Written Answers of 10 March 1994

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  D-day Landings (Commemoration)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 16 February,Official Report, columns 793–94, if he will publish a list of the civilian events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-day landings on 6 June, showing for each the date, location and estimated cost and intended public participation.

  Mr. Sproat
  Details of the Department of National Heritage's programme of civilian events will be announced in mid-April. Information about the large number of other events being planned in different parts of the country by various groups and individuals are available from the regional tourist boards.

  Arts Council
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what was the remit of the Arts Council's cultural diversity unit; what were its objectives; and how such objectives will now be served;

  (2) what was the remit of the Arts Council's disability unit; what were its objectives; and how those objectives will now be served.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Arts Council decided at its meeting in May 1993 to wind up in due course its strategic policy units covering cultural diversity, arts and disability and women in the arts, and to pass its continuing responsibilities to all relevant departments of the council.

  I understand that the decision to integrate the work of the units with the art form departments reflects the fact that the units have largely succeeded in their aims of changing attitudes and awareness among funded bodies, and bringing about changes in the council's own practices.

  The council will continue to take very seriously its commitment to these strategic policies in fulfilling its charter object to increase the accessibility of the arts to the public throughout the country.

  Agency Chief Executives
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many agency chief executives in his Department are currently paid more than £82,925, excluding performance-related bonuses; and whether such chief executives were recruited directly to their present post from outside the civil service.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage has two executive agencies. The chief executives of both agencies are currently paid less than £82,925.
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  Management Systems
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much his Department's computer-aided facilities management systems cost; from whom they were purchased; how many person hours were required to commission them; what the estimated and actual saving has been from their operation; and to what extent the use of such systems accounts for the apparent rise in theft noted in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) of 16 February,Official Report, column 791.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department does not have a computer-aided facilities management system.

  Freephone and Freepost
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by his Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much his Department has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since it came into operation.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department introduced a freepost facility in January 1994. It will be used when seeking advice or information from organisations, often of charitable status, whose members would provide their services free of charge, or when carrying out consultation exercises. Costs of the facility to date are £300. My Department does not operate a freephone facility.

  Child Care
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much his Department spends on child care; on what provision the sum is spent; how many children receive the child care; and if he will make a statement about child care.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 7 March 1994]: The Department of National Heritage was established in April 1992.

  In the 1993–94 financial year, this Department spent £1,650. excluding running costs—on child care. This provides one day care place in a nursery which opened in November 1993. In this instance, the place is subsidised as it can be justified in value-for-money terms.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of overall development assistance was accounted for by the aid and trade provisions each year since 1978.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The percentage of the gross aid programme taken up by ATP expenditure since 1978 is:

  Per cent.

  1979–80

  3.4

  1980–81

  2.6

  1981–82

  5.1

  313

  Per cent.

  1982–83

  4.5

  1983–84

  2.5

  1984–85

  5.0

  1985.86

  3.0

  1986–87

  6.4

  1987–88

  3.7

  1988–89

  4.0

  1989–90

  4.0

  1990–91

  5.6

  1991–92

  5.4

  1992–93

  4.8

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been established by the Overseas Development Administration to ensure the proper use of aid and trade provision funds provided by his Department; and what powers of discovery Overseas Development Administratioin officials have in regard to access to records of foreign nationals involved in ATP projects.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Following the announcement of the aid and trade provision review on 17 June 1993,Official Report, columns 675–76, ODA appraisal, approval and monitoring procedures for ATP projects have been brought into line with those applied to other bilateral aid projects. Under the Government-to-Government ATP grant agree-ment, ODA has rights of access to information relevant to the ATP contract between the overseas Government and the contractors.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate allegations that ATP funds, or other public funds provided through ODA programmes, have been used to bribe foreign officials or business men to secure contracts for British companies.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Yes. If there is any such evidence available, we do and will investigate any allegations.

  United Nations High Commission for Refugees
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is giving to the general programmes budget of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1994.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey has approved a grant of £6 million for UNHCR's general programmes budget for 1994. This follows our highest contribution ever in 1993, at over £50 million, to both UNHCR's general and special programmes budgets. We shall be continuing to monitor UNHCR's work and needs during the year with a view to responding appropriately to appeals as they issue.

  Pergau Dam
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the proportion of the aid budget for(a) 1989 and (b) 1994 taken up by the funding for the Pergau dam scheme in Malaysia.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The estimated percentage of the aid budget taken up by the funding of the Pergau project in the financial year 1993–94 is 0.8 per cent. There was no expenditure on the project in 1989–90.
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  Overseas Aid Projects
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the build quality and value for money of(a) the Rihand power station in Uttar Pradesh, (b) Burri power station in Sudan, (c) the north Khartoum power station in Sudan, (d) the Ashuganj power station in Bangladesh, (e) the Pergau dam in Malaysia and (f) the Samanalawewa dam in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 28 February 1994]: Under ODA guidelines we appraise and monitor the technical soundness of projects—including their "build quality"—and, whenever appropriate, we undertake contract price investigations to ensure value for money. The following build quality and value for money assessments have been made on the projects listed:

  (a) Construction at Rihand power station in India was assessed through ODA monitoring visits and reports during the successful completion of the project. Very high performance indicators for both production and on-line availability of the station indicate a good build quality. Operating costs per kilowatt hour generated by Rihand rank amongst the lowest of recently built coal fired power stations in India.

  (b) and

  (c) The Burri and Khartoum power stations in Sudan have been evaluated by ODA who concluded that the appropriateness of plant design was correct. There was competitive bidding for the two power stations among United Kingdom companies.

  (d) The Ashuganj generating plant in Bangladesh was commissioned in 1982 following United Kingdom competitive bidding. ODA evaluated the project in 1990 and, although there were operational difficulties, the evaluation concluded that the appropriateness of plant design was broadly correct and that it had been well engineered.

  (e) The quality of the design and construction of the Pergau project in Malaysia, which is about 50 per cent. complete, is good. A comprehensive value for money check was carried out before signature of the contract.

  (f) Construction of the components of the Samanalawewa dam in Sri Lanka part-funded by the United Kingdom —the engineering design, the tunnelling work, and the construction of the powerhouse—were assessed through ODA monitoring visits and regular reports from the United Kingdom contractors during the implementation of the project. Value-for-money checks were undertaken on the tenders for this work. Construction work not covered by the United Kingdom, including the dam itself, is the responsibility of the Japanese co-financiers.

TRANSPORT

  M11 Link Road
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contractual provisions apply to compensation to the contractors undertaking security work in respect of the M11 link road if the contract is cancelled.

  Mr. Norris
  The contract is let under the Institute of Civil Engineers conditions of contract which provide for determination. The form of contract between the main contractor and the security subcontractor is not for me to decide.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the M11 link road contract 4 complies in every respect with the procedure previously used by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
  315
  Mr. Norris
  All procedures, including those to comply with EC directives, have been used by the Department to procure this work in the same way as previous contracts.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conditions apply to the payment of legal costs in relation to the possession of the construction sites for the M11 link road.

  Mr. Norris
  Each party bears its own legal costs incurred in the pursuance of court orders unless the court makes an order as to costs or legal aid is available.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conditions applied to the payment of security guards and policing of the construction site in respect of the M11 link road contract 4.

  Mr. Norris
  The contract provides for specific security measures which are included in the contract price and also for extraordinary security measures to be charged against a contingency item in the contract where the engineer considers it appropriate.

  Oil Wastes (Ships)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the capacity required for the receipt and storage of oil wastes for ships at each United Kingdom port.

  Mr. Norris
  The Prevention of Pollution (Reception Facilities) Order 1984—SI 1984–862—requires harbour authorities and terminal operators in the United Kingdom to provide oil reception facilities for ships that are adequate to meet their needs without causing undue delay. Advice and guidance on the assessment of the type and capacity of facilities needed to satisfy the provisions of the order are contained in merchant shipping notice No. M1462.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the capacity of facilities at each United Kingdom port for the storage of oily wastes from ships.

  Mr. Norris
  Information on oil reception facilities in United Kingdom ports, collected by the Department of Transport, is contained in the International Maritime Organisation circular MEPC/Circ.234, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Northern Line
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the refurbishment of trains, track and signalling on the Northern line; and what meetings he has had with London Transport on this.

  Mr. Norris
  I have received representations on this matter from a wide range of interests, including manufacturers, Members of Parliament, and members of the public. I have discussed it on a number of occasions with the chairman of London Transport.

  Transport Links (Ireland)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to undertake a study of combined transport links with Ireland; whether local authorities are to be consulted; and if he will make a statement.
  316
  Mr. Freeman
  The Irish and United Kingdom Governments have jointly appointed Mercer Management Consulting Ltd., in association with Indecon International Economic Consultants, to examine the potential for commercially viable combined transport services between Ireland, the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, as part of the EC Commission's PACT—pilot actions for combined transport—initiative.

  A number of local authorities have expressed an interest in the study and the consultants will be approaching them in due course.

  Freephone and Freepost
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by his Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much his Department has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since 1979.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department does not keep a central record of the use made of freephone and freepost services and could not say what use might have been made of these services in the past. From inquiries made within the Department we have not been able to trace any use of the services at present.

  Red Routes
  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations are exempt from the parking restrictions imposed on red routes; and if he will list for each organisation the reasons why.

  Mr. Norris
  The information is as follows:

  vehicles being used for the provision of a London bus service, while waiting at an authorised stopping place or stand;

  vehicles displaying a current disabled person's badge, when stopping for the purpose of enabling people with disabilities to board or alight from the vehicle;

  Royal Mail liveried vehicles engaged in the collection or delivery of letters in accordance with the statutory duty of the Post Office for the provision of services for the conveyance of letters;

  licensed cabs stopping for the purpose of enabling a person to board or alight from the vehicle or to load or unload their personal luggage;

  vehicles waiting at any place for so long as may be necessary for the purpose of giving help required as a result of an accident or emergency or taking other action in the interests of public safety;

  vehicles required by law to stop, or obliged to stop in order to avoid an accident, or prevented from proceeding by circumstances beyond the driver's control;

  vehicles when used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes;

  vehicles waiting with the permission or at the discretion of a police constable in uniform.

  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the definitions of loading and unloading for vehicles using the prescribed loading bays on red routes.

  Mr. Norris
  Loading and unloading is not defined in any statute; it would be for the courts to determine any disputed cases.

  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department has given to the impact red routes will have on courier companies and the businesses they serve.
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  Mr. Norris
  Red routes will improve traffic conditions for all road users so that people and goods can move around the capital more easily. Courier firms and the businesses they serve will benefit from more reliable journey times and improved parking and loading arrangements on London's main roads.

  British Rail
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to lay before the House orders affecting railway pensions as provided for by the Railways Act 1993.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to lay these orders between Easter and the

  £ million cash

  Nationalised industries

  National roads

  Central Government support to local authority capital expenditure (England)3

  British Rail1

  London Transport2

  Civil Aviation Authority

  England

  Total

  of which:

  Local roads

  Local public transport

  Local ports and airports

  Outturn

  1979–80

  367

  —

  12

  402

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1980–81

  431

  —

  23

  472

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1981–82

  409

  —

  24

  557

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982–83

  378

  —

  26

  762

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  439

  —

  20

  641

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984–85

  586

  —

  19

  718

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1985–86

  550

  —

  19

  734

  —

  —

  —

  —.

  1986–87

  530

  225

  30

  766

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1987–88

  631

  233

  33

  867

  596

  476

  90

  30

  1988–89

  695

  270

  35

  889

  672

  584

  52

  36

  1989–90

  889

  350

  54

  1,239

  627

  518

  70

  39

  1990–91

  1,022

  495

  74

  1,668

  747

  563

  113

  71

  1991–92

  1,293

  420

  88

  1,704

  916

  715

  106

  97

  1992–93

  1,573

  782

  119

  1,784

  1,022

  838

  102

  81

  1993–944

  1,207

  736

  156

  1,920

  1,101

  967

  114

  20

  Plans

  1994–95

  —

  997

  120

  1,829

  978

  857

  109

  11

  1995–96

  —

  1,022

  86

  1,779

  1,041

  918

  111

  12

  1 Individual figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96 not available, but in the three year period 1994–95 to 1996–97 total investment will be around £2.7 billion.

  2 Prior to 1986–87, the Greater London council was responsible for London Transport.

  3 Figures not available on a comparable basis prior to 1987–88.

  4Forecast outturn.

  Supplementary Grant and Expenditure
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for each metropolitan borough council in(a) South Yorkshire (b) West Yorkshire a summary of the transport supplementary grant made available for each of the past four years, broken down into (i) committed major scheme (gross), (ii) newly supported major schemes, (iii) bridge works, (iv) principal roads carriageways, (v) local safety silencers, (vi) packages, (vii) schemes specific, including bus priority, (viii) bus priority alone, (ix) minor works, (x) European regional development fund schemes and (xi) Industrial Development Act schemes;

  (2) if he will list for (a) Humberside (b) North Yorkshire a summary of the transport supplementary grant made available for each of the past four years, broken down into

  (i) committed major scheme (gross), (ii) newly supported major schemes, (iii) bridge works, (iv) principal roads carriageways, (v) local safety silencers, (vi) packages, (vii) schemes specific, including bus priority, (viii) bus priority
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  summer recess, following consultation with the pension scheme trustees and other interested parties, including the railway trade unions.

  Infrastructure Investment
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a breakdown by mode, year on year, of Government investment in Britain's transport infrastructure for the period 1979 to 1995.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Government transport expenditure plans have enabled investment shown in the table. The latest expenditure plans were published on 10 March in the "Transport Report 1994", Cmnd. 2506.
  alone, (ix) minor works, (x) European regional development fund schemes and (xi) Industrial Development Act schemes;

  (3) if he will list for each metropolitan borough council in (a) South Yorkshire (b) West Yorkshire a summary of the transport capital expenditure for local authorities for each of the past four years, broken down into (i) committed major scheme (gross), (ii) newly supported major schemes, (iii) bridge works, (iv) principal roads carriageways, (v) local safety silencers, (vi) packages, (vii) schemes specific, including bus priority, (viii) bus priority alone, (ix) minor works, (x) European regional development fund schemes and (xi) Industrial Development Act schemes;

  (4) if he will list for (a) Humberside (b) North Yorkshire a summary of the transport capital expenditure settlement for local authorities for each of the past four years, broken down into (i) committed major scheme (gross), (ii) newly supported major schemes, (iii) bridge works, (iv) principal roads carriageways, (v) local safety silencers, (vi) packages, (vii) schemes specific, including bus priority,

  319
  (viii) bus priority alone, (ix) minor works, (x) European regional development fund schemes and (xi) Industrial Development Act schemes.

  Mr. Key
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward legislation to bring public interest immunity certificates within statute law and parliamentary scrutiny.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government will consider carefully any comments or recommendations Lord Justice Scott makes on this issue when his report is completed.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 10 March.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 10 March.

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

  Sir Peter Levene
  Dame Angela Rumbold
  To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between Sir Peter Levene's appointment as chairman of Canary Wharf and his position as the Prime Minister's efficiency adviser.

  The Prime Minister
  Sir Peter Levene will take no part in Government consideration of any issue which could involve a conflict of interest for him. There will be a review every six months of any prospective issues which could raise such a conflict so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

  Official Gifts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 162, what happens to moneys raised from the sale of official gifts received by recent Prime Ministers.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 9 March 1994]: Gifts of small value are the property of the Prime Minister; the use of the proceeds from the sale of any such items is therefore a matter for the Prime Minister of the day to determine. Both my predecessor and I have made it our practice to donate all proceeds to charity. If any gifts from the official inventory were sold, the proceeds would accrue to official funds.

  Office Costs
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the annual total cost of the Prime Minister's office in each year(a) between 1974 and 1979 and (b) since 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 11 January 1994]: Figures on a consistent basis are not available.
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  Information on the total costs of the Prime Minister's office is not available before 1979–80. Spending in 1979–80 is recorded as £1.409 million, but that did not include charges for: the use of MOD aircraft; the use of buildings and for services supplied by the Property Services Agency and its successors; the use of the Government car service; the service personnel at Chequers; or for office services supplied by the Cabinet Office.

  The present No. 10 budget now includes charges for all these services. On that basis, the total annual cost for the completed financial years since 1990 has been as follows:

  Year

  £ thousands

  1990–91

  8,226

  1991–92

  8,664

  1992–93

  9,866

  These figures show payments made in the years in question. In some cases, this may relate to expenditure incurred in the previous financial year.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his question of 11 January, relating to expenditure of his Office.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 March 1994]: I have done so.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the flexibility of the limits on therapeutic work for recipients of invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  We are considering the flexibility of the therapeutic work provisions in the context of the conditions which will apply to incapacity benefit.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the amount of voluntary work that may be disregarded in considering entitlement to invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  We have received a number of representations. One of the measures introduced by the Social Security (Incapacity For Work) Bill will allow people receiving incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance to do up to 16 hours voluntary work a week without it affecting their benefit.

  Elderly People
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of over-80s who are not entitled to the basic retirement pension; how much it would cost for them to be provided with one; what help they will receive towards value added tax on their fuel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  It is estimated that approximately 75,000 persons in Great Britain who are aged 80 or over do not receive a basic state retirement pension. The estimated net cost of providing standard rate basic retirement pension to them is approximately £85 million per year at April 1994 prices.
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  Those not in receipt of basic pension but who receive income support will receive an additional 50p per week—single people—or 70p per week—couples. Those not in receipt of basic pension or income support but who receive the non-contributory retirement pension, available to persons aged 80 and over, will receive an additional 20p per week.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley will receive replies to his letters to the chief executive of the Child Support Agency of 16 November and 12 January.

  Mr. Burt
  I understand that Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive of the Child Support Agency, replied to the hon. Member on 9 March 1994.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual numbers with(a) terminal illness, (b) a prescribed condition and (c) the highest rate of the care component of disability living allowance who should be considered for fast-tracking to the higher rate of incapacity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  We are considering this issue.

  Income-related Benefits
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will reconsider the rules for the treatment of capital made by the DSS in its calculation that for every £250 of saving, or part of £250, over and above £3,000 there could be a reduction of £1 in benefits payable.

  Mr. Burt
  The arrangements for the treatment of capital in the income-related benefits are kept under review, but we have no plans for change at present. The formula applied for taking account of capital above £3,000 does not imply any particular return on investments. It ensures that help is targeted on those who need it most, while not denying benefit to those with only a moderate amount of capital.

  Value Added Tax (Fuel)
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the number of pensioners in their eighties who will receive less than pensioners in their sixties to compensate for the extra cost of VAT on their fuel bills; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many pensioners in their eighties have no entitlement to a basic retirement pension and how many are in receipt of a special over-80s pension; and what addition they will receive towards the additional cost of VAT on fuel.

  Mr. Hague
  It is estimated that approximately 75,000 persons in Great Britain who are aged 80 or over do not receive a basic state retirement pension and that approximately 28,000 people aged 80 or over receive a non-contributory retirement pension.

  Extra help towards VAT on fuel for those aged 80 or over will be available on the same general basis as for all
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  persons of pensionable age, with the exception that those not in receipt of basic pension or income support but who receive a non-contributory retirement pension, available only to persons aged 80 or over, will receive total extra help of 20p per week.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what compensation for VAT on fuel will be paid to married women with an entitlement to a reduced retirement pension based on their own contributions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) on 28 February at column 615.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much will be added to war disablement pensions to compensate for the additional costs of VAT on fuel; how much will be received by a war widow also in receipt of a retirement pension towards the additional cost of VAT on fuel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  The basic war disablement pension will not be increased beyond normal price indexation. The majority of war disablement pensioners are over pension age and will receive extra help through retirement pension; others will gain through invalidity benefit or severe disablement allowance. War pensioners who choose to receive war pension unemployability supplement instead of retirement pension will receive the same extra help as retirement pensioners.

  The standard war widows pension will be increased by 50p a week on top of the normal uprating. A war widow who also receives, as a result of her own contributions, the full basic retirement pension, will receive a further 50p a week compensation.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the preliminary findings of the cost-benefit analysis of legislation to outlaw discrimination against disabled people undertaken by his Department; and when he expects to publish the full findings.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available. A cost-benefit analysis has not been prepared. Should the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill reach Committee stage, a compliance cost assessment will be provided in the normal way.

EDUCATION

  Student Numbers
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimates he made of the numbers of students on two-year higher education courses before his recent announcement of notional tuition fee levels for 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government's expenditure plans, including tuition fee levels, announced at the time of the Budget allowed for a specified total number of students in higher education. In order to translate total numbers into the numbers of new entrants, it is necessary to make
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  assumptions about a number of factors, including the average length of courses. However, the number of students on two-year higher education courses was not separately assessed or identified.

  Management Systems
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department's computer-aided facilities management systems cost; from whom they were purchased; how many person hours were required to commission them; what the estimated and actual saving has been from their operation; and to what extent the use of such systems accounts for the apparent rise in theft noted in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) of 16 February,Official Report, column 841.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department has no computer-aided facilities management systems. The information provided on 16 February shows a decline in 1993 in the incidence of theft.

  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many agency chief executives in his Department are currently paid more than £82,925, excluding performance-related bonuses; and whether such chief executives were recruited directly to their present post from outside the civil service.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  None.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Employee Share Schemes
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue next intends to publish updated guidance on approved employee share schemes, to replace versions dated 1991, and updated guidance on profit-related pay to replace the present editions published five years ago.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue published revised versions of its booklets and leaflets on approved employee share schemes on 7 March. Revision of the guidance notes on profit-related pay is currently under consideration.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how soon he expects to announce details of the introduction and operation of approved employee share schemes and of statutory employee share ownership plans up to the end of March 1993.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue expects to issue the latest figures on the introduction and operation of approved employee share schemes in April 1994—and annually in April thereafter. Similar information for statutory employee share ownership plans is not available.

