Written Answers of 17 March 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judicial Studies Board
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many advisory committees, in addition to the Ethnic Minorities Advisory Committee, operate under the auspices of the Judicial Studies Board; what are their terms of reference; and if he will list the members and chairpersons of each of these advisory committees, including the Ethnic Minorities Advisory Committee.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Ethnic Minorities Advisory Committee is the only advisory committee of the Judicial Studies Board.

  The current membership of EMAC is:

  Mr. Justice Brooke (Chairman)

  Mr. Trevor Hall (Vice-Chairman)

  Ms Kamlesh Bahl

  Professor Michael Banton JP

  Mrs. Jasu Chatwani

  Judge Gerald Coles QC

  Ms Shirley Daniel

  Mrs. Sylvia Denman CBE

  Mr. Navnit Dholakia OBE, JP

  Mr. Peter Herbert

  Dr. Zaka Ullah Khan OBE, JP

  Judge Nicholas Medawar QC

  Mr. Goolam Meeran

  Ms Patricia Scotland QC

  Professor Avrom Sherr

  Mr. Ranjit Sondhi

  District Judge Peter Wartnaby

  Ms Anesta Weekes

  Ms Cecilia Wells

  Judges
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many judges were educated at independent schools; and what proportion this is of the total in England.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Aggregated information relating to the schools attended by judges is not readily available.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what statistics he has of the political allegiance of judges in England.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Statistics are not kept on political affiliation. Judges are appointed without regard to political affiliation and members of the full-time judiciary may not engage in political activity.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average number of hours per week a judge works in court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he has taken to 758
  implement (a) the progressive introduction of open advertisements for some judicial vacancies and (b) other reform measures he advocated in his Department's press notice 158.93 of 7 July 1993 on improvements in the judicial appointments system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In his speech to Her Majesty's Judges at the Guildhall on 7 July 1993 the Lord Chancellor said that because of the wide range of issues involved and the extensive preparatory work which his programme would entail, it would be some time before all the measures could be introduced over the whole field of judicial appointments. That work is currently in progress, and an announcement will be made as soon as practicable.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates in England have declared political allegiances; and if he will provide an analysis.

  Mr John M. Taylor
  This information can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to allow those whose applications to become magistrates are rejected to know the reasons for their rejection.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No proposals are required. Candidates are informed of the result of their applications and it is open to anyone not satisfied to seek further reasons from the local advisory committee. The desirability of balancing benches in terms of age, gender, ethnic origin, political affiliation and occupation means that many otherwise suitable applicants are not appointed.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what considerations underlie the requirement on prospective magistrates to state their political allegiances.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor does not wish that any bench should become, or remain, unduly overweighted with the supporters of any one political party. It is for this reason that political allegiances are sought, but they are not a qualification or disqualification for appointment and candidates are not required to disclose this information. The key consideration for appointment is that a candidate should be suitable.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Details of the numbers of staff employed in each civil service grade are set out in the table. In column 2 of the table the total number of staff employed in each grade appears; column 3 shows the percentage of women in each grade.
  759

  Civil Service grades in post as at 14 March 1994

  Sustantive grade

  Staff in post

  Per cent. of women in grade

  Grade 1

  1

  0.0

  Grade 2

  2

  0.0

  Grade 3

  9

  11.1

  Grade 4

  5

  0.0

  Grade 5

  19

  15.8

  Grade 5 solicitor

  14

  21.4

  Grade 6 senior principal

  36

  22.2

  Grade 6 legal

  35

  31.4

  Senior legal assistant

  8

  25.0

  Grade 7 principal

  154

  29.9

  Grade 7 legal

  52

  61.5

  Legal assistant

  2

  0.0

  Legal officer

  1

  100.0

  SEO

  326

  34.4

  Senior assistant statistician

  2

  0.0

  Senior information officer

  1

  0.0

  HEO

  1,062

  52.1

  Information officer

  2

  50.0

  Assistant statistician

  1

  0.0

  Chief typing manager

  3

  100.0

  Librarian

  8

  50.0

  HEO D

  8

  62.5

  Administration trainee

  5

  20.0

  EO

  2,046

  65.5

  Assistant information officer

  1

  100.0

  Senior personal secretary

  15

  100.0

  Typing manager

  33

  100.0

  Assistant librarian

  8

  100.0

  Support manager 2

  5

  0.0

  Support manager 3

  31

  71.0

  AO

  4,432

  76.4

  Personal secretary

  69

  100.0

  Interpreter

  2

  100.0

  AA

  635

  71.0

  Support grade band 1

  146

  61.0

  Support grade band 2

  1,426

  59.5

  Typist

  737

  99.9

  Specialist typist

  1

  100.0

  Trainee typist

  4

  100.0

  Total

  11,347

  68.6

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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 since 1979; and for what reasons.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No public interest immunity certificates have been signed either by me or by the Lord Chancellor since our appointments. Otherwise, the information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases since 1990 judges have been asked to consider a public interest immunity certificate.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps have been or may be taken against solicitors and counsel who do not ensure that an unsuccessful legally aided litigant is ordered to pay costs.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  An unsuccessful legally aided litigant's liability to pay costs is provided for by section 17 of the Legal Aid Act 1988. Any solicitor or counsel acting for a litigant who is successful against a legally aided litigant would have to consider the question of costs against that background.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of time and resources, on average, were spent on activities not directed to processing or furthering any individual cases(a) before and (b) after franchising and BS5750.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  (a) All but a small number of the Legal Aid Board's central staff have been involved in the processing or furthering of individual cases. On average the staff not involved, excluding Legal Aid Board members, have numbered 60: approximately 4 per cent. of the work force.

  (b) The board's management systems accredited under BS5750 are the mechanism by which it processes work and therefore are an integral part of the resources directed to processing and furthering individual cases. A small central team of three staff is responsible for maintaining the documentation of the management system and ensuring the necessary control systems are in place to monitor compliance. The number of full-time equivalent staff employed on franchising will be between 70 and 80; approximately 5 per cent. of the board's employees.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of(a) civil and (b) criminal legal aid applications were processed by the Leeds legal aid board within (i) two weeks, (ii) six weeks and (iii) over six weeks for 1992–93.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  (a) In 1992–93 the Leeds area office of the Legal Aid Board processed 74.9 per cent. of civil legal aid applications within two weeks and 94.1 per cent. within six weeks; 5.9 per cent. took more than six weeks.

  (b) The grant of criminal legal aid is for the most part the responsibility of the magistrates courts and the Crown court. However, in certain circumstances, area committees of the Legal Aid Board consider applications for review of refusal of grant by the courts. Information on the length of time taken to process applications for criminal legal aid or applications for review is not available.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what criteria the costs of successful legally aided litigants' costs are met out of the legal aid fund rather than by unsuccessful litigants; and what was the cost to the legal aid fund of the meeting of costs in this way in the last year for which figures are available.
  761
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The order as to costs is a matter within the discretion of the courts. The information requested about the cost to the fund of paying successful legally aided litigants' costs is not available.

  Barristers
  Mr. Martin Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the cost to public funds in 1992–93 of providing barristers(a) to prosecute cases and (b) to defend cases.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The cost of providing barristers to prosecute cases brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office, Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in 1992–93 was £81.7 million. Information on payments made by other prosecution agencies is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Payments to barristers in respect of criminal legal aid amounted to £136.5 million. Payments are also made from central funds in cases where a privately represented defendant is awarded a cost order on acquittal. However, it is not possible to identify payments made specifically to barristers from central funds since the information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how the practice of paying counsel directly who have been instructed by solicitors acting for the Legal Aid Board accords with the professional rules and practice which should apply to counsel receiving fees directly from clients.

  Mr. John M Taylor
  There is no professional rule which requires payments to counsel to be made by the instructing solicitors rather than by the solicitor's client. It is customary for payment to be made by the solicitor but this is not a requirement, professional or otherwise. Direct payment to counsel by the Legal Aid Board, or by any client, avoids unnecessary work and delay.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his latest estimate for 1993–94 of the percentage of(a) civil and (b) criminal legal aid applications processed by the Leeds legal aid board within (i) two weeks, (ii) six weeks and (iii) over six weeks.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  (a) In the 11 months to the end of February 1994 the Leeds area office of the Legal Aid Board processed 81.2 per cent. of applications for civil legal aid within two weeks and 94.9 per cent. within six weeks; 5.1 per cent. took more than six weeks.

  (b) The grant of criminal legal aid is for the most part the responsibility of the magistrates' courts and the Crown court. However, in certain circumstances, area committees of the Legal Aid Board consider applications for review of refusal of grant by the courts. Information on the length of time taken to process applications for criminal legal aid or applications for review is not available.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of time and resources are currently spent on franchising and BS5750.
  762
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The board's management systems accredited under BS5750 are the mechanism by which the Legal Aid Board processes work and therefore represent a central call on the resources directed to processing and furthering individual cases. Over 90 per cent. of the board's employees are involved in such work. A small central team of three staff has the responsibility of maintaining the documentation of the management system and ensuring necessary control systems are in place to monitor compliance. The number of full-time equivalent staff employed on franchising will be between 70 and 80; approximately 5 per cent. of the board's employees.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of(a) civil and (b) criminal legal aid applications processed by the Leeds Legal Aid Board for the years (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1993–94 to date had to pay a contribution towards their legal aid costs.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  (a) In respect of civil legal aid, the Legal Aid Board does not maintain separate figures for individual area offices on this point. Nationally the figures are as follows: (i) 14.1 per cent., and (ii) 14.2 per cent.

  (b) The Legal Aid Board has only very limited involvement in the grant of criminal legal aid which, for the most part, is the responsibility of the magistrates courts and the Crown court. In 1992, the last year for which figures are available, about 5.8 per cent. of grants of criminal legal aid made by the courts were subject to a contribution.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions the Legal Aid Board has sought to argue that a successful legally aided litigant's costs can be paid out of the legal aid fund in any event and so it does not make any difference to the successful legally aided litigant or his solicitors and counsel whether the costs of the successful litigation against the Legal Aid Board are paid out of the legal aid fund or out of the Legal Aid Board's own budget for conducting litigation.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is not available. The decisions reached as to costs and costs orders made by the courts in proceedings involving the Legal Aid Board will, however, reflect all the circumstances of the litigation.

  Pepper v. Hart
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Aberavon (Mr. Morris) of 7 March,Official Report, column 70, on Pepper v. Hart, what estimate has been made of the additional cost of litigation arising from the case; and what issues regarding such cost are being taken up with the governing bodies of legal practitioners.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No formal estimate has been made of the additional cost of litigation directly attributable to the decision in Pepper v. Hart. The primary issues to which my earlier answer referred concern the availability of Hansard, the costs to those outside Government of tracing proceedings which might be relevant, and the ways in which such costs might be kept to a minimum.
  763
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Aberavon (Mr. Morris) of 7 March,Official Report, column 70, on Pepper v. Hart, if he will list the practical steps which are being put into practice to correct mistakes in ministerial statements during the passage of legislation; and in what manner such corrections will be published.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  If it proves necessary to correct any inadvertent ambiguity or error in a ministerial statement made during the passage of a Bill, the aim is to do this as promptly as possible at an appropriate point during the further consideration of the Bill. The best means of doing so and reading such a correction into the official record will depend on a number of factors, including the stage which the Bill has reached and the nature of the proceedings at that point.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Long Lartin Prison
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has made to the representations made on behalf of Mr. George Long (B2514), HM prison Long Lartin on 21 April 1992.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend's recent decision to refer Mr. Long's case to the Court of Appeal was notified to Mr. Long and to his solicitors on 10 March.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received and from whom, concerning the procedures by which he is seeking to reform the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

  Mr. Maclean
  Since announcing in November 1992 our intention to replace the present criminal injuries compensation scheme with a tariff scheme we have received representations and comments from 143 hon. Members, either writing on their own behalf or on behalf of constituents, six members of the public, and from the following bodies:

  Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

  General Council of the Bar

  Faculty of Advocates, Scotland

  Law Society of Scotland

  London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

  National Association of Victim Support Schemes

  Trades Union Congress

  Transport Salaried Staff Association

  British Security Industry Association

  Police Federation

  Barking and Dagenham Community Police Consultative

  Group

  War Widows Association of Great Britain

  Family Service Units

  Changing Faces

  Various barristers and solicitors

  Various local victim support schemes

  Ethnic Minority Funding
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projects have been funded in the metropolitan borough council areas of(a) Barnsley, (b)
  764
  Doncaster, (c) Rotherham and (d) Sheffield under section 11 funding for ethnic communities; and what funding those projects will receive from his Department in 1994–95.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The titles of projects approved for funding under section 11 in Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield are shown in the table, together with budget allocation figures which have been notified as the basis for grant recipients' own expenditure in 1994–95:

  Doncaster
  English as a Second Language: Support 4 Schools Enhancement of Careers Education, Guidance and Placement for Young People in the Doncaster Minority Ethnic Communities 1994–95 allocation—£100,338. Doncaster College of Further Education: Meeting the Needs of the Ethnic Minority Population 1994–95 allocation—£18,684.

  Rotherham
  Language and Curriculum Development (Schools) Rotherham Asian Youth 1994–95 allocation—£327,313.Rotherham College of Arts and Technology—English Language Support 1994–95 allocation—£24,874.

  Sheffield

  Bilingual English as a Second Language—Primary and Secondary Schools.

  African Caribbean Education—Primary and Secondary Schools.

  Under 5s—African and Caribbean and Asian communities.

  Special Educational Needs of Black Pupils.

  Education Social Work Support.

  Careers Opportunities Race and Education.

  Field Support and Strategy.

  Community Liaison—Asian communities.

  Community Literacy.

  Additional Work with African Caribbean Young People.

  Additional Work with Asian Young People.

  Ethnic Minority Mental Health.

  Day Services for Ethnic Minority Elders.

  Multi-lingual Communication and Community Access Team.

  Children and Young People—Social Services Support.

  Asian Womens Support.

  Community Group Development.

  Information and Welfare Rights.

  Black Employment and Economic Development.

  Information support and Development.

  Ethnic Minorities Occupational Health Initiative.

  1994/95 allocation—£1,697,662.

  South Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority.

  Community Fire Safety Education.

  1994/95 allocation—£12,751.

  There is currently no approved section 11 project in Barnsley.

  DNA Genetic Fingerprinting
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate for the number of entries in the national DNA genetic fingerprint database; whether a DNA sample could be taken in relation to any individual convicted of a serious arrestable offence once the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill passes into law; and how many entries there are on the criminal names index of the police national computer that currently relate to serious arrestable offences.

  Mr. Maclean
  At present DNA records relating to some 3,000 offences are held by forensic science organisations in England and Wales. Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill the theoretical maximum size of the DNA database would be about the
  765
  same as that of the fingerprint record—about 5 million records—since the proposed power to take samples would be broadly the same as the present power to take fingerprints. Whether and how quickly the database reaches this size would depend upon the operational criteria which the police apply in taking samples for DNA analysis.

  Under the provisions of the Bill samples for DNA analysis may be taken from any person convicted of a recordable offence, which includes a serious arrestable offence. Amendments will be introduced to ensure that this power applies only to those convicted after the coming into force of the provisions. The number of entries on the criminal names index of the police national computer which relate to serious arrestable offences is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek an order making powers to prohibit the use, by the police, of a DNA genetic fingerprint relating to those who have committed no crime.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. There are circumstances in which the police need to take samples of DNA analysis, with consent, from people who are not suspected of any crime: an example is the husband of a rape victim, for eliminating purposes. We shall be introducing amendments in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill to regulate the use to which information from such analyses may be put.

  Police
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of police officers per 100,000 population for each year since 1979 for(a) the Humberside, (b) North Yorkshire, (c) South Yorkshire and (d) the West Yorkshire police authority areas.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is contained in the following table.

  Number of police officers per 100,000 population

  Year

  Humberside

  North Yorkshire

  South Yorkshire

  West Yorkshire

  1979

  224

  205

  206

  236

  1980

  233

  207

  221

  247

  1981

  231

  203

  222

  252

  Number and percentage of offenders convicted for certain indictable offences at Doncaster Petty Sessional Division1 and South Yorkshire Police Force Area and England and Wales 1979, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92

  Year/Area

  Burglary in a dwelling2

  Theft from vehicles

  Robbery

  Total indictable

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  [=100 per cent.]

  1979

  Doncaster

  113

  4

  36

  1

  24

  1

  2,690

  South Yorkshire

  507

  4

  159

  1

  80

  1

  11,466

  England and Wales

  19,310

  5

  7,368

  2

  3,188

  1

  412,346

  1980

  Doncaster

  128

  5

  32

  1

  25

  1

  2,801

  South Yorkshire

  524

  4

  171

  1

  61

  1

  11,704

  England and Wales

  22,808

  5

  8,559

  2

  3,470

  1

  455,425

  1982

  Doncaster

  196

  6

  69

  2

  29

  1

  3,224

  South Yorkshire

  668

  5

  254

  2

  86

  1

  12,609

  England and Wales

  24,827

  5

  12,918

  3

  4,375

  1

  475,131

  1984

  Doncaster

  165

  5

  79

  2

  29

  1

  3,439

  South Yorkshire

  717

  5

  276

  2

  107

  1

  13,399

  England and Wales

  25,842

  6

  10,970

  2

  4,282

  1

  449,449

  766

  Year

  Humberside

  North Yorkshire

  South Yorkshire

  West Yorkshire

  1982

  232

  204

  223

  253

  1983

  233

  203

  221

  251

  1984

  227

  199

  222

  248

  1985

  231

  199

  222

  249

  1986

  235

  197

  222

  253

  1987

  235

  201

  230

  257

  1988

  237

  197

  231

  258

  1989

  238

  197

  232

  258

  1990

  236

  195

  234

  260

  1991

  238

  194

  234

  252

  1992

  235

  199

  234

  247

  1993

  230

  184

  231

  238

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration the Data Protection Registrar has given to the definition of "record" in subsection 4 of clause 43 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill, in respect of each of the eight data protection principles.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The registrar has expressed his concern that the definition used in the Bill may throw doubt on the meaning of "record" in other statutory provisions, and for that reason the Government are considering tabling an amendment to delete the definition. The registrar has not expressed a view about the implications of the definition for the data protection principles.

  Crime, South Yorkshire
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were in(a) the Doncaster area and (b) South Yorkshire as a whole in each of the last 14 years for (i) house burglary, (ii) theft from vehicles and (iii) robbery; and if he will give the total number of convictions for these offences for each year during this period as a proportion of all offences committed.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information for 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992 is given in the table. Data for other years would involve disproportionate cost.
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  Year/Area

  Burglary in a dwelling2

  Theft from vehicles

  Robbery

  Total indictable

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  [=100 per cent.]

  1986

  Doncaster

  171

  5

  73

  2

  18

  1

  3,280

  South Yorkshire

  577

  5

  203

  2

  132

  1

  11,760

  England and Wales

  20,527

  5

  9,145

  2

  4,196

  1

  384,209

  1988

  Doncaster

  223

  7

  107

  3

  12

  0

  3,079

  South Yorkshire

  677

  6

  258

  2

  100

  1

  11,484

  England and Wales

  19,468

  5

  8,406

  2

  4,311

  1

  386,236

  1990

  Doncaster

  196

  8

  98

  4

  22

  1

  2,540

  South Yorkshire

  597

  6

  334

  3

  144

  2

  9,580

  England and Wales

  18,386

  5

  7,622

  2

  4,806

  1

  342,759

  1992

  Doncaster

  152

  7

  67

  3

  27

  1

  2,180

  South Yorkshire

  582

  7

  259

  3

  129

  1

  8,742

  England and Wales

  18,637

  6

  6,257

  2

  5,082

  2

  324,910

  1 Includes cases heard at the Crown Court where the committing court was Doncaster psd.

  2 Also includes 'aggravated' burglary in a dwelling.

  Detainees (Self-harm)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many acts of deliberate self-harm there have been among those held in detention for immigration or asylum reasons in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The number of immigration detainees who have committed acts of deliberate self-harm in immigration detention accommodation, and in Haslar holding centre, in the last four years is as follows:

  Immigration Detention Accommodation

  Haslar

  1990

  8

  3

  1991

  15

  0

  1992

  10

  1

  1993

  16

  2

  Information about acts of self-harm in other Prison Service establishments did not identify immigration detainees separately until June 1993. Between June and December 1993 there were 13 such incidents.

  Prison Numbers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of people imprisoned in each year since 1979.

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

  Letter from Mr. Derek Lewis to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 17 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what was the total number of people imprisoned in each year since 1979.
  Information on the number of receptions into Prison Service establishments for the years 1979 to 1991 is published in the 1989 and 1991 editions of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales"
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  (Table 1.14, Cm 1221 and 2157) copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The latest available provisional information for 1992 and 1993 is given in the attached table.

  Receptions into Prison Service establishments, England and Wales by type of custody, 1992–19931

  Type of custody

  Year

  1992

  1993

  Males

  Untried2

  47,593

  51,047

  Convicted Unsentenced2

  19,099

  30,038

  Immediate custody2

  48,968

  49,530

  Fine defaulters and non-criminal

  21,917

  25,646

  Females

  Untried2

  2,376

  2,663

  Convicted Unsentenced2

  1,178

  1,566

  Immediate custody2

  2,198

  2,382

  Fine defaulters and non-criminal

  1,189

  1,590

  1 Provisional figures

  2 A person initially received as untried and subsequently received as convicted unsentenced is counted in both sets of figures. A person subsequently received as a sentenced prisoner is counted separately in those figures.

  Life Sentences
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prison inmates were serving life sentences in prisons in England and Wales on 1 March.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 17 March 1994:
  POPULATION OF LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the population of life sentence prisoners in Prison Service establishments.
  The latest available information is for 31 January 1994 and shows that there were 3,148 prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales serving life sentences, of whom 3,040 were men and 108 were women.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the total amount of public money spent annually on crime prevention in England and Wales; and what percentage this represents of the cost of policing.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information available is as follows. Estimated expenditure on crime prevention in its widest sense across Government Departments in England and Wales in 1992–93 was £200 million. That figure is separate from and additional to public expenditure on the police which was £5.9 billion in 1992–93 and £6.2 billion in 1993–94, an increase of 87 per cent. in real terms since 1978–79. The prevention of crime is one of the key functions of the police. Local authorities also spend money on crime prevention, but information on this is not held centrally.

  Rule 43 Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were being held on rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales on 1 March.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 17 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners held on Rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales on 1 March.
  The table shows the number of inmates held on Prison Rule 43 and Young Offender Institution Rule 46 on 1 March 1994.

  Rule 43 and rule 46 (own protection)

  Rule 43 and rule 46 (good order and discipline)

  Men

  1,284

  248

  Women

  11

  3

  Total

  1,295

  251

  The table does not include inmates held in vulnerable prisoner units. On 1 March, 1,773 inmates were being held in these units who were not on either Rule 43 or Rule 46.

