Written Answers of 25 March 1994

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Ministerial Receptions
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the cost of receptions held by Ministers in his Department in 1993–94.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The cost of receptions held by the Parliamentary Secretary and myself in 1993–94 has been approximately £5,400. Four receptions were held: service for the citizen conference reception (£3,229); two receptions for the media—summer (£742) and Christmas (£1,122); and a Christmas reception for staff (£300).

  Furniture
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the cost of new furniture for his private office during the year 1993–94.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The cost of new furniture for my private office and that of the Parliamentary Secretary in 1993–94 was £1,558.

  Alcohol Consumption
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many bottles of(a) whisky and gin and (b) sherry and port were consumed by his private offices in 1993–94.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My guests and I have consumed less than two bottles of whisky and less than half a bottle of gin in 1993–94. No sherry or port has been consumed.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Malaysian Airlines
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the dates on which Ministers or officials from his Department, including his Department's agencies, have used the Malaysian airline MAS for each year since 1985, including this year to date, on official business; and what was the cost to his Department of each flight.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor, accompanied by his private secretary, used Malaysian Airlines on official business between 30 March and 8 April 1993. The total cost to the Department for the flights was £8,510.

  In July 1990 the keeper of the Public Record Office travelled on Malaysian Airlines to attend the International Council on Archives. This flight was paid for by the event organisers.
  432

EDUCATION

  GEST Programme
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the specific courses, the numbers following them, and the numbers successfully completing them, funded in the 1993–94 grant for education support and training programme for teachers of people with(a) hearing impairment, (b) visual impairment, (c) severe learning difficulties, (d) dyslexia, (e) other language and communication difficulties, (f) emotional and behavioural difficulties, (g) moderate learning difficulties, (h) autism, (i) physical disabilities and (j) other learning difficulties and special educational needs.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not currently held centrally. The Department does, however, monitor the provision of training and is currently conducting a survey of local education authorities' use of grant 12 of the GEST programme.

  Henrietta Barnett School
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what capital payments have been made to Henrietta Barnett voluntary—aided school in the past 10 years in respect of building works and refurbishment.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department's records show that, since January 1984, the sum of £303,000 has been paid in capital grant to the Henrietta Barnett school. A further sum of £2,771,000 has been paid in repair grant.

  Pupils with Problems
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date the first draft circulars on pupils with problems were distributed; to which categories of people they were automatically distributed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Distribution of the draft circulars began on 4 January 1994. They were sent automatically to all local education authorities, self-governing (grant-maintained) schools representative bodies, teacher unions, the main subject representative bodies, some acknowledged experts in the field and all individuals who had expressed an interest or had been involved in discussions with the Department beforehand. Some 16,000 further copies of the package have been sent free, on demand. The consultation period, which lasted 10 weeks, ended on 11 March.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps have been taken to distribute the code of practice on pupils with problems to all schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Subject to its approval by Parliament, the code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs will be distributed to all maintained schools.

  Liverpool City of Learning Campaign
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what encouragement and practical support he is giving to the Liverpool city of learning campaign; and if he will make a statement.
  433
  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend warmly applauds the initiative of the higher and further education institutions in Liverpool, and the many partners with whom they are working, to ensure that continuing education plays a vital part in the social, cultural and economic development of the city. This is a local initiative, to which local support is the key. No financial or other support has been sought from the Department; and I understand that Professor Peter Toyne, who is leading the initiative, has explicitly said that he does not seek such support.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about teachers' pay in 1994–95.

  Mr. Patten
  On 3 February the Prime Minister announced that the Government proposed to implement, with modifications, the recommendations of the School Teachers' Review Body for teachers' pay in England and Wales for 1994–95. After careful consideration of the representations I have received from the local authorities, the teachers' associations and others, I am today laying before Parliament a pay and conditions order bringing into force the increases of 2–9 per cent. which will apply from

  Full-time and part-time undergraduates

  Thousands

  Academic year

  Mathematics

  Physics

  Chemistry

  All science

  All subjects

  1979–80

  18·9

  7·5

  12·3

  208·8

  502·0

  1980–81

  21·0

  7·8

  11·5

  223·0

  518·0

  1981–82

  23·3

  8·2

  11·4

  236·9

  541·6

  1982–83

  24·7

  8·2

  11·3

  241·7

  556·0

  1983–84

  26·3

  8·3

  11·5

  245·0

  568·8

  1984–851

  28·3

  7·9

  11·1

  246·8

  572·6

  1985–86

  29·6

  7·7

  11·3

  248·0

  588·3

  1986–87

  31·7

  7·5

  11·6

  253·0

  611·6

  1987–881

  33·5

  7·3

  11·8

  256·0

  619·0

  1988–891

  37·8

  7·1

  11·7

  264·9

  640·4

  1989–90

  41·2

  7·4

  12·4

  282·0

  681·6

  1990–91

  45·8

  7·4

  13·1

  305·2

  731·1

  1991–92

  50·9

  7·9

  13·7

  338·8

  807·7

  1992–93

  55·4

  7·9

  13·9

  374·6

  892·6

  1The subject definitions changed between 1984 and 1985 for USR and between 1987 and 1988 for FESR. Series between these dates are not fully comparable.

  Sources USR and FESR surveys.

  To produce the information for each London borough can be done only at disproportionate cost.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Pergau Dam
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations underlay the decision to pay the assistance under aid and trade provision for the Pergau dam to the Tenaga power company and not to the Malaysian Government.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Malaysian Government requested that the soft loan should be made direct to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The Malaysian Government took the view that TNB was still a public body and therefore entitled to benefit from preferential loans. Her Majesty's Government considered that, in 434
  1 April. Copies of this order are being sent to all maintained schools, to all local education authorities and to the teachers' and employers' associations.

  Drafts of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 1994, which will set out the details of the changes to the pay structure which I propose should apply from 1 September, will shortly be sent to the relevant teachers' and employers' associations and to representatives of the governors of voluntary schools and grant-maintained schools. I shall be inviting their comments on the detail of the draft document and on the Department's associated circular of guidance.

  Mathematics and Science Undergraduates
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table giving for every year since 1979 the total number of undergraduates in(a) mathematics, (b) physics, (c) chemistry, (d) all science subjects and (e) all subjects.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table giving for every year since 1979, and for every London borough, the total number of undergraduates in(a) mathematics, (b) physics, (c) chemistry, (d) all science subjects and (e) all subjects.

  Mr. Boswell
  Information for England is shown in the table:

  principle, the Malaysian Government would recoup the concessionality of the loan through an enhanced share price when TNB was privatised, and therefore agreed to its request for the soft loan to be made direct with TNB. There was no commitment by the Malaysian Government to float TNB shares at any particular level and none was requested by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contracts for the Pergau dam project in Malaysia were awarded to Kris Heavy Engineering and Construction; what work was covered by sub-contracts; and if he will list(a) the dates on which the contracts were awarded and (b) their individual value.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None.
  435

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the supply of information technology to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help reunite child refugees in the former Yugoslavia with their families.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I welcome UNHCR's efforts to help reunite child refugees in the former Yugoslavia with their families. We give UNHCR substantial financial and practical support for its relief programme in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the medical situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the availability of gas and oil for essential heating purposes, and the availability of medical precursors to health authorities.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 21 March 1994]: We receive frequent reports from all United Nations agencies and ODA staff who are working on the ground throughout the former Yugoslavia. We are doing what we can to ensure that all victims of this conflict are given access to essential humanitarian supplies, including heating and medical assistance. To date we have committed some £171 million towards the humanitarian relief effort for the former Yugoslavia, including Serbia

  Average gross hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of part-time female employees whose pay was unaffected by absence: in April of each year

  Year

  Durham

  Cleveland

  Tyne and Wear

  Cumbria

  Northumberland

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1980

  1·64

  1·61

  1·56

  1·70

  1·54

  1981

  1·84

  1·80

  1·78

  1·87

  1·79

  1982

  1·89

  2·04

  1·90

  1·90

  1·97

  1983

  2·10

  2·34

  2·09

  2·17

  2·02

  1984

  2·22

  2·56

  2·19

  2·34

  2·33

  1985

  2·42

  2·64

  2·42

  2·46

  1—

  1986

  2·59

  2·63

  2·47

  2·75

  2·36

  1987

  2·75

  2·85

  2·68

  2·99

  2·53

  1988

  2·82

  3·09

  3·04

  3·13

  2·71

  1989

  3·27

  3·35

  3·20

  3·27

  3·16

  1990

  3·57

  3·72

  3·53

  3·70

  3·38

  1991

  3·95

  4·06

  3·89

  4·08

  1—

  1992

  4·15

  4·85

  4·33

  4·27

  4·00

  1993

  4·33

  4·84

  4·59

  4·32

  3·99

  1—denotes information is unavailable due to (i) an unacceptably high standard error, or (ii) no information available for that category.

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  Average gross hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of part-time adult employees whose pay was unaffected by absence: in April of each year

  Year

  Durham

  Cleveland

  Tyne and Wear

  Cumbria

  Northumberland

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1980

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1981

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1982

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1983

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1984

  2·32

  1—

  2·28

  2·33

  1—

  1985

  2·41

  1—

  2·51

  2·44

  1—

  1986

  2·68

  2·64

  2·61

  2·70

  2·42

  1987

  2·75

  2·90

  2·88

  3·03

  2·57

  1988

  2·84

  3·07

  3·20

  3·07

  2·68

  1989

  3·19

  3·39

  3·35

  3·30

  3·21

  1990

  3·61

  3·74

  3·59

  3·73

  3·45

  1991

  3·97

  4·09

  3·89

  4·20

  1—

  1992

  1—

  4·87

  4·45

  4·20

  1—

  1993

  4·34

  4·96

  4·60

  4·32

  1—

  1—denotes information is unavailable due to (i) an unacceptably high standard error, or (ii) no information available for that category.

  Source: New Earnings Survey.
  436
  and Montenegro. The bulk of our direct bilateral assistance, totalling some £92 million to date, is focused on central Bosnia where the needs are greatest.

  Sanctions applied under United Nations Security Council resolutions Nos. 757, 787 and 820 specifically exclude humanitarian supplies, subject to notification procedures in the United Nations Sanctions Committee. We have worked hard in this committee to ensure that all genuine humanitarian shipments are expedited, including the monitored delivery of heating oil by UNHCR to humanitarian institutions in the former republic of Yugoslavia.

EMPLOYMENT

  Earnings
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish tables showing the average hourly rate, excluding overtime, for part-time employees who are(a) male, (b) female, and (c) male and female for each year since 1980 in (i) Durham, (ii) Cleveland, (iii) Tyne and Wear, (iv) Cumbria, and (v) Northumberland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information available from the New Earnings Survey for part-time female employees and part-time adult employees in the counties of Durham, Cleveland, Tyne and Wear, Cumbria, and Northumberland is shown in the following table. There were too few part-time male employees in the New Earnings Survey samples for reliable figures to be produced for them.
  437
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish tables showing the average weekly and hourly earnings, exclusive of overtime, for each year since 1980, of full-time employees in the categories(a) male manual employees, (b) male non-manual employees, (c) female manual employees, (d) female non-manual employees, (e) male and female manual employees and (f) male and female non-manual employees in each of (i) Durham, (ii) Cleveland, (iii) Tyne and Wear, (iv) Cumbria, and (v) Northumberland.