  Inland Revenue (Information Technology Office)
  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if employees of the information technology office of the Inland Revenue will benefit from civil service redundancy arrangements if they refuse to relocate consequent upon their being taken over by a private contractor.

  Mr. Dorrell
  If employees of the Inland Revenue's information technology office transfer with their work to a324
  private company as a result of the current procurement which forms part of the Department's market-testing programme, it is expected that the transfer will be within the scope of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. This means that current terms and conditions of employment will transfer to the new employer. If, following the transfer, the new employer asked employees to relocate, those employees whose terms and conditions did not include a mobility requirement would not be obliged to do so unless the new location was within reasonable daily travelling distance of their home. If the new employer was unable to offer alternative jobs to non-mobile employees, as a last resort they could be made redundant.

  Amusement with Prizes Machines
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue currently accrues to the Treasury from amusement with prizes and jackpot machines from each main category of premises on which they are located.

  Sir John Cope
  An estimated breakdown of gaming machine licence duty for 1992–93 is as follows:

  Amusement with prizes

  £ million

  Pubs

  33

  Inland arcades

  15

  Seaside arcades

  13

  Bingo halls

  12

  Single sites

  3

  Others

  7

  Total amusement with prizes

  83

  Jackpot machines

  15

  Total gaming machine licence duty

  98

  There is no breakdown for jackpot machines.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what calculations he has made as to the potential revenue that would accrue to the Treasury in respect of amusement with prizes machines in licensed betting offices.

  Sir John Cope
  No calculations have been made.

  Licensed Betting Offices
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what calculations the Treasury has made as to the potential loss in tax revenue from licensed betting offices as a consequence of competition from the national lottery.

  Sir John Cope
  A duty rate of 12 per cent. is to apply to national lottery stakes. This rate has been set so as broadly to offset the anticipated revenue loss from expenditure diverted from other taxed goods. Any attempt to apportion this revenue loss between different taxes would be purely speculative.

  Taxation
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 February,Official Report, columns 825–26, if he will give the percentages of earnings taken in income tax and national insurance contribution from a single-wage married couple at (a) half,

  325
  (b) three quarters, (c) average, and (d) twice average male manual earnings, in the years 1990–91, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is in the table:

  Income tax and national insurance contributions1 as a percentage of gross earnings

  Multiple of average earnings2

  1978–79

  1990–91

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Half average earnings

  14.1

  12.8

  11.6

  12.1

  Three quarters average earnings

  22.4

  19.9

  19.0

  19.2

  Average earnings

  26.7

  23.4

  22.8

  22.9

  Twice average earnings

  31.2

  26.1

  26.1

  26.4

  1 National insurance contributions are at the standard class 1 rate for employees not contracted-out of the state additional—earnings-related—pension scheme. Tax has been calculated assuming that no allowances or reliefs are available other than the standard allowance.

  2 Average earnings are taken to be the gross weekly manual earnings of full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are £244.50 and £272.00 in 1990–91 and 1992–93 respectively. In 1993–94 these are estimated to be £281.50 using an illustrative growth rate of 3.5 per cent.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the chancellor of the Exchequer if he publish for each year since 1978 a table showing(a) average earnings and (b) income tax liability on taxable income equal to (i) one quarter average earnings, (ii) one

  Income tax liability2 on taxable income at multiples of average earnings £ per week

  Year

  ¼

  ½

  1

  5

  10

  100

  1978–79

  6.50

  14.16

  29.47

  248.77

  633.89

  7,566.05

  1979–80

  7.48

  15.67

  32.07

  238.72

  566.62

  6,468.82

  1980–81

  9.86

  19.71

  39.42

  295.64

  689.84

  7,785.44

  1981–82

  10.94

  21.89

  43.77

  339.14

  776.84

  8,655.44

  1982.83

  11.81

  23.61

  47.22

  360.08

  832.28

  9,331.88

  1983–84

  12.83

  25.65

  51.30

  385.02

  898.02

  10,132.02

  1984–85

  13.88

  27.75

  55.50

  419.62

  974.62

  10,964.62

  1985–86

  14.89

  29.78

  59.55

  452.71

  1,048.21

  11,767.21

  1986–87

  15.50

  31.00

  62.00

  489.53

  1,130.93

  12,676.13

  1987–88

  15.77

  31.54

  63.07

  540.38

  1,241.18

  13,855.58

  1988–89

  16.02

  32.04

  64.08

  456.93

  969.53

  10,196.33

  1989–90

  17.49

  34.99

  69.98

  500.09

  1,059.89

  11,136.29

  1990–91

  19.14

  38.27

  76.55

  552.69

  1,165.09

  12,188.29

  1991–92

  20.54

  41.09

  82.18

  589.03

  1,246.43

  13,079.63

  1992–93

  19.81

  41.54

  85.00

  625.11

  1,320.51

  13,837.71

  1993–94

  20.09

  42.58

  87.57

  649.03

  1,368.83

  14,325.23

  Income tax liability as a percentage of taxable income at multiples of average earnings

  Year

  ¼

  ½

  1

  5

  10

  100

  1978–79

  28.0

  30.5

  31.8

  53.6

  68.3

  81.5

  1979–80

  27.4

  28.7

  29.3

  43.7

  51.8

  59.2

  1980–81

  30.0

  30.0

  30.0

  45.0

  52.5

  59.2

  1981–82

  30.0

  30.0

  30.0

  46.5

  53.2

  59.3

  1982–83

  30.0

  30.0

  30.0

  45.8

  52.9

  59.3

  1983–84

  30.0

  30.0

  30.0

  45.0

  52.5

  59.3

  1984–85

  30.0

  30.0

  30.0

  45.4

  52.7

  59.3

  1985–86

  30.0

  30.0

  30.0

  45.6

  52.8

  59.3

  1986–87

  29.0

  29.0

  29.0

  45.8

  52.9

  59.3

  1987–88

  27.0

  27.0

  27.0

  46.3

  53.1

  59.3

  1988–89

  25.0

  25.0

  25.0

  35.7

  37.8

  39.8

  1989–90

  25.0

  25.0

  25.0

  35.7

  37.9

  39.8

  1990–91

  25.0

  25.0

  25.0

  36.1

  38.0

  39.8

  1991–92

  25.0

  25.0

  25.0

  35.8

  37.9

  39.8

  1992–93

  22.8

  23.9

  24.4

  36.0

  38.0

  39.8

  1993–94

  22.3

  23.7

  24.3

  36.1

  38.0

  39.8

  Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. The
  326
  half average earnings, (iii) average earnings, (iv) five times average earnings, (v) 10 times average earnings and (vi) 100 times average earnings.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is in the tables. Because taxable income excludes income covered by allowances, the gross incomes of taxpayers with these levels of taxable income would be significantly higher. The figures show that tax liability as a proportion of taxable income has fallen at all income levels over this period.

  Year

  Average earnings1 £ per week

  1978–79

  92.8

  1979–80

  109.3

  1980–81

  131.4

  1981–82

  145.9

  1982–83

  157.4

  1983–84

  171.0

  1984–85

  185.0

  1985–86

  198.5

  1986.87

  213.8

  1987–88

  233.6

  1988.89

  256.3

  1989–90

  279.9

  1990–91

  306.2

  1991–92

  328.7

  1992–93

  347.7

  1993–94

  359.9

  figure for 1993–94 is based on an illustrative assumption of 3.5 per cent. growth over 1992–93.

  2 Assuming all income is earned and that taxable income—income for income tax purposes less allowances and reliefs available at the taxpayer's marginal rate—is equal to the multiple of average earnings shown.

  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of a 20 per cent. basic rate of income tax in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates based on a projection of the 1991–92 survey of personal incomes are given.

  Revenue cost compared with a basic rate of 25 per cent, in a full year

  £ billion

  1993–94

  7.8

  1994–95

  9.2

  1995–96

  9.7

  327

  Personal Allowances
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the revenue cost to the Exchequer of the personal allowances in 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 in constant 1994 prices.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates for 1993–94 and 1994–95 based on information about individuals on Inland Revenue records are given. These costs exclude the value of personal allowances to some individuals whose income is below the tax threshold. The costs for later years will depend on allowance levels for those years.

  Revenue cost of personal allowances1 in a full year at constant 1994–95 prices

  £ billion

  1993–942

  33.1

  1994–952

  31.1

  1 This includes the personal allowance, the married couple's allowance and the linked allowances, and the blind person's allowance.

  2 Assuming that prices increase by 2 per cent, in 1993–94 and 3.25 per cent, in 1994–95 in line with the illustrative assumptions in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1994–95.

  Married Couple's Allowance
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue saving of the abolition of the married couple's allowance in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96.

  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer of the married couples allowance in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 1 March 1994]: The estimated costs in a full year are given in the table:

  Year

  1Cost £ billion

  1993–94

  5.0

  1994–95

  3.9

  1995–96

  3.1

  1 Includes the cost of allowances related to the married couples allowance, namely the additional personal allowance and the widow's bereavement allowance.

  Incomes
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing(a) the total number of taxpayers, (b) the number of taxpayers with incomes in excess of £100,000 and (c) the percentage of taxpayers with incomes in excess of £100,000 for (i) each region and (ii) each county of the United Kingdom for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimates for each region in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, the latest year for which information is available below United Kingdom level, are included in the first table. Married couples are counted as one unit in 1989–90 prior to the introduction of independent taxation. The second table includes estimates of the total number of taxpayers in each county in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92. All estimates are derived from the survey of personal incomes and the size of the survey limits the 328
  extent to which reliable estimates can be given at the county level for taxpayers with incomes over £100,000. The third table gives approximate numbers and percentages in 1991–92 for those counties estimated to have at least 500 taxpayers with incomes over £100,000.

  Table 1. Numbers of taxpayers by region, 1989–90 to 1991–92

  Number of taxpayers(thousands)

  Number of taxpayers with total income of more than £100.000 (thousands)

  Percentage of total taxpayers with total income of more than £100,000

  1989–901

  North

  1,060

  1

  0.1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,770

  3

  0.2

  North West

  2,270

  6

  0.2

  East Midlands

  1,460

  4

  0.3

  West Midlands

  1,890

  3

  0.2

  East Anglia

  821

  3

  0.3

  South East

  7,110

  47

  0.7

  South West

  1,710

  5

  0.3

  Wales

  954

  2

  0.3

  Scotland

  2,060

  3

  0.1

  Northern Ireland

  483

  1

  0.1

  1990–91

  North

  1,240

  1

  0.1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,160

  4

  0.2

  North West

  2,840

  5

  0.2

  East Midlands

  1,910

  2

  0.1

  West Midlands

  2,340

  5

  0.2

  East Anglia

  991

  3

  0.3

  South East

  8,850

  50

  0.6

  South West

  2,350

  5

  0.2

  Wales

  1,220

  1

  0.1

  Scotland

  2,340

  3

  0.1

  Northern Ireland

  542

  1

  0.1

  1991–92

  North

  1,270

  2

  0.1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,140

  5

  0.2

  North West

  2,740

  7

  0.3

  East Midlands

  1,840

  4

  0.2

  West Midlands

  2,260

  5

  0.2

  East Anglia

  1,030

  4

  0.4

  South East

  8,610

  64

  0.7

  South West

  2,270

  6

  0.3

  Wales

  1,240

  2

  0.1

  Scotland

  2,320

  4

  0.2

  Northern Ireland

  513

  1

  0.1

  1 Married couples count as one taxpayer.

  Table 2. Number of taxpayers by English and Welsh County and Scottish Region, 1989–90 to 1991–92

  County

  1989–901

  1990–91

  Thousands 1991–92

  Tyne and Wear

  386

  434

  445

  Cleveland

  147

  177

  178

  Cumbria

  196

  251

  266

  Durham

  219

  225

  232

  Northumberland

  112

  151

  148

  Humberside

  320

  379

  345

  South Yorkshire

  432

  486

  519

  North Yorkshire

  291

  346

  383

  West Yorkshire

  729

  949

  898

  Cheshire

  388

  462

  442

  Lancashire

  542

  632

  631

  Greater Manchester

  874

  1,160

  1,090

  Merseyside

  469

  586

  582

  Derbyshire

  345

  423

  412

  Leicestershire

  344

  435

  406

  329

  County

  1989–901

  1990–91

  Thousands 1991–92

  Lincolnshire

  226

  285

  269

  Northamptonshire

  209

  281

  305

  Nottinghamshire

  338

  487

  447

  West Midlands

  835

  1,080

  1,080

  Hereford and Worcester

  271

  349

  332

  Shropshire

  153

  194

  177

  Staffordshire

  424

  474

  445

  Warwickshire

  211

  245

  227

  Cambridgeshire

  274

  321

  346

  Norfolk

  297

  334

  373

  Suffolk

  249

  336

  309

  Greater London

  2,800

  3,470

  3,350

  Bedfordshire

  200

  254

  248

  Berkshire

  283

  415

  356

  Buckinghamshire

  256

  324

  302

  East Sussex

  312

  352

  332

  Essex

  600

  751

  770

  Hampshire

  606

  801

  769

  Hertfordshire

  464

  524

  497

  Kent

  575

  688

  708

  Oxfordshire

  184

  256

  265

  Surrey

  418

  574

  560

  West Sussex

  351

  371

  390

  Isle of Wight

  56

  72

  56

  Avon

  326

  467

  448

  Cornwall

  155

  231

  208

  Devon

  401

  491

  527

  Dorset

  256

  336

  320

  Gloucestershire

  212

  290

  269

  Somerset

  163

  229

  221

  Wiltshire

  198

  308

  281

  Gwent

  153

  182

  161

  Mid Glamorgan

  172

  217

  225

  South Glamorgan

  139

  177

  177

  West Glamorgan

  103

  142

  148

  Dyfed

  113

  149

  192

  Gwynedd

  75

  101

  73

  Powys

  31

  52

  74

  Clwyd

  167

  204

  193

  Grampian

  249

  241

  231

  Tayside

  145

  174

  202

  Fife

  141

  154

  150

  Lothian

  334

  418

  367

  Central

  104

  143

  122

  Borders

  48

  36

  72

  Strathclyde

  902

  985

  955

  Dumfries and Galloway

  50

  74

  76

  Highlands

  71

  91

  115

  Island Authorities

  19

  23

  26

  1 Married couples count as one taxpayer.

  Table 3. Taxpayers with total income over £100,000 by English and Welsh County and Scottish Region 1991–921

  County

  Number (thousands)

  Taxpayers with total income over £100,000 as apercentage of total taxpayers

  Tyne and Wear

  1

  0.2

  North Yorkshire

  1

  0.4

  West Yorkshire

  2

  0.3

  Cheshire

  1

  0.3

  Lancashire

  1

  0.2

  Greater Manchester

  4

  0.3

  Merseyside

  1

  0.2

  Derbyshire

  1

  0.3

  330

  County

  Number (thousands)

  Taxpayers with total income over£100,000 as apercentage of total taxpayers

  Leicestershire

  1

  0.2

  Northamptonshire

  1

  0.2

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  0.2

  West Midlands

  2

  0.2

  Hereford and Worcester

  1

  0.4

  Staffordshire

  1

  0.4

  Warwickshire

  1

  0.2

  Cambridgeshire

  2

  0.4

  Norfolk

  1

  0.2

  Suffolk

  2

  0.7

  Greater London

  36

  1.1

  Berkshire

  2

  0.5

  Buckinghamshire

  3

  0.8

  East Sussex

  1

  0.3

  Essex

  4

  0.5

  Hampshire

  2

  0.2

  Hertfordshire

  3

  0.7

  Kent

  3

  0.4

  Oxfordshire

  1

  0.4

  Surrey

  8

  1.4

  West Sussex

  1

  0.3

  Avon

  2

  0.5

  Devon

  1

  0.3

  Gloucestershire

  1

  0.2

  Wiltshire

  1

  0.2

  South Glamorgan

  1

  0.3

  Grampian

  1

  0.4

  Lothian

  1

  0.2

  Strathclyde

  2

  0.2

  1 Only counties where there are estimated to be at least 500 taxpayers with total income over £100,000 appear.

  Alcohol and Tobacco Imports
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the European directive relating to the importation of wine, spirits and tobacco products by postal or other services without carriage by those claiming importation for personal consumption.

  Sir John Cope
  Excisable goods cannot be imported into the United Kingdom by post or otherwise without paying United Kingdom rates of duty on them, except when the goods are accompanied by the purchaser and are for his or her personal consumption.

  Coronation Crown
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 February,Official Report, columns 271–72, what were the results from monitoring the sales of the £5 coronation crown before and after the advertising campaign.

  Mr. Nelson
  Research showed that the advertisements increased public awareness of the circulating standard £5 coronation anniversary crown. There were also significant increases in the number of crowns issued after the advertisements appeared. Total issues of 1.7 million coins were therefore higher than they would otherwise have been.
  331

  Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will call for a report from LAUTRO as to how marry life assurance salesmen have left the register during 1993; for what reasons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  I understand that LAUTRO recorded a net decrease of around 48,000 salesmen from the register during 1993. It believes that this reduction reflets mainly the higher standards now required by virtue of the training and competence arrangements introduced in April 1993.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the public sector borrowing requirement was funded from overseas in each year since 1991.

  Mr. Nelson
  Data on "External and foreign currency financing of the public sector" are published by the Central Statistical Office in "Economic Trends" in the table "Counterparts to changes in money stock M4".

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 96, if he will provide whatever information is available of those occasions on which he, or other Ministers in his Department now or in the past, have signed public interest immunity certificates, and for what reasons.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 9 March 1994,Official Report, column 223.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his estimate of the net cost to the Treasury of providing legal aid in personal injury cases(a) at all levels of claim and (b) for claims of up to £2,500.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is estimated that in the financial year 1992–93 the net cost to the legal aid fund of all personal injury cases was £25 million. It is not possible to break this down according to size of the claim. Other factors, such as the cost to the court service and legal aid administration, and the impact on the Department of Social Security's compensation recovery unit, none of which can be readily quantified, also have a bearing on the total net cost to the Exchequer of such cases.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Frederick West
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received over the media coverage of the arrest and subsequent court proceedings against Frederick West in Gloucester magistrates court.
  332
  The Solicitor-General
  Representations have been made to my office by solicitors representing both Mr. West and his wife in respect of certain published material. They were both arrested on 25 February 1994 and at that time the proceedings became "active" within the meaning of paragraph 4 of schedule 1 to the Contempt of Court Act 1981. Mr. West is now charged with three offences of murder and his wife is on police bail. Proceedings therefore remain "active" in relation to both. Editors are under a legal obligation not to publish material which gives rise to a substantial risk of serious prejudice in the proceedings. I shall consider any material submitted to me in the context of the 1981 Act and other relevant legislation.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Plugs and Sockets
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether there is a deliberative process within the EC's current policy formulation within the field of telecommunications that might lead to the standardisation of plugs and sockets for the connection of consumer equipment to(a) the public switched telephone network, (b) the integrated services digital network and (c) the public data networks.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I can confirm that deliberative processes on possible standardisation of plugs and sockets are at different stages depending on the network and method of access used. For(a), the public switched telephone network, study by the Commission and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute remains at the information-gathering stage. On (b), requirements for direct attachment to the integrated services digital network have been technically defined prior to final adoption. For (c), any public data networks not covered by (a) and (b) above, there is much less clear agreement at the European level on the extent to which public data networks should be harmonised and deliberative processes have not advanced to any extent so far.

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list in table form(a) the number of commercial advisers, brokers and underwriters his Department has employed in preparation for coal privatisation, (b) the names of such commercial advisers, brokers, underwriters, etc. and (c) the fees and commission (i) already paid and (ii) projected to such companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  N M Rothschild and Son Ltd. is employed as the Department's financial advisers on coal privatisation. Payments to the company are commercially confidential. My Department currently employs no brokers or underwriters in connection with coal privatisation.