  Prisoners (Christmas Leave)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list by(a) HM prison, (b) HM remand prison the number of prisoners who applied for Christmas leave and the number of those who were granted Christmas leave; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what criteria he uses when deciding which prisoners may be granted Christmas leave; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  770
  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the Office, to reply to your recent Questions about the criteria used to consider applications made by prisoners to be granted Christmas leave, and the number of prisoners who applied for and were granted Christmas leave last year. Figures for previous years are not available.
  The criteria governing the grant of temporary release and home leave are set out in Circular Instructions 12/1988, 36/1989 and 43/1992, copies of which are in the House Library. Remand prisoners are ineligible to apply under either scheme.
  In addition, specific advice was issued to governors in November last year setting out guidance on the arrangements for the grant of home leave and temporary release over the Christmas and New Year periods. A copy of this instruction (IG 29/1993) is also in the House Library.
  The figures set out below show those establishments which received applications for home leave or temporary release, and the number of applications made and granted specifically to cover the Christmas period, including 25 and 26 December 1993. Some establishments have not retained records of the number of applications which were made, and these are indicated as not available (N/A) in the table.

  Establishment

  Release applications

  Releases granted

  Albany

  3

  1

  Aldington

  13

  13

  Ashwell

  19

  19

  Askham Grange

  64

  58

  Blakenhurst

  0

  0

  Blantyre House

  18

  18

  Brockhill

  6

  6

  Camp Hill

  20

  18

  Canterbury

  9

  9

  Dorchester

  1

  1

  Downview

  n/a

  21

  Drake Hall

  56

  43

  East Sutton Park

  14

  14

  Elmley

  25

  13

  Feltham

  59

  37

  Finnamore Wood

  1

  1

  Ford

  104

  104

  Grendon

  2

  2

  Haslar

  4

  4

  Haverigg

  16

  15

  Howell Grange

  60

  49

  High Down

  4

  4

  Hollesley Bay

  22

  22

  Holloway

  70

  44

  Kirkham

  71

  71

  Kirklevington

  62

  62

  Lancaster Castle

  76

  21

  Lancaster Farms

  9

  1

  Latchmere House

  130

  130

  Leeds

  10

  0

  Leicester

  4

  2

  Littlehey

  13

  13

  Liverpool

  5

  0

  Low Newton

  2

  2

  The Mount

  73

  36

  New Hall

  6

  6

  North Sea Camp

  n/a

  92

  Norwich

  21

  18

  Parkhurst

  5

  3

  Pentonville

  2

  0

  Risley

  21

  21

  Rudgate

  33

  29

  Send

  21

  6

  Spring Hill

  78

  78

  Standford Hill

  64

  59

  Stocken

  13

  13

  Styal

  12

  10

  Sudbury

  79

  79

  Swinfen Hall

  28

  13

  Thorn Cross

  34

  34

  771

  Establishment

  Release applications

  Releases granted

  Wakefield

  8

  8

  Wandsworth

  n/a

  4

  Wayland

  17

  17

  Wellingborough

  23

  19

  Werrington

  60

  30

  Whitemoor

  2

  0

  Winchester

  n/a

  6

  Receptions of remand prisoners into Prison Service establishments in Humberside and Yorkshire—19931

  Male - Ethnic origin

  Female - Ethnic origin

  Age at remand

  Total

  White

  Black2

  South Asian3

  Chinese and other4

  Total

  White

  Black2

  South Asian3

  Chinese and other4

  HUMBERSIDE

  All remands

  All ages

  2,267

  2,154

  76

  22

  15

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  295

  281

  7

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  1,968

  1,869

  69

  15

  15

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All untried

  All ages

  1,917

  1,823

  61

  21

  12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  245

  232

  6

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  1,669

  1,588

  55

  14

  12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as untried not subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  1,285

  1,219

  40

  17

  9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  144

  133

  5

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  1,139

  1,084

  35

  11

  9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as untried subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  632

  604

  21

  4

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  101

  99

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  530

  504

  20

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  350

  331

  15

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  50

  49

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  299

  281

  14

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  982

  935

  36

  5

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  151

  148

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  829

  785

  34

  4

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NORTH YORKSHIRE

  All remands

  All ages

  143

  135

  4

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  23

  23

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  120

  112

  4

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All untried

  All ages

  133

  125

  4

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  772

  Custodial Prisoners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were remanded in custody in (i) Humberside, (ii) North Yorkshire, (iii) South Wayland and (iv) West Yorkshire for the latest year he has figures available, broken down by(a) sex, (b) racial category, (c) aged under 17 years, (d) aged 17 to 21 years, (e) aged over 21 and under 65 years and (f) aged 65 years and over.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Provisional information for remand receptions into Prison Service establishments in the areas specified in 1993 is given in the table.
  773

  Male - Ethnic origin

  Female - Ethnic origin

  Age at remand

  Total

  White

  Black2

  South Asian3

  Chinese and other4

  Total

  White

  Black2

  South Asian3

  Chinese and other4

  Under 17

  20

  20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  113

  105

  4

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as untried not subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  87

  81

  4

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  12

  12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  75

  69

  4

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as untried subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  46

  44

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  8

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  38

  36

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  10

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  7

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  56

  54

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  11

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  45

  43

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  WEST YORKSHIRE

  All remands

  All ages

  2,089

  1,794

  123

  145

  27

  336

  311

  13

  2

  10

  Under 17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  273

  235

  15

  20

  3

  124

  115

  3

  1

  5

  22–64

  1,804

  1,547

  108

  125

  24

  212

  196

  10

  1

  5

  65 and over

  12

  12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All untried

  All ages

  1,706

  1,464

  107

  115

  20

  290

  269

  12

  2

  7

  Under 17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  209

  183

  12

  12

  2

  103

  95

  3

  1

  4

  22–64

  1,485

  1,269

  95

  103

  18

  187

  174

  9

  1

  3

  65 and over.

  12

  12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as untried not subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  1,268

  1,069

  86

  98

  15

  227

  211

  11

  1

  4

  Under 17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  149

  127

  10

  10

  2

  72

  67

  3

  —

  2

  22–64

  1,108

  931

  76

  88

  13

  155

  144

  8

  1

  2

  65 and over

  11

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as untried subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  438

  395

  21

  17

  5

  63

  58

  1

  1

  3

  Under 17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  60

  56

  2

  2

  —

  31

  28

  —

  1

  2

  22–64

  377

  338

  19

  15

  5

  32

  30

  1

  —

  1

  65 and over

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  383

  330

  16

  30

  7

  46

  42

  1

  —

  3

  Under 17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  774

  775

  Male - Ethnic origin

  Female - Ethnic origin

  Age at remand

  Total

  White

  Black2

  South Asian3

  Chinese and other4

  Total

  White

  Black2

  South Asian3

  Chinese and other4

  17–21

  64

  52

  3

  8

  1

  21

  20

  —

  —

  1

  22–64

  319

  278

  13

  22

  6

  25

  22

  1

  —

  2

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  821

  725

  37

  47

  12

  109

  100

  2

  1

  6

  Under 17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  124

  108

  5

  10

  1

  52

  48

  —

  1

  3

  22–64

  696

  616

  32

  37

  11

  57

  52

  2

  —

  3

  65 and over

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SOUTH YORKSHIRE

  All remands

  All ages

  2,378

  2,207

  65

  91

  15

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  239

  224

  9

  2

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  2,137

  1,981

  56

  89

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All untried

  All ages

  1,945

  1,808

  49

  77

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  205

  193

  7

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  1,738

  1,613

  42

  76

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as untried not subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  1,136

  1,046

  32

  52

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  96

  90

  4

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  1,038

  954

  28

  51

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as untried subsequently received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  809

  762

  17

  25

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  109

  103

  3

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  700

  659

  14

  25

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  First received as convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  433

  399

  16

  14

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  34

  31

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  399

  368

  14

  13

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All convicted unsentenced

  All ages

  1,242

  1,161

  33

  39

  9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Under 17

  143

  134

  5

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17–21

  1,099

  1,027

  28

  38

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22–64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65 and over

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Provisional figures.

  2 Black: African, Caribbean, Other.

  3 South Asian: Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani.

  4 Chinese and other: Asian (other), Chinese, Other.

  Moorlands Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the cell of the month bonus scheme began at HM prison Moorlands; how much has been paid out to date; which other HM prisons have a similar scheme; and if he will make a statement.
  776
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Moorland Prison and Young Offender Institution.

  777
  The cell of the month scheme began on 19 December 1993. Since the scheme commenced, a total of £114 has been paid out. The scheme at Moorland is a local initiative. No central records of such initiatives are maintained and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Caernarfon, dated 18 October 1993, concerning the case of the late Dewi Jones of Llanaelhaern in Gwynedd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I hope to respond to the hon. Member very shortly.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown, by race, for the latest date he has figures available, of the inmates held in each of the remand centres in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Population in remand centres on 31 December 1993 in Yorkshire and Humberside by ethnic origin1

  Establishment

  White

  Black, African, Caribbean

  Ethnic origin Southern Asian, Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani

  Other Asian, other Chinese, not recorded (including refusal)

  All persons in establishment

  Moorland

  415

  23

  14

  2

  454

  Northallerton

  128

  3

  1

  2

  134

  Total

  543

  26

  15

  4

  588

  1 Provisional figures.

  Mandatory Life Sentences
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently serving mandatory life sentences for murder; and how many of those have at all times denied their guilt.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest available provisional information is for 31 December 1993 when there were 2,564 prisoners in Prison Service establishments serving mandatory life sentences for murder. Information on inmates who deny their guilt is not collected centrally.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. Michael Howard
  The figures requested are given in the table, which sets out, by grade, the total number of non-industrial Home Office staff, including those in agencies, on outward secondment or on maternity or special leave, and the number and percentage of women in each grade. The information was generated from the Home Office personnel system on 15 March 1994.

  Total

  Women

  Per cent.

  Administrative Assistant

  2,167

  1,577

  73

  Administrative Officer

  4,420

  3,105

  70

  Administrative Trainee

  9

  3

  33

  778
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 March 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking if he will give a breakdown by race, for the latest date he has figures available, of the inmates held in each of the remand centres in Yorkshire and Humberside.
  The latest available information is for 31 December 1993 and is given in the table. The ethnic breakdown of the population is based on the Census of Population ethnic coding classification which was introduced in prisons in October 1992.

  Total

  Women

  Per cent.

  Assistant Chief Officer

  2

  —

  —

  Assistant Director

  9

  —

  —

  Assistant Divisional Officer

  4

  —

  —

  Assistant Immigration Officer

  39

  22

  56

  Assistant Information Officer

  7

  3

  43

  Assistant Insp. of Fire Services

  29

  —

  —

  Assistant Librarian

  13

  9

  69

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  91

  69

  76

  Assistant Statistician

  1

  1

  100

  Assistant Storeperson

  102

  8

  8

  C. of E./R.C. Chaplain (P/T)

  128

  26

  20

  C. of E. Chaplain

  97

  5

  5

  Chief Immigration Officer

  361

  52

  14

  Chief Inspector-Animals S.P. Inspec.

  1

  —

  —

  Chief Typing Manager

  4

  4

  100

  Commandant

  1

  —

  —

  Comms. Officer 2

  1

  —

  —

  Comms. Officer 3

  15

  2

  13

  Consultant Voluntary Services Unit

  2

  2

  100

  Divisional Officer 1

  1

  —

  —

  Divisional Officer 2

  2

  —

  —

  Executive Officer

  2,122

  1,179

  56

  Farm Manager

  85

  1

  1

  Fireground Supervisor

  1

  —

  —

  Foreman

  1

  —

  —

  Governor 1

  39

  —

  —

  Governor 2

  86

  7

  8

  Governor 3

  117

  14

  12

  Governor 4

  313

  38

  12

  Governor 5

  440

  30

  7

  Governor 5 (APS)1

  25

  6

  24

  Grade 1 (PUSS)

  1

  —

  —

  Grade 2 (DUSS)

  8

  —

  —

  Grade 3

  28

  7

  25

  Grade 4

  3

  —

  —

  Grade 5

  95

  23

  24

  Grade 6

  102

  13

  13

  Grade 7

  615

  159

  26

  779

  Total

  Women

  Per cent.

  Graphics Officer

  14

  3

  21

  Graphics Technical Grade

  1

  1

  100

  Head of Department 3

  1

  —

  —

  Head of Department 4

  1

  —

  —

  Head of Department 5

  1

  —

  —

  Head of Department 6

  1

  —

  —

  Head Pharmacist

  1

  —

  —

  Higher Executive Off. (Development)

  28

  10

  36

  Higher Executive Officer

  1,194

  491

  41

  Higher Graphics Officer

  1

  —

  —

  Higher Instructional Officer

  28

  2

  7

  Higher Prof. and Tech. Officer

  132

  5

  4

  Higher Psychologist

  44

  32

  73

  Higher Scientific Officer

  178

  82

  46

  Higher Telecoms Tech. Off.

  18

  —

  —

  HM Chief Insp. of Fire Services

  1

  —

  —

  HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary

  1

  —

  —

  HM Insp. of Fire Services 1

  2

  —

  —

  HM Insp. of Fire Services 2

  7

  —

  —

  HM Inspector of Constabulary

  5

  —

  —

  Immigration Officer

  2,209

  824

  37

  Information Officer

  19

  13

  68

  Inspector (Immigration Service)

  70

  1

  1

  Inspector—Animals S. P. Insp.

  17

  2

  9

  Instructional Officer I

  1,031

  145

  14

  Instructional Officer II

  2

  —

  —

  Interpreter

  7

  2

  29

  Lecturer 2

  24

  6

  25

  Legal Officer

  4

  3

  75

  Librarian

  7

  5

  71

  Matron Housekeeper

  1

  1

  100

  Medical Officer

  86

  8

  9

  Medical Officer (P/T)

  108

  4

  4

  Night Patrol

  929

  81

  9

  Nursing Grade A

  4

  3

  75

  Nursing Grade C

  53

  49

  92

  Nursing Grade D

  117

  95

  81

  Nursing Grade E

  127

  87

  69

  Nursing Grade F

  109

  89

  82

  Nursing Grade G

  28

  20

  71

  Nursing Grade H

  6

  5

  83

  Personal Secretary

  495

  492

  99

  Pharmacist

  18

  13

  72

  Pharmacy Technician

  23

  21

  91

  Principal Lecturer

  3

  —

  —

  Principal Medical Officer

  5

  —

  —

  Principal Officer

  1,348

  44

  3

  Principal Officer (APS)1

  33

  9

  27

  Principal RC Chaplain

  1

  —

  —

  Prison Auxiliary

  1,593

  314

  20

  Prison Officer

  18,847

  1,800

  10

  Prison Officer (APS)1

  37

  19

  51

  Professional & Technology Off.

  98

  11

  11

  Psychological Assistant

  42

  28

  67

  Psychologist

  1

  —

  —

  Psychologist-Graduate Trainee

  28

  20

  71

  R.C. Chaplain

  16

  1

  6

  Regional Catering Manager

  5

  —

  —

  Research Officer (Social Sci.)

  16

  9

  56

  Scientific Officer

  115

  64

  56

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  8

  2

  25

  Senior Divisional Officer

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Executive Officer

  432

  135

  31

  Senior Information Officer

  9

  4

  44

  Senior Inspector-Animals S.P. Insp.

  3

  —

  —

  Senior Instructional Officer

  2

  1

  50

  Senior Lecturer

  3

  —

  —

  Senior Legal Assistant

  2

  1

  50

  Senior Librarian

  2

  1

  50

  Senior Medical Officer

  40

  5

  13

  Senior Officer

  3,509

  116

  5

  Senior Personal Secretary

  42

  42

  100

  Senior Pharmacist

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Prof. and Tech. Officer

  147

  1

  —

  Senior Psychologist

  48

  29

  60

  Senior Research Off. (Social Sci.)

  11

  6

  55

  Senior Scientific Officer

  197

  31

  16

  Senior Telecoms Tech. Off.

  2

  —

  —

  780

  Total

  Women

  Per cent.

  Shop Assistant

  1

  1

  100

  Shop Manager

  1

  —

  —

  Staff Principal Pharmacist

  5

  —

  —

  Storeperson

  465

  21

  5

  Stores Officer Grade A

  1

  —

  —

  Stores Officer Grade B

  4

  —

  —

  Stores Officer Grade C

  1

  —

  —

  Stores Officer Grade D

  5

  1

  20

  Support Grade Band 1

  150

  103

  69

  Support Grade Band 2

  718

  435

  61

  Support Manager 1

  1

  —

  —

  Support Manager 2

  4

  3

  75

  Support Manager 3

  12

  11

  92

  Technical Grade 1

  14

  3

  21

  Technical Grade 2

  7

  3

  43

  Telecom Engineering Technician

  4

  —

  —

  Telecom Technical Engineer II

  4

  —

  —

  Telecoms Technical Officer

  1

  —

  —

  Temporary Prison Officer

  4

  4

  100

  Territorial Inspector

  4

  —

  —

  Trainee Graphics Officer

  1

  1

  100

  Trainee Typist

  1

  1

  100

  Typing Manager

  32

  32

  100

  Typist

  749

  748

  100

  Total

  47,584

  13,071

  27

  1 APS—Accelerated Promotion Scheme

  Campsfield House
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals are currently detained at Campsfield; and of these how many are(a) on hunger strike and (b) being force fed.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State being for the Home Department how many people are currently being held at Campsfield house; and how many have refused food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  On Tuesday 15 March there were 191 people detained at Campsfield house; 118 were refusing food; none has been force-fed.

  Mr Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for the management of Campsfield house; who previously held such responsibility; how frequently Home Office officials visit Campsfield; and how reports on its management are made to Ministers.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Since its opening on 29 November 1993 the Campsfield house immigration detention centre has been managed on behalf of the Immigration Service by Group 4 Total Security Ltd. under a total management contract. Home Office officials are based permanently at Campsfield house to oversee the management of the contract and report, through senior headquarters staff, to Ministers.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date a Minister in his Department most recently visited Campsfield house.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I visited Campsfield house today.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average it takes his Department to reach a decision on individual cases of those held at Campsfield house; and if he will make a statement.
  781
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that those held at Campsfield house are fully able to put their reasons to his officials for wishing to stay in the United Kingdom; what percentage of those held at Campsfield have been able to have qualified representatives to argue their case at the Home Office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  All those detained under the powers contained in the Immigration Act 1971 have the reasons for that detention explained to them and they are informed of their right to legal advice and assistance, in a language which they understand. In addition, at Campsfield house there are posters advertising the free services available from the Immigration Advisory Service and the refugee legal centre and detainees are free to make and receive telephone calls. Legal representation may visit detainees between 9 am and 9 pm every day. Others may visit between 2 pm and 9 pm, every day. The permanent Immigration Service staff at the centre are also available to provide advice and assistance as necessary.

  General Pinochet
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total policing costs associated with the recent visit to London of General Augusto Pinochet.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  It is a long-standing practice not to disclose the costs of security operations.

  Mr. Paul Bennett
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the procedural impropriety referred to by presiding Lord Justice Mann in the case of Mr. Paul Bennett and the subsequent discontinuance of the committal proceedings;

  (2) if the services of Mr. Paul Bennett were used or employed by any of the United Kingdom's police or Government agencies prior to committal proceedings being undertaken against him.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 16 March 1994]: Operational matters are entirely the responsibility of the chief officer of the police force concerned. Furthermore, it would not be appropriate to make any comment at this stage on the actions of the police since the case may be considered further by the courts. I understand that a formal complaint has been lodged with the Metropolitan police.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Management Systems
  Ms Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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 782
  of such systems accounts for the apparent rise in theft noted in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North (Mr. Campbell) of 16 February, Official Report, column 771.

  Mr. Hague
  Computers are used by those employed in facilities management as part of their day-to-day work. There is no reason to suppose any link between this and the number of thefts from the Department.

  Disability, Working Allowance
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the reasons for the current level of take-up of the disability working allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  We have commissioned research from the Policy Studies Institute as part of the evaluation of disability working allowance. The evaluation will examine take-up issues. The final report from the Policy Studies Institute is due in 1995. The final evaluation is due for completion in October 1996.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the value of the independent living fund 1993; what proportion has been allocated to date; and what proportion has been allocated to claimants in Wales.

  Mr. Scott
  Financial provision of £4 million was made for the Independent Living (1993) Fund in 1993–94. I am informed by the director of the fund that, as at 1 March, 17 per cent. of this amount had been spent.

  I am further informed that the total weekly payments to all United Kingdom clients stood at the same date at around £31,000, representing an ongoing commitment equivalent to 40 per cent. of this year's financial provision.

  Around 10.5 per cent. of the amount so far in payment to disabled people is being paid to applicants in Wales.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the assessment points for the cold weather payments trigger and the days on which the temperature fell below the trigger point in each case over the last calendar year.

  Mr. Scott
  A list of the Meterological Office weather stations used by the cold weather payment scheme, together with the temperature information used to determine triggers is held in the Library. Information is held only for the mean temperature over periods of seven days and is not available on a daily basis.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients currently in receipt of invalidity benefit are over the age of 58 years in the Doncaster area.

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

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current estimate of the average value of benefit to those in receipt of invalidity benefit in the Doncaster area.
  783
  Mr. Scott
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people in receipt of invalidity benefit in the Doncaster area for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the full range of information requested is not available. For that information which is available I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by Mr. Bichard on 3 December 1993 at columns 121–22.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many letters were received from, and written to, hon. Members by him and his ministerial colleagues in February.

  Mr. Hague
  This Department received 2,522 letters from hon. Members during February. Of these, 259 were passed to chief executives of the Department's agencies for reply. A total of 1,656 replies, mostly to correspondence received in January, were sent by Ministers.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested for permanent staff employed by the Department, including its agencies, on 28 February 1994 is as follows:

  Grade (including equivalent professional and other grades)

  Total staff1

  Percentage of women

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  Grade 2

  4

  0

  Grade 3

  17

  18

  Grade 4

  9

  33

  Grade 5

  122

  24

  Grade 6

  315

  23

  Grade 7

  698

  22

  Senior Executive Officer

  1,476

  26

  Higher Executive Officer (D)

  17

  35

  Higher Executive Officer

  5,950

  42

  Executive Officer

  25,439

  62

  Administrative Officer

  46,412

  75

  Administrative Assistant

  15,071

  69

  Others

  160

  73

  Total

  95,691

  67

  1 Including part-time staff paid for more than 10 hours a week.

  Notes:

  1. Total of 95,691 equates to 88,976 full time equivalent staff.

  The table excludes:—

  i. staff on loan or secondment and not being paid by the Department

  ii.staff on unpaid leave for more than three months or on unpaid maternity leave

  iii. casual staff.