  Average gross weekly earnings (excluding overtime) of full-time manual employees whose pay was unaffected by absence: in April of year

  Year

  Durham

  Cleveland

  Tyne and Wear

  Cumbria

  Northumberland

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1980

  95·7

  98·0

  90·6

  88·6

  91·6

  1981

  106·1

  110·5

  101·0

  102·8

  104·8

  1982

  110·0

  119·6

  112·2

  110·3

  109·5

  1983

  116·6

  127·0

  117·9

  119·0

  121·5

  1984

  121·7

  134·8

  124·5

  127·8

  125·1

  1985

  131·8

  142·2

  131·1

  135·5

  127·5

  1986

  139·6

  149·5

  140·3

  143·8

  133·4

  1987

  147·0

  164·7

  145·1

  163·1

  140·8

  1988

  156·2

  177·6

  155·9

  166·9

  155·8

  1989

  162·4

  191·8

  165·5

  180·0

  159·6

  1990

  180·0

  200·6

  179·4

  202·7

  174·2

  1991

  192·7

  219·7

  197·3

  219·2

  191·2

  1992

  203·8

  230·9

  217·4

  225·7

  207·2

  1993

  209·1

  244·9

  223·6

  230·5

  215·2

  Average gross weekly earnings (excluding overtime) of full-time non-manual employees whose pay was unaffected by absence: in April of year

  Year

  Durham

  Cleveland

  Tyne and Wear

  Cumbria

  Northumberland

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1980

  110·1

  115·5

  102·2

  106·2

  99·4

  1981

  129·1

  127·3

  120·7

  123·1

  113·8

  1982

  133·5

  141·2

  127·5

  131·4

  124·6

  1983

  145·1

  151·5

  139·9

  146·1

  136·4

  1984

  150·6

  159·1

  150·7

  157·2

  151·6

  1985

  163·8

  171·5

  159·0

  162·4

  160·3

  1986

  179·6

  185·4

  173·8

  173·8

  172·6

  1987

  189·0

  193·5

  184·5

  188·3

  182·1

  1988

  209·4

  212·2

  200·7

  209·3

  202·8

  1989

  226·4

  235·8

  221·4

  225·2

  229·4

  1990

  251·4

  251·6

  246·3

  251·7

  237·3

  1991

  267·0

  268·0

  267·8

  276·9

  270·4

  1992

  301·4

  299·2

  289·9

  297·2

  302·4

  1993

  314·8

  300·9

  296·3

  315·7

  299·6

  Average gross hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of full-time manual employees whose pay was unaffected by absence: in April of year

  Year

  Durham

  Cleveland

  Tyne and Wear

  Cumbria

  Northumberland

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1980

  2·42

  2·47

  2·30

  2·23

  2·32

  1981

  2·69

  2·79

  2·55

  2·55

  2·64

  1982

  2·81

  3·04

  2·86

  2·80

  2·77

  1983

  3·01

  3·28

  3·02

  3·03

  3·09

  1984

  3·14

  3·52

  3·21

  3·29

  3·22

  1985

  3·42

  3·69

  3·37

  3·48

  3·28

  1986

  3·61

  3·89

  3·59

  3·65

  3·42

  1987

  3·78

  4·27

  3·82

  4·18

  3·65

  1988

  4·08

  4·60

  4·01

  4·26

  3·96

  1989

  4·22

  4·97

  4·29

  4·62

  4·12

  1990

  4·64

  5·16

  4·65

  5·19

  4·35

  1991

  4·97

  5·61

  5·10

  5·68

  4·82

  1992

  5·33

  6·00

  5·57

  5·81

  5·35

  1993

  5·46

  6·33

  5·78

  5·96

  5·56

  Source: New Earnings Survey.
  438
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Tables 108, 109, 111 and 112 of part E of the New Earnings Survey report contain average weekly earnings, the weekly overtime component, and hourly earnings excluding overtime, for manual and non-manual male and female employees in each county. Copies of the reports for each year since 1980 can be found in the Library.

  The corresponding information for manual and non-manual adults is provided in the following tables:
  439

  Average gross hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of full-time non-manual employees whose pay was unaffected by absence: in April of year

  Year

  Durham

  Cleveland

  Tyne and Wear

  Cumbria

  Northumberland

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1980

  2·86

  3·14

  2·71

  2·85

  2·70

  1981

  3·31

  3·42

  3·18

  3·32

  3·11

  1982

  3·49

  3·73

  3·31

  3·54

  3·38

  1983

  3·93

  4·19

  3·65

  3·97

  3·69

  1984

  3·99

  4·37

  3·88

  4·23

  4·07

  1985

  4·39

  4·68

  4·15

  4·35

  4·33

  1986

  4·88

  5·05

  4·54

  4·75

  4·70

  1987

  5·02

  5·35

  4·72

  5·12

  5·03

  1988

  5·23

  5·89

  5·12

  5·68

  5·48

  1989

  5·57

  6·37

  5·88

  5·98

  6·32

  1990

  6·33

  6·51

  6·46

  6·73

  6·44

  1991

  6·74

  7·05

  7·01

  7·35

  7·47

  1992

  7·62

  7·95

  7·56

  7·75

  8·07

  1993

  8·37

  7·86

  7·81

  8·46

  8·08

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  Workstart
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to extend the workstart pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  We have decided to extend the workstart pilots for a further six months.

  There are four pilots, two run by the Employment Service in south London and east Kent, and two by training and enterprise councils in Tyneside and in Devon and Cornwall. Each offers a financial incentive to employers who recruit eligible unemployed people. All of those helped by the scheme have been unemployed for a very long time—over two years in the east Kent and Tyneside pilots, and over four years in south London and in Devon and Cornwall.

  The pilots began last summer, each with funding to place up to 250 people into employment by the end of March 1994. The rate of take up was initially slow, but it has improved significantly as the pilots have worked to match individual long-term unemployed people to specific vacancies put forward by employers.

  To date, more than 400 people have been placed in jobs supported by the scheme—more than half of them in the last two months. I believe this is a significant achievement. A great many people who have found jobs through workstart might otherwise have remained unemployed for a further long period of time.

  Each pilot will continue until the end of September to work towards the one thousand opportunities originally planned. There are, however, evident difficulties despite all the efforts of the TEC in matching very long-term unemployed people to vacancies in a rural area as large as Devon and Cornwall, and we are therefore making some changes to this pilot. I have asked the Employment Service to operate the scheme in Devon and Cornwall for the next six months, with eligibility extended to those who have been unemployed for two years or more, to see whether its wider network of local offices and the enlargement of the eligible group can improve performance.

  There are still lessons to be learnt from the extended operation of the pilots, and evaluation will continue.
  440

PRIME MINISTER

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of public appointments made by his Department in 1993 were of(a) Asians and (b) black people; and if he will list their names.

  The Prime Minister
  Sixty-nine appointments were made to bodies under Cabinet Office auspices. One was Asian (1.4 per cent.). None was black. Information on the ethnic origin of individuals is provided on a confidential basis. Names cannot therefore be given.

  D-day Celebrations
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Prime Minister what public relations advisers have been retained formally or informally by the Government to assist in the promotion of the D-day celebrations.

  The Prime Minister
  Lowe Bell Communications has been appointed by the Department of National Heritage to help organise its programme of civilian events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-day landings.

  European Union (Voting)
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 22 March, to the hon. Member for Durham, North (Mr. Radice),Official Report, column 134, which two European Union member states are being particularly difficult in opposing the United Kingdom's position on qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers after enlargement of the Union.

  The Prime Minister
  Belgium and the Netherlands have been particularly insistent that the United Kingdom must give way on the issue of qualified majority voting.

  Nursery Education
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Prime Minister what his aims are for nursery education in the United Kingdom and the role he sees for the various organisations and agencies concerned.

  The Prime Minister
  More than 90 per cent. of three and four-year-olds already receive nursery education or other pre-school provision in the public or private sector.
  441
  The Government's policy is to promote diversity, choice, quality and cost-effectiveness. Our long-term ambition is availability for all those who want it, and we are exploring possible ways of extending opportunities for the under-fives as resources allow.

  I regret that in my oral answer to the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Ashdown) in the House on Tuesday 22 March, Official Report, column 132, I inadvertently referred to universal nursery education provided in Westminster, when I had instead intended to refer to Wandsworth and its policy of offering nursery class places to all pupils during the year before they reach compulsory school age. This contrasts with the Isle of Wight which provides a negligible number of maintained nursery school and class places.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Young Offender Units
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private companies have expressed an interest in receiving from his Department the specifications on the design of, and the regime in, the proposed five secure training units for young offenders.

  Mr. Maclean
  A total of 25 United Kingdom registered companies have expressed an interest in tendering for the financing, designing, building/refurbishing, operating and maintaining of five secure training centres.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were seeking asylum in Britain at the latest available date; what were the comparable figures for(a) March 1992 and (b) March 1993; and how many current asylum seekers are (i) at liberty, (ii) in detention centres, (iii) in police cells and (iv) in prison.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  At 28 February 1994—the latest date for which the information is available—an estimated 47,100 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, were outstanding. The corresponding estimates for 28 February 1992 and 28 February 1993 were 60,400 and 43,700 respectively.

  On 21 March 1994 a total of 645 people who had sought asylum were detained. This figure includes people awaiting the setting of directions for removal following refusal of the application, as well as those whose application was under consideration or subject to appeal. Of this figure, 363 were in detention centres, 35 in police cells and 247 in prison.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers held at Campsfield house immigration detention centre have been transferred to Prison Service accommodation and for what reasons since 1 March; to which Prison Service establishments they were transferred; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Ten people who had sought asylum have been transferred from the immigration detention centre, Campsfield house to Prison Service accommodation since 1 March because of their disruptive behaviour.
  442
  Four were transferred to Birmingham prison, three to Blakenhurst, two to Bullingdon and one to Holloway.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently held in detention; and how many of them were in(a) Campsfield house immigration detention centre, (b) Harmondsworth immigration detention centre, (c) other immigration service accommodation, (d) Haslar Home Office holding centre, (e) Dover young offenders centre and (f) other Prison Service accommodation.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information shows that on 17 March 1994 a total of 654 people who had sought asylum at some stage, including those who are awaiting removal or the determination of an appeal, were held in detention. The numbers held in the establishments listed in the question were as follows:

  Number

  (a) Campsfield House Detention Centre

  174

  (b) Harmondsworth Detention Centre

  88

  (c) Other Immigration Service Accommodation

  31

  (d) Haslar Holding Centre

  91

  (e) Dover Young Offenders Institution

  23

  (f) Other Prison Service Accommodation

  211

  Total

  618

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of keeping asylum seekers in custody per head for each of the past three years; and what has been the total cost in each of those years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information does not identify separately those detention costs which relate to people who have sought asylum.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from the Fire Service concerning his proposals on fire safety requests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The review of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 was referred to in terms of reference of the current inter-departmental scrutiny on fire safety enforcement. Publication of the report of the review was intended to inform public debate on the options available and facilitate responses to the enforcement scrutiny. Interested parties have been sent copies of the report and I understand that a number of representations have been made by the Fire Service to the scrutiny team.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future responsibility of the Fire Service for all aspects of fire safety in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The fire safety enforcement scrutiny which began on 17 January is reviewing the operation and effectiveness of all fire safety legislation for which the Home Office, Department of the Environment and Health and Safety Executive have policy responsibility. The scrutiny is also examining the organisational arrangements of all bodies and agencies responsible for enforcing such legislation. Any decision about the need for changes to the legislation and those responsible for enforcing it must await the outcome of that scrutiny.
  443
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Fire Service spent on information technology and communications in 1992–93 and 1993–94, by authority; and what are the spending plans for 1994–95.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Expenditure on information technology and communications is a matter for individual authorities and detailed information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Ian Smalley
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to the United States Justice Department regarding the extradition of Mr. Ian Smalley from the United States.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. The offences for which Mr. Smalley is wanted in the United Kingdom are not covered by the US-UK extradition treaty of 1972.