  English Estates (Copeland)
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total amount spent by English Estates in providing new factory premises and serviced sites in Copeland since June 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  English Estates has spent £4.1 million in Copeland.
  333
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many acres of serviced industrial land have been provided by English Estates in Copeland since 1991 under the Cumbria special support initiative announced by the Government in June 1991.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  English Estates has bought 49 acres of land of which 26 acres have been serviced.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 165, what plans the Post Office has to franchise the operation of Irvine and Kilwinning Crown post offices; and if he will make it his policy not to franchise the operation of these two Crown post offices.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand from the Post Office that there are no present plans to franchise the operation of either Irvine or Kilwinning Crown post offices, but, if suitable opportunities arose, they do not preclude conversion of these offices to agency status. Decisions on the conversion of individual Crown post offices are an operational matter for the Post Office.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 168, how many Post Office staff have left the Post Office under voluntary redundancy terms.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand from the Post Office that records of voluntary redundancies are not held centrally and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which post offices in Scotland are currently being considered for franchising; and within which parliamentary constituency each lies.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand from the Post Office that local consultations prior to conversion to agency status have taken place in respect of the following post offices in Scotland:

  Post Office and Parliamentary constituency

  Peterhead—Banff and Buchan

  Kirkcaldy—Kirkcaldy

  Stranraer—Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  Annan—Dumfries

  Thurso—Caithness and Sutherland

  Livingston—Livingston

  Partick—Glasgow Hillhead

  Renfrew—Paisley North

  Anniesland—Glasgow Garscadden

  Elgin—Moray

  Wester Hailes—Edinburgh Pentlands

  Milngavie—Clydebank and Milngavie

  Greenock—Greenock and Port Glasgow

  Newington—Edinburgh South

  Charing Cross—Glasgow Hillhead

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, columns 166–67, within which parliamentary constituency each of the post offices in Scotland converted to agency status between April 1989 and January 1994 lies.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand from the Post Office that the parliamentary constituencies in which the post offices in Scotland converted to agency status between April 1989 and January 1994 are as follows:334

  Post Office and Parliamentary Constituency

  Alexandria—Dumbarton

  Anstruther—Fife North East

  Arbroath—Angus East

  Banchory—Gordon

  Banff—Banff and Buchan

  Barrhead—Eastwood

  Bearsden—Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  Beith—Cunninghame North

  Bishopbriggs—Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  Bo'ness—Linlithgow

  Blairgowrie—Tayside North

  Brechin—Angus East

  Brodick—Cunninghame North

  Broughty Ferry—Angus East

  Broxburn—Livingston

  Bruntsfield—Edinburgh South

  Buckhaven—Fife Central

  Buckie—Moray

  Burns Statue Ayr—Ayr

  Burntisland—Kirkcaldy

  Campbeltown—Argyll and Bute

  Carnoustie—Angus East

  Cathcart—Glasgow Cathcart

  Coldstream—Rosburgh and Berwickshire

  Cowdenbeath—Dunfermline East

  Crieff—Perth and Kinross

  Cumnock—Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley

  Cupar—Fife North East

  Dalbeattie—Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  Dalmuir—Clydebank and Milngavie

  Dingwall—Ross Cromarty and Skye

  Dunbar—East Lothian

  Dunblane—Stirling

  Dunoon—Argyll and Bute

  Duns—Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  Ellon—Gordon

  Forfar—Tayside North

  Forres—Moray

  Forrest Road—Edinburgh Central

  Fraserburgh—Banff and Buchan

  George Street Aberdeen—Not indentified

  Girvan—Ayr

  Glasgow Airport—Renfrew West and Inverclyde

  Gourock—Renfrew West and Inverclyde

  Grangemouth—Falkirk East

  Grantown on Spey—Inverness Nairn and Lochaber

  Hawick—Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  Helensburgh—Dumbarton

  Hillhead—Glasgow Hillhead

  Huntly—Gordon

  Invergordon—Ross Cromarty and Skye

  lnverurie—Inverness Nairn and Lochaber

  Jamaica Street—Cunninghame North

  Jeburgh—Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  Johnstone—Paisley South

  Kelso—Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  Kelvinbrige—Glasgow Maryhill

  Kilmacolm Renfrew West and Inverclyde

  Kilsyth—Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  Kinross—Perth and Kinross

  Kirkcudbright—Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  Kirriemuir—Tayside North

  Kyle of Lochalsh—Ross Cromarty and Skye

  Lairg—Caithness and Sutherland

  Larkhall—Clydesdale

  Lanark—Clydesdale

  Largs—Cunninghame North

  Leith—Edinburgh Leith

  Leith Walk—Edinburgh Leith

  Leven—Fife Central

  Lochee—Dundee West

  Lochgelly—Dunfermline East

  Lochgilphead—Argyll and Bute

  Lockerbie—Dumfries

  Lossiemouth—Moray

  Maryhill—Glasgow Maryhill

  Maybole—Ayr

  Melrose—Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale

  335

  Moffat—Dumfries

  Montrose—Angus East

  Musselburgh—East Lothian

  Nairn—Inverness Nairn and Lochaber

  Newton Stewart—Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  Newlands Glasgow—Not Identified

  North Berwick—East Lothian

  Norton Park—Edinburgh East

  Oban—Argyll and Bute

  Parkhead—Glasgow Shettleston

  Peebles—Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale

  Penicuik—Midlothian

  Pitlochry—Perth and Kinross

  Pollock—Glasgow Pollock

  Port Ellen—Argyll and Bute

  Port Glasgow—Greenock and port Glasgow

  Portobello—Edinburgh East

  Portree—Ross Cromarty and Skye

  Prestonpans—East Lothian

  Prestwick—Ayr

  Rothesay—Argyll and Bute

  Selkirk—Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale

  Shawlands—Glasgow Pollock

  Shotts—Motherwell North

  St. George's Cross—Glasgow Maryhill

  St. Rollox—Glasgow Central

  Stevenston—Cunninghame North

  Stonehaven—Kincardine and Deeside

  Strathaven—East Kilbride

  Stromness—Orkney and Shetland

  Tain—Ross Cromarty and Skye

  Tollcross—Edinburgh Central

  Tranent—East Lothian

  Troon—Ayr

  Turriff—Banff and Buchan

  Uddingston—Hamilton

  West Kilbride—Cunninghame North

  Freephone and Freepost
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by his Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much his Department has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  Comprehensive information about the Department's use of toll-free telephone lines is not collated centrally; but the Department currently operates three national toll-free telephone inquiry services. Their purposes and costs are as follows:

  ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE HELPLINE (0800 500 200)
  The line provides information and a single, comprehensive ordering point for literature about the Department's services for business.
  The service is bought in. Since its establishment costs have been as follows:

  Year

  £

  1987–88

  67,000

  1988–89

  106,700

  1989–90

  163,600

  1990–91

  166,400

  1991–92

  120,500

  1992–93

  124,200

  1993–94

  118,000

  ENVIRONMENTAL ENQUIRY POINT (0800 585 794)

  The line provides United Kingdom businesses with an information and signposting service on environmental issues.
  336
  The service is operated by Warren Spring Laboratory. Its costs, excluding staff costs, since inception have been as follows:

  £

  1990–91

  2,076

  1991–92

  3,311

  1992–93

  4,184

  1993–94

  2,262

  INNOVATION ENQUIRY LINE (0800 44 2001)
  The purpose of the line is to help raise awareness about innovation by providing a single telephone contact for those seeking information about the Department's innovation services, and to dispatch relevant literature and/or signpost inquirers to other sources of help.
  The line is operated in house. Its costs, excluding staff costs, since establishment have been as follows:

  £

  1991–92

  3,700

  1992–93

  13,700

  1993–94

  5,400

  1 (est)

  Free-post arrangements are made from time to time according to need, but details are not held centrally.

  Radio Spectrum
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish the report of the stage 3 radio spectrum review committee; and if he will make a statement on the future management of the radio spectrum.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The stage 3 radio spectrum review committee, chaired by Sir Colin Fielding and examining use of the spectrum from 28 to 470 MHz, has completed its task and I am pleased to announce that, in agreement with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Defence, Home Affairs, Scotland and National Heritage, I am today publishing the Committee's report. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The review was initiated as part of a rolling programme recommended by the Merriman committee, to audit present use of the radio spectrum, to analyse emerging developments and to assess potential new demands. The report addresses both civil and military use of the spectrum, and builds on previous work by the stage 1 and stage 2 spectrum review committees which examined use of the spectrum from 470 to 3400 MHz and 3400 MHz to 30 GHz respectively.

  I am sure that industry, commerce, service providers and users will all welcome this comprehensive analysis of the current uses and future demands of one of the most congested portions of the radio spectrum. Growth in mobile radio services and increasing competition in the provision of all manner of telecommunication services make this part of the spectrum of vital interest to the economic and social welfare of our nation.

  Sir Colin Fielding and members of the committee are to be congratulated on completing a comprehensive analysis of a complex and heavily used part of the spectrum. I am especially pleased that they have included management aspects of the spectrum under review, and addressed the potential of new technology as a means of making more efficient use of this scarce and valuable resource.
  337
  The Government will now give careful consideration to the Committee's recommendations and will respond to the report in due course. The recommendations on spectrum management and the role of the Radiocommunications Agency have implications that go beyond the part of the spectrum that was the subject of the review and the Government would now like to promote a wide-ranging discussion on these important matters. A consultative document on the future management of the radio spectrum will be published shortly. This will address the important issue of how to make more efficient use of the radio spectrum. This is the key to stimulating innovation and competition in the supply of radio services and boosting competitiveness through the increased use of radio technology. I will arrange for copies of the document to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The decison to publish a consultative document means that it would not be appropriate for the Government to respond fully to the spectrum review recommendations until the end of the consultation period for the consultative document.

  Letters (Delivery)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) first class and (b) second class letters were delivered by how many postmen or postwomen in the past year; at what cost; what were the comparable figures, five, 10 and 15 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 9 March 1994]: I understand from the Post Office that the information requested is as follows:

  First class letters

  Second class letters

  Postmen/ women

  Total cost

  Year

  Million

  Million

  Thousands

  £ million

  11993–94

  6,454

  9,456

  125.5

  3,968

  1988–89

  6,067

  7,137

  132.9

  2,539

  1983–84

  4,398

  5,790

  129.0

  2,661

  1978–79

  3,620

  5,718

  125.5

  1,410

  1 Budget figures for 1993–94.

  Prior to 1986–87 letters and parcels prepared combined accounts and it is therefore difficult to draw comparisons between the present business performance and that of 10 and 15 years ago.

  The staff numbers given are for those actually in post at the financial year-end and are not the average number in post during the year. Part-timers have been included on the basis of a 0.5 full-time equivalent.

  Direct comparisons of costs over the period could be misleading as there have been changes in accounting procedures and in the classification of costs during the period.

  Cable Networks
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that extensions to cable networks in the United Kingdom are carried out in rural areas as well as business and urban areas.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 8 March 1994]: I am keen to see the benefits of cable TV and telephony extended to as many communities as possible. Some existing cable TV franchises, under which the franchisee
  338
  must make services available to every home, already cover rural as well as urban areas. The new franchising arrangements in the Broadcasting Act 1990 were specifically designed to encourage the extension of cable TV to semi-rural and rural areas, by giving franchisees the option of using radio as well as cable to deliver services, and allowing applicants to tailor build programmes to local conditions. The Independent Television Commission advertises new franchises where a credible interest in providing services has been received.

  Fibre Optic Cable System
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects that a fibre optic cable system will cover all areas of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 8 March 1994]: The Government's policy of promoting competition in telecommunications infrastructure is encouraging a large number of companies to install modern telecoms networks. The inter-exchange elements of the networks installed by BT, Mercury and Energis are already almost exclusively optical fibre. So are an increasing number of the links to individual businesses. Cable TV companies are installing optical fibre well down the network towards individual homes. I expect to see these trends accelerate. However, it is not for the Government to require the use of any particular technology. It is for telecoms operators to decide whether and when it is economic to use optical fibre or other technologies such as coaxial copper cable, copper wire, radio or satellite.

EMPLOYMENT

  Ballots (Industrial Action)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the judgment between Blackpool and Fylde college and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education and its implications for trade union members and trade unions in conducting ballots for industrial action.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is for the courts to decide, on the facts of each individual case, whether or not a union has complied with the requirements of the law on the organisation of industrial action.

  Sheltered Employment
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what changes will be made to the funding arrangements for sheltered employment following the responses to the Employment Service's sheltered employment funding system consultative document; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State announced to the House, on 28 June 1993,Official Report, columns 345–46, a consultation process on the funding of sheltered employment provided through local authorities and voluntary bodies. The arrangements for Remploy agreed in 1992 are unaffected. This consultation is now complete and we have received many helpful comments, which we have considered carefully.

  The main changes that will now be introduced are:

  339
  To set up formal contracts with targets, between the Employment Service and providers, to make explicit what is expected and to improve the effectiveness of our expenditure; Contracts will be for three years in principle, with annual renegotiation of details, and with arrangements for termination at six months' notice where specific reasons are given;
  Providers will be free to switch provision between factory places and placements, and between wage subsidies and other forms of support, provided minimum contract terms are met and cash limits are observed;
  Determining maximum grant by a formula derived from what it would cost to support someone with a specified productivity level at specified earnings in an employer placement;
  Increasing maximum grants per head to local authorities to the level offered to voluntary bodies; this will involve a small transfer of resources from the revenue support grant;
  All clients to have development plans regularly reviewed with providers;
  Subsuming the sheltered workshop training budget, currently focused on a few people, into the general grant for the programme;
  Host firms are to be allowed, and encouraged, to be legal employers of a client where this is in the client's interests;
  Encouraging better assessment, including more thorough exploration of alternatives, for those being considered for sheltered employment and, where appropriate, more progression to open employment;
  Contracts will specify a minimum number of places overall for a block grant—based on a maximum revenue grant per head; providers will be encouraged to offer more places and better quality through greater efficiency.

  These changes will ensure that as many severely disabled people as possible are supported from the resources available, and that provision is better targeted.

  As we discussed in our consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities", there is need to consider whether the balance of places in sheltered workshops should be moved more towards sheltered placements. Further details were promised once decisions were made on funding.

  The balance between different forms of provision must respond to the assessed needs and the wishes of disabled people, and be decided in discussion between the ES and our local authority and voluntary body partners. Those needs and wishes can best be established locally. We intend, therefore, to proceed, not by setting national targets for different kinds of provision, but through the ES and providers discussing the right balance for particular localities when contracts are reviewed annually.

  In deciding the balance between workshop places and employer placements, we propose that regard should be paid to the following principles:
  The need to provide as many work opportunities, over as wide a range of occupations as possible and to the full range of eligible disabled people;
  The need to meet the wishes of very many severely disabled people to work alongside non-disabled people in integrated conditions;
  The need also to provide work in sheltered conditions for those who require it.

  We recognise that if, in a particular situation, it is agreed that the balance of provision should be changed in favour of placements, this might involve providers in extra costs in implementing the changes. We are prepared to help with these costs where the change is in the interests of disabled people, and more disabled people are helped as a result. Applications for capital grants to expand or improve workshop provision will continue to be dealt with under current arrangements, and we will continue to help workshops, where appropriate, through consultancy grants and through helping promote the products of sheltered industry.
  340
  Since the programme is moving increasingly towards encouraging a wide range of ways of helping severely disabled people, we agree that the recommendations of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of People with Disabilities should be adopted and the name of the programme should be changed to the supported employment programme.

  I believe that these decisions will create a modern framework within which we and our partners can work together successfully to help people with severe disabilities to obtain opportunities for productive work.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Ministerial Offices
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of new furniture for his private office during the year 1993–94.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Such purchases are included within this Department's overall administration expenditure which is published every year in the annual report.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bottles of(a) whisky and gin and (b) sherry and port were consumed by his private offices in 1993–94.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Disaggregated information of this sort could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ministerial Receptions
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of receptions held by Ministers in his Department in 1993–94.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The cost of such receptions is included in the entertainment expenditure for this Department which is published in the annual report.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits have been made to East Timor by Her Majesty's Government's representatives in Indonesia.

  Mr. Goodlad
  As the United Kingdom does not recognise Indonesia's annexation of East Timor, the British ambassador in Jakarta does not visit the territory. Other members of staff visit whenever a suitable opportunity arises. Most recently, a member of the staff visited East Timor in January.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings the military attache to the British embassy in Djakarta has had with the Indonesian military concerning operations in East Timor.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The defence attaché in Jakarta is in regular contact with the Indonesian military authorities. He took part last year in an attachés' visit to East Timor organised by the Indonesian Defence Ministry.

  Sudan
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the European Union and its member states have taken in recent weeks in response to the continued conflict in Sudan.
  341
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 21 February the European Union and its member states issued a declaration condemning the latest offensive by the Government of Sudan, pressing for adequate access for the civilian population to humanitarian relief, commending the peace initiative of the Kenyan, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Ugandan Governments, and urging the parties to the civil war to respond positively to it. A copy of this statement has been placed in the Library of the House.

  On 8 March the Foreign Affairs Council agreed the establishment of a European Union arms embargo on Sudan as a further expression of our abhorrence of the continuing bloodshed. We were one of the prime movers behind this decision. The embargo covers weapons designed to kill and their ammunition, weapon platforms, non-weapon platforms and ancillary equipment. It also covers spare parts, repairs, maintenance and transfer of military technology. Contracts entered into force prior to the date of entry into force of the embargo are not affected. The text of the decision will be placed in the Library of the House.

  In our national implementation of this embargo, we will apply it to all categories of goods prefixed "ML" in group 1, part III, schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992, as amended. The United Kingdom will interpret the embargo as also applying to goods prefixed "PL" in the above-mentioned group 1.

  European Union
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement on the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The following meetings are planned:

  4 March: Research Council

  7–8 March: Foreign Affairs Council

  10 March: Internal Market Council

  21 March: ECOFIN Council

  23 March: Justice and Home Affairs Council

  24–25 March: Environment Council

  28–29 March: Agriculture Council

  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  Research Council: 4 March

  Fourth framework programme

  Comitology

  Joint Research Centre

  Coal and steel research

  socio/economic research programme

  EURATOM

  White Paper—follow-up

  Foreign Affairs Council: 7–8 March

  White Paper: Follow-up

  Relations with Hungary

  Relations with Poland

  CFSP financing

  Dual use goods

  EEA: Interim acquis and implementing regulation

  Ex-Yugoslavia

  Middle east

  South Africa

  (poss) Relations with the EP

  (poss) Cohesion fund

  Budget discipline

  Own resources decision

  (poss) Russia

  Steel imports from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan

  Trade policy

  (poss) Anti-dumping: cement imports from Turkey, Tunisia and Romania

  Asylum and immigration

  342

  EC/China

  AOB: Relations with FSU countries

  Enlargement, completing negotiations with Norway

  First association councils with Hungary and Poland

  Internal Market Council: 10 March

  Operation of the internal market

  progress report on strategic programme

  progress report on trans-European networks

  Counterfeit goods regulation

  Amendment to directive 83/189 on technical standards

  (poss) Vehicle coupling device

  Legal protection of data bases

  (poss) Motor cycle speed, torque and power

  Novel foods

  Food additives other than colours and sweeteners

  Equipment for use in explosive atmospheres

  ECOFIN Council: 21 March (draft agenda)

  Danish convergence programme

  Own resources decision

  Court of Auditors 1992 report

  Relations with central and eastern Europe

  Planning for the IMF interim committee meeting

  Taxation of savings

  Transitional VAT system

  Anti-fraud programme

  White Paper follow-up

  Justice Council: 23 March

  agenda not yet available

  Environment Council: 24–25 March (draft agenda)

  Commission White Paper

  VOCs—volatile organic compound—stage I Birds directive

  Landfill

  Large combustion plants amendment

  Noise from earthmoving machinery

  Four-year statistics programme

  (poss) Car emissions

  Coastal zones resolution

  Integrated pollution control

  Agriculture Council: 28–29 March

  agenda not yet available

HEALTH

  Hospital Doctors (Negligence)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital doctors have been struck off in each year since 1979 for medical negligence or incompetence.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The General Medical Council produces information annually about doctors who have been struck off the medical register. These statistics are published in the GMC's annual report and in the annual volumes of council minutes, copies of which are available in the Library. Information can also be obtained from the GMC press office.

  Dentistry
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental surgeons have been appointed by the Avon family health services authority in the Bristol area to undertake NHS treatment, for the last three years for which figures are available.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The total number of general service dentists, including principals, assistants and vocational trainees, under contract to Avon family health services authority, for the last three years are:
  343

  Year

  Number

  1991

  374

  1992

  374

  1993

  382

  Census carried out on 30 September in each year.

  Ethics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she proposes to take to maintain traditional ethical standards at top-level NHS management levels.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In January 1993, the national health service management executive issued guidance, HSG(93)5, to NHS trusts and health authorities about standards of business conduct for NHS staff, copies of which are available in the Library.

  In addition, from 1 April 1994 the boards of all NHS bodies will be required to comply with a new code of conduct which will ensure that public service values continue to underpin all decision-making at board level.

  Consultants
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants had full-time, and how many part-time, contracts in each health authority and trust in each year since 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The tables showing the numbers of full-time and part-time consultant contracts in each of the regional health authorities and in those trusts that were in existence in 1991 and 1992 will be placed in the Library. Information for all district health authorities is not available centrally.

  Care Orders
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many teenage mothers in care between 1986 and 1993 have had care orders placed on their babies.

  Mr. Bowis
  The age of mothers and whether they themselves are in care is not information required when local authorities make returns on children in care to the Department.

  Ministerial Offices
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bottles of(a) whisky and gin and (b) sherry and port were consumed by her private offices in 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  Disaggregated information of this sort could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of new furniture for her private offices during the year 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  Such purchases are included within my Department's overall administration expenditure which is published every year in the annual report.

  Freephone and Freepost
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by her 344
  Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much her Department and its predecessor has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department uses freephone and freepost facilities for the public to request and receive free information or materials on health-related subjects and on their rights as national health service patients. The facilities include the health information service and the health literature ordering service.

  Costing information for all the Department's freephone and freepost facilities could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Microwaves
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the comparative standards in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Germany and (d) the USA for field strengths of electro-magnetic energy within the microwave wave-bands relative to harmful effects caused to human beings.

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom is one of the few countries which have formulated guidance, not standards, on restricting exposure. In November 1993 the National Radiological Protection Board published guidelines on restricting exposure to electromagnetic fields, copies of which are available in the Library. These are based on comprehensive reviews of relevant biological and human health studies carried out by NRPB staff and on the advice of the advisory group on non-ionising radiation set up by the director of the NRPB. In the United Kingdom, for populations including children, the levels range from 75 volts per metre, V/m, at 300 megahertz to 194 V/m at 300 gigahertz.

  Other countries, for example, France and Germany, have guidelines based on those issued in 1988 by the international non-ionizing radiation committee of the International Radiation Protection Association. For the general public, the levels range from 27.5 V/m to 61 V/m and for occupationally exposed people from 61 V/m to 137 V/m.

  In the United States of America, the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1991 standard set levels based on "controlled" and "uncontrolled" environments. For uncontrolled environments the levels range from 27.5 V/m to 194 V/m and for controlled environments from 61.4 V/m to 194 V/m.

  Maternity Units
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department last gave advice on security in maternity units.