  784

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Interviews
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the interviews he gave to(a) the broadcast and (b) print media on 8 and 9 March, respectively; and if he will arrange for transcripts of his broadcast interviews to be put in the Library.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  On 8 March I gave formal radio and TV interviews to: ITN 5.40 pm news, Channel 4 news, BBC TV 6.00 pm news, Sky TV, BBC Radio PM programme and GMTV.

  On 9 March I gave interviews to BBC Radio Today programme, LBC, BBC Jimmy Young programme, Channel 4 news, HTV and BBC Radio Bristol. I was interviewed by NHK TV Japan on the Science White Paper.

  In addition I spoke to print journalists and broadcasters as I arrived at various engagements during the day.

  My Department does not hold transcripts of these interviews and they can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out the criteria and conditions he adopts in deciding whether to give full or abbreviated replies to parliamentary questions.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I answer parliamentary questions on the basis set out in paragraph 27 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers".

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. David Davis
  The staff in post figures as at 15 March 1994 for the Cabinet Office, the Office of Public Service and Science, including CCTA, and the six executive agencies for which I am responsible—Chessington computer centre, Civil Service College, Occupational Health Service, the Recruitment and Assessment Services, COI and HMSO, are as follows:

  Grade band

  Total number of staff

  Percentage women

  Grade 1 (including 1A)

  3

  0.0

  Grade 2

  19

  10.5

  Grade 3

  26

  19.2

  Grade 4

  4

  0.0

  Grade 5

  70

  23.5

  Grade 6

  93

  19.3

  Grade 7

  347

  20.1

  SEO

  481

  26.2

  HEO(D) and AT

  17

  23.5

  HEO

  877.5

  32.3

  EO

  951

  40.9

  AO

  1,275

  67.6

  AA

  515

  67.2

  TOTAL

  4,678.5

  45.4

ENVIRONMENT

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

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

  Landfill Sites
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will conduct an urgent study into the extent of water pollution problems posed by landfill sites; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will conduct urgent studies into the connection between the landfill sites at (a) Docking, (b) Edgefield, (c) Hempton, (d) Mayton Wood, (e) Beetley„ (f) Attlebridge, (g) Blackborough End, (h) Costessey, (i) Harford, (j) Barrack road, (k) Helpston, (l) Wereham, (m) Rocklands, (n) Pakefield, (o) Norwich lane, (p) Buckden, (q) Bear's Pit and (r) Foxhall I and II, and water pollution;

  (3) what is the scientific basis for the criteria used by the Waste Regulation Authority to decide whether it is unlikely that pollution of the environment and water will occur from landfill sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department of the Environment has carried out research for many years on the environmental aspects of landfilling. Since 1990 my Department has been funding specific research into the effects of landfilling on groundwater. This research is continuing.

  It has already enabled the Department to produce the monitoring protocols which will be included in statutory guidance to be published shortly with the Waste Management Licensing Regulations to be made under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This information will provide waste regulation authorities with a more precise means to decide whether a landfill site is unlikely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.

  The sites listed by the hon. Member are mostly old and/or closed. The waste regulation authorities concerned and the NRA are aware of them and additional studies have been or are being conducted, where they have judged these are appropriate. I see no need for any additional study by my Department over and above the research I have mentioned.

  Air Monitoring
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what basis sites for air monitoring were selected; if he will list the selected sites and the equipment used in respect of each; and when monitoring came into effect.

  Mr. Atkins
  The basis of site selection, the sites involved, the measurement methods and the dates of monitoring for urban monitoring sites funded by the Department of the Environment are given in the first report of the quality of urban air review group published in January 1993 which has been placed in the Library of the House. Similar information for rural monitoring of ozone is given in the first report of the photochemical oxidants.

  Local Government Superannuation
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the organisations and individuals who have responded to the report of the efficiency scrutiny of the local government superannuation scheme; and if he will place their responses in the Library;

  (2) which organisations and individuals who responded to the report of the efficiency scrutiny of the local government superannuation scheme supported the decentralisation of the local government scheme so as to allow local authorities to take responsibility for their own pension provision.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department's efficiency scrutiny report on the local government superannuation scheme was completed in July 1993. Over 1,000 copies were circulated widely in England and Wales, together with a discussion paper. Two hundred and forty responses were received from local authorities, other organisations and individual scheme members. A list of respondees has been placed in the Library, but no authority has been received to publish their actual comments. However, respondees may be willing to give an indication of their views if approached. The following organisations expressed varying degrees of support for the scrutineer's recommendation that local authorities should take responsibility for their own pension provision:

  Cambridgeshire County Council

  Somerset County Council

  Bradford Metropolitan Council

  Birmingham City Council

  Babergh District Council

  Cherwell District Council

  Woking District Council

  National Rivers Authority

  The Pensions Trust

  Association of British Insurers

  Bacon and Woodrow

  Clay and Partners

  Godwins Ltd.

  Radioactive Substances
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the reason for his projected progressive reduction in the expenditure projected on radioactive substances policy from £2.4 million in 1993–94 to £1.3 million in 1996–97 in figure 22 of his Department's annual report and expenditure plans 1994–95 to 1996–97, Cm 2507.

  Mr. Atkins
  The reduction in research expenditure on radioactive substances policy set out in figure 22 of Cm 2507 reflects the completion of the Department's current research and monitoring programme on radon. Research on other aspects of radioactive substances policy is being maintained on a stable basis, subject to normal year-to-year variations.

  Basildon
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what remaining assets the Commission for New Towns has to dispose of in Basildon; and when it will be wound up.

  Mr. Baldry
  In addition to the 2,444 rented and shared ownership dwellings and 10.7 acres of land due to be disposed of to the Basildon community housing
  787
  association before the end of March, the Commission for the New Towns retains the following assets for disposal in Basildon:

  390 acres of developable land;

  186,633 sq. feet of freehold commercial premises;

  6,700 sq. feet of freehold industrial premises;

  560,067 sq. feet of lease/leaseback industrial premises;

  13,190 sq. feet of other miscellaneous properties;

  54 commercial ground leases;

  3 residential hostels where negotiations are currently in progress with the managing agents;

  6 miscellaneous properties used for social/voluntary purposes.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 27 July 1993, the Commission for the New Towns is to be wound up by no later than 31 March 1998. In the mean time, the Basildon office of the Commission will close to the public on 31 March 1994.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the reason for the proposed reduction in expenditure between 1994–95 and 1995–96 on research and monitoring in the environment, as set out at figure 9 on environmental protection expenditure of his Department's annual report and expenditure plans 1994–95 to 1996–97, Cm 2507.

  Mr. Atkins
  Details of expenditure within the environmental protection programme are given in figure 22 of Cm 2507. Funding of environmental protection research and monitoring increased by about 50 per cent. since the 1990 White Paper, "This Common Inheritance". Year-to-year variations in funding, should be expected as projects move from start-up to completion. For example, the period between 1994–95 and 1995–96 is dominated by the procurement spend profile of the advanced along track scanning radiometer satellite instrument, which is due for launch in 1998.

  Liverpool Housing Department
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call for a report into complaints of corruption in the Liverpool city housing department; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  No. Local authorities are accountable to their electorate and, where necessary, to their auditor and to the courts for the conduct of their business. If the law has been broken it is a matter for the police.

  PM10 Particulates
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to set a limit on acceptable levels of PM10 particulates in the air.

  Mr. Atkins
  The expert panel on air quality standards, a group of independent medical and scientific experts which recommends air quality standards to the Secretary of State for the Environment, is currently considering a standard for particulates.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the link between levels of PM10 particulates in the air and traffic levels.

  Mr. Atkins
  The recently published second report of the quality of urban air review group estimated that in 1991 788
  road vehicles contributed 27 per cent. and 42 per cent. of United Kingdom emissions of PM10 and black smoke respectively. In London, QUARG estimated the contribution of road vehicles to emissions of black smoke was 94 per cent.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 9 March,Official Report, columns 294–95, which local authorities made representations to his Department seeking the use of nature of housing tenure as an indicator for the purpose of standard spending assessment distribution prior to his announcement of a provisional settlement for 1994–95.

  Mr. Baldry
  Prior to consultation on the provisional revenue support grant settlement for 1994–95, as part the review of standard spending assessments, the following local authorities made representations in support of the use of nature of housing tenure as an indicator in the calculation of SSAs.

  Barrow Borough Council

  Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

  London Borough of Greenwich

  Leeds City Council

  Sheffield City Council

  Hazardous Chemicals
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he published his departmental discussion paper on reducing emissions of hazardous chemicals to the environment; how many copies have been prepared; at what cost; and to whom it has been circulated.

  Mr. Atkins
  The discussion paper "Reducing Emissions of Hazardous Chemicals to the Environment" was published on 7 March 1994. A total of 1,200 copies have been prepared at a cost of £25,800, which includes the cost of drafting the paper, the graphical work, printing and its distribution. The paper has been circulated within my Department, other Government Departments, relevant agencies and non-governmental organisations, industry and trade associations, all of which have interests in either the manufacture, supply and use of hazardous chemicals as well as their potential impact on human health and the environment.

  Air Pollution
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the Government Chief Medical Officer's report on asthma and air pollution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  No.

  The Department of Health's independent Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution has not yet reported on the effects of air pollutants on asthma. Their report is expected to be published this year.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he has made in charges payable by operators of industrial processes licensed by air pollution control authorities under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) on 9 March 1994,Official Report, column 300.
  789
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has received since May 1992 from his advisory committee on releases to the environment; and what actions he has taken in response to the reports.

  Mr. Atkins
  Since 1 May 1992 the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has given advice to the Secretary of State on 20 applications to release genetically modified organisms to the environment, made under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992.

  For each application made under the regulations, all ACRE's advice has been considered by the Secretary of State in deciding whether to issue a consent to release a genetically modified organism.

  Details of each application and ACRE's advice relating to them are kept on a public register.

  Conservation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent meetings he or officials of his Department have had with the Business and Technology Education Council on its national vocational qualifications scheme on environmental conservation.

  Mr. Atkins
  None. However, the Department suppports the Council for Occupational Standards and Qualifications in Environmental Conservation, which is working with the Business and Technology Education Council to deliver environmental conservation national vocational qualifications.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what support his Department gives to the Institution of Environmental Health Officers programme to improve energy efficiency in private sector housing.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has collaborated with the Institute of Environmental Health Officers on a series of workshops for IEHO members aimed at improving energy efficiency in private sector housing. We are currently considering other possible methods of collaboration.

  Acidity
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of his departmental critical loads advisory group reports on critical loads of acidity in the United Kingdom; and what actions he plans to take arising from its recommendations.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government warmly welcome the reports of the critical loads advisory group and its various sub-groups. The reports contain a number of recommendations as to further research which the Department will be considering. The group's findings have been and will continue to be an essential element informing the Government's development of effects—based emission control policies and the Government's position in international negotiations designed to reduce transboundary air pollution.
  790

  Cadmium Plating
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent support his Department has given to assist research in the private sector or research establishments on clean production technologies to replace the use of cadmium plating in corrosion protection.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department has recently offered a grant of up to £390,000 towards the costs of a three-year project initiated by the National Centre for Tribology, within AEA Technology. The centre will undertake the project along with a consortium of 20 or more companies. The project will investigate new technologies to replace cadmium plating in corrosion protection and in bearing materials.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of funding the careers service has received in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The available information is as follows:

  Government to local authorities in England in respect of Careers Service Administration

  £ million

  1979–80

  3.1

  1980–81

  5.2

  1981–82

  7.9

  1982–83

  11.4

  1983–84

  11.1

  1984–85

  12.0

  1985–86

  12.7

  1986–87

  13.9

  1987–88

  13.7

  1988–89

  16.8

  1989–90

  18.8

  1990–91

  23.2

  1991–92

  22.9

  1992–93

  24.5

  Aggregates
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many licensing applications have been intimated to his Department for marine dredging of aggregates in each year since 1989 for the purpose of obtaining a Government view.

  Mr. Baldry
  The numbers of licensing applications for marine dredging of aggregates intimated to my department in each year since 1989 for the purpose of obtaining a Government view are as follows:

  1989

  2

  1990

  none

  1991

  none

  1992

  4

  1993

  3

  1994

  1 to date

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many licence applications for the marine dredging of aggregates have received a favourable Government view in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Baldry
  The numbers of licence applications for the marine dredging of aggregates within English waters which have received a favourable Government view in the years since 1989 are as follows:
  791

  1989

  —

  2

  1990

  —

  2

  1991

  —

  1

  1992

  —

  1

  1993

  —

  none

  1994

  —

  none to date

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total area of sea bed covered by(a) licensing applications for a Government view of marine dredging of aggregates and (b)licensing applications for the marine dredging of aggregates which have received a favourable Government view, in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Baldry
  The total area of seabed covered by current licensing applications for a government view of marine dredging of aggregates is 196.08 sq km. The total area of seabed covered by licensing applications for the marine dredging of aggregates which have received a favourable government view, in each year since 1989 is as follows:

  1989

  —

  34.85km2

  1990

  —

  35.73km2

  1991

  —

  49.17km2

  1992

  —

  11

  1993

  —

  no favourite government views given.

  1994

  —

  no final decisions on government views given to date.

  1 The licensing application covered by the one favourable government view issued in 1992 was for a change in tonnage for two previously licence area: there was no increase in area.

  North Race Bank
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to give a decision on the Government's view of the production application by National Rivers Authority Anglia for the extraction of sand from the North Race bank.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department issued a letter on 15 March, stating that it was minded to issue a favourable Government view for limited extraction by NRA on Race bank, subject to the finalisation of strict conditions.

  City Challenge
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what payments have been made to date in respect of the City Challenge programme for Bolton; and what further authorisations are currently due.

  Mr. Baldry
  A total of £5.753 million grant has been paid to date in respect of Bolton's city challenge expenditure in 1993–94, the first year of the programme.

  Bolton city challenge partnership is forecasting a full spend of its £7.5 million funding allocation for 1993–94. A remaining £1.747 million grant is therefore due to be paid in respect of city challenge expenditure in this financial year.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the home energy efficiency scheme to all people aged 60 years or over.

  Mr. Atkins
  Proposals to amend the regulations governing the home energy 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 on 9 March.
  792
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will estimate how much it would cost to extend the home energy efficiency scheme to all pensioners and people with disabilities;

  (2) if he will estimate how much it would cost to extend the home energy efficiency scheme to all people aged 60 years or over.

  Mr. Atkins
  An extra £35 million per year is to be made available for the home energy efficiency scheme from 1 April 1994, when the scheme is to be extended to those receiving disability living allowance and those aged 60 and over.

  Water Disposal Areas
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to designate new areas as high natural water dispersal areas;

  (2) how many areas are designated as high natural water dispersal areas in other EU member states;

  (3) when those areas currently designated as high natural water dispersal areas were given that designation;

  (4) how many areas in the United Kingdom are designated as high natural water dispersal areas under the EC urban waste waters directive; and if he will list them;

  (5) what criteria are used for designating areas as high natural water dispersal areas;

  (6) what research is currently being conducted into high natural water dispersal areas.

  Mr. Atkins
  High natural dispersion areas will be identified on the basis of criteria adopted following a public consultation exercise in the United Kingdom in March 1992.

  No areas have yet been formally identified in the United Kingdom. An announcement will be made in due course. We do not have any information on other member states' intentions.

  Once the high natural dispersion areas have been identified, the comprehensive studies required by the directive will be carried out to demonstrate that primary treatment will have no adverse environmental effect in these areas.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities where persons in a lower council tax band may be paying a higher level of council tax than equivalent persons in a higher band due to the operation of the transitional relief scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  On the basis of information received so far it appears that some cases of this kind may arise in 1994–95 in Blyth Valley, Derwentside, Greenwich, Wakefield and Wandsworth, as a result of the decisions of these authorities to reduce headline levels of council tax considerably compared with 1993–94.

  Isle of Dogs
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of capital and any other allowances claimed by companies in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone; and how much of that total had been claimed by the time the deadline was extended after Canary Wharf went into administration.
  793
  Mr. Baldry
  The total cost of capital allowances for all enterprise zones in Britain, estimated at 31 March 1993, was approximately £1 billion in 1993–94 prices. No information on the cost of capital allowances is available for individual enterprise zones or developments within them.

  The total cost of rate relief on the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone, up to its expiry on 25 April 1992, was £113 million in 1993–94 prices.

  Civil. Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. Gummer
  The following information covers non-industrial staff in my Department, excluding PSAS;

  Grade

  Total

  Women (percentage)

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  Grade 2

  7

  43

  Grade 3

  34

  12

  Grade 4

  7

  0

  Grade 5

  140

  14

  Grade 6

  322

  9

  Grade 7

  788

  17

  SEO and equivalent

  759

  19

  HEO and equivalent

  979

  32

  EO and equivalent

  1,244

  44

  AO and equivalent

  1,569

  63

  AA and equivalent

  732

  67

  Totals

  6,582

  41

  "London: Making the Best Better"
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what(a) proportion and (b) number of the responses to the questionnaire accompanying the document "London: Making the Best Better", were from people with addresses outside London;

  (2) if he will publish a table giving the top 10 suggestions for how to improve London contained in the responses to the questionnaire accompanying the document "London: Making the Best Better";

  (3) what stage has been reached in assessing the responses to the questionnaire accompanying the document "London: Making the Best Better"; by what date the assessment will be complete; and when he will publish the full results;

  (4) what (a) proportion and (b) number of responses to the questionnaire accompanying the document "London: Making the Best Better", referred to a need for greater investment in London's transport system, on the basis of his preliminary assessment.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 11 March 1994]: The analysis of the replies to the consultation document "London: Making the Best Better" is complete, and we will publish a digest of the responses later this month.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a full list of all organisations, individuals and Government Departments sent details of his preliminary assessment of the responses 794
  to the questionnaire accompanying the document "London: Making the Best Better", together with the date on which details were sent.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 11 March 1994]: In accordance with normal practice my right hon. Friend is consulting ministerial colleagues on a draft text of a digest of the responses to the London questionnaire which will be published shortly. No other organisations or outside individuals have been consulted.

TRANSPORT

  Rail Privatisation
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds he has made available to the franchise director to implement privatisation in 1993–94; and what is his current estimate for 1994–95.

  Mr. Freeman
  Around £2 million has been provided in 1993–94 to cover the running costs of the office of passenger rail franchising. Estimated running costs in 1994–95 are £10 million.

  Government support for passenger services will continue to be provided. The estimated level of support in 1994–95 is £1,825 million, the greater proportion of which will be paid via the Franchising Director.

  British Transport Police
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislative steps the Government intend to take in connection with the jurisdiction of the transport police.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what change will take place on Railtrack's vesting day to powers of pursuit or arrest by the British transport police constables;

  (2) what change to powers of pursuit or arrest will be experienced by British transport police constables on the vesting day of any rail franchise;

  (3) what plans he has to introduce legislation relating to the powers of the British transport police; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he now intends to take to protect the powers and scope of jurisdiction of the British transport police after 1 April.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government will introduce at the earliest possible opportunity a short Bill to clarify the jurisdiction of the British Transport police following discussions with British Rail and the chief constable.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has come to a firm conclusion on the future of vehicle inspectorate testing functions.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have decided, in the light of responses to the proposals outlined last May, and taking account of the work I subsequently commissioned from consultants Price Waterhouse, not to transfer the vehicle inspectorate's testing activities to the private sector.
  795
  The consultants concluded that while privatisation was feasible a number of my main objectives, including, in particular, the development of significant competition in the provision of testing services and the transfer of the freeholds of the testing sites to the purchasers, would not be possible if a successful sale was to be achieved. Moreover, their analysis drew attention to the possibility that privatisation might limit the scope for innovation in the future provision of testing services, a concern shared by the road transport industry. The consultants also confirmed the views previously expressed to me that most customers believe that they are well served by the vehicle inspectorate.

  In deciding that the whole of the inspectorate should remain an executive agency of the Department of Transport I have instructed the chief executive to develop plans which will build substantially on the organisation's current levels of efficiency and quality of service. I have asked the chief executive to report quickly to me on the scope for substantial future savings. I will also be taking forward an initiative to facilitate a significant expansion of the arrangements for on site testing by the inspectorate's staff at operators' own, suitably equipped premises. This featured in the industry's own response to my original proposals.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Aerospace
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade during what periods since 1990 there has been a Government appointed director on British Aerospace's main board; who were the nominees; and if they receive payment for their services.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There has been a Government-appointed director throughout the period since 1990. The appointee is Mr. Keith Brown. He is a director of the company and has, therefore, received no payment from Government for his services.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what golden share provisions have continued to exist with British Aerospace since 1992; when the terms on which such shares were varied; and what golden shares provisions could apply to British Aerospace subsidiaries, after their disposal by that company.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Government have held a special share in British Aerospace public limited company throughout the period since 1992. The rights attaching to the special share are set out in the company's articles of association. There has been no amendment to the articles to which these rights relate in this period. The Government do not hold a special share in any of British Aerospace's subsidiary companies, so no special share provisions apply to such companies.

  Manufacturing Trade
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the import/export ratio for trade in manufactures with Brazil in 1993 to the latest available date and what was the corresponding surplus or deficit; what were the figures for 1970, 1979 and 1985 and the 796
  corresponding level of the real exchange rate compared to 1993; and if he will list the principal surpluses or deficits in 1993 together with the reasons therefore;

  (2) what was the import/export ratio for trade in manufactures with Switzerland in 1993 to the latest available date and what was the corresponding surplus or deficit; what were the figures for 1970, 1979 and 1985 and the corresponding level of the real exchange rate compared to 1993; and if he will list the principal surpluses or deficits in 1993 together with the reasons therefore;

  (3) what was the import/export ratio for trade in manufactures with Austria in 1993 to the latest available date and what was the corresponding surplus or deficit; what were the figures for 1970, 1979 and 1985 and the corresponding level of the real exchange rate compared to 1993; and if he will list the principal surpluses or deficits in 1993 together with the reasons therefore;

  (4) what was the import/export ratio for trade in manufactures with Finland in 1993 to the latest available date and what was the corresponding surplus or deficit; what were the figures for 1970, 1979 and 1985 and the corresponding level of the real exchange rate compared to 1993; and if he will list the principal surpluses or deficits in 1993 together with the reasons therefore;

  (5) what was the import/export ratio for trade in manufactures with Sweden in 1993 to the latest available date and what was the corresponding surplus or deficit; what were the figures for 1970, 1979 and 1985 and the corresponding level of the real exchange rate compared to 1993; and if he will list the principal surpluses or deficits in 1993 together with the reasons therefor.