  Police Service
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the police service spent on information technology and communications in 1992–93 and 1993–94, by constabulary; and what are the spending plans for 1994–95.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Details of capital expenditure on information technology and communications in 1992–93 are set out in the table. Figures for 1993–94 are not yet available. Spending plans are not held centrally.

  Capital expenditure on information technology and communications in 1992–93

  £ million

  Information Technology

  Communications

  Total

  Avon and Somerset

  328,000

  2,410,000

  2,738,000

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  205,000

  57,000

  262,000

  Cheshire

  179,000

  705,000

  884,000

  City of London

  6,000

  0

  6,000

  Cleveland

  505,000

  313,000

  818,000

  Cumbria

  64,000

  0

  64,000

  Derbyshire

  1,067,000

  130,000

  1,197,000

  Devon and Cornwall

  50,000

  1,504,000

  1,354,000

  Dorset

  368,000

  53,000

  421,000

  Durham

  277,000

  47,000

  324,000

  Dyfed-Powys

  10,000

  183,000

  193,000

  Essex

  56,000

  0

  56,000

  Gloucestershire

  278,000

  157,000

  435,000

  Greater Manchester

  3,055,000

  1,696,000

  4,751,000

  Gwent

  75,000

  155,000

  230,000

  Hampshire

  2,040,000

  0

  2,040,000

  Hertfordshire

  784,000

  269,000

  1,053,000

  Humberside

  269,000

  575,000

  844,000

  Kent

  1,186,000

  2,238,000

  3,424,000

  Lancashire

  302,000

  17,000

  319,000

  Leicestershire

  587,000

  490,000

  1,077,000

  Lincolnshire

  172,000

  204,000

  376,000

  Merseyside

  53,000

  134,000

  187,000

  Norfolk

  0

  59,000

  59,000

  Northamptonshire

  285,000

  44,000

  329,000

  Northumbria

  498,000

  1,810,000

  2,308,000

  North Wales

  52,000

  29,000

  81,000

  North Yorkshire

  1,000

  638,000

  639,000

  Nottinghamshire

  837,000

  502,000

  1,339,000

  South Wales

  1,125,000

  266,000

  1,391,000

  South Yorkshire

  1,295,000

  1,228,000

  2,523,000

  Staffordshire

  790,000

  333,000

  1,123,000

  Suffolk

  661,000

  141,000

  802,000

  Surrey

  969,000

  398,000

  1,367,000

  Sussex

  171,000

  2,170,000

  2,341,000

  444

  Information Technology

  Communications

  Total

  Thames Valley

  730,000

  208,000

  938,000

  Warwickshire

  649,000

  111,000

  760,000

  West Mercia

  198,000

  411,000

  609,000

  West Midlands

  1,101,000

  357,000

  1,458,000

  West Yorkshire

  2,940,000

  326,000

  3,266,000

  Wiltshire

  0

  0

  0

  Totals

  24,218,000

  20,368,000

  44,586,000

  C3 Division
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases he referred to the Court of Appeal following an investigation by C3 division at his Department in each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Number Of Cases Referred Under Section 17(1)(a) Of The Criminal Appeal

  Act 1968 In Respect Of Conviction

  Month

  1993

  March

  Nil

  April

  Nil

  May

  Nil

  June

  Nil

  July

  1

  August

  Nil

  September

  Nil

  October

  1

  November

  1

  December

  Nil

  1994

  January

  Nil

  February

  Nil

  12 defendants.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of alleged miscarriages of justice cases which were held by C3 division at his Department in 1993 or for the latest date available.

  Mr. Maclean
  At the beginning of 1993, 207 representations were under consideration; 663 new representations were received during the year, and 650 representations were concluded; 173 representations were under consideration at the end of the year.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time taken to investigate an alleged miscarriage of justice by his Department during 1993 or for the latest year available; and how many cases which are currently being examined by the C3 division of his Department, at the latest date available, have been outstanding for more than 12 months.

  Mr. Maclean
  Excluding cases over 12 months old, the average time taken in 1993 to complete consideration of an allegation of wrongful conviction was 43 days. On 1 January 1994, there were 23 cases which had been under consideration for more than 12 months.
  445

  Court of Appeal (Referred Cases)
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were referred to the Court of Appeal following investigation by his Department in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is provided in the following table:

  Cases referred under section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968

  Number of cases

  Number of defendants

  (a) In respect of conviction:

  1989

  3

  6

  1990

  7

  20

  1991

  10

  12

  1992

  8

  11

  1993

  8

  9

  (b) In respect of sentence only:

  1989

  7

  7

  1990

  3

  3

  1991

  4

  4

  1992

  1

  1

  1993

  1

  1

  Criminal Cases Review Authority
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards establishing the proposed criminal cases review authority recommended by the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today published a discussion paper, "Criminal Appeals and the Establishment of a Criminal Cases Review Authority". The paper sets out the issues to be settled before any new arrangements for the investigation of alleged miscarriages of justice can be put in place, discusses how these might be resolved and asks those interested to comment by the end of May. I think the paper will be of considerable interest to a great many people and I look forward to hearing their views.

  I have placed a copy of the paper in the Libraries of both Houses.

TREASURY

  Advertising
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 March,Official Report, column 330, what was the statistical basis for his statements that the advertisements increased public awareness of the circulating standard £5 coronation anniversary crown and that there were significant increases in the number of crowns issued after the advertisements appeared.

  Mr. Nelson
  The advertising campaign for the circulation standard £5 coronation anniversary crown sought to encourage sales.

  The effectiveness of the advertising was measured by sample surveys. These showed that the numbers of people who knew about the coins increased from 10 per cent. to 43 per cent. after the advertisements had been shown. The surveys also showed that most people knew that the coins
  446
  could be obtained from banks and post offices. Of those people who had seen the advertisements, 47 per cent. had seen them in the press, and 39 per cent. on television.

  The coins were issued to the public by banks and post offices and sample information given to the mint showed a fourfold increase in the demand for the coins after the television advertisements were shown.

  Bank of England
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by the economics division of the Bank of England; at what cost to the Exchequer directly or indirectly; and whether he will propose that that division should be contracted out to the private sector.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Bank of England employs around 75 people in the economics division including secretarial, clerical and information technology staff. The costs of these functions are in effect met by the bank's income from non-interest bearing deposits placed with the bank by the banking sector. There is no cost to the Exchequer.

  I understand that the bank has no plans to contract out this function.

  Economic Policies (Environmental Implications)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters in regard to the environmental implications of economic policies were discussed during his dinner with Vice-President Gore in Detroit on 14 March.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  We discussed the environmental implications of a range of economic issues.

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

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Economic and Finance Council of the European Union (ECOFIN) met in Brussels on 21 March. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council heard a report from the President of the Court of Auditors on the Community's 1992 budget. The Council agreed to recommend that the European Parliament grants a discharge to the Commission on the 1992 budget. The recommendation calls upon the Commission to report back on specific areas criticised by the Court of Auditors and on any follow-up action the Commission takes. I and others emphasised the importance the Council attached to improving financial management and tackling fraud in the Community budget. Later in the day the Commission trailed its forthcoming strategic programme for the fight against fraud in 1994. The Commission welcomed my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's proposal for action under title VI.

  The Council reached political agreement on the budget discipline decision. It will now go to the European Parliament for conciliation. The text of the decision makes clear that the guideline limit may only be increased or exceeded by unanimous decision of the Council and a 1997 deadline will be applied to the special arrangements for dealing with agrimonetary costs. The Council also agreed a declaration providing for a formula-based adjustment of the guideline to take account of enlargement.
  447
  The Council discussed the new own resources decision but agreement on this was not possible because Italy maintained a general political reserve.

  The Council discussed balance of payments assistance to the countries of central and eastern Europe. The Council agreed to provide 110 million ecus in assistance to Bulgaria in support of the proposed International Monetary Fund programme. The Commission indicated that it would put forward proposals for a further 40 million ecus of support to Bulgaria and 125 million ecus for Romania. These proposals will be considered in due course.

  The Council discussed the convergence programme of Denmark which covers the period 1994 to 2000. The Council applauded the aim of the Danish authorities to fulfil the convergence criteria outlined in the treaty on European union in 1996, although Denmark is not committed to participating in stage 3 of economic and monetary union. However, it raised questions on some elements of the programme. In particular, it considered the assumptions on the revival of private sector expenditure slightly optimistic. These assumptions play an important role in the achievement of the programme's main targets, which include a reduction in unemployment and a reduction in the fiscal deficit following an initial temporary loosening.

  The council took note of reports on follow-up work by the Commission on the White Paper and agreed to require the Economic Policy Committee to report regularly on member states' progress in implementing labour market reforms.

  As requested by the December ECOFIN the Commission presented an interim report on contacts with non-member states on the proposed withholding tax on savings in the EU. The Commission's final report is expected later this year but it was made clear to the Council that any proposals on this subject would be unlikely to secure United Kingdom agreement.

  The Council took note of an appeal by the Commission to make faster progress on the proposed directive on withholding taxes on interest and royalties.

  The Commission presented its recommendation on the taxation of non-residents, noting that it would evaluate the extent to which member states had followed the recommendation.

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

  Personal Investment Authority
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to meet Mr. Joe Palmer and Ms Colette Bowe of the Personal Investment Authority to discuss its future.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 24 March 1994]: My right hon. Friend and I meet members of the regulatory bodies from time to time.

  Economic Forecasting
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider modifications to the Treasury's methods of economic forecasting in order to take into account the impact of environmental factors on the economy.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 24 March 1994]: The Treasury will continue to use the current system of national accounts as the basis for its economic forecast. However,
  448
  the Central Statistical Office and Department of the Environment are engaged in the long term development of environmental accounts and indicators to provide information about the impact of environmental factors on the economy. This work is still in its early stages, but an illustrative set of accounts was published in Economic Trends in November 1992.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Malaysian Airlines
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the dates on which occupants of his office or officials of the Council have used the Malaysian airline MAS for each year since 1985, including this year to date, on official business; and what was the cost to his Department of each flight.

  Mr. Newton
  No occupants of my office and no Privy Council officials have used the Malaysian airline MAS in the course of official business since 1985.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Child Care Facilities
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what proposals the Committee has to provide nappy changing facilities for the children of hon. Members and staff.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  The Committee has no proposals to meet this specific requirement.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what facilities exist in the House for child care.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  None. The matter is under consideration.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Committee of the Catering Committee what is the Committee's policy on special provision for children; and how many child high chairs are available in each catering outlet at the House.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  The Committee has not so far considered any specific policy on provision for children. I understand from the Director of Catering Services that the Refreshment Department has two high chairs which are available on request.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to make provision in the current year for day care for the children of hon. Members and their staff.

  Mr. Newton
  I have no plans to make such provision. It is up to individual Members to make arrangements to suit them and their staff.

