Written Answers of 29 March 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates were in post in 1993; and how many resigned for reasons other than age.

  Mr. John Taylor
  At 31 December 1993 there were 30,054 magistrates in post in England and Wales; during 1993, 1,043 magistrates resigned for reasons other than age.

  Divorce Law Reform
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) people and (b) organisations have responded to the Green Paper on divorce law reform "Looking to the Future"; and what were their names.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As at 22 March, 533 responses had been received from private individuals and 103 from organisations, institutions or professional bodies.

  Of these, 52 individuals and 78 others sent a written response only; 434 individuals and 15 others sent a completed questionnaire only; and 47 individuals and 10 others sent both a written response and a completed questionnaire.

  Responses are still being received. Once they have all been received, I will write to the hon. Member listing those who have responded. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff have been in the employment of his Department for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of staff who have been in the employment of the Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last 10 years is set out in the table.

  Total numbers of staff in the Lord Chancellor's Department

  Year

  Total Number of Staff

  1985–86

  10,190

  1986–87

  10,206

  1987–88

  10,489

  1988–89

  10,880

  1989–90

  10,753

  1990–91

  10,954

  1991–92

  11,460

  1992–93

  11,774

  21993–94

  111,809

  1 Forecast.

  2 Estimated outturn.

  These figures include part time staff who have been shown as whole numbers.
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  Redundancies
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to(a) make redundant and (b) seek voluntary redundancies from the staff of his Department in the next financial year; and how many and what grade of (i) civil servants and (ii) qualified lawyers he estimates will be affected.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has no plans to make members of staff redundant or to seek voluntary redundancies from the staff during the next financial year.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 73, what percentage of the total number of staff employed, and how many qualified lawyers, are affected by the requests for voluntary redundancies by the Legal Aid Board.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Voluntary redundancy has been sought from approximately 9 per cent. of the staff employed by the Legal Aid Board. The board is seeking the voluntary redundancy of 11 qualified lawyers.

  Matrimonial Cases
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answers of 9 February,Official Report, columns 249–50, about matrimonial cases, what plans he has to undertake an investigation into the arrangement between his Department and the Home Office immigration and nationality department; when it will be completed; and if he will place a copy of the report of the investigation in the Library.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  An internal investigation conducted in February revealed that the facts of the matter were straightforward. The arrangement was made by officials of my Department, as described in my earlier answer, and was terminated as soon as it came to my attention. Measures have been put in place to ensure that no similar action can be taken without proper consideration. I do not propose to publish a report.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Government Information
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes have been made to the code of practice on Government information proposed in draft in the White Paper, "Open Government", Cm. 2290; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In my statement of 15 July 1993,Official Report, columns 1115–17, I described the Government's plans for increasing openness in government. We received more than 100 consultation responses to the White Paper, many of which gave the proposals a broad welcome. I am placing a summary of the consultation responses and copies of the responses themselves in the Library of the House.

  The White Paper proposed a new code of practice on Government information. This will come into effect on

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  Monday 4 April. The draft code has been revised and improved since last summer. Copies of the new code have been placed in the Library of the House. Further copies of the code and of a leaflet describing the new system may be obtained by telephoning 0345 223242.

  Ministers will be responsible for the performance of their Departments under the code of practice. Complaints that information has not been provided should be addressed in the first instance to the Department concerned. Where applicants are still dissatisfied, they can complain—through a Member of Parliament—to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

  The code of practice means that, in future, anyone seeking information from Government Departments and public bodies can be assured that their request will be received positively. When there is a case for confidentiality it must be based on specific tests in part II of the code. I am confident that the advantages of the code, which puts into practice key principles of the citizens charter, will rapidly become apparent.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has had from the Government of Malta about luggage alleged to have left Luqa airport for the Rhein-Main airport in December 1988, destined to destroy Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie.

  The Prime Minister
  As my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate made clear in issuing warrants for the arrest of the two Libyans suspected of the Lockerbie bombing, the investigation concluded that the bomb which caused Pan Am 103 to explode over Lockerbie on 21 December 1988 was placed on board a flight from Luqa airport to Frankfurt, where it was transferred to flight PA 103. I have received no representations from the Maltese Government on this matter.

  Engagement
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 29 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 29 March.

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

  Bosnia
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Bosnia.

  The Prime Minister
  I visited central Bosnia and Sarajevo on 18 March. In central Bosnia I met British and other United Nations soldiers and civilian aid experts. I was impressed, as always, by their courage and professional dedication. UNPROFOR's achievements on the ground have helped to transform the situation in Bosnia and the prospects for a settlement.

  In Sarajevo I met Bosnian Vice-President Ganic and General Rose. I announced a further £12 million of United
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  Kingdom aid for Bosnia: £5 million to help rebuild Sarajevo, and £7 million to support the work of UN agencies throughout Bosnia. With the £2 million announced by my right hon. and noble Friend, Baroness Chalker, to support the Tuzla airlift, this brings total United Kingdom humanitarian aid to former Yugoslavia to £171·5 million.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Political Refugees
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many political refugees are settled in the United Kingdom at the present time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information on those given leave to remain in the United Kingdom as a recognised refugee is that in the period 1979 to end 1993 around 43,200 persons, including associated dependants, were given such leave. These comprise some 19,700 asylum applicants who were recognised as refugees and granted asylum in the United Kingdom, and 23,500 south-east Asian refugees accepted for settlement, mainly on arrival. Information on the number of these persons who have since died, left the country, obtained British citizenship or otherwise ceased to hold refugee status here, and information prior to 1979, is not available.

  Persons granted asylum here apply for permanent settlement after four years. Information on persons accepted for settlement in the years 1979–92 on this basis, along with south-east Asian refugees, is published in table 8 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin Issue 22/90 "Refugee Statistics United Kingdom 1989" and Table 10.1 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin Issue 19/93 "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1992". Copies of both these publications are in the Library. Corresponding information for 1993 will be published in the summer.

  Charity Commission
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the charities involved in the complaints of improper political activity investigated by the Charity Commission since 1990; and what are the dates of the investigation, the nature of the complaint and the conclusion in each case.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Since 1990 the Charity Commission has investigated 76 complaints concerning possible political or campaigning activity of which 24 have been upheld.

  Formal reports have been published on two of these investigations: (i) "War on Want: Report of an Inquiry to the Charity Commissioners 15 February 1991" (ISBN 0–117–016128); and (ii) "Oxfam: Report of an Inquiry submitted to the Charity Commissioners 8 April 1991" (ISBN 0–117–016217). Both are available from HMSO. Full details on all 76 cases would be available only at disproportionate cost, but I will write to the hon. Member shortly with a summary based on those cases most recently concluded.
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  Metropolitan Police Area Crime Rate
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded by the Metropolitan police within each division, for each category of crime during the 12 months ended 31 December 1993.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not yet available.

  Criminal Justice Act 1993
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to implement the remaining provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1993.

  Mr. Howard
  The following new provisions to combat money laundering are being brought into force on 1 April by means of Commencement Order No. 6: sections 18–19, 26, 32, 48, 50–51, 77 and 79. Section 77 implements schedule 4 of the Act and section 79 relevant consequential amendments in schedule 5.

  Youth Detention
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his future policy will be on the detention of youths convicted of crimes.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government's policy is to ensure that the courts have available to them a wide range of penalties, including custodial sentences. Custodial sentences in respect of young offenders aged 10 to 17 will be considerably extended by provisions in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill now before Parliament.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forms of detention are available to deal with convicted youths; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The following sentences of detention are currently available to the courts after the conviction of young offenders between the ages of 10 and 17:
  Detention during Her Majesty's pleasure for murder from age 10.From age 14 (and from age 10 for manslaughter), terms of detention under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 up to the adult maximum are available for crimes which are punishable in the case of an adult with 14 years imprisonment or more. In addition 14 to 17-year-olds who are convicted of the offences of causing death by dangerous driving or causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs may be sentenced to terms of detention under section 53 for a period up to the adult maximum penalty, which is 10 years. In the case of 16 and 17-year-olds, a term of detention under section 53 is also available for the offence of indecent assault on a woman up to the adult maximum, which is 10 years.

  Area

  Project

  Total cost

  Cost to the Home Office

  £ million

  £ million

  Doncaster

  Works complex HM young offenders institution, Hatfield (commenced 1988)

  1·0

  1·0

  Doncaster

  Construction of HM prison Moorland (commenced 1990)

  47·2

  47·2

  Doncaster

  Construction of HM prison Doncaster (commenced 1990)

  82·0

  82·0

  Doncaster

  Conversion of dormitories into cubicles, HM prison Lindholme (commenced 1993)

  3·7

  3·7

  Wakefield

  Works Unit HM prison, Wakefield (commenced 1988)

  1·1

  1·1

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  For juveniles aged 15 to 17, detention in a young offender institution for a maximum of 12 months is available for any offence for which an adult may be sentenced to imprisonment.

  "Black Book of Captain Ramsey"
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the present whereabouts of the "Black Book of Captain Ramsey"; and if he will make it available for public inspection and publication.

  Mr. Howard
  A check of departmental records has revealed reference only to a ledger known as the "Red Book", which lists membership of the Right Club. The ledger is currently in private hands.

  Visitors (Pakistan)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors from Pakistan have overstayed for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Comprehensive information on the number of visitors who remain in the United Kingdom after the expiry of their leave is not available.

  Sex Shops
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex shops there are in each English district council and London borough.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not recorded centrally.

  Deputy Lords Lieutenant
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what clothing, travel or other allowances are available from public funds to deputy lords lieutenant.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  There is no provision for the payment of allowances or expenses to deputy lieutenants from central funds.

  Building Projects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what major building projects valued at over £1 million are being or have been wholly or partly financed since 1989 in(a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Wakefield by his Department; and what was the cost of each project to his Department.

  Mr. Howard
  The information is set out in the table:
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  Area

  Project

  Total cost

  Cost to the Home Office

  £ million

  £ million

  Wakefield

  Cell block, HM prison New Hall (commenced 1989)

  4·5

  4·5

  Wakefield

  Chapel and Sportshall HM prison, Wakefield (commenced 1990)

  1·9

  1·9

  Wakefield

  Kitchen and other facilities, HM prison New Hall (commenced 1991)

  3·1

  3·1

  Wakefield

  Dispersed gas boilers HM prison, Wakefield (commenced 1992)

  1·8

  1·8

  Wakefield

  Ossett divisional police headquarters (commenced February 1992)

  1·4

  0·714

  Wakefield

  Hospital and mother and baby unit, HM prison New Hall (commenced 1993)

  1·9

  1·9

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the organisations and individuals outside his Department who are sent information on, or consulted about, individuals who are, or may be, proposed to the Minister for appointment to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person appointed or the shortlist for the appointment;

  (2) if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been asked, since June 1992, to submit names of individuals to be considered for appointments to paid and unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. Howard
  When making appointments I seek information from a variety of sources, including professional bodies, other Government Departments, the public appointments unit at Cabinet Office and any others that I consider relevant.

  Chief of Defence Staff
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he was first informed that the position of Sir Peter Harding as Chief of the Defence Staff might be compromised.

  Mr. Howard
  I first became aware of the circumstances leading up to the resignation of Sir Peter Harding on Sunday 13 March.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Plymouth Council (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Attorney-General what estimate has been made of the cost to the Crown Prosecution Service of prosecuting a number of Plymouth councillors under section 106 of the Local Government Act 1992.

  The Attorney-General
  The estimated costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of the prosecution of 14 past or present Plymouth city councillors under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 are £10,900. This figure is inclusive of all case preparation, disbursements, and court attendances before and during the trial.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The percentage of(a) Asians and (b) black people appointed to public bodies by my Department in 1993 was:

  (a)13·33 per cent.

  (b)0 per cent.

  It is not our policy to provide details of the ethnic origins of appointees.

  Occupied Territories
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the desirability of releasing more prisoners to aid the peace process in the occupied territories.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and European Union partners regularly make representations to the Israelis to urge them to release Palestinian detainees.

  Asil Nadir
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to secure the return to the United Kingdom of Asil Nadir.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have an extradition treaty with the Republic of Cyprus, but the writ of the lawful Government does not run in the north of the island. Officials of the Serious Fraud Office have pursued their investigations in both Turkey and northern Cyprus.

  North Korea
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the mandate of the International Atomic Energy Agency team in North Korea; and to what extent it has been allowed to carry out that mandate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 15 February, North Korea agreed to open its seven declared nuclear facilities to IAEA inspections, and to the agency's requirements for inspection at each facility. On 21 March, the IAEA director
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  general stated that the inspections, carried out between 3 and 14 March, had not permitted the agency to conclude that nuclear material had not been diverted for military use in North Korea since February 1993. Agency inspectors were not allowed to proceed with a full inspection at one of the declared nuclear facilities as previously agreed.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 292, if he will list the number of contracts and their costs with management consultants in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The number of management consultancy contracts and their costs for the latest year for which figures are available ie 1992–93 is:

  Number

  £

  Diplomatic wing

  4

  129,000

  Aid wing

  8

  451,907

  (this excludes management consultancies awarded under the aid programme)

  Human Rights (China)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the systematic killing of handicapped babies in China; what representations he has made to the Chinese Government concerning this abuse of human rights; and if he will raise this issue with the United Nations Secretariat dealing with human rights.

  The latest available figures are:

  Grades1

  1

  2

  3

  42

  5

  6

  7

  below 7

  Women

  Number

  —

  1

  4

  —

  25

  19

  129

  2,953

  Percentage of all staff

  —

  3 per cent.

  4 per cent.

  —

  7 per cent.

  11 per cent.

  17 per cent.

  38 per cent

  Ethnic minority respondents3

  Number

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  4

  291

  Percentage of all staff

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·6 per cent

  0·6 per cent.

  0·5 per cent.

  4 per cent

  Registered disabled staff4

  Number

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  57

  Percentage of all staff

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·3 per cent

  —

  —

  0·7 per cent

  1Grades which are not part of the Open Structure have been aggregated with the equivalent Open Structure grades.

  2 There is only one individual employed at this grade.

  3 Includes only those members of staff who have responded to questionnaires; there is no compulsion on staff to record their ethnic origin, although well over 90 per cent, have done so.

  4 Includes only staff who are registered disabled.

  Security Contracts
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contracts his Department has put out to tender for the supply of security services at its buildings; how many of them cover the protection of classified information held on the premises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office puts out to tender contracts for security services at its premises overseas, but these do not directly concern the
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  Mr. Goodlad
  We have not received any representations about this issue. We regularly raise human rights, including population policy issues, with the Chinese authorities, urging them to adhere to internationally approved standards of behaviour. We co-sponsored a resolution on China, with our European partners, at this year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which specifically drew attention to reports of forced abortion. But it was stopped by a no-action motion introduced by the Chinese.

  Palestine
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about progress to increase protection for the Palestinian people in the occupied territories.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Details of the international presence and other measures to protect the Palestinians in the occupied territories called for in United Nations Security Council resolution 904 are the subject of on-going negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many, and what percentage of officers in each of grades 1 to 7 and overall in his Department are(a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled, respectively.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information is as follows:

  protection of classified material. Information on the number of such contracts is not readily available. As regards the FCO's buildings in central London, the guarding of the entrances and the patrolling of buildings where classified information is stored will shortly be put out to tender under the market testing programme. Six companies will be invited to bid, and the present in-house team will also be tendering. The FCO will award the contract to the contractor which offers the best overall value for money.
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  East Timor
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position the United Kingdom has taken at the United Nations since 1974 on the legality of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We do not recognise the Indonesian annexation of East Timor.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Government will support an economic embargo being imposed against Indonesia until that country ends its occupation of East Timor; and what other sanctions against Indonesia the British Government will support to assist bringing this occupation to an end.

  Mr. Goodlad
  No. Sanctions would be neither appropriate nor effective.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings have been held between representatives of Her Majesty's Government and the Indonesian Government to discuss human rights issues in East Timor since January 1993.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Our regular discussions with the Indonesians cover a wide range of issues, including human rights.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the human rights situation in East Timor since March 1993.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We believe that the human rights situation in East Timor continues steadily to improve.

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

  Mr. Goodlad
  We are encouraging Indonesia and Portugal to continue to co-operate with the United Nations Secretary-General to find a solution to East Timor. We therefore welcome the return to consensus language at this year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and hope that it will help provide an atmosphere conducive to progress at the next round of talks on the territory's future between Portugal and Indonesia under the Secretary-General's auspices in May.

  Mr. Raja
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons Her Majesty's consulate in Düsseldorf refused to see Mr. Raja, case number MP A363834/6, PO 24915/93, husband of Mrs. Carol Raja, of 145 High street, Linlithgow, when he applied for an interview.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 17 March 1994]: The consulate-general in Dusseldorf has never refused to see Mr. Raja. He and his wife were interviewed in June and August 1993 respectively, after which his application was referred to the Home Office. The Home Office refused it in December 1993, but the relevant papers never reached the
  620
  post, for reasons that we have been unable to establish. A further copy was sent to Dusseldorf by fax on 15 March. The consulate-general wrote to Mr. Raja so to inform him, and enclosing an appeal form, the following day.

  European Parliament, Strasbourg
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the cost of building the new European Parliament in Strasbourg; and whether the United Kingdom supported the expenditure.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: A decision was taken at the Edinburgh European Council in December 1992 on the seat of the European Parliament and of other Community institutions. It is for the European Parliament itself to decide policy on buildings in the light of that decision.

  UNITA
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he intends to take to enforce the measures imposed under paragraph 19 of resolution 864 (1993) against UNITA.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  United Nations Security Council resolution 864, imposing sanctions against UNITA, was implemented in the United Kingdom under the United Nations Act 1946 by the Angola (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1993, SI 2355, which came into force on 1 October 1993. A copy is available in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to expel UNITA's official representative in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The long tradition of free political expression in the United Kingdom means that anyone can set up a representative office here. So long as staff of the office comply with our laws—and I am not aware of any evidence that they have failed to do so—there is no basis in United Kingdom law for closing the office. This position is well understood by the Angolan Government.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult with his counterparts on the United Nations Security Council to enforce the sanctions against UNITA in Angola, Zaire, South Africa and in the various locations where UNITA enjoys the benefits of its material and financial assets.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Operative paragraph 22 of the United Nations Security Council resolution 864, imposing sanctions against UNITA, established a Committee of the Security Council consisting of all the members of the council to oversee and advise on the implementation of those sanctions. The United Kingdom is a member of this committee and has participated fully in its work.

  Turkey
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been killed by Turkish security services during the past year; and if he will make a statement.
  621
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are no reliable statistics. Our embassy in Ankara estimates, on the basis of press reports and other information, that some 1,370 alleged terrorists, 720 civilians, and 650 members of the security forces have been killed during the past year.

  Iran
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to Iran regarding the number of dissidents abroad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas-Hogg
  We and our European partners frequently discuss this issue with the Iranian authorities.

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office Letterheaded Paper
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 23 March,Official Report, column 292, what payment his Department has received from the Conservative and Unionist party for the mistaken use of letterheaded paper.

  Mr. Hurd
  The cost of the three sheets of headed notepaper used was less than a penny. No further costs were incurred since all photocopying and distribution was done by Conservative central office. It would be disproportionate to seek any reimbursement to the FCO from Central Office.

  Norway (Whaling)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what concessions were made to Norway in respect of whaling activities within the context of that country's terms of accession to the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  As part of its terms of accession to the European Union, Norway agreed that its policy on whales will fully respect the European Community's existing legislation.

  Commonwealth Institute
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further discussions are taking place between Government Departments on funding for the Commonwealth Institute after 1996.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  By long-standing convention, discussions of this nature between Departments are confidential.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what view the Government have formed about the quality of the work of(a) the Scottish Commonwealth Institute and (b) the regional centre of the Commonwealth Institute in Bradford.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The educational work of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland and the institute's office in Bradford has been positive and useful.
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  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the management committee of the Scottish Commonwealth Institute is determined; and what is its current membership.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland, is determined by the board of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland. Its membership is:

  Sir Mark Russell KCMG—Chairman

  T. J. Barron, MA PhD

  J. C. Horobin, BSc PhD

  G. Paton, MA MEd FEIS FITD

  Miss A. J. B. Sloan, MA

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the membership of the board of the Scottish Commonwealth Institute; and what representation it has made to the Government about the future of the Commonwealth Institute in Scotland.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Membership of the board of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland is as follows:

  Chairman—Sir Mark Russell, KCMG

  Members nominated by educational and local government bodies:

  E. T. Laing, BSc MSc

  Association of Directors of Education

  R. Paul, MA

  Headteachers' Association of Scotland

  W. Anderson, MA MEd

  Headteachers' Association of Scotland

  Miss M-R Caden, MA FEIS

  Educational Institute of Scotland

  G. M. Wilson, MA PhD

  Joint Committee for Colleges of Education Vacancy

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Councillor W. Speirs

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  N. E. Paine, BE(hons) MA FITD

  Scottish Council for Educational Technology

  Members co-opted by the Committee:

  T. J. Barron, MA PhD

  W. Borthwick, CBE DL JP

  J. R. Carson, MA

  J. C. Horobin, BSc PhD

  M. E. Jogee, JP

  G. Paton, MA MEd FEIS FITD

  Sarah J. Sieley, BA MEd PhD

  Miss A. J. B. Sloan, MA

  Assessors

  D. Broad

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  D. Campbell

  Scottish Office Education Department

  I. K. Gamble, HMI

  Scottish Office Education Department

  Representations have been made to the Government through the committee of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland, and through the executive committee of the board of governors.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Lord Armstrong took in reviewing the work of the Commonwealth Institute for his Department to visit(a) the Scottish Commonwealth Institute and (b) the Commonwealth Institute in Bradford and assess the work of staff.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As an independent reviewer of the Commonwealth Institute, Lord Armstrong chose his own
  623
  modus operandi. His views on the operation of the Commonwealth Institute, Scotland and of the Bradford office were formed from papers and interviews in London.

  South Africa
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approach he has made to Chief Buthelezi to urge Inkatha to take part in the South African elections.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met Chief Buthelezi on 6 September 1993. My right hon. Friend made it clear that we attach the utmost importance to the constructive participation of all major political figures in the peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa. My noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey spoke with Chief Buthelezi again in similar terms on 9 December 1993. Through our embassy in Pretoria we continue to keep in close touch with all South Africa's major leaders.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  D-day
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much Lowe Bell Communications is being paid for its work for the D-day anniversary.

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms Mowlam) on 2 February at column 716.

  Building Projects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what major building projects valued at over £1 million are being or have been wholly or partly financed since 1992 in(a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Wakefield by his Department; and what was the cost of each project to his Department.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department has not financed any major building projects in Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham or Wakefield.

  Slave Trade (Museum)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will consider the establishment of a national museum in Liverpool dedicated to the history of the slave trade.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department does provide grant in aid to National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, which is opening a new permanent gallery in October called "Transatlantic Slavery: Against Human Dignity" with the help of funding from the Peter Moores Foundation. This gallery will address the history of the transatlantic slave trade.