  Mr. Needham
  Information on United Kingdom trade in manufactures, defined as sections 5 to 8 of the Standard International Trade Classification, is published regularly by the Central Statistical Office in the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Since the beginning of 1993, the publication appears in two parts: overseas trade statistics of the United Kingdom with countries outside the European Community, extra-EC trade; and overseas trade statistics of the United Kingdom with countries within the European Community, extra-EC trade: Intrastat. These publications are available from the Library of the House.

  Information on real exchange rates is not available.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number, grade and destination of civil servants in his Department who were seconded to manufacturing industry in 1993 and in 1994 to date.

  Mr. Eggar
  The numbers of DTI staff who were on long-term secondment to business organisations, including manufacturing industry, in calendar year 1993 and in 1994 to date are as follows:

  Number

  1993

  54

  11994

  34

  1to date

  Additional details on each of these secondments cannot be provided other than at disproportionate cost.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the membership of the working group set up by his Department to consider what lessons might be learned from the operating experience now being accumulated on wind farms; and on what dates the group has met.

  Mr. Eggar
  The working group is concerned only with wind turbine noise. Its membership is:

  Mr. R. A. Meir

  Chairman

  Department of Trade and Industry.

  Dr. D. I. Page

  ETSU.

  Dr. M. B. Anderson

  Renewable Energy Systems.

  Dr. A. Bullmore

  Hoare Lea and Partners.

  Mr. M. Jiggins

  Carrick District Council.

  Dr. J. Warren

  National Wind Power.

  Mr. H. A. Thomas

  Isle of Anglesey Borough Council.

  Dr. M. L. Legerton

  Secretary ETSU.

  Dr. H. G. Parkinson

  ETSU.

  Mr. B. F. Berry

  National Physical Laboratory.

  Mr. M. Hayes

  The Hayes McKenzie Partnership.

  Dr. P. Musgrove

  National Wind Power.

  Mr. D. J. Spode

  North Cornwall District Council.

  Ms Emily Tornalin

  EcoGen Ltd.

  Mr. M. Trinick

  Bond Pearce Solicitors.

  It has met on 27 May 1993, 9 August 1993, 11 October 1993 and 10 January 1994.

  Nuclear Review
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish the terms of reference of the nuclear review; and if it will include a review of the disposal of waste and the merits of dry storage versus reprocessing.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 December 1993 to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mr. Merchant),Official Report, columns 759–60.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on British Shipbuilders' external financing limit for 1993–94.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  British Shipbuilders' external financing limit for 1993–94 was set at minus £7.8 million as recorded in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1993–94 to 1995–96" published in February 1993, Cm 2204. The planned EFL has increased slightly due to a decrease of £0.6 million in British Shipbuilders' income on interest. However, this effect has been offset by the transfer to BS of £0.32 million residual balance from its now-dormant subsidiary Sunderland Enterprise and Training Ltd. The net effect is a small increase in the EFL to minus £7.5 million.

  Regional Development
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the business plans of the English regional development organisations; and what level of financial support he proposes to offer for 1994–95.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have studied the current performance and future plans of the six English regional development organisations. I am pleased to say that they continue to make a significant contribution to the work of my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau, to the overall success of the United Kingdom in attracting inward investment, and in particular to the performance of their region. In recognition of this, I have today offered £5.605 million of grant in aid for their inward investment promotion activities for 1994–95. In total this is an increase of £50,000 on last year. Last year was an increase of £550,000 on 1992–93. I have allocated the grant aid as follows:

  RDO

  1994–95 grant £'000

  Per cent, share of total grant

  Northern Development Company (NDC)

  1,461,5

  26.0

  INWARD Ltd (in the North West)

  1,173

  20.9

  Yorkshire and Humberside Development Association (YHDA)

  1,088

  19.4

  West Midlands Development Agency (WMDA)

  818,25

  14.6

  East Midlands Development Company Ltd (EMD)

  400

  7.1

  Devon and Cornwall Development Bureau (DCDB)

  664,25

  11.8

  These individual grants are very slightly smaller than last year except for the East Midlands Development Company Ltd., and reflect in part the need to respond to changes in assisted area coverage within the total available funding provision for all the English regions.

  Grant is offered on an annual basis according to past performance, ability to absorb additional funding effectively, and for an agreed programme of future activities, with proper regard to value for money. It is Government policy to encourage direct inward investment to the United Kingdom because it contributes significantly to economic growth. Inward investment brings benefits both to the country as a whole and more specifically to the assisted areas.

  New-fossil Fuel Obligation
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications he has received for energy projects under each type for the third tranche of the non-fossil fuel obligation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I understand that the non-fossil purchasing agency has received around 230 applications in respect of the wind band; 100 in respect of the hydro band; 140 in respect of the landfill gas band; 100 in respect of the municipal and industrial waste band; and 100 in respect of the energy crops band.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many rules and regulations his Department has passed in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 March 1994]: The number of statutory instruments made by the Department in the past three years was as follows:

  Number

  1991

  151

  1992

  104

  1993

  86

  Redundancy Arrangements
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the redundancy arrangements applicable to staff employed at the National Engineering Laboratory and Warren Spring Laboratory.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 16 March 1994]: The handling of staff surpluses arising in the Department of Trade and Industry, including its agencies, is covered by the departmental redundancy agreement. Copies of the current agreement have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Compensation payments are set out in the principal civil service pension scheme section of the civil service pay and conditions code.

  Units of Measurement
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to table legislation which will implement the units of measurement directive; and what time has been allowed for the industries affected to make the necessary plans for compliance.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 2 March 1994]: It is the Government's intention that before the summer recess a complete set of implementing measures will be laid in Parliament. Discussions are continuing with trade associations about plans for compliance.

WALES

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to visit Meirionnydd Nant Conwy.

  Mr. Redwood
  I plan to visit Meirionnydd Nant Conwy again later this year.

  Female Workers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many female(a) chief executives and (b) chief officers there are in (i) local government service and (ii) the NHS in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  According to the 1993 "Chief Executive/Chief Officers Salaries and Numbers Survey", conducted by the Local Government Management Board, among the 41 Welsh authorities, out of 45 which responded, there were no female chief executives and 20 female chief officers in post on 1 April 1993.
  800
  None of the general managers of health authorities and family health service authorities is female. One of the NHS trust chief executives currently in post is female and two of the NHS trust chief executive-designates, for NHS trusts which become operational on 1 April 1994, are female. Chief officers may be defined in different ways within the NHS and consistent information is not, therefore, available centrally.

  Environment
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the environmental initiatives he has taken on green matters within his Department further to chapter eight of the annual report and departmental expenditure plans 1994–95 to 1996–97, Cm 2515, on environmental services provided by his Department.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Relevant information is given in chapter 10 on page 117 of the departmental report, Cm 2515. Further details will be provided in the third annual report on follow-up to the 1990 Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance", which the Government will be publishing shortly.

  Exhaust Fumes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what evidence he has of a correlation between levels of PM10 particulates in the air and hospital admissions in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A study conducted in Birmingham of the period 1988 to 1990 and published earlier this year has shown that levels of particulates measured as British standard black smoke are a significant predictor of hospital admissions for asthma and all other acute respiratory disorders.

  The Department of Health is currently funding a study into the health effects of the London air pollution episode in December 1991. This research will provide useful background into the relationship between hospital admissions and levels of air pollutants.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the Committee on Medical Effects report into the health threat posed by PM10 particulates in the air in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution has not yet reported on the adverse health effects of PM10 particulates in the air. The Government are seeking definitive advice on this issue and the Committee have set up a sub-group to assess the latest evidence on the health effects of all particulate matter.

  Levels of PM10s are monitored continuously at the Government's air monitoring network site in Cardiff. When the advice from the committee becomes available we shall be better able to assess the possible health effects of particulates in the air in Wales.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by month for the last 12 months, the number of working hours he has spent in the Principality.

  Mr. Redwood
  In the 10 months to the end of March, I will have spent 67 working days in Wales on government
  801
  and political business. My duties for Wales require me to be in London on Tuesdays and Thursdays for Cabinet Committees and Cabinet. On most Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays I am required to be in London for parliamentary business in the evening.

  Electricity
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the gross consumption of electricity in Wales in 1993.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information for 1993 is not yet available. Estimated total sales of electricity in Wales were 16,363 GW/H in 1992.

  Housing Expenditure
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the reason for the projected reduction between 1993–94 and 1994–95 in housing expenditure in Wales as set out at figure 7.01 in his annual report and expenditure plans for 1994–95 to 1996–97, Cm 2515.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  As figure 7.01 of the Welsh Office departmental report indicates, total provision for housing programmes in 1994–95 has been set at £634.9 million, an increase of £27 million over 1993–94 plans and £32.9 million over 1993–94 forecast outturn. The table does not include private sector contributions to the Housing for Wales programme. These, together with transfers from local authorities, are expected to take total housing association capital spending to some £200 million in both 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Open Government
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the implications for the operation of his Department of the code of practice on open government.

  Mr. Redwood
  The code of practice on open government will reinforce and build on my Department's existing arrangements for the provision of information. Operational details will be made public in due course.

  Rechem
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he received the latest consultants report on the environmental and health consequences of the Rechem incineration plant at Pontypool, commissioned by his Department; how many copies of the report have been printed; to whom they have been made available; and if he will make a statement on its conclusions.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest report on further monitoring of PCB levels around the Rechem plant in Pontypool was published on 10 March. Eighty copies were printed and distribution included the four local MPs; the chairman of the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs; the European Commission; Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; the Health and Safety Executive; Rechem; Torfaen borough council and other local interests. Copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State indicated in his recent letter to the hon. Member, the report generally confirms results obtained in the main study. The area of higher concentrations of PCBs and dioxins previously
  802
  identified near the Rechem plant has also been narrowed down to a strip of land about 200 m wide to the east of the plant.

  School Leavers
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of female school leavers left school with five or more GCSE's at grades A to C in Mid Glamorgan in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information is given in table 9.11 of "Statistics of Education and Training in Wales: Schools" No. 2, 1994, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of third and fourth year children in Mid Glamorgan are in maintained sector education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The proportion of national curriculum year three and four pupils in maintained sector education in Mid Glamorgan at January 1993 was 99.2 per cent.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to this answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold) of 3 March,Official Report, column 792, if he will publish in the Official Report the notes on order 24 in the Supreme Court Practice concerning public interest immunity.

  The Attorney-General
  No. It would not be appropriate to publish in the Official Report lengthy extracts from published works which are widely available. I have, however, placed a photocopy of the relevant pages of the Supreme Court Practice in the Library for ease of reference—deposited paper No. 10250.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Attorney-General in what circumstances the actual documents to which Ministers have stated that public interest immunity should apply are not themselves made available to the judge.

  The Attorney-General
  The court will decide, having regard to relevant case law, whether to inspect documents which are the subject of a claim for public interest immunity, and will always do so in a criminal case.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the recent public statements by law officers concerning Crown privilege and public interest immunity.

  The Attorney-General
  I have no such list, but I refer to my answers to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold):

  15 December 1993, Official Report, column 640

  20 January 1994, Official Report, column 726

  3 February 1994, Official Report, column 833

  3 March 1994, Official Report, column 792

  15 March 1994, Official Report, column 576

  803

  Disclosure Guidelines
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General when he proposes to revise his guidelines on disclosure.

  The Attorney-General
  The recommendations of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice relating to prosecution disclosure are at present being considered. The Government stated in their interim response to the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice that they intend to produce a package of measures which would then be the subject of legislation at the earliest available opportunity.

  Makanjuola v. Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the implications for Government Ministers of Lord Justice Bingham's judgment in Makanjuola v. Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; and if he will publish in the Official Report the relevant paragraphs of the judgment.

  The Attorney-General
  The judgment is relevant to my evidence to Lord Justice Scott on 24 March. It is published at page 617 vol. 3 of the "All England Law Reports" for 1992 which is in the Library.

  CPS Charges
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General how many charges have been reduced by the Crown Prosecution Service following the defendant's electing for trial by jury for the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available.

  The Attorney-General
  This information is not available and cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Indonesia
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the occupation by Indonesia of East Timor in 1975.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The invasion of East Timor in 1975 was condemned, with our support, in Security Council resolutions at the time. We have not recognised Indonesia's annexation of the territory. We are encouraging Indonesia and Portugal to continue to work together, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, to find a solution to East Timor.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to promote a motion critical of Indonesia's human rights record at the current session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The British delegation to this year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights worked hard to secure agreements between Portugal and Indonesia on the consensus statement on East Timor.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received recently from the Indonesian Government.
  804
  Mr. Goodlad
  None.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has recently taken to encourage the Indonesian Government to comply with its human rights obligations.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Indonesian Government are well aware of our views. Most recently, we supported efforts at this year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to secure a consensus statement on East Timor which encourages Indonesia to live up to its human rights obligations.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the total number of civilian casualties sustained in East Timor for each year since 1979 and in total; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  There is no reliable and independent source for information on this matter.

  Cuba
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present situation in Cuba.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Cuba is one of the few remaining communist countries. Some economic reforms have been introduced to counter recent sharp economic decline. But there have been no significant reforms leading to political pluralism. Human rights continue to give cause for concern.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Using the latest available figures, the number of persons and the percentage of women employed in each grade in this Department, including agencies, is:

  Total number of persons employed

  Percentage of women employed

  Open structure

  Grade 2

  1

  —

  Grade 3

  4

  25

  Grade 4

  1

  —

  Grade 5

  67

  16

  Grade 6

  102

  8

  Grade 7

  353.5

  16

  Occupational groups

  Senior executive officer

  95

  24

  Higher executive officer (D)

  3

  —

  Higher executive officer

  247.5

  34

  Executive officer

  444

  45

  Administrative officer

  722.5

  60

  Administrative assistant

  118.5

  44

  Senior economic assistant

  2

  —

  Economic assistant

  1

  —

  Senior information officer

  11

  55

  Information officer

  31

  65

  Assistant information officer

  10

  50

  Senior librarian

  3

  100

  805

  Total number of persons employed

  Percentage of women employed

  Librarian

  6

  100

  Assistant librarian

  18

  72

  Museum curatorial Grade D

  2

  100

  Museum curatorial Grade E

  1

  100

  Museum curatorial Grade F

  2

  —

  Senior P and T officer

  45

  4

  Higher P and T officer

  49

  2

  P and T officer

  19

  —

  Technical Grade 1

  8

  —

  Higher mapping and charting officer

  1

  —

  Mapping and charting officer

  1

  —

  Mapping and charting tech Grade 1

  1

  100

  Typing manager

  10

  100

  Personal secretary

  150

  100

  Typist

  82

  99

  Senior scientific officer

  81

  21

  Higher scientific officer

  62

  37

  Scientific officer

  35

  37

  Assistant scientific officer

  22

  59

  Catering manager 1

  1

  —

  Catering manager 2

  1

  —

  Catering manager 3

  3

  33

  Higher photographic officer

  1

  —

  Photographic officer

  1

  —

  Higher graphics officer

  1

  100

  Graphics officer

  1

  100

  Dep Reg Vet officer

  2

  —

  Agricultural officer 1

  18

  —

  Agricultural officer 2

  5

  —

  P and GS Grade B

  3

  —

  P and GS Grade C

  5

  —

  P and GS Grade D

  9

  —

  P and GS Grade E

  11

  —

  Stores officer Grade B

  1

  —

  Stores officer Grade C

  2

  50

  Stores officer Grade D

  5

  —

  Support manager 1

  4

  —

  Support manager 2

  9

  67

  Support manager 3

  45

  44

  Support grade band 1

  222

  36

  Support grade band 2

  271

  45

  Senior TTO

  18

  —

  Higher TTO

  70

  1

  TTO

  102

  1

  Assistant TTO

  95

  4

  Communications Officer IV

  1

  100

  Industrial grades

  55

  38

  Departmental groups

  Senior grade

  135

  4

  Diplomatic service grade 4

  268

  4

  Diplomatic service grade 5

  428

  13

  Diplomatic service grade 6

  260.5

  12

  Diplomatic service grade 7M

  424

  22

  Diplomatic service grade 7D

  112

  33

  Diplomatic service grade 8

  57

  16

  Diplomatic service grade 9

  784

  51

  Diplomatic service grade 10

  446

  41

  Legal adviser

  1

  —

  Second legal adviser

  1

  —

  Deputy legal adviser

  2

  —

  Legal counsellor

  7

  43

  Senior assistant legal adviser

  9

  33

  Assistant legal adviser

  4

  50

  Research counsellor

  3

  —

  Senior principal research officer

  14

  29

  Principal research officer

  28

  46

  Senior research officer

  32

  28

  Research officer

  1

  —

  Diplomatic service grade 8C

  14

  —

  Diplomatic service grade 9C

  7

  —

  Diplomatic service grade 5T

  1

  —

  Diplomatic service grade 6T

  1

  —

  Diplomatic service grade 7T

  20

  —

  Diplomatic service grade 8T

  45

  2

  Diplomatic service grade 9T

  15

  —

  806

  Total number of persons employed

  Percentage of women employed

  Secretary 1

  106

  100

  Secretary 2

  441

  100

  Secretary 3

  7.5

  87

  Chief overseas security officer

  41

  —

  Overseas security officer

  146

  1

  Nurse

  4

  100

  Doctor

  5

  20

  Senior lecturer

  10

  70

  Senior field investigating officer

  1

  —

  Field investigating officer 2

  16

  19

  Translator 1

  1

  —

  Translator 2

  5.5

  82

  Translator 3

  2

  50

  Chief cypher superintendent

  3

  —

  Cypher superintendent

  12

  —

  Cypher supervisor

  31

  —

  Telecommunications and cypher officer

  103

  6

  Operator technician

  1

  —

  Queen's messenger

  27

  —

  Queen's messenger escort

  4

  —

EMPLOYMENT

  Manufacturing Employment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in employment in United Kingdom manufacturing in absolute and percentage terms since the United Kingdom joined the EC; and what is the corresponding figure for other industrial countries.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Comparable information for all G7 countries is only available for the production and construction industries combined, of which manufacturing is the largest component. Changes since June 1973 are shown in the following table. The shift from manufacturing towards services is a trend shared by all western industrial nations. Nonetheless, the output of United Kingdom manufacturing industry increased by 1.5 per cent. between 1973 and 1993. This reflects a substantial improvement in productivity, up by 77.4 per cent. over the same period.

  Changes in civilian employment in production and construction industries in the major 7 nations (G7) between June 1973 and September 19931

  (Thousands)

  Absolute Change

  Percentage Change

  Canada

  +204

  +8

  United States of America

  +1,071

  +4

  Japan

  +2,797

  +14

  France

  -2,675

  -32

  West Germany

  -2,005

  -16

  Italy

  -715

  -10

  United Kingdom2

  -4,121

  -39

  Source: OECD, except United Kingdom (Employment Department).

  1 Latest available data.

  2 Figures exclude participants in work related Government training programmes (for which separate industry estimates are not available).

  Finance Sector Employees
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in banking, insurance and finance in the Yorkshire and Humberside
  807
  region in the last quarter for which figures are available; and if he will give the equivalent quarter figures for 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The available information is given in the following table:

  Numbers employed in Yorkshire and Humberside in banking, finance, insurance and their auxiliary activities (including employees and self-employed only)

  Thousands

  Quarter

  Employees and self-employed

  Spring 1989

  57

  Spring 1990

  64

  Spring 1991

  70

  Spring 1992

  79

  Summer 1992

  78

  Spring 1993

  79

  Summer 1993

  77

  Source: Labour Force Survey (not seasonally adjusted).

  Barnsley and Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council Funding

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94 to 30 January 1994

  £

  £

  £

  Careership (youth training)

  13,349,000

  10,632,000

  12,834,000

  Adult training

  7,448,000

  7,778,000

  7,026,500

  Trainees finding employment

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94 to 30 January 1994

  16 to 18 years

  n/a

  1,537

  1,134

  18 to 24 years

  n/a

  293

  217

  Long-term unemployed

  1,136

  1,185

  1,099

  The Barnsley and Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) were financed by the Government to commission these programmes and sub-contract them to local providers in the Barnsley and Doncaster area; information on the Doncaster area alone is not available.

  (b) The European Community, through the European Social Fund (ESF) provides support, on a national and regional basis, for unemployed young people aged under 25 years and for long-term unemployed adults aged 25 and over. Details of ESF support for unemployed people in the age ranges 16 to 18 and 18 to 24 and for the long-term unemployed in any specific locality, and information on organisations financed to commission and conduct programmes, are confidential to TECs and local authorities.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what follow-up survey has been conducted by his Department of people who have participated in training courses supported by the European social fund; what are the latest results regarding outcome available broken down by sector and region, and separately for male and female, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Follow-up surveys cover all leavers from training for work and youth training programmes, which are supported by the European social fund. Results from these surveys are published monthly in the Employment Gazette. To complement these arrangements, in June 1993 the Department implemented a
  808

  Training
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been spent by(a) his Department and (b) the European Community on training (i) unemployed youths aged 16 to 18 years, (ii) 18 to 24-year-olds and (iii) the long-term unemployed in the Doncaster area; how many such trainees subsequently found employment; and which organisations were so financed to (1) commission and (2) conduct the programmes in each of the last four years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The answer is as follows:

  (a) Employment Department:

  follow-up system for people participating in ESF courses run by the non-government sectors. Results will be produced annually and we expect the first analysis of 1993 data towards the end of this year.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the number of accidents on youth training broken down by fatal, major and minor for the latest available three-month period, shown by region; and how many youth training providers had contracts terminated(a) in that period and (b) in the three preceding months for reasons of inadequate health and safety.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Table A gives the latest available youth training accident figures for the quarter October—December 1993.

  Region

  Fatal

  Major

  Minor

  South East

  0

  3

  17

  London

  0

  4

  15

  Eastern

  0

  7

  18

  South West

  0

  9

  29

  West Midlands

  0

  8

  32

  East Midlands

  0

  4

  26

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  0

  9

  69

  North West

  0

  6

  69

  Northern

  0

  2

  9

  Scottish Enterprise

  0

  4

  35

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  1

  0

  1

  Welsh Office

  0

  2

  15

  National total

  1

  58

  335

  Notes:

  (a) Employment Department (ED) figures for YT trainees have been

  809
  compiled on a similar basis to those for employees by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). However, the ED's figures also include a number of accidents to trainees in educational establishments, and road traffic accidents, which would not have been reportable to HSE for employees.

  (b) Major and minor injuries are classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR).

  Information on YT provider contracts terminated by training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies for reasons of inadequate health and safety is not held centrally.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the male rate of unemployment in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Germany, (d) the USA and (e) Japan for each year since 1979; and if he will indicate the reasons for changes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  International comparable unemployment rates for males are available from 1987 and can be found in "Eurostatistics", which is published by the Statistical Office of the European Community and is available in the Library. Changes in unemployment rates are due to many factors which vary in their effect from country to country, one of which is the particular point reached in a country's economic cycle. The latest monthly figures from the SOEC indicate that the United Kingdom is the only country from the European Community, Japan and the USA where the rate of male unemployment is falling.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of unemployment among men in December 1993 in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Germany, (c) Italy and (d) France.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is given in the following table. No figures are available for the unified Germany.