  Mr. Sackville
  The revised "National Health Service Security Manual", funded by the Department and issued to the service on 29 April 1992, provides guidance and recommendations on general security matters, including patient safety. Copies of the manual are available in the Library.
  345

  Hospital Construction, Buckinghamshire
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the major hospital building projects in Buckinghamshire completed since 1978–79 or now under way, giving in each case the amount of public money spent.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the tables.

  Completed schemes

  Project/scheme

  Publicexpenditure1 £

  Completion date

  Amersham—dermatology unit

  2,306,769

  21 January 1994

  Amersham operating theatres

  1,333,653

  24 June 1983

  Amersham phase 1

  6,193,487

  22 July 1991

  Buckingham—phase 1

  1,263,502

  16 February 1990

  Milton Keynes DGH—end unit

  1,202,638

  24 September 1992

  Milton Keynes DGH—MI unit

  2,495,264

  24 November 1988

  Milton Keynes DGH—OPD

  3,578,463

  13 November 1989

  Milton Keynes DGH—phase 1

  16,358,544

  12 September 1983

  Milton Keynes DGH—phase 2

  17,333,464

  21 August 1991

  St. Johns EMI

  1,816,779

  11 March 1991

  Stoke Mandeville—maternity unit

  6,030,648

  5 May 1991

  Stoke Mandeville—OPD/hospice

  1,598,049

  18 July 1989

  Stoke Mandeville—pathology

  1,545,574

  5 May 1989

  Stoke Mandeville—X-Ray

  1,287,006

  10 July 1987

  Tindal MI development

  3,831,237

  7 May 1991

  Tweed Drive—nursing home

  1,224,958

  17 November 1989

  Wycombe pathology

  1,314,300

  5 July 1985

  DGH—District General Hospital.

  EMI—Elderly Mentally Infirm.

  OPD—Out-Patients Department.

  MI—Mental Illness.

  Schemes under construction

  Project/scheme

  Public Expenditure1

  Completion date

  Wycombe X-Ray extension and alterations

  955,526

  16 September 1994

  Milton Keynes—secure unit phase 2

  1,577,374

  28 November 1994

  Note: Information is not available for schemes before 1980.

  1 Includes construction costs, fees and equipment. Information is not available centrally on total costs for schemes. For example VAT and Land Purchase costs are excluded.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts have had their audited accounts qualified; and if she will list them.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: Qualifications were made to the audit opinions of five national health service trusts accounts for the financial year 1992–93. These were:

  Ashford Hospital NHS Trust

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Mental Handicap NHS Trust

  North East Essex Mental Health NHS Trust

  Walsgrave Hospital NHS Trust

  Wellhouse NHS Trust

  London Implementation Group
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings she has had with members of the London implementation group; and what directions she gave them.
  346
  Dr. Mawhinney
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the chairman and chief executive of the London implementation group at regular intervals to discuss matters relating to London's health services.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the total number of fundholding general practitioner practices in Greater London; and if she will list them by name and health district.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are currently 304 general practitioner fundholding practices in the four Thames regions. Detailed information is not available centrally, but is available from the regional health authorities concerned.

  Asthma
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken by her Department to co-ordinate research into the causes of asthma among(a) adults and (b) children; and how much is spent on research in this area.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health is a founder member of the Respiratory Research Liaison Committee, which includes the major organisations with a research interest in respiratory diseases. The committee has a considerable interest in asthma. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 February at column 627. In addition, the national health service research and development strategy is determining research priorities on a range of difficult problems of direct relevance to the NHS and work is planned to establish detailed priorities in the field of respiratory diseases across all age groups.

  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. In 1992–93 the MRC spent £759,000 on research into asthma and a further £757,000 on research which may be relevant to the condition.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have been held with the Department for Education concerning children's asthma and the effect on education; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Recent discussions have related to inquiries from teachers about children in need of medication for the relief of asthma. It has been agreed that teachers should, in consultation with parents and with appropriate medical advice, do all that is reasonable to enable these children to obtain maximum benefit from education and to participate as fully as possible in school life. Where possible children should be encouraged to manage their own condition with the support, as necessary, of teaching and school health service staff.

  University College Hospital
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what special assistance is to be given to University College hospital in 1993–94 and planned for 1994–95.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In 1993–94 to date, £10,634 million transitional funding support has been agreed in respect of University College London hospitals. The level of transitional funding support for 1994–95 has not yet been determined.
  347

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the non-executive directors appointed to health trusts in the city of Salford, together with their full-time occupations and current places of residence.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Non-executive directors of national health service trusts are expected to live or work in the area covered by the trust, or have connections with it. Information on the place of residence of those appointees is available from NHS trusts.

  Details of appointees are:

  Salford Hospitals NHS Trust

  Mr. J. Moorhouse—Public relations consultant

  Mr. N. Eldred—Business school director

  Mrs. P. Morris—Management consultant

  Professor R. Tallis—Professor of geriatric medicine

  Mrs. L. Fairfield—Solicitor

  Salford Community Health Care NHS Trust

  Mrs. M. Wilkinson—Regional manager, community services

  Ms J. Marchant—Company secretary

  Mrs. P. Banning—Social worker

  Mr. J. Jesky—Managing director

  Mr. N. McArthur—Company chairman

  Mental Health Services of Salford NHS Trust

  Miss L. Frank-Riley—Enterprise manager

  Professor P. Huxley—University professor

  Mr. M. Jowett—Solicitor

  Mr. A. Freeman—Chartered accountant

  Mr. W. Smith—Retired company chairman

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 14 February,Official Report, column 623, (1) what is the estimated cost of each campaign provisionally scheduled for 1994–95;

  (2) what is the budgeted and actual cost of each campaign listed;

  (3) during what months in 1994–95 it is intended that each of the community care, children's services, family health services complaints, GP fundholding, "The Health of the Nation", help with NHS treatment costs, "Keep Warm Keep Well", open government and patients charter campaigns will operate.

  Mr. Sackville
  Actual costs for 1993–94 will not be available until the final outturn figures are available. Final decisions on campaigns and campaign budgets for 1994–95 have not yet been made. Provisional figures for 1994–95 were listed in the reply I gave the hon. Member on 14 February at column 623.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 14 February,Official
  Report, column 623, if she will publish the telephone response and coupon response to each advertising and publicity campaign where applicable.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table:

  Campaign

  Coupon/order card response

  Telephone response

  Travel Safe

  July 1993 to February 1994

  11,453

  2,748

  Blood Donor Recruitment

  April 1993 to February 1994

  n/a

  120,242

  Community Care

  April 1993 to February 1994

  103,558

  28,038

  348

  Campaign

  Coupon/order card response

  Telephone response

  Drugs and Solvent Misuse

  April 1993 to February 1994

  45,425

  37,763

  Organ Donation

  April 1993 to February 1994

  n/a

  11,022

  Health Service Professions Recruitment

  April 1993 to February 1994

  2,939

  n/a

  Blood Donations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was(a) the number of blood donors, (b) the quantity of blood donated and (c) the amount of blood required for each region for each month since April 1993;

  (2) in which of the English health regions there is a surplus of donated blood; and in how many regions blood plasma is in short supply.

  Mr. Sackville
  National stocks are sufficient at present to meet the needs of all health regions in England. Surplus stocks held in individual regions are transferred by the National Blood Authority if needed to satisfy requirements elsewhere.

  The additional information available centrally will be placed in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Illegal Fishing
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current status of the bailiff who uncovered the unauthorised removal of salmon for the purpose of stripping eggs from them and which resulted in the RUC investigation into allegations against bailiffs and a scientist in 1990.

  Mr. Ancram
  This officer is a current employee of the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Irelànd if he will investigate allegations that 4 in immature roach are being caught in Northern Ireland, blast frozen, offered to Northern Ireland tackle dealers and sold in Dublin tackle shops.

  Mr. Ancram
  No. Juvenile roach may be captured lawfully for use as bait under licence from the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any disciplinary action was taken by the Fisheries Conservancy Board against those members of staff about whom allegations of salmon egg stripping had been made in 1990.

  Mr. Ancram
  One member of staff was cautioned about the misuse of powers conferred by permit issued by the Department of Agriculture under section 14 of the Fisheries Act (NI) 1966.

  Fish Farms
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether all commercial fish farms have a consent to discharge.
  349
  Mr. Tim Smith
  All fish farms known to the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland hold current discharge consents.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how frequently river bed sampling for residues of chemicals in use on commercial fish farms is carried out.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Discharge consents granted under the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 for fish farms specify concentration limits for chemicals used in the industry. On the basis of the scientific data available on the chemicals used, there is no evidence to indicate that these compounds would accumulate in river bed sediments. The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland regularly undertakes biological monitoring of invertebrates at locations downstream of fish farms. To date there is no evidence from this monitoring to indicate any accumulation in sediments giving rise to stress in invertebrate populations. For these reasons it is considered that there is no need for river bed chemical sampling.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether inspections are carried out to ensure the safe storage and minimum use of chemicals, anti-bactericides and disinfectants regularly used on fish farms.

  Mr. Ancram
  Department of Agriculture officials carry out regular inspections to ensure the safe storage of chemicals and to monitor the use of chemical substances on fish. Fish farmers are also required to keep a record of chemical usage. Water discharge consents issued under the Water Act (NI) 1972 lay down the maximum discharge concentration of chemicals which may be discharged into watercourses. As there are no major fish diseases present in Northern Ireland, the use of chemicals, anti-bactericides and disinfectants is generally well below the maximum levels permitted by the discharge consents.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evidence he has of a build-up of copper derivatives in river bed soils downstream from commercial fish farms.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is not aware of any use of chemicals containing copper in the fish farm industry in Northern Ireland. Monitoring of river bed soils for such substances downstream of fish farms is not, therefore, considered necessary.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how frequently samples of discharge into rivers/watercourses from commercial fish farms are taken.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has a rolling programme for monitoring fish farms for compliance with consents granted under the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972. Composite sampling is carried out over a continuous period of up to seven days. In addition, discharges from fish farms are monitored annually on a selective basis employing spot sampling.

  As part of the river monitoring programme undertaken by the Department in Northern Ireland, monitoring stations are located downstream of the vast majority of consented discharges. These stations are monitored on between four and 24 occasions annually.
  350

  Crime
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were sentenced to a prison term under each offence category in the latest year for which figures are available; and what numbers and percentage of the total were fine defaulters.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The numbers of people received into prison under sentence of immediate custody for each offence category for 1992 are given in the table and total 1,312. The number of people received into prison for fine default was 1,716. Therefore, the percentage which fine defaulters comprise of the total number received into prison—under sentence of immediate custody and for fine default but exclusive of remand receptions—was 57 per cent.

  Receptions under sentence of immediate custody, by offence 1992

  Number

  Violence against the person

  256

  Sexual Offences

  72

  Burglary

  191

  Robbery

  128

  Theft

  245

  Fraud and Forgery

  39

  Criminal Damage

  79

  Drugs Offences

  10

  Motoring Offences

  173

  Other Offences

  119

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to is answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 1034, if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of any surveys or research undertaken in relation to the advertising and promotion campaigns listed.

  Sir John Wheeler
  A copy of any surveys which are not confidential will be placed in the Library as soon as they become available.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 1034, what is the budgeted and actual cost of each advertising and publicity campaign listed for 1993–94.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Campaign

  Budgeted cost

  Actual cost(to date)

  Annual Fire Safety Week

  30,000

  27,000

  Drink Driving

  333,000

  312,000

  Speeding

  58,000

  20,000

  Seat Belts

  139,000

  139,000

  Dipped Headlights

  38,000

  25,000

  Organ Donor Card

  20,000

  17,000

  Keep Warm, Keep Well Winter Warmth Campaign

  40,000

  39,648

  351

  Campaign

  Budgeted cost

  Actual cost (to date)

  NIE Share Offer

  621,000

  527,813

  Energy Management Assistance Scheme

  10,000

  12,441

  Help the Earth Week

  200,000

  236,882

  Homes Insulation Scheme

  35,000

  34,840

  Airport Signs

  19,500

  19,500

  To promote the role of Innovation and Research and Development

  30,000

  27,381

  Confidential Telephone

  608,000

  608,000

  Crime Prevention Awareness

  163,000

  1115,000

  The Business Radio Programme

  14,000

  14,000

  NVQ General Awareness Campaign

  46,000

  46,000

  YTP Campaign to Increase Recruitment

  15,000

  14,800

  Jobscene (Northern Ireland) Exhibition

  15,500

  15,580

  Overseas Export Marketing Programme

  10,000

  12,000

  Disablement Advisory Service Campaign

  33,500

  33,786

  Employers Forum on Disability

  10,000

  10,000

  National Continence Week (13–18 March 1994)

  30,000

  2—

  European Year of Older People

  None

  21,798

  Overseas Awareness Raising Programme

  385,000

  2—

  1 Estimate.

  2 Not yet available

  Reservoirs (Filter Sludge)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether contaminated filter sludge from reservoirs is being regularly dumped into rivers; if such dumping requires the approval of the Department of Environment (Northern Ireland); and where contaminated sludge from Killylane reservoir is dumped.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  It is not the practice of the Department of the Environment to discharge filter sludges produced as part of the water treatment process to rivers. Sludge from Killylane water treatment works is spread on land within the catchment area above the reservoir.

  Teachers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many newly qualified teachers were appointed to permanent teaching posts by each education board in 1993.

  Mr. Ancram
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the latest figures available from the annual survey carried out by the Northern Ireland Council for Educational Research indicate that, in the 352
  spring term 1993, of those teachers holding permanent posts in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland, 292 had qualified from initial teacher training institutions in 1992.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people(a) graduated or qualified and (b) failed in teacher training in each of the teacher training colleges and universities in 1993.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  1993

  Number who graduated or qualified

  Number who failed the final year examinations

  Stranmillis College of Education

  203

  1

  St. Mary's College of Education

  186

  0

  Queen's University

  220

  0

  University of Ulster

  160

  2

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Fire Services (Merseyside)
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the standard spending assessment for fire services in Merseyside.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Merseyside fire and civil defence authority's standard spending settlement for 1994–95 has been determined by reference to a distributional formula which was discussed with the local authority associations.

  Right of Silence
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from the police regarding his proposals on the right of silence.

  Mr. Howard
  The police have expressed their support for these proposals.

  War Crimes Act 1991
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are currently employed on work flowing from the War Crimes Act 1991.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There are 11 police officers, who form part of the Metropolitan police war crimes unit, engaged full time on work flowing from this Act.

  Fire and Civil Defence Authorities
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at which point in the financial year he had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Environment over the funding of fire and civil defence authorities for the execution of their statutory duties in the following financial year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Decisions about the local government finance settlement and service provision are taken collectively by Ministers and announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment.
  353
  Discussions between the Department of the Environment and the Home Office at official level take place from time to time on the lead up to these decisions. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary did not have separate discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment about fire and civil defence authorities.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the reasons for exemption from the requirement for local public inquiries of the combination schemes relating to proposed new fire authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The proposal to establish three combined fire authorities in Wales in place of the present eight was made in the White Paper on the future of local government in Wales published in March 1993. It has since been discussed in the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council and interested parties have had the opportunity to make representations and, in the case of three of the existing fire authorities in Wales, to meet me to discuss the proposals. Also, clause 23 of the Local Government (Wales) Bill requires my right hon. and learned Friend to give notice of the general nature of the proposed combination schemes to the appropriate authorities and to consider any representations that they make. In the light of these factors, we see no need for public inquiries.

  Police Stations

  Bridewell

  Stanley Road

  Kirby

  Crosby

  St. Helens

  Total

  1994

  February 20

  54

  0

  0

  0

  0

  54

  February 21

  54

  0

  0

  0

  0

  54

  February 22

  54

  0

  0

  0

  0

  54

  February 23

  54

  0

  0

  0

  0

  54

  February 24

  62

  0

  0

  0

  0

  62

  February 25

  60

  0

  0

  0

  0

  60

  February 26

  65

  0

  0

  0

  0

  65

  February 27

  27

  12

  12

  0

  0

  51

  February 28

  39

  10

  9

  10

  0

  68

  March 1

  35

  10

  8

  10

  0

  63

  March 2

  41

  3

  3

  10

  0

  57

  March 3

  41

  8

  0

  8

  8

  65

  March 4

  44

  7

  0

  7

  7

  65

  March 5

  44

  7

  0

  7

  6

  64

  March 6

  44

  7

  0

  7

  6

  64

  March 7

  36

  10

  9

  11

  9

  75

  Information about costs is not yet available. The Prison Service will deal with reimbursement of expenditure incurred by police in accordance with the provisions of Home Office circular 36/1993, issued on 6 October 1993 to clerks to police authorities and chief officers of police.

  Details of number of police officers performing duties concerned with the holding of prisoners is not yet available centrally. It is understood these duties are being carried out by officers working their rest days.

  Between the end of December 1993 and the end of February 1994, the prison population in the north of England rose by just over 1,200. Prison accommodation pressures in the North will be eased by the reopening of Manchester prison, now under way, and the opening of the new prison at Doncaster in June. Rescheduling of refurbishment work at other prisons will also increase the availability of places during 1994.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of prisoner
  354

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being held in police stations in Greater Manchester.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The number of prisoners held in police cells in Greater Manchester overnight on Tuesday 8 March was 169.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners on average were being held in each of the police stations in the Merseyside area for each month since January 1993, and for each day so far in March 1994; what is the consequent cost in police overtime in each police cell on Merseyside for these duties; how many police officers are being taken off other duties for these purposes; and what reasons he has established for the trends in these figures.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  From 1 January 1993 to 5 February 1993 an average total of 30 prisoners were held each night in police stations in the Merseyside area. The use of police cells ceased on 6 February 1993.

  Police cells in the Merseyside area came into use again on 20 February 1994, as follows:
  nights for which prisoners were held in police cells, for the months of January and February, broken down by police authority, and the cost to each authority.

  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 10 March 1994:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoner nights for which prisoners were held in police cells in January and February.

  Details are as follows:

  Month

  Prisoner nights

  Police force

  January 1994

  16

  Greater Manchester

  February 1994

  3,394

  Greater Manchester

  February 1994

  474

  Merseyside

  355

  Month

  Prisoner nights

  Police force

  February 1994

  315

  Lancashire

  February 1994

  156

  Humberside

  February 1994

  139

  South Yorkshire

  February 1994

  91

  Northumbria

  February 1994

  3

  Cumbria

  Information about costs is not yet available. The Prison Service will deal with reimbursement of expenditure incurrerd by police in accordance with the provisions of Home Office Circular 36/1993, issued on 6 October 1993 to Clerks to Police Authorities and Chief Officers of Police.

  Drugs
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on his proposals to combat the use of drugs.

  Mr. Maclean
  Apart from several general inquiries from members of the public, we have had forwarded by Members of Parliament nine letters this year on the proposed increase in fines for the illegal possession of class B and class C drugs.

  Prison Officers (Attacks)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of attacks made on prison officers in prisons in England and Wales during the year 1993.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 2,835 prisoners were found guilty of assaults on prison staff in 1993 under the prison disciplinary system. This includes offences of attempting, inciting and assisting assaults.

  Crime Detection
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra resources he is going to make available for the detection of crime.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Since 1978–79 the Government have increased expenditure on the police service by 87 per cent. in real terms and we are introducing measures to free up more police officers from administrative tasks for front-line duties.

  It is for the chief constables to decide how to deploy their resources to the best effect within their force area and the Home Secretary has set key national objectives to assist them in determining their priorities.

  Police Gloucestershire
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about police levels in Gloucestershire.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received 12 letters from hon. Members and 20 letters from members of the public. A request from Gloucestershire police authority for additional officers is currently being considered.

  Gallows
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many operational sets of gallows there are in the United Kingdom; and when he next expects them to be used.
  356
  Mr. Maclean
  There are no operational gallows in any Prison Service establishments in the United Kingdom.

  Motor Vehicle Insurance
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require police authorities to take further steps to ensure that motor vehicles are properly insured and licensed.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. The enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.

  Police Negotiating Board
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has received from the Police Negotiating Board concerning progress with the current round of negotiations.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None. My right hon. and learned Friend has asked the Police Negotiating Board to let him have its recommendations by 3 April 1994.

  Criminal Justice System
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what weight he attaches to the prison population as a measure of the success of the criminal justice system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government's criminal justice policy objectives include the prevention of crime as well as the conviction and appropriate punishment of those who commit it. Prison population figures cannot in isolation be seen as a measure of either the success or the failure of the criminal justice system in its response to crime.

  Persistent Offenders
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to ensure that cautions are not used for persistent offenders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The new guidance on cautioning which I am about to issue to the police will make it clear that a second caution should be considered only where the second offence is trivial, or where it has been committed long enough after the first caution to suggest that the first one had some effect. People who offend persistently must expect to be prosecuted.

  House Breaking
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage increase in crimes of house breaking made known to the police over the most recent five-year period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Recorded offences of burglary in a dwelling increased by 47 per cent. in England and Wales between 1987 and 1992.

  Hilda Murrell
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will re-examine the case of the murder of Hilda Murrell of Shrewsbury.
  357
  Mr. Howard
  The investigation of this murder is the responsibility of the chief constable of West Mercia constabulary, who will consider any new evidence which becomes available.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the legislation dealing with terrorism.

  Mr. Howard
  We keep the legislation under close review. In last year's Criminal Justice Act we strengthened the measures against terrorist finance. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill, which is currently in Committee, contains new powers for the police to stop and search vehicles and persons for counter-terrorist purposes and creates two new terrorist offences.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of victims compensated for criminal injury during the past year; what was the total and average paid to them in that year and five, 10 and 15 years ago; and if he will make a statement on proposals to alter the terms of compensation for victims of criminal injury.