  Newspapers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what is his Committee's policy in respect of the removal of newspapers from 7 Millbank; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms.
  449

  Paternity Leave
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, whether male staff of the House are eligible for paternity leave.

  Mr. Beith
  Heads of Department may grant special leave, with or without pay, to staff for domestic or compassionate reasons, including up to two days special paid leave to fathers on the birth of a child or within a few weeks of the birth.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many occasions in the past five years he has knowingly provided incomplete information in answers to parliamentary questions other than on grounds of disproportionate cost; and on what subjects.

  Mr. Newton
  I answer parliamentary questions on the basis set out in paragraph 27 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". I also seek to comply with the Speaker's guidance on the need for brief answers to oral questions.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what were the costs attributed for answering written parliamentary questions tabled by the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) on 16 December 1991 at columns 22–25, by the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 18 January 1990 at columns 382–89, by the former hon. Member for Pembroke, Mr. Bennett on 25 May 1989 at columns 695–719, by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) on 6 May 1988 at columns 628–44, and by the former hon. Member for Darlington, Mr. Fallon on 11 May 1987 at columns 4–14.

  Mr. Newton
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 13 January 1992 at column 468, the answer to my hon. Friend, the Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) of 16 December 1991 was estimated to have cost £1,520. Figures for the other answers are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated savings to his Department arising from the provisions in the Social Security (Incapacity For Work) Bill to abolish payment to claimants with adult dependants under the age of 60 years and where there is no payment for children.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the table.

  £million

  1995–96

  15

  1996–97

  40

  Note:

  Estimates are expressed in constant 1993–94 prices and are net of offsetting expenditure on income-related benefits. They are rounded to the nearest £5 million and take account of all other changes proposed in the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill.
  450

  Sickness Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of sickness benefit now receive increases of benefit for adult dependants under the age of 60 years where there are no children in the household; how many people on sickness benefit in April 1995 he estimates will fail to receive an increase for an adult dependant after that time; and what are the estimated savings to his Department of abolishing increases for adult dependants to people on short-term incapacity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is as follows:

  (i) it is estimated that around 10,000 adult dependency increases (ADIs) of sickness benefit (SB) are paid to people with a spouse under 60 with no dependent children1;

  (ii) no one receiving an SB ADI at the point of change in April 1995 who continues to meet the existing entitlement conditions for payment of SB ADIs will have that increase withdrawn unless or until they become entitled to long-term incapacity benefit (IB) after 52 weeks incapacity;

  (iii) the proposals for payment of ADIs of short-term IB are expected to yield savings of around £10 million in 1995–96 and £15 million in 1996–972

  Notes:

  1 Estimate derived from 1 per cent. of SB recipients combined with information from the 1989, 1990 and 1991 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  2 Estimates are expressed in constant 1993–94 prices and are net of offsetting expenditure on income-related benefits. They are rounded to the nearest £5 million and take account of all other changes proposed in the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill.

  Benefits (Take-up)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when benefit take-up figures for 1990 and 1991 will become available.

  Mr. Hague
  Estimates of income related benefit take-up for 1990 and 1991 have today been published by the Government statistical service. Copies of its report have been placed in the Library.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have applied for invalidity benefit on grounds of the new disability provision within the invalidity benefit rules, by benefit agency area, since the rule change in September 1993; how many of these applications have been on grounds of bronchitis and emphysema; and, of these, how many applications have been(a) turned down and (b) accepted by benefit agency area.

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

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were currently receiving housing benefit in(a) Durham, (b) Cleveland, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) Cumbria, and (e) Northumberland, for each year from 1980; and if he will include the most recent figures for housing benefit claimants in these areas which are available.
  451
  Mr. Hague
  The available information is in the table.

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  August 93

  Durham

  57,000

  56,000

  56,000

  55,000

  56,000

  58,000

  Cleveland

  55,000

  54,000

  53,000

  54,000

  55,000

  57,000

  Tyne and Wear

  147,000

  143,000

  139,000

  138,000

  141,000

  143,000

  Cumbria

  27,000

  27,000

  27,000

  28,000

  30,000

  31,000

  Northumberland

  23,000

  22,000

  22,000

  22,000

  23,000

  23,000

  Source:

  The Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly caseload counts.

  Notes:

  1. no reliable information is available prior to 1988.

  2. estimates are included for non-responding authorities.

  3. housing benefit has been defined as rent rebate and rent allowance.

  4. all figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 and are in benefit units, not individuals; couples are counted as one unit.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the financial target of the Child Support Agency for the current year; and to what extent it has been met.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Matthew Banks, dated 25 March 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, about the financial target for the Child Support Agency in the current year.The Secretary of State set the Agency a benefit savings target of £530 million for the year 1993–94.We are not yet able to provide an assessment of the level of benefit savings that the Agency will achieve in the year because of uncertainties caused by the effect of the recent policy changes.I hope this reply is helpful.
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many absent parents have been traced by the Child Support Agency; how many are paying; and how much money has been collected.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Matthew Banks, dated 25 March 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of absent parents traced by the Child Support Agency, the number paying, and the money collected.As at 31 January, the Agency had issued maintenance enquiry forms to 381,000 absent parents. These included 19,000 absent parents whose whereabouts were not known prior to the Agency's involvement in tracing them. Two thirds of the enquiry forms have been returned leading to the completion of over 170,000 maintenance assessments.With regard to how many absent parents are paying, the Child Support Computer System records client's details on an individual case by case basis, and it is not currently configured to produce information on the total number of absent parents paying maintenance.Information on the amount of money collected is, however, available. As at 31 January, £181 million had been collected. This includes money paid via the Agency, and also directly to the parent with care for the absent parent.I hope this reply is helpful.452
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentage of those who have been contacted by the Child Support Agency have previously made no contribution to the maintenance of their first family;

  (2) what percentage of those targeted by the Child Support Agency are subject to court orders and have already been contributing to the maintenance of their first families.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive, She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Matthew Banks, dated 25 March 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about absent parents and whether they were maintaining their children before the Child Support Agency assessed their cases.Up to 31 January 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, the Agency issued maintenance enquiry forms to 381,300 absent parents, of which 170,700 have resulted in the assessment of maintenance. Figures are not kept on the number of cases in which a prior maintenance agreement existed. It is estimated however, that 56 per cent. of cases taken on will not have had an existing arrangement, and 44 per cent. will have had an existing maintenance agreement, a proportion of which would include court orders.I hope this reply is helpful.
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what money has been received as a result of the activities of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. David Ashby, dated 25 March 1994:
  I am repling to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the money collected by the Child Support Agency.As at 31 January, £181 million had been collected. This includes money paid via the Agency, and also directly to the parent with care from the absent parent.I hope this reply is helpful.
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the assessments carried out by the Child Support Agency are in respect of fathers who pay nothing towards the support of their children.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.
  453
  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. David Ashby, dated 25 March 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of absent parents who were not maintaining their children before the Child Support Agency assessed their cases.Up to 31 January 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, the Agency issued maintenance enquiry forms to 381,300 absent parents, of which 170,700 have resulted in the assessment of maintenance. Figures are not kept on the number of cases in which a prior maintenance agreement existed. It is estimated however, that 56 per cent. of cases taken on will not have had an existing arrangement.I hope this reply is helpful.

  Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will carry out a cost/benefit analysis of the proposals in the Civil rights (Disabled Persons) Bill.

  Residents of Wales

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Number of suicides1 of farmers

  9

  8

  10

  9

  6

  Suicides per 1,000 farmers

  0·26

  0·23

  0·29

  0·26

  0·17

  Suicides per 1,000 total residents

  0·08

  0·07

  0·08

  0·08

  0·09

  1Suicides and undetermined deaths of farmers, horticulturalists and farm manager

  Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total cost of the valuation exercise, including the appeals process, since the introduction of the council tax.

  Mr. Redwood
  The cost of the valuation banding exercise was £4·81 million. In 1993–94 the voted provision for the Valuation Office Agency for council tax, including the handling of appeals and new valuations, is £2·53 million. Valuation of tribunal costs for council tax appeals to date are small and cannot be separately identified.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of each appeal against council tax evaluations.

  Mr. Redwood
  The estimated average cost of dealing with each council tax banding appeal is some £115.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the standard spending assessment for education for each Welsh education authority.

  Mr. Redwood
  There is no standard spending assessment for education for Welsh local authorities. The standard spending assessments for county councils in Wales include provision for education.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult(a) hon. Members and (b) local authorities during his review of the working of (i) the Welsh Development Agency and (ii) the Development Board for Rural Wales.
  454
  Mr. Portillo
  I have been asked to reply.

  No, but I understand that the Secretary of State for Social Security is in the process of preparing a compliance cost assessment.

WALES

  Farmers (Suicides)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for the last five years(a) the number of suicides among farmers in Wales, (b) the proportion of suicide cases per 1,000 among farmers in Wales and (c) the average suicide rate for Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no plans at present for a review of the Welsh Development Agency. I have already written to hon. Members about the review of the Development Board for Rural Wales. Local authorities will also be consulted.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his practice to sign personally letters in reply to hon. Members which are written in the Welsh language.

  Mr. Redwood
  I sign all my replies to hon. Members' letters. However, I do not sign letters I do not understand. Therefore, when I reply in bilingual form to letters written in Welsh, I will sign the English version only.

  Departmental Projects
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each department within his office details of each project of less than £100,000 which has been contracted out to the private sector during 1992–93 and 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not available and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Malaysian Airlines
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the dates on which Ministers or officials from his Department, including his Department's agencies, have used the Malaysian airline MAS for each year since 1985, including this year to date, on official business; and what was the cost to his Department of each flight.
  455
  The Solictor-General
  No such flights have been made.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Management Systems
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much his Department's computer-aided facilities management systems cost; from whom they were purchased; how many person hours were required to commission them; what the estimated and actual saving has been from their operation; and to what extent the use of such systems accounts for the apparent rise in theft noted in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) of 18 February,Official Report, columns 1012–14.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department uses computerised databases to collect among other things information on the theft of equipment. They contributed some data in the answer of 18 February to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell). The Department's main asset register uses packaged software supplied by Britannia Software PLC and has been run by the Department's Accounts Services Agency in Newport since 1 April 1993. In 1993–94 the cost of operating the register is expected to be approximately £80,000. Three staff are employed on the work. The Department's executive agencies maintain their own computerised assets registers using mainly Britannia or Sun software. While it is too early to quantify the direct savings from these asset registers, availability of data is likely to highlight theft in the short term while helping to reduce it in the long term.

  Time Zones
  Dame Angela Rumbold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what estimate his Department has made of the cost to British business of the one-hour time difference between the United Kingdom and continental Europe;

  (2)what studies his Department has commissioned on the advantages for British businesses of a harmonisation of the United Kingdom's time zone with that of the rest of continental Europe; and if he will make a statement;

  (3)what representations his Department has received on the subject of Britain's time zone.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department has made no estimate of the cost to British business of the one hour time difference and has commissioned no studies on the advantages of harmonising time zones. My Department has received a small number of representations.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial resources his Department commits to(a) nuclear safeguards and (b) nuclear safety.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1993–94 my Department expects to spend £1·7 million on nuclear safeguards support programmes and £2 million on its nuclear safety and health programme.
  456

  Manufacturing Challenge
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the progress of the manufacturing challenge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I welcome the progress of this business-to-business programme in the north-east and my Department is fully supporting it. I am encouraged that a number of projects are being developed targeted on priorities identified by the regional business community and discussions are continuing between manufacturing challenge and programmes in other regions of the country.