  Sport (Museum)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what further consideration he has given to the creation of a national museum for sport to be situated on Merseyside.
  624
  Mr. Sproat
  I understand that Liverpool city council is carrying out a feasibility study on a possible museum of sport based on Merseyside. The backers of such a project would be responsible for taking it forward and for ensuring the necessary funds.

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

  Mr. Sproat
  The information requested is contained in the annual disability report in the magazine "Independent" which was published on 18 March 1994. The publication of this magazine was announced in a written reply on 18 March at column 874 and copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Museums and Galleries (Attendance)
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the attendance figures covering the financial year ended 31 March reported by the national museums and galleries in England for which he is responsible, broken down into individual institutions but including their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for the financial year 1992–93.

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 14 February at column 578.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the objects and property accepted in satisfaction of inheritance tax during the financial year ended 31 March; and if, in listing these, he will specify(a) the amount of tax satisfied in each case, (b) whether any offers of objects carried conditions as to destination, (c) the dates in each case of the recommendations received by him from the Museums and Galleries Commission for the acceptance of objects, (d) the total for the financial year of the tax this satisfied and (e) how much of this total was covered in the public accounts by means of resort to the reserve in accordance with Government policy as announced on 26 July 1985, Official Report, column 779.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department will, before the end of this financial year, be announcing the acceptance of a further four items in lieu of tax. In the interest of completeness I will reply to the hon. Member on the day of that announcement.

  Civil Servants
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department the number of(a) male and (b) female, (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The total number of full-time and part-time male and female staff in each grade within the Department of National Heritage, excluding its two executive agencies, the Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Parks, are listed in the table:
  625

  DNH staff as at 28 February 1994

  Males

  Females

  Grades

  Full time

  Part time

  Totals

  Full time

  Part time

  Totals

  1A

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  G3

  3

  —

  3

  1

  —

  1

  G4

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  G5

  12

  —

  12

  4

  —

  4

  G6

  1

  —

  1

  4

  —

  4

  G7

  33

  —

  33

  7

  4

  11

  SEO

  8

  —

  8

  7

  —

  7

  HEOD

  2

  —

  2

  2

  —

  2

  HSOD

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  AT

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  3

  HEO

  29

  —

  29

  16

  1

  17

  EO

  36

  —

  36

  21

  —

  21

  AO

  30

  —

  30

  25

  —

  25

  AA

  12

  2

  14

  15

  —

  15

  SPS

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  4

  PS

  —

  —

  —

  18

  —

  18

  Typist

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  6

  SGB1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  SGB2

  3

  —

  3

  7

  —

  7

  SIO

  4

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  IO

  3

  —

  3

  1

  —

  1

  CUR E

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  CUR G

  3

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Librarian

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Assistant Librarian

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Assistant Statistician

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  183

  2

  185

  146

  5

  151

  Self-financing Regulatory Authorities
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many self-financing regulatory authorities his Department has set up; what was the annual

  Name

  1991–92 running cost

  1992–93 running cost

  1993–94 running cost

  Staff employed in 1991

  Staff employed in 1993

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Broadcasting complaints commission

  0·465

  0·457

  0·537

  8

  8

  Independent television commission

  21·43

  20·42

  1—

  254

  239

  The radio authority

  2·28

  2·75

  1—

  25

  27

  Office of the national lottery

  n/a

  n/a

  0·28

  n/a

  12

  1Not yet available.

WALES

  Head Teachers, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has given to Clwyd county council in respect of head teacher pay awards and consequential efficiency savings.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education has consulted interested parties on his proposals for implementing the recommendations of the third report of the School Teachers' Review Body and on the first of two pay and conditions orders which would give effect to its recommendations. The review body's recommendations took account of evidence from the Government, the teacher unions, the employers, and Government provision for local authority spending in 1994–95. The review body also took the view that"there is significant scope for … efficiency savings".
  626
  running cost of each of the self-financing regulatory authorities in each of the last three years; what is the current staffing establishment; and what it was last year and two years ago.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The information required is as follows:

  Decisions on the scope for such savings and the implementation of the pay award are matters for the employers.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had concerning the national curriculum as it affects primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In response to concerns by teachers and parents about the manageability of the national curriculum in both primary and secondary schools, my right hon. Friend announced last year a review of the national curriculum and its assessment arrangements in Wales by the Curriculum Council for Wales and Sir Ron Dearing. I refer the hon. Member to the statements issued in response to the interim and final reports on the review on 2 August 1993 and 5 January 1994, copies of which are in the Library of the House and which were sent to all hon. Members in Wales.
  627

  Rehabilitation Therapy
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients with severe head injuries in(a) Wales and (b) each health authority area are currently receiving rehabilitation therapy within the NHS.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information his Department holds on the number of psychotherapists employed by the NHS in Wales in(a) the rehabilitation of all patients and (b) the rehabilitation of children with severe head injuries.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Psychotherapy is a form of treatment and can be carried out by medical and other professional staff. The following table gives the whole-time equivalent numbers of staff in post in Wales who are specifically designated as working in the field of psychotherapy. Other staff groups, whose work may include psychotherapy but not as a major part of their duties, are excluded.

  Number

  Child psychotherapists1

  4·3

  Clinical psychologists1

  182·9

  Consultant psychotherapist2

  0·6

  1 In post as at 31 December 1993.

  2 In post as at 30 September 1993.

  Information relating to the number of psychotherapy staff involved in the rehabilitation of children with severe head injuries is not available centrally.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research studies his Department has commissioned in each of the last 10 years on the effects of rehabilitation programmes in Wales for patients who have suffered severe head injuries.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Research costing £1,118,000 into the rehabilitation of brain-injured adults is currently being funded jointly by the Welsh Office and the Department of Health. The project started in May 1992 and will take three years to complete. In addition the Welsh Office has funded two projects on rehabilitation following brain damage. These received some £60,000 between 1989 and 1992.

  Insulin-dependent Diabetics
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the guidance he has issued to insulin-dependent diabetics in Wales regarding the methods they should use to dispose of (a) blood-glucose testing strips, (b) lancets and (c) hypodermic syringes and needles.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Guidance for insulin-dependent diabetics on the disposal of hypodermic syringes and needles has been provided under Welsh health circular WHC (FP)(87)24 dated 6 August 1987. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. No guidance has been issued in respect of the disposal of blood-glucose testing strips or lancets.
  628

  Redundant NHS Hospitals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many redundant NHS hospitals have been disposed of since 1987 without the benefit of planning permission.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

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

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Health Promotion Wales, on behalf of the Welsh Office, arranged for a continence awareness campaign during the period 13 to 19 March 1994. This ran in parallel with a Department of Health campaign in England.

  Leaflets and posters, for the attention of the general public, were distributed to health authorities, family health services authorities, community health councils, NHS premises, general practitioners' surgeries, pharmacies, social services departments, health promotion units and voluntary organisations.

  Continence advisers in Wales ran local campaigns, the details of which are not held centrally.

  A bilingual helpline, charging local call rates, will operate in Wales until the end of March.

  Dairy Farmers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dairy farmers there were in Wales in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  The number of holdings on which the dominant activity is dairy farming is shown in the table. The information for 1993 is not yet available.

  Dairy holdings in Wales1

  Year

  Number

  1985

  6,554

  1986

  6,384

  1987

  6,024

  1988

  5,647

  1989

  5,433

  1990

  5,224

  1991

  5,076

  1992

  4,891

  Source: June agricultural and horticultural census.

  1Excluding minor holdings.

  Ysgol Maes Garman Mold
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he has made to the delegation of pupils from Ysgol Maes Garman Mold he met on Monday 21 March regarding teacher losses at the school.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It is for Clwyd county council to decide from within its available resources the level of funding to be devoted to primary and secondary education in the county. Individual schools are funded according to the authority's local management of schools scheme, and it is the responsibility of the governing body of schools with delegated budgets to decide how many staff they should employ.
  629

  Farm Workers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total number of(a) farmers and (b) farm workers in Wales in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Redwood
  Information on the number of holdings and workers on those holdings is available from the annual June agricultural census and is shown in the following table.

  Farms and farm workers in Wales1

  Year

  Holdings

  Workers2

  1980

  29,508

  21,144

  1981

  29,567

  20,703

  1982

  29,822

  20,794

  1983

  29,957

  20,323

  1984

  29,752

  19,784

  1985

  29,811

  20,504

  1986

  29,924

  20,179

  1987

  29,985

  19,797

  1988

  30,231

  18,948

  1989

  30,508

  18,148

  1990

  29,646

  18,167

  1991

  29,710

  18,234

  1992

  29,903

  17,812

  1993

  29,916

  17,495

  Source June agricultural and horticultural census.

  1Excludes data for minor holdings.

  2 All workers on holdings who are not farmers, partners or directors and who are not spouses of farmers, partners or directors.

  Council Meetings (Transport)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the availability of methods of transport for local councillors to attend meetings on his proposals for the reorganisation of local government in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  None.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the suitability of the present bus timetable linking Llandridod Wells and. Llanelly Hill for the use of councillors wishing to attend council meetings;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact of his local government reorganisation in Wales on the ability of councillors to travel to and from council meetings by existing public transport routes within one day.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  None.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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.

  Mr. Redwood
  Information on ethnic minority appointments as at 1. September 1993 is shown in "Public Bodies 1993", available in the Library of the House.

  Education Authorities (Standard Spending Assessment)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the standard spending assessment for each education authority in Wales in 1993–94.
  630
  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 25 March 1994 at column 453.

  Mostyn Docks, Clwyd (Planning Application)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to answer the letter from Mr. P. McGreevy, chief executive of Delyn borough council, of 21 February, regarding the proposed planning application at Mostyn docks, Clwyd.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Secretary of State worte to Mr. McGreevy on 28 March.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many, and what percentage of officers in each of grades 1 to 7 and overall in his Department are(a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled, respectively.

  Mr. Redwood
  The position at 1 January 1994 is given in the following table:

  Number

  Percentage

  Women

  Grade 1 and equivalents

  0

  0

  Grade 2 and equivalents

  0

  0

  Grade 3 and equivalents

  1

  8

  Grade 4 and equivalents

  2

  33

  Grade 5 and equivalents

  9

  15

  Grade 6 and equivalents

  14

  18

  Grade 7 and equivalents

  53

  27

  Total number

  1,304

  53

  Ethnic minorities

  Grade 1–5 and equivalents

  0

  0

  Grade 6 and equivalents

  1

  1·3

  Grade 7 and equivalents

  1

  0·5

  Total number

  34

  1·4

  Disabled

  Grade 1–5 and equivalents

  0

  0

  Grade 6 and equivalents

  1

  1·3

  Grade 7 and equivalents

  1

  0·5

  Total number

  41

  1·7

  Notes:

  1. Part-time staff are counted as one.

  2. Figures exclude casual staff.

  3. Figures show registered disabled staff only.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Proton cars were purchased by his Department in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and at what cost.

  Mr. Redwood
  None.

  Consultation Documents
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the documents issued for consultation in the last year, indicating the time provided for consultation and the recipients of each consultation document.

  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not available centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  631

  School Visits
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will visit Sealand CP School to meet the governors and staff to discuss the pupil-teacher ratio for the next school year;

  (2) if he proposes to visit Golftyn High School, Deeside, in order to discuss the concerns of parents, governors and staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend and I will bear these schools in mind when considering our programme of visits to schools.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policies on special needs for the next school year.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Children with special educational needs will benefit from the range of measures introduced in the Education Act 1993 to improve the present statutory framework, including a code of practice containing guidance and criteria for the identification, assessment and other arrangements for such pupils. We hope to lay the code before Parliament shortly.

  We remain committed to the principle that children with special educational needs should be educated in mainstream schools wherever possible and sensible.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his aims to create new style apprenticeships; in what industries he expects the new apprenticeships to be created; and what estimate he has of the number of new apprenticeships he expects to be created.

  Mr. Redwood
  Modern apprenticeships will be introduced in manufacturing engineering in Wales in 1994–95, and I have made £3·6 million available to support them; 550 additional opportunities will be offered to young people to begin training for national vocational qualifications at levels 3 and 4. Details about the extension of modern apprenticeships to other sectors from 1995–96 onwards will be announced in due course.

  Public Transport (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to encourage the provision of accessibility to public transport for disabled people in urban and rural areas of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government are already committed to the development of accessible transport systems which meet the travel needs of all users. Since the early 1980s significant progress has been made in improving access to public transport for people with disabilities.

  Farm Colleges
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the annual amount of public funding allocated to farm colleges in(a) Wales and (b) Great Britain as a whole; and if he will make a statement.
  632
  Mr. Redwood
  The Welsh funding councils allocated £4·7 million to agriculture colleges in Wales for the academic year 1993–94. The agriculture colleges in England and Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and for Scotland. However, I understand that the allocations for agriculture colleges in England and Scotland were £67·3 million and £11·2 million respectively. The figure for England relates to the academic year 1993–94 and the figure for Scotland to the financial year 1993–94.

  Courses in agriculture are provided by many institutions which do not have "agriculture college" in their names. Expenditure on courses in these institutions has not been included in the figures given here.

  Hospital Waiting Times
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to the chairman of the Welsh health authorities in respect of the application of total waiting times guarantees for hospital treatment, inclusive of the first out-patient appointment waiting time; and if he will place a copy of such guidelines in the Library.

  Mr. Redwood
  A copy of the letter sent to all health authorities outlining the new approach to waiting times in Wales will be placed in the Library of the House. Detailed work on operational aspects of the approach will take place this year in preparation for its implementation from April 1995.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to Welsh health authorities and to provider units in Wales in respect of dates being given for first out-patient appointment within a short period after receipt of the referral letter from the general practitioner; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  All patients referred to a hospital out-patient clinic by their GP are included in waiting list statistics whether or not they have been provided with a fixed appointment date.

  Comprehensive guidance on the management of waiting lists has been issued to all health authorities, NHS trusts and other healthcare providers, identifying the provision of booked dates for first out-patient appointments as best practice.

  Rural Areas (Assistance)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of state for Wales (1) what policies the Development Board for Rural Wales has for the voluntary sector to be a vehicle for assisting rural communities;

  (2) how much funding in each of the last five years and for the next financial year has been allocated by the Development Board for Rural Wales to the voluntary sector for assisting rural communities; and if he will list those organisations and how much each received.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have asked the chief executive of the Development Board for Rural Wales to write to the hon. Member, and for a copy of the. reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures are used by the board members and officials of(a) the Welsh Development Agency and (b) the

  633
  Development Board for Rural Wales to inform themselves of the needs of individual rural areas within their areas of responsibility.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have asked the chief executives of the agency and the board to write to the hon. Member and for copies of their responses to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how much funding in each of the last five years and for the next financial year has been allocated by the Welsh Development Agency to the voluntary sector for assisting rural communities; and if he will list those organisations and how much each received;

  (2) what policies the Welsh Development Agency has for the voluntary sector to be a vehicle for assisting rural communities.

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

  Cancer Treatment
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 196, if he will list all the appraisals commissioned by his Department of the options for improving cancer services for north Wales; and if he will place a copy of each appraisal in the Library.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I will write to the hon. Lady.

  Development Board for Rural Wales
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what directions he has given to the Development Board for Rural Wales to sell its industrial estates on the open market; how many estates are involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: None. However, the development board seeks to identify opportunities for property disposal and under its guidelines is expected to encourage private ownership and secure the disposal of its completed premises and estates to the private sector.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Tigris and Euphrates Valleys
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States and Egypt about the provision of pharmaceuticals, water pumps and water-filtering equipment to the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. Our substantial aid to Iraq is organised through the United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations.

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates on which aid and trade provision offers in principle were made to the Governments of countries overseas in each year since 1986.
  634
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The dates of all ATP offers are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A list of successful ATP projects on which offers have been accepted by developing country Governments has been placed in the Libraries of the House. This list is based on the dates when the formal Government-to-Government agreements or exchanges were signed; this is the operative date for project commencement.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Rwanda for British-based aid organisations; what progress is being made in Rwanda by the United Nations mission; and what estimate has been made of the number of refugees and displaced people in Rwanda.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Although some difficulties remain, most aid organisations can now operate with relative freedom. The United Nations assistance mission for Rwanda continues to encourage full implementation of peace agreements signed last August in Arusha. A copy of the United Nations Secretary-General's report of 30 December 1993 on UNAMIR's progress has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The number of refugees and displaced persons in Rwanda at present is estimated at 650,000.

  UK Assistance
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much United Kingdom Government assistance was given for: the covered reservoir scheme 1985 at Irbid, Jordan; sewage works at Rustamiyah, Iraq and the Suez Canal Authority, Egypt 1985; water works at Tangerang, Indonesia 1985; water development department, Cyprus 1985; canal project at Rahimyakham, Pakistan 1986; canal project in Cameroon 1986; canal project in Kwasa State, Nigeria 1986; Kwasa project in Nigeria 1987; water projects in Niger, Uganda and Panama 1987; Hill Country water scheme, Sri Lanka 1988; water schemes in Greece and Turkey 1988; Akashat scheme in Iraq 1989; El Nasr Co. in Egypt 1991; water valve equipment in Singapore 1991; Larnaca scheme, Cyprus 1992; the Great Cairo wastewater scheme 1992; and water project in Ghana 1992.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Of the projects listed, the following have been supported from the United Kingdom aid programme:

  Project

  Overall commitment £ million

  Canal project, Rahimyakham, Pakistan

  10·77

  Hill country water scheme, Sri Lanka

  2·13

  Water schemes, Turkey

  1·13

  Greater Cairo waste water scheme, Egypt

  69·14

  Two regions water rehabilitation project, Ghana

  11·39

  Uganda water projects (three)

  0·07

  635

  Child Mortality Rates
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on(a) the child mortality rates and (b) the average life expectancy of inhabitants of (i) El Salvador, (ii) Nepal, (iii) Paraguay, (iv) Benin, (v) Togo, (vi) Sierra Leone, (vii) Mauritius, (viii) Burundi, (ix) Rwanda, (x) Haiti, (xi) Chad, (xii) Albania, (xiii) Barbados, (xiv) Malta, (xv) Botswana, (xvi) Ukraine, (xvii) The Gambia and (xviii) Mongolia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The latest information we have on child mortality and average life expectancy rates in the countries listed, based on data contained in the World Bank Atlas 1994, is as follows:

  Country

  Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births) as at 1992

  Average life expectancy at birth (years) as at 1992

  El Salvador

  46

  66

  Nepal

  99

  54

  Paraguay

  47

  67

  Benin

  110

  51

  Togo

  85

  54

  Sierra Leone

  143

  43

  Mauritius

  18

  70

  Burundi

  106

  48

  Rwanda

  110

  46

  Haiti

  93

  55

  Chad

  122

  47

  Albania

  28

  73

  Barbados

  10

  75

  Malta

  10

  76

  Botswana

  35

  68

  Ukraine

  18

  70

  The Gambia

  142

  45

  Mongolia

  60

  64

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy regarding the proposal to build an airstrip on St. Helena.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I am aware of a proposal for the construction of an airfield on St. Helena and the subsequent introduction of an air service to the islands. While this could bring benefits to the island's economy, it would also be costly.

  The Government of St. Helena has not so far approached Her Majesty's Government about this matter. Should we receive such an approach, we will consider it very carefully.

TREASURY

  Value Added Tax Charges
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of. the Exchequer what were the average annual VAT charges incurred by(a) people with a disability and (b) people with no disability for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  Estimates are not readily available on VAT incurred by people with a disability.
  636

  Tiger Products
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what seizures of tiger products or material containing tiger products have been made by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in the last three years.

  Sir John Cope
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise made seizures apparently of such a kind over the period as follows:

  Tiger skin—1 whole, 1 piece, 1 handbag and 1 pair of shoes.

  Tincture of tiger bone—2 bottles.

  Tiger bone plaster—43 packets and 30 strips.

  Tiger bone pills—51 boxes and 420 tablets.

  Tiger bone medicine—1 package and 3 sachets.

  Tiger claws—2.

  Liquor Duty
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the balance of payments and Treasury receipts resulting from lower liquor duties in mainland Europe.

  Sir John Cope
  The effect of cross-border shopping on the balance of payments is difficult to assess. It takes place for a variety of reasons. Duty differentials encourage personal imports, but are only one factor. Duty free shopping arrangements are another. The overall effect on the balance of payments will depend on where cross-border shopping is taking place and the country of origin of the product purchased as well as the amounts purchased. Receipts of duty on alcoholic drink held up well in 1993.

  Taxation
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures for each of a single person, a single-wage married couple and a single-wage couple with two children, showing the percentages of earnings taken in(a) income tax, (b) national insurance contribution, (c) VAT, (d) local authority rates/community charge and (e) other indirect taxation, at 75 per cent., 100 per cent. and 150 per cent. of average male manual earnings, in 1979–80, 1989–90 and the latest year for which such figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information available is given in the tables.

  Percentage of gross earnings paid in direct taxes in 1979–80

  Multiples of average male manual earnings

  ¾

  1

  1½

  Single

  Income tax

  20·2

  22·6

  25·1

  NICs

  6·5

  6·5

  5·8

  Married, no children

  income tax

  15·2

  18·9

  22·6

  NICs

  6·5

  6·5

  5·8

  Married, two children

  Income tax

  4·7

  11·0

  17·3

  NICs

  6·5

  6·5

  5·8

  Percentage of gross earnings paid in direct taxes in 1989–90

  Multiples of average male manual earnings

  ¾

  1

  1½

  Single

  Income tax

  17·1

  19·1

  21·0

  NICs

  8·1

  8·3

  8·2

  637

  Multiples of average male manual earnings

  ¾

  1

  1½

  Married, no children

  Income tax

  12·6

  15·7

  18·8

  NICs

  8·1

  8·3

  8·2

  Married, two children

  Income tax

  4·0

  9·2

  14·5

  NICs

  8·1

  8·3

  8·2

  Percentage of gross earnings paid in direct taxes in 1993–94

  Multiples of average male manual earnings

  ¾

  1

  1½

  Single

  Income tax

  16·0

  18·3

  20·5

  NICs

  7·1

  7·6

  8·0

  Married, no children

  Income tax

  12·1

  15·3

  18·6

  NICs

  7·1

  7·6

  8·0

  Married, two children

  Income tax

  3·5

  8·9

  14·3

  NICs

  7·1

  7·6

  8·0

  Notes to tables.

  1Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and only have income from employment. All earners, are assumed to pay class 1 NI contributions at the contracted-in-rate.

  2 In order to provide comparability with 178–79, when support for children was given partly through child tax allowance, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax for the married couple with two children.