  Internationally comparable ILO unemployment rates for men (December 1993 seasonally adjusted)

  Per cent.

  United Kingdom

  11.9

  Italy

  7.9

  France

  9.5

  Source: Statistical Office of the European Community (SOEC) monthly Unemployment Bulletin.

  The United Kingdom is the only European Community country where the rate of male unemployment has fallen over the year to December 1993.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were placed in employment by jobcentres in the Doncaster area in each month since April 1992; and what percentage of the unemployed in the Doncaster area this represents.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information on jobcentre placings can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library. Employment information below regional level is only available from the census of employment for 1991.
  810
  During 1993 jobcentres in the Doncaster area placed over 400 people into employment each month.

  Earnings
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees earned between 0 and 10 per cent. below, and between 0 and 10 per cent. above the national insurance lower earnings limit.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is estimated that in an average week approximately 220,000 employees earn between 0 and 10 per cent. below the national insurance lower earnings limit and approximately 190,000 employees earn between 0 and 10 per cent. above the LEL.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women currently earn less than the national insurance lower earnings limit.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Preston (Mrs. Wise) on 9 February 1994,Official Report, column 292.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what hours are worked per week on average by employees earning less than the national insurance lower earnings limit.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is estimated that in April 1993 employees earning below the national insurance lower earnings limit worked an average of 11.6 hours a week.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average weekly earnings of employees earning less than the national insurance lower earnings limit.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is estimated that the average gross weekly earnings of employees earning less than the national insurance lower earnings limit is approximately £24.

  Open Government
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the implications for the operation of his Department, and the Health and Safety Commission, of the code of practice on open government.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department and the Health and Safety Executive already answer many hundreds of thousands of inquiries each year, through, for example, their "public enquiry point" service. The code of practice will reinforce and build upon existing arrangements for the provision of information to the public.

  Financial Services
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 201, how many people were employed in banking, insurance and finance in Greater London, including those not resident in Greater London, in the latest quarter for which figures are available and the equivalent quarters of 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is given in the following table:
  811

  Employees in employment in banking, finance, insurance and business services and leasing (SIC division 8): Greater London

  Number

  December 1989

  798,000

  December 1990

  773,000

  December 1991

  726,000

  December 1992

  699,000

  December 1993

  712,000

  Employment Service
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the reasons for the introduction of the new regional, district and area management structure of the Employment Service; how will it differ from existing arrangements; what are the implications for awarding and monitoring contracts entered into with external organisations operating job clubs; how it relates to and affects PACT—placing assessment and counseling—teams and other services for unemployed people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Clare Short, dated 17 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Employment has asked me to reply to your question about the new introduction of the Employment Service management structure.
  The Employment Service (ES) is setting up a structure of Districts in order to focus more effectively on the delivery of services to its clients, and provide better value for money. Districts will consist of a number of local offices serving discreet local labour markets, and they will be managed through the existing network of ES Regions.
  The new arrangements become operational from April 1994, when the Area tier of management will cease. The new structure will ensure that more senior managers will be directly responsible for managing resources and performance within districts. The existing network of local offices will remain in place, and continue delivering services to clients.
  District Managers will be responsible for awarding contracts to external organisations operating Jobclubs, and for ensuring that these contracts are monitored. In this they will be assisted by programme contracting specialists.
  The specialist disability service delivered by Placing, Assessment and Counselling teams (PACTs) will be strengthened by the appointment of Regional managers. Their role is to maximise the potential of PACTs, establish effective working relationships with local offices in the new districts and ensure that the appropriate specialist programmes and services are available for clients.
  They will also work with District Managers to provide appropriate help for clients with disabilities who do not need specialist help in funding or retaining work.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many women are employed by the Employment Service; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total work force of the Employment Service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  812
  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mrs. Ann Clwyd, dated 17 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of women employed by the Employment Service and what percentage of the total workforce this represents.
  I have looked at the latest available staff-in-post figures taken at 1 January 1994. These show that we presently employ 49,061 staff. Of this figure 35,119 are women, which represents 71 per cent. of the total workforce.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many rules and regulations his Department has passed in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 March 1994]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made the following number of statutory instruments in the last three years:

  New instruments

  Other instruments

  1991

  25

  10

  1992

  29

  12

  1993

  27

  9

  "Other instruments" cover those which amend, replace, or revoke existing instruments, or are commencement orders.

  Not all instruments impose requirements or regulations on business.

  Self-financing Regulatory Authorities
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many self-financing regulatory authorities his Department has set up since 1979; what was the annual running cost of each of the self-financing regulatory authorities in each of the last three years; what is the current staffing establishment; and what it was last year and two years ago.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 March 1994]: None.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many women are employed at each civil service grade in his Department as a whole; and what percentage of each grade is constituted by women.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The numbers and percentages of women in each grade in the Employment Department Group at 1 January 1994 are set out in the following table:

  Women in the Employment Department Group at 1 January 1994

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  Administrative assistant

  2,234

  74.7

  Administrative officer

  24,402

  75.3

  Typist

  663

  99.7

  Executive officer

  11,107

  67.8

  Administrative trainee

  5

  71.4

  Management trainee

  36

  65.5

  Higher executive officer(D)

  9

  45.0

  Higher executive officer

  1,771

  43.1

  Senior executive officer

  338

  27.5

  813

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  Grade 7

  182

  24.2

  Grade 6

  14

  10.3

  Grade 5

  21

  18.8

  Grade 4

  0

  0.0

  Grade 3

  1

  4.2

  Grade 2

  1

  20.0

  Grade 1

  0

  0.0

PRIME MINISTER

  Cabinet Records
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the 30-year rule applies to the handwritten records of each Cabinet meeting; and, after the lapse of this time, whether they will be open to public scrutiny.

  The Prime Minister
  The Cabinet Secretary's handwritten records of Cabinet meetings are regarded as subject to the Public Records Acts which make provision for the release of public records after 30 years. Section 3(4) of the 1958 Act permits the retention of such records for longer than 30 years, subject to the Lord Chancellor's approval.

  The question of the release of the notebooks was considered in the summer of 1993, in accordance with a recommendation in the Wilson committee's report on "Modern Public Records", Cmnd. 8204. The Lord Chancellor has approved the continued retention of the notebooks. It is proposed that a further review will take place in 10 years' time.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 17 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 17 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 the

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Coastal Erosion
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many square miles of coast have been lost to the sea since 1979.

  Mr. Jack
  Recent studies suggest that the average annual rate of coastal erosion is probably in the range of 0.08 to 0.2 sq m per year. Much of the material lost as a result of this erosion contributes to coastal accretion or the formation of beaches or banks which provide protection to other coastal areas.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average net annual income of farm owners in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jack
  The farm business survey collects data from a sample of farms throughout the United Kingdom which 814
  are classified as full-time holdings. Results are not readily available for the United Kingdom as a whole, but the table provides information on the occupier's net income for wholly owner-occupied farms in each of the four home countries in 1992–93.

  Occupier's net income on wholly owner occupied farms 1992–931

  Average for all types of farm £ thousand

  England

  19.1

  Wales

  14.6

  Scotland2

  16.7

  Northern Ireland

  9.1

  1 Occupier's net income represents the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and investment in the farm business.

  2 Includes holdings which are wholly and mainly owner occupied.

  French Fishing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has made to the European Commission about the French emergency aid package for the French fishing industry; how much of this aid is new money; for what purposes it is paid; and what assessment she has made of the resulting advantage of French industry over the United Kingdom industry.

  Mr. Jack
  According to the announcement by the French Government, the aid package takes a variety of forms, including the rescheduling of loans, social payments to fishermen's families, advancement of reimbursement of market withdrawal costs, government-funded promotion of fish, and reduced national insurance contributions. The European Commission has responsibility for assessing state aids and for overseeing their compliance with articles 92 and 93 of the treaty. We have written to the Commission asking them to consider urgently whether the aid package gives French fishermen an unfair economic advantage and whether all its elements are in accordance with EU legal provisions. I understand that the Commission is actively pursuing this.

  Farmers
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the numerical difference between the number of United Kingdom citizens whose primary economic activity is farming and the number of public employees and private contractors employed by her Department.

  Mr. Jack
  No figures are available on the number of United Kingdom citizens whose primary economic activity is farming.

  EU Enlargement (Agricultural Protection)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the notional loss to United Kingdom agricultural producers as a result of the transitional agricultural protection allowed to Austria, Sweden and Finland on their accession to the European Community.

  Mr. Jack
  The United Kingdom agricultural industry should benefit from the immediate abolition of border
  815
  controls as a result of the agreement by the applicant countries to introduce CAP support prices from the date of accession. While the European Union has authorised Austria, Finland and Norway to introduce transitional, degressive national aids where support levels for particular commodities are significantly reduced, such aids should not adversely effect United Kingdom producers. These arrangements will be approved and supervised by the European Commission to ensure that competition is not distorted.

  Farm Animals (Poland)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what checks are carried out to ensure that farm animals coming from Poland are free from radioactive contamination.

  Mr. Soames
  Council Regulation (EEC) No. 737/90 lays down conditions governing imports into the European Community of agricultural products, including live animals, originating in third countries following the Chernobyl accident. The regulation specifies maximum permitted levels of radioactivity in imported products and requires checks to be made at the point of entry to the Community. In the United Kingdom such checks are the responsibility of port health authorities, acting under the Imported Food Regulations 1984.

  Food Imports
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the overall value of all food and food products imported from other EU countries; and what proportion, in cost terms of these imports from(a) France and (b) Germany were of (i) meat and (ii) dairy products in 1980, 1990 and the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jack
  The following is the information requested:

  Imports of food and food products into the United Kingdom from other EU countries

  Year

  EU 11 £ million

  France £ million

  Germany £ million

  1980

  2,611

  356

  210

  1990

  6,659

  1,043

  621

  1992

  7,597

  1,252

  773

  Food imports from France and Germany that were meat products and dairy products

  From France

  From Germany

  Year

  Meat per cent.

  Dairy per cent.

  Meat per cent.

  Dairy per cent.

  1980

  9.6

  8.8

  12.6

  16.0

  1990

  15.3

  11.3

  11.2

  22.0

  1992

  16.9

  11.3

  8.8

  20.6

  Aggregates
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and food in respect of how many licensing applications for marine dredging of aggregates her Department has commissioned research into the implication for fisheries of such applications in each year since 1989.
  816
  Mr. Jack
  Applications for dredging licences are made to the Crown Estate, but the Department is consulted under the Government view procedure because of our concerns about the impact of dredging operations on the marine environment and fisheries. We look to licence applicants to produce a properly researched and comprehensive environmental statement in support of their applications and the Ministry's directorate of fisheries research has recently issued guidelines to indicate the range of issues which need to be considered. Copies of these guidelines have been placed in the Library of the House. In addition from time to time the Department's scientists carry out specific research of their own. Since 1989 they have initiated the following studies relating to marine aggregate extraction:

  Migration of sole across Hastings Shingle Bank;

  overwintering of crabs;

  recolonisation of benthos in dredged areas;

  the importance of Race Bank to the North Sea crab population;

  physical effects on the seabed.

  Some of the work is still in progress.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research her Department has commissioned into the implication for fisheries of the production application by the National Rivers Authority, Anglia, for a licence to extract aggregate from North Race bank—area 405; and when the results of the research are expected to be finalised.

  Mr. Jack
  To enable the Department to make its contribution under the Government view procedure on an application from the NRA to dredge sand from Race bank the Department has required a series of studies to be undertaken. These include a one-year programme of work being carried out by the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies of Hull university under contract to NRA, in conjuction with MAFF scientists. Studies of the turbidity of the area to be dredged, the benthos and epibenthos and plankton surveys are all included. A series of potting surveys will be undertaken and two have already been carried out. Longer-term work will be undertaken on crab migration using tags and survey trawls will be undertaken of demersal and pelagic fish species.

  Additionally MAFF undertook its own study of crab larval distribution in the southern North sea in July 1993 with particular emphasis on the Race bank and north Norfolk areas. Further physical studies by MAFF are continuing. These include current measurements, sidescan sonar, and underwater TV surveys of the benthos and epibenthos. We shall also be undertaking work on the particle size of sediments in the area.

  Much of the work has already been completed and most of the outstanding results will be available later this year. In addition some of the longer-term work, such as the crab migration study, will continue to generate information over the next few years.

  Mycoplasma Bovis
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farm holdings in the United Kingdom have been affected by mycoplasma bovis before and after the introduction of the single market in each year since 1990; how many cattle are currently infected; how and when the disease was introduced into the United Kingdom; and from where it came.
  817
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Mycoplasma bovis was first recorded in the United Kingdom in 1975. It is not a notifiable disease and comprehensive data is not maintained. There are no records of the total numbers of infected animals. The numbers of cases recorded by the veterinary investigation laboratories in the United Kingdom for the years concerned are:

  Year

  Farms

  1990

  61

  1991

  56

  1992

  36

  1993

  29

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which EU member states mycoplasma bovis is a notifiable disease.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Mycoplasma bovis is not a notifiable disease under EC legislation. We have no information on whether member states require notification under their own national legislation.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action the Government are taking to combat mycoplasma bovis.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There are no statutory powers in respect of mycoplasma bovis.

  Days at Sea
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current state of the dispute over the legality of the days at sea regime under the Sea Fisheries (Conservation) Act 1992.

  Mr. Jack
  Following a hearing between 1 November and 5 November 1993, and in accordance with its judgment of 2 December, the High Court has referred a number of questions on the days at sea regime to the European Court of Justice. The court's order includes a request for expedition, and the Government hope that the court in Luxembourg will recognise the need for a ruling within a reasonable timescale. Meanwhile, as I announced on 14 December, implementation of days at sea has been suspended.

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agreements have been made under the decommissioning scheme; on what date the agreement was finalised for the last fishing vessel to be decommissioned; and what is the schedule for the next sequence of decommissioning agreements.

  Mr. Jack
  Under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) Scheme 1993 135 vessels have been decommissioned: all claims were submitted before 1 March, as required by the scheme.

  Decommissioning formed part of a package of conservation measures which is being reviewed following the decision to suspend implementation of days at sea controls, and I am not yet in a position to announce a further scheme.
  818

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the position of the German Government regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the importation of British cattle and beef into Germany.

  Mr. Jack
  Every necessary measure has been taken to protect both animal and public health in the United Kingdom and in our trade with the European Union. These measures have been endorsed not only by the European Commission and the Scientific Veterinary Committee in Brussels but by the World Health Organisation and its veterinary equivalent the OIE.

  I have warned the German authorities that I would regard any unilateral action as contrary to Community law and technically indefensible.

  The Commission has already told the German authorities that it shares my assessment of the adequacy of the current arrangements for both cattle and beef and that it would take appropriate action in the event of unilateral action.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list for each civil service grade in her Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. Jack
  The information set out as at 1 March 1994 relates to non-industrial staff in MAFF, excluding agencies.

  Total staff

  Percentage women

  Grade 1

  1

  0.0

  Grade 2

  5

  0.0

  Grade 3

  22

  4.5

  Grade 4

  8

  0.0

  Grade 5

  91

  11.0

  Grade 6

  101

  11.9

  Grade 7

  697

  19.7

  SEO

  457

  20.1

  HEO

  943

  34.7

  EO

  1,428

  45.2

  AO

  1,886

  64.5

  AA

  2,011

  66.8

  Total

  7,650

  49.5

  The figures are given by grade equivalent and include all permanent staff, casuals and staff on temporary release. Part-time staff are counted as 1.0.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Duncan-Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the additional cost to EAGGF guarantee spending of the Breydel agreement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Breydel agreement concluded between the EU and the United States in the closing stages of negotiations on the Uruguay round agreement allows for greater flexibility in the phasing of cuts in subsidised agricultural exports over the period of the agreement's implementation. As a result, there will be an increased
  819
  possibility of the export of wheat and wheat flour, cheese, beef, pigmeat, poultrymeat, wine, raw tobacco and incorporated foods between 1995 and 2000.

  It is not possible, however, to estimate the precise cost to EAGGF guarantee since the cost of increased expenditure on export subsidies would, in the absence of the Breydel agreement, have had to be offset by some increase in expenditure on intervention or subsidised internal disposal for some of the commodities and quantities involved. In that the Breydel agreement opened the way for the successful conclusion of the Uruguay round it also avoided the very heavy budgetary costs which would have followed from the failure of the round.

TREASURY

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the average daily arrears of value added tax for each year since 1980(a) in absolute terms in (i) cash and (ii) current values and (b) as a proportion of tax liability.

  Sir John Cope
  Information for the years 1986 to 1993 is shown in the table:

  Table of average daily arrears at 31 March

  Year

  Amount (absolute) £ million

  Current values £ million

  Percentage of payment liability

  1986

  1,351.6

  1,973.3

  6.5

  1987

  1,218.6

  1,706.0

  5.4

  1988

  1,060.3

  1,442.0

  4.2

  1989

  1,085.2

  1,367.4

  3.8

  1990

  1,168.7

  1,355.7

  3.6

  1991

  1,623.5

  1,753.4

  4.3

  1992

  1,927.8

  1,985.6

  4.4

  1993

  1,993.9

  2,013.8

  4.4

  31 December 1993

  1,897.2

  1,897.2

  3.7

  Current values represent absolute amounts inflated in line with the retail prices index to prices current at March 1994.

  This measure was introduced in the year 1985–86, and no reconstruction can be done for previous years.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amount of value added tax outstanding for each year since 1980(a) in absolute terms in (i) cash and (ii) current values and (b) as a proportion of tax liability.

  Sir John Cope
  Information for the years 1988 to 1993 is shown in the table.

  Table of value added tax outstanding at 31 March

  (a) Amount (absolute)

  Current values

  (b) Percentage of payment liability

  Year

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1988

  837.2

  1,138.6

  3.3

  1989

  884.2

  1,114.1

  3.1

  1990

  1,180.0

  1,368.8

  3.6

  1991

  1,466.6

  1,583.9

  3.8

  1992

  1,628.9

  1,677.8

  3.7

  1993

  1,572.6

  1,588.3

  3.5

  820
  Current values represent absolute amounts inflated in line with the retail prices index to prices current at March 1994.

  Prior to the year ended 31 March 1988 information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the outstanding balance for collection of the value added tax default surcharge for each year since 1986(a) in absolute terms in (i) cash and (ii) current values and (b) as a proportion of surcharge liability.

  Sir John Cope
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Table of default surcharge outstanding balances at 31 March

  Year

  (a) Amount (absolute)

  Current values million

  (b) Per cent. of default surcharge liability

  £ million

  £ million

  1988

  50.7

  69.0

  —

  1989

  61.7

  77.7

  —

  1990

  74.9

  86.9

  —

  1991

  102.7

  110.9

  —

  1992

  132.3

  136.3

  57

  1993

  116.3

  117.5

  59

  Current values represent absolute amounts inflated in line with the retail prices index to prices current at March 1994.

  No information is held on the surcharge outstanding for 1986 and 1987, or the surcharge liability for 1986–1991.

  The absolute amount outstanding is a year-on-year cumulative total.

  The percentage of default surcharge liability is based on the total surcharge assessment issued during that year.

  Economic Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his assessment of the reasons for the scale of(a) the United Kingdom deficit and (b) the German surplus in table 6.4 of "Eurostat Basic Statistics of the Community in 1993"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  A country's visible trade balance depends on the strength of its own domestic demand and that of its trading partners, and on the level of its competitiveness.

  Capital (Rate of Return)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the rate of return on capital required by industry to justify investment in new manufacturing capacity solely for import saving and export and of the premium demanded to insure against an appreciation of the currency as a result of the Government's monetary and exchange rate policies.

  Mr. Nelson
  The upward movement of equity prices over the past couple of years does not necessarily signal any increase in industry's required rates of return. The January CBI "Industrial Trends Survey" showed, for the first time since July 1989, that on balance manufacturers are planning to increase investment in plant and machinery over the next 12 months.

  Alcohol
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conclusions Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have drawn on whether United Kingdom citizens are permitted to purchase alcoholic liquor abroad, pay duty in that country and have the goods delivered by a third party to a United Kingdom addresss; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  Goods subject to United Kingdom excise duty which have been bought duty paid in another member state of the EU may be brought into the United Kingdom without further duty payment only if they have been purchased by a private individual for personal use and have been personally transported to the United Kingdom by the purchaser. Purchases made in a country outside the EU in excess of a traveller's allowance are subject to United Kingdom duty however they are transported.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change in the number of weekly hours worked in manufacturing industry since 1989; and what has been the impact on(a) shareholders, (b) the Exchequer and (c) the living standards of the British people.

  Mr. Nelson
  Statistics on the weekly hours of manual workers in the manufacturing sector are published each month in the Employment Gazette, table 1.12. Manufacturing productivity performance has been exceptionally good in recent years, and this sector is well placed to continue contributing to sustained economic recovery.

  European Community
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has of the extent to which the economic losses from EEC membership foreseen in the economic assessment White Paper of 1970—Cmnd. 4289—have been offset by gains; what the gains have been; and what he now assesses as being the balance of advantages.

  Mr. Nelson
  As paragraph 104 of the White Paper said, this is not a question to which any calculations could give a precise mathematical answer. Further, there have been major changes since 1970 in the economic, financial and trading relationship between the United Kingdom and the EC. A full update of all the contents of the White Paper could be undertaken only at a disproportionate cost.

  Open Government
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the implications for the operation of his Department of the code of practice on open government.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury will use the code of practice to build on its current arrangements for the provision of information. Details of the administrative arrangements will be available shortly.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average rate of economic growth per annum in the United Kingdom in the period from 1964(a) until the United Kingdom joined the EEC and (b) since the United Kingdom joined the EEC.
  822
  Mr. Nelson
  Average growth rates for gross domestic product can be found in table 16.10 of the 1993 edition of the CSO Blue Book: "United Kingdom National Accounts", which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  VAT (Domestic Fuel)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ensure that VAT is imposed only on fuel consumed after 1 April, and not before this date.

  Sir John Cope
  Transitional rules already exist giving fuel suppliers the option not to charge VAT on supplies made before 1 April. Customs have had meetings with British Gas and the electricity companies and arrangements are in the place for these suppliers to apportion bills straddling 1 April to take account of estimates of zero-rated supplies made before 1 April.

  The Oval
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what powers the Treasury may object to any proposal by the Duchy of Cornwall to sell the freehold of the Oval.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Duchy requires Treasury approval under section 11 of the Duchy of Cornwall Management Act 1863 for any sale or disposal of Duchy land or property. Before approving any such transactions, the Treasury needs to be satisfied that the Duchy will receive the full commercial value of the land or property being disposed.