  Mr. Maclean
  Details of the new arrangements for compensating blameless victims of violent crime were published in a White Paper on 15 December 1993—Cm. 2434. The new scheme is based on a tariff of awards and starts on 1 April. Victims will find the new scheme simpler and quicker than the one it supersedes. It will help restrain the spiralling costs of the present arrangements and make future expenditure more predictable and controllable.

  Annex A to the White Paper gave full historical details of awards made under the scheme. The information is extracted from that table.

  Financial year

  Number of awards made

  Total compensation paid £ (million)

  Average award (£)

  1992–93

  36,638

  152.5

  4,162

  1987–88

  20,991

  52.0

  2,479

  1982–83

  19,733

  29.4

  1,492

  1977–78

  14,052

  10.1

  719

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was(a) the number of claims, (b) the total sum paid out, (c) the average amount per case and (d) the maximum, minimum and average time taken to deal with claims for criminal injuries compensation for the last available year.

  Mr. Maclean
  In the year ended 31 March 1993 the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board received 65,977 new applications and paid out a total of £152.217 million. The average award was £4,162.

  The board does not maintain statistics on the time taken to deal with cases in the form requested. However, paragraph 6 of the 29th annual report of the board—Cm 2421—a copy of which is held in the Library of the House, provides some information about the time taken to resolve cases.
  358

  Amusement with Prizes Machines
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry over the task force recommendation in respect of amusement with prizes machines in licensed betting offices; and whether he will make a statement;

  (2) what correspondence he has received in respect of amusement with prizes machines in licensed betting offices; whether he will make a statement;

  (3) whether he has plans for future discussions with the Betting Office Licencees Association in respect of amusement with prizes machines in licensed betting offices.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Policy on this issue is currently under review following the task force recommendation, and we will consult as necessary with interested parties. The outcome of the review will be made known in due course.

  Correspondence on the issue has been received from a number of Members of the House.

  Mandatory Life Sentences
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners serving the mandatory life sentence for murder have been released on life licence during the last 15 years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is published annually in successive volumes of "Prison Statistics England and Wales"—table 8.5 of the latest volume, for 1991, Cm 2157—a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a list of those prisoners serving the mandatory life sentence for murder who have been released on life licence during the last 15 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Bridgewater Three
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the safety of the convictions of the Bridgewater Three; and when he plans to make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  A number of representations have been received from hon. Members and others about the safety of these convictions. The latest representations from the men's solicitors were received between June 1993 and February 1994. We understand that more may follow. We have asked the police to make inquiries into some of the matters raised. When those inquiries have been completed, my right hon. and learned Friend will consider, in the light of all the information available, whether there are grounds on which it would be right for him to take action in respect of any of the convictions.

  Neck Holds
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the police forces whose officers have been trained in the use of neck holds as a restraint technique-procedure; in the case of each such
  359
  police force, what guidelines, advice or training has been given to officers as to the potential dangers of the use of neckholds; and when such guidelines, advice or training were issued;

  (2) whether police officers in Cleveland police force had had the benefit of guidelines, advice or training in the use of neck holds in July 1990;

  (3) whether police officers in the West Midlands police force had had the benefit of guidelines, advice or training in the use of neck holds in February 1987;

  (4) what circular instructions, guidelines or advice the Home Office has issued to police forces in England and Wales concerning the potential dangers of the use of neck holds as a restraint.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Training in self-defence and restraint is included in the initial training given to all police probationers at police district training centres. Cleveland and West Midlands police officers have received the same basic training as all forces. In 1992 a manual on police self-defence and restraint was issued by the central planning unit. A copy of the manual is in the Library of the House.

  The manual is being reviewed and the incidents in Cleveland in July 1990 and in the West Midlands in February 1987 will be taken into account. It is not feasible for the guidance to be prescriptive. What particular means of restraint is reasonable will depend on the circumstances of the case, the nature of any struggle and any weapons which the subject may be attempting to use to resist arrest. In all circumstances, police officers are bound by section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 which provides that only such force as is reasonable to the circumstances may be used in making an arrest.

  Doncaster Prison
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Doncaster prison will receive its first prisoners; how many prisoner places it will provide; and when he expects that it will reach full capacity.

  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 10 March 1994

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Doncaster Prison.

  The present plan is that Doncaster Prison will receive its first prisoners in July, although we shall accelerate this if possible. Premier Prison Services are contracted to provide 771 prisoner places, which is the certified normal accommodation. We expect to reach this level approximately two months after opening, depending on the requirements for places at the time.

  Escorted Prisoner (Death)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Prison Service has yet received a copy of Commander Alex Marnoch's report into the death of Ernest Hogg, the prisoner who died while in the custody of Group 4 Court Escort Services Ltd.; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
  360
  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 Mrs Joan Ruddock, dated 10 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Mr. Marnoch's report into the death of Mr. Ernest Hogg.
  I have not yet received Mr. Marnoch's final report but I expect to do shortly.
  It is not intended to place a copy of the report in the Library. It is not our practice to publish the reports of internal investigations which the Prison Service carries out for its own management purposes. There are two main reasons for this.
  First, given the closed and potentially volatile nature of the prison environment, publishing reports into incidents could cause problems for the day to day operation and management of the prison system. Knowledge of their contents and conclusions could, for example, lead to reprisals against staff. Second, the prospect of publication could discourage witnesses from being totally candid in the information they provide. If they knew their identities were to be revealed, they might be at risk of being treated as informers. This could make it more difficult for the Prison Service to discover the truth, learn the appropriate lessons and take prompt and effective follow up action.
  We will, however, publish the substance of Mr. Marnoch's main recommendations and the action taken to implement them as soon as we are in a position to do so.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Bosnia asylum applicants are waiting to be dealt with.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  On 8 March 1994, 1,937 applications for asylum from nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina were outstanding. This figure relates to principal applicants and does not include dependants.

  Voter Registration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has commissioned into the effectiveness of its publicity campaign for voter registration; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest opinion research available on this matter.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Pre and post-campaign omnibus research was commissioned for the autumn 1993 television advertising campaign.

  A copy of the research has been sent to the Library.

  National Alliance of Women's Organisations
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will invite the voluntary services unit to review its decision for core funding for the National Alliance of Women's Organisations.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The demands on the resources of the voluntary services unit are too great to enable it to core fund the National Alliance of Women's Organisations.

  Young Offenders
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 16 and 17-year-olds are currently being held on remand in adult prisons; and how many were held on average in the years 1979, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.
  361
  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 Jean Corston, dated 10 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many 16 and 17-year-olds are currently held on remand in adult prisons and how many were held on average in the years 1979, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.
  The available information is given in the attached table. No information is available for 1979, 1984 and for 17-year-olds in 1989.

  Remand population held in Adult Prison Service Establishments

  16-year-olds

  17-year-olds

  31 December 1993

  0

  16

  30 June 1992

  0

  70

  30 June 1991

  6

  166

  30 June 1990

  10

  167

  30 June 1989

  2

  n/a

  Take-away Restaurants (Licences)
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are issued to local authorities regarding the granting of late-night licences for take-away restaurants following the consultation exercise carried out last year.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Home Office has issued no guidelines to local authorities on their licensing of late-night refreshment houses under the Late Night Refreshment House Act 1969, and did not undertake consultation on the matter last year.

  Bail Hostels
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many proposals to open new bail hostels in the last year have been halted due to objections.

  Mr. Maclean
  None.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new bail hostels have been opened in 1993; how many new places have been created; and where these hostels are located.

  Mr. Maclean
  One new bail hostel opened in 1993 at Normanby road, Scunthorpe. This hostel can accommodate up to 22 men.

  Police
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) of 18 January,Official Report, columns 465–66, what considerations underlie his decision not to collect information centrally on the number of incidents requiring police deployment (a) per officer and (b) by 100,000 population by police and by year for each police authority; if he will consider holding the information in future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Two of the police perfomance indicators introduced jointly by the Home Office, the Audit 362
  Commission, Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and the Association of Chief Police Officers cover police deployment: the number of incidents per 100 police officers and the number of incidents requiring immediate police response. These indicators will be collected annually, starting with the financial year ending March 1994, and will be collated by HMCIC.

  European Community
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the directives, regulations and resolutions of the European Community which give citizens of Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden the right of free movement, establishment, family reunification and equality of treatment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is set out in the agreement on the European Economic Area presented to Parliament in October 1992, Cm 2073. Part III of the agreement and the associated annexes deal with free movement of persons, services and capital.

WALES

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many Welsh Development Agency staff will be involved in rural policy planning after the implementation of the agency's new structure at(a) regional and (b) national levels;

  (2) how the Welsh Development Agency plans to consult on issues affecting rural Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have arranged for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member, and for a copy of his response to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Rural Areas
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list projects and programmes designed to benefit rural areas which involved co-operation between(a) the Welsh Development Agency and (b) the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales, Department of Employment and the training and enterprise councils in Wales in each of the last five years;

  (2) if he will list the publications giving details of partnership programmes between (a) the Welsh Development Agency and (b) the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales, Department of Employment and Welsh training and enterprise councils in which voluntary organisations may participate.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have arranged for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member, and for a copy of his response to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the policy documents, publications and consultation documents which set out the rural policy proposals produced by(a) the Welsh Development Agency and (b) the Development Board for Rural Wales in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have arranged for the chief executives of the Welsh Development Agency and the Development
  363
  Board for Rural Wales to write to the hon. Member, and for copies of their responses to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Fire Authorities
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the standard spending assessments for fire authorities in Wales for the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Redwood
  There are no standard spending assessments for fire authorities in Wales. The standard spending assessments for county councils in Wales include provision for fire services.

  Deaf-blind Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to introduce services for the deaf-blind in north Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is for local authorities and health authorities to identify the need for, and the priorities for the provision of, services for deaf-blind people in their area in their local strategies for health and social care plans.

  The responsibility for making appropriate educational provision for children who are deaf and blind rests with the local education authority.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the area of each individual environmentally sensitive area in Wales already designated or to be designated, estimated to be eligible for management agreements.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:

  Eligible area (ha)

  Cambrian Mountains (Original) ESA

  27,600

  Cambrian Mountains (Extension) ES

  65,000

  Lleyn Peninsula ESA

  39,700

  Ynys Mon ESA

  60,000

  Radnor ESA

  80,000

  Preseli ESA

  104,000

  Clwydian Range ESA

  26,000

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers are estimated to be eligible for participation in each individual environmentally sensitive area in Wales already designated or to be designated in 1994.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of farmers

  Cambrian Mountains (Original) ESA

  300

  Cambrian Mountains (Extension) ESA

  660

  Lleyn Peninsula ESA

  960

  Ynys Mons ESA

  1,576

  Radnor ESA

  1,035

  Preseli ESA

  2,300

  Clwydian Range ESA

  619

  364
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the area of each individual environmentally sensitive area in Wales already designated or to be designated in 1994.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:

  Total area (ha)

  Cambrian Mountains (Original) ESA

  72,800

  Cambrian Mountains (Extension) ESA

  80,200

  Lleyn Peninsula ESA

  45,400

  Ynys Mons ESA

  72,000

  Radnor ESA

  100,500

  Preseli ESA

  120,900

  Clwydian Range ESA

  28,000

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to consult the leaders of the Opposition parties in Wales prior to making appointments to the chairmanship of non-departmental public bodies within his Department's responsibility.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have consulted the leaders of the Opposition parties in Wales on my proposals for the appointments of chairman and members to the Local Government Boundary Commission and await their response. I and my officials take into account the views of all correspondents on other appointments, if Members of Parliament wish to support particular people on the list.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a register of new appointees to executive bodies or advisory bodies to show previous and present political affiliations, together with financial contributors to any political parties.

  Mr. Redwood
  Political affiliation is not usually relevant and in most cases is unknown.

  Euro-link
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all agreements concluded under the Euro-link arrangements with companies and organisations from European regions, together with the region concerned; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is contained in the table.

  Regional distribution of "substantive links " secured for Welsh companies/organisations engaged in "Euro-link"programme

  Number

  Germany

  Baden-Württemberg

  25

  Saxony

  7

  Bavaria

  1

  Berlin

  1

  Hamburg

  1

  Italy

  Lombardy

  7

  Piedmont

  2

  Veneto

  1

  365

  Number

  Spain

  Catalunya

  5

  Madrid

  4

  Galicia

  1

  France

  Paris

  3

  Rhone-Alpes

  1

  Provence

  1

  Total

  60

  Details of individual "substantive links" are not given in this answer as companies regard such information as "commercial in confidence".

  Written agreements are a commercial matter to be dealt with by companies as required.

  Ministerial Offices
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many bottles of(a) whisky and gin and (b) sherry and port were consumed by his private offices in 1993–94.

  Mr. Redwood
  Disaggregated information of this sort could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now make it his policy to forbid the burning of orimulsion bitumen in any power station; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There are currently no applications before Government for the burning of orimulsion at power stations in Wales. Any application to do so would be subject to the pollution control provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and would need to be determined in line with the statutory procedures.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will revise the formula for the allocation of Welsh revenue support grant so that local authority areas with high unemployment, housing needs and deprivation, receive an increase which is at least equal to the rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The formulae for distributing revenue support grant in 1994–95 are set out in the Local Government Finance Report—Wales—1994–95 which received the approval of Parliament on 15 February. The formulae are agreed with the local authority associations and represent a fair and objective way of distributing revenue support grant to all local authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the reasons underlying the cash allocations of Dwyfor, Cynon Valley, Ogwr and Port Talbot in the Welsh revenue support grant and their relation to the Welsh average; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  For 1994–95 the standard spending assessments per head of population for Dwyfor, Cynon Valley, Ogwr and Port Talbot are £220, £204, £153 and 366
  £174 respectively. These compare with a district average of £159. SSAs are calculated with reference to a wide range of factors which reflect the relative need of Welsh local authorities to spend on services.

  NHS (Consultant Appointments)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional steps he intends to take to reduce the waiting time for consultant appointments in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  Measures to reduce the time that people have to wait for a first out-patient appointment will be announced shortly.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the measures he proposes to monitor air pollution in Wales in the light of the report published on 24 February by the Institute of Public Health.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I understand the hon. Member may be referring to a recent report on air quality in London. In Wales, the Government operate a comprehensive monitoring network for the main air pollutants—including nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulates and ozone. Monitoring to date has shown that air quality in Wales is good and generally within the World Health Organisation and European Community guideline limits.

  Forensic Unit, Gwynedd
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to discourage Gwynedd health authority from building a medium secure forensic unit for mentally unstable criminal offenders in the grounds of Bryn-y-Neuadd hospital at Llanfairfechan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  On 29 April 1993, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales announced a £9.25 million package for new hospital facilities in Wales for mentally ill offenders. The package includes capital funding of up to £3 million for a new 25-bed medium secure unit for north Wales which will be the first purpose-built medium secure facility within the Principality. In England, over 650 places have been developed within 20 sites.

  The development of such a unit in north Wales was recommended by the all-Wales advisory group on forensic psychiatry. Ten potential sites were considered and the preferred proposal for Bryn-y-Neuadd hospital, Llanfairfechan was confirmed at the meeting of Gwynedd health authority on 22 November 1993 in the light of a thorough appraisal and advice from experts in the field. The decision was and remains entirely a matter for the health authority.

  Grapes
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the potential effect upon vineyards in Wales of European Union proposals concerning the sugar content of grapes.

  Mr. Redwood
  The European Union has not made any proposals concerning the sugar content of English and
  367
  Welsh grapes. Reform proposals for the wine regime are expected soon and are likely to propose an increase in the minimum natural alcoholic strength of grapes.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is fully aware of the concerns of the Welsh industry and will seek to ensure that these are properly reflected in the forthcoming negotiations.

  Blood Supplies
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether there are any regions of Wales where there is a surplus of donated blood; and whether there are any regions where blood plasma is in short supply.

  National blood transfusion service (Wales) (1993–94)

  Major blood components required (units)

  Donors attending

  Quantity of usable donations (units)

  Red cell1

  Platelet

  April

  10,602

  9,038

  7,521

  2,935

  May

  9,367

  7,806

  7,237

  2,947

  June

  10,295

  8,640

  7,345

  3,376

  July

  10,583

  8,866

  7,607

  3,607

  August

  9,181

  7,724

  6,896

  3,014

  September

  10,242

  8,647

  7,527

  2,501

  October

  10,567

  8,844

  7,316

  2,878

  November

  9,932

  7,936

  7,257

  2,901

  December

  10,379

  8,868

  7,464

  3,277

  January

  10,414

  8,783

  7,291

  3,663

  1 These figures include whole blood units which equate to approximately 5 per cent, of the total.

  Historic Buildings Council for Wales
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to present the next report of the Historic Buildings Council for Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The 37th report of the Historic Buildings Council for Wales has been presented today. The report covers the financial year 1992–93 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Scotland of 2 February,Official Report, column 774, if he will list those hon. Members defeated in the general election of June 1987 who, at any subsequent date, have been appointed to public bodies by him or his predecessor; and if he will list those appointments.

  Mr. Redwood
  The following hon. Members were defeated in Wales in the general election of June 1987:

  Harvey R. L.—Clwyd, South-West

  Hubbard-Miles P. C.—Bridgend

  Robinson M. N. F—Newport, West

  Terlezki S.—Cardiff, West

  None of the above have held, or currently hold, an appointment on bodies for which my Department has responsibility.
  368
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  For the area covered by the national blood transfusion service—Wales—there is a surplus of donated blood and there is no shortage of blood plasma.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was(a) the number of blood donors, (b) the quantity of blood supplied and (c) the amount of blood required for each region in Wales for each month since April 1993.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Details for the area covered by the national blood transfusion service—Wales—are set out in the table.

ENVIRONMENT

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the(a) budgeted and (b) actual expenditure by his Department on (i) internal and (ii) overseas travel by the Secretary of State since 27 May 1993.

  Mr. Gummer
  My budget for travel and subsistence for this financial year is £55,000. Since 27 May 1993 I have spent £5,588 on travel throughout the United Kingdom, attending projects in which my Department has been involved, explaining Government policies and listening to the views of local people. During the same period I have spent £15,274 on overseas travel. This has included attending EC Council of Ministers meetings, a United Nations conference on sustainable development in New York, a visit to eastern Europe to discuss environmental issues, and supporting Britain's Olympic bid in Monte Carlo.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by region those sites of special scientific interest that have been damaged or destroyed during each of the last three years; and if he will indicate the nature of the damage in each case.

  Mr. Atkins
  Information on loss of and damage to SSSIs generally and on the principal causes of such loss or damage is contained in the annual reports of English Nature and of the former Nature Conservancy Council, copies of which are in the Library. Information on individual sites is not available to my right hon. Friend.
  369
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the maximum fines under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for a landowner(a) carrying out a potentially damaging operation to a site of special scientific interest and (b) contravening a nature conservation order under section 29.

  Mr. Atkins
  The maximum fines for offences under section 28 and 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are set at levels 4 and 5 on the standard scale. They are currently £2,500 and £5,000 respectively.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many man hours have been spent by English Nature and its predecessor the Nature Conservancy Council in dealing with the protection of the site of special scientific interest at Westhay moor in Somerset since 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  There are some 65 owners and occupiers of this SSSI. Detailed records are not maintained of work on individual sites, but English Nature estimate that at least three and a half man years have been spent since 1987 in protecting Westhay moor.

  Women's Refuges
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an estimate of(a) the number of places in women's refuges in England and Wales and (b) the number of women passing through women's refuges, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Sir George Young
  My Department does not hold information on the number of places in women's refuges nor the number of women passing through them. The Housing Corporation in 1992–93 provided funding for 1,730 bedrooms in 132 refuge schemes managed by housing associations. This provision is part of the Housing Corporation's revenue funding. The corporation also provides capital funding to women's refuges managed by housing associations.

  Coastal Conservation Areas
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new measures he will introduce to help conserve and manage those areas of coastline and sea which are to be designated as special areas for conservation under the European Union directive on the conservation of flora, fauna and habitats.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government set out their policies and proposals for legislative changes in a public consultation paper issued on 4 October 1993. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation. The wider objectives for the conservation of our natural heritage were further addressed in the biodiversity action plan, published on 25 January 1994. Copies of both documents were placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in support of a single-tier structure of local government.

  Mr. Baldry
  Since we issued our consultation paper on the structure of local government in England in April 1991,370
  we have received many representations in favour of single-tier local government structures. They have come from local authorities and other local and national organisations, and from individuals including Members of this House. It is not possible, however, to produce a definitive list except at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he expects the transitional costs of reorganisation in the Isle of Wight and Cleveland to amount to in total.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have made no such estimate. We have announced that we are prepared to make available to authorities in the Isle of Wight and Cleveland supplementary credit approvals up to a limit of £9 million in 1994–95. Subject to the approval of their applications for SCAs these arrangements will enable the authorities to borrow to meet specified transitional costs. The amount of SCAs issued will depend on the amounts incurred.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the local authorities in Cleveland and the Isle of Wight are expected to raise the funds to cover the interest on the Government loan to cover the transitional costs of reorganisation;

  (2) what interest rate will be charged by the Government on the loan to Cleveland and the Isle of Wight to cover the transitional costs of reorganisation.

  Mr. Baldry
  The authorities in Cleveland and the Isle of Wight will receive supplementary credit approvals up to a specified limit. These will enable them to borrow to meet specified transitional costs and the interest incurred on the borrowing. It is anticipated that the borrowings and rolled up interest will be repaid out of the savings arising from the reorganisations. The rate of interest incurred will depend on the pool, or other, rate at which each authority borrows.

  Eviction
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on the advice to be given to those who face eviction by bailiffs.