  3. Average male manual earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time manual males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. Average male manual earnings stood at £101·10 in 1979–80 and £225·60 in 1989–90. They are assumed, on the basis of an illustrative assumption of 3·5 per cent growth in 1993–94, to be £281·50 in 1993–94.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Treasury in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97 of tax expenditures and structural reliefs; and what specific changes in this cost will be brought about by the changes announced in his last Budget.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest estimate of the cost of tax expenditures and structural reliefs, which are for 1993–94, were published in a Treasury booklet "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" in July 1993. A copy of this was placed in the Library. Preliminary estimates for 1994–95 will be published later this year.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's tax policies on the economic well-being of people on low incomes and below the pension age.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 3 March at column 880.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) of 21 March,Official Report, column 22, if he will set out the reasons for the unavailability of the information on arms exports requested.
  638
  Mr. Nelson
  The question to which the hon. Member refers asked for the proportion of gross domestic product derived from the sale of armaments. This information cannot be supplied as the term "armaments" is not defined in the classifications used for national accounts purposes. The value of exports of defence equipment can be estimated from overseas trade statistics and is published in table 1.11 of "UK Defence Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to the Exchequer of the loss in value immediately after the withdrawal from the exchange rate mechanism of the sterling purchased by the Bank of England two weeks prior to United Kingdom withdrawal.

  Mr. Nelson
  For good reasons of market management, it has been the practice of successive Governments not to publish intervention figures. Whether or not intervention results in a profit or loss depends on a number of factors, including the cost at which foreign currency assets are bought and sold, and the rate at which reserves are rebuilt and foreign currency borrowing is repaid. No unambiguous estimate can therefore be made of any profit or loss arising from intervention.

  Royal Yacht
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to Customs and Excise of hiring the royal yacht for a reception; who was invited; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  According to records going back to 1980, Customs and Excise have made no use or application for use of the royal yacht.

  Brian Charrington
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance will be given by his Department to the investigation by Thames Valley police into the conduct of the Brian Charrington case by Cleveland police force.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs and Excise will co-operate fully with the Thames Valley police inquiry team.

  Inland Revenue Adjudicator
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases the Inland Revenue adjudicator has dealt with since being established; and how many cases have been adjudicated in favour of the complainant.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Since the adjudicator took up appointment on 1 July 1993, she has completed 98 investigations. She has found wholly or partly in favour of the complainant in 63 cases.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94 and (c) 1994–95 of raising the threshold for capital gains tax to £5,800.
  639
  Mr. Dorrell
  The capital gains tax annual exempt amount was increased in 1992–93 to £5,800 in line with the statutory indexation formula. Therefore there was no cost to the Exchequer measured against an indexed base.

  Taxation
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has further to reduce tax evasion; if he will make it his policy to abolish the road fund licence and recoup the lost revenue from additional petrol duty; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The Government devote substantial resources to tackling tax evasion.

  We have no plans to abolish vehicle excise duty and recoup the lost revenue from additional petrol duty. I also refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 9 February 1994 at col. 248.

  Mr. Christopher Thompson
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to review the case of Mr. Christopher Thompson of 18 Bootham terrace, York, in relation to the treatment by Customs and Excise of his VAT liabilities and those of his competitors;

  (2) what account he has taken in considering the case of Mr. Christopher Thompson of 18 Bootham terrace, York, in the past of Mr. Thompson's affidavit about competitors' tax affairs and the reported inaccuracy of advertisements for their services.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: None. His complaints, which relate to events before and during 1979, have been reviewed carefully over the last 15 years by Customs and Excise, by Ministers and by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, and full account has been taken of all the many thousands of documents that Mr. Thompson has sent, both direct to customs and via Members of Parliament and others.

  VAT on Fuel
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 1 December,Official Report, column 567, if value added tax would be applied to standing charges for electricity and gas if billed separately.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: Separate billing of standing charges for electricity or gas would not affect the VAT liability of these charges. They remain part of the consideration for a single supply of fuel and power. Were they to be viewed otherwise, they would now be liable to VAT at the standard rate.

  Nurse Training Courses (VAT)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he is giving health trusts about value added tax exemption for essential training courses for nursing staff who are converting from state enrolled nurse to state registered nurse.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: None. There is no VAT on in-house training. Nursing training provided by external suppliers is exempt.
  640

  Lower Earnings Limit
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what level the national insurance lower earnings limit has been set in each year since 1989(a) in money terms and (b) at 1994 prices.

  Mr. Hague
  I have been asked to reply.

  Because the lower earnings limit has moved broadly in line with the increase in prices, the value of the limits applying since 1989 at 1994 prices will be approximately £57, that is the limit for 1994–95. The cash value of the limits requested is in the table.

  Year

  Cash LEL £ per week

  1989–90

  43

  1990–91

  46

  1991–92

  52

  1992–93

  54

  1993–94

  56

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Civil Aircraft Trade Agreement
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the time scale for completion of negotiations on the aerospace part of the GATT negotiations postponed from December 1993.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Members of the GATT civil aircraft committee reached an agreement on 14 December 1993 that negotiations on a new GATT agreement on trade in civil aircraft would continue for a further year, ending in December 1994.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish tables showing the number of sub-agency and Crown status post offices in each English region, Wales and Northern Ireland in each year since 1989; how many of each category of post office in each case opened or closed in each year since 1989; and how many changed status.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The number of directly operated main post offices, other main post offices and sub post offices in operation in each of the years from March 1989 to February 1994 are shown in tables 1 to 6 by current Post Office Counters English regions, and with Northern Ireland and Wales shown separately. Because of administrative boundary changes during the period, the historic apportionment between regions is a best estimate. Figures of sub office closures and openings are available from March 1993 only and are shown in table 7; for 1992–93 they are available only at disproportionate cost, and are not available for earlier years. The number of Crown post office conversions is shown on a cumulative basis in the column "other main post offices", with openings and closures not linked to Crown office conversions shown separately for each year.
  641

  Table 1

  Regional breakdown of offices—March 1989

  Post Office Counters Regions

  Directly Operated Main Post Offices

  Other Main Post Offices

  Sub Offices

  Total

  Northern Ireland

  28

  0

  663

  691

  Wales

  109

  0

  1,995

  2,104

  North East

  131

  0

  2,836

  2,967

  North West

  147

  0

  1,863

  2,010

  Midlands

  137

  0

  2,247

  2,384

  South West

  139

  0

  2,449

  2,588

  North Thames/East Anglia

  346

  0

  3,072

  3,418

  South East

  263

  0

  2,219

  2,482

  Total

  1,300

  0

  17,344

  18,644

  Table 2

  Regional breakdown of offices—March 1990

  Post Office Counters Regions

  Directly Operated Main Post Offices

  Other Main Post Offices

  Sub Offices

  Total

  Northern Ireland

  11

  24

  3

  657

  684

  Wales

  94

  15

  1,978

  2,087

  North East

  113

  18

  2,801

  2,932

  North West

  128

  19

  1,856

  2,003

  Midlands

  11

  120

  17

  2,220

  2,357

  South West

  127

  12

  2,397

  2,536

  North Thames/East Anglia

  323

  22

  3,043

  3,388

  South East

  248

  15

  2,184

  2,447

  Total

  1,177

  121

  17,136

  18,434

  1 Two main offices closed.

  Table 3

  Regional breakdown of offices—March 1991

  Post Office Counters Regions

  Directly operated main post offices

  Other main post offices

  Sub-offices

  Total

  Northern Ireland

  24

  3

  647

  674

  Wales

  11

  78

  30

  1,949

  2,057

  North East

  12

  92

  38

  2,766

  2,896

  North West

  11

  111

  35

  1,834

  1,980

  Midlands

  11

  107

  21

  29

  2,192

  2,328

  South West

  12

  21

  111

  27

  2,335

  2,473

  North Thames/East Anglia

  12

  293

  50

  2,987

  3,330

  South East

  218

  45

  2,150

  2,413

  Total

  1,034

  257

  16,860

  18,151

  1Nine main offices closed.

  2Two new main offices opened.

  Table 4

  Regional breakdown of offices—March 1992

  Post Office Counters Regions

  Directly operated main post offices

  Other main post offices

  Sub-offices

  Total

  Northern Ireland

  22

  5

  648

  675

  Wales

  67

  40

  1,897

  2,004

  North East

  11

  83

  23

  48

  2,742

  2,873

  North West

  103

  43

  1,824

  1,970

  Midlands

  11

  93

  42

  2,187

  2,322

  South West

  12

  98

  40

  2,309

  2,447

  North Thames/East Anglia

  262

  21

  83

  2,987

  3,332

  South East

  192

  70

  2,130

  2,392

  Total

  920

  371

  16,724

  18,015

  11 Four main offices closed.

  11 Four new main offices opened.

  642

  643

  Table 5

  Regional breakdown of offices—March 1993

  Post Office counters regions

  Directly operated main post offices

  Other main post offices

  Sub offices

  Total

  Northern Ireland

  21

  6

  652

  679

  Wales

  59

  49

  1,878

  1,986

  North East

  73

  22

  61

  2,701

  2,835

  North West

  1221

  96

  49

  1,816

  1,961

  Midlands

  78

  56

  2,156

  2,290

  South West

  87

  22

  ..

  51

  2,259

  2,397

  North Thames/East Anglia

  1321

  233

  22

  102

  2,961

  3,296

  South East

  187

  22

  ..

  87

  2,105

  2,379

  Total

  834

  461

  16,528

  17,823

  1 Five main offices closed.

  2 Nine new main offices opened.

  Table 6

  Regional breakdown of offices—February 1994

  Post office counters regions

  Directly operated main post offices

  Other main post offices

  Sub offices

  Total

  Northern Ireland

  19

  8

  650

  677

  Wales

  54

  54

  1,865

  1,973

  North East

  70

  65

  2,668

  2,803

  North West

  89

  56

  1,805

  1,950

  Midlands

  65

  65

  2,073

  2,203

  South West

  80

  58

  2,253

  2,391

  North Thames/East Anglia

  224

  12

  117

  2,974

  3,315

  South East

  172

  11

  103

  2,105

  2,380

  Total

  773

  526

  16,393

  17,692

  1 Three new main offices opened.

  Table 7

  Regional breakdown of changes to sub-offices—March 1993—February 1994

  Post office counters regions

  Net closures of sub-offices

  Conversions to main offices

  New sub-offices

  Net reduction

  Northern Ireland

  2

  —

  —

  2

  Wales

  13

  —

  —

  13

  North East

  32

  —

  —

  33

  North West

  10

  1

  —

  11

  Midlands

  83

  —

  —

  83

  South West

  10

  —

  4

  6

  North Thames/East Anglia

  1-10

  —

  3

  —13

  South East

  0

  —

  —

  0

  Total

  140

  2

  7

  135

  1 This figure relates to re-opening of sub-offices which have previously been temporarily closed.

  Regional Challenge
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. Evans) of 8 March,Official Report, columns 204–5, how regional challenge and the envisaged competition between local deprived communities in a locality will help to achieve sustainable regeneration; what is meant by the term "Community support framework areas"; and if he will place in the Library, information regarding the rules of this competition and how bids will be judged.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Regional challenge, an alternative method of selecting projects for European regional development fund grant, will improve the use of this fund for sustainable regeneration because the competition will 644
  stimulate better applications, which should involve the co-operative participation of appropriate authorities and bodies and the private sector.

  Detailed rules will be published in due course.

  The community support framework areas in England will be:

  Objective 1

  Merseyside

  Objective 2

  North East

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  Greater Manchester/Lancashire/Cheshire

  Greater London

  West Cumbria

  Thanet

  Plymouth

  Objective 5(b)

  South West

  645

  Shropshire/Herefordshire/Worcestershire (the Marches)

  Staffordshire/Derbyshire (Midlands Uplands)

  Northern Uplands

  Lincolnshire

  East Anglia

  I do not intend to include west Cumbria, Thanet and Plymouth in the first regional challenge competitions.

  Regional Enterprise Grants
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was(a) the total money spent, (b) the percentage of that money allocated according to decisions made by Ministers on competitive bids and (c) the percentage of that money allocated according to some statistical measure of need in the last available operational year of the regional enterprise grants.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In the 1992–93 financial year payments of regional enterprise grants in England totalled £5.7 million. The other questions are not applicable to this scheme.

  Rover Group
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much public money was invested in the Rover Group from 1977 to privatisation; and what is his estimate of the replacement cost of the assets sold by British Aerospace to BMW.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Between 1975, when the Government took a majority shareholding in the company that became British Leyland, and of which Rover was part, until privatisation, some £3·5 billion was invested in BL in the form of grants, loans and equity.

  The group last made profits, after tax, on ordinary activities in the 1975–76 financial year. By 1988, Rover's accumulated losses amounted to £1,600 million.

  We are not in a position to estimate the replacement cost of the assets sold by British Aerospace to BMW.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the]Board of Trade whether he will ensure that the forthcoming White Paper on competitiveness will include an analysis of United Kingdom and world exports of manufactures since 1979 similar to that in the article published in the 18 November 1966 issue of the Board of Trade journal.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The White Paper on competitiveness will be presented to the House later in the year.

  Charter Markets
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many charter markets he had visited in his official capacity prior to publication of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  I have not visited a charter market in an official capacity.

  Overseas Investment
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of United Kingdom overseas investment in 1979; what it was in 1993; and what was the percentage increase.
  646
  Mr. Heseltine
  The level of United Kingdom overseas investment was £5·9 billion in 1979 and £16·9 billion in 1993. This represents a percentage increase of 186 per cent.

  Tobacco Companies (Grants)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many regional selective assistance grants were given to tobacco companies in the United Kingdom in each year since 1989–90; and if he will list the companies.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No regional selective assistance grants have been given to tobacco companies in the United Kingdom since 1989–90. Reference to "regional selective assistance grants" in answer to an earlier question from the hon. Lady on 1 February 1994,Official Report, column 613, should have read "selective financial assistance to industry". This assistance is available to companies in Northern Ireland only under the Industrial Development (Northern Ireland) Order 1982 and the Employment and Training (Northern Ireland) Act 1950.

  Arms Exports (Indonesia)
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what type, quantity and value of arms have been exported to south-east Asia by Britain for each year since 1985; and what proportion of sales in that region have gone to Indonesia.

  Mr. Heseltine
  For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it has been the consistent policy of successive Governments not to disclose particulars of defence trade with other countries.

  Trade and the Environment
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft work programme on trade and the environment, recently agreed in Geneva, for the general agreement on tariffs and trade and World Trade Organisation meeting in Marrakesh.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have today placed a copy of the draft ministerial decision on trade and environment in the Library of the House.

  Concorde
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the life expectancy of Concorde.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department of Trade and Industry has made no such assessment.

  Legislation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to publish compliance cost assessments of the burden on businesses of legislation.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The Government publish compliance cost assessments with all proposals for United Kingdom and EC legislation that have an impact on business. The arrangements for publishing CCAs for proposed domestic legislation were set out in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 19 October,Official Report, column

  647
  202. The arrangements for publishing the assessments for proposed EC legislation were set out in the written answer by my right hon. Friend the Lord President to the Council to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page) on 19 July, Official Report, column 24.

  Local Business Partnerships
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the 18 pilot local business partnerships set up by his Department's deregulation unit.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The 18 pilot local business partnerships, established by local authorities and the business community with the help of my Department, are located at:Kent county council, Tunbridge Wells borough council, Suffolk county council, Ipswich borough council, Nottinghamshire county council, Gedling district council, Barnsley metropolitan borough council, London borough of Hounslow, South Ribble borough council, West Sussex county council, East Sussex county council, Cardiff city council, Warwickshire county council, Hertfordshire county council, Oxfordshire county council, Hereford and Worcester county council, Berkshire county council and Lewes district council.

  In addition to these 18 pilot partnerships, a new partnership has been established at Hastings borough council and I understand that launches for new partnerships are already planned this year by Gloucestershire county council, Essex county council and Rother and Wealden district councils.

  I am keen to encourage the creation of other partnerships and to this end hosted a series of regional seminars in late-1993 to help promote them. The response to these seminars was encouraging and officials in my Department's deregulation unit are planning a number of initiatives to follow up on the many expressions of interest.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1993 the Department of Trade and Industry made 887 public appointments. Of these, 0·34 per cent. were Asian appointments, 0·34 per cent. black appointments and 0·12 per cent. other ethnic origin appointments.

  Names cannot be provided as ethnic origin information was obtained in confidence from those concerned.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been asked, since June 1992, to submit names of individuals to be considered for appointments to paid and unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person appointed or shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. Eggar
  The required information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the organisations and individuals outside his Department who are sent 648
  information on, or consulted about, individuals who are, or may be, proposed to the Minister for appointment to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person appointed or the shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. Eggar
  Such consultations are made in accordance with the "Guide to Public Appointments Procedures".

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what information his Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in(a) extreme left-wing organisations, (b) extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons;

  (2) what procedures his Department has to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department does not hold information on the political affiliations of public appointees or potential public appointees. Appointments are made on the basis of the person judged best for the job; political affiliation is not a factor.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for the last 12 months how many parliamentary questions he has referred to one of his Department's agencies for answer; and what percentage of parliamentary questions to his Department this represents.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Between 1 March 1993 and 28 February 1994, Department of Trade and Industry Ministers referred 31 parliamentary questions to chief executives of my Department's agencies for reply. They represent 1·1 per cent. of the total of 2,812 written questions answered by my Department during that period.

  RECHAR Programme
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the projects and their costs covered by the RECHAR programme to date in(a) the Doncaster area and (b) the rest of south Yorkshire.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  To date, in Doncaster, 25 infrastructure projects have attracted RECHAR funding of £6,872,236 out of a total South Yorkshire programme of £18,575,176. In addition £8,621,016 has been allocated to 73 business support projects. Although not specific to Doncaster, the projects cover a wide area of South Yorkshire and are all available to companies in Doncaster. I have today placed copies of the list of projects in the Library of the House.

  Building Projects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what major building projects valued at over £1 million are being or have been wholly or partly financed since 1989 in(a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Wakefield by his Department; and what was the cost of each project to his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Regional selective assistance grants can be offered in support of investment projects which
  649
  create or maintain jobs. While the details concerned are commercially confidential, five projects involving building costs of over £1 million have received RSA offers since 1 April 1989, as shown in the table.

  In addition, English Estates has been undertaking building and development activities in these areas supported in part by grant aid from the Department.

  Number of projects

  Total project costs £ million

  Building costs £ million

  Grant £ million

  5

  81·6

  15·7

  8·55

  European Imports
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of European imports to the Yorkshire and Humberside region are transported directly by(a) sea and (b) air (i) currently, (ii) five years ago and (iii) 10 years ago.

  Mr. Needham
  There are no data on the level of European imports into the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

  BS 5750
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will issue guidelines on the issuing of quality management systems equivalent to BS 5750 by both certifying bodies and consultants who themselves have not been approved in particular industrial sectors in which they are offering their services by the National Accreditation Council for Certifications Bodies.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Certification to BS 5750 and the accreditation of certification bodies are commercial decisions for the parties concerned. I recognise that accreditation provides confidence in certification services. My Department does, therefore, encourage certification bodies to seek accreditation and individual companies to use the services of accredited certification bodies. This is reflected in the current edition of the DTI QA register which now lists only accredited certification bodies.

  Nuclear Installations
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes have been made under the statutory security provisions for sites occupied by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority or which require permits under section 2 of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.

  Mr. Eggar
  Sites belonging to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and those where enrichment or reprocessing operations take place are subject to special statutory security provisions. These are designed principally:

  (a)to protect information about and restrict access to enrichment technology, which could be misused for the purposes of nuclear weapons proliferation. The House recognised the importance of this last year in passing the Official Secrets Act 1989 (Prescription) (Amendment) Order 1993; and

  (b)to protect information about and restrict access to facilities, where this is desirable for the safekeeping of plutonium and other fissile materials.

  650
  Under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 as amended, sites, other than those of the UKAEA, require a permit for reprocessing or enrichment. Sites to which permits apply and those of the UKAEA can be made prohibited places for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act 1911.

  Work undertaken last year identified that the current list of nuclear prohibited places ought to be updated generally, including to align with current site boundaries. New permits have been issued for Sellafield and Capenhurst and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary yesterday made a new prohibited places order.

  This order significantly reduces the number of places that are prohibited. Current or past UKAEA sites at Risley and Culcheth, and in London at Rex house and 11 Charles II street have been dropped. The small part of the Sellafield site managed by the UKAEA, which had been omitted from the previous order, has been added to the Sellafield prohibited place. Land has also been added as a result of aligning the permit with the current Sellafield site boundary. The UKAEA sites at Harwell and Dounreay remain prohibited places in the latter case under a separate order.

  The new arrangements will ensure that at Sellafield and Capenhurst, the entire site within the security fence is a prohibited place and that this will remain the case following any transfers of land between British Nuclear Fuels plc and UKAEA at Sellafield or BNFL and Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd. at Capenhurst. The areas of land affected are defined by the permits; copies of these, together with proof copies of the prohibited places order, have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Diamonds (Angola)
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans he has to consult his counterparts in the European Union on the question of formulating cross-frontier measures to prevent the importation of diamonds traded by, and on behalf of, the UNITA organisation in Angola;

  (2) what plans he has to take measures to prevent Angolan diamonds, stolen and traded by UNITA, being imported and marketed in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have no such plans. There is no reliable way of identifying the geographical origin of diamonds imported into the United Kingdom. Technically, it is seldom possible to do so and the channels of distribution are also varied and complex. It would be impractical to track the origin and provenance, legal or otherwise, of individual stones. Nor, for the same reasons, would it be practicable to seek a Community-wide restriction.

  Coal Industry Privatisation
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements are in place to ensure that potential purchasers of British Coal's mining assets are given equal access to relevant information about the five mining businesses being offered for sale by the Government.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government attach importance to ensuring that no potential purchasers are given preferential access to the relevant information. I expect in the coming weeks to clarify the basis on which the Government will be making information available.
  651
  British Coal has issued instructions which govern the conduct of all corporation employees during the privatisation period. These instructions set out, among other things, the consents which managers are required to obtain before they can participate in any buy-out bid, and the undertakings which they are obliged to give as a condition of such consents. British Coal has equally introduced detailed arrangements which seek to prevent the unauthorised disclosure by corporation employees of information which might impede the privatisation process. These measures are designed to provide effective safeguards against the possibility of conflicts of interest on the part of British Coal staff who may be authorised to participate in management and employee buy-outs. British Coal will also put in place specific additional measures in the case of individual MEBO participants where necessary.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what budget provision is planned for the financial year 1994–95 to commission consultants to provide advice on the restructuring and privatisation of British Coal.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: Provision of £11.7 million for consultants costs has been included in the 1994–95 Main Supply Estimates, HC 3.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the value of capital allowances to be transferred to licensed operators under schedule 4 to the Coal Industry Bill.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The Coal Industry Bill provides a mechanism for the transfer of capital allowances from British Coal Corporation to successor companies. No firm estimate of the value of such allowances has yet been made.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a report by the Director General of Telecommunications for the year 1993 as required under section 55 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Yes. The tenth report by the Director General of Telecommunications is being published today. It covers the period 1 January to 31 December 1993. Copies of the report have been laid before each House of Parliament.

  Post Office (Damaged Letters)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many incidents have been reported by the Post Office of letters and small packages being(a) irrecoverably damaged and (b) damaged but recoverably so by the new mark 1, 2 and 3 GT 4000 machines in use in some sorting offices.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: I understand from the Post Office that it does not use any sorting machines designated as GT 4000 but that Royal Mail currently operates 185 NP 4000 sorting machines. Incidents of damage to mail during sorting processes are not recorded centrally by Royal Mail.
  652

  Consorzio Ital Offshore
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the proposed visit by Offshore Supplies Office officials to the Sicilian fabrication site, Consorzio Ital Offshore.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: In the course of discussions between British consulate officials and the Consorzio Ital Offshore, an invitation was extended to OSO to visit CIO's fabrication site in Sicily.

