

  500

  230

  43

  540

  245

  734

  77

  754

  506

  —

  3,629

  1985

  521

  236

  34

  516

  254

  703

  80

  697

  500

  —

  3,541

  1986

  505

  253

  43

  496

  240

  671

  78

  661

  520

  —

  3,467

  1987

  514

  239

  35

  439

  237

  699

  84

  706

  494

  —

  3,447

  1988

  524

  212

  32

  395

  226

  713

  71

  680

  481

  —

  3,334

  1989

  470

  204

  47

  352

  218

  647

  57

  645

  477

  —

  3,117

  1990

  406

  210

  56

  364

  230

  618

  53

  628

  502

  —

  3,067

  1991

  296

  208

  56

  366

  165

  612

  50

  678

  480

  —

  2,911

  19923

  168

  138

  36

  239

  99

  438

  34

  455

  338

  —

  1,945

  19933

  67

  70

  21

  120

  30

  253

  23

  250

  183

  —

  1,017

  Note:

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

  1 Welsh Health Common Services Authority. Includes blood transfusion service nurses from 1991 (transferred from South Glamorgan).

  2 Pembrokeshire figures included with East Dyfed.

  3 Includes staff employed by NHS trusts.

  4 Since the autumn of 1991 student nurses have been classified as students and are no longer included in the NHS staff figures. Staff included here are students finishing courses begun before this date. At 1 October 1993 there were about 1,900 Project 2000 nursing students in Wales.

  NHS Administration
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of employing managers, advisers, administrators and clerical staff in the national health service in 1979.

  Mr. Redwood
  The total cost of employing administrative and clerical staff in the national health service (in Wales) in 1979–80 was £27,816,043.

  Source:

  Health Authorities Annual Accounts.

  Note:

  The total cost of employing managers, advisers, administrators and clerical staff is taken to be that covering salaries and wages. The health authorities annual accounts for 1979–80, however, do not separately identify costs in each of the above four categories.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the total number of(a) senior managers, (b) managers and (c) total senior managers and managers for each health authority and for Wales as a whole for each year since 1964.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information relating to the whole-time equivalent numbers of managers employed as at 30 September is given in the following table. Due to the regrading of staff during 1989 comparable data are not available for previous years.
  92

  Health authority area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  19921

  19931

  Clwyd:

  Senior managers

  11

  18

  22

  26

  30

  Other managers

  16

  33

  76

  110

  117

  Total

  27

  51

  98

  136

  147

  East Dyfed:

  Senior managers

  6

  13

  22

  27

  31

  Other managers

  5

  23

  39

  43

  71

  Total

  11

  36

  61

  70

  102

  Gwent:

  Senior managers

  7

  7

  9

  8

  11

  Other managers

  —

  44

  60

  75

  118

  Total

  7

  51

  69

  83

  129

  Gwynedd:

  Senior managers

  8

  19

  19

  30

  32

  Other managers

  —

  2

  12

  36

  42

  Total

  8

  21

  31

  66

  74

  Mid Glamorgan:

  Senior managers

  12

  15

  22

  12

  15

  Other managers

  —

  20

  67

  78

  117

  Total

  12

  35

  89

  90

  132

  Pembrokeshire:

  Senior managers

  6

  5

  4

  —

  —

  Other managers

  5

  11

  13

  3

  1

  Total

  11

  16

  17

  3

  1

  93

  Health authority area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  19921

  19931

  Powys:

  Senior managers

  5

  4

  12

  12

  15

  Other managers

  3

  21

  26

  27

  37

  Total

  8

  25

  38

  39

  52

  South Glamorgan:

  Senior managers

  25

  28

  32

  37

  27

  Other managers

  36

  59

  101

  150

  156

  Total

  61

  87

  133

  187

  183

  West Glamorgan:

  Senior managers

  8

  12

  14

  16

  16

  Other managers

  21

  55

  65

  73

  77

  Total

  29

  67

  79

  89

  93

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority:

  Senior managers

  10

  18

  22

  29

  39

  Other managers

  3

  9

  48

  57

  78

  Total

  13

  27

  70

  86

  117

  Wales:

  Senior managers

  98

  139

  178

  197

  215

  Other managers

  89

  277

  505

  651

  813

  Total

  187

  416

  683

  848

  1,028

  1 Includes staff employed by NHS trusts.

  Notes:

  Includes staff employed by those Family Health Service Authorities using Health Authority payroll systems.

  The use of locally devised payscales from 1991 onwards may affect the comparability of figures as those staff cannot be allocated centrally to a specific staff group and are not, therefore, included above. This affects figures for Pembrokeshire in particular.

  The growth in the number of staff in the table arises from the extension in 1989 of senior manager/manager terms and conditions of service to "second and third level managers" and the resulting reclassification of a number of staff in 1989 and subsequent years.

  Certain responsibilities and staff have transferred to the Common Services Authority from health authorities in recent years, affecting the comparability of figures over time.