  Rolls-Royce Aeroengine
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total expenditure on, and receipts expected from, Rolls-Royce in respect of launch aid estimated up to 1 April; and what expenditure and receipts are planned for 1994–95 to 1996–97 for Rolls-Royce.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Rolls-Royce has received £505·5 million in launch aid (at current prices) and has paid receipts of approximately £292 million up to 1 April this year.

  No launch aid expenditure for Rolls-Royce is currently planned for the years 1994–95 to 1996–97. Rolls-Royce currently estimates repayments of £82·5 million for these years.

  Chemical Industry
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library the results of his study into the competitive success of the British chemical industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have placed a copy of Dr. Jon Bird's study, "Competitiveness in the United Kingdom Chemical Industry", from which commercially sensitive information has been deleted, in the Library of the House. The study was a preliminary investigation into this important area and is being circulated for consideration by experts in the industry and will be used as a basis for further discussion between my Department and the chemical industry.

  Engineering Steel Industry
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will next be meeting the European Council of Ministers to discuss the engineering steel industry.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The next meeting of the Council of Industry Ministers is due to take place on 22 April 1994. The agenda for the meeting is not yet available, but current steel issues will be discussed.

  Radiocommunications Agency
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to increase the charge made by the Radiocommunications Agency in cases of interference to domestic broadcast reception where complainants ask the agency to inspect their equipment.

  Mr. McLouglin
  I have decided that there should be a modest increase in the charge from £31 to £35. This charge
  457
  is applicable when the private sector is unable to effect a cure and complainants ask for an inspection by the agency. It is the first rise in two years and is in line with rises in costs in the private sector.

  The work of curing domestic interference, which is often due to poor immunity to unwanted signals in television and radio receiving equipment, should be done in the first instance by the private sector. This enables the Radiocommunications Agency to devote greater resources to investigating illegal radio use and to business radio users. In 1993 the agency received 556 requests for help with interference to broadcast reception.

  There is still no charge for investigating a named source of interference.

  Collieries (Ministerial Visits)
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list which collieries he has visited and those where he has made an underground visit(a) since taking his present office and (b) since the publication of "Prospects for Coal".

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has not visited any collieries since taking up his present office. However, as Minister for Energy, I have visited Ollerton, Rufford, Whitemoor, Ashfordby and Bilsthorpe. The visits to Ashfordby and Bilsthorpe took place after the publication of the coal review White Paper and all except Bilsthorpe included a visit underground.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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 who are women.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 17 March 1994]: The information requested in respect of permanent staff in post on 16 March 1994 is set out in the following table:

  Total staff

  Percentage of staff who are female

  Grade

  Number

  Per cent.

  Grade 1

  1

  0·0

  Grade 2

  8

  0·0

  Grade 3

  52

  9·6

  Grade 4

  7

  28·6

  Assistant Comptroller (Patent Office)

  2

  0·0

  Grade 5

  204

  15·2

  Executive Director Lower Insolvency Service

  3

  0·0

  Superintendent Examiner (Patent Office)

  8

  0·0

  Reservoir Evaluation Specialist 1

  1

  0·0

  Grade 6

  181

  16·6

  Grade 7

  922

  15·0

  Insolvency Grade A

  12

  0·0

  Insolvency Grade B

  70

  5·7

  Principal Examiner (Patent Office)

  26

  7·7

  Senior Examiner (Patent Office)

  168

  10·1

  Chief Investigations Officer

  1

  0·0

  Reservoir Evaluation Specialist 2

  2

  0·0

  Petroleum Specialist 2

  1

  0·0

  Reservoir Evaluation Specialist 3

  8

  12 5

  Petroleum Specialist 3

  3

  0·0

  Senior Electrical Engineer 1

  4

  0·0

  Senior Executive Officer

  381

  17·6

  Higher Executive Officer D

  35

  45·7

  Higher Executive Officer

  1,008

  30·0

  Executive Officer

  1,521

  44·0

  458

  Total staff

  Percentage of staff who are female

  Grade

  Number

  Per cent

  Administrative Trainee

  13

  30·8

  Senior Economic Assistant

  15

  60·0

  Economic Assistant

  5

  20·0

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  4

  50·0

  Assistant Statistician

  6

  33·3

  Senior Information Officer

  18

  44·4

  Information Officer

  28

  32·1

  Assistant Information Officer

  13

  38·5

  Higher Graphics Officer

  1

  100·0

  Legal Officer

  5

  60·0

  Senior Librarian

  8

  50·0

  Librarian

  20

  50·0

  Assistant Librarian

  27

  59·3

  Photographic Officer

  1

  0·0

  Process and General Supervisory C

  2

  0·0

  Process and General Supervisory D

  2

  0·0

  Senior Scientific Officer

  296

  12·5

  Higher Scientific Officer

  335

  25·4

  Scientific Officer

  181

  32·6

  Senior Personal Secretary

  45

  97·8

  Senior Professional and Technical Officer

  99

  1·0

  Higher Professional and Technical Officer

  81

  4·9

  Professional and Technical Officer

  28

  3·6

  Professional and Technical Officer IV

  1

  0·0

  Senior Telecommunications Technical Officer

  13

  0·0

  Higher Telecommunications Technical Officer

  44

  0·0

  Telecommunications Technical Officer

  110

  0·0

  Insolvency Grade C

  132

  23·5

  Insolvency grade D

  311

  31·8

  Insolvency grade E

  138

  53·6

  Examiner (patent office)

  32

  9·4

  Translator I

  2

  0

  Translator II

  9

  77·8

  Translator III

  1

  0

  Deputy chief investigations officer

  8

  0

  Investigations officer

  42

  2·4

  Communications officer IV

  3

  66·7

  Chief typing manager

  6

  83·3

  Typing manager

  29

  100

  Support manager 1

  1

  0

  Legal trainee

  0

  0

  Higher scientific officer D

  11

  36·4

  Senior management trainee

  3

  33·3

  Chief gas examiner

  1

  0

  Reservoir evaluation specialist 4

  20

  35

  Petroleum specialist 4

  9

  0

  Area gas examiner

  1

  100

  Reservoir evaluation specialist 5

  2

  100

  Petroleum specialist 5

  2

  0

  Gas examiner

  4

  0

  Chief gas meter examiner

  1

  0

  Assistant chief gas meter examiner

  1

  0

  Gas meter examiner 1

  2

  0

  Gas meter examiner 2

  9

  0

  Gas meter examiner 3

  10

  0

  Higher mapping and charting officer

  1

  0

  Administrative officer

  2,192

  59·5

  Administrative assistant

  1,103

  57·8

  Graphics officer

  2

  100

  Support manager 2

  9

  44·4

  Support manager 3

  38

  71·1

  Support grade 1

  134

  75·4

  Support grade 2

  653

  65·8

  Senior photographer

  2

  0

  Photographer

  1

  0

  Industrial

  140

  5·7

  Technical grade 1

  9

  22·2

  Part time graduate trainee

  6

  16·7

  Technican 2A

  0

  0

  Assistant telecommunications technical officer

  23

  0

  Trainee telecommunications technical officer

  1

  100

  Personal secretary

  353

  99·4

  Typist

  438

  98·4

  459

  Total staff

  Percentage of staff who are female

  Grade

  Number

  Percent.

  Assistant scientific officer

  87

  41·4

  Graphics technical grade

  1

  100

  Mapping and charting officer

  3

  0

  Total

  12,016

  43·2

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Arts Council Membership
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he will announce the membership of the Arts Council of England.

  Mr. Brooke
  In December I announced that Lord Gowrie would be the first chairman of the Arts Council of England. I have today appointed the following to the council:

  Professor Christopher Frayling

  Maggie Guillebaud

  Peter Gummer

  Sir Ernest Hall

  Thelma Holt

  Michael Holroyd

  Clive Priestley

  Stella Robinson

  Prudence Skene

  Robert Southgate

  Announcements on the remaining members will be made in due course. I have also written to Lord Gowrie setting out the main tasks and objectives for the chairman and council, and a copy of that letter has been placed in the Library.

  Whole time equivalent

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Total nursing and midwifery staff plus project 2000

  398,050

  100·0

  398,360

  100·0

  402,700

  100·0

  397,080

  100·0

  Qualified nursing and midwifery staff

  242,190

  60·8

  242,340

  60·8

  243,250

  60·4

  246,570

  62·1

  Unqualified nursing and midwifery staff

  90,880

  22·8

  90,450

  22·7

  90,550

  22·5

  90,850

  22·9

  Learners

  63,310

  15·9

  58,840

  14·8

  47,340

  11·8

  34,740

  8·7

  Others

  1,680

  0·4

  3,730

  0·9

  11,050

  2·7

  6,630

  1·7

  Project 2000

  —

  —

  3,000

  0·8

  10,500

  2·6

  18,300

  4·6

  The number of qualified staff has gone up both as an absolute figure and as a proportion of the overall NHS work force.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the expenditure on the London ambulance service for each of the past five years; what is the budget for the current year and for the next financial year; what representations have been made to him by the London ambulance service about the adequacy of such expenditure; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government are committed to providing sufficient revenue and capital to the London ambulance service to ensure an improving ambulance service in the capital.
  460

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the secretary of state for National Heritage how many contracts his Department has had consultants; and what has been the total cost in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 23 March 1994]: Since it was established in April 1992, my Department and its two agencies have entered into 58 contracts with consultants. The cost has been £5·13 million in 1992–93 and £3·15 million in 1993–94.

HEALTH

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for the last 12 months how many parliamentary questions she has referred to one of her Department's agencies for answer; and what percentage of parliamentary questions to her Department this represents.

  Mr. Sackville
  No such referrals have been made during the last 12 months.

  Nurses and Midwives
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the numbers of qualified NHS nurses and midwives, unqualified NHS nursing staff and nursing learners representing these as a percentage of the total NHS nursing and midwifery staff, including Project 2000 students for each year since 1989.

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

  The London ambulance revenue service identifies revenue as:

  Year

  Including capital charges £million

  Excluding capital charges £million

  Actual

  1988–89

  n/a

  46.3

  1989–90

  n/a

  153.0

  1990–91

  n/a

  51.3

  1991–92

  66.5

  59.8

  1992–93

  72.2

  64.0

  Budget

  1993–94

  75.5

  67.8

  1994–95

  78.3

  71.0

  11989–90 includes additional costs during the ambulance dispute.

  The LAS received extra revenue of £6·8 million in 1993–94, and in this coming financial year (1994–95) an

  461
  extra £14·8 million will be invested in the LAS, tied to specific improvements in performance. The extra resources will enable the LAS to recruit an additional 240 front-line staff and will also buy 120 new ambulances, replacing a third of its fleet.

  Spongiform Encephalopathies
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many recorded human deaths from spongiform encephalopathies there have been in the United Kingdom in each year since 1964; and how many of each were diagnosed as being specifically Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

  Mr. Sackville
  Surveillance of human spongiform encephalopathies (SEs) in the United Kingdom is primarily concerned with the identification of cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, since 1990 when the UK CJD surveillance unit was established, there have been improvements in the methods of identification of Gerstmann-Strausser-Scheinker syndrome, an extremely rare familial form of human SE. There have also been considerable advances in the methods of identification of human SEs generally since the 1960s.