  Apparently following adverse comment in the United Kingdom press the invitation to visit the site was withdrawn.

  Tobacco Companies
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the tobacco companies that have received regional selective assistance grants in each year since 1990; and for what purpose each grant was given.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 11 March 1994]: Payment of selective assistance to individual companies is confidential to those companies.

  British Coal (Assets)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what has been the total investment by British Coal over the most recent five-year period at those collieries and opencast sites currently in operation;

  (2) what is the total value of capital allowances outstanding against corporation tax on British Coal in respect of assets of collieries and opencast sites currently in operation.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answers 28 March 1994]: These are matters for British Coal.

ENVIRONMENT

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in the last 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. Gummer
  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.

  Malaysian Airlines
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the dates 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 of each flight to his Department.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is not available.

  Building Projects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what major building projects valued at over £1 million are being or have been wholly or partly financed
  653
  since 1989 in (a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Wakefield by his Department; and what was the cost of each project to his Department.

  Mr. Baldry
  The following major building projects valued at over £1 million have been or are being funded wholly or partly by my Department since 1989 in(a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Wakefield. This excludes major reclamation schemes funded through derelict land grant.

  Cost to the department £'000

  Doncaster

  Estate Action

  Stainforth Estate, Phases 1–3

  9,120

  City Challenge (Dearne Valley)

  Mexborough Business Centre

  1,197

  Dearne Valley Business School

  799

  Denaby Crags

  2,038

  Earth Centre

  444

  4,478

  Urban Programme

  Mexborough Business Centre

  463

  Barnsley

  City Grant

  Hoyle Mill/Pontefract Road

  492

  Rockingham Business Park, Birdwell Ph I and II

  738

  Wombwell Industrial Estate

  2,149

  Wath Road, Wombwell

  2,533

  Redbrook Business Park

  559

  Station Road, Wombwell

  163

  6,634

  Estate Action

  Cloughfields Estate, Phase 2

  1,320

  Kendray Estate, Phases 1 and 2

  2,385

  Lundwood Estate

  3,550

  Athersley North Estate, Phases 1–3

  8,225

  15,480

  City Challenge (Dearne Valley)

  Elsecar Heritage Centre

  1,545

  St. Hilda's

  680

  Thurnscoe East

  687

  2,912

  City Challenge (Barnsley NE Corridor)

  Priory Campus

  2,610

  Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre

  750

  Cundy Cross

  2,416

  5,776

  Urban Programme

  Elsecar Heritage Centre

  657

  Grimethorpe Workshops

  540

  Thurnscoe Factory/Workshops

  2,354

  3,551

  Rotherham

  City Grant

  Cortonwood

  10,230

  Rodger Street

  170

  Phoenix Business Park

  436

  Kilnhurst Business Park

  385

  11,221

  654

  Cost to the department £'000

  Estate Action

  Canklow Community Refurbishment Scheme

  1,964

  City Challenge (Dearne Valley)

  Technology Transfer Centre

  1,789

  Swinton Patio

  3,000

  4,789

  Urban Partnership Fund

  Rotherham Engineering and Computing Technology Centre

  685

  Wakefield

  Estate Action

  Smirthwaite Estate

  838

  Kershaw Avenue, Airedale Estate

  2,057

  Dacre Avenue, Lupset

  1,574

  4,469

  Hospitals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) hospitals in use, (b) redundant hospitals and (c) converted or redeveloped hospitals there are on green-belt land.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not available centrally. Planning guidelines on redundant hospital sites in the green belt are contained in DOE circular 12/91.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the proposals under consideration by the European Parliament and European Commission to halve the pollution emissions from cars.

  Mr. Atkins
  The European Parliament at its March plenary meeting rejected proposed amendments to the latest directive on vehicle emissions which called specifically for the halving of pollution emissions from cars. The Council of Environment Ministers therefore adopted this directive, further amending directive 70/220/EEC, on 24 March, taking account of the European Parliament's views. In addition to specifying new tighter standards, the latest directive also calls for the European Commission to bring forward by the end of this year further proposals to reduce emissions from cars.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what rights those who are waiting assessment as to whether they are unintentionally homeless will have under the citizens charter in respect of(a) the time such an assessment should take and (b) temporary assistance pending assessment under his proposed legislation.

  Sir George Young
  When reaching the final decisions following our consideration of the responses to the consultation paper "Access to Local Authority and Housing Association Tenancies", we will take full account of the principles of the citizens charter.
  655
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library(a) the original advice memo given to James Gray advising Ministers on how to use the political network to rebut criticisms of the Government's homelessness consultation paper and (b) the revised guidelines reissued by Richard Wilson to his staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes. I am also placing in the Library a copy of the press release issued by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Inner Cities and Construction, on 24 February commenting on Shelter's misleading and inaccurate statements on the Government's "Consultation Paper on Access to Local Authority and Housing Association Tenancies".

  Sefton Park Palm House
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funding will be available to enable the completion of the renovation of the Sefton Park palm house, Liverpool; and what timetable has been established for the completion of the work.

  Mr. Baldry
  The hon. Member will recall that urban programme funding of £0·254 million, was secured for a short-term rescue package to arrest further deterioration and make the structure safe and secure.

  These works were completed last summer. Their purpose, to secure the palm house for a maximum of seven years while proposals for its long-term use were developed, has been achieved. The consideration, by Liverpool city council, of the palm house's future, together with the wider issue of maximising the use of Sefton Park and its facilities, will need to be carried out as part of an overall tourism strategy.

  There will be opportunities, under both the single regeneration budget and objective 1, for projects developed in partnership with the private sector and the Community to be successful in a bid for funding. Obviously, I cannot judge whether such a partnership approach would be forthcoming in the case of Sefton Park palm house, nor can I say that if it did, such a bid would be successful.

  Housing
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds have been made available to the Liverpool city council during the past financial year for the modernisation of homes under the provisions of the mandatory house improvement grant system; whether all available funds were claimed; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The level of resources dedicated to house renovation grants is a matter for Liverpool city council to decide within the framework of its capital programme and available resources. A guideline figure of £9·9 million was included in the housing investment programme allocation for 1993–94. Liverpool claimed a total grant expenditure of £13·846 million and a supplementary credit approval for £3·558 million was issued last December.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how management and maintenance cost assumptions are calculated for the purpose of allocating housing revenue account subsidies.
  656
  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: Each housing authority is allocated an allowance for housing revenue account subsidy which reflects its relative need to spend on the management and maintenance of its dwellings. This allowance is based on the particular characteristics of the authority's stock, including the type, age and size of the dwellings, the proportion of flats to houses, the sparsity of the stock and its geographical location. Local authorities are consulted in advance about the details.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list local authority housing departments which have submitted successful housing investment programmes in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Sir George Young
  Under the housing investment programme process, all local housing authorities in England are invited each year to submit bids for capital resources for their housing programmes. Allocations are then announced in December. Lists showing the allocations for each authority in 1991–92 and 1992–93 are available from the Library of the House.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the allocation of resources to local authorities under his Department's housing partnership fund for 1994–95.

  Sir George Young
  A list of the resources being allocated to local authorities under the housing partnership fund for 1994–95 has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Housing Association Rents
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effects of changes in housing association grant on housing association rent levels.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The relationship between the Government's decisions on changes in housing association grant rates and the rent levels determined by housing associations for their new properties is not direct. The implications for rents of a change in the grant rate will depend on the costs of construction and borrowing, as well as on an association's management and other costs.

  Reductions in average grant rates from 80 per cent in 1990–91 to a ceiling of 62 per cent. for 1994–95 have reflected a considerable reduction in procurement costs across the period. Housing associations have also been able to reduce the rents they would otherwise need to charge on new properties by their ability to pool rents across their stock and to make efficiency savings.

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on fire safety in large open-plan single-storey buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: I have received representations about the safety of both firefighters and the occupants of large single-storey buildings, and about the effect of fires in such buildings on fire service resources, contamination of the environment,

  657
  loss of property and disruption to the life of local communities. I have also met representatives of the fire service, the Loss Prevention Council and the Institute of Building Control. A scrutiny team is currently looking at fire safety issues, as announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 17 January, Official Report, column 381. In the light of their findings, and of the representations made to me, I shall consider whether any changes should be made to the relevant part of the building regulations.

  Countryside Organisations
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the costs of reorganising the Countryside Commission for England and Wales, the Countryside Commission for Scotland and the Nature Conservancy Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The estimated total cost of the reorganisation of the conservation agencies in 1991–92 was £9·18 million, excluding administrative costs within Government

  Part time

  Full time

  Total

  F

  M

  Total

  F

  M

  Total

  F

  M

  Total

  Grade 1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  Grade 2

  0

  0

  0

  3

  4

  7

  3

  4

  7

  Grade 3

  1

  0

  1

  3

  30

  33

  4

  30

  34

  Grade 4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  7

  0

  7

  7

  Grade 5

  5

  2

  7

  16

  117

  133

  21

  119

  140

  Grade 6

  4

  6

  10

  25

  287

  312

  29

  293

  322

  Grade 7

  31

  3

  34

  103

  651

  754

  134

  654

  788

  SEO and equivalent

  18

  5

  23

  125

  611

  736

  143

  616

  759

  HEO and equivalent

  49

  6

  55

  263

  661

  924

  312

  667

  979

  EO and equivalent

  53

  5

  58

  493

  693

  1,186

  546

  698

  1,244

  AO and equivalent

  140

  5

  145

  851

  573

  1,424

  991

  578

  1,569

  AA and equivalent

  99

  2

  101

  391

  240

  631

  490

  242

  732

  Total

  400

  34

  434

  2,273

  3,875

  6,148

  2,673

  3,909

  6,582

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 280, if he will list the number of contracts and their cost with management consultants in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The information requested is not held centrally by my Department and is obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total capital receipt from the sale of county hall in London; and if he will publish the amounts that have been paid to each London borough.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: I refer to my answer of 23 November, Official Report, column 17, in which I explained that the total capital receipt from the sale of county hall was a matter of commercial confidentiality. Under the terms of the London Government Reorganisation (Capital Money) (Greater London) (Amendment) Order 1993, the London residuary body distributed the following amounts, totalling £60 million, to the London boroughs and to the City of London:
  658
  disbursed across three Departments. The latter could only be supplied at disproportionate cost. In addition £1·4 million was provided in 1990–91 to cover the agencies initial costs. The direct implementation costs of merging the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and the Countryside Commission for Scotland to form Scottish Natural Heritage incurred in 1991–92 were £118,000. This figure is exclusive of the administrative costs incurred by the Scottish Office Environment Department and the two existing agencies which could, again, be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Civil Servants
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department the number of(a) male and (b) female, (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]The following information covers non-industrial staff in my Department—excluding PSA services—as at 1 March 1994:

  £

  City of London

  45,373·34

  Camden

  1,681,516·01

  Greenwich

  1,808,561·84

  Hackney

  1,569,474·18

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,375,421·52

  Islington

  1,499,766·02

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,354,877·70

  Lambeth

  2,174,754·19

  Lewisham

  2,035,628·31

  Southwark

  1,904,780·74

  Tower Hamlets

  1,410,859·15

  Wandsworth

  2,279,922·50

  Westminster

  1,696,516·88

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,245,366·67

  Barnet

  2,654,118·04

  Bexley

  1,913,948·53

  Brent

  2,165,808·27

  Bromley

  2,637,789·90

  Croydon

  2,804,029·41

  Ealing

  2,522,823·09

  Enfield

  2,289,346·21

  Haringey

  1,815,070·93

  Harrow

  1,788,598·36

  Havering

  2,012,152·23

  Hillingdon

  2,073,971·23

  Hounslow

  1,817,964·77

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,237,042·62

  Merton

  1,512,659·01

  Newham

  1,833,105·05

  Redbridge

  2,002,535·88

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,473,820·06

  Sutton

  1,506,433·98

  659

  £

  Waltham Forest

  1,855,863·28

  Total

  60,000,000·00

  Valpak Scheme
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects that consultation on the Valpak scheme proposed by the packaging industry producer responsibility group will be completed; and if he will list those organisations which have been consulted.

  Mr. Atkins
  The producer responsibility industry group which represents 28 of the largest companies with interests in packaging has asked for comments on its proposals by 15 April. PRG has invited comments from all interested parties and I have asked them to send the hon. Member a list of those consulted.

  Single Regeneration Budgets
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) of 18 March,Official Report, column 863, by what means and when the recommendation of any senior regional director of single regeneration budgets will be publicised.

  Mr. Baldry
  The advice and recommendations from regional offices to Ministers about bids for the single regeneration budget will not be published. Ministers will reach final views on the bids in the light of these recommendations. Decisions will subsequently be published around the end of the year.

  Race Bank (Dredging)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if an environmental impact assessment complying with current European directives was carried out in relation to proposals to dredge sand from Race bank; and if he will place a copy of that assessment in the Library.

  Mr. Baldry
  An environmental statement was produced on behalf of the applicant by Posford Duvivier, and a copy will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the progress made during 1993 to extend CCT to white collar services and on the operation of CCT during the year.

  Mr. Baldry
  Last year, I was very pleased to witness the close co-operation of the local authority associations with the Department in developing the detailed proposals for the extension of CCT to local government professional services. During the year, I had to look into 122 cases where local authorities were alleged to have acted anti-competitively in tendering services, or where their direct services organisations failed to meet the required financial rate of return; and I had to take statutory follow-up action in 23 of these cases. But these figures indicated that the great majority of local authorities approach CCT positively and properly, to the benefit of their local taxpayers.
  660
  These are the themes which run through the "CCT in Local Government in England Annual Report" which my Department has published today. The report is the first of its kind. It describes the achievements of 1993, both on the work of extending CCT and in promoting fair competition amongst the current blue-collar services. The report also describes the research projects completed and initiated during the year.

  Copies of the report will be sent to all local authorities in England, and to the main trade associations and others involved with CCT. Copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Proton cars were purchased by his Department in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and at what cost.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department has never purchased a Proton car.

  Derelict Sites
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers local authorities have to compel owners of derelict and unsightly sites in urban areas to improve their appearance.

  Mr. Baldry
  Local planning authorities may serve a notice on the owners and occupiers of land under section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 if it appears to them that its condition is adversely affecting the amenity of their area.

  Local authorities may also use their powers under part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to improve land if they judge it to constitute a statutory nuisance.

  Children's Play Facilities
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest available annual figures for grants for children's play facilities; and if he will list in each case the size and location of the grant.

  Mr. Baldry
  The latest forecast of expenditure under the urban programme in 1993–94 includes £3,042,000 for children's play facilities. Figures for individual grants are not available centrally. In addition, my Department provides local authorities with revenue support grant which they may use to fund such facilities. The total amount of revenue support grant for England and its distribution among local authorities are set out in the "Local Government Finance Report (England) 1994–95" and the accompanying exemplifications, which were placed in the Library of the House on 27 January 1994.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of the CAP(a) to the United Kingdom and (b) to the EC in each year since 1990; and what are her estimates for 1994.

  Mr. Jack
  This information is contained in chapter 4 of the 1994 departmental report by the Ministry of
  661
  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Intervention Board, a copy of which was deposited in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the CAP budget was spent on(a) set-aside and (b) environmental protection measures other than set-aside in each year since 1990; and what is her estimate for each of the next three years.

  Mr. Jack
  Information on expenditure on set-aside and on the CAP as a whole from 1990 to 1992 is available from the annual financial reports of the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, copies of which were lodged in the Library of the House of Commons. Until the end of 1992, agri-environment measures were not financed from the CAP budget—that is, the EAGGF guarantee section—but rather from the guidance section. It is not possible to identify expenditure on these measures under the guidance section. For 1993, expenditure on set-aside and on agri-environment measures accounted for 1·2 per cent. and 0·5 per cent., respectively, of total CAP expenditure. The latest official estimates suggest that the corresponding figures for 1994 will be 4·5 per cent. and 1·5 per cent. We have no estimates of the future proportions as EC budgets are set only one year in advance. The 1995 budget has not yet been set. EC agri-environment schemes, and set-aside outwith the arable area payments scheme, are co-financed by member states. The above figures do not include any nationally funded expenditure. EU-wide information on this is not available.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the tonnage of tobacco production in the EC in each year since 1990; what are her

  £/tonne

  Crop

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  11993–94

  Wheat

  105·33

  114·54

  115·82

  128·88

  106·07

  Barley

  107·20

  109·85

  107·29

  118·22

  106·38

  Oats

  102·81

  107·65

  105·82

  127·37

  118·39

  1 July to December only.

  Source: MAFF.

  Ex-farm cereal prices are influenced by a number of factors, including annual variations in the size and quality of the harvest both at home and abroad. It is therefore not possible to make a meaningful estimate of likely future prices.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of public appointments made by her Department in 1993 were of(a) Asians and (b) black people; and if she will list their names.

  Mr. Jack
  So far as I am aware there were no Asian or black people appointed in 1993 to the public bodies sponsored by the Ministry and listed in "Public Bodies 1993".
  662
  estimates of tobacco production for the next three years showing, in each case, the amount (a) consumed in the EC and (b) exported, and indicating the main export markets.

  Mr. Jack
  European Commission figures show Community annual tobacco production since 1990 as follows:

  1990–419,953 tonnes

  1991–429,739 tonnes

  1992–408,451 tonnes

  1993–364,219 tonnes (latest estimate)

  As the revised regime, which came into force from the 1993 harvest, limits tobacco support to a maximum guaranteed quantity of 350,000 tonnes, production may fall in the next three years. Producers are also being encouraged to switch to more marketable varieties.

  EC consumption was estimated at around 670,000 tonnes in 1992, the latest year for which we have information. Consumption, over two thirds of which is met by imported supplies, in the next few years may depend more upon consumer demand than production.

  Exports to third countries were some 200,319 tonnes in 1992 of which half went to the United States of America, Egypt, Algeria, Japan and Switzerland and a fifth to eastern European countries. As part of the regime reform, export refunds have been abolished in all but exceptional circumstances. In the future exports may decline.

  Cereal Prices
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the harvest cereal prices for each year since 1990; and what is her estimate for these prices for each of the next three years.

  Mr. Jack
  During the crop years 1989–90 to 1992–93 and the first six months of 1993–94, average ex-farm prices for the principal cereal crops grown in the United Kingdom were as follows:

  Farm Workers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the total number of(a) farmers and (b) farm workers in England in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is given in the table. The figures are from the June agricultural census for each year and incltide estimates for minor holdings not covered by the census.

  Number of farmers and farm workers on agricultural holdings as at June each year (thousands)

  Farmers1partners and directors

  Spouses2

  All other farm workers3

  1980

  196·4

  50·2

  277·2

  1981

  193·9

  50·4

  269·7

  1982

  192·1

  50·1

  267·9

  1983

  189·8

  50·7

  264·7

  663

  Farmers1 partners and directors

  Spouses2

  All other farm workers3

  1984

  190·1

  50·5

  257·1

  1985

  187·8

  51·6

  256·0

  1986

  187·4

  51·5

  249·5

  1987

  185·5

  51·2

  241·2

  1988

  183·5

  51·2

  235·2

  1989

  182·4

  50·7

  224·3

  1990

  181·9

  50·5

  223·5

  1991

  180·3

  49·6

  215·1

  1992

  181·5

  49·8

  208·8

  1993

  184·3

  49·8

  206·4

  1 Farmers are defined here as farmers, partners and directors working on farms and who describe themselves in the agricultural census returns. There can be more than one farmer, partner or director per farm.

  2 Spouses of farmers, partners or directors.

  3 Excluding school children but including trainees under an official scheme at agricultural wages board rates or above.

  Export and Slaughter Levy
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans she has to withdraw the export levy on meat; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what plans she has to increase the slaughter levy; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The Meat and Livestock Commission is financed by levy which is collected on each animal at the time of slaughter or on export. There is no levy on exported meat. One of the recommendations of the recent review of the Meat and Livestock Commission was that the levy should be collected only at slaughter and not on export. Publication of the findings of the review was announced on 1 March and views have been invited by 1 June 1994.

  Dog Exports
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what provisions apply to the export of greyhounds;

  (2) what steps the Government are taking to enforce the Balai directive in so far as it relates to banning the export of dogs other than from registered centres.

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The transport of greyhounds both within this country and for export is subject to the provisions of the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1992.

  Commercially traded greyhounds intended for export to EC member states are required to be accompanied by official health certification confirming that the animals comply with the animal health conditions laid down in the so-called "Balai" directive—92/65/EEC. In accordance with the directive, the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 1993 (SI 3247) make it an offence to export commercially traded dogs to another member state unless the animals originate from a holding registered with the Agriculture Departments and the owner or person in charge of the holding has given the undertakings laid down in the directive. Enforcement of the regulations is the responsibility of local authorities.

  The health certification requirements for pet dogs, including pet greyhounds, exported to other EC member states and to third countries vary according to the import conditions laid down by the country of destination.
  664

  Sand Dredging
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if any other aggregate company has offered to supply for coastal protection work from existing licensed dredging areas;

  (2) if any other licensed dredging area is to be closed down as a condition of the Race bank licence.

  Mr. Jack
  The National Rivers Authority has invited tenders for supply of 1·2 million cu m of sand for nourishment of the beaches between Mablethorpe and Skegness. In this Ministry's contribution to the Government response to their licence application, I have specified that maximum possible use must be made of supplies from existing licensed areas before any material is removed from Race bank.

  The NRA currently has no licensed areas and could not therefore relinquish any in lieu of the Race bank.

  Whaling
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has made to the Russian authorities on the killing by former Soviet whalers of blue whales; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The United Kingdom is well aware of recent reports of under-reporting by the former Soviet Union of catches of a number of species of whale, including the blue whale. At a recent intersessional meeting of the International Whaling Commission, the Russian delegation undertook, in response to a request from a number of delegations, to submit to the IWC comprehensive updated statistical data on the USSR's whale catches.

  The United Kingdom commissioner to the IWC has since written to the Russian authorities welcoming the contribution Russia made at this meeting and reaffirming the importance we attach to obtaining accurate information on past whale catches.

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the last date on which the milk marketing board may submit a reorganisation scheme.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have made a further order under section 2(7) of the Agriculture Act 1993. This defers the last date on which the England and Wales milk marketing board may apply under the Act for approval of a reorganisation scheme from 31 March 1994 to 30 June 1994.

  Animal Health
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the amount spent by her Department on research programmes on animal health and welfare in each year since 1985–86; and what is the intended expenditure for each of the next three years.