  Sir George Young
  None.

  Groundwork Trusts
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 2 March,Official Report, column 710, if he will give a breakdown, using the categories used in his previous answer of money spent by Groundwork trusts which was collected from (a) local authorities and (b) the private sector for each year from 1988–89 to 1993–94.

  Mr. Atkins
  The tables show the income received from the local authorities and the private sector as devoted to expenditure on projects and running costs for the groundwork trusts in England. The information is not available in the categories specified in the previous question,Official Report, column 710, which referred to the breakdown of Groundwork's grant in aid, nor is it available on a comparable basis for earlier years.
  371

  Project costs £

  Running costs £

  1992–93

  Local authorities

  2,619,042

  1,240,551

  Private sector

  3,371,103

  247,363

  1993–941

  Local authorities

  3,357,715

  1,825,514

  Private sector

  3,435,145

  357,620

  1 Estimated.

  Council Tax
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council tax banding appeals have been submitted to the Colchester valuation office; how many appeals have been decided; what is the likely time scale for resolution of the remaining appeals; and what assessment he has made of whether sufficient resources are available to the Colchester valuation office.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 17 February,Official Report, column 967. We are continuing to monitor closely the settlement of appeals in all offices of the Valuation Office agency. The agency is responsible for the allocation of resources to its individual offices.

  Agency Chief Executives
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many agency chief executives in his Department are currently paid more than £82,925, excluding performance-related bonuses; and whether such chief executives were recruited directly to their present post from outside the civil service.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Bird Deaths
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the results of the veterinary analysis of dead birds found recently on the east coast of Scotland and northern England.

  Mr. Atkins
  Some birds have been taken for post-mortem analysis and preliminary results indicate that they had low body weights and little or no fat reserves. Tissue samples were also analysed for heavy metal and organochlorine compounds but residues found were insufficient to have been the cause of death.

  In the recent North sea incident, it is believed that the sea-bird deaths were caused by starvation, possibly due to a combination of strong onshore winds which may have disturbed normal feeding activity and, perhaps, a mismatch between bird location and food availability.

  Ministers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the dates between which each Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has held office in his Department since 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State who have held office in this Department since 1979 are:372

  Lady Birk—March 1974 to January 1979

  Ernest Armstrong—June 1975 to May 1979

  Kenneth Marks—December 1975 to May 1979

  Guy Barnett—April 1976 to May 1979

  Lady Stedman—January 1979 to May 1979

  Lord Bellwin—May 1979 to 6 January 1983

  Hector Monro—May 1979 to September 1981

  Geoffrey Finsberg—May 1979 to September 1981

  Marcus Fox—May 1979 to January 1981

  Giles Shaw—January 1981 to 8 June 1983

  Sir George Young—September 1981 to 10 September 1986

  Neil Macfarlane—September 1981 to 2 September 1985

  William Waldegrave—9 June 1983 to 2 September 1985

  Lord Avon—10 September 1984 to 25 March 1985

  Richard Tracey—2 September 1985 to 15 June 1987

  Angela Rumbold—2 September 1985 to 10 September 1986

  Christopher Chope— 11 September 1986 to 23 July 1990

  Lord Skelmersdale—11 September 1986 to 15 June 1987

  David Trippier–15 June 1987 to 24 July 1989

  Colin Moynihan—15 June 1987 to 23 July 1990

  Marion Roe—15 June 1987 to 25 July 1988

  Virginia Bottomley—25 July 1988 to 27 October 1989

  Lord Hesketh—1 February 1989 to July 1990

  Lord Strathclyde—23 July 1990 to 7 September 1990

  Patrick Nicholls—23 July 1990 to 11 October 1990

  Robert Atkins—23 July 1990 to 30 November 1990

  David Heathcoat Amory—27 October 1989 to 30 November 1990

  Lady Blatch—7 September 1990 to 21 May 1991

  Robert Key—11 October 1990 to 13 April 1992

  Tony Baldry—30 November 1990 to date

  Tim Yeo—30 November 1990 to 13 April 1992

  Robin Squire—14 April 1992 to 27 May 1993

  Lord Strathclyde—14 April 1992 to 17 September 1993

  Baroness Denton—17 September 1993 to 11 January 1994

  The Earl of Arran—11 January 1994 to date

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he expects the cost of setting up the single regeneration budget offices to be.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 15 February,Official Report, column 734.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the setting up of the single regeneration budget has cost.

  Mr. Baldry
  The single regeneration budget combines 20 existing Government expenditure programmes to provide flexible and responsive support for local initiatives which promote regeneration, economic development and industrial competitiveness. As such no additional costs have been involved in setting up the Budget; indeed, the combination of programmes should improve value for money so that public investment will go further.

  European Funding Schemes
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, column 566, if he will list the European funding schemes for which local authorities can apply.

  Mr. Baldry
  The principal sources of European Community funding available to local authorities are the European Community's three structural funds. These are the European regional development fund, the European social fund and the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. Local authorities may also be able to obtain grants or loans for specific purposes from various other European sources.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,
  373
  Official Report, column 566, what was the total amount of funding obtained by local authorities from Europe in each year since 1979 for which figures are available without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department has records of European regional development fund grants to local authorities in England. This information is set out in table 1. The figures represent the total value of ERDF grant approvals for local authority projects falling within my Department's policy responsibilities. However, it does not include grants to local authority companies, nor grants approved under programmes managed by other Departments.

  Table 1—ERDF approved for local authority projects from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1993 (by calendar year)

  Year

  ERDF approved (£s)

  1979

  13,423,340

  1980

  10,711,800

  1981

  22,600,866

  1982

  45,059,387

  1983

  43,009,044

  1984

  78,125,916

  1985

  79,045,299

  1986

  80,781,998

  1987

  81,965,476

  1988

  69,794,279

  1989

  39,459,150

  1990

  113,679,498

  1991

  180,328,261

  1992

  170,427,853

  1993

  236,223,117

  Totals for all calendar years

  1,264,635,284

  Figures are also available for European Social Fund grants. Table 2 shows the total value of ESF grants approved or paid to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales since 1990. Figures covering years prior to 1990 are not readily accessible.

  Table 2—ESF granted for local authority projects from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 1993 (by calendar year)

  Year

  ERDF granted (£s)

  1990

  83,680,023

  1991

  118,969,706

  1992

  126,532,128

  1993

  203,714,216

  Totals for all calendar years

  532,896,073

  Local Goverment Finance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to improve the standard spending assessment system.

  Mr. Baldry
  We will be looking carefully at the priorities for future work and research into the standard spending assessment system in consultation with the local authority associations. We are always prepared to consider new evidence in support of changes in SSAs.
  374
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the standard spending assessments for each of the local authorities in Greater Manchester for 1994–95.

  Mr. Baldry
  The standard spending assessments for the local authorities in Greater Manchester for 1993–94 are as follows:

  Authority

  £ million

  £ head

  Bolton

  188.498

  715

  Bury

  12.651

  622

  Manchester

  412.867

  958

  Oldham

  169.177

  768

  Rochdale

  158.355

  770

  Salford

  175.339

  754

  Stockport

  175.121

  602

  Tameside

  149.805

  678

  Trafford

  144.103

  664

  Wigan

  202.121

  654

  Greater Manchester police authority

  157.194

  61

  Greater Manchester fire and civil defence authority

  73.054

  28

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the total level of Government grant per head of population for 1994–95 for(a) Wandsworth, (b) Westminster and (c) each of the district councils in Greater Manchester.

  Mr. Baldry
  Authorities receive revenue support grant annually and, where their standard spending assessment for 1994–95 has been reduced by more than 2 per cent. as a result of incorporating the results of the SSA review and 1991 census data, will receive SSA reduction grant. The figures, expressed as pounds per head, for Wandsworth, Westminster and the district councils in Greater Manchester are given.

  Authority

  RSG

  SSA reduction grant

  Total

  Wandsworth

  507

  105

  612

  Westminster

  760

  41

  801

  Bolton

  386

  —

  386

  Bury

  282

  —

  282

  Manchester

  635

  —

  635

  Oldham

  443

  —

  443

  Rochdale

  442

  —

  442

  Salford

  430

  —

  430

  Stockport

  247

  —

  247

  Tameside

  349

  —

  349

  Trafford

  310

  —

  310

  Wigan

  329

  —

  329

  In addition, these authorities will receive redistributed national non-domestic rates of £196 per head.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of capital receipts currently held by each of the district authorities in Greater Manchester; and what is the total amount of reserved receipts held.

  Mr. Baldry
  Figures for usable receipts and for unapplied provision for credit liabilities are given. No separate figures are available for unapplied reserved receipts set aside as provision for credit liabilities.
  375

  Usable receipts at 31 March 1993 £ million

  Provision for credit liabilities(PCL) at31 March 1993 £ million

  Bolton

  1.8

  2.0

  Bury

  0.6

  14.5

  Manchester

  1.4

  70.2

  Oldham

  Nil

  35.9

  Rochdale

  3.8

  23.8

  Salford

  0.5

  19.5

  Stockport

  Nil

  15.3

  Tameside

  2.0

  115.8

  Trafford

  7.6

  29.5

  Wigan

  1.4

  25.1

  1 At 31 March 1992.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when regulations will be laid before Parliament to extend the home energy efficiency scheme to pensioners and disabled people, as announced in the Budget on 30 November.

  Mr. Atkins
  Proposals to amend the regulations governing the home efficiency scheme which would extend eligibility for the scheme to those receiving disability living allowance and those aged 60 and over were laid before Parliament yesterday.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a decision about the removal of Crown exemption from planning legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  My Department issued a consultation paper in November 1992 inviting comments on proposals to remove Crown exemption from the planning system. Similar consultation papers were issued by the Scottish and Welsh Offices and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. The principle behind these proposals was that in future all Crown bodies should be required to apply for planning permission, hazardous substances consent, listed building consent, conservation area consent, and scheduled consent in the normal way.

  This principle received overwhelming support. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Secretary of State for Wales and the Secretary of State for Scotland therefore intend to remove Crown exemption from the planning system as soon as a suitable legislative opportunity arises. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will introduce similar changes in Northern Ireland.

  We propose to introduce minor refinements to our original proposals, in response to comments on the consultation paper. In particular, we shall seek to provide an informal appeal mechanism to deal with disputes between local planning authorities and Crown bodies in relation to alleged breaches of planning control. This remedy would be in addition to a High Court declaration.

  Once implemented, these proposals will mark a significant increase in the openness and accountability of Government Departments.
  376

SCOTLAND

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date Ministers received the report of the Forestry Commission review group; and which Ministers received a copy.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The report of the forestry review group was submitted on 28 February to those Ministers who were represented on the review group.

  Car Boot Sales
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider measures to address the situation that whilst antique shops must be licensed and pay a fee as such, dealers selling at car boot sales are not subject to such a fee.

  Mr. Lang
  District and island councils may resolve to license the activities of second-hand dealers under the provisions of part II of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Antique dealers may be licensed as second-hand dealers under section 24 of that Act, and some authorities license car boot sales as private markets in terms of section 40, though such sales are exempt if held by charitable and certain other organisations. Licensing authorities may charge such reasonable fees as they may determine in relation to such licenses by virtue of paragraph 15 of schedule 1 to the 1982 Act. Any fee charged to participants selling goods at a car boot sale is at the discretion of the operator.

  Hospitals
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals are currently directly managed by health boards; how many there will be on 1 April; and what percentage of total bed provision those hospitals will represent.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Numbers of directly managed hospitals and bed provision

  Numbers of hospitals in:

  Percentage bed provision1 in:

  DMUs

  Trusts

  DMUs

  Trusts

  At 30 September 1993

  195

  80

  68

  32

  At 1 April 19942

  81

  194

  16

  84

  1 Average available staffed beds during quarter ended 30 September 1993.

  2 Figures for 1 April 1994 are an estimate based on bed provision at 30 September 1993.

  Amenity Charges
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was generated by the NHS in Scotland from amenity charges; and how many people paid them in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information available in respect of income from amenity beds is as follows:
  377

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  Single Rooms and Small Wards

  292,362

  258,323

  Figures are not available on the number of patients using amenity beds who paid for them.

  Charities
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards identifying defunct charitable accounts, with a view to reallocation of their funds, in terms of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have undertaken a preliminary trawl of banks and building societies in Scotland which indicates that the total amount held in dormant charitable accounts is likely to be between £100,000 and £150,000. We are at present considering the next steps and hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Housing, Dreghorn
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many tenants have been decanted from their homes in Dreghorn while the refurbishment of their homes by Scottish Homes takes place; and whether all tenants were offered the opportunity to be decanted when it became apparent that the work on their homes was of a major nature;

  (2) if he will make a statement about the current programme of works being undertaken by Scottish Homes in Dreghorn; and how many homes are involved in the work;

  (3) what measures have been adopted by Scottish Homes to monitor the refurbishment work being undertaken by contractors operating on their contracts in Dreghorn;

  (4) what arrangements have been made by Scottish Homes for safeguarding the health and welfare of tenants living in Dreghorn while their homes have been subject to major refurbishment;

  (5) whether all Scottish Homes tenants in Dreghorn were advised of the nature of the refurbishment work to be undertaken on their properties before it began; what degree of choice tenants were given as regards agreeing to the work being carried out or not; and how many tenants opted not to be part of the programme of refurbishment;

  (6) what arrangements exist for Scottish Homes to compensate tenants living in Dreghorn whose properties have been damaged while the work on their homes has been carried out.

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

  Community Nursing
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any health board or trust within any board area has plans to put community nursing out to compulsory competitive tender, or privatise this service by any other means.
  378
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 8 March 1994]: My right hon. Friend is not aware of any plans by health boards or NHS trusts to market test or privatise community nursing services. No proposals have been made to him or officials.

  NHS Privatisation
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for further privatising within the NHS.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 8 March 1994]: 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 the health service to concentrate its management skills on the core activities of the NHS and to use its expertise, where possible, to seek best value for money and improved quality in the provision of non-care services. I would expect such services to be competed for by both in-house and commercial contractors.

  Parole Board
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase the number of persons appointed to the Parole Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 March 1994]: The size of the board will be kept under review in the light of the volume of cases, and the board's responsibilities under the Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 1993, which include interviewing prisoners.

  School Boards
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding(a) the number of schools without a constituted school board and (b) unfilled school board vacancies in each local education authority area in Scotland as at 28 February.

  Mr. Lang
  Statistics are currently being collected on the number of schools with and without a school board, following the 1993–94 round of biennial parental elections. The information will be published in a statistical bulletin in late spring. The most up-to-date figures available, relating to May 1992 and based on the 1991–92 round of elections, show that 657 schools in Scotland did not have school boards.

  Information on the number of unfilled school board vacancies is not held centrally.

  Schools Inspectors
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in Scotland have had teaching experience in primary schools of(a) 10 years or more and (b) less than 10 years; and what proportion of the total number of school inspectors have had any teaching experience in primary schools.

  Mr. Lang
  Nineteen of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools have qualifications to teach in primary schools which represents 18 per cent. of the total number of inspectors whose duties include inspection in primary, secondary and special schools, further education, teacher education and community education. Of these, six have
  379
  more than 10 years' teaching experience in primary schools; seven have less than 10 years' teaching experience in primary schools; and six, although qualified to teach in primary schools, pursued teaching careers in other sectors of education for which they are also qualified. Nine have been head teachers of Scottish primary schools.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in Scotland were appointed(a) after 1990, (b) between 1985 and 1989, (c) between 1980 and 1984 and (d) before 1980.

  Mr. Lang
  Of the 107 members of the schools inspectorate(a) 30 were appointed after 1990, (b) 27 between 1985 and 1989, (c) 19 between 1980 and 1984 and (d) 31 before 1980.

  Milk Marketing Schemes
  Mr. Kynock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the provisions in the Agriculture Act 1993 for the revocation of the north of Scotland milk marketing scheme, the Aberdeen and district milk marketing scheme and the Scottish milk marketing scheme.

  Sir Hector Monro
  My right hon. Friend has made an order under section 1(3) of the Agriculture Act 1993 to extend the deadline for the revocation of the three Scottish milk marketing schemes from 1 April 1994 to 1 January 1995. This is in recognition of the fact that a vesting day of 1 April 1994 is not achievable but does not preclude a vesting day earlier than 1 January 1995, provided the reorganisation schemes have been approved.

  Health Service Contracts
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of Ayrshire and Arran health board's evaluation committee tendered their resignations

  Practitioner profiles for salaried dentists and general dental practitioners in Scotland: 1992–93Fees authorised

  Percentage

  Salaried dentists

  General dental practitioners

  Total gross fees

  —

  100.00

  100.00

  Item of service fees Pre 1990 scale Fees

  —

  0.21

  0.12

  1990, 1991 and 1992 scales Fees

  —

  72.75

  75.12

  Registration fees

  Continuing care (current rate)

  —

  8.57

  7.67

  Continuing care (old rate)

  —

  0.50

  0.26

  Referral fees

  —

  0.03

  0.01

  Capitation (current rate)

  Item 41(a) ages of patients

  0-2

  0.09

  0.13

  3-5

  1.10

  0.99

  6-9

  3.53

  3.03

  10-14

  5.20

  4.65

  15-17

  4.18

  3.98

  All

  14.09

  12.79

  Item 41(b) ages of patients

  0-2

  0.00

  0.00

  3-5

  0.00

  0.00

  380
  from the committee over the wording of the recent urology contract and subsequently withdrew them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: No members tendered resignations from the evaluation committee.

  Cottage Hospital Closures
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department gave to Tayside health board in the years 1989 to 1990 regarding the board's plans for the future of Meigle cottage hospital.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 7 March 1994]: At the accountability review meeting in 1990 the board's proposal for service developments throughout Tayside were discussed and the health board was advised that these might best be considered together as a package of changes.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate (i) the average annual income of salaried dental officers employed by health boards in Scotland and (ii) the average annual income of general dental practitioners within the national health service in Scotland; and if he will provide the average practitioner profiles for each category.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 March 1994]: The current salary scale for full-time salaried dentists employed by health boards in Scotland runs from £19,036 to £27,714. The current salary for salaried plus bonus dentists is £18,176 plus bonuses in proportion to the amount of work carried out. The dental fee scale is currently set to pay to independent general dental practitioners as a whole a target average net income. For 1992–93 this is £36,352. The practitioner profiles for 1992–93 for salaried dentists in Scotland and for general dental practitioners in Scotland are shown in the table.
  381

  Percentage

  Salaried dentists

  General dental practitioners

  6–9

  0.00

  0.00

  10–14

  0.00

  0.01

  15–17

  0.00

  0.01

  All

  0.00

  0.02

  Capitation (old rate)

  —

  0.29

  0.08

  Weighted entry fees

  Weighted entry (current rate)

  Item 42(a) No. of decayed teeth

  2–3

  0.32

  0.24

  4–5

  0.43

  0.46

  6–7

  0.37

  0.43

  8 or more

  0.69

  1.19

  Total

  1.82

  2.31

  Item 42(b) No. of decayed teeth

  2–3

  0.10

  0.06

  4–5

  0.20

  0.10

  6–7

  0.18

  0.12

  8 or more

  0.53

  0.51

  Total

  1.02

  0.78

  Item 42(c) ages of patients

  0–2

  0.00

  0.00

  3–5

  0.00

  0.01

  6–9

  0.00

  0.02

  10–14

  0.02

  0.03

  15–17

  0.06

  0.06

  All

  0.09

  0.12

  Weighted entry (old rate)

  —

  0.68

  0.55

  DSS and prior approval fees

  DSS remissions

  17.50

  14.82

  Item of Service fees for DSS remission cases

  —

  24.48

  21.98

  Item of Service fees for prior approval cases

  —

  1.39

  4.66

  Capitation and Continuing Care Patients

  Percentage

  Salaried dentists

  General dental practitioners

  Continuing care

  75.30

  75.30

  Capitation

  Item 41 (a) ages of patients

  0.2

  0.75

  1.28

  3–5

  4.71

  4.39

  6–9

  6.91

  6.64

  10–14

  8.33

  8.19

  15–17

  4.01

  4.20

  Total

  24.70

  24.70

  Item 41 (b) ages of patients

  0–2

  0.00

  0.00

  3–5

  0.00

  0.00

  6–9

  0.00

  0.01

  10–14

  0.00

  0.01

  15–17

  0.00

  0.01

  Total

  0.01

  0.03

  Item 42 (c) ages of patients

  0–2

  0.00

  0.00

  3–5

  0.01

  0.05

  6–9

  0.01

  0.07

  10–14

  0.07

  0.09

  15–17

  0.07

  0.11

  Total

  0.17

  0.31

  382

  Regional Dental Officer References

  Average Number

  Salaried Dentists

  General Dental Practitioners

  Referrals

  1.53

  3.95

  Failed to attend

  0.64

  1.42

  Analysis of item of service 1992–93

  Percentage

  Salaried dentists

  General dental practitioners

  Diagnosis

  1. (a) Examination and advice

  9.27

  8.58

  (b) Extensive examinations and advice

  0.54

  1.27

  (c) Full case assessment

  0.43

  0.44

  (d) Treatment summary

  0.00

  0.00

  2. X-Rays

  1.59

  1.91

  Study models

  0.29

  0.43

  3. Colour photographs

  0.00

  0.00

  Preventive treatment

  6. Intensive instruction

  0.00

  0.00

  7. Surface applications

  0.02

  0.01

  Periodontal treatment

  10. (a) Simple scale and polish

  8.11

  9.17

  (b) Scale and polish>one visit

  1.66

  2.02

  383

  Percentage

  Salaried dentists

  General dental practitioners

  (c) Periodontal disease

  0.05

  0.15

  Other

  0.00

  0.00

  11. Surgical treatment

  0.01

  0.02

  Conservative treatment

  14. Amalgam fillings

  15.39

  13.46

  Fillings-other materials

  8.20

  8.63

  Sealants

  0.12

  0.30

  Pin or screw retention

  0.30

  0.46

  15. Endodontic treatment

  2.48

  4.60

  16. Porcelain veneers

  2.09

  2.38

  17. Inlays

  0.01

  0.31

  Crowns

  9.46

  15.76

  Core and post, pin or screw

  0.65

  1.34

  Re-cement

  0.16

  0.38

  18. Bridges

  2.17

  3.68

  Re-cement—adhesive

  0.01

  0.05

  Other

  0.00

  0.02

  Surgical treatment

  21. Extractions

  3.84

  3.13

  22. Surgical extractions

  0.35

  0.50

  23. Post-operative care

  0.06

  0.13

  24. General anaesthetics

  0.46

  0.46

  Sedations

  0.02

  0.20

  Non-orthodontic appliances

  27. Acrylic dentures

  14.46

  11.57

  Metal dentures

  4.49

  2.34

  Treatment prior to provision of dentures

  0.00

  0.02

  Soft lining

  0.01

  0.05

  Special trays

  0.43

  0.44

  Metal strip

  0.05

  0.01

  28. Denture repairs/alterations

  0.75

  0.89

  Re-line dentures

  0.23

  0.46

  Denture additions

  0.39

  0.54

  29. Obturators and splints

  0.04

  0.03

  Treatment involving other appliances

  0.09

  0.08

  Orthodontic treatment

  32. Active appliances

  0.70

  0.70

  Other forms of treatment

  35. Domiciliary visits

  0.43

  0.71

  Recalled attendance

  0.36

  0.65

  36. Miscellaneous

  0.19

  0.20

  37. Acute conditions

  0.06

  0.17

  40. Any other treatment

  0.15

  0.13

  Occasional treatment

  48. Issue of a prescription only

  0.36

  0.01

  49. X-rays

  0.14

  0.02

  50. Dressings/other palliative treatment

  2.21

  0.07

  51. Inlays, crowns and bridges

  0.38

  0.04

  52. Extractions

  4.55

  0.17

  53. Post-operative care

  0.21

  0.01

  54. General anaesthetics/sedations

  0.19

  0.03

  55. Denture repairs/alterations

  0.29

  0.08

  56. Acute conditions

  0.15

  0.02

  57. Domiciliary visits

  0.00

  0.00

  Recalled attendance

  0.35

  0.32

  58. Additional items—conservative

  0.07

  0.07

  59. Additional items—appliances

  0.01

  0.00

  Incomplete treatment

  62. Dentures

  0.27

  0.16

  384

  Percentage

  Salaried dentists

  General dental practitioners

  63. Fillings and endodontic treatment

  0.15

  0.10

  65. Crowns

  0.04

  0.08

  73. Any other treatment

  0.01

  0.00

  Porcelain veneers

  0.03

  0.01

  Footnote: Sub-totals may not add exactly owing to rounding.