  The tables show recorded cases of CJD and GSS from 1964–1993. During this period there have been five separate studies using differing methodologies. The figures are therefore not directly comparable.

  Table 1: CJD by year of onset

  (Retrospective study: England and Wales)

  Year

  Number of cases

  1964

  4

  1965

  1

  1966

  4

  1967

  1

  1968

  7

  1969

  4

  Total

  21

  Table 2: Deaths from definite and probable cases of CJD

  (Retrospective study: England and Wales)

  Year

  Number of cases

  1970

  10

  1971

  13

  1972

  9

  1973

  16

  1974

  17

  1975

  8

  1976

  16

  1977

  19

  1978

  25

  1979

  16

  Total

  149

  Table 3: Deaths from definite and probable cases of CJD and incidence of GSS

  (Prospective study: England and Wales)

  Year

  Number of cases

  CJD

  GSS

  1980

  23

  1

  1981

  22

  —

  1982

  24

  —

  1983

  21

  —

  1984

  32

  —

  Total

  122

  1

  462

  Table 4: Deaths from definite and probable and incidence of GSS (United Kingdom retrospective study by CJD surveillance unit)

  Year

  Number of cases

  CJD

  GSS

  1985

  28

  —

  1986

  26

  —

  1987

  22

  1

  1988

  23

  —

  1989

  31

  —

  Total

  130

  1

  Table 5: Deaths from definite and probable cases of CJD and incidence of GSS (ongoing United Kingdom prospective study by CJD surveillance unit from 1 May 1990)

  Year

  Number of cases

  CJD

  GSS

  1990

  130

  —

  1991

  36

  —

  1992

  49

  2

  1993

  229

  32

  Total

  144

  4

  112 from 1 January to 30 April. 18 from 1 May to 31 December.

  2Provisional total

  3One of these patients is still alive

  The final figure for 1993 may show some increase over the provisional total as diagnoses of people dying in 1993 is confirmed restrospectively. It is most unlikely, however, to reach the 1992 figure.

  Hospital and Community Services
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many written complaints have been made relating to hospital and community services by type of complaint and method of investigation in each year since 1979 to the latest available date.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Details for England about written complaints for hospital and community services from 1981 to 1991–92 will be placed in the Library.

  The increase over the last 10 years shows the impact of three factors. Firstly, the greater awareness of the complaints procedure; secondly, the reinforcement in the patients charter of the right to have a complaint dealt with thoroughly and quickly; thirdly, an increase in willingness on the part of the health service personnel to listen to the patient.

  General Practitioners
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to commission a medical audit of the quality of treatment being received by(a) patients of fundholding general practitioner practices and (b) patients of non-fundholding general practitioner practices, and what studies have already been carried out.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have no plans to do so.

  Limb Defects
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will widen the Government's examination of the incidence of babies born with missing hands in
  463
  coastal areas to include evidence of similar defects in Germany; and if she will involve the Medical Research Council in this wider inquiry;

  (2) when the inquiry announced by the Government into the incidence of babies born with deformed or missing hands in coastal areas will announce its findings; and what further action her Department has taken regarding this issue.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 1 March at column 678. In the light of the reports of similar limb defects in the German North sea coastal region, the Department is in contact with the relevant German authorities for further information.

  Commercially Sponsored Posts
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions exist and what guidance has been issued regarding commercially sponsored posts in the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Guidance about commercially sponsored posts in the national health service is contained in departmental circular HSG(93)5, copies of which are available in the Library.

  National Continence Week
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what projects her Department instigated in respect of national continence week.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department granted extra funding to the Continence Foundation to set up a full-time telephone helpline for members of the public. Nearly 2 million posters, leaflets and stickers advertising this helpline and encouraging sufferers to seek treatment were distributed. A national newspaper advertising campaign carried the same message. The Department also sponsored a national conference of women's organisations on "Women and Continence" and helped continence advisers and commercial organisations to run local events around the country.

  Women Employees
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women returning to work in the NHS in each of the last five years following maternity leave or a career break returned to a job of similar status to that which they left; and what measures she has taken in that time to ensure that this takes place.

  Chairmen of family health services authorities

  East Anglian Region

  Cambridge

  Mrs. M. Scott

  Business consultant

  Norfolk

  Mrs. J. Hopwood

  Former research scientist

  Suffolk

  Mrs. J. Spicer

  Housewife

  Mersey Region

  Liverpool

  Mrs. R. Hawley

  Housewife

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  Mr. J. Dray

  Company director

  Sefton

  Mr. C. Darley

  Former chief executive

  Wirral

  Mrs. M Pearce

  Voluntary worker

  Cheshire

  Mr. R. Brown

  Pharmacist

  North East Thames Region

  Barking and Havering

  Lady C. Rhys-Williams

  Housewife

  Camden and Islington

  Mrs. A. Burgess

  Head teacher

  City and East London

  Mr. N. Warner

  Management consultant

  Enfield and Haringey

  Mr. H. B. Bladder

  Solicitor

  464
  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  General Whitley Council agreements (sections 6 and 10 of the council's handbook) provide for an employee who has taken maternity leave or a career break to return to a job of similar status. Copies of the handbook are available in the Library.

  Ambulance Service
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ambulance service spent on information technology and communications in 1992–93 and 1993–94, by authority; and what are the spending plans for 1994–95.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Hospital Closures, London
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by(a) health authority, (b) borough and (c) year all London hospitals closed since 1978.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is available centrally only on hospital closures since 1988 which were initially contested by community health councils and remained contested throughout the consultation period. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 23 March at cols.231–32.

  Appointments (FHSAs)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give details of all individuals appointed to chair family health services authorities and serve as non-executive directors, listing their occupation and sex; and if she will list any known political affiliations of those appointed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The names of family health services authority chairmen and their occupations at the time of their appointment, where known, are listed. Regional health authorities are responsible for the appointment of the non-executive members. The political affiliation of chairmen and non-executive members of health authorities plays no part in their appointment and would be known at the time of appointment only if an appointee was pursuing a public career at that time. Current political affiliations are not known.
  465

  Essex

  Maj. Gen. R. Wall

  Management consultant

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  Mr. P. Brokenshire

  Senior auditor

  Northern Region

  Cleveland

  Mr. T. O'Connor

  Company chairman

  Cumbria

  Mr. J. Wills

  Company director

  Durham

  Mr. I. Bonas

  Company chairman

  Gateshead

  Mrs. B. Balls

  Economist

  Newcastle

  Mr. A. Griffiths

  Marine consultant

  North Tyneside

  Mrs. K. Johnston

  Company director

  Northumberland

  Dr. C. Robinson

  Lecturer

  South Tyneside

  Mr. A. Brown

  Solicitor

  Sunderland

  Mr. J. Brown

  Solicitor

  North Western Region

  Bolton

  Mrs. L. Pickford

  Company director

  Bury

  Mr. B. Wood

  University lecturer

  Lancashire

  Mr. C. Jeanes

  Managing director

  Manchester

  Professor Joan Higgins

  University professor

  Oldham

  Mr. M. Farrar

  Headteacher

  Rochdale

  Mr. L. Price

  Retired social services director

  Salford

  Mrs. B. Wilkinson

  College lecturer

  Stockport

  Mr. S. McGeorge

  Retired company director

  Tameside

  Mrs. A. Corrie

  Lecturer

  Trafford

  Mr. D. Higginbottom

  Solicitor

  Wigan

  Mr. B. Edmond

  Chemical manufacturer

  North West Thames Region

  Barnet

  Baroness Miller

  Company chairman

  Bedfordshire

  Dr. A. Wood

  Company director

  Brent and Harrow

  Mrs. S. Child

  Former publisher

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  Mrs. J. Stern

  Company director

  Hertfordshire

  Lady J. Staughton

  —

  Hillingdon

  Mr. D. Bucks

  Businessman

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminister

  Mr. R. Davies

  Company director

  Oxford Region

  Berkshire

  Mr. G. Odds

  Surveyor/estate manager

  Northamptonshire

  Mrs. S. Barnes

  Company director

  Buckinghamshire

  Mr. P. Gell

  Chartered accountant

  Oxfordshire

  Mrs. D. Levy

  Chairman/chief executive

  South East Thames Region

  East Sussex

  Mrs. J. Darlington

  Company chairman

  Greenwich and Bexley

  Mrs. J. Rodin

  Projects officer

  Kent

  Mr. M. Rowley

  Company chairman

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  Mr. J. Fraser

  —

  Bromley

  Mrs. C. McLoughlin

  Management consultant

  South Western Region

  Avon

  Mrs. M. Perriam

  Teacher

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  Mr. M. Varcoe

  Chartered accountant

  Devon

  Rev. Mrs. M. Gent

  Parish deacon

  Gloucestershire

  Mr. C. Weaver

  Funeral director

  Somerset

  (Vacancy)

  —

  South West Thames Region

  Croydon

  Mrs. M. James

  Former teacher

  Kingston and Richmond

  Mr. D. Banks

  Client services director

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  Mr. J. Spiers

  Managing director

  Surrey

  Mrs. M. McNaughton

  Housewife

  West Sussex

  Mrs. A. Swain

  Education consultant

  Trent Region

  Barnsley

  Mrs. P. Acklam

  Accountancy administator

  Derbyshire

  Mr. M. Boissier

  Group personnel controller

  Doncaster

  Mr. K. Jones

  Deputy director of mining

  Leicestershire

  Dr. G. Edmondson-Jones

  Retired GP

  Lincolnshire

  Mr. P. Pumfrey

  Retired chartered surveyor

  Rotherham

  Mr. P. Andrew

  Chief executive

  Nottinghamshire

  Mr. M. Dassau

  Retired clothes manufacturer

  Sheffield

  Mrs. L. Gladwin

  Proprietor of independent social work practice

  466 467

  Wessex Region

  Dorset

  Mrs. W. Mulliner

  Voluntary worker

  Hampshire

  Mr. D. Paterson

  Barrister

  Isle of Wight

  Dr. Dale Ferguson-Hudson

  Senior lecturer

  Wiltshire

  Ms. J. Gibbons

  West Midlands Region

  Birmingham

  Mrs. C. Vaughan-Griffiths

  Management consultant

  Coventry

  Miss C. Andrew

  Solictor

  Dudley

  Mr. A. Waldron

  Solicitor

  Hereford and Worcester

  Mrs. H. Metcalfe

  Bookkeeper

  Sandwell

  Mr. A. Sealey

  Company director

  Shropshire

  Mr. Z. Nilski

  Lecturer

  Solihull

  Mrs. A. Woolley

  Company director

  Staffordshire

  Mr. P. Jones

  Managing director

  Walsall

  Mr. J. Howell

  Chartered surveyor

  Warwickshire

  Mr. R Gardener

  Compliance officer

  Wolverhampton

  Ms T. Evans

  Educationalist

  Yorkshire Region

  Bradford

  Mr. J. Fergusson

  Chartered accountant

  Calderdale

  Mr. B. Calverley

  Retired NHS manager

  Humberside

  Dr. T. Bolton

  General practioner

  Kirklees

  Mr. K. Sarathy

  Deputy headteacher

  Leeds

  Professor B. Jewell

  University professor

  North Yorkshire

  Mr. J. Whitworth

  Managing director

  Wakefield

  Mr. D. Travis

  Administrator

  Directors
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give a breakdown, by health authority or NHS trust, of the numbers of directors, both executive and non-executive, and their chairmen who are currently aged over 70 years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 24 March 1994]: Currently there are four chairmen and 12 non-executive directors of NHS trusts and four chairmen of national health service authorities who are aged 70 or over.