  Mr. Soames
  Details of MAFF expenditure on animal health and welfare research since 1991–92 are given in the table. Prior to 1991–92 the data were not recorded in the required format and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
  665

  Financial year

  £ million

  1991–92 actual

  19·9

  1992–93 actual

  20·4

  1993–94 estimate

  22·0

  1994–95 plans

  21·1

  1995–96 plans

  21·8

  1996–97 plans

  21·8

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the organisations and individuals outside his Departments who are sent information on, or consulted about, individuals who are, or may be, proposed to the Minister for appointment to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person appointed or the shortlist for the appointment;

  (2) if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been asked, since June 1992, to submit names of individuals to be considered for appointments to paid and unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

  Sir John Wheeler
  District councils, professional organisations, employers' and employees' organisations, the Irish Government under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985, and other individuals and organisations as considered appropriate are consulted or informed about forthcoming appointments to public bodies.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested on racial origins of public appointments made is not held by the Northern Ireland Office, nor by the Northern Ireland Departments. However, details of ethnic minority appointments are contained in "Public Bodies 1993", a copy of which is held in the Library.

  Nursery Schools
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of children attending nursery school in(a) the controlled sector, (b) the maintained sector and (c) the integrated sector in each of the five education and library boards; and what proportion of under-five-year-olds attend the above schools.

  Mr. Ancram
  The number of children attending nursery schools in the controlled and maintained sector in each of the five education and library boards is as follows:

  Appointment

  Minister

  Salary

  Term of appointment

  Post holder

  Adviser on Minister's Agencies to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  1—

  Three years or usual terms

  Mr. Clayton Brendish

  Special Adviser to the Prime Minister CNo 10 Policy Unit)

  Prime Minister

  1—

  Usual terms

  Mr. Damian Green

  666

  Education and library board

  Controlled

  Maintained

  Total

  Belfast

  783

  693

  1,476

  Western

  670

  —

  670

  North-Eastern

  1,006

  120

  1,126

  South-Eastern

  756

  419

  1,175

  Southern

  663

  100

  763

  Total

  3,878

  1,332

  5,210

  There are no nursery schools in the integrated sector. The proportion of under-five-year-olds in nursery schools is 10·3 per cent.

  Slopping Out
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list each prison in the Province where slopping out is still in practice; and if he will set out his plans, and the estimated date, for ending slopping out for each prison.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Slopping out takes place in three Northern Ireland prisons—Her Majesty's prison Belfast, Her Majesty's prison Maze and Her Majesty's prison Magilligan.

  The provision of en suite and in-cell sanitation facilities is a major element of an extensive refurbishment programme currently under way at Belfast prison. As the prison will have to remain operational, the programme of work will continue until 2000.

  While there are currently no firm plans for ending slopping out at Maze and Magilligan prisons, where periods of unlock are extensive, the Northern Ireland Prison Service is continuing to explore a range of options for providing prisoners with 24-hour access to sanitation facilities.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list each appointment for which a Minister has to approve the appointment or shortlist for the appointment, showing for each appointment(a) which Minister exercises the responsibility, (b) the salary, if any, attached to the post, (c) the term of the appointment and (d) the person currently appointed to the post.

  Mr. David Davis
  In the departments and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, and other areas which fall to the Cabinet Office vote, the appointments are set out in the table.

  The table does not refer to appointments to the research councils, which will be restructured on 1 April 1994.1 shall write to the hon. Member with the details.

  My right hon. Friend is also responsible for the appointment of justices of the peace in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside and appoints several individuals to posts which have historical connections with the Duchy of Lancaster. These receive no remuneration.
  667

  Appointment

  Minister

  Salary

  Term of appointment

  Post holder

  Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (Head of No. 10 Policy Unit)

  Prime Minister

  1—

  Usual terms

  Mrs. Sarah Hogg

  Special Adviser to the Chief Whip

  Chief Whip

  1—

  Usual terms

  Miss Shana Hole

  Special Adviser to the Chief Whip

  Chief Whip

  1—

  Usual terms

  Miss Sophie McEwen

  Special (Expert) Adviser to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  1—

  Two years or usual terms

  Dr. John Nicholson

  Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (No. 10 Policy Unit)

  Prime Minister

  1—

  Until 31 July 1994 or usual terms

  Lord Poole

  Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (No. 10 Policy Unit)

  Prime Minister

  1—

  Usual terms

  Mrs. Katharine Ramsay

  Special Adviser to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  1—

  One year or usual terms

  Mr. David Rutley

  Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (Deputy Head of No. 10 Policy Unit)

  Prime Minister

  1—

  Usual terms

  Mr. Nick True

  Special Adviser to the Prime Minister

  Prime Minister

  1—

  Usual terms

  Miss Arabella Warburton

  Chairman of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

  Prime Minister

  Unpaid

  Three years to 31 December 1994

  The Rt. Hon. the Lord Carlisle of Bucklow, QC

  Member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

  Prime Minister

  Unpaid

  Three years to 31 October 1996

  The Lord Bridges, GCMG

  Member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

  Prime Minister

  Unpaid

  Three years to 13 March 1997

  Sir John Blelloch, KCB

  Member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

  Prime Minister

  Unpaid

  Three years to 8 March 1997

  The Rt. Hon. Peter Shore, MP

  Member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

  Prime Minister

  Unpaid

  Three years to 31 October 1995

  The Rt. Hon. the Lord Thomson of Monifieth, KT

  Member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

  Prime Minister

  Unpaid

  Three years to 31 July 1994

  Sir Trevor Holdsworth

  Member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

  Prime Minister

  Unpaid

  Three years to 31 July 1994

  Sir Charles Huxtable, KCB, CBE

  Member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

  Prime Minister

  Unpaid

  Three years to 31 October 1994

  Sir Robin Ibbs, KBE

  Chairman of Security Commission

  Prime Minister

  2—

  Three years to 31 May 1995

  Lord Lloyd of Berwick

  Alternative Chairman of the Security Commission

  Prime Minister

  2—

  Three years to 31 January 1996

  Lord Justice Butler-Sloss, DBE

  Member of the Security Commission

  Prime Minister

  £198 per day

  Three years to 31 August 1994

  Sir John Blelloch, KCB

  Member of the Security Commission

  Prime Minister

  £198 per day

  Three years to 31 August 1994

  Lt-General Sir Derek Boorman, KCB

  Member of the Security Commission

  Prime Minister

  £198 per day

  Three years to 31 August 1994

  Sir Christopher Curwen, KCMG

  Member of the Security Commission

  Prime Minister

  £198 per day

  Three years to 31 January 1996

  Lord Tombs of Brailes

  Member of the Security Commission

  Prime Minister

  £198 per day

  Three years to 31 October 1995

  Lord Wright of Richmond

  Chairman of Political Honours Scrutiny Committee

  Prime Minister3

  Unpaid

  The current Administration

  Lord Pym, MC

  Member of Political Honours Scrutiny Committee

  Prime Minister3

  Unpaid

  The current Administration

  Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos, CH

  Member of Political Honours Scrutiny Committee

  Prime Minister3

  Unpaid

  The current Administration

  Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT

  668 669

  Appointment

  Minister

  Salary

  Term of appointment

  Post holder

  Administrative Trustee to the Chequers Trust

  Prime Minister

  Unpaid

  First appointed in summer of 1970

  Sir Ralph Vemey, KBE

  Chairman of the Prime Minister's Panel of Advisers on the Citizen's Charter

  Prime Minister

  £13,125 pa

  Two years

  Sir James Blyth, KT

  Member of the Prime Minister's Panel of Advisers on the Citizen's Charter

  Prime Minister

  £10,500 pa

  One year

  Sir Christopher Bland

  Member of the Prime Minister's Panel of Advisers on the Citizen's Charter

  Prime Minister

  £10,500 pa

  Two years

  Angela Heylin

  Member of the Prime Minister's Panel of Advisers on the Citizen's Charter

  Prime Minister

  £10,500 pa

  Two years

  Baroness Perry

  Member of the Prime Minister's Panel of Advisers on the Citizen's Charter

  Prime Minister

  £10,500 pa

  One year

  Dr. Madsen Pirie

  Member of the Prime Minister's Panel of Advisers on the Citizen's Charter

  Prime Minister

  £10,500 pa

  Two years

  Nick Rawlings

  Member of the Prime Minister's Panel of Advisers on the Citizen's Charter

  Prime Minister

  £10,500 pa

  One year

  Christopher Swan

  Member of the Prime Minister's Panel of Advisers on the Citizen's Charter

  Prime Minister

  £10,500 pa

  One year

  Lady Judith Wilcox

  Chairman of the Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  £5,000 pa

  Two years (w.e.f. June 1993)

  Lady Wilcox

  Member of the Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Two years (w.e.f. June 1993)

  Professor Judith Allsop

  Member of the Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Two years (w.e.f. June 1993)

  Mrs. Rosemary Edwards

  Member of the Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Two years (w.e.f. June 1993)

  Mrs. Ros Gardner

  Member of the Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Two years (w.e.f. June 1993)

  Mrs. Elizabeth Hodder

  Member of the Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Two years (w.e.f. June 1993)

  Mr. Colin Skeen

  Member of the Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Two years (w.e.f. June 1993)

  Mr. David Way

  Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Advertising

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Three years

  Mr. Brian Nicholson

  Member of the Advisory Committee on Advertising

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Three years

  Mrs. Anne Ferguson, OBE

  Member of the Advisory Committee on Advertising

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Three years

  Mr. John Mellon

  Member of the Advisory Committee on Advertising

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Three years

  Mr. Charles Auld

  Member of the Advisory Committee on Advertising

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Three years

  Mr. Richard Spelman

  Member of the Advisory Committee on Advertising

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Three years

  Mr. Nick Phillips

  Member of the Advisory Committee on Advertising

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Three years

  Mr. Eric Nicoli

  Member of the Advisory Committee on Advertising

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Three years

  Mr. Howard Mann

  Member of the Advisory Committee on Advertising

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Unpaid

  Three years

  Mrs. Caroline Marland

  Chairman of the LINK Steering Group

  CDL and PBT4 5

  Unpaid

  Two years

  Dr. John Pamaby

  670 671

  Appointment

  Minister

  Salary

  Term of appointment

  Post holder

  Member of the LINK Steering Group

  CDL and PBT4 5

  Unpaid

  Unspecified

  Dr. Ashok Ganguly

  Member of the LINK Steering Group

  CDL and PBT4 5

  Unpaid

  Unspecified

  Dr. Robert Whelan

  Member of the LINK Steering Group

  CDL and PBT4 5

  Unpaid

  Unspecified

  Dr. Brian Richards

  Member of the LINK Steering Group

  CDL and PBT4 5

  Unpaid

  Unspecified

  Professor Stanley Mason

  HMSO—Non-executive Director

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  £8,000

  Unlimited

  Simon Master

  Notes to the table:

  Usual terms for Special Advisers

  There are standard terms governing Special Adviser appointments concerning the length of their appointment. Unless a termination date is stated the appointment will terminate either:

  (i) at the end of the present Administration;

  (ii) in the event of the appointing minister leaving Government or moving to another appointment; or

  (iii) in the event of a General Election

  whichever is soonest. If a length of appointment is stated then the appointment will terminate when this period is up in the event that one of the above does not pre-empt this.

  1 Special Advisers are normally paid according to a salary spine which ranges from £19,121 to £59,957.

  2 Members of the Security Commission do not receive a salary, but are fee-paid. As members of the judiciary, the Chairman and Alternative Chairman do not receive a fee as they are already paid from public funds. All members (including Chairman and Alternative Chairman) are entitled to claim expenses.

  3All appointments to the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee are made by the Prime Minister by Order of Council.

  4CDL—PBT—Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, President of the Board of Trade.

  5 Appointments to the LINK Steering Group are made jointly by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the President of the Board of Trade.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the organisations and individuals outside his Departments who are sent information on, or consulted about, individuals who are, or may be, proposed to the Minister for appointment to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person appointed or the shortlist for the appointment;

  (2) if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been asked, since June 1992, to submit names of individuals to be considered for appointments to paid and unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. Friend follows the procedures for the selection of candidates set out in the "Guide on Public Appointments Procedures" copies of which are available in the Library. The public appointments unit and the chairmen of the respective bodies are consulted in all cases. Other organisations that have been consulted about appointments are as follows:

  The Accounts Commission (Scotland)

  The Advisory Board for the Research Councils

  The Agricultural and Food Research Council

  The Association of County Councils

  The Association of District Councils

  The Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  The Audit Commission

  Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

  The Citizen's Charter Advisory Panel

  The Commissioner for Local Administration in England

  The Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland

  The Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Council on Tribunals

  Department of Trade and Industry

  The Economic and Social Research Council

  Federation of Independent Advice Centres

  The Health Service Commissioner for England

  The Health Service Commissioner for Scotland

  The Health Service Commissioner for Wales

  The Local Government Management Board

  Mediation UK

  The Medical Research Council

  The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

  The National Audit Office

  672

  The National Consumer Council

  The Natural Environment Research Council

  The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints

  The Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner

  OFFER

  DEGAS

  OFTEL

  The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration

  The Police Complaints Authority

  The Post Office

  The Post Office User's National Committee

  Reading Centre for Ombudsman Studies

  The Royal Society

  The Royal Academy of Engineering

  The Science and Engineering Research Council

  The Social Fund Commissioner

  Society of Local Authority Chief Executives

  Building Projects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what major building projects, valued at over £1 million, are being or have been wholly or partly financed since 1992 in(a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Wakefield by his Department; and what was the cost of each project to his Department.

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 28 March at column 505.

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what procedures his Departments have to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment;

  (2) what information his Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in (a) extreme left-wing organisations,

  673
  (b) xtreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons.

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. Friend follows the procedures for the selection of candidates set out in the "Guide on Public Appointments Procedures" copies of which are available in the Library. Details of candidates' political views are not usually held but the appropriate security clearance is obtained where necessary.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by the Medical Research Council on research into the causes of epilepsy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In the last financial year, 1992–93, the Medical Research Council spent £336,000 on research concerning epilepsy, the majority of which provided for clinical trials and studies of the physiological basis of epilepsy. The council recognises that epilepsy is an under-researched area, and has advertised that it wishes to encourage high-quality innovative research that may lead to understanding of causation or to clinical advances in the medium term, under its neuroscience approach to human health initiative.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the latest studies funded by the Medical Research Council of possible cures for Alzheimer's disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In 1992–93 the Medical Research Council spent £1·5 million on research directly related to Alzheimer's disease, plus £3·4 million on research of relevance to Alzheimer's disease. A list of currently funded projects is attached. 'The Medical Research Council is always willing to consider soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications for research funding.

  ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
  PROJECTS DIRECTLY RELATED TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
  MRC Biostatistics Unit

  Cambridge

  Statistical methods in chronic disease epidemiology.

  MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

  Cambridge

  The molecular biology of Alzheimer's Disease.

  MRC Brain Metabolism Unit

  Edinburgh

  Neuroendocrine, Neuropharmacological and Neuroimaging studies of dementia.

  MRC Cyclotron Unit

  London

  Use of positron emission tomographic camera to study regional tissue function in neurological disease.

  MRC Neurochemical Pathology Unit

  Newcastle on Tyne

  Neurochemical and neuropathological correlates of dementia.

  Neurotransmitter interactions and cognition in animals.

  Trace element accumulation in neurodegenerative disorders.

  Mechanisms of brain mineral homeostasis.

  Peptidases and protein catabolism in neurodegenerative disorders.

  Gene expression in neurodegenerative disorders.

  674

  Transgenic cell and animal models of cerebral amyloid deposition.

  MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit

  Southampton

  Alzheimer's disease in relation to drinking water (occupational and environmental hazards).

  GRANTS
  Dr. D. Allsop

  Biochemistry, Queen's University, Belfast

  The metabolism of amyloid precursor protein.

  Dr. D. Dawbarn

  Medicine, Bristol University

  Human neurotrophic factors: characterisation in neurodegenerative diseases and expression of recombinant proteins.

  Expression and mutagenesis studies with human B-nerve growth factor gene.

  Dr. Carol Brayne

  Community Medicine, Cambridge University

  Monitoring molecular, genetic and biochemical changes in psychiatrically assessed Alzheimer's disease patients.

  Dr. C. G. Fairburn

  Psychiatry, Cambridge University

  A prospective study of behaviour in dementia.

  Dr. J. R. Hodges

  Neurology, Cambridge University

  A longitudinal study of the patterns and consequences of semantic memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease.

  Professor E. S. Paykel

  Psychiatry, Cambridge University

  MRC Multicentre study of cognitive function and ageing.

  Dr. J. H. Xuereb

  Psychiatry, Cambridge University

  Cambridge Brain Bank's contribution to clinical/epidemiological studies of dementia and Alzheimer's disease research.

  Multicentre neuropathological study of cognitive function and ageing.

  Professor D. J. H. Brock

  Medicine, Edinburgh University

  Mutation analysis in Alzheimer's disease.

  Professor L J. Whalley

  Psychiatry, Edinburgh University

  The epidemiology of presenile dementia of the Alzheimer type. (PSDAT) in Scotland (1974–1988).

  Professor J. R. M. Copeland

  Psychiatry, Liverpool University

  MRC Multicentre study of cognitive function and ageing.

  Multicentre neuropathological study of congitive function and ageing.

  MRC alpha study: the natural history of the dementias, cognitive change and other mental disorders and ageing.

  Professor B. H. Anderton

  Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, London.

  The mictrotubule-associated protein, tau: subcellular localisation, control of its metabolism and neurodegeneration.

  The abnormal metabolism of Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein and its relationship to neurofibillary pathology. Modelling of Alzheimer's disease in transgenic mice.

  Dr. D. M. Bowen

  Neurochemistry, Institute of Neurology, London.

  Neuropathological and neurochemical correlates of behavioural change in Alzheimer's disease.

  Professor P. L Lantos

  Neuropathology, Institute of Psychiatry, London.

  A London Brain Bank for research on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

  London Brain Bank for research on neurodegenerative diseases.

  Dr. A. J. Patel

  Biochemistry, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London

  675

  Involvement of trophic factors produced by glia in plaque biogenesis and neurodegenerative disorders.

  Dr. M. Claire Royston

  Anatomy, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London

  Head injury and ageing; does it lead to an increased risk of Alzheimer-type degeneration?

  Dr. J. A. Hardy

  Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, London

  Transgenesis as a mechanism to develop animal models of human disease.

  Mr. J. Bond

  Health Care Research Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne University

  Mental and physical frailty in elderly people: resource implication to families, health and social services.

  Dr. P. Ince

  MRC Neurochemical Pathology Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne University

  Multicentre neuropathological study of cognitive function and ageing.

  Professor D. W. K Kay

  Psychiatry, Newcastle upon Tyne University

  MRC Multicentre study of cognitive function and ageing.

  Professor T. Arie

  Health Care of the Elderly, Nottingham University

  MRC Multicentre study of cognitive change and ageing.

  Dr. J. S. Lowe

  Histopathology, Nottingham University

  Multicentre neuropathological study of cognitive function and ageing.

  Dr. D. M. Bowen

  Neuropathology, Oxford University

  Neuropathological and neurochemical correlates of behavioural change in Alzheimer's disease.

  Dr. Margaret M. Esiri

  Clinical Neurology, Oxford University

  Multicentre neuropathological study of cognitive function and ageing.

  Professor J. Grimley Evans

  Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford University

  MRC Multicentre study of cognitive change and ageing.

  Dr. C. G. Fairburn

  Psychiatry, Oxford University

  A prospective study of behaviour in dementia.

  Dr. M. Rossor

  Neurology, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, London

  Positron emission tomography in familial and sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

  Professor R. Williamson

  Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, London

  Familial dementias and Alzheimer's disease.

  PROJECTS RELEVANT TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
  MRC Brain Metabolism Unit

  Edinburgh

  Study of post translational processing and release of neuropeptides.

  Neuroendocime, neuropharmacological and neuroimaging studies of the major functional psychoses.

  Clinical Research Centre

  Harrow, Middlesex

  Studies of the transmissibility of A-4 amyloidosis in primates.

  MRC Neurochemical Pathology Unit

  Newcastle on Tyne

  676

  Transgenic cell and animal models of cerebral amyloide deposition.

  MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit

  Southampton

  Occupation: cancer in pottery workers, slaughtermen, cooks, butchers, and workers exposed to acid mists; solvents and dementia respiratory disease in radiographers.

  GRANTS
  Dr. K. Breen

  Pharmacology, Dundee University

  The role of the beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta app) in the mediation of neural cell adhesion.

  Professor R. W. Davies

  Genetics, Glasgow University

  Genes of dopaminergic neurons

  Dr. H. Beswick

  Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, London

  Isolation and sequencing of human disease loci.

  Dr. D. J. Bryant

  NMR Unit, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London

  Development and application of clinical magnetic resonance spectroscopy to disease of liver, brain and muscle.

  Dr. B. L Butterworth

  Psychology, University College London, London

  Universal and language-specific properties of reading.

  Dr. A. J. Lees

  Clinical Neurology, Institute of Neurology, London

  A United Kingdom Brain Bank for research on Parkinson's Syndrome and other movement disorders.

  Dr. E. T. Rolls

  Experimental Psychology, Oxford University

  Brain mechanisms of perception, memory and learning.

  Breast Cancer
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funds are specifically being allocated to gene therapy and to explore the biochemical pathways in breast cancer.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Medical Research Council's current expenditure on research related to gene therapy for melanoma is £50,000 per annum. The council has very recently awarded support for two new multi-disciplinary teams—one at Birmingham for £2 million and another at the Institute for Cancer Research for £1·1 million—to develop gene therapy for common cancers. Both grants will run for five years.

  In 1992–93, the MRC spent £486,000 on projects exploring the biochemical pathways in breast cancer.

  The council is always willing to consider soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications for research funding.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funds are being put down for basic laboratory research into breast cancer.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In the financial year 1992–93, the Medical Research Council expenditure on breast cancer research was £3·1 million. Included in that figure was £836,000 which was directly related to basic laboratory research into cancer. The council is always willing to consider soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications for research funding.
  677

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Phase 2 (New Parliamentary Building)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is the current situation with regard to the development of the phase 2 new parliamentary building; what is the programme for demolition of the site; when the building is expected to be ready for occupation; and what steps are being taken to keep the House informed about progress on this project.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  On 2 February, following the Government's agreement that the Jubilee line should proceed, the House handed over to London Underground Ltd. the site on which the phase 2 building is to be constructed. Preliminary work on the site has begun and demolition work in preparation for the construction of the new underground station at Westminster will commence in a few weeks.

  A legal agreement has been signed between the House and London Underground under the terms of which the site is due to be handed back to the authorities of the House in February 1997 to allow construction of the new building to proceed. Detailed design work is progressing and contracts for the first of the prefabricated sections will be placed later in the year.

  The Accommodation and Works Committee is maintaining a close interest in the project and will receive monthly reports on its progress. At the earliest appropriate moment a further report will be made to the House.

  Arrangements are being made for an exhibition to be mounted shortly after Easter to advise Members on the work planned for Westminster station and its consequences for the House. In due course a further exhibition on the new parliamentary building will be arranged.

HEALTH

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each district health authority the number of community psychiatric nurses employed in each the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Air Toxics Study
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make an assessment of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's "Motor-Vehicle-Related Air Toxics Study", Ann Arbor, 1993.

  Mr. Sackville
  We are obtaining a copy of this report and will then consider it.