  Data provided by dental practice of Central Services Agency.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 18 February,Official Report, columns 1056–58, if she will make a statement on (a) the response of delegates attending the continental challenge conference to the campaign on continental market opportunities, (b) the assessment of improvements in animal welfare monitored by veterinary officers and animal health inspectors, (c) the qualitative measurement of the plant health campaign, (d) the responses to the small producers of food campaign and (e) the qualitative assessment of the warble fly campaign.

  Mr. Jack
  (a) One hundred and sixty delegates attended the conference to launch "The Continental Challenge". Evaluation will take place throughout the course of the campaign, which runs throughout the year.

  (b) The Government have a continuing policy of seeking improvements for the welfare of farm animals. Nearly 160,000 leaflets dealing with animal welfare issues have been distributed in the current year. No data are collected centrally about the transport of casualty animals or heat stress in farm animals. However, the Government are satisfied that the advice offered will contribute to a better understanding of animals' needs in circumstances where unnecessary suffering might otherwise occur.

  (c) From its contacts with commercial growers and the general public, the plant health and seeds inspectorate considers that the plant health campaign has been effective in achieving its objective of raising awareness of the requirements of the single market.

  (d) The primary objective of the small producers of food booklet was to provide advice to small businesses on sources of help available. Some 30,000 booklets have been distributed and, of those who have chosen to comment, nearly all have said that they found it helpful.

  (e) Monitoring of the warble fly campaign is still taking place but early indications are that it has been successful.

  Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list those areas of fisheries policy she has so far identified where her Department has responsibilities towards achieving the objectives of the United Kingdom biodiversity national action plan; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  In making fisheries policy, Ministers take account of the objectives for conserving biodiversity which are set out in the United Kingdom biodiversity national action plan.
  385
  While EC fisheries policy is based on the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks for commercial—human consumption—reasons, less emphasis has been given to the impact of fishing on other species and on the marine environment. During our presidency of the EC at the end of 1992, the basic EC regulation governing the common fisheries policy was amended to include a clear obligation that the CFP must provide for rational and responsible exploitation on a sustainable basis taking account of implications for the marine eco-system.

  Subsequently, at the December 1993 Fisheries Council I pressed for a re-examination of the industry fishing problem. As a result, the Commission is establishing a working group of marine ecologists and fisheries biologists to study the implications for the marine ecosystem of fishing in general and industrial fishing in particular.

  Wherever appropriate the United Kingdom introduces national conservation measures in addition to those applicable throughout the EC. Most recently fishing for nephrops with twin-rig trawls has been restricted to help improve conservation of this species. The United Kingdom Fisheries Departments currently undertake research to discover what, if any, long-term effects heavy fishing gear including beam trawls have on the sea bed and its benthic communities.

  It is clear that fishing effort should be reduced against many of the stocks around our shores, as elsewhere in the EC. To this end, the Government announced a package of conservation measures in February 1992. These included various changes to the licensing regime, a £25 million decommissioning scheme and restrictions on time at sea. Since then, license changes have been implemented and the first round of decommissioning has removed approximately 5,000 tonnes of fleet capacity, but the time at sea element of the package has been suspended pending a ruling by the ECJ. The industry's view is that technical conservation measures could play a much more significant role, and we are discussing its proposals with it.

  Bread wheat

  Milling wheat

  Feed wheat

  Feed barley

  Average 1992–93 marketing year12

  142.60

  125.50

  119.30

  113.00

  Week-ending 24 February 19941

  114.30

  100.40

  99.10

  103.20

  1 Source: Home Grown Cereals Authority.

  2 Ex-farm prices for the week ending 24 February 1994 reflect a reduction in prices this year as against 1993 as a result of CAP reform.

  3Source: European Commission.

  4 The first payments under the arable area payments scheme will fall under the 1994 EC budget.

  5 Includes set-aside payments for oilseeds and proteins as costs for the individual elements are not available.

  Butter
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will state(a) the price at which British wholesalers buy butter per 250 g pack, (b) the price at which the European Community sells butter per 250 g pack on the world market, (c) the levels of European Community production and consumption of butter, (d) the level of common agricultural policy expenditure on butter subsidies and (e) the cost to the British Exchequer of European Community intervention in the butter market.
  386

  Cereals
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the cost in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995 of the increase in set-aside compensation for cereal growers by 12 ecu per tonne, agreed last May by EC Agriculture Ministers.

  Mr. Jack
  The Commission has estimated that the increase in set-aside compensation will add 352 mecu—£267 million—to the Community's 1995 and subsequent budgets.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will state(a) the price at which British wholesalers buy cereals per tonne, (b) what she estimates the price of cereals per tonne would be in a free market without European Community price intervention, (c) the levels of European Community production and consumption of cereals, (d) the level of common agricultural policy expenditure on cereal subsidies and (e) the cost to the British Exchequer of European Community intervention in the cereals market.

  Mr. Jack
  (a) It is not possible to provide a single figure for the price of cereals in Britain per tonne which wholesalers have to pay. The following are average ex-farm prices for wheat and barley in pounds sterling per tonne.

  (b) It is not possible to make precise estimates about what prices might result if there were no market support in the EC. A large number of assumptions would be required in order to assess how domestic and world markets would react if commodity policy were to be changed.

  (c) The latest estimates for 1992–93 put cereal production at 166 million tonnes and consumption at 137 million tonnes.3

  (d) Total EC cereals expenditure in the 1993 calendar year was £5,154 million.4

  (e) The Exchequer cost of CAP support of cereals in the United Kingdom is estimated at £948 million for the 1993–94 financial year.5 The United Kingdom also contributes to the EC budget as a whole, which funds the cost of cereals support in other member states.

  Mr. Jack
  (a) The first-hand delivered price of butter in the United Kingdom is between 62p and 79p per 250 g pack; (b) the price of butter on the world market fluctuates, but the current minimum price under the international dairy agreement is $1,350 per tonne; (c) production of butter in EC dairies was 1,636,000 tonnes in 1992 and is estimated to be 1,658,000 tonnes in 1993; consumption of butter in the EC was 1,591,000 tonnes in 1992 and is estimated to be 1,567,000 tonnes in 1993; (d) the 1993 provisional outturn of CAP expenditure on butter support in the European Community amounted to £1 billion; (e) the Exchequer cost of CAP support of butter in the United Kingdom is estimated at £67.5 million for the 1993–94

  387
  financial year. The United Kingdom also contributes to the EC budget as a whole, which funds the cost of butter support in other member states.

  Flood Defence Committees
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether the national code of local government conduct—DOE circular 8/90—applies to the flood defence committees of the National Rivers Authority;

  (2) what advice she has given to county councils regarding the national code of local government conduct —DOE circular 8/90—and the benefits that farmers and landowners may receive from the National Rivers Authority flood defence operations.

  Mr. Jack
  The code does not apply directly to the flood defence committees of the National Rivers Authority, but members of local authorities appointed to the committees are subject to the provisions in paragraph 33 of the code. No advice has been given to county councils regarding the code in relation to the flood defence operations of the National Rivers Authority because the pecuniary interests of all members cif flood defence committees are governed by provisions in sections 94 to 98 of the Local Government Finance Act 1972 and these provisions are specifically included in the terms of appointment issued to ministerial appointees.

  Sugar
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will state(a) the price at which British wholesalers buy sugar per kilogramme, (b) the price at which the European Community sells sugar per kilogramme on the world market, (c) the levels of European Community production and consumption of sugar, (d) the level of common agricultural policy expenditure on sugar subsidies and (e) the cost to the British Exchequer of European Community intervention in the sugar market.

  Mr. Jack
  (a) Sugar manufacturers' list prices for bulk white sugar are currently around £0.66 per kilogramme, though the actual price paid is subject to negotiation between sugar producers and their customers.

  (b) Currently, quota sugar is being sold on the world market, with the aid of export refunds, at around 0.30 ecu per kilogramme—£0.22 per kilogramme1.

  (c) The latest figures from the European Commission estimate total Community sugar production for 1992–93 at 15,602,179 tonnes, of which 13,336,888 tonnes is quota sugar. Consumption is estimated at 11,818,179 tonnes.

  (d) The provisional outturn for Community expenditure for sugar in 1993 is 2,189 mecu—£1,720 million2.

  (e) The Exchequer cost of CAP support for sugar in the United Kingdom is estimated at £123,853 million for the 1993–94 financial year. The United Kingdom also contributes to the EC budget as a whole which funds the cost of sugar support in other member states. Around 55 per cent. of the costs of the regime are recovered from levies raised on growers and processors, which contribute to EC own resources.
  1 £1 = 1.3228 ecu—2 £1 = 1.2729 ecu.
  388

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will estimate the proportion of common agricultural policy spending that does not go to farmers but is(a) paid to middlemen who store unwanted surplus food and (b) is used to subsidise this surplus for export on to world markets.

  Mr. Jack
  Information on EC expenditure on storage of intervention produce prior to its sale and on export refunds is contained in annex 9 and annex 5, respectively, of the annual financial reports of guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. These have been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will arrange for a copy of the report of the European Commission on the common agricultural policy to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 9 March to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler),Official Report, column 277.

  Horticultural Imports
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement about the operation of minimum import prices for horticultural products, particularly blackcurrants, imported into the European Community.

  Mr. Jack
  The Europe agreements between the Community and Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria provide for minimum import prices for fresh and frozen blackcurrants from these countries. They may come into force when:during each three-month period of the marketing year, the average unit value for each product imported into the Community is lower than the minimum import price for that product; and
  during any period of two weeks, the average unit value for each product imported in the Community is lower than 90 per cent. of the minimum import price for that product, in so far as the quantities imported during this period are not less than 4 per cent. of the normal annual import.

  The Commission is responsible for implementing and monitoring the arrangements in the Europe agreements.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list those aspects of agricultural, aquaculture and fisheries policy, with United Kingdom relevance, on which she transfers responsibility for answering oral parliamentary questions to another Department.

  Mr. Jack
  Ministers in this Department answer parliamentary questions on all agriculture, fisheries and food matters with United Kingdom relevance. Questions will only be transferred if the allocation of responsibilities between Departments suggests that in the particular case an answer could best be given by a Minister in another Department.
  389

  Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence her Department has of increased severity of symptoms induced by bovine immunodeficiency virus in non-experimental infections or of a syndrome of superinfection.

  Mr. Soames
  Disease induced by bovine immunodeficiency virus in non-experimental cattle has not been diagnosed in this country. Extremely detailed investigations are in progress in a herd in Cheshire in which cattle with serological evidence of exposure to the virus have been identified. We are not aware of any published reports from abroad of disease in non-experimental cattle definitely induced by BIV. The three cattle in the United States from which the virus has been isolated over a period of 25 years were in poor condition but it is not known what role, if any, BIV played. A recent Canadian paper on a serological survey in Ontario dairy cattle reported that positive BIV serological herd test results were associated with slightly lower than average milk production. A published summary of work carried out by Louisiana State university school of veterinary medicine suggested findings of a range of conditions in a single dairy herd where there was also serological evidence of BIV and of the virus which causes enzootic bovine leukosis.

  Freephone and Freepost
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by her Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much her Department has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since 1979.

  Mr. Jack
  We have not, in the time available and without incurring disproportionate cost, been able to check comprehensively with all our agencies and outstations the actual expenditure in each financial year in the period specified.

  In general, the Department has made relatively little use of freephone and freepost facilities.

  A freephone service was set up in 1991 to enable members of the public to report incidents where they suspected the use of pesticides posed a serious risk to people, animals and wildlife.

  A further freephone line was set up this year as part of MAFF's "food sense" campaign. It will operate from 7 February to 16 March to enable members of the public to order information booklets.

  In a rather different category, two freephone numbers have been operating, since 1986 and 1993 respectively, for use by MAFF staff working in our information technology department who need to dial into the Ministry's datacommunications network whilst working away from the office.

  The recent cost of these facilities, to date, is:
  390

  1990–91 £

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  Pesticides Incidents line

  —

  565.3

  329.1

  361.63

  Information Technology Department staff lines

  3,973.25

  6,887.5

  9,495.8

  8,523.22

  Our records indicate that MAFF has only operated one substantial freepost service. This was for a period ending in 1989 to enable members of the public to send for a MAFF booklet on food additives. Exact figures are not readily available, but the total annual cost did not exceed £5,000.

  National Milk Records
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to ensure that national milk records will continue to provide accurate information to dairy farmers.

  Mr. Jack
  The Milk Marketing Board proposed in its reorganisation scheme that the future of national milk records should be determined after vesting day by the residuary MMB. The scheme, which has been amended by the board three times, is subject to a further consultation exercise which will end on 8 April. I must not prejudge the decision which my right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales have to take on whether to approve the scheme. I am sure, however, that if the residuary MMB is established and given the task as proposed it will reach its decision with full regard to the interests of milk producers.

  Less-favoured Areas
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 2 March,Official Report, columns 744–46, if the information published for the farm type cattle and sheep is the same as for the farm type mixed cattle and sheep in the revised series.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No. There are four farm types which are included in the robust type cattle and sheep LFA. One of these is SDA mixed cattle and sheep, the other three are SDA specialist sheep, SDA specialist beef and DA cattle and sheep. A full description of the system of farm classification is contained in appendix 3 of farm incomes in the United Kingdom 1991–92.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 9 February,Official Report, column 277, how livestock units translate in terms of numbers of hill cows and hill ewes.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  For the purposes of assessing stocking density on farms in the farm business survey, animal numbers are converted into livestock units—LU. One hill cow is equivalent to 0.75 LU and one hill ewe —eligible to SDA higher rate hill livestock compensatory allowance—is equivalent to 0.06 LU. Full details of the livestock units used in the farm business survey are contained in appendix 2 of Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1991–92.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the figures for net farm income
  391
  published for (a) the farm business survey and (b) the farm business survey weighted in accordance with the annual farm census (i) reflect the net farm income of whole farm enterprises or (ii) are adjusted to reflect the individual income of each (1) partner, (2) director and (3) shareholder; and what would be the effect of disaggregat-ing the figures along these lines on the averages for (x) total LFA income and (y) income of each person deriving a taxable personal income from livestock farming in the less-favoured areas.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The national results of net farm income from the farm business survey are weighted averages which reflect the income of the whole farm business. Net farm income represents the return to the farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant-type capital of the business. The cost of all hired labour and the inputted cost of all unpaid labour is included as an input and is deducted from the value of output in the calculation of net farm income. It is not, therefore, appropriate to divide net farm income between partners, directors and shareholders.

  Illegal Poisoning
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people have been prosecuted as a result of the Ministry's campaign against illegal poisoning in each year since it started; what percentage increase this has been on each of the previous four years; and what has been the cost of the campaign in each year.

  Mr. Soames
  The campaign was launched in March 1991. It is not possible to identify the reason for a report of a prosecutable offence in every case but the number of people successfully prosecuted each year in England and Wales is as follows:

  Calendar years

  Number

  1987

  4

  1988

  5

  1989

  4

  1990

  8

  Start of campaign

  Number

  1991

  3

  1992

  10

  1993

  8

  1994

  2

  The estimated Exchequer costs of the campaign's publicity and administration are:

  Financial year

  £

  1991–92

  152,000

  1992–93

  148,000

  1993–94

  121,000

  392

DEFENCE

  Information Exchange Agreements
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the titles of the master information exchange arrangements agreements between the United States of America and Britain, outlining the subject matter of each title, the date each agreement was signed, and any other countries involved in each agreement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Master Information Exchange Agreement between the United States of America and the United Kingdom was signed in September 1988. It provides for the exchange, for defence purposes, of information concerning military, technical or scientific topics. Individual information projects are set out in annexes to the arrangement. There is a number of these involving many areas of my Department. Information on them is being collected and I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the new defence microbiology laboratory at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, will be in use; what it will be used for; why it is necessary; and how much its construction cost;

  (2) what is the subject matter of the substantial contract which is currently being carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment for another Government Department mentioned in the published 1992–93 accounts for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down; what is the value of this contract; what is its duration; and when it started;

  (3) what is the purpose of the two new facilities under construction mentioned on page 25 of the 1992–93 annual report of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment; why they are necessary; what is their cost; and which buildings they are replacing;

  (4) if, following the publication of the account of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, in its latest two annual reports, he will now publish the annual budgets of this establishment for each financial year since 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment—CBDE—under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Letters from Graham S. Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 10 March 1994:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if, following the publication of the account of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down in its two latest annual reports, the annual budgets of this Establishment for each financial year since 1979 can now be published has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The budgetary figures for the years 1979–80 to 1984–85 are not readily available. The cash outturn for these years from available records are as follows:

  393

  Year

  Outturn £ million

  1979–80

  1.51

  1980–81

  14.4

  1981–82

  14.6

  1982–83

  16.3

  1983–84

  16.7

  1984–85

  16.7

  These figures are at 1992–93 price levels.
  3. In the years 1985–86 to 1990–91 the annual gross cash budgets for CBDE were as follows:

  Year

  Gross cash budget £ million

  1985–86

  17.9

  1986–87

  21.1

  1987–88

  21.7

  1988–89

  22.0

  1989–90

  22.3

  1990–91

  25.4

  The figures for 1990–91 include works and property management costs as MOD untied from PSA on 1 April 1990. These figures are also at 1992–93 price levels.
  4. CBDE became a Defence Agency on 1 April 1991 under the Next Steps programme and our annual published accounts are in accruals format to a Treasury Accounts Direction. From 1 April 1991, some expenditure previously controlled centrally was disaggregated to CBDE. The figures provided above are not directly comparable with those in the published Annual Reports because of the changes in the accounting and financial procedures.
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking when the new Defence Microbiology laboratory at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down will be in use; what it will be used for; why it is necessary and how much its construction will cost has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The new Defence Microbiology laboratory is intended to be available for use in 1998. It will be used to handle dangerous pathogens under safe conditions in high containment facilities. The building will be used to carry out work into protective measures against biological warfare agents including detection and medical countermeasures. The new building is necessary to replace existing buildings which will have reached the end of their life within the next ten years.
  3. Currently, the building is at the design stage. As the construction will be subject to competitive tender, it is not possible to provide details of the estimated cost at this time.
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what is the purpose of the two new facilities under construction mentioned on page 25 of the 1992–93 annual report of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, why are they necessary, what is their cost and which buildings they are replacing has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. One facility will provide a laboratory in which equipment and volunteers can be exposed to steady low level concentrations of test materials; these may be simulants or actual agents. This laboratory which cost approximately £3M replaces four existing buildings which have reached the end of their life.
  3. The second facility is a laboratory in which toxic materials can be prepared as required for the programme to access the potential hazard to the UK Armed Forces and to investigate improved protective measures. This facility will be the UK's
  394
  Single Small Scale Facility allowed under the Chemical Weapons Convention. It cost approximately £4.3M and replaces three existing buildings which have reached the end of their life. In both cases, a new facility is a more cost effective solution than refurbishment of the old buildings which are over 40 years old.
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what is the subject matter of the substantial contract which is currently being carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment for another Government Department mentioned in the published 1992–93 accounts, what is the value of this contract, what is its duration and when it started has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. This contract is being carried out on behalf of the Home Office and is concerned with the protection of the public against the possible effects of chemical and biological materials. It would not be in the interests of security to disclose further details of the work involved under this contract.