  Regional Health Authority Headquarters
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the tenure of the North West regional health authority headquarters premises, Gateway house, Piccadilly, Manchester;

  (2) what is the tenure of the Merseyside regional health authority headquarters premises, Hamilton house., Pall Mall, Liverpool.

  Mr. Sackville
  [pursuant to his answer, 22 February, column 207]: I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read
  "Hamilton house is the freehold property of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Gateway house is held on lease until February 2010."

DEFENCE

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current total estimated cost of the new capital works projects at AWE Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  The current total estimated cost of the major programme of capital works at AWE Aldermaston is £1·2 billion.
  468
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the plutonium processing laboratories in the A90 complex at AWE Aldermaston are expected to become operational.

  Mr. Aitken
  The radioactive commissioning of the plutonium processing laboratories in the A90 complex commenced on 15 March 1994. This activity will be phased over some two years during which time plutonium processing will progressively transfer from existing facilities.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated total cost of rectifying the problems in the A91 building at AWE Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  The cost of rectifying the problems in the A91 building at AWE Aldermaston is in the region of £15 million exclusive of value added tax.

  It is not our normal practice to disclose commercially confidential information, which is given in this instance with the agreement of the contractor.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long the A1 building at AWE Aldermaston is to remain operational under current plans.

  Mr. Aitken
  Under current plans it is expected that the Al building at AWE Aldermaston will remain operational until early 1996.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long the A45 building at AWE Aldermaston is to remain operational under current plans.

  Mr. Aitken
  The majority of work currently in progress at A45 will progressively transfer to A90, as it becomes operational over the next two years. Under these plans A45 will remain in operation for the foreseeable future.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the A91 building at AWE Aldermaston to become fully operational.

  Mr. Aitken
  The A91 building at AWE Aldermaston is expected to become fully operational in 1997.
  469

  PINDAR Bunker
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the expenditure on the PINDAR bunker in each year of design and construction work.

  Mr. Aitken
  Details of expenditure for project PINDAR civil works by financial year are as follows:

  £ million

  1984–85

  0·1

  1985–86

  0·6

  1986–87

  2·4

  1987–88

  6·6

  1988–89

  6·7

  1989–90

  9·3

  1990–91

  24·5

  1991–92

  7·6

  1992–93

  8·2

  1993–94

  0·3

  Total

  66·3

  Submarine Reactor Cores
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected timetable for the introduction into service of the replacements for the used core transport package flasks that were used by his Department for the transport of submarine reactor cores.

  Mr. Aitken
  The contract for the design and build of new purpose built transportation containers for the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine used fuel is expected to be placed later this year with the first delivery some three years later. For the interim period a contract was placed in December last year to procure two commercial containers which we expect should allow licensed transportation to resume later this year.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of delivery of vehicles and containers for the transport and storage of nuclear weapons in the former Soviet Union.

  Mr. Aitken
  Good progress is being made towards the provision of 250 nuclear weapons containers (supercon-tainers) and 20 vehicles which are being gifted to Russia to help with the disposal of surplus nuclear weapons. We expect deliveries of the first equipment to commence shortly. The estimated cost of the total package is £35 million at current prices.

  Polaris
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any decisions have yet been taken on the methods of disposal for United Kingdom Polaris missiles and their components.

  Mr. Aitken
  Decisions have now been taken on the methods of disposal for most elements of United Kingdom Polaris missiles. Surplus components are being disposed of to best advantage; where this involves disposal for scrap, relevant legislation and conventions are being fully observed.
  470

  Strategic Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the terms strategic and sub-strategic as currently used by his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 23 March at column 290.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current estimated cost of procurement of the European fighter aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Aitken
  The estimated total project cost comprising the costs of development, production and integrated logistic support, (assuming a United Kingdom offtake of 250 aircraft) is some £13·45 billion at September 1993 prices.

  Ammunition
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to providing ammunition fitted with armour piercing, fin stabilised, discarding sabots to British tank and artillery forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Fin stabilised, discarding sabot ammunition has been in service with British tank regiments since 1982. It is not suitable for use by artillery forces.

  Defence Sales
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each Government-to-Government or memorandum of understanding defence sales agreement since 1979, with the date of signing and indicating in each case whether all or part of the sales under the agreement had Crown status and were exempt from export licence controls; and in each such case how exemptions were reported to Parliament.

  Mr. Aitken
  Exports of defence equipment by Her Majesty's Government to:(a) the Government of Saudi Arabia, under the terms of the Al-Yamamah arrangement signed in 1985, 1986 and 1988, and (b) to the Government of Kuwait under the memorandum of understanding signed on 2 December 1992, have Crown status. As such, they do not require a licence. They are, however, assessed under the normal foreign and defence criteria.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which defence sales carried out since 1979 on behalf of International Military Services Ltd., Defence Sales Export Organisation, or Royal Ordnance or British Aerospace whilst in public ownership, carried exemptions from export licence controls.

  Mr. Aitken
  Only those sales made by Royal Ordnance through the sales supply organisations of the Defence Export Services Organisation had Crown status. Although no export licences were required, such exports took account of foreign and defence policy considerations.
  471

  Arms Transportation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any Royal Air Force VC-10 cargo plane has been used to transport arms to Iran since 1979.

  Mr. Aitken No.

  Depleted Uranium Shells
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which countries the depleted uranium imported by his Department for use in anti-tank penetrator shells originated; and what collaborative research is being undertaken with other countries that manufacture such shells.

  Mr. Aitken
  The depleted uranium used in my Department's anti-tank ammunition development programmes has been imported, by the contractors, from the United States of America.

  My Department has undertaken a collaborative research programme with the United States, France and Germany to examine the feasibility of developing a 140 mm tank round. As part of the programme depleted uranium penetrators have been considered. This programme is now almost complete.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Defence what information his Department gathered as a result of the research conducted by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment into prophylactic protection against chemical and germ weapons; and how this was used to help protect British service men in Operation Granby.

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

  Letter from G.Pearson to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 25 March 1994.

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what information his Department gathered as a result of the research conducted by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment into protection against chemical and germ weapons; and how this was used to help protect British Service Personnel in Operation GRANBY 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 UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

  3. Effective protective measures against chemical and biological weapons necessitate a portfolio of capabilities:

  (a) Hazard Assessment. The implications and evaluation of the potential hazard should such agents and weapons be utilised against British forces.

  (b) Detection and Warning. The detection of an attack prior 'to inhalation of a harmful concentration and the provision of warning to units located in the downwind hazard area. Identification of the nature of the particular agent facilitates the assessment of the downwind hazard area and of the duration of the hazard and enables appropriate medical countermeasures to be taken.

  472

  (c) Physical Protection. The provision of effective protection for the respiratory tract and for the body. This may be provided either as individual protection or collective protection ie the provision of facilities supplied with filtered air in which individual protection does not need to be worn.

  (d) Contamination Control. Some agents such as mustard and some of the nerve agents are persistent and present a long term hazard. Action needs to be taken to decontaminate personnel and equipment contaminated with such agents.

  (e) Medical Countermeasures. The provision of prophy-lactic or pretreatment measures which enhance the ability of the body to withstand attack by chemical orbiological agents and the provision of therapy after exposure to chemical or biological agents.

  4. The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has over the years built up a group of scientists with the expertise in these areas and skills to apply their scientific and technical knowledge to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with the best possible protective measures.

  5. When the United Kingdom sent its forces to the Gulf in Operation GRANBY it was with the knowledge that they would be facing Iraqi forces experienced in the use of chemical weapons. It was also assessed that Iraq had the capability to manufacture and use biological weapons.

  6. During the Gulf conflict of late 1990/early 1991 the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down was directly engaged in ensuring that the British Service personnel were as well protected as possible against the possible use of chemical or biological weapons by Iraq. Some two thirds of the senior staff of the Establishment were involved directly in providing advice at least part of the time.

  7. Our assistance covered a wide range of areas:

  (a) Hazard assessment. Advice was provided on the potential implications should Iraq use chemical or biological weapons. Information was provided for example on the effect of the local environment on the duration of the hazard and on the optimum deployment of detection systems to give the most effective warning of such attacks.

  (b) Detection.The existing detection equipment was extended so as to provide audible warning should chemical agents be used against UK Armed Forces. The capabilities of in-service equipment were extended so that all chemical agents which Iraq was assessed to posses would be detected. An expedient biological detection system was developed and deployed to the Gulf together with a supplementary identification capability. In addition, kits for the sampling and identification of biological and chemical agents were produced and deployed so that in the event of an attack, appropriate samples would have been taken and returned to this Establishment for analysis.

  (c) Protection. Advice was given on the optimum use of available physical protective measures and on collective protection including the incorporation of air conditioning systems.

  (d) Contamination management. Advice was provided on the likely duration of the hazard had chemical or biological weapons been used by Iraq and consequently on how that hazard might have been further reduced by appropriate decontamination techniques.

  (e) Medical countermeasures.The effectiveness of exist-ing medical countermeasures against agents assessed to be possessed by Iraq were evaluated and confirmed. In addition, advice was provided on appropriate medical countermeasures to be taken against the potential use of biological weapons by Iraq.

  8. The contributions made by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment ensured that the protection available to the British Armed Forces was the best possible.

  Malaysian Airlines
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates on which Ministers or officials from his Department, including his Department's agencies, have used the Malaysian airline MAS for each
  473
  year since 1985, including this year to date, on official business; and what was the cost to his Department of each flight.

  Mr. Aitken
  Detailed information of this nature is not readily available without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Atomic Weapons Research Establishment
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the contractorisation of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment is included in the £850 million of civil service work won by private companies which was announced on 7 March.

  Mr. Aitken
  Yes.

  Tornado Aircraft
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the leasing of Tornado F3 aircraft to Italy.

  Mr. Aitken
  We are discussing with the Italian MOD detailed arrangements for the lease of 26 RAF Tornado F3 aircraft to the Italian air force. I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

  Quality Assurance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to withdraw recognition of defence contractors claiming quality management assurance systems certification, which has been certified by institutions or companies which are not qualified to offer such certification by the National Association of Certification Control Bodies.

  Mr. Aitken
  The MOD recognises only contractors quality management system certifications which have either been:

  (a) granted by certification bodies who hold appropriate accreditation through the National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies (NACCB), or

  BR staff numbers

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  As at 26 February 1994

  Salaried

  Administrative, technical and clerical staff

  40,548

  49,068

  49,225

  49,711

  Police

  1,620

  1,644

  1,654

  1,729

  Total Salaried

  42,168

  50,712

  50,879

  51,440

  Wages

  Drivers and other footplate staff

  16,919

  16,675

  15,765

  14,968

  Guards and other train staff

  8,210

  7,679

  7,497

  6,887

  Train catering staff

  1,756

  1,686

  1,623

  1,847

  Signalling staff (including crossing keepers)

  5,554

  5,684

  5,523

  5,348

  Staff employed in stations, yards and depots

  16,438

  15,534

  13,780

  12,765

  Staff employed on carriage and wagon examination

  468

  441

  342

  305

  Permanent way, signal and telecommunications staff

  21,515

  16,370

  13,683

  12,414

  Workshop staff

  15,237

  15,090

  13,698

  13,090

  Miscellaneous staff

  3,165

  3,189

  2,002

  1,564

  Total Wages

  89,262

  82,348

  73,913

  69,188

  Total all staff

  131,430

  133,060

  124,792

  120,628

  BR Property Board

  651

  638

  581

  630

  BR Maintenance Ltd.