  Abandoned Babies
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new-born babies were abandoned by their mothers in the last year that the figures are available.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information about new-born babies abandoned by their mothers is available in the register of children found abandoned in England and Wales,678
  maintained by the Registrar General for birth registration purposes. There were five entries on this register in 1992 and two in 1993.

  Hartley Hospital, Colne
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ascertain whether all the proper procedures were followed by the North Western regional health authority in its disposal of Hartley hospital in Colne.

  Mr. Sackville
  The North Western regional health authority is responsible for the management of the disposal of Hartley hospital, Colne. From the information available there are no grounds to conclude that there is a need to investigate the actions taken by the RHA.

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information her Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in(a) extreme left-wing organisations, (b) extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons;

  (2) what procedures her Department has to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the political affiliation of candidates for appointment is not readily available centrally. Public appointments are made on the basis of aptitude, merit and suitability.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent the procedures adopted for the appointment of the new chief executives and general managers for the eight English health regions, coming into effect on 1 April, conformed with the Government Opportunity 2000 programme and procedures and practices on equal opportunities; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The particular circumstances of these appointments meant that the exercise was not run as open recruitment and the field was therefore restricted. As far as it was possible, we used good practice in line with Opportunity 2000 and equal opportunities policies and practices as they apply within the national health service and the Department of Health.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of public appointments made by her Department in 1993 were of(a) Asians and (b) black people; and if she will list their names.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1993, 4,801 people were serving on Health public bodies. Of these, 2·04 per cent.—98 appointees—were of Asian origin and 0·94 per cent.—45 appointees—were of black origin.

  Information about ethnic origin was given in confidence, and it would therefore be inappropriate to publish the names of these appointees.
  679

  Health Authority Staff, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed by the Doncaster health authority in each half year since March 1990 to the latest date figures are available.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information available is shown in the table. These figures exclude staff in trusts in September 1991 and September 1992. By 1992, all direct care staff were employed by the two trusts in Doncaster.

  National health service staff in Doncaster DHA area—England—September 1990 to 1992—excluding trusts.

  Whole-time equivalents

  1990

  1991

  1992

  All direct care staff

  3,250

  1,620

  0

  All non-direct care staff

  1,170

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  2. "n/a indicates figures not available.Zero indicates figures less than five.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authorities in England have(a) appointed project workers to develop services for disabled children, (b) established multi-agency planning structures, (c) established budgets for services to disabled children and for how much, (d) developed home-based short-term care provision and (e) developed residential short-term care provision following the implementation of the Children Act 1989.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not available centrally in the form requested. The 1993 report to Parliament on the operation and achievements of the Children Act will be available shortly and will include a commentary on the services provided by local authorities for children with disabilities.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if guidelines issued by her Department are of uniform status; and what action is taken to monitor guidelines with particular reference to those issued under the Children Act 1989 regarding the use of corporal punishment by child minders.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department's guidance on behaviour and sanctions by child minders if minded children misbehave is contained in volume 2 of the Children Act Guidance and Regulations series entitled "Family Support, Day Care and Educational Provision for Young Children", copies of which are available in the Library. All these volumes were issued under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 which requires local authorities in the exercise of their social services functions to act under the general guidance of my right hon. Friend the Secretry of State.

  The Department keeps the working of the Children Act under review and issues supplementary guidance when this is appropriate. At present we are studying the recent High Court judgment in the case of Mrs. Davis. This was not critical of the content of the Department's guidance. We will consider if any further clarification is appropriate.
  680

  Oldchurch Accident and Emergency Unit
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account was taken in the business plans submitted by(a) Havering hospitals trust and (b) Redbridge healthcare trust of the projected closure of Oldchurch accident and emergency unit; and if she will place copies of those business plans in the Library.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Barking and Havering health authority has undertaken its statutory responsibility to consult on the proposed closure of the accident and emergency department at Oldchurch hospital. A decision will be announced shortly. Business plans are national health service trust internal working documents. Summary business plans of all NHS trusts for 1994–95 will be published no later than May 1994 and can be obtained from individual NHS trusts.

  Asthma
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to work with her colleagues in the Department for Education to promote good asthma management for children at school.

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 10 March at column 346.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's strategy for research into asthma; where major funding is being allocated; and how the allocation of resources is decided.

  Mr. Sackville
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1992–93 the MRC spent £759,000 on research into asthma and a further £757,000 on research which may be relevant to the condition. The Medical Research Council takes account of the Department of Health's priorities for research when allocating resources.

  The Department of Health is a founder member of the respiratory research liaison committee, which includes the major organisations with a research interest in respiratory diseases, including asthma. In addition, the national health service research and development strategy determines research priorities on a range of difficult problems of direct relevance to the NHS and work is planned to establish detailed priorities in the field of respiratory diseases across all age groups.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she intends to make to the findings of a recent study showing that 13·1 per cent. of children suffer from doctor-diagnosed asthma with 2·2 per cent. experiencing more than 12 asthma attacks in the previous year; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is concerned about the incidence of asthma in children. At our request the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has set up an expert sub-group to review the evidence linking asthma to air pollution.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will accept the finding of the recent Audit Commission
  681
  report, "A Prescription for Improvement", on under-prescribing for asthmatic patients; and what steps she is planning to take to ensure asthmatic patients receive the medications they need.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is the responsibility of general practitioners to decide the clinical needs of their patients. Since the introduction of chronic disease management programmes for asthma and diabetes in July of last year about 90 per cent. of general practitioners are running programmes for asthmatic patients. The British Thoracic Society's guidelines for the management of asthma are regularly drawn to the attention of all GPs and prescribing of preventtive medicine for asthma has increased sixfold over the last 10 years. Low levels of asthma prophylaxis are brought to the attention of GPs by family health services authority prescribing advisers.

  Schizophrenia
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from SANE about(a) the difficulty in providing appropriate help for victims of schizophrenia and (b) the victims of schizophrenia being obliged to vacate hospital beds prematurely.

  Mr. Bowis
  Ministers and officials have been in close touch with SANE to exchange views on a range of issues.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Association of Denture Prosthesis on the introduction of a Bill on Professions Supplementary to Dentistry; what plans she has for further discussions; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I met the hon. Member for Southend, East (Sir Teddy Taylor) and representatives of the Association for Denture Prosthesis on 28 February 1994.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 830, what information her Department has centrally for England and Wales as a whole on the number of dental surgeons (i) providing national health service treatment and (ii) not providing national health service treatment for each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information is shown in the table. Information is not held on dentists in wholly private practice.

  Number of general dental practitioners providing national health service treatment1 at 30 September

  England and Wales

  Year

  Number of dentists under contract to family health services authorities2

  1989

  16,178

  1990

  16,317

  1991

  16,287

  1992

  16,242

  1993

  16,616

  1 National health service dental treatment is also provided by the community dental service, the hospital dental service and by salaried dentists.

  2 Includes principals, assistants and vocational trainees.

  682

  Acute Psychiatric Beds
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sanctions exist when guidelines in respect of the provision of acute psychiatric beds are broken.

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for health authorities to assess the need for acute psychiatric beds and to contract with providers of mental health services to ensure that sufficient beds are available to meet the needs of their residents.

  Chronic Disease Management Programme
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will indicate what progress is being made on the chronic disease management programme.

  Mr. Sackville
  New arrangements for chronic disease management in general practice were introduced on 1 July 1993. The latest available data suggests that almost 90 per cent. of general practitioners have already been approved to run chronic disease management programmes for the treatment of asthma and diabetes. This is an excellent response by general practitioners and their practice teams towards improving the treatment of these conditions.

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assumptions she makes about the effect on neighbouring units of a closure of an accident and emergency unit; how that effect is assessed; and what degree of co-operation is expected from neighbouring units affected by a proposed closure of such a unit.

  Mr. Sackville
  Local health authorities plan the provision of accident and emergency services, based on existing patterns of treatment and assessments of future need. Closure of an accident and emergency department is only agreed where it can be demonstrated that there will be a net gain in the effectiveness and efficiency in patient services. It is for the appropriate health authority to undertake an assessment of the impact on surrounding hospitals, and to ensure an appropriate level of service. Only where there is no agreement locally should Ministers become involved in planning for local patient services.

  Life Expectancy Statistics
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on(a) the child mortality rates and (b) the average life expectancy for the inhabitants 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. Sackville
  The information on child mortality rates is shown in the table. The data requested on average life expectancy for the selected areas are not collected.

  Child mortality rates1 in England, 1992

  Location

  Sex

  Age group 0–14

  Manchester

  Male

  115·1

  Female

  88·5

  Birmingham

  Male

  94·5

  Female

  95·9

  683

  Location

  Sex

  Age group 0–14

  Lambeth

  Male

  93·1

  Female

  100·6

  Southwark

  Male

  112·3

  Female

  122·8

  Hackney

  Male

  102·3

  Female

  73·1

  Haringey

  Male

  119·4

  Female

  82·4

  Newham

  Male

  98·9

  Female

  69·4

  Lewisham

  Male

  85·1

  Female

  97·0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Male

  51·2

  Female

  85·0

  Liverpool

  Male

  79·0

  Female

  47·3

  Leeds

  Male

  69·2

  Female

  68·1

  Sheffield

  Male

  86·9

  Female

  60·5

  Salford

  Male

  82·0

  Female

  59·7

  South Tyneside

  Male

  44·1

  Female

  73·3

  Coventry

  Male

  121·1

  Female

  53·0

  Bristol

  Male

  88·8

  Female

  48·2

  Wakefield

  Male

  78·2

  Female

  52·3

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  Male

  84·2

  Female

  64·6

  1Rates per 100,000 population.

  Hammersmith Hospital
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of the Hammersmith hospital.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 21 March at columns 68–69.

  Tuberculosis
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths from tuberculosis occurred in each of the last five years by region; and how many new cases of tuberculosis were reported in each region in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Care Orders
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children between the ages of 16 and 18 years have care orders; and how many of them are(a) currently with fostering families and (b) in homes.

  Mr. Bowis
  The latest centrally available information relates to the position at 31 March 1992, when it is estimated that 6,900 children aged 16 or 17 were subject to care orders; of these 3,100 were placed with foster parents and 900 were resident in community homes.
  684

  Training Costs (Doctors)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost to the national health service of training a doctor.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The clinical training of medical students provided within the national health service is supported by the service increment for teaching and research. The amount of SIFTR paid annually in respect of each medical student is £36,292 at 1993–94 prices, for each of three clinical years. However, doctors also spend varying but significant periods in postgraduate training and subsequently throughout their careers in training activities designed to enable them to keep up to date in a rapidly changing clinical environment. It is not possible to quantify the total cost to the NHS of these forms of training.

  Vasectomies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information and guidance is available to men seeking vasectomies; what information is given on the failure rate of such operations; and what are the figures for the failure rate of this procedure.

  Mr. Sackville
  The handbook of contraceptive practice issued by the Department to all general practitioners and doctors and nurses working in family planning clinics gives advice on counselling for vasectomy, including the need to inform the patient about the possibility of failure. The overall failure rate is less than 0·5 per cent. Copies of the handbook are available in the Library.

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost of official entertainment in her Department in each year since 1990–91; if she will list the receptions held in each year at her Department's expense; and what was the cost of each reception.

  Mr. Sackville
  Expenditure on hospitality since 1990–91 is shown in the table. A breakdown of past expenditure is not available in the form requested as hospitality expenditure tends to consist of large numbers of small payments—for example, refreshments for meetings of expert advisory committees, working groups etc.—which are summarised, managed and recorded by organisational group; I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) on 24 January at columns 109–10 for a breakdown of 1992–93 expenditure by organisational group within the Department.

  Year

  £

  1990–91

  158,000

  1991–92

  168,151

  1992–93

  246,374

  1993–94

  1223,000

  1Estimate.

  Note Figures have not been adjusted for inflation.
  685

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue guidance on the time before a repeat cervical smear test is needed after a result which shows no endocervical cells.

  Mr. Sackville
  An absence of columnar glandular endocervical cells per se does not in itself constitute an indication for a repeat smear as the smear could be adequate in other respects. Where a patient's smear is shown by the laboratory to be unsatisfactory, she is invited to have a smear as soon as possible.

  HIV-AIDS
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) pursuant to her answer of 1 March,Official Report, columns 680–81, to what extent the AIDS (Control) Act 1987 reports for the past year revealed gaps in the area of HIV-AIDS-related services for those with a physical disability;

  (2) what assessment her Department has made of the physical accessibility of those locations in which HIV-AIDS-related services for the physically disabled are based.

  Mr. Sackville
  The AIDS (Control) Act 1987 requires regional and district health authorities to report on:the known number of HIV seropositive people and people

  with AIDS in the area of the authority;

  a report of facilities and services;

  the number of staff employed;

  expenditure on HIV and AIDS-related services.

  Gaps in the area of HIV-related services for those with a physical disability have not been specifically identified. We would, however, expect authorities to provide services which are sensitive to the needs of and accessible by people with a physical disability since many people with AIDS would fall within this category.

  Profit Margins
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department has collected data, or issued guidance, regarding the levels of profit margin placed on equipment and goods sold to national health service authorities or bodies.

  Mr. Sackville
  No, apart from the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme.

  Health Promotion Clinics
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will assess value for money in regard to health promotion clinics in general practice.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Practice-based health promotion programmes are a good use of national health service resources to improve people's health.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Proton cars were purchased by her Department and its predecessor in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and at what cost.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.
  686

  Ritual Abuse
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Professor Jean La Fontaine's report on ritual abuse will be completed; and if the result will be made public.

  Mr. Bowis
  Professor La Fontaine's survey into the extent and nature of organised and ritual abuse will be completed later this year. No decision on publication has yet been made.

  Suicides (Paracetamol)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to deal with suicides from paracetamol.

  Mr. Bowis
  We are considering a number of measures designed to reduce the risk of deliberate or accidental paracetamol overdoses.

  Cancer Treatment
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much in real terms was spent in each of the last three years in the NHS on(a) the treatment of cancer and (b) the prevention of cancer.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the amount spent on treatment and prevention of cancer is not identified separately.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of billboard sites currently covered by the voluntary agreement with the tobacco manufacturing companies; and how many she estimates are within(a) three miles, (b) two miles, (c) one mile, (d) three quarters of a mile, (e) half a mile and (f) one quarter of a mile of school premises.

  Mr. Sackville
  Under the voluntary agreement, billboard advertising of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco is not allowed which is in close proximity to and clearly visible from schools, places of education for young people and children's playgrounds. Information on the number of billboard sites covered by the voluntary agreement, and on the proportion within different distances of school premises is not held by the Department. However, the voluntary agreement limits expenditure on cigarette brand poster advertising by companies represented by the Tobacco Manufacturers Association to 50 per cent. of the 1980 level, allowing for inflation.

  NHS Supplies Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Health Service Supplies Authority, either centrally or through its divisions, employs independent consultants to undertake comparisons between the prices it pays or negotiates and the best available market price.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Health Service Supplies Authority currently contracts with three independent consultants to obtain regular price comparisons.
  687

  Trent RHA
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was allocated to Trent regional health authority purchasers in each year since 1990; and what percentage this represents of all revenue funding for hospital and community health services in each year.

  Mr. Sackville
  Allocations to district health authorities as purchasers of health care were made for the first time in the 1991–92 financial year. It is the responsibility of regional health authorities to allocate resources to districts and this information is not separately identifiable in the information collected by the Department.

  Expenditure by district health authorities in Trent in 1991–92 and 1992–93 is shown in the table; it excludes expenditure by general practitioner fundholders. The figures for individual authorities over the two years are not directly comparable in every case because of boundary changes.

  Figures for 1993–94 are not yet available.

  Trent district health authorities' expenditure accounted for 8·7 per cent. of the total expenditure by district health authorities in England in 1991–92 and 9·2 per cent. in 1992–93.

  Revenue expenditure by district health authorities in England

  District health authority

  1991–92

  1992–93

  £

  £

  North Derbyshire DHA

  105,670,742

  113,114,609

  Southern Derbyshire DHA

  167,981,567

  185,166,596

  Leicestershire DHA

  261,702,208

  297,169,389

  North Lincolnshire DHA

  91,668,517

  100,708,900

  South Lincolnshire DHA

  102,072,066

  109,472,637

  Bassetlaw DHA

  31,107,515

  n/a

  Central Nottinghamshire DHA

  87,214,069

  n/a

  North Nottinghamshire DHA

  n/a

  131,696,612

  Nottingham DHA

  201,912,223

  224,553,446

  Barnsley DHA

  70,930,301

  79,006,026

  Doncaster DHA

  88,483,141

  99,681,002

  Rotherham DHA

  75,355,705

  84,222,003

  Sheffield DHA

  212,577,749

  241,697,006

  Total DHAs, Trent

  1,496,675,803

  1,666,488,226

  Total DHAs, England

  17,114,662,189

  18,182,143,979

  Source: Annual accounts of health authorities (England).

  Notes:

  1. Figures shown are for total revenue expenditure.

  2. Figures for 1992–93 are provisional.

  3. Bassetlaw and Central Nottinghamshire DHAs merges to from North Nottinghamshire DHA in 1992–93.

  Hospital Beds
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds there were in each year between 1978–79 and 1988–89 in England excluding inner and outer London district health authorities and regional health authorities.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information on the average daily number of available beds has been published and copies of the national and regional summaries placed in the Library. The data for the years 1978 to 1986 are contained in the publication "Hospital Statistics-Form SH3". Summary tables for the years from 1982 to 1992–93 are set out in "Bed availability for England: Financial Year 1992–93".
  688

  Breast Lump Clinics
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of hospitals have specific breast lump clinics.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  It is for local provider units in consultation with their purchasers to decide what provision is required.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes will be made to the cash limits of her Department in 1993–94.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The cash limit for class XII vote 1—hospital, community health, family health services (part) and related services, England—will be increased by £5,794,000, from £19,880,171,000 to £19,885,965,000. This increase covers transfers of £5,000,000 for enabling work for phase IV development of Derriford Hospital, from class I, vote 1, Ministry of Defence; £763,000 for payments to the National Health Service Estate Management and Health Building Agency and £123,000 in respect of Public Health Laboratory Service Board, from class XII, vote 3, Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England; £93,000 for the cost of clinical placements in England in respect of Glasgow Caledonian university students, to class XIV, vote 18, student awards, Scotland; and an increase of £1,000 offset by receipts from members of the public towards the cost of medical treatment for Bosnian evacuees.

  The non-voted cash limit for supplementary credit approvals for personal social services—DOH/LACAP—in England is to be increased by £1,183,500, from £23,700,000 to £24,883,500 in respect of the take up of entitlement to carry forward of underspends from the 1992–93 financial year under the end-year flexibility arrangements as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1993 at columns 512–17.

  All increases will either be offset by increased receipts, transfers to or from other votes, or from the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Microbiology
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the future of the centre for applied microbiology and research.

  Mr. Sackville
  I announced on 15 January 1993 that the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research was to become independent of the Public Health Laboratory Service and would be separately accountable to Health Ministers. I can now announce that the centre will, from 1 April, be administered by a new authority called the Microbiological Research Authority under the chairmanship of Mr. J. E. Everitt, outgoing chairman and chief executive of Vickers Medical. I have also agreed to the appointment of Dr. J. Melling as chief executive and director of the centre. The greater independence and more appropriate management expertise provided by these measures should enable the centre to develop its full scientific and commercial potential.
  689

  Breast Cancer Treatment
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the encouragement of randomised controlled trails for the treatment of breast cancer.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government are committed to encouraging research into breast cancer. Randomised controlled trials are regarded as the scientific method for determining and evaluating new developments in health care, and are funded by the Department when they represent the most appropriate method of research for answering specific questions relevant to health care policy and practice.

  The United Kingdom Health Departments, along with the Medical Research Council which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the major cancer research charities—the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Research Campaign—are currently funding four studies into breast screening at an estimated cost of £5 million over five years. Three of these trials involve RCTs. The trials are being co-ordinated by the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research.

  General Practitioner Fundholders
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was allocated in Greater London to general practitioner fundholders in 1991–92 and 1992–93; and what percentage this represented of the total allocation for general practitioner fundholders in England for each year.

  In-patients in NHS hospitals in England 1990–91

  Average duration of stay (days)

  Region of treatment

  Hysterectomy

  Gall bladder excision1

  Hernia repair2

  Kidney transplant

  Angioplasty3

  Northern

  8·4

  9·5

  4·4

  16·6

  4·8

  Yorkshire

  9·0

  9·2

  4·3

  11·0

  3·8

  Trent

  8·4

  8·4

  3·5

  17·2

  3·7

  East Anglia

  8·0

  9·3

  3·9

  14·1

  3·6

  North West Thames

  9·2

  9·7

  3·7

  18·0

  4·4

  North East Thames

  8·4

  9·3

  3·8

  11·4

  4·7

  South East Thames

  8·6

  9·3

  3·9

  25·2

  4·7

  South West Thames

  8·8

  8·9

  3·8

  0·64

  3·8

  Wessex

  8·1

  8·5

  3·2

  15·8

  3·5

  Oxford

  7·9

  8·2

  3·4

  8·1

  2·9

  South Western

  9·0

  10·0

  3·9

  19·7

  4·9

  West Midlands

  8·4

  8·8

  3·5

  15·4

  4·6

  Mersey

  8·7

  9·8

  4·3

  16·3

  6·6

  North Western

  8·2

  9·8

  4·7

  16·2

  4·4

  ENGLAND

  8·5

  9·2

  3·9

  16·0

  4·3

  1 May exclude some laparoscopic cholecystectomies, not otherwise identifiable.

  2 Figures represent repairs of groin hernias. They exclude those of other less common hernias in other parts of the body.

  3 Covers coronary artery angioplasty. The term "angioplasty" covers a very large range of operative procedures on blood vessels in different parts of the body.

  4 It is believed that this extremely low figure reflects mis-coding at source.

  District Health Authority Mergers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all proposed district health authority mergers and the timetable for each.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 15 March at column 566 concerning district health authority mergers from 1 April 1994. Proposals to merge Wigan DHA with Bolton DHA and Newcastle DHA
  690
  Dr. Mawhinney
  Regional health authorities manage the general practitioner fundholding scheme in their areas. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairmen of the Thames regional health authorities for local information in London.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fundholding practices there were in Greater London for each year since 1991–92; and what percentage of the total figure for fundholders in England those figures represent in each year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information about general practitioner fundholder numbers is only available centrally at regional health authority level. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 7 February at columns 43–44.

  Patient Stays (Average Length)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average length of in patient stay for patients who receive(a) hysterectomy, (b) gall bladder removal, (c) hernia repair, (d) kidney transplant and (e) angioplasty in hospitals in (i) Birmingham, (ii) Leeds, (iii) London, (iv) Manchester, (v) Newcastle and (vi) Bristol.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. The available information by regional health authority is shown in the table.

  with North Tyneside DHA have been received by the Department. Decisions on these proposals, which will include a timetable, will be made in due course.

  Disability Equipment
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the average weekly cost of powering(a) a powered wheelchair, (b) a bed/bath hoist, (c) an automatic door opener, (d) a stair lift, (e) a respirator, (f) an automatic toilet-bidet unit and (g) a self-lift chair; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.
  691
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount of public funding is granted each year to help disabled people not on benefits pay the costs of running disability equipment; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  A wide range of disability equipment is supplied and, where appropriate, maintained by the national health service, social services departments, and other public bodies.