  RAF Personnel Management Centre
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many tenders were received for the refurbishment of offices for the Air Officer Commanding the RAF personnel management centre, Innsworth; and whether the lowest tender received was accepted;

  (2) what is the estimated total cost of the refurbishment of offices for the Air Officer Commanding the RAF personnel management centre, Innsworth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The construction and refurbishment work in hand at RAF Innsworth is related to the reorganisation of the RAF command structure and the establishment of the new RAF personnel and training command which will operate from the site from 1 April 1994. The estimated cost of the new office accommodation for the personnel and training command headquarters as a whole, including furniture and fittings, is about £12,000,000.

  This major new build project was fully completed and the winning contractor, Mowlems, was selected from four competitive tenders, of which it was the lowest. In addition to the new build, some refurbishment of the RAF personnel management centre office block, which will form part of the new personnel and training command, is currently taking place at an estimated cost of some £90,000. This work is being carried out by Taylor Woodrow as part of a wider contract to undertake ad hoc works and maintenance for a fixed three-year period—this contract was also selected by competitive tender. No specific expenditure has been made on the personal offices of the air officer commanding the personnel management centre.

  Fox Armoured Cars
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Army's current holding of Fox armoured cars and of each category of the CVR (T); and what changes are planned in the fleets of these vehicles.

  Mr. Hanley
  Current holdings and planned changes in the fleets of Fox armoured cars and the combat vehicle reconnaissance (tracked)—CVR (T)—are listed in the table:
  395

  Type

  Quantity

  Planned changes

  CVR (Wheeled) Fox

  356

  It is planned that all vehicles will be taken out of service by early 1995

  CVR(T) Scorpion

  262

  104 will be converted to CVR(T) Sabre using turrets from Fox vehicles. A further 31 will remain in service at the British Army Training Unit, Suffield (BATUS) in Canada. It is planned that the remainder will be taken out of service by the end of 1994

  CVR(T) Sabre

  2

  Total will be 106 after conversion of 104 Fox and 104 Scorpion

  CVR(T) Samson

  90

  Due to reduce to approximately 55

  CVR(T) Striker

  89

  Due to reduce to approximately 58

  CVR(T) Sultan

  283

  Due to reduce to approximately 141

  CVR(T) Spartan

  658

  Due to reduce to approximately 627

  CVR(T) Samaritan

  50

  No changes planned

  CVR(T) Scimitar

  314

  No changes planned

  Dinner (Tower of London)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the Army Board dinner for 35 hosted by he Minister of State, the hon. Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), in the Tower of London in February; who was invited; what was the cost; and to what vote the cost was charged.

  Mr. Hanley
  The purpose of the Army board dinner held in the Tower of London was to honour those guests present for their outstanding support to the Army.

  In addition to myself, the following attended:

  The Duke of Wellington, KG

  Major General Lord Michael Fitzalan-Howard

  Lord Westbury

  Lord Chalfont

  Lieutenant General The Honourable Sir William Rous

  General Sir Peter Inge

  General Sir Michael Wilkes

  General Sir John Learmont

  General Sir John Wilsey

  General Sir Charles Guthrie

  Vice Admiral Sir Barry Wilson

  Lieutenant General Sir Jeremy Blacker

  Colonel Sir Ralph Carr-Ellison

  Sir John Chilcot

  Sir Donald Spiers

  Sir David Gillmore

  Sir Colin McColl

  Sir Neil Thorne

  Sir Piers Bengough

  Sir Michael Burton

  Sir Michael Alexander

  Judge Rant

  Major General Michael Walker

  Colonel Philip Creasey

  Mr. Moray Stewart

  Dr. Alan Borg

  Dr. Brian Holden-Reed

  Dr. David Chandler

  The Very Reverend Eric Evans

  Mr. Tony Hall

  Mr. John Chisholm

  Mrs. Stella Rimington

  Mr. Gordon Hourston

  Mr. Kenneth Rose

  Mr. Murdo Maclean

  396
  The cost was £1,573.91 including VAT and was charged to the chief of the Defence Staff's entertainment allowance, which is included in class 1, vote 1, subhead item I11.

  Wild Boars (Catterick)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to date of his Department's attempts to trap two wild boars at Catterick barracks, Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  In April 1993, some 30 boars escaped from a farm at Easby near Richmond in north Yorkshire. With a view to preventing damage to MOD property, my Department has been liaising with the local authority in an attempt to capture the boars. All but two have now been recaptured.

  The cost so far to my Department has been around £3,500; covering the cost of repairs to sports fields, use of equipment and the land warden's time. It is our intention to claim this from the farmer's insurance company in due course.

  RAF
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of each type of aircraft were in service with the RAF at(a) 1 January 1984 and (b) 1 January 1994.

  Mr. Hanley
  We do not hold records of the information requested as at 1 January 1984. Details of the types of numbers of RAF aircraft—those in squadron service, operational conversion units, and support and training units, excluding in-use-reserves—as at March 1984 and March 1994 are:

  1984

  1994

  Andover

  13

  8

  BAel46

  2

  3

  Buccaneer

  32

  112

  Bulldog

  107

  96

  Canberra

  41

  13

  Chinook

  30

  216

  Chipmunk

  61

  51

  Devon

  5

  —

  Dominie

  18

  10

  397

  1984

  1994

  Gazelle

  23

  25

  Harrier GR3/T4

  80

  9

  Harrier GR5/7

  —

  49

  Hawk

  130

  105

  Hercules

  57

  55

  Hunter

  17

  1

  HS125

  12

  7

  Jaguar GR1A/T2A

  129

  47

  Jet Provost

  158

  —

  Jetstream

  9

  9

  Lightning

  42

  —

  Nimrod MR2

  32

  24

  Nimrod R

  3

  3

  Pembroke

  5

  —

  Phantom

  112

  —

  Puma

  35

  35

  Sea King

  13

  16

  Sentry

  —

  6

  Shackleton

  5

  —

  Tornado F3

  —

  3102

  Tornado GR1

  102

  126

  Tristar

  2

  8

  Tucano

  —

  105

  VC10

  15

  16

  Victor

  19

  —

  Vulcan B2

  6

  —

  Wessex

  62

  54

  1 All Bucaneers are due to be brought out of service on 31 March 1994.

  2 Chinook numbers are currelty reduced as a result of the mid-life update programme.

  3 Restructuring of the Tornado F3 is due to complete by 1 April this year.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the purpose of the current advertising campaign on television for the Territorial Army; and what account the campaign has taken of the numbers of regular soldiers being made redundant.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Territorial Army requires about 20,000 new recruits annually. The recent television advertisements were part of the annual recruiting campaign.

  Regular soldiers who are leaving the Army on redundancy terms are given information about the TA and receive an invitation to join. Many soldiers prefer, however, to settle into civilian life before considering such an option.

  Service Children
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the number of children of service personnel in(a) Humberside, (b) North Yorkshire, (c) South Yorkshire and (d) West Yorkshire whose places at an independent or private school were paid for by his Department in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Hanley
  Information on the locations of children of service parents claiming boarding school allowance is not collected annually. The most recent figures are for 1992, and are as follows:

  Number

  (a) Humberside

  47

  (b) North Yorkshire

  697

  (c) South Yorkshire

  Nil

  (d) West Yorkshire

  185

  398

  Air Misses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will send a copy of the joint air miss working group's report on the air miss between any Army Lynx helicopter and a Royal Air Force Tornado over the north Yorkshire moors on 17 January 1993 to the hon. Member for Don Valley.

  Mr. Hanley
  A copy of the air miss report into the incident, which occured on 12 January 1993, is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will send the hon. Member for Don Valley a copy of the report of the joint air miss working group's report on the air miss between a Royal Air Force Tornado and a Jet Ranger helicopter over Caithness on 8 April 1992.

  Mr. Hanley
  A copy of the air miss report is available in the Library of the House.

  MK95 Lynx Helicopters
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means the five MK95 Lynx helicopters were delivered last year to the Portuguese Navy, and at what cost; what consideration was given to the use of RAF aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Delivery of the five MK95 Lynx helicopters was a matter for the Portuguese Government and Westland Helicopters. RAF aircraft were not involved.

  Equipment Damage
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all instances of damage to armed services equipment by private contractors reported for each year since 1990, together with the cost in each instance and the total cost.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost and effort. My Department does not maintain central records of such instances, however MOD contract conditions address such possibilities, and are invoked as necessary.

  RAF Maintenance Work
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests he or his Department have received from the Treasury or other parts of the Government that maintenance work for the RAF should be moved into the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  It would not be appropriate to give details of interdepartmental discussions, and I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on 15 December 1993,Official Report, column 739.

  Submarines
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent representations he has received concerning the complaints of infringement by Royal Navy submarines and United States submarines of the code of safety in fishing areas; and if he will make a statement;
  399
  (2) what is the average amount of time spent investigating allegations concerning near-collisions bet-ween Royal Navy submarines and fishing vessels; to whom the reports of such investigations are submitted; who makes the decisions concerning the holding of courts martial where negligence of watch officers and others is concerned; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how many incidents involving allegations concern-ing near-collisions between (a) Royal Navy submarines or (b) United States Navy submarines and United Kingdom fishing vessels over the past seven years have been the subject of formal investigations; of these, how many led to courts martial; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have received no recent formal representations concerning complaints of infringement of Royal Navy submarines and United States Navy submarines of the code of practice in fishing areas.

  Since the formal adoption of the code of practice in October 1993, the only incident to have taken place between a Royal Navy submarine and a United Kingdom fishing vessel is that between HMS Valiant and the fishing vessel Audacious on 8 November 1993. A full investigation was immediately put in hand, which has recently been concluded. The findings, which are currently being examined, will be made available shortly to the members of the Department of Transport's fishing industry safety committee sub-group dealing with submarine and fishing vessels matters, which includes representatives of the fishermen's federations.

  Reports of investigations are submitted via flag officer submarines to the commander-in-chief fleet. It is for the commander-in-chief fleet to make any decisions regarding courts martial. It is difficult to give an average for the amount of time spent investigating incidents; this depends on the complexity of each individual case.

  Investigations into near collisions between United States Navy submarines and United Kingdom fishing vessels during the past seven years are a matter for the appropriate United States authorities. The code of practice governing the conduct of submarines when operating in the vicinity of fishing vessels does, of course, apply to all foreign submarines operating dived within United Kingdom territorial waters.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who drew up the list of defence firms which Lady Thatcher promised to supply to Malaysia under the arms deal negotiated between 1985 and 1988; what were the criteria for choice; and which were the companies selected.

  Mr. Aitken
  'There is no such list.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 1055, 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. Hanley
  Since my right hon. and learned Friend became Secretary of State for Defence, he or other Ministers in his Department have signed public interest immunity certificates on seven occasions.
  400
  In June 1992, my right hon. and learned Friend signed a certificate which set out the national security and personal safety grounds for screening certain members of the armed forces from the public, and for the protection of certain information from disclosure. This certificate was prepared for the hearing of a civil claim. In the event, the hearing was delayed, and he signed a fresh certificate in similar terms in March 1993. He signed certificates for the same purpose in January 1993 in relation to another civil claim, and in April 1993 in relation to the proceedings of an inquest.

  My right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Sir A. Hamilton) signed PII certificates in relation to two cases. In January 1993 he signed a certificate for the same purposes as those in the first instance above in relation to the proceedings of an inquest. In February 1993, in relation to criminal proceedings, he signed a certificate setting out the grounds for protecting information, the disclosure of which would be harmful to national security.

  In October 1992 my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State signed a certificate relating to a case heard in camera by agreement of the court and the parties. In addition, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement signed in September 1992 certifica-tes in the same terms in connection with the Matrix Churchill case. The certificate signed by the Minister of State was not used.

  Belize Defence Force
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Knapman), of 23 February,Official Report, column 23, he will list all items of equipment, vehicles, ammunition and stores of over £1,000 value he intends to give to the Belize defence force; what plans he has to provide (a) helicopter support and (b) aircraft engineering support to the force; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Of the £338,000 worth of equipment the MOD intends to gift to the Belize defence force the following items have been identified as being of more than £1,000 in value:

  Vehicles:

  Up to 23 3/4 tonne Land Rovers and a small number of trucks

  Ammunition:

  5.566mm and 7.62mm ammunition

  81mm mortar rounds

  66mm Heat rockets

  We have discussed with the Government of Belize their future requirements for helicopters and associated engineering support. We are currently providing expert assistance to help them identify their precise needs.

  Desert Storm Syndrome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) former service men or (b) current service men have contacted his Department complaining of ill-health effects they believe to be desert fever arising from contamination from serving in the British forces in Operation Granby.

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of 15 former and six serving members of the armed forces have contacted my department expressing concern about their health following service in the Gulf. All have been offered the opportunity to be medically assessed by a military
  401
  consultant. Of the 14 who have accepted this offer, 12 have so far been examined. All have been found to be suffering from separate medically recognised conditions which are not peculiar to service in the Gulf.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent communication he has had with the Trauma After Care Trust regarding concerns over Desert Storm fever; and what plans he has to meet with TACT to discuss the problems.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department has no record of receiving any communication from TACT since July 1993 and I have no plans to meet any of TACT's representatives.

  Reserve Forces Reorganisation
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to report on the reorganisation of the reserve forces, following his review.

  Mr. Hanley
  Further to my answer of 17 February to the hon. Member for Romsey and Waterside,Official Report, column 998–99, Ministers have today written to hon. Members about the responses received during the consultation period. Work is continuing on our policy proposals.

  Ministerial Offices
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of new furniture for his private office during the year 1993–94.

  Mr. Hanley
  Such purchases are included within my Department's overall administration expenditure which is published every year in the supply estimates.

  Ministerial Instructions
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1979 when Ministers have issued written instructions to override his Department's accounting officer's objections.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 24 February 1994]: From records currently available formal directions have been issued since 1979 on the following occasions:

  April 1984

  (D Day 40th anniversary celebrations)

  February 1985

  (Type 22 frigate)

  December 1987

  (Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment)

  June 1991

  (Chieftain replacement)

  January 1992

  (HMS Endurance replacement)

  January 1992

  (RNSD Copenacre)

  March 1992

  (image intensifiers)

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Agency Chief Executives
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many agency chief executives in his Department are currently paid more than £82,925, excluding performance-related bonuses; and whether such chief executives were recruited directly to their present post from outside the civil service.
  402
  Mr. David Davis
  None of the agency chief executives in my Department is currently paid more than £82,925 excluding performance-related bonuses.

  Disclosure of Information
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in drawing up codes of practice for the disclosure of information held by local authorities and the national health service; and when he expects to publish proposals for consultation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The local authority associations have responded positively to the suggestion in the White Paper, "Open Government" (Cm 2290) that they could usefully adopt a voluntary code of practice on disclosure of information. The associations are preparing a draft.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has asked the NHS Management Executive to take forward the proposal for a code of practice for the NHS. A task force has been set up for this purpose and I understand a draft code should be ready for wider consultation by the summer, with a view to implementation by the end of the year.

  Official Information (Code of Practice)
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to publicise its code of practice on official information when it comes into force in April; and what budget has been allocated for this purpose.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I will be making a further announcement on the implementation of the code of practice later this month. Material explaining the operation of the code will be available from Departments and will also be offered to advice centres and similar outlets. A budget of £15,000 has been allocated centrally for these purposes.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date a copy of the permanent secretary's handbook was made available to Lord Justice Scott.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The handbook for heads of Departments has not been submitted to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry. However, copies of certain of the separate documents which are included in the handbook have been provided at the inquiry's request, including some of the documents mentioned in the answer I gave to the hon. Gentleman's question yesterday, 9 March,Official Report, column 256.

  Charterline
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many calls have been made to charterline since its inception; what has been the average daily call rate and the average cost per call; how many personnel work on charterline; and what has been the total cost to date of charterline, including promotion and all associated costs.

  Mr. David Davis
  Over 5,530 calls have been made to charterline since its inception, an average of 25 calls a day.
  403
  IBM has nine trained staff available to answer charterline calls, who also perform a wide range of other tasks and answer other calls. Up to four of these are awaiting charterline and other calls at any one time.

  The operational cost per call to date is £68. If call volumes were higher, significant economies of scale could be achieved. The operational costs of a pilot study are always relatively high. One of the purposes of the charterline pilot study is to assess the demand of the service and the volume of calls and costs that would be associated with a national service. The pilot study will ensure that, if charterline is rolled out, it is done on a high-quality and extremely cost-effective basis.

  Total set-up costs amount to £1,251,000. These include initial research, project planning and management, system design, contractual advice and data collection, which are all one-off costs. Running costs to date amount to £1,037,679. These include paid advertising, research during the pilot study, set up and use of ACORN data—which categorise groups of households into one of 38 types, on the basis of such factors as the ages of the people living there, the size of their home, the type of work they do, their ethnic background and so on—operational costs, and operation of the charterline language service, which is available in Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if market-tested contracts awarded to private contractors will be audited by the National Audit Office.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The National Audit Office will be able to audit records held by Departments in the normal way, to ensure that their contracting procedures ensure that propriety and regularity are safeguarded and that best value for money is obtained.

  Departments and agencies will ensure that where finance-related work is contracted out the NAO will continue to have access to documents to enable it to carry out certification audits of the Department and value-for-money examinations of the way in which the Department
  404
  has used its resources. The right of access to any such documents no longer held by the Department of agencies should be provided for in the contract. Even where documents are available in the Department, the NAO will normally require access to the contractor to ensure procedures operate correctly and that propriety and regularity are safeguarded.

  It is not intended that the NAO should have access to records relating to the contractor's affairs, nor that he should conduct a certification audit of the contractor.

  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total value of all market-tested contracts awarded to private contractors to date.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Private contractors have been awarded £855.3 million of work under the competing for quality programme. Some contracts are still subject to negotiation.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of market tests in each Government Department were won by(a) in-house bids, (b) other public bodies in competition with in-house bids and (c) the private sector in competition with in-house bids.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I expect to publish aggregate information on the proportion of bids won by in-house bids and by other bidders very shortly in the citizens charter second report.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what proportion by value of the market tests in each Government Department there were in-house bids; and what proportion by value of the market tests in each Government Department were won by(a) in-house bids, (b) other public sector bodies and (c) private sector bidders.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I expect to publish aggregate information on the proportion by value of bids won by in-house bids and by other bidders very shortly in the citizens charter second report.

  NUCLEAR WEAPONS, UKRAINE: OWNERSHIP
  NUCLEAR WEAPONS, UKRAINE: OWNERSHIP
  UKRAINE: SECURITY ASSURANCES
  UKRAINE: SECURITY ASSURANCES
  PARTICIPATION FOR PEACE: RUSSIAN ATTITUDE
  PARTICIPATION FOR PEACE: RUSSIAN ATTITUDE
  KOREAN PENINSULA
  KOREAN PENINSULA
  COTONOU AGREEMENT
  COTONOU AGREEMENT
  RWANDA
  RWANDA
  NATIONAL LOTTERY: GRANTS TO MILLENNIUM PROJECTS
  NATIONAL LOTTERY: GRANTS TO MILLENNIUM PROJECTS
  SCOTTISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: CONSULTATION PAPER
  SCOTTISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: CONSULTATION PAPER
  PEERS' EXPENSES
  PEERS' EXPENSES
  ROYAL BRITISH LEGION: DISCUSSIONS
  ROYAL BRITISH LEGION: DISCUSSIONS

  ARMS EMBARGOES: SUBSIDIARIES OF UK COMPANIES
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  ARMS EMBARGOES: SUBSIDIARIES OF UK COMPANIES
  PASSIVE SMOKING
  PASSIVE SMOKING
  LEAs: LATE PAYMENT OF TUITION FEES
  LEAs: LATE PAYMENT OF TUITION FEES
  TERRORIST CONTACTS AND SURVEILLANCE
  TERRORIST CONTACTS AND SURVEILLANCE
  TERRORIST INCIDENTS
  TERRORIST INCIDENTS
  UNHCR GENERAL PROGRAMMES BUDGET: UK CONTRIBUTION
  UNHCR GENERAL PROGRAMMES BUDGET: UK CONTRIBUTION
  MACEDONIA: EC POSITION ON GREEK BLOCKADE
  MACEDONIA: EC POSITION ON GREEK BLOCKADE
  EUROPEAN UNION: EXCHANGE OF SECRET INFORMATION
  EUROPEAN UNION: EXCHANGE OF SECRET INFORMATION
  UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
  UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
  TANZANIA: OVERSEAS TRADE
  TANZANIA: OVERSEAS TRADE
  ACCOUNTANT'S OFFICE, HOUSE OF LORDS: RELOCATION
  ACCOUNTANT'S OFFICE, HOUSE OF LORDS: RELOCATION
  PATIENT "S"
  PATIENT "S"
  "RURALITY": DEFINITION
  "RURALITY": DEFINITION
  COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY
  COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY
  SPECIAL AREAS OF CONSERVATEON
  SPECIAL AREAS OF CONSERVATEON
  PLANNING: REMOVAL OF CROWN EXEMPTION
  PLANNING: REMOVAL OF CROWN EXEMPTION
  HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY SCHEME
  HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY SCHEME