  3,908

  3,895

  3,413

  3,358

  Transmark Ltd.

  89

  109

  104

  0

  Meldon Quarry Ltd.

  64

  71

  47

  26

  BR Pension Trustee Co. Ltd.

  21

  21

  22

  22

  BR Telecommunications Ltd.

  17

  26

  704

  762

  474
  (b)subject to assessment by MOD, or
  (c)can be shown to be acceptable to another NATO MOD.

  Armed Forces (Complement)
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what adjustments have been made to the size of the British armed forces since April 1992 due to changed strategic circumstances.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Government's plans for force restructuring over the time scale given in the question are detailed in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1992 (Cm 1981) and 1993 (Cm 2270) and subsequent ministerial statements.

  "Options for Change"
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a declassified version of the paper written by the former Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Mr. Alan Clark, as part of the "Options for Change" exercise.

  Mr. Aitken
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail Staff
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of employees employed by British Rail in all staff categories in each financial year from 1990–91; and what are the projections for(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97.

  Mr. Freeman
  The table gives figures for 1990–91 to 1992–93 and the latest figures for 1993–94. Projections for future years are not available.
  475

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  As at 26 February 1994

  European Passenger Services Ltd.

  97

  181

  327

  868

  GROUP TOTAL

  136,277

  138,001

  129,990

  126,294

  Malaysian Airlines
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates on which Ministers or officials from his Department, including his Department's agencies, have used the Malaysian airline MAS for each year since 1985, including this year to date, on official business; and what was the cost to his Department of each flight.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The information requested is not available in the form requested back to 1985. However, Ministers in this Department have not used Malaysian Airlines Services (MAS) during the last two years.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total cost to public funds of rail privatisation to date.

  Mr. Freeman
  At March 31, the total cost to public funds of rail privatisation incurred by the Department of Transport, the Office of the Rail Regulator, the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising, British Rail and Railtrack, is expected to be around £92 million. The Government have made full financial provision to BR and Railtrack to meet their costs so there is no question of these costs affecting fares or the quality of passenger services. Privatisation costs are small in relation to the size of the railway businesses involved, the massive reorganisation taking place and the benefits that this will bring.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the requirements laid down by United Kingdom and EC legislation for the fitting and wearing of seat belts in minibuses and coaches; which legislation applies to each requirement; and if he will make a statement on the possibility of further requirements being legislated for.

  Mr. Key
  Regulations 46 and 47 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1078) as amended, have required seat belts to be fitted to the front seats of minibuses and exposed forward-facing seats of coaches, since 1 October 1988. EC directives 76/115, 81/575, 82/318 and 90/629 in respect of seat belt anchorages and 77/541, 81/576, 82/319 and 90/628 in respect of seat belts, make, for new vehicles, similar provisions on seat belt fitment to the current United Kingdom regulations.

  United Kingdom legislation (SI 1992/3105, SI 1993/31 and SI 1993/176) requires seat belts to be used wherever they are available in the front seats of all vehicles and in the rear seats of minibuses with an unladen weight of 2,540kg or less. It is illegal to carry an unrestrained child in the front seat of any vehicle. EC Directive 91/671 requires seat belts to be used in the front seats of vehicles of less than 3.5 tonnes and, where fitted, in the rear seats of cars with up to 8 passenger seats.
  476
  We are considering the technical and cost implications of fitting seat belts to all seats in minibuses and coaches and hope to publish the conclusions shortly.

  Passengers Charter
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 104, concerning the passengers charter, whether rail franchisees will be required in their own passengers charters to commit themselves to standards of service, and levels of compensation to passengers when these standards are not met, that are no less favourable than those in the relevant British Rail passengers charter.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes.

  Channel Freight Services
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the cost advantage of the use of a through rail freight service for the journey across the channel compared to the costs of using(a) the conventional roll-on, roll-off ferry and (b) the road-rail ferry service; and to what extent there are likely to be differences in cost for transporting goods from, rather than into, the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is for industry to decide which mode of transport to use. Distribution costs are a matter for commercial negotiation and will depend upon individual circumstances, such as volumes carried and frequency of service.

  Rail Services (Wales)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations regarding rail services he has received from local authorities in Wales during 1994.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have received a number of representations covering a wide range of issues relating to railways in Wales including those from Clwyd county council, Gwynedd county council, Dyfed county council, and Maesteg town council.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his assessment of the impact of the Budget on housing in the Doncaster area.

  Sir George Young
  Householders in Doncaster, and throughout the country, have benefited from the steady reduction in interest rates over the last few years, from the new opportunities for home ownership that we are creating through rent to mortgage and the expansion of cash incentive schemes which release housing for those in greatest need; and from the prudent approach to public finances and the sound basis for economic growth which my right hon. and learned Friend set in place in his Budget.
  477
  As far as housing expenditure is concerned, significant reductions were made at a national level in provision for both local authority and housing association capital expenditure. Doncaster has, however, benefited from our policy of taking account of performance in allocating resources: our assessment that its performance improved from average last year to above average this year has been reflected in its increased share of regional resources, from 4·1 per cent. in 1993–94 to 4·5 per cent. in 1994–95. The authority's basic housing investment programme allocation in 1994–95 is £5·3 million.

  In addition, Doncaster has been allocated £1.5 million in 1994–95 to continue work on the Stainforth estate action scheme, which when complete will have attracted £9·1 million in additional resources from the government. Doncaster could benefit from the in-year reallocation of specified capital grant resources for private sector renovation, as it has in previous years. The total Housing Corporation programme, including the tenants incentive scheme and do-it-yourself-shared-ownership will enable 197 units to be provided in 1994–95. The actual effect of housing allocations will depend on local decisions and priorities.

  I hope to see Doncaster and all local authorities making maximum use of the opportunities for drawing private finance into housing, developing partnerships with the local private rented sector, and involving all those with a contribution to make in their efforts to tackle local housing need.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the size of the outstanding debt for each local authority for which he has responsibility, together with any balances from capital receipts which have not been used to reduce debt; and what are the annual costs of servicing the debt, together with income from the balances.

  Mr. Baldry
  The available information has been placed in the Library of the House.

  London (Consultation Document)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish the information received from his recent consultation document on London.

  Sir George Young
  We aim to publish a digest of responses later this month.

  Assets
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the assets(a) in total and (b) per head of population of (i) Manchester, (ii) Birmingham, (iii) Lambeth, (iv) Southwark, (v) Liverpool, (vi) Hackney, (vii) Leeds, (viii) Sheffield, (ix) Haringey, (x) Newham, (xi) Lewisham, (xii) Newcastle-upon-Tyne, (xiii) Salford, (xiv) South Tyneside, (xv) Coventry, (xvi) Hammersmith and Fulham, (xvii) Bristol and (xviii) Wakefield.

  Mr. Baldry
  No information is currently available on the capital value of assets held by individual local authorities.
  478

  Private Residential Homes
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 18 March,Official Report, column 890, if he will list those concessions and rebates applicable to residents of private residential homes under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978.

  Mr. Baldry
  Section 2 of the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978 sets out the rebates which could be granted to the occupier of institutions for the disabled in England and Wales for years up to and including 1989–90. Full rebates in respect of rates chargeable were granted in respect of hereditaments used for the purposes set out in section 2(2) of the Act. The hereditament must have been used either wholly for one or more of the purposes listed, or partly for one or more of the purposes listed and partly for ancillary purposes.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Malta
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards Malta's application to join the EC.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have welcomed the prospect of Maltese accession. The Commission's opinion on Malta's application identified institutional problems that would have to be addressed and a number of Maltese economic reforms that would be necessary before they can become members of the EU. In the interim, and before accession negotiations begin, the Government are looking at ways of maintaining a dialogue with the Maltese about accession matters.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 22 March.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I attended the Foreign Affairs Council held in Brussels on 22 March.

  The Council discussed the qualified majority voting arrangements which will apply once the EFTAn applications have joined the European Union. We again emphasised the need to ensure the adequate protection of significant minorities in the Council and the democratic legitimacy of Community decision-making. Our Spanish colleagues supported us. Other Ministers continued to argue that the qualified majority should be kept constant as a proportion of the total number of votes after enlargement. It was not possible to find a solution to this question. The matter will probably be discussed again at the informal Foreign Affairs Council on 26–27 March.

  The number of seats on the European investment bank management committee after enlargement was also discussed, but no agreement reached.

  The Council reached agreement on the remaining non-institutional aspects of the accession negotiations. Political agreement was reached on a declaration on less-favoured area coverage for Finland and Swedish access to Baltic cod.
  479
  There were no formal votes.

SCOTLAND

  Procurators Fiscal
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement indicating, for each of the procurators fiscal in Scotland, in how many cases involving a fatality the procurator fiscal has decided to take no further proceedings in each of the last five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not readily available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

  Common Services Agency
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for the future of the building division of the Common Services Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government are committed to a publicly funded health service with national health service units firmly within the public sector. However, health service managers should concentrate their skills on core activities of the NHS, using their expertise to seek best value for money in the provision of non-core services.

  The work of the building division of the Common Services Agency (CSA) is a non-core activity and its ability to adapt and to develop the skills and services that it can provide in a changing world is constrained within the public sector. Following a review of the options for the future, my noble and learned Friend and I have agreed in principle that the opportunity should be taken to invite tenders for a management buy-out or from the private sector to take over the business as a going concern.

  The CSA board has been asked to consider how this can be taken forward and to draw up an implementation plan. A prospectus will be issued by the board. When all bids received have been evaluated, the board will make recommendations to my noble and learned Friend.

  Fishing
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation to discuss fishing management for the Scottish inshore fleet in the North sea.
  480
  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 14 March 1994]: I meet representatives of the SFF regularly, but have no current plans for a meeting. Discussions about fish conservation have been held between Scottish Office officials and representatives of the SFF, and further discussions may be necessary in due course.

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list details of all current licences issued to kill wild bird species, including the premises and the wild bird species concerned.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 24 March 1994]: The information requested is as follows:

  Species

  Premises

  Number of licences

  Cormorant

  Fish farm/Put and take fishery

  8

  Goosander

  District Salmon Fisheries Board (DSFB)

  1

  Goosander/Cormorant

  DSFB/Put and take fishery

  4

  Goosander/Red-breasted Merganser

  DSFB

  2

  Goosander/Red-breasted Merganser/Cormorant

  DSFB

  8

  Red-breasted Merganser/Cormorant

  DSFB

  2

  Goose, Barnacle

  Croft/farm

  2

  Goose, Greyleg/Pinkfoot

  Croft/farm

  34

  Raven

  Croft/farm

  2

  Pigeon, Feral/Sparrow, House

  Shops/warehouses

  30

  Sparrow, House

  Shops/warehouses

  15

  Disabled Employees
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many registered disabled people are employed in his Department; and what percentage this is of the total.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 March 1994]: There are 81 registered disabled people—1·3 per cent. of staff—who are recorded as employed in my Department. However, in a recent anonymous staff survey about disability in the workplace, which covered an additional 2,058 Scottish Office staff in associated departments and on loan and secondment, 131—(1·6 per cent.—indicated that they were currently registered disabled.