  Health Authorities (Ethnic Minority Members)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific measures her Department plans to take to increase the percentages of ethnic minority members of health authorities, national health service trusts and working parties formed by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Our aim is to appoint the best people we can to the boards of national health service authorities and trusts and to ensure that good candidates from ethnic minorities are given every encouragement to come forward. To this end, regional health authority chairmen are specifically encouraged to seek people from ethnic minorities when identifying candidates for chairman and non-executive positions.

  Urgent Cases
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the implications for patients of the letter by Sir Duncan Nichol, chief executive of the national health service, to district health authorities on the treatment of urgent cases within available resources.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Sir Duncan Nichol wrote to all hospitals and health authorities on 24 February reminding those concerned with the purchasing and provision of hospital treatment of the need to ensure that appropriate clinical priority is given to patients on waiting lists. Copies of the letter, EL(94)19, are available in the Library.

  Continuing Care Provision
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the NHS Management Executive to complete its inquiry into NHS continuing care provision by those district health authorities identified in the recent Alzheimer's Disease Society report as supplying no NHS continuing care beds; whether the NHS Management Executive's findings will be made public; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  I expect to receive a report from the National Health Service Management Executive shortly. Such advice is normally internal for the Department.

  Birth Deformities
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has carried out on the link between sea pollution and deformities of children at birth; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department itself has undertaken no such research. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) on 25 March at columns 462–63.
  692

  "Your Pocket Guide to Sex"
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of(a) commissioning, (b) printing, (c) distributing, (d) promoting and (e) recalling "Your Pocket Guide to Sex", written by Nick Fisher for the Health Education Authority, which was withdrawn on 23 March.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to issue patients charter maximum waiting times inclusive of the wait for the first time out-patient appointment; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  New initiatives to reduce hospital waiting times are constantly being considered. An announcement will be made in due course if it is decided to add to the successful standards contained in the patients charter.

  Farmers (Suicide)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will commission a report into the rate of suicide for farmers; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have commissioned Dr. K. Hawton of the University of Oxford to carry out a study of individuals in high-risk groups, including farmers, for whom verdicts of suicide or undetermined death were returned. His report is expected in December 1995.

EMPLOYMENT

  Supported Employment
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on provision for supported employment in 1994–95.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The maximum grant payable in 1994–95 per contracted place in the supported employment programme will be £4,420 for both voluntary body and local authority providers. Under the arrangements I announced on the 10 March 1994,Official Report, column 338, coming into force on 1 April, the number of places in the programme will be for negotiation between the Employment Service and both local authorities and voluntary bodies. Payments to local authorities will continue, as previously, to be limited to at most 75 per cent. of their costs.

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The cost of new furniture for the Secretary of State's private office was £911·88.

  Work Experience Schemes
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of participants in(a) North Norfolk Action, (b) job clubs, (c) workstart and

  693
  (d) Government-organised or funded work experience schemes found subsequent employment as a result of joining the scheme, after the first six months of the scheme starting.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows: North Norfolk Action 12·8 per cent. from the work experience element and 2·3 per cent. from attendance at a series of caseload interviews; job clubs 63 per cent.

  Figures for workstart are as yet unavailable; the scheme, which began in July 1993, provides subsidies for 12 months to employers who recruit eligible long-term people. Figures are also unavailable for community action, through which work experience is currently provided. This scheme also began in July 1993, and information on the number of leavers who obtain jobs is collected Ihree months after the date of leaving.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the proportion of the United Kingdom work force which is employed under terms and conditions which do not fulfil the terms of the European Community social chapter.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The draft social chapter proposed at Maastricht did not set out any terms and conditions of employment.

  Aerospace Apprenticeships
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many engineering apprenticeships in the aerospace industry there were in each year since 1979.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Data on apprentices have been collected on a consistent basis through the labour force survey since 1984. However, the sample size does not allow reliable estimates at this level of industrial detail.

  Labour Flexibility
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assumption the Government make about the cost of their policy of labour flexibility for those affected: if he will list the evidence available to him about the relative costs and benefits; and if he will publish his estimate of the losses and gains and those who have lost and those who have gained.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A more flexible and efficient labour market leads overall to more jobs and less unemployment. It is not possible to disentangle the effect of flexibility on individuals.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the objective of the Government policy of labour flexibility; and what benchmarks the Government used for judging its success;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 11 March, Official Report, column 433, concerning rewards for productivity, by what means he assesses the effectiveness of the Government's policy of labour flexibility.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The objective of labour flexibility is to support economic growth, create jobs and reduce unemployment. Increased labour flexibility has contributed to unemployment falling earlier in the cycle 694
  than previously—a fall of 220,000 since December 1992, and to a relatively early upturn in the work force in employment—an increase of 136,000 in the nine months to December 1993.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list of the measures which the Government include under the heading of labour flexibility; and which of these were commended to the Group of Seven.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Flexibility requires measures to improve the efficient working of the labour market, to increase the ability of unemployed people to get jobs and compete effectively, and to encourage investment in skills by individuals and their employers. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State commended each of these to the G7 jobs conference, which agreed that flexible labour markets support economic growth and deliver higher employment and lower unemployment.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of the policy of labour flexibility on full-time adult male employment since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No such assessment has been made. Labour market flexibility should support economic growth, reduce unemployment and increase all types of jobs.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the minimum rate of unemployed required to sustain the Government's policy of labour flexibility.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no minimum rate required to sustain labour market flexibility. The aim of labour market flexibility is to support economic growth, create jobs and reduce unemployment.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government's policy of labour flexibility on the distribution of income; and whether it was intended to have that effect.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The distribution of income is determined by a variety of factors including the extent of unemployment. A flexible labour market should reduce unemployment and therefore help those at the lower end of the income distribution.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what account the Government have taken of the extra cost to the social services in assessing the results of their policy on labour flexibility;

  (2) what account the Government have taken in judging, the results of their policy of labour flexibility, of the extra cost, to law and order;

  (3) what account the Government have taken of the extra cost to the health service in assessing the results of their policy on labour flexibility.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Labour market flexibility supports economic growth, creates jobs and reduces unemployment. It does not involve extra costs to the social services, law and order or the health service.
  695

  Productivity (Rewards)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 March,Official Report, column 433, concerning rewards for productivity, what effect the increase in part-time working in the service sector has had on output per person employed; and if he will restate the published figures to show the estimated increase.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Statistics on the component of output attributable to part-time workers in the service sector are not compiled. As a result it is not possible to estimate reliably the effect on productivity of an increase in part-time working in the service sector.

  Productivity
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 March,Official Report, column 433, concerning rewards for productivity, if he will give the data per person-hour in the sectors requested.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The data on output per person-hour in the sectors requested are not available.

  Working Hours
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 3 March,Official Report, column 861, on the number of hours worked, if he will provide comparable information for the whole economy less manufacturing.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The figures given in my reply to the hon. Member on 3 March 1994,Official Report, column 861 were based upon the index of total weekly hours worked by all operatives in manufacturing. There are no comparable figures for the rest of the economy.

  However, the labour force survey provides estimates of the total number of hours worked in each industry sector on the basis of information provided by individuals responding to the survey. These estimates are not seasonally adjusted and so comparable figures must relate to the same time period for each year. Thus, most recent comparable estimates from the LFS between spring 1989 and spring 1993, show that the total number of hours worked by employees and self-employed in Great Britain fell by 19 per cent. for those in manufacturing industries, and by 13 per cent. for those in other sectors of the economy.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for those in full-time training and also included in the count of the work force in employment.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In Great Britain, in December 1993, there were 428,000 participants on Government training programmes who were included in the count of the work force in employment. This figure comprises those people whose training has an element of work experience, including those with a contract of employment.
  696

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the correlation between the rate of economic growth since 1964 and the numbers employed in manufacturing in the United Kingdom and other industrial countries.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Industrial employment has fallen in a majority of the G7 countries since 1964. Output, on the other hand, has risen—in most cases substantially.

  Ministerial Duties
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish a list of his duties and the amount of his working week allocated to each activity.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A list of my duties and those of my Ministers is set out in the Departmental Report (Cm 2505), a copy of which is available in the Library. The amount of time spent on any one aspect will vary from week to week.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Proton cars were purchased by his Department in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and at what cost.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. Allerton Road Jobcentre

  Allerton Road Jobcentre
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the future of the Allerton Road jobcentre, Liverpool.

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

  Letter from M. Fogden to Mr. David Alton, dated 29 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question in which you ask about the future of Allerton Road Jobcentre (JC), Liverpool.Allerton JC will be closed on or about 10 June 1994 as part of the Employment Service (ES) programme to integrate its services and rationalise its estate. The Allerton premises are located in a small three storey shop unit which cannot be converted to provide the full range of ES services; the lease expires in February 1995. We are therefore bringing together all our job seeking and benefit payment services at our nearby newly refurbished office at Wavertree. We hope this will provide an improved standard of service to our clients locally as everything will now be available under one roof.Wavertree ES JC is approximately two miles from Allerton and there is a regular bus service between them.I hope this is helpful.

  Thorne Jobcentre
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what wards in the Doncaster, North constituency are covered by the Thorne jobcentre.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  697
  Letter from M. Fogden to Mr. Kevin Hughes, dated 29 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking which wards in the Doncaster North Constituency are covered by Thorne Jobcentre.It may be helpful if I explain that Jobcentre boundaries are not defined in ward terms. However, it is possible to match frozen April 1991 Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) wards to Jobcentre areas on a best-fit basis.There are four wards in the Doncaster North Constituency. On a best-fit basis, two wards, Thorne and Hatfield, are fully within the Thome Jobcentre catchment area as is the northern half of the Stainforth ward. The fourth ward in the constituency, Askern, falls in the neighbouring Doncaster Jobcentre area.I hope you find this helpful.

  Earnings
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on comparisons between pay increases in the public and private sectors in Britain in 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the earnings of employees in the public and private sectors is published, each year, in table 1 of part A of the new earnings survey. The latest available information, published in September 1993, relates to April 1993. Copies of the latest report are available in the Library. The monthly average earnings index, published by the Department, does not distinguish between private sector and public sector earnings.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement concerning his plans to create new-style apprenticeships; in what industries he expects the new apprenticeships to be created; and what estimates he has of the number of new apprenticeships he expects to be created.

  Miss Widdecombe
  A wide range of modern apprenticeships will be offered to 16 and 17-year-old school leavers from September 1995, with some prototypes starting later this year. Fourteen sectors are involved in prototype arrangements and these are linked to 42 training and enterprise councils. These are:

  Agriculture

  Somerset, South and East Cheshire, Northumberland, Humberside

  Business Administration

  Gloucestershire, Norfolk and Waveney, Northamptonshire

  Chemicals

  Wakefield, CEWTEC/NorMidTEC

  Childcare

  North West London, Stockport/High Peak

  Electrical Installation

  Essex, Suffolk, South Derbyshire, MetroTEC

  Engineering Manufacturing

  Devon and Cornwall, Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire, London East TEC, Walsall, Barnsley and Doncaster, Merseyside, Hertfordshire, Birmingham (in conjunction with Coventry and CENTEC)

  Engineering Construction

  Bolton/Bury, Durham

  698

  Information Technology

  Leeds, West London, Teesside

  Marine Engineering

  Cumbria

  Merchant Navy

  Tyneside

  Polymers

  Shropshire

  Retail

  AZTEC, Lincoln, HAWTEC

  Steel

  Sandwell, Sheffield (Steel Training)

  Travel Services

  North London, Dorset, Surrey

  Up to 2,000 young people will be catered for this year, with up to 150,000 in training at any one time when the initiative is fully developed.

  European Structural Funds
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Government will apply for objective 4 grants under the European structural funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, North (Mr. Heald) on 25 January 1994, at column 233.

  Part-time Work
  Mrs. Clywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what action the Government will take to implement the ruling given by the House of Lords on part-time workers;

  (2) to what extent retrospective compensation claims from part-time workers will be possible following the House of Lords ruling.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what changes to current employment legislation he is considering following the recent House of Lords ruling that part-time employees have the same rights as full-time employees with regard to unfair dismissal and redundancy; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government are carefully considering this judgment to ascertain its full implications and will make an announcement as soon as possible.

  Child Care
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department spends on child care provision for the under-fives and out-of-school provision for children aged over five either directly, excluding provision for departmental staff, or indirectly through resources made available to local authorities or other organisations; what form of provision is thereby provided; how many places are thereby provided; and if he will make a statement on child care.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 14 March 1994]: We have committed £45 million to the out-of-school child care grant initiative, with the aim of creating up to 50,000

  699
  new after-school and holiday places for the over-fives throughout Great Britain. Training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies also have the flexibility to use their budgets to provide child care assistance for trainees.

  In addition, over 90 per cent. of three to four-year-olds attend either education or group day care. It is not, however, possible to say what proportion of these places will have benefited from Government support—for example, through TECs and LECs.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current average cost of administration of an unemployment benefit payment.

  Mr. Hague
  I have been asked to reply.

  The latest expenditure figures are contained in the DSS departmental report, Cm 2513. The total administration cost of unemployment benefit in 1992–93 was £269 million. The total number of payments was 23,847,000 giving an average of £11.28. This includes allowance for the cost of administering national insurance credits for

  Scottish New Town development corporations—numbers of industrial units (a) tenanted and (b) vacant as at 23 March 1994

  Cumbernauld

  East Kilbride

  Glenrothes

  Irvine

  Livingston

  Less than 10,000 ft2

  Occupied

  54

  117

  46

  78

  138

  Vacant

  41

  54

  49

  24

  42

  10,001–20,000 ft2

  Occupied

  13

  17

  14

  0

  35

  Vacant

  9

  8

  9

  0

  0

  20,001–30,000 ft2

  Occupied

  8

  3

  6

  0

  16

  Vacant

  3

  0

  1

  0

  0

  30,001–40,000 ft2

  Occupied

  2

  2

  1

  0

  5

  Vacant

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  40,001–50,000 ft2

  Occupied

  3

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Vacant

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  50,001–100,000 ft2

  Occupied

  3

  2

  0

  0

  7

  Vacant

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  100,001–200,000 ft2

  Occupied

  0

  0

  0

  0

  6

  Vacant

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Above 200,001 ft2

  Occupied

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Vacant

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Scottish new town development corporations numbers of commercial properties (a) tenanted and (b) vacant at 23 March 1994

  Cumbernauld

  East Kilbride

  Glenrothes

  Irvine

  Livingston

  Less than 10,000 ft2

  Occupied

  51

  258

  87

  135

  140

  Vacant

  5

  14

  1

  34

  14

  10,001–20,000 ft2

  Occupied

  0

  2

  1

  12

  5

  Vacant

  0

  1

  0

  8

  0

  20,001–30,000 ft2

  Occupied

  1

  1

  0

  4

  2

  Vacant

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  700
  clients who do not receive any social security benefit and part of the cost of Employment Service advisers who check benefit eligibility.

SCOTLAND

  Development Corporation
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tenancies controlled by the(a) Cumbernauld, (b) East Kilbride, (c) Glenrothes, (d) Irvine and (e) Livingston development corporations occupying (i) less than 10,000 sq ft, (ii) between 10,000 and 20,000 sq ft, (iii) between 20,000 and 30,000 sq ft, (iv) between 30,000 and 40,000 sq ft, (v) between 40,000 and 50,000 sq ft, (vi) between 50,000 and 100,000 sq ft, (vii) between 100,000 and 200,000 sq ft and (viii) over 200,000 sq ft are (1) currently vacant and (2) occupied.

  Mr. Stewart
  The tables show the numbers of industrial and commercial units currently owned by the development corporations and whether tenanted or vacant:
  701

  Cumbernauld

  East Kilbride

  Glenrothes

  Irvine

  Livingston

  30,001–40,000 ft2

  Occupied

  0

  1

  0

  3

  4

  Vacant

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  40,001–50,000 ft2

  Occupied

  1

  0

  0

  3

  3

  Vacant

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  50,001–100,000 ft2

  Occupied

  0

  0

  0

  4

  4

  Vacant

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  100,001–200,000 ft2

  Occupied

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Vacant

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Above 200,001 ft2

  Occupied

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Vacant

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much each of Scotland's development corporations has spent during each of the last five years on advertising.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information on advertising costs is not available centrally. Expenditure on publicity and marketing is set out in schedule 2 of the annual accounts of each new town development corporation. The annual reports, including the accounts, are available in the Library of the House.

  National Health Service Helpline
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 54, what action has been taken by each of Scotland's health boards to publicise the operation of the NHS helpline; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  Since the NHS helpline came into operation in October 1992 expenditure on administration of the service totals £227,566 and expenditure on publicity totals £98,748.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 54, what assessment he has made of the calls to the NHS helpline; what procedure was adopted by his office in establishing its helpline; how many people are employed to deal with the calls; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The NHS in Scotland management executive receives monthly monitoring reports and quarterly customer satisfaction survey reports from Network Scotland which operates the NHS helpline on a contractual basis. These give details of the number and subjects of the calls received and an indication of customer satisfaction with the service.

  Tenders were invited for the setting up and running of the service from a number of organisations and the contract was awarded to Network Scotland. A project supervisor and up to four part-time operators are employed by Network Scotland in work relating to the NHS helpline.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 7 March,Official
  702
  Report, column 54, how much his office has spent (a) administering and (b) publicising the operation of its NHS helpline; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  All health boards in Scotland, and their provider units, publicise the NHS helpline telephone number and information about the service provided in a variety of ways. These include the provision of information in health board literature, local health charters, patient information leaflets, notice board information in public areas of health board premises and distribution of the NHS helpline poster.

  Redundant Hospitals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many redundant NHS hospitals have been disposed of since 1987 without the benefit of planning permission.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is not collected centrally. Advice on the planning aspects of disposals is contained in current guidance on the handling of NHS property transactions.

  National Continence Week
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what projects his Department instigated in respect of National Continence Week.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Scottish Office provided funding for the expansion of a telephone helpline facility at the continence resource centre, Southern General Hospital NHS Trust, Glasgow to secure additional staff and equipment, for a four-week period including National Continence Week. Leaflets, posters and stickers advertising the helpline and encouraging sufferers to seek help were distributed widely, advertisements were placed in public transport buses throughout Scotland and in national newspapers, and a briefing note was circulated to all media outlets. In addition a number of events were organised across the country by local health service professionals, including continence advisers.

  Dairy Farmers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dairy farmers there were in Scotland in each year since 1985.
  703
  Sir Hector Monro
  No information on the number of dairy farmers is collected. The Scottish agricultural census identifies specialist dairy and general dairy farm types.

  The number of such farms was:

  Year

  Number

  1985

  2,949

  1986

  2,873

  1987

  2,789

  1988

  2,690

  1989

  2,622

  1990

  2,562

  1991

  2,515

  1992

  2,460

  1993

  1,8851

  1 A new system of farm typology was introduced in 1993. On the same basis there were 1,899 dairy farms in 1992.

  Agriculture (Incomes)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will show the average income of(a) farmers and (b) farm workers in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, using 1985 as a constant, in each year since 1980 showing these incomes as a percentage of the average wage.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Estimates of the earnings of full-time hired agricultural workers in Scotland are derived from the control test inspection sample survey carried out under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949. Those figures are given in the table.

  None of the estimates of average farm income is comparable with the average wage. The table presents estimates of cash income to farm businesses in Scotland for 1986–87 onwards. Estimates for previous years are not available on a consistent basis.

  Earnings of Hired Full-time Agricultural Workers in Scotland

  Year

  Estimated annual cash income1 all types of Farm

  Current terms2 (£/Week)

  Real terms at 1985 prices2 3 week)

  Percentage of average wage4

  (£ '000s per farm)

  (£ per week)

  (£ per week)

  1980

  —

  81·63

  115·53

  78·5

  1981

  —

  89·44

  113·15

  78·5

  1982

  —

  98·08

  114·24

  78·8

  1983

  —

  107·41

  119·62

  80·9

  1984

  —

  114·36

  121·32

  80·0

  1985

  —

  122·17

  122·17

  79·8

  1986

  16·9

  129·33

  125·07

  79·2

  1987

  21·1

  134·56

  124·92

  77·6

  1988

  20·5

  142·91

  126·47

  76·3

  1989

  22·6

  154·79

  127·11

  76·2

  1990

  27·2

  171·51

  128·67

  77·5

  1991

  26·3

  189·06

  133·97

  80·0

  1992

  28·6

  195·57

  133·58

  78·0

  61993

  5—

  204·50

  137·50

  79·7

  1 Accounting years end, on average, in February of the following year. Cash income represents the total receipts less the total expenditure (excluding net investment expenditure) of the farm business. Source: Farm Accounts Survey.

  2 Includes payments for basic, overtime and holiday hours, plus the value of annual bonus, perquisites and other payments. It also includes the value of the employer's contribution to the employees' rates, community charge and council tax where the value is known.

  3 Deflated by the all items RPI (1985 = 100)

  4 Average earnings of full-time manual employees on adult rates (compiled on a basis of men aged 21+ and women aged 18+ prior to 1983) in all industries and services in Great Britain whose pay was not affected
  704
  by absence for the survey period. Source: New Earnings Survey.

  5Not available

  6Provisional

  Farm Workers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the total number of(a) farmers and (b) farm workers in Scotland in each year since 1980.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The information requested is given in the table. The figures are from the June agricultural census of main holdings.

  Occupiers

  Spouses

  All other farmworkers

  1980

  23,061

  7,872

  40,602

  1981

  22,984

  7,724

  37,756

  1982

  23,452

  8,045

  37,301

  1983

  23,375

  8,352

  36,177

  1984

  23,369

  8,265

  34,538

  1985

  23,672

  8,536

  33,964

  1986

  23,386

  8,633

  31,798

  1987

  23,122

  8,678

  30,311

  1988

  23.783

  8,740

  29,503

  1989

  24,366

  8,861

  28,420

  1990

  23,820

  10,238

  28,592

  1991

  23,398

  10,393

  27,313

  1992

  22,839

  10,485

  26,823

  1993

  22,770

  10,717

  26,299

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his current plans for city technology colleges in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No proposals for establishing a city technology college in Scotland are currently under consideration. Any firm proposals which come forward will be carefully considered.

  Court of Session Fees
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to implement the extension of the principle that the litigant should contribute to the recovery of the full judicial costs applicable to civil business; and when he intends to lay the statutory instrument order on Court of Session fees.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer to the answer I gave the hon. Gentleman on Thursday 24 February, column 442.

  An order will be laid later this year.

  Nursery Schools
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the extra nursery school places since 1979 have been provided through the urban programme; and what percentage the urban programme places are of the increase in places since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No central records are maintained of the number of places which have been created through the urban programme and continue to form part of the total provision of nursery school places in Scotland. Such information could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.
  705

  Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Scotland if he will instruct Scottish Enterprise that it should be able to provide answers to questions about the specific skills being learnt on Government training schemes.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to instruct Scottish Enterprise on this matter.