  Under section 7 of the Duchy of Cornwall Management Act 1982, upon application by the Duchy, the Treasury can approve a sale or disposal at less than full value where the latter would be conducive to the good management of the Duchy. In exercising its authority, the Treasury has to take into account any effect on persons living on, or in the vicinity of, the land and to have regard to the interests of future Dukes.

  If the Duchy does not satisfy the conditions for an approval under section 11 of the 1863 Act or under section 7 of the 1982 Act, the Treasury would object to the proposed transaction.

  The Duchy of Cornwall is responsible for the day-to-day management of its assets, and for seeking Treasury approval to a sale or disposal of any land or property.

  Funding Policy
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for funding policy in 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Chancellor has decided to set an annual remit for the Bank of England's operations in the gilt market to clarify responsibilities between the Treasury and the Bank, and to explain the Government's intentions to the markets. The remit will be published before the start of each new financial year.

  Every year, the Government aim to sell enough gilts and national savings products fully to fund the PSBR, maturing debt that needs to be refinanced, and any net increase in the

  823
  United Kingdom's foreign exchange reserves. There is no change to the Government's funding policy as set out in the November 1993 medium-term financial strategy.

  The Treasury is responsible for all borrowing for the National Loans Fund, under the terms of the National Loans Act 1968. The Bank of England has long been the Government's adviser and agent in the gilt market, where the bulk of these funding operations are carried out.

  The Chancellor will also give the Bank guidelines for the detailed operation of its remit. In the past, individual decisions on funding were taken after discussion between Treasury Ministers, Treasury officials, and the Bank of England. In future, any operations the Bank proposes that fall within the remit and the guidelines will normally be approved by Treasury officials. The Bank will send a monthly report to Treasury Ministers on progress, and there will be regular review meetings between the Treasury, the Bank and the Department for National Savings.

  The remit for 1994–95 is as follows:

  Funding requirement

  As set out in the November 1993 Financial Statement and Budget Report, the Government will continue to operate a full fund policy.

  The PSBR for 1994–95 was forecast in the Budget to be £38 billion. Some £9 billion of gilts are expected to mature in market hands and need to be refinanced. Maturing and withdrawn National Savings products will be netted off the National Savings contribution to funding, rather than included in the funding requirement. It is not possible at this stage accurately to forecast net changes over the year in the foreign currency reserves, so these will be assumed to remain unchanged on balance. Any overfunding in 1993–94 will reduce the funding requirement in 1994–95, and any underfunding increase it. The funding outturn for 1993–94 is not yet known.

  The funding requirement for 1994–95 is currently forecast to be around £47 billion, adjusted for any over- or under-funding carried forward from 1993–94, and subject to any changes in the Reserves.

  National Savings

  The net contribution of National Savings to funding (including accrued interest) is assumed to be around £3½ billion. this is not a target, but an estimate based on experience in previous years and forecasts for 1994–95.

  Other debt sales

  Net sales of government debt instruments other than gilts and National Savings are expected to make a negligible contribution to funding.

  Sales of gilts to banks and building societies

  As announced at Budget time, the sales of gilts to banks and building societes in 1992–93 will be taken into account before the end of 1994–95. These amount to £6.8 billion, and the required level of gilt sales will be reduced by that amount.

  Quantity of gilt sales

  The Bank of England will aim to meet the remainder of the funding requirement by selling gilts to the private sector on the government's behalf. On the basis of the Budget forecast, this means selling approximately £37 billion of gilts, adjusted for any over or under-funding carried forward from 1993–94, and any change in the Reserves.

  Pace of funding

  The Bank should aim to sell at a broadly even pace through the year.

  Methods of sale

  Auctions will continue to form the backbone of gilt-edged funding. They will be held at broadly monthly intervals, each normally on the last Wednesday of a calendar month. Each auction should be between £2 and 4 billion of stock.
  824
  The remainder of gilt sales may be made by ad hoc taps and tenders.

  Review

  This remit may be reviewed and, if appropriate, revised by Her Majesty's Treasury from time to time. Revisions will be published.

  G7 Jobs Conference
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report on the G7 jobs conference in Detroit.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Secretary of State for Employment and I attended the G7 jobs conference in Detroit on 14 to 15 March. Finance and Labour Ministers of the G7, together with some Economics Ministers and representatives of the European Union, attended this meeting, which was opened by President Clinton and presided over by Vice-President Gore. It was the first meeting of G7 Finance and Labour Ministers.

  In his keynote opening speech President Clinton said that, in a world of accelerating technological advance, the major countries had to face a choice between protectionism and following the path of change. He said that America had chosen the latter. The President emphasised that people needed to be prepared for a higher skill world; to be ready to change jobs many times in a career; and to change attitudes towards employment of both the young and the old. In conclusion, he believed that the industrialised countries should discuss these issues because it would become easier for them to adopt the right policies at home if they were a part of an international consensus.

  There was widespread support for these sentiments throughout the rest of the conference. None of the Ministers supported protectionism. The Secretary of State for Employment and I emphasised the need for sound macroeconomic policies to achieve sustainable growth, open and competitive economies with no protectionism to encourage innovation and enterprise, the importance of improved education and training and active labour market policies, together with flexible labour markets, the need to reduce the costs of employment, and the vital role of small and medium-sized enterprises.

  US Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen read out a chairman's statement on behalf of the G7 at the end of the conference. A copy of this has been placed in the Library of the House. The chairman's statement supports the principles and policies that the Secretary of State for Employment and I advocated. It ends with a request for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to examine the relationship between productivity, job creation and technology, especially information technology; and to expand its analysis of data on job creation and job loss. The Ministers present agreed to send employment experts to learn about the employment and training programmes of the others.

  I believe that this unique conference was very valuable. It will ensure that policies to reduce unemployment will be high on the agenda of G7 Governments, and will be discussed by Heads of Government at the forthcoming G7 economic summit in Naples. Examining and assessing the policies of other countries and achieving a wide measure of agreement on the way ahead will help our Governments to implement the policies necessary to reduce unemployment. The UK Government are absolutely committed to

  825
  co-operating with this policy agenda in the G7 and the European Union, and to strengthening policies that will reduce unemployment.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of gross domestic product and gross domestic product per head, for(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the United Kingdom; and if he will indicate the appropriate percentages of the United Kingdom average in each case from (a) to (d).

  Mr. Nelson
  The latest available estimates were published in the December 1993 issue of "Economic Trends", available in the House of Commons Library.

  Tax Coding Notices
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number and proportion of incorrect notices of tax coding for 1994–95 which the Inland Revenue has sent out; what are the principal reasons for the errors; and what action is being taken to ensure more accurate notices of coding in future.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 14 March 1994]: Code numbers based on the latest information available to the Indland Revenue are issued in January and February each year. They may subsequently need to be amended if updated information is received or if the Inland Revenue has made an error. It is therefore too soon to estimate the number and proportion of 1994–95 code numbers that for any reason will need amending. The Inland Revenue is constantly striving to improve the quality of service it gives to taxpayers. It is setting targets for getting tax affairs right first time and has systems in place to monitor its performance.

SCOTLAND

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. Lang
  The number of staff and the percentage of women in post in the Scottish Office and associated departments as at 1 January 1994, excluding the Scottish Prison Service, are shown by grade equivalent in the table.

  Grade (and equivalents)

  Women

  Total staff

  Percentage of Women

  1

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  9

  —

  3

  4

  27

  14.8

  4

  3

  18

  16.7

  5

  18

  131

  13.7

  6

  36

  194

  18.6

  7

  86

  484

  17.8

  Senior Executive Officer

  57

  477

  11.9

  Higher Executive Officer

  290

  960

  30.2

  Executive Officer

  504

  1,154

  43.7

  Administrative Officer

  931

  1,363

  68.3

  Administrative Assistant

  905

  1,413

  64.0

  Industrial Staff

  18

  491

  3.7

  Total

  2,852

  6,722

  42.4

  Slopping Out
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each prison in Scotland his plans for ending slopping out.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 March 1994]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Scottish Prison Service under the chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. John McFall, dated 17 March 1994:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about slopping out in Scottish prisons.
  With the recent completion of the installation of in-cell toilets at Inverness and Aberdeen Prisons, there are 6 prison establishments, out of the total of 20 in Scotland, which in varying degrees require further sanitation facilities. These are Barlinnie, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Perth, Perterhead and Polmont YOI. (Greenock Prison has 4 cells without sanitation but these are held for observation purposes only).
  A high priority is being attributed to the ending of slopping out, as indicated in the Estates Strategy for the Service (contained at Chapter 9 of, and Annex B to, the Scottish Prison Service Corporate Plan, a copy of which was deposited in the Library in August of last year). Work is continuing to be undertaken through a rolling programme which, among other things, has to take account of the feasibility of cells being taken out of use for this purpose at a time of high prisoner numbers.
  Work is currently underway in installing an electronic locking system, to provide access to night sanitation, throughout a large part of the cellular accommodation at Polmont YOI and it is planned that this will be followed up by projects to provide in-cell toilets in the remaining accommodation.
  In the coming financial year, sanitation work is planned to commence in Perth (E Hall), Edinburgh (D Hall), Dumfries (C Wing) and, provisionally, in the latter part of the year, in Barlinnie (D Hall). If we can maintain subsequent progress I would expect the programme to be completed by the end of the 1990s at the latest. Prisoner numbers will however have an important influence on how quickly work can be undertaken.

HEALTH

  Life Expectancy and Infant Mortality
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in(a) life expectancy and (b) infant mortality in the last 10 years in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) other OECD countries.

  Mr. Sackville
  Death rates in almost every age and sex group in the United Kingdom have been steadily declining over the period 1982 to 1991. This has resulted in increases in life expectancy.

  From 1982 to 1991 the United Kingdom life expectancy at birth has increased: males from 71.1 years in 1982 to 73.3 years in 1991, an increase of 2.2 years; and females from 77.0 years in 1982 to 78.8 years in 1991, an increase of 1.8 years. For the same period the United Kingdom infant mortality rate has decreased from 1,098.1, per 100,000 livebirths, in 1982 to 735.0 in 1991, a decrease of 33 per cent. Further information is shown in the table.

  The information for other Organisation of Economic Co-operation Development countries will be placed in the Library.

  827

  Life expectancy and infant mortality rate for the United Kingdom 1982–1991

  1Life expectancy

  Infant mortality

  Year

  Males

  Females

  2Rate

  1982

  71.1

  77.0

  11.0

  1983

  71.4

  77.2

  10.2

  1984

  71.5

  77.4

  9.6

  1985

  71.7

  77.5

  9.4

  1986

  71.9

  77.6

  9.5

  1987

  72.2

  77.9

  9.1

  1988

  72.4

  78.0

  9.0

  1989

  72.7

  78.3

  8.4

  1990

  73.0

  78.5

  7.9

  1991

  73.3

  78.8

  7.4

  1 At birth.

  2 Per 1,000 livebirths.

  Source:

  Population Trends (Tables 8 and 12), for 1982–1990.

  World Health Organisation Statistics Volume 1992, for 1991.

  Nurse-patient Ratio
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 25 February,Official Report, column 514, if she will provide figures for the ratio of qualified nursing and midwifery staff to patients (a) by region and (b) by district in each year since 1988–89.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Disability Symbol
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to encourage health authorities and trusts to qualify for the disability symbol.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  National health service trusts and health authorities are free to work with their local employment service placing, assessment and counselling team to qualify for registration on the approved PACT list of disability symbol users.

  Ovarian Cancer
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths of women for each of the last five years for which information is available were due to ovarian cancer; what is the latest estimate of the risk of death within five years of the onset of this disease; and what steps are being taken by her Department, and by hospital trusts, to improve detection in the earliest possible stages.

  Mr. Sackville
  Deaths from ovarian cancer in England and Wales for the years 1988–92 are shown in the table. The average relative five-year survival rate after diagnosis of ovarian cancer is 28 per cent. based on cancers registered in 1981. Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer offers the best prognosis. Research to develop an effective means of ovarian screening in reducing mortality is being undertaken by 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, who spent £318,000 on ovarian cancer research in 1992–93; as well as by national health service bodies and cancer charities.828

  Deaths from ovarian cancer in England and Wales in the years 1988–92

  Year

  Deaths

  1988

  3,798

  1989

  3,934

  1990

  3,995

  1991

  3,866

  1992

  3,880

  PM10 Particulates
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment she has made of the Committee on Medical Effects' report into the health threat posed by PM10 particulates in the air;

  (2) what is her estimate of the annual number of deaths caused by PM 10 particulates;

  (3) what assessment she has made of the link between (a) cardiovascular and (b) respiratory disease and levels of PM10 particulates in the air;

  (4) what assessment she has made of the link between respiratory disease and particulates of less than 2.5 micrometres across.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution has not yet reported on the adverse health effects of PM10 particulates in the air. In 1992, the Advisory Group on the Medical Aspects of Air Pollution Episodes concluded that particulate levels were low and not thought to pose a significant threat to health. They stated that this conclusion was tentative and noted gaps in the available information.

  COMEAP has since stated that there appears to be sufficient evidence from recent studies in a number of countries to give cause for concern about the possible effects of current levels of fine particles upon health. This is a complex area and it is not yet clear what role changes in low levels of particles play vis-a-vis changes in levels of other pollutants and temperature and humidity in causing the changes in indices of mortality recorded in a number of studies. Despite these difficulties, reductions in levels of fine particles should be welcomed.

  In response to a request from the Department for definitive advice on this issue COMEAP has set up a sub-group on particles to assess the latest evidence on the health effects of all particulate matter and advise on needs for further research.

  Deaths are not recorded as caused by exposure to particulate matter. The sub-group examining the assumptions underlying the published calculations of mortality and will advise the Department as to whether an estimate of deaths due to particulates can be determined.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the health benefits of a limit on acceptable levels of PM10 particulates in the air.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is advised by the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollution, which have set up a particulates sub-group specifically to advise on the health effects of particulate matter. Additionally, the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards makes recommendations on these to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. EPAQS and the Department of the Environment are considering a standard for particles.

  Some members of COMEAP also serve on EPAQS and the professional staff from the Department are members of the secretariat.
  829
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the link between asthma and PM10 particulates in the air.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Advisory Group on the Medical Aspects of Air Pollution Episodes reported in 1992 that suspended particulate matter contains acidic components which, in laboratory studies, have produced inconsistent changes in indices of lung function in asthmatic subjects. The Department has asked for further advice from the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution and they have set up a sub-group to assess the relationship between asthma and all air pollutants.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has of a correlation between high levels of PM10 particulates in the air and hospital admissions.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is funding a study into the health effects of the London air pollution episode in December 1991. This study will relate hospital admissions to levels of air pollutants. A study conducted in Birmingham of the period 1988 to 1990 and published earlier this year has shown that levels of particulates measured as British standard black smoke are a significant predictor of hospital admissions for asthma and all other acute respiratory disorders.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expansion there has been in the facilities during the last three years at the Doncaster royal infirmary and Mexborough Montagu hospital trust for treating children with brain tumours and other cancers.

  Mr. Sackville
  The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Mr. C. Bryant, for details.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken by(a) her Department, (b) Trent regional health authority and (c) Doncaster health authority into the incidence of brain tumours or the incidence of cancers within the Trent regional health authority and Doncaster health authority areas.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Regional cancer registries are the major source of information on cancer incidence rates. The Department funds the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys to produce data on national incidence rates, but does not fund analysis of this data on a regional basis. The Department also funds the Childhood Cancer Research Group at the University of Oxford through which research is carried out into childhood cancers of all kinds. This research is largely carried out on a national basis and provides data on national incidence rates of childhood cancers.

  Analysis of cancer incidence rates at a regional or district health authority level can be carried out by the Regional Cancer Registry, if requested by regional or district health authorities. Last year, the director of public

  Number of dentists who have deregistered patients and number of patients deregistered 3 July to 4 March 1994, by regional health authority area

  Region

  Number of dentists deregistering adult patients1

  Number of adult patients deregistered

  Number of dentists deregistering child patients1

  Number of child patients deregistered

  Northern

  51

  19,519

  14

  256

  Yorkshire

  218

  31,476

  27

  276

  Trent

  153

  38,658

  19

  48

  East Anglia

  113

  41,235

  9

  114

  North West Thames

  101

  17,057

  6

  65

  830
  health for the Doncaster health authority obtained data from the Trent Regional Cancer Registry about the occurrence of brain tumours, both in the Doncaster district and in the Trent region, for the period 1982–88. These data showed that the rate of ocurrence of brain turnouts in Doncaster is consistent with the rates in Trent and in England and Wales, since 1982.

  Dentistry
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 8 March,Official Report, column 159, what information her Department has available centrally on (a) the number of dental surgeons (i) providing national health service treatment and (ii) not providing national health service treatment and (b) the division of costs between NHS and non-NHS treatment.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Available information is shown in the table. The table shows, for the Avon family health services authority area, national health service expenditure on gross fees paid to dentists providing general dental services and the number of dentists in contract with Avon FHSA to provide NHS dental treatment.

  Gross fees and number of dentists—Avon Family Health Services Authority, 1983–84 and 1988–89 to 1993–94

  Year

  Gross fees (including patient charges)1 (£ million)

  Number of dentists2

  1983–84

  12.9

  336

  1988–89

  19.4

  364

  1989–90

  19.3

  374

  1990–91

  21.3

  372

  1991–92

  25.6

  374

  1992–93

  25.7

  374

  1993–94

  3—

  382

  1 Fees paid to dentists for provision of NHS treatment, including patient charges.

  2 Includes principals, assistants and vocational trainees at 30 September.

  3 Information not available.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been deregistered by their dentists in each regional health authority area in England and Wales during each of the last four years; and how many dentists in each of the regional health authority areas have been involved in the deregistration.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested, which has been collected centrally for England since 3 July 1992, is shown in the table. Over the period July 1992 to December 1993 there was a net increase of over 600,000 patients registered with dentists and 264 dentists in contract with family health services authorities.

  Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  831

  Region

  Number of dentists deregistering adult patients1

  Number of adult patients deregistered

  Number of dentists deregistering child patients1

  Number of child patients deregistered

  North East Thames

  119

  22,872

  15

  126

  South East Thames

  444

  87,433

  28

  316

  South West Thames

  139

  67,454

  1

  4

  Wessex

  120

  62,226

  1

  2

  Oxford

  220

  74,036

  4

  30

  South Western

  331

  113,584

  33

  441

  West Midlands

  121

  28,477

  13

  57

  Mersey

  106

  8,071

  6

  19

  North Western

  254

  30,962

  78

  214

  1 Some dentists may have deregistered both adult and child patients.

  Patient Charges
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total amount of revenue raised annually from charges to patients within the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  The total amount of revenue raised in England in 1992–93 from charges to patients within the national health service was £844,166,453. This figure covers the whole range of charges which may be made to patients by NHS bodies and includes; prescription charges; dental charges; the sale of dried baby milk under the welfare food scheme; and charges to patients in both NHS trust hospitals and directly managed units, including private patients in NHS hospitals.

  Limb Defects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has held with the Trent regional health authority and Doncaster health authority concerning the incidence of upper limb defects in children within the Trent regional health authority and Doncaster health authority areas.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) on 1 March at column 678.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what contacts have taken place during investigations of limb defects in the area of the Trent regional health authority and Doncaster health authority between the authorities and the British Medical Association and other organisations;

  (2) which agencies in the Trent regional health authority are charged with monitoring the incidence of limb defects in children born within the health authority's area.

  Mr. Sackville
  These are matters for the Trent regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Michael Carlisle, the chairman, for details.

  NHS Numbers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how copyright can be used to protect the NHS number; and whether copyright would prevent the NHS number from being used by other Government Departments, the police or security services.

  Mr. Sackville
  Copyright infringement, of the use of the national health service number system outside of the NHS, will be taken up by the Controller Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by way of injunction and damages.
  832
  Copyright does not cover the use of the NHS number by other Government Departments. However, there is no intention to use the NHS number for anything other than NHS purposes.

  Doncaster Family Health Services Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the amount, recipient and date of all grants made by Doncaster family health services authority by year since 1990–91.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information in the annual accounts of Doncaster family health services authority is shown in the table.

  Year

  Grants to General Medical Service Trainers £

  Practice Teams and Premises—Improvements REVENUE £

  Practice Teams and Premises—Improvements CAPITAL £

  1990–91

  38,498

  —1

  12,491

  1991–92

  42,399

  13,886

  76,444

  1992–93

  27,472

  50,130

  100,514

  Notes to table:

  1In 1990–91 the expenditure was reported on a different basis to that in subsequent years i.e. as "Improvement Grants", not analysed between revenue and capital.

  2. 1992–93 figures are subject to National Audit Office approval.

  Source:

  Doncaster Family Health Services Authority's annual accounts.

  Complaints
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if all health authorities and NHS hospitals have yet published details of both the number of complaints received and how long it has taken to deal with them; and what progress has been made in centrally collecting and publishing this information.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  All district health authorities have published annual reports on patients charter performance, including data on the right to complain. This means that information is available locally on the handling of complaints. We will be reviewing the information we collect on complaints and publish centrally, in the light of recommendations of Professor Wilson's independent review committee on national health service complaints procedures, and those made by the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.
  833

  International Year of the Family
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to review their plans and policies for supporting family life in the international year of the family.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government recognise the importance of the family as providing the essential environment for bringing up children and we give every priority and encouragement to the family in the development of policies. It seeks to ensure that all policies take account of their impact on families.

  Government policy seeks to enable families to be self-supporting.

  The role of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will be to explain how the Government's policy initiatives affect the family.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security will continue to handle the day-to-day co-ordination of the Government's contribution to the United Nations International Year of the Family.

  Marriages
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) 16-year-old, (b) 17-year-old and (c) 18-year-old people got married in each of the last three years.

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

  The numbers of men and women who married at ages 16, 17 and 18 during the last three years for which the information is available are:

  England and Wales

  Year of marriage

  Age

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Men

  16

  46

  50

  35

  17

  357

  259

  203

  18

  1,974

  1,598

  1,258

  Women

  16

  814

  647

  516

  17

  2,549

  2,028

  1,723

  18

  8,657

  6,934

  5,724

  Source: Marriage and divorce statistics, England and Wales, Series, FM2, Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, HMSO.

  GPs (Practice Administration)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hours weekly on average were spent by general practitioners on practice administration in(a) 1985–86, (b) 1989–90 and 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In the 1985–86 and 1989–90 surveys of general practitioners' workload, the reported average weekly time spent on practice administration associated with the provision of general medical services was 1.78 hours and 2.48 hours respectively. A further such survey ran for a year from November 1992; interim results, based on the first seven months' data, give a reported average of 3.53 hours a week.
  834

  Health Promotion Clinics
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will make a statement on the value of health promotion clinics in general practice.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  New arrangements for health promotion in general practice, based on modern authorative medical opinion and in line with "The Health of the Nation" strategy, were introduced on 1 July 1993. Practice-based health promotion programmes play an important part in helping people to improve their health.