  Asthma
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning the allocation of resources to the treatment and prevention of asthma; and what studies his Department has made of its incidence in childhood.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Health authorities are expected to assess the health needs of their local populations and identify future action in their local strategies for health. The Protocol for Investment in Health Gain for Respiratory Diseases, published in February 1992, includes specific targets for asthma.

  The Welsh Office has funded three projects under the Welsh scheme for the development of health and social research, which have looked specifically at childhood asthma. In addition, the Welsh Medical Committee has established a working party on asthma, charged with assessing the current provision for asthma and recommending appropriate development. The working party is expected to report to the Secretary of State shortly.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special consultants there are in asthma practice in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
  94
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information relating to the numbers of consultants working in the NHS in Wales is collected centrally on the basis of specialties recognised by the royal colleges. Asthma is not one of these recognised specialties and hence the information requested is not available.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his assessment of the effect upon asthma sufferers of air pollution in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Evidence suggests that asthma attacks in those who already suffer from asthma may be triggered by episodes of air pollution. Regular monitoring of air quality in Wales shows that pollution levels are generally within European Community and World Health Organisation guideline limits.

  The committee on the medical effects of air pollutants has set up a sub-group on asthma which will investigate the relationship between air pollution and trends in asthma incidence, and will make recommendations to Government on research.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to protect the health of asthma sufferers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Since July 1993, GP practices receive payments for organising specific programmes for the care of patients with asthma. Initial evidence shows a 90 per cent. take-up level amongst GPs organising such programmes in Wales. The Welsh Medical Committee working party on asthma has been charged with assessing the current provision of help for asthma sufferers, to identify deficiencies and to recommend appropriate developments.

  A range of measures are also being taken to reduce air pollution in Wales, including tighter controls on industry and improved standards for road vehicles. Air quality is also regularly monitored by the Government and local authorities. The air quality helpline, freephone 0800 556677, provides a public information service, enabling asthmatics to take steps to reduce their exposure, should air pollution levels become high.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the proposed new unitary council ward boundaries and details for all parts of Wales; and if he will, make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A copy of the proposals for the electoral areas to be used for the first elections to the proposed unitary authorities were placed in the Library of the House on Thursday 10 February. My right hon. Friend is currently consulting the two local authority associations, individual authorities and the Local Government Boundary Commission on these proposals. The consultation closes on 31 March. Final decisions rest with my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary. Following the first elections to the new authorities, the Local Government Boundary Commission would conduct a full review of all unitary authority electoral areas in Wales.

  River Dee Crossing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the date and costs of the construction of the new River Dee crossing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The scheme is estimated to cost £55 million and to start in 1994–95. The precise date is a matter for Clwyd county council.

  Aston Hill, Queensferry Dual Carriageway
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the date and costs of the widening and improvement of the Shotwitch, Drome Corner, Queensferry, Aston Hill dual carriageway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The details are as follows:

  Scheme

  Estimated cost £ million

  Timing indication

  A550 Deeside Park—Drome Corner

  16

  Before April 1996

  A494 Drome Corner—Ewloe Interchange

  25

  Between April 1996 and March 1999

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to hold a public inquiry concerning his plans to widen the Aston Hill, Queensferry dual carriageway.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department has not yet published its proposals in the form of draft trunk road orders for the scheme. The need for a public inquiry into the orders cannot be assessed at this stage.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received covering the Aston Hill, Queensferry dual carriageway road-widening scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave him on 25 November 1993 at column 149.

  NHS Directorate
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what proposals he has to review the organisation of the national health service directorate in Wales and the policy-making health function in his Department; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) on what date John Wyn Owen will cease to be director of the national health service in Wales; what proposals he has to fill the vacancy created; in what way he proposes to advertise the vacancy; and what organisational alterations he will make to the responsibilities of the national health service director, Wales.
  96
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Mr. John Wyn Owen will leave his present post on 18 March.

  An announcement about future organisational arrangements for dealing with health matters within the Welsh Office will be made shortly.

  Grant-maintained Schools Foundation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the resourcing and staffing of the Grant-maintained Schools Foundation with respect to its activities in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  The foundation does not receive any assistance, financial or otherwise, from the Welsh Office.

  Pembrokeshire NHS Trust
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of Pembrokeshire national health service trust in relation to compensation for loss of office and transfer of contract obligations to the Welsh Office for senior staff of the trust.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend has had no consultations with the chairman of the Pembrokeshire NHS trust on such matters.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of NHS trusts in Wales in respect of disqualification conditions for service as chairmen; and if he will list the primary causes of disqualification applicable to the holding of such office.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: Regulation 11 of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990 (Statutory Instrument 1990 No. 2024) prescribes the circumstances in which persons are disqualified for appointment as chairmen of NHS trusts. A copy of the regulations is in the Vote Office. Before candidates accept appointment as chairmen they have first to confirm that none of these disqualifications apply.

  Health Promotion Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales concerning the cost of the press conference to announce the retirement of the executive director and the professional fees of Golley Slater Public Relations in relation to the press conference; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  [holding answer 18 February 1994]: None. The press conference was a matter for the former chief executive.