  NHS Drugs
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much profit in the last year was made from the prescription of drugs and other items which cost the NHS less than £4.75.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The concept of "profit" has no meaning when applied to prescription charges.

  GP Fundholders
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 346, on general practitioner fundholders preparatory allowances, what information she has received from regional health authorities in relation to the number of general practitioners who have received the preparatory management allowance in two or more years running.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 10 February at column 419.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy in respect of general practitioner fundholders both prescribing and dispensing drugs; what proposals she has to change this policy; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In areas where patients do not have convenient access to a community pharmacy, dispensing by general practitioners—whether they are fundholders or non-fundholders—provides an important service. There are no plans to change this policy.

  Psychiatric Beds
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the total number of psychiatric beds in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 16 February at column.860.

  Open Government
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the implications for the operation of her Department of the code of practice on open government.

  Mr. Sackville
  The code of practice will reinforce and build on my Department's existing arrangements for the provision of information. Operational details are being finalised and will be available in due course.

  Sex Education
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recommendations she has made to the Secretary of State for Education in relation to sex education in the school curriculum.

  Mr. Sackville
  The content of the curriculum, including sex education provision in schools, is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education about sex education in schools.

  Mr. Sackville
  Ministers in both Departments are in regular touch on a number of issues including sex education.

  Orthodontic Treatment
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the current waiting lists for all types of orthodontic treatment for children in Huddersfield and Dewsbury.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment by specialty for district health authorities and trusts is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England". The latest published figures are for September 1993 and copies are available in the Library. Although information is available on waiting times for various paediatric specialties, orthodontic treatment for children is not separately listed.

  Electricity Pylons
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the policy which allows electricity pylons to be sited near homes; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Advice to Government, including both this Department and the Department of Trade and Industry, about radiation matters is provided by the National Radiological Protection Board. New electric lines above ground, with the exception of connections to individual customers and certain very minor developments, require the consent of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade who may also grant deemed planning permission.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 February at columns 40–41 concerning the question of any health risk.

  Private Medical Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place a copy of her Department's written evidence to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on private medical services in the Library.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department's evidence is summarised in paragraphs 10.2 to 10.9 of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on private medical services, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  NHS Patients (Private Treatment)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has issued regarding the offer by NHS staff employed by trusts of private treatment to NHS patients in hospital accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. We are not aware of any such offer. The national health service will remain available to all on the basis of clinical need, not the ability to pay.

  NHS Consultants
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS consultants, by specialty, undertaking work in the private sector have failed to meet fully their contractual obligations to the NHS for each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  National health service employers are responsible for satisfying themselves that consultants are fulfilling their contractual obligations. The information requested is not available centrally.

  Hospital Beds, London
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what number of hospital beds she now determines are required in the capital so that London has the appropriate number of beds.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is for hospitals themselves to determine the number of beds required locally taking account of the requirements of local health authorities and general practitioner fundholders.

  Private Hotels
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued to regional health authorities, district health authorities, family health services authorities and trusts on the use of private hotels.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None. National health service bodies are expected to apply value-for-money judgments on the use of such facilities.

  Morning-after Pill
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department had on making the morning-after pill available on request from a pharmacist.

  Mr. Sackville
  Any change to the legal classification of such medicines to allow them to be supplied by pharmacists without prescription would be subject to statutory consultation with all interested organisations.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental patients have been deregistered in each family health service authority since July 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table. Since July 1992 there has been a net increase of over 600,000 patients registered with 264 dentists in contract with family health services authorities.
  837

  Number of dental patients deregistered, from 3 July 1992 to 11 March 1994, by Family Health Service Authority England

  FHSA

  Number of patients deregistered

  All FHSAs

  647,593

  Cleveland

  2,636

  Cumbria

  13,403

  Durham

  347

  Northumberland

  2,665

  Gateshead

  725

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  —

  North Tyneside

  3

  South Tyneside

  16

  Sunderland

  —

  Humberside

  10,949

  North Yorkshire

  9,710

  Bradford

  —

  Calderdale

  876

  Kirklees

  691

  Leeds

  8,790

  Wakefield

  936

  Derbyshire

  19,235

  Leicestershire

  13,161

  Lincolnshire

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  4,853

  Barnsley

  —

  Doncaster

  23

  Rotherham

  394

  Sheffield

  1,492

  Cambridgeshire

  5,264

  Norfolk

  29,038

  Suffolk

  7,187

  Bedfordshire

  1,317

  Hertfordshire

  7,113

  Barnet

  4,871

  Brent and Harrow

  1,551

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  35

  Hillingdon

  —

  Kensington, Westminster and Chelsea

  2,288

  Essex

  14,947

  Barking and Havering

  3,858

  Camden and Islington

  313

  City and East London

  751

  Enfield and Haringey

  981

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  2,214

  East Sussex

  15,304

  Kent

  54,585

  Greenwich and Bexley

  4,392

  Bromley

  13,206

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  446

  Surrey

  27,404

  West Sussex

  35,481

  Croydon

  1,945

  Kingston and Richmond

  1,016

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  1,756

  Dorset

  22,886

  Hampshire

  24,365

  Wiltshire

  11,525

  Isle of Wight

  3,634

  Berkshire

  26,057

  Buckinghamshire

  18,818

  Northamptonshire

  3,124

  Oxfordshire

  26,240

  Avon

  15,478

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  14,729

  Devon

  27,721

  Gloucestershire

  52,618

  Somerset

  4,042

  Hereford and Worcester

  4,181

  Shropshire

  684

  Staffordshire

  7,801

  Warwickshire

  9,676

  Birmingham

  2,268

  Coventry

  1,598

  Dudley

  —

  Sandwell

  —

  838

  FHSA

  Number of patients deregistered

  Solihull

  2,507

  Walsall

  —

  Wolverhampton

  —

  Cheshire

  6,474

  Liverpool

  430

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  19

  Sefton

  590

  Wirral

  604

  Lancashire

  25,440

  Bolton

  632

  Bury

  675

  Manchester

  298

  Oldham

  —

  Rochdale

  1,904

  Salford

  151

  Stockport

  1,279

  Tameside

  742

  Trafford

  245

  Wigan

  —

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each civil service grade in her Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information shows the position on 14 March 1994:

  Total number of staff employed in the Department of Health

  Grade (including grade equivalents)

  Total

  Women (percentage)

  UG1

  3

  0

  UG2

  8

  0

  UG3

  25

  18

  UG4

  28

  39

  UG5

  204

  38

  UG6

  136

  32

  UG7

  575

  26

  SEO

  402

  29

  HEO

  724

  45

  EO

  972

  58

  AO

  1,333

  74

  AA

  529

  57

  Others1

  166

  42

  Total

  5,110

  52

  1 There are a number of grades, mainly on Youth Treatment Service, which do not easily equate to Unified Grades.

  Note: Casual staff have been excluded, as have staff on loan to other government departments, on maternity leave of more than three months, and on unpaid career breaks/study leave.

  Private Medical Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings she has held over the past year with representatives of private medical service providers; and if she will give details of the identity of participants and the nature of the discussions.

  Mr. Sackville
  One, with the Independent Healthcare Association, where I met the chairman, chief executive and two board members at their request, at which they expressed their views on a number of issues.

  NHS Trusts (Amenity Beds)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether charges levied by NHS trusts for amenity beds include a notional amount to cover, when appropriate, the additional cost of providing a better menu and exclusive use of television, telephone or bathroom.

  Mr. Sackville
  The charge levied by national health service trusts for amenity beds should cover all appropriate additional costs of facilities provided.

  Health Benefits Scheme
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the review of the health benefits scheme including the availability of free prescriptions is now completed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on 15 February at column 669.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fine Defaulters
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many male persons were committed to prison in Northern Ireland for defaulting on a fine in the last year for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total number of male persons committed to prison this represents.

  Sir John Wheeler
  In 1992, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,671 male persons were received into prison in Northern Ireland for fine default, comprising 34 per cent. of all males received into prison in that year. However, since fine defaulters spend, on average, a much shorter time in prison than other categories of prisoner, they accounted for only 2 per cent. of the average daily population. Approximately one third of those received pay the outstanding fine in whole or in part at the time of reception or shortly afterwards.

  Medical Consultants
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to improve consultancy cover in the medical specialties to the level recommended by the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services.

  Mr. Ancram
  Additional consultant posts have been created and further posts will be established in the coming year through the Department's initiative on junior doctors hours. Consultant numbers will also increase as a result of the implementation of the Calman report, and rationalisation of acute hospital services should result in improved consultant cover in all specialties.

  Draft Children Order
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to publish the revised draft Children Order.

  Mr. Ancram
  I do not wish to prejudice the consideration which my noble Friend will be giving to the 840
  comments made during the consultation period and in the recent debate in the Northern Ireland Committee. However we hope to have the order laid before the House rises for the summer recess.

  Cross-border Security
  11. Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further progress has been made with the Government of the Irish Republic about cross-border security co-operation.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on cross-border security.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Irish security forces have continued to achieve very positive results against the terrorists, including for example the interception of a primed Mk 15 mortar in Donegal two weeks ago. As the Chief Constable of the RUC made clear yesterday, practical co-operation is at an all-time high and both the British and Irish Governments remain committed to working closely together to maintain and enhance that co-operation.

  Political Talks
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his most recent discussions with representatives of the political parties in Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for re-starting talks to determine new political structures for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he is making in convening talks between the political parties in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the talks he has had with the parties in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government relating to Northern Ireland.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy) earlier today.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the basis of the talks between the Northern Ireland political parties and with the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  [holding answer 16 March 1994]: The Government's bilateral discussions with three of the Northern Ireland constitutional political parties and their dialogue with the Irish Government, are taking place in accordance with the statement of 26 March 1991 and upon the platform represented by the joint declaration issued on 15 December 1993.

  Prospects For Industry
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about future prospects for industry in Northern Ireland.
  841
  Mr. Tim Smith
  I have received a number of representations about future prospects for industry in Northern Ireland. The number of people employed now stands at 551,200. This is a new record for the Province. Together with recent good news about inward investment, it confirms the excellent prospects for industry in Northern Ireland.

  Joint Declaration
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest position relating to the joint declaration.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) earlier today.

  Security Situation
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his assessment of the current security situation in the Province.

  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on security in Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The level of threat from terrorists remains high, but the security forces have been conspicuously successful in preventing attacks and apprehending suspects. Over the last month there have been over 170 arrests of suspected terrorists, 42 people have been charged with scheduled offences, and 16 weapons and 1,075 lb of explosives have been recovered.

  Community Care
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on community care policy.

  Mr. Ancram
  The community care reforms introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 April 1993 were first promulgated in the Department's 1990 policy document "People First", which is the equivalent of "Caring for People". These new arrangements for the provision of community care services by health and social services boards are intended to ensure that, as far as possible, people are cared for and supported in community-based settings rather than hospital.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current level of inward investment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  So far this year the Industrial Development Board has secured seven new inward investment projects involving a total investment of approximately £213 million and promising 1,476 new jobs. I am confident that there will be further announcements before the end of the financial year.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of school leavers are now entering further and higher education in Northern Ireland; and what the figures were in 1979.
  842
  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 58.2 per cent. of school leavers in Northern Ireland entered further and higher education in 1991–92. The figure for 1979–80 was 33.2 per cent.

  Building Workers
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he proposes to reduce unemployment among building workers in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Government policy is to create the conditions which produce economic growth leading to demand for construction workers and other employees. In Northern Ireland violence continues to be one of the greatest impediments to such growth. Nevertheless programmes are available from the Training and Employment Agency to help unemployed building workers re-train or find employment.

  Interrogation Procedures
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for extending to Northern Ireland the tape recording of interrogations and access to legal advice for suspects.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Both these issues have been raised by Sir Louis Blom-Cooper in his first report as Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres. His report will receive careful consideration.

  Interviews with suspects detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence (NI) Order 1989 are currently tape-recorded. The Government remain firmly of the view that recording of interviews with terrorist suspects in Northern Ireland would not be in the overall interests of justice.

  Integrated Education
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the growth of integrated education in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  Parental demand for integrated education continues at a high level. Twelve new integrated schools have been established since 1989, when legislation to encourage and facilitate its development was enacted. 4,000 pupils now attend 21 integrated schools, primary and secondary, throughout Northern Ireland. The Government will continue to respond positively to viable proposals.

  Legislative Procedures
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the reform of current legislative procedures for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The basic procedures for legislating for Northern Ireland are well understood but my right hon. and learned Friend is always prepared to consider reasonable proposals for improvement. The Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs will be able to provide additional scrutiny.

  Police Authority
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made in new appointments to the Northern Ireland Police Authority.
  843
  Sir John Wheeler
  The term of office for the current Police Authority for Northern Ireland expires on 28 June. Nominations for potential members have been invited from a wide range of interested organisations. Thirty-two bodies, including 23 district councils, have so far put forward nominations.

  Housing
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what terms and conditions two blocks of flats at Camross park, Rathcoole, Co. Antrim were leased to Newtownabbey community project by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I am advised by its chief executive that two blocks of flats at Camross park, Rathcoole, have been let to Newtownabbey community project, subject to the following terms and conditions:

  1. The tenant shall vacate the premises when required to do so by the Landlord.

  2. The tenant shall be responsible for maintenance and repair of the dwelling.

  3. The tenant is responsible for payment of rates.

  4. The tenant shall be responsible for ensuring that the persons using the premises act in a reasonable manner, both in respect of the treatment of the building and adjoining property and that they avoid conduct likely to cause a nuisance to others, and for ensuring that the dwelling is in a reasonable condition at the termination of tenancy.

  5. Written permission from the Housing Executive is required for the following matters:

  (a) To carry out structural alterations and to erect any structure on the grounds of the dwelling.

  (b) To assign or sublet the dwelling.

  6. The Newtownabbey Community Project hereby agrees:

  (a) Not to use or permit the premises to be used for any purpose which is in breach of or contravenes any law, order, or regulation for the time being in force.

  (b) Not to use or permit the premises to be used for any purpose which will cause damage to the premises or injury to any person using the. premises.

  (c) Not to sell or permit the sale or consumption of intoxicating liquor on the premises.

  (d) To use the premises only for the lawful business of the community project.

  7. The Executive reserves the right on notice being given (save in the case of emergency) for the Executive's duly authorised representatives to inspect the premises at any reasonable hour.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if approval was obtained from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to sub-let flats at Camross park, Rathcoole, Co. Antrim to a pigeon club by Newtownabbey community project.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I am advised by its chief executive that no approval was obtained from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to sub-let flats at Camross park, Rathcoole to a pigeon club, by Newtownabbey community project.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future security of tenure of a pigeon club in Northern Ireland Housing Executive property at Camross park, Rathcoole, Co. Antrim, sub-let by Newtownabbey community project group.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I am advised by its chief 844
  executive that Newtownabbey community project, in permitting the use of all or part of the premises to the East Way Housing Pigeon Society, is in breach of the tenancy agreement. The Housing Executive was notified of the breach of tenancy on 9 March 1994 and a formal letter instructing the project to take immediate action to terminate the sub-let to the Pigeon Society was issued on 11 March 1994.

  Compensation
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the proposed tariff regime for compensation in England to the victims of crime to Northern Ireland; and if he has plans to consult interested organisations in the Province.

  Sir John Wheeler
  I am currently considering what lessons might be learnt for Northern Ireland from the forthcoming changes to the criminal injuries compensation scheme in Great Britain, details of which were published recently by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

  If, as a consequence, I consider that changes should be made to the current compensation scheme in Northern Ireland, I am committed to public consultation with interested parties in the Province.

  Hume-Adams Agreement
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek a copy of the agreement between the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) and Mr. Gerry Adams.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  No. I believe, and the hon. Member for Foyle has stated, that the Downing Street declaration sufficiently sets out the principles that must govern the future. They establish that in Northern Ireland there can be no place, and no justification, for politically motivated violence, whether of the kind still being perpetrated by the Provisional IRA with Mr. Adams' justification or at all.

  School Sports Facilities
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools have(a) some playing fields and (b) artificial games areas, excluding playground areas; what were the figures (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 15 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, information compiled in 1989 indicates that some 325 schools had grass pitches and 314 had hard surface games areas; some schools had both types of provision.

  Blood
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was(a) the number of blood donors, (b) the quantity of blood donated and (c) the amount of blood required for each health board for each month since April 1993.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 10 March 1994]: The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service is a regional service and figures are not collected by board but on a province-wide basis.
  845
  The number of blood donors on the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service panel is 82,138, while the quantity of blood donated over 1992–93 totalled 63,848 units.

  Information on the amount of blood issued for each month since April 1993 is currently not available.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Legislation (Amendments)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will give examples of small and less controversial amendments to primary legislation, which would be unlikely to be made due to time constraint, which could not be made in the same manner as those contained in chapter II of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill, as indicated in his evidence before the Procedure Committee on 16 February.

  Mr. Newton
  Chapter 3 of the booklet "Deregulation—Cutting Red Tape" identifies 55 measures which the Government believe would be suitable for the order-making power in clauses 1 to 4 of the Bill. One example which I quoted in my evidence to the Procedure Committee was an amendment to the Patents Act 1977 and the Registered Designs Act 1949 to enable the Patent Office to accept documents in forms other than paper, such as electronic filing. The deregulation initiative is a rolling programme and more measures are expected to come forward in the future.

  Exhibitions (Upper Waiting Hall)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to Lancashire Aerospace to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 9 May to Friday 13 May.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the sesquicentenary of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 25 April to Friday 29 April.

EDUCATION

  Adult and Further Education
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the number of enrolments of students aged under 19 years for adult education courses and further education colleges with the Inner London education authority in 1989 and for its successor bodies for each year since.
  846
  Mr. Boswell
  The number of enrolments by students aged under 19 years on further education courses in adult education centres and further and higher education colleges funded by ILEA in 1989 or by its successor bodies in subsequent years are shown in the following table:

  The number of enrolments as of 1 November of the appropriate year by students aged under 19 on further education courses in adult education centres and in further and higher education colleges in Inner London

  Academic Year

  Number of Enrolments (thousands)

  1989–90

  31

  1990–91

  29

  1991–92

  27

  1992–93

  29

  Staffordshire Schools
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions he has visited schools in Staffordshire; if he will give details; and when he next expects to visit schools in Staffordshire.

  Mr. Patten
  I have not visited any schools in Staffordshire, and at present I have no plans to do so.

  Science Education
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give the percentages of young people aged 18 to 21 years in full-time education studying a science subject in each of the member countries of the OECD.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The readily available information is given in the table.

  Students1 enrolled on higher education science2 courses as a proportion of the population aged 18–25 in 19913

  Per cent.

  Belgium3

  3.6

  Canada

  8.4

  Denmark

  8.3

  France

  7.8

  Germany, FRG

  10.4

  Greece3

  7.0

  Ireland

  7.1

  Italy

  7.4

  Japan3

  4.8

  Netherlands4

  6.5

  Portugal

  3.9

  Spain3

  6.9

  United Kingdom3 4

  7.7

  United States of America

  11.9

  1 Full and part-time students.

  2 Science includes Natural Science, Mathematics and Computer Science, Medical and Health related, Engineering, Architecture and Town Planning and Trade Craft and Industrial programmes.

  3 1990 data for Belgium, Greece, Spain and Japan and 1992 for the United Kingdom.

  4 Excluding Open University enrolments in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

  5 The sources used are:

  UNESCO Statistical Yearbook, 1992 and 1993;

  United States Digest of Education Statistics, 1993;

  Data supplied by OECD for Education at a Glance, 1993;

  Education Statistics for the United Kingdom 1992 and 1993.

  Nursing
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether mandatory awards will be offered to lecturers in nursing who are being required to upgrade their qualifications to degree level.

  Mr. Boswell
  Lecturers in nursing who enrol on designated courses and who seek a mandatory award are subject to the same conditions in respect of personal eligibility and previous study as apply to other students.

  Primary Schools (Surplus Places)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will initiate a survey by local education authorities of some, or all, of their primary schools which under his criteria possess surplus places of between 20 per cent. and 40 per cent. of those notional place numbers, to assess the impact on their activities prohibiting any use of that proportion of their space currently in use.

  Mr. Forth
  We have no plans to require local authorities to undertake such a survey. It is for local authorities in the first instance to make plans for the removal of surplus capacity, including the scale and method of rationalisation.

  School Premises
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if his formula for a school place in secondary schools permits each pupil within its specified pupil total to possess inside an all-purpose class, or similar room, a personal desk or locker of minimum cubic capacity.

  Mr. Forth
  The formula for measuring the capacity of schools used in the implementation of the more open enrolment provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 does not cover this level of detail. It is up to schools how they use and furnish their teaching accommodation.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if, in his assessment of school occupancy, he includes classrooms, workshops or other buildings of a temporary character; and when his policy was last changed and reviewed;

  (2) what adjustments have been made in the minimum standards in relation to a school place in secondary schools in the last 15 years; for what reasons; and what assessment he has made of any change in pupil space requirements consequent on the introduction of the national curriculum;

  (3) if he will state the latest official criteria of what constitutes a school place in (a) maintained primary and (b) maintained secondary schools; and what comparative studies have been made between the minimum standards laid down in (b) and any group of schools whose heads are members of the (i) headmasters or (ii) headmistresses conferences.

  Mr. Forth
  The more open enrolment provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 mean that schools must, in most cases, admit pupils until they are full. Each school has a standard number, or an approved admission number in the case of a grant-maintained school, which reflects previous levels of intake or the school's physical capacity as measured against a prescribed formula. All suitable permanent and temporary accommodation is taken into account in the assessment of standard numbers or approved admissions numbers.
  848
  The provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 and the advice contained in departmental circulars 11/88, Admissions to County and Voluntary Schools, and 6/91, Implementation of More Open Enrolment in Primary Schools, represent the latest steps in a process of continual refinement in the calculation of school capacity.

  I am not aware of any comparative studies covering independent schools.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what advice, or requirement, he makes in approving capital consent for new secondary buildings in respect of(a) the need for split, or smaller, teaching groups for certain classes held in rooms deemed capable of accommodating 30 or more pupils and (b) the need for a significant proportion of space to remain empty in order to construct an educationally efficient timetable.

  Mr. Forth
  Capital support for new or extended secondary schools is made available through annual capital guidelines to LEAs, and by grant aid for voluntary aided and self-governing GM schools, according to the assessed need for new places in an area. The level of support is based on cost multipliers which reflect the average cost of providing new places. The cost multipliers are based on costs actually achieved in LEA building projects.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what cost limits applied to newly built primary and secondary schools, respectively, in respect of costs per place of the building, net of site costs, and the name, date and authorisation of any official publication advising on how minimum space requirements could be obtained within the limits without prejudice to other costs, including future maintenance.

  Mr. Forth
  There are no cost limits in respect of expenditure per place on individual LEA schools, although limits may, in the case of voluntary aided schools, be placed on the levels of our grant aid. Under the capital finance system LEAs are free to spend what they like on individual projects. In determining the basic need—that is, the requirement for new school places in areas of population growth—element of the 1994–95 annual capital guidelines, the Department used per place cost multipliers, valued as follows:

  £

  Primary

  3,747

  Secondary

  5,116

  Secondary (16+)

  6,128

  These are based on actual LEA projects providing places in new schools and extensions. They include the cost of the buildings, external works, furniture and equipment and professional fees. They do not include the cost of site purchases or VAT. The cost in each case represents a level of achievement being met by about a third of LEAs. The teaching standards adopted in the project are about 15 per cent. above the regulation minimum for a 210-place primary school, and about 8 per cent. above the minimum for a typical secondary school.

  The Department's most recent guidance in respect of new primary, schools, published in 1989 and called "St. John's School Sefton: the design of a new primary school," illustrated lower teaching area standards than those indicated above. No recent comparable publication has been produced related to secondary schools.
  849
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what study he has made, or is planning, of the amount of space available per secondary pupil in any group of independent schools, which are charitable foundations, which are making economical use of their premises.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  School Leavers
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of female school leavers left school with five or more GCSEs at grades A to C in Merseyside in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The percentage of female school leavers estimated to be leaving maintained schools with five or more GCSEs at grades A to C in Merseyside in 1992 was 33.6 per cent. The latest year for which the information is available is 1991–92, when the school examinations survey was undertaken with a reduced sample of 3 per cent.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. Boswell
  The figures are as follows:

  Total in grade

  Women as a percentage of total

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  Grade 2

  3

  0

  Grade 3

  12

  0

  Grade 4

  4

  25.0

  Grade 5

  46

  26.1

  Grade 6

  15

  13.3

  Grade 7

  153

  28.1

  SEO and Equivalent

  112

  34.8

  HEO and Equivalent

  369

  49.6

  EO and Equivalent

  501

  60.5

  AO and Equivalent

  628

  74.7

  AA and Equivalent

  382

  66.2

  Total

  2,229

  58.5

  These figures include 367 staff in post in the Teachers Pensions Agency of which 71.7 per cent. are women.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to announce changes to cash limits on votes within his responsibility for 1993–94.

  Mr. Patten
  The cash limit for class X, vote 1, schools, research and miscellaneous services, will be reduced by £1,500,000 from £708,982,000 to £707,482,000. The reduction will be used to offset an increase in the non-voted cash limit DFE local authority capital to meet increased expenditure on supplementary credit approvals in respect of urgently needed school building projects. The local authority capital cash limit will therefore be increased by £1,500,000 from £48,922,000 to £50,422,000.

DEFENCE

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will provide substantive answers to the questions from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton of 21 January, and 27 January, concerning the membership of non-departmental public bodies.

  Mr. Hanley
  The delay in answering has been caused by the need to establish whether members would be content for their names to be published, particularly where NDPBs deal with sensitive issues. I am now in a position to answer a number of the questions referred to and will answer the remainder once all individuals concerned have replied to my Department.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the Review Board for Government Contracts.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: The information requested is as follows:

  Sir Peter Webster (Chairman)

  Sir Laurence Airey KCB

  Sir Alan Bailey KCB

  Derek Kingsbury CBE

  Dr. Alan Watkins

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Royal Air Force museum.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]:The information requested is as follows:

  Sir Michael Beetham GCB CBE DFC AFC FRAeS (Chairman)

  Sir Thomas N. Risk

  Mr. Barry Pinson QC

  Group Captain Sir Gordon Pirie CVO CBE JP DL (Recd)

  Dr. Basil Greenhill CB CMG FRHists FSA

  Sir John Cuckney

  Sir Ralph Robins FENG FRAeS

  Sir Cohn Marshall

  Sir Hector Monro AE JP DL MP

  Sir Colin Chandler

  Sir John Blelloch KCB

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the meteorological research sub-committee.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: The information requested is as follows:

  Professor H. Charnock

  Professor B. Fender

  Professor J. Harries

  Professor A. Hollingsworth

  Professor B. Hoskins

  Dr. M. Vaughan

  Dr. J. Woods

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the Services Sound and Vision Corporation.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: The members are:

  General Sir Geoffrey Howlett, KBE, MC

  David E. Hatch, JP, MA, DipEd, FRSA, CIMgt (Vice Chair)

  851

  Brian Tesler, CBE

  Frederick P. Turner

  Dr. Bryce McCrirrick, CBE, DSc, FEng, FIEE, FRTS

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the oil and pipelines agency.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: The information requested is as follows:

  Geoffrey Richards (Chairman)

  Christopher Finch

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the meteorological committees.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January]: The information requested is as follows:

  Professor R. L. Bell

  Mr. D. A. Davis

  Mr. D. Filkin

  Ms A. Gammidge

  Professor B. J. Hoskins

  Dr. H. Hughes

  Baroness Jay

  Professor M. H. Pesaran

  Baroness Platt

  Mr. C. M. Stuart

  Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Royal Navy submarine museum, Gosport.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. D. Patch

  Mr. R. D. Wilson

  Dr. Robert Bud

  Mrs. P. L. Lee BA

  Captain R. Channon RN (Retd)

  Rear Admiral A. J. Whetsone CB

  Captain G. C. W. Hayhoe RN (Retd)

  Commander G. Turner RN (Retd)

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the board of of the Royal Marines museum, Southsea.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]:

  Mr. Brian Ashby

  Mr. Barrie C. Johnston OBE FPMI FRSA

  Mr. Nick Sonas DL

  Mr. Derek J. Martin

  Mr. Nigel S. E. Martin

  Mr. Michael N. E. Ware FRPS FMA

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Fleet Air Arm museum.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1994]: The board of trustees as established by the trust deed and subsequent amending scheme consists of:

  Mr. Michael Cobham

  Mr. Desmond Cracknell

  Sir Donald Gosling

  Sir Stanley Grinstead

  Mr. Jeffrey Smith

  Doctor Thomas Wright

  Dame Margaret Weston

  852
  The trustees meet twice a year mainly to review and approve the strategic plan. The director exercises day-to-day management under the aegis of the management committee of the chairman, deputy chairman, director, deputy director and museum administrator.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional non-operational staff have been taken on by his Department to execute the new objective of market testing as set out at paragraph 3 of his Department's annual report and expenditure plans 1994–95 to 1996–97, Cm 2501.

  Mr. Aitken
  Up to 30 additional staff are being recruited on fixed-term appointments for a variety of contract duties. Eight have been appointed.

  Additionally, two industrial advisers have been seconded for a period of one year.

  Appraisal Strategy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what appraisal strategy he has set in place to monitor the effectiveness of his achieving availability, reliability and maintainability standards, as set out at paragraph 59 of his departmental annual report, Cm 2501.

  Mr. Aitken
  A comprehensive data collection system is being implemented in each of the services, to monitor the effectiveness of achieving availability, reliability and maintainability standards.

  Green Matters (Responsibility)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which departmental Minister is responsible for reporting to the House on green matters within his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence is responsible for environmental matters within the Department. I answer to the House on his behalf.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations he has made into the assertion by Mr. B. J. Habibie, director of Indonesia's armaments procurement programme, to assure himself that the Hawk jets bought from British Aerospace last year by Indonesia will be used for ground attack purposes.

  Mr. Aitken
  We have received assurances from the Indonesian Government that the Hawk aircraft will not be used for internal security.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evaluation he has made of the use to which Hawk jets sold to Indonesia by British Aerospace last year have been put.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Hawks purchased by Indonesia last year have not yet been delivered.

  Chemical Weapons Testing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what follow-up has been conducted in the last 10 years by his Department as to the long-term health effects
  853
  arising from experiments conducted on service men from RAF Kinloss in the 1950s at the Porton Down chemical warfare establishment to establish antidotes to chemical warfare agents.

  Mr. Hanley
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Llew Smith, 17 March 1994:
  Parliamentary Question 29, Order Paper 9 March 1994
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, asking what follow up has been conducted in the last 10 years by his Department as to the long term health effects arising from studies conducted on servicemen from RAF Kinloss in the 1950s at the Porton Down to develop antidotes to chemical warfare agents has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use service volunteers to:

  (a) assess the ability of service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  (b) develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and

  (c) evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.
  3. The procedure in respect of Service volunteers is that on arrival at CBDE each volunteer is given a medical examination to see if they are fit for the proposed study. The nature of the study is explained to them and they are told that they may withdraw from the study without any explanation at any stage. At the end of the study they are given a second medical examination and the fact that they have participated at CBDE in a volunteer study is recorded on their medical records.
  4. From time to time, Service volunteers have been recalled so that checks on their medical health can be made. There is no particular frequency or pattern to such recalls. In addition some volunteers return voluntarily to CBDE to take part in subsequent unrelated studies. There is no evidence that Service volunteers have had any deterioration in their health as a result of their participation as a volunteer in a human study.
  5. Our records are not collated in such a way as to allow us to readily identify volunteers from. RAF Kinloss in the 1950s. There has been no particular reason to carry out a follow up in respect of these volunteers and none has been carried out.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies and tests have been done by the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down to assess a nerve agent which penetrates skin and clothes quicker than the G agents and VX; when these experiments were done; and what was the conclusion of the assessment.

  Mr. Hanley
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 January 1994, c. 305]: I have asked the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment to write a further letter to the hon. Member.

  Letter from G. Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 17 March 1994:

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION 22, ORDER PAPER 18 JANUARY 1994
  854

  1. Further to my answer (Official Record, 26 January 1994, Column 305) to your question about agents which penetrate skin and clothing quicker than the G-agents and VX, my attention has been drawn to a report available in the Public Records Office about work carried out at this Establishment in the early 1960s. This work was to seek organophosphorus anticholinesterases which have the chemical and physical properties likely to make them more effective agents than GB and VX eg compounds which may penetrate human skin more rapidly. The information provided in the report does not provide the additional information that you sought on when these experiments were done and what was the conclusion of the assessment; it would require a disproportionate amount of effort and cost to see if this information is available elsewhere.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used by an aggressor against them. This work necessitates the study of potential chemical and biological agents that might be used by an aggressor so that the effectiveness of the available protective measures can be evaluated against potential agents and, where appropriate, the protective measures improved.

  3. Work is currently being carried out, and has been for many years, to examine the potential hazard from chemical compounds that might be used as a chemical warfare agent by an aggressor; such compounds may be identified through intelligence or as a result of advances in chemistry.

  4. In my answer of 26 January 1994, I said that our records did not indicate that any tests or studies had been carried out to assess a nerve agent which penetrates skin and clothing quicker than the G-agents and VX. When a parliamentary question concerning work on a particular subject is asked, information is sought from all readily available sources which include the library at CBDE to see if there are any reports on the subject, and the Superintendents of the Divisions at CBDE in which such work is being or may have been carried out, who in turn make enquiries of their senior staff. If these searches reveal no information I then reply stating that our records do not indicate any work into this subject.

  5. It would require a disproportionate amount of effort and cost, every time a Parliamentary Question is asked, to initiate a search into the past records at the Public Record Office or elsewhere to see if there was information on a particular subject. We need to concentrate on providing the UK Armed Forces with effective protective measures against the current hazards should chemical or biological weapons be used against them wherever they may serve worldwide.

  6. The report from the Public Record Office also refers to other materials that have been the subject of parliamentary questions. I will write further letters as soon as the newly available information has been considered.

  "Green Forces"
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many copies of his departmental video "Green Forces" have been produced; at what cost; to whom they have been distributed; and what arrangements exist to obtain a copy of the video for hon. Members.

  Mr. Hanley
  Some 2,750 copies of the video "Green Forces" have been produced for free distribution, on request, to schools, colleges, libraries, other national and international organisations with an interest in environmental issues, and members of the public. To date, production, copying, marketing and distribution costs amount to some £94,000, excluding VAT. Two copies of "Green Forces" are being placed in the Library of the House. Hon. Members can also obtain a copy of the video by writing to the head of publicity, room 0384, Main building, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those facilities where his Department has invoked Crown immunity or defence exception for(a)

  855
  national security or (b) operational effectiveness to override routine compliance with United Kingdom environmental legislation, as mentioned in general terms at paragraph 79 of his departmental annual report and expenditure plans for 1994–95 to 1996–97.

  Mr. Hanley
  Following the enactment of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, there have been no instances where MOD has formally invoked Crown immunity or defence exemptions to justify noncompliance with the requirements of the Act or other United Kingdom environmental legislation to regulatory authorities. A statement of MOD policy in respect of its exemptions from the health and statutory nuisance provisions of part III of the Act has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  RAF Machrihanish
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year for the last four years, and this year to date(a) the number of times RAF Machrihanish was used by the United States navy maritime patrol aircraft assigned to Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic; and what were the type and make of aircraft.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total number of times RAF Machrihanish was used by the United States maritime patrol aircraft since 1 July 1990 is as follows:

  Number

  From 1 July to 31 December 19911

  31

  1991

  80

  1992

  103

  1993

  103

  1 January to 28 February 1994

  0

  1 Detailed records before 1 July 1990 no longer available.

  The type and make of aircraft involved were the Lockheed P3 Orion and the Lockheed S3 Viking.

  Large Aircraft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which is the largest(a) military and (b) civilian aircraft to have landed, or taken off, from each of the airports or aerodromes that his Department owns or controls in Yorkshire and Humberside, other than RAF Finningley.

  Mr. Hanley
  No records are available for Church Fenton, Dishforth or Topcliffe. The largest military aircraft to have landed at, or taken off from, RAF Leeming is a Lockheed C141 Starlifter; the largest civilian aircraft to have done so is a Boeing 737. No records are available for civilian aircraft landing at, or taking off from, RAF Linton-on-Ouse; the largest military aircraft to have done so is a Nimrod MR2.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which is the largest civilian aircraft that could be landed in normal operating conditions from each of the airports or aerodromes that his Department owns or controls in Yorkshire and Humberside, other than RAF Finningley.

  Mr. Hanley
  Adequate performance data for civilian aircraft is not available in respect of RAF Linton-on-Ouse.856
  The relief landing grounds at Church Fenton, Dishforth and Topcliffe are now suitable only for light aircraft. The largest civilian aircraft that could be landed at RAF Finningley in normal operating conditions is a Boeing 707.

  RAF Finningley
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent on improving accommodation assigned to(a) commanding officers, (b) other officers and (c) other ranks in each of the last four years at RAF Finningley; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Figures are not available prior to 1991 when works management was untied from the Property Services Agency and delegated to local budget areas. Figures from financial year 1991–92, which include both single and married accommodation, is as follows:

  Year

  Commanding Officer

  Other Officers

  Other Ranks

  £

  £

  £

  1991–92

  Nil

  4,800,000

  759,000

  1992–93

  Nil

  483,000

  1993–94

  2,725

  160,000

  135,000

  The £4,800,000 was spent over financial years 1991–92 and 1992–93 on a single project for a major refurbishment of officers' married quarters. The other expenditure largely relates to: Food Act improvements and health and safety fire measures in the officers', sergeants' and airmen's messes; the refurbishment of two barrack blocks for airmen in 1991 and 1992; and double-glazing for the commanding officer's residence.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review there has been into the requirements of(a) RAF Finningley and (b) each other airport or aerodrome in Yorkshire and Humberside for military purposes (i) before and (ii) since the publication of "Options for Change".

  Mr. Hanley
  No formal review was conducted into the requirements for military purposes of either RAF Finningley or any other RAF airport or aerodrome in Yorkshire and Humberside prior to "Options for Change". Following "Options for Change", the RAF airfield at Church Fenton was declared surplus to requirements and the station was closed in April 1992, although the airfield remains in use as a relief landing ground for RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Currently, the complete RAF flying training requirement is the subject of a review which will include consideration of the use of all flying training airfields within the United Kingdom. More generally, the requirement for all RAF airfields is currently under review as part of the defence costs study "Front Line First".

  Accommodation Improvement
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent on improving accommodation assigned to(a) commanding officers, (b) other officers and (c) other ranks in each of the last four years at airports and aerodromes owned or under his Department's control in Yorkshire and Humberside, other than RAF Finningley; and if he will make a statement.
  857
  Mr. Hanley
  There is no RAF-maintained accommodation at Church Fenton, Dishforth or Topcliffe. For RAF Linton-on-Ouse, figures are only available for the last two years, as follows:

  Commanding Officer

  Other Officers

  Other Ranks

  Year

  £

  £

  £

  1992–93

  Nil

  Nil

  62,727

  1993–94

  Nil

  105,686

  43,760

  For RAF Leeming, figures are available for all four years, as follows:

  Commanding Officer

  Other Officers

  Other Ranks

  Year

  £

  £

  £

  1990–91

  2,000

  58,700

  12,033,000

  1991–92

  1,700

  122,700

  457,200

  1992–93

  2,000

  229,700

  403,800

  1993–94

  16,500

  180,200

  281,000

  1This expenditure includes the completion of new housing

  Runway Capacity
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the airports or aerodromes that his Department owns or controls in Yorkshire and Humberside other than RAF Finningley; if he will list the length of each airport or aerodrome runway; and if he will list the annual volume of flights in and out of each location for each of the last four years and the current year to date.

  Mr. Hanley
  The only airports or aerodromes other than RAF Finningley owned or controlled by the Ministry of Defence in Yorkshire and Humberside are RAF Leeming and RAF Linton-on-Ouse; RAF Linton-on-Ouse also has the use of the airfield facilities at the former RAF stations of Church Fenton, Dishforth and Topcliffe, which are used as relief landing grounds. Runway lengths are as follows:

  Airfield

  Length metres

  RAF Leeming

  Only one operational runway

  2,292

  RAF Linton-on-Ouse

  Runway 04/22

  1,835

  Runway 10/28

  1,339

  Church Fenton

  Runway 06/24

  1,759

  Runway 16/34

  1,666

  Dishforth

  Runway 16/34

  1,858

  Runway 10/28

  1,362

  Topcliffe

  Runway 03/21

  1,837

  Runway 13/31

  1,262

  The number of movements at each airfield, since 1990, is as follows:

  Movements by Year

  Airfield

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11994

  RAF Leeming

  —2

  36,674

  41,221

  33,793

  6,510

  RAF Linton-on-Ouse

  71,531

  76,549

  66,382

  56,485

  8,937

  Church Fenton

  —2

  —2

  33,618

  24,602

  5,885

  858

  Movements by Year

  Airfield

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11994

  Dishforth

  43,035

  43,961

  32,519

  32,277

  5,712

  Topcliffe

  23,285

  29,141

  14,540

  15,529

  3,332

  1 figures to date

  2 figures not available

  World War Two Munitions
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what areas in the Irish sea, northern channel and off the coast of Northern Ireland have been used in the disposal of world war two munitions since 1964; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many discarded world war two munition devices have come ashore on the British mainland over the last five years; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will make a statement on sea disposal of surplus world war two munitions since 1964; if the disposal included chemical weapons and gas canisters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no records of world war two vintage munitions having been disposed of by sea dumping after 1964. In the last five years Royal Navy clearance diving units have conducted 3,268 munitions clearance tasks below the highwater mark on the British mainland. Available records do not identify the type, origin or number of devices dealt with.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table giving the number of low-flying sorties conducted over Wales in every year since 1978(a) in total, (b) below 250 ft and (c) at 100 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  Records are not held of low-flying sorties conducted over specific locations or the number of low-flying sorties flown below 250 ft. However, the number of low-flying movements below 250 ft authorised into the central Wales tactical training area in each year since 1979, the earliest year for which figures are available, are set out in the table. Operational low flying may be authorised down to a minimum level of 100 ft, but records do not distinguish between movements flown below 250 ft and at 100 ft.

  Number of movements carried out below 250 ft down to a minimum height of 100 ft in the Central Wales Tactical Training Area

  Year

  Number

  1979

  123

  1980

  171

  1981

  59

  1982

  4

  1983

  21

  1984

  64

  1985

  44

  1986

  63

  1987

  242

  1988

  60

  1989

  89

  1990

  265

  1991

  90

  1992

  174

  1993

  192

  Light Dragoons Reconnaissance Squadron
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the commanding officer of the Light Dragoons Reconnaissance Squadron, Major Oliver Ellwood, did not accompany his troops when they left base in Germany for Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Major Ellwood departed Germany for Bosnia on the first flight and with the first group of his squadron on the evening of Saturday 12 March 1994.

  Overseas Contracts
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates on which memoranda of understanding have been drawn up with overseas Governments on matters relating to defence contracts in each year since 1986.

  Mr. Aitken
  I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 9 February,Official Report, column 254.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each year since 1979, and in total at constant 1993 prices, the total value of arms sales to(a) Indonesia and (b) Tanzania.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not our policy to reveal details of arms sales to individual countries.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department(a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the percentage of this figure that are women.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 29 November 1993,Official Report, columns 371–76.

  Yugoslavia
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is(a) the total number of United Kingdom service personnel currently serving in the former Yugoslavia and on sanctions activities in the Adriatic and on the Danube and (b) his estimate of the comparable figures for other Western European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are currently some 3,300 United Kingdom service personnel deployed on the ground in the former Yugoslavia. Around 600 Royal Navy personnel are serving in the Adriatic in support of NATO-WEU sanctions monitoring and enforcement operations. The military contribution of other nations to these operations is a matter for their national Governments and for the United Nations. Due to fluctuations in the actual level of troop contribution from a wide range of countries, it is not possible at this time to estimate comparable figures for other NATO and WEU countries.

  Married Quarters
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on plans for the new management arrangements for the Ministry of Defence's married quarters estate.

  Mr. Hanley
  Following an open competition, Mr. James Michael Robinson, presently co-ordinator and chief executive of Bristol city council, has been selected for the post of chief executive designate of the new housing organisation. Mr. Robinson will take up his appointment shortly.

  Following a separate competition, Price Waterhouse has been appointed as the lead consultant to assist Mr. Robinson in developing the operational and business plans for the new organisation.

  RELIGIOUS REGISTRATIONS IN PRISON: 1994 CENSUS
  RELIGIOUS REGISTRATIONS IN PRISON: 1994 CENSUS
  PUBLIC INTEREST IMMUNITY CERTIFICATES
  PUBLIC INTEREST IMMUNITY CERTIFICATES
  MoD HOUSING: PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
  MoD HOUSING: PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT: CONTROL OF LITTER
  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT: CONTROL OF LITTER