  Schools (Expenditure)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the annual capital expenditure on schools since 1979 in real and constant price terms.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested, which is given in the table, has been compiled from local authority financial returns. The fall in expenditure in real terms during the period reflects a substantial and progressive decline in school pupil numbers which has reduced the requirement for new school building.

  Capital expenditure by local authorities on schools

  At out-turn prices

  At 1992–93 prices

  £ million

  1979–80

  47·598

  113·307

  1980–81

  52·391

  105·404

  1981–82

  60·404

  110·807

  1982–83

  52·378

  89·694

  1983–84

  45·416

  74·326

  1984–85

  45·945

  71·594

  1985–86

  51·194

  75·581

  1986–87

  46·694

  66·976

  1987–88

  47·742

  65·015

  1988–89

  59·392

  75·792

  1989–90

  66·884

  79·803

  1990–91

  67·305

  74·314

  1991–92

  72·572

  75·358

  1992–93

  89·679

  89·679

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people, of all ages, are on training schemes in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  The numbers of Government training programmes in Scotland at the end of December were as follows:

  Number

  Youth training

  32,453

  Training for work

  14,065

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many training establishments he visits each year.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend and I and other ministerial colleagues have in recent years visited a number of employers, chambers of commerce, training providers and educational establishments which provide vocational and non-vocational training.
  706

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Proton cars were purchased by his Department in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and at what cost.

  Mr. Lang
  None.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the 20 independent schools which currently have the highest proportions of their school rolls made up by pupils covered by the assisted places scheme; and if he will give the percentage of pupils covered by the assisted places scheme and the size of the school rolls.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information, for autumn term 1993–94, is as follows:

  School

  School roll

  Per cent, of pupils supported by assisted place scheme

  Kilquhanity House School, Castle Douglas

  40

  50

  Keil School, Dumbarton

  225

  28

  Morrison's Academy, Crieff

  642

  24

  Rudolf Steiner School, Edinburgh

  252

  23

  The Park School, Glasgow

  320

  21

  Kilgraston School, Bridge of Earn

  263

  19

  Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

  365

  18

  George Heriot's School, Edinburgh

  1,480

  17

  High School of Dundee

  1,132

  17

  St. Denis and Cranley School, Edinburgh

  173

  17

  Laurel Bank School, Glasgow

  374

  16

  St. Aloysius College, Glasgow

  1,078

  15

  Wellington School, Ayr

  363

  15

  Glenalmond College, Perth

  255

  15

  Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow

  585

  15

  Rannoch School, Perthshire

  278

  13

  Daniel Stewart's and Melville College and The Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh

  2,514

  12

  George Watson's College, Edinburgh

  2,025

  12

  Crawfordton House School, Thornhill, Dumfries

  45

  11

  Lomond School, Helensburgh

  514

  11

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what follow-up is undertaken to assess the usefulness of training schemes in finding jobs.

  Mr. Stewart
  Responsibility for the follow-up survey of leavers from the employment training and youth training programmes was transferred from the Training Agency to Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 1 April 1991. The Department of Employment delivered the service on their behalf under contract until 1 April 1993 when the enterprise bodies introduced their own follow-up systems.

  I have asked the chairmen of the enterprise bodies to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of trainees between the ages of 40 and 50 years find work on completion of a training course.
  707
  Mr. Stewart
  The information is not collected in the form requested.

  Motorists (Culpable Homicide Charges)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations he takes into account when determining whether charges of culpable homicide should be proceeded with in relation to drivers of motor vehicles.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Crown counsel will charge a motorist with culpable homicide where, on the evidence available to them, the driver's conduct showed gross or wicked criminal negligence amounting to a criminal indifference to the consequences of his driving.

  DNase
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department has had with health boards relating to the use of the drug DNase; and if he has recommended its use to health boards.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1994]: There has been no discussions between the Scottish Office Home and Health Department and health boards about the drug DNase; and no recommendations have been made as regards its use. The prescribing of DNase is a matter for clinical judgment.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals there have been against council tax valuations since the council tax was introduced in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1994]: By 30 November 1993, 95,966 proposals to change the valuation list were lodged with assessors' departments in Scotland.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average waiting time for appeals against valuation to be heard since the introduction of the council tax in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1994]: For proposals to change the valuation list and consequential appeals settled by 30 November 1993, the average time from lodging the proposal to settlement was four months.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals against council tax valuations are still waiting to be heard in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1994]: At 30 November 1993, the latest date for which information is available centrally, 66,329 proposals to change the valuation list and appeals were still to be dealt with.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals against valuation have resulted in a change in the banding of a property since the introduction of the council tax.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1994]: Information is not collected centrally on the number of proposals to change the valuation list which have resulted in a change in the banding of a property. The table shows the recorded outcomes of the 29,637 proposals settled up to 30 November 1993.
  708

  Number

  Settled before citation by the Valuation Appeals Committee:

  Withdrawn by appellant

  6,995

  List adjusted by assessor

  21,699

  Settled after citation and prior to Valuation Appeals Committee hearing:

  Withdrawn by appellant

  415

  List adjusted by assessor

  496

  Decisions by the Valuation Appeal Committee:

  Number dismissed

  29

  Number allowed

  3

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

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1994]: No information is held centrally relating to the cost of the appeals process or to costs of valuation work other than the initial preparation of valuation lists. The additional costs incurred by valuation authorities on the initial valuation exercise, which are reimbursed by my Department through the council tax valuation grant, amount to an estimated £9 million. Not all final claims have yet been received in respect of work in 1992–93.

  NHS Staff
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospital staff were lost from each health board in 1993; and of these totals how many were nurses.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 21 March 1994]: The information requested is not available centrally for all staff groups. The readily available data on qualified nurses joining and leaving each board are shown in the table.

  Qualified nurses (excluding those in training): net movement analysis by health board for year beginning 30 September 1992 (Headcount).

  1Leavers

  2Joiners

  Scotland

  3,631

  3,676

  Argyll and Clyde

  182

  180

  Ayrshire and Arran

  182

  179

  Borders

  61

  82

  Dumfries and Galloway

  97

  112

  Fife

  165

  252

  Forth Valley

  250

  223

  Grampian

  539

  347

  Greater Glasgow

  713

  764

  Highland

  161

  131

  Lanarkshire

  268

  223

  Lothian

  526

  744

  Orkney

  9

  17

  Shetland

  14

  15

  Tayside

  402

  324

  Western Isles

  15

  67

  State Hospital

  47

  16

  1No longer employed as a qualified hospital nurse by 30 September 1993.

  2 Became employed as a qualified hospital nurse by 30 September 1993.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those members of bodies to which he makes appointments who can be identified as having estate-owning interests.
  709
  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: Appointments are made on the basis of aptitude, merit and the qualifications of the person for the post to which they are appointed. No central record is kept of the land ownership of those appointed to public bodies.

  Football Grounds
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much Greenock Morton football club will benefit in terms of the formula valuation following the changes contained in the Football Grounds (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Order 1994.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 March 1994]: The Football Grounds (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Order 1994 falls to be implemented by the local assessor. I cannot, therefore, provide a definitive figure for its effect on any particular club. From the latest figures available to my Department, however, I estimate that the club's rateable value will be reduced from £17,000 to £11,600.

  Specialists (Waiting Lists)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people, not on waiting lists for treatment, were waiting to see a specialist in the national health service for each quarter in the last two years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 23 March 1994]: Information on waiting times to first out-patient appointment is set out in the "NHS Patient Treatment and Waiting Time Bulletin". Copies of the bulletin, which is published quarterly, have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Civil Servants
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department the number of(a) male and (b) female, (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The number of staff in post in the Scottish Office, its executive agencies and associated Departments as at 1 April 1993 are shown by grade equivalent, full-time or part-time status and gender in the table.

  Number of staff at 1 April 1993, by grade equivalent, full-time/part-time status and gender

  (a) Scottish Office core and agencies (excluding SPS)plus associated departments ofGRO(S) and SRO

  Scottish Office core

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Grade equivalent

  male

  female

  male

  female

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 2

  9

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 3

  20

  3

  0

  1

  Grade 4

  14

  3

  0

  0

  Grade 5

  108

  10

  2

  7

  Grade 6

  149

  35

  1

  2

  Grade 7

  332

  57

  2

  11

  Senior Executive Officer

  329

  35

  0

  4

  Higher Executive Officer

  524

  209

  2

  36

  Executive Officer

  479

  375

  1

  32

  Administrative Officer

  296

  646

  1

  84

  Administrative Assistant

  359

  659

  0

  89

  Industrial grades

  122

  5

  2

  11

  Totals

  2,742

  2,037

  11

  277

  710

  Agencies (Excl SPS)

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Grade equivalent

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Grade 1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 5

  5

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  12

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  44

  5

  0

  3

  Senior executive officer

  65

  7

  0

  1

  Higher executive officer

  120

  20

  0

  0

  Executive officer

  122

  59

  0

  4

  Administrative officer

  121

  113

  3

  24

  Administrative assistant

  45

  64

  3

  2

  Industrial grades

  351

  2

  0

  0

  Totals

  885

  270

  6

  34

  General register office

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Grade equivalent

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Grade 1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 5

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  7

  0

  0

  0

  Senior executive officer

  10

  1

  0

  0

  Higher executive officer

  27

  7

  0

  1

  Executive officer

  32

  21

  0

  3

  Administrative officer

  28

  44

  0

  12

  Administrative assistant

  31

  51

  0

  5

  Industrial grades

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Totals

  137

  124

  0

  21

  Grade Equivalent

  Scottish Records Office

  Full time

  Part-time

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Grade 1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 5

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  4

  4

  0

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  4

  3

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  10

  4

  0

  0

  Executive Officer

  7

  5

  0

  0

  Administrative Officer

  17

  13

  0

  0

  Administrative Assistant

  25

  9

  0

  9

  Industrial grades

  2

  1

  0

  0

  Totals

  71

  39

  0

  9

  Grade Equivalent

  Total Staff

  Full time

  Part-time

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 2

  9

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 3

  20

  3

  0

  0

  Grade 4

  15

  3

  0

  0

  Grade 5

  115

  10

  2

  7

  Grade 6

  162

  35

  1

  2

  Grade 7

  387

  66

  2

  14

  Senior Executive Officer

  408

  46

  0

  5

  Higher Executive Officer

  681

  240

  2

  37

  711

  Grade Equivalent

  Total Staff

  Full time

  Part-time

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Executive Officer

  640

  460

  1

  39

  Administrative Officer

  462

  816

  4

  120

  Administrative Assistant

  460

  783

  3

  105

  Industrial grades

  475

  8

  2

  11

  TOTALS

  3,835

  2,470

  17

  341

  (b) Scottish Prison Service

  Scottish Prison Service

  Full time

  Part-time

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  All Staff

  4,182

  414

  30

  28

  Greater Glasgow Health Board
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) at what stage the unit general manager at Glasgow royal infirmary became aware that Greater Glasgow health board had awarded cleaning and portering contracts to Executive Healthcare; and whether his advice was sought on that company's suitability to be invited to tender;

  (2) if he will investigate the contract evaluation methods carried out by Greater Glasgow health board, to determine whether they meet ministerial guidelines;

  (3) if he will conduct an investigation into the practices of the commercial section of Greater Glasgow health board;

  (4) on what criteria firms were chosen to be invited to tender for cleaning and portering services at the Glasgow royal infirmary.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The unit general manager was a member of the evaluation panel for the tenders and was involved in the advice to Greater Glasgow health board in reaching its decision to award the contract.

  My noble and learned Friend has been assured by the health board that the evaluation was carried out in accordance with the central guidance issued and the board's standing instructions. It is for the board's auditors to investigate any non-compliance with procedures and standing instructions.

  In line with EC procurement regulations, advertisements were placed in the national press and European Journal. Technical and financial checks were undertaken on the companies that responded to the advertisements.
  712
  The checks included the taking up of bank and trade references. Only those companies that satisfied the checks were placed on the tender list.

  Scottish New Town Development Corporation
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made for the maintenance of pension funds for staff employed by the Scottish New Town development corporation following the wind-up of those bodies.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: New towns staff are in general members of either the new towns pension fund or local government superannuation schemes. Discussions are taking place at present towards safeguarding staff pension rights, following the wind-up of the development corporations.

  Mearnskirk Hospital
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much surplus land within the grounds of Mearnskirk hospital is for sale; what price was negotiated with Dickie Ambion Bryant; how many other firms were invited to submit bids for the purchase of this land; and how many bids were received.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: Thirty-six hectares of land at Meamskirk hospital has been declared surplus to requirements and offered for sale by Greater Glasgow health board. Extensive marketing included a mailshot of the top 500 housing developers. By the closing date seven formal offers and one expression of interest were received, and the offer from Dickie Ambion Bryant was recently approved by the board. As missives of sale have not yet been concluded, it would be inappropriate to reveal price details.

  East End Leisure Centre, Shettleston
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial contribution the Glasgow Development Agency is making to the proposed Fast End leisure centre in Shettleston constituency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: It is for the local enterprise company to decide what, if any, contribution it wishes to make towards a particular project. I understand Glasgow Development Agency has, at present, no plans to make any financial contribution towards the East End leisure centre.
  713

  East Kilbride Development Corporation
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library documents from 1989 onwards relating to the agreed redundancy arrangements applying to staff employed by East Kilbride development corporation.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]:It is not normal practice for copies of correspondence between the Secretary of State or his officials and third parties to be made public.

  Specialist Medical Examinations
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average length of time which elapses between a general practitioner's recommendation for specialist

  Average lengths of wait (days)1 for first consultant outpatient appointment, by specialty and health board of residence: quarter ending 30 September 19932

  Specialty

  Scotland

  Argyll and Clyde

  Ayr and Arran

  Borders

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Fife

  Forth Valley

  Grampian

  Adolescent psychiatry

  32

  60

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  21

  Anaesthetics

  84

  86

  52

  ..

  ..

  127

  62

  32

  Cardiology

  50

  52

  52

  35

  ..

  48

  36

  57

  Child psychiatry

  62

  75

  26

  27

  ..

  ..

  24

  54

  Clinical genetic

  36

  ..

  42

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  26

  Communicable diseases

  16

  ..

  13

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Dermatology

  55

  52

  53

  48

  47

  59

  73

  60

  ENT surgery

  58

  61

  51

  60

  60

  73

  44

  57

  Gastroenterology

  51

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  34

  ..

  57

  General medicine

  38

  46

  52

  28

  35

  49

  45

  37

  General surgery

  38

  31

  40

  45

  38

  54

  33

  39

  Geriatric assessment

  15

  11

  40

  ..

  11

  21

  27

  11

  Gynaecology

  43

  35

  50

  29

  69

  46

  54

  46

  Haematology

  16

  18

  14

  ..

  ..

  23

  11

  11

  Homeopathy

  144

  162

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Medical oncology

  11

  ..

  ..

  —

  —

  ..

  ..

  15

  Medical paediatrics

  44

  28

  56

  29

  41

  56

  35

  52

  Mental handicap

  20

  ..

  ..

  —

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Mental illness

  29

  27

  43

  16

  8

  35

  36

  21

  Metabolic disease

  38

  35

  ..

  ..

  —

  39

  ..

  44

  Nephrology

  45

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  18

  Neurology

  63

  53

  62

  68

  42

  78

  55

  50

  Neurosurgery

  48

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  43

  ..

  25

  Obstetrics—specialist antena

  23

  20

  13

  30

  33

  18

  20

  27

  Obstetrics—specialist postna

  ..

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  ..

  Ophthalmology

  57

  45

  72

  84

  37

  56

  52

  51

  Oral surgery and oral medicine

  42

  43

  80

  101

  133

  65

  51

  79

  Orthodontics and paediatric dent

  92

  127

  91

  66

  122

  108

  49

  117

  Orthopaedic surgery

  46

  58

  36

  30

  87

  50

  38

  65

  Specialty

  Greater Glasgow

  Highland

  Lanarkshire

  Lothian

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Tayside

  Western Isles

  Adolescent psychiatry

  ..

  —

  —

  30

  —

  —

  ..

  —

  Anaesthetics

  96

  ..

  72

  ..

  —

  —

  122

  ..

  Cardiology

  51

  ..

  62

  34

  —

  —

  92

  ..

  Child psychiatry

  70

  —

  134

  —

  ..

  ..

  72

  —

  Clinical genetic

  46

  ..

  34

  46

  —

  ..

  —

  ..

  Communicable diseases

  18

  ..

  18

  14

  —

  —

  ..

  —

  Dermatology

  55

  58

  49

  59

  ..

  31

  46

  64

  ENT surgery

  59

  46

  67

  56

  25

  28

  51

  27

  Gastroenterology

  77

  —

  72

  30

  —

  —

  32

  —

  General medicine

  34

  36

  39

  23

  16

  40

  32

  24

  General surgery

  38

  45

  35

  39

  9

  22

  32

  13

  Geriatric assessment

  14

  23

  14

  11

  —

  —

  7

  —

  Gynaecology

  55

  41

  45

  34

  27

  40

  25

  29

  Haematology

  20

  ..

  20

  11

  —

  ..

  22

  —

  Homeopathy

  131

  ..

  146

  ..

  —

  —

  ..

  —

  Medical oncology

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  —

  —

  ..

  —

  Medical paediatrics

  53

  51

  47

  27

  ..

  ..

  48

  ..

  Mental handicap

  —

  ..

  ..

  ..

  —

  —

  25

  —

  714
  investigation and the effecting of such consultations in each health board or health trust area in Scotland, in each specialty.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: Information on the average waiting time for first corporation. out-patient consultations in the main specialties following GP referrals is set out in the "NHS Patient Treatment and Waiting Time Bulletin". Copies of the bulletin, which is published quarterly, may be found in the Library of the House.

  The following table sets out the average waiting time for each specialty:
  715

  Specially

  Greater Glasgow

  Highland

  Lanarkshire

  Lothian

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Tayside

  Western Isles

  Mental illness

  45

  18

  28

  20

  ..

  ..

  17

  ..

  Metabolic disease

  39

  58

  46

  29

  —

  ..

  24

  —

  Nephrology

  56

  ..

  ..

  ..

  —

  —

  ..

  —

  Neurology

  59

  ..

  79

  64

  ..

  ..

  92

  ..

  Neurosurgery

  74

  33

  81

  41

  —

  —

  62

  ..

  Obstetrics—specialist antena

  24

  20

  18

  28

  ..

  ..

  21

  39

  Obstetrics—specialist postna

  ..

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ophthalmology

  73

  80

  47

  70

  26

  60

  31

  35

  Oral surgery and oral medicine

  27

  84

  29

  42

  ..

  ..

  18

  ..

  Orthodontics and paediatric dent

  73

  100

  107

  87

  ..

  ..

  37

  ..

  Orthopaedic surgery

  43

  64

  44

  39

  20

  52

  47

  52

  Sporting Rates
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he received from Scottish Natural Heritage on the abolition of sporting rates in Scotland; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: None.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the cost, by local authority area, of abolishing sporting rates in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: There will be no cost to local authorities due to the loss of non-domestic rate income following the abolition of sporting rates in Scotland. Through the aggregate external finance mechanism any NDRI forgone will be compensated by an increase in revenue support grant.

TRANSPORT

  West London Railway Line
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ask Railtrack to undertake studies into alternative routes to the west London railway line for freight traffic to and from the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am asking Railtrack to carry out a study of the proposal to route international freight trains via the North Downs route when it takes over responsibility for the infrastructure in April 1994.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits for 1993–94.

  Mr. Macgregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on Thursday 24 February 1994,Official Report, column 324.

  London, Tilbury and Southend Line
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the ministerial statement of March concerning closure of Fenchurch Street station for seven weeks in the summer,Official Report, column 1220, what alternative services, or what recommended means, will be
  716
  available to passengers wishing (a) to use the London, Tilbury and Southend line to and from Limehouse station and (b) to interchange at that station to and from stations on the docklands light railway.

  Mr. Freeman
  Fenchurch Street and Limehouse stations on the London, Tilbury and Southend line will be closed from 22 July to 12 September. I understand that, during the closure, LT and S passengers wishing to travel from Limehouse into the City of London will be able to do so using the docklands light railway. Passengers wishing to transfer to the docklands light railway will be able to change to the London Underground District line at Barking and then to the docklands light railway at Bow Road—Bow Church. LT and S services terminating at Liverpool Street will call at Stratford where there is also an interchange with the docklands light railway.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the ministerial statement of 17 March concerning the seven week closure of Fenchurch Street station this summer,Official Report, column 1220, over what period of time the re-signalling and track re-laying programme, costing £83 million, could be accomplished on the basis of withdrawal of all trains between Barking and Fenchurch Street on weekends only from 21.00 hours on Friday until 06.00 hours on Monday; and what withdrawal of services, other than those already announced, he expects east of Barking in this respect during the remainder of 1994 and in 1995.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is impossible to undertake the required resignalling work between Fenchurch Street and Barking at weekends and at night in a safe manner. It involves the complete removal of the tracks into Fenchurch Street.

  The full scheme will involve a programme of works in 1995 both east and west of Barking. LT and S management cannot predict at present what further changes to the service may be necessary before the resignalling scheme is complete.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the ministerial statement of 17 March concerning closure of Fenchurch Street station for seven weeks this summer,Official Report, column 1220, how many passengers travel (a) to Fenchurch Street from Barking via West Ham on the London, Tilbury line between 07.00 hours and 10.00 hours on a normal weekday morning and (b) westbound on the District line to central London via West Ham on that line between 07.00 hours and 10.00 hours on a weekday morning in August; how many in (a) above are expected, during closure of the line

  717
  from Barking to Fenchurch Street, to add to those travelling as in (b) above; how many are expected to travel by trains direct from Barking to Liverpool Street; what is the planned capacity provided over those times; how many additional passengers are expected on services on the Great Eastern line between Southend and Stratford; and what is his estimate on the reduction in demand in (a) above from 22 July to 9 September this year.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Approximately 3,000 passengers join trains at Barking for Fenchurch Street station on the London, Tilbury and Southend line—LT and S—between 07.00 and 10.00 hours on a weekday morning in August. Many of these have changed from the District line.

  This information is not available in the form requested. London Underground says that, in spring 1990, the latest period for which figures are available, 30,500 people each weekday travelled westbound on the District and Hammersmith and City lines between Plaistow and West Ham during the morning peak.

  During the closure of Fenchurch Street station, several alternative travel options for LT and S passengers will be available: to change at Barking on to the London Underground District line, to travel to Liverpool Street on the London, Tilbury and Southend line or to travel to Liverpool Street on the Great Eastern line. It is not possible to predict precisely which options passengers will choose. However, extensive research is being undertaken to forecast traffic flows and the likely level of passengers who will transfer at Barking. London, Tilbury and Southend management will consult the Southend Rail Travellers Association before publishing a temporary timetable at the end of April.

  Planned capacity is as follows:
  There will be approximately 960 seats every 12 minutes from the Southend Borough West, Benfleet, Pitsea and Basildon to Liverpool Street. There will be 620 seats every 12 minutes from Southend Borough calling at all stations to Balking. There will be 620 seats every 12 minutes from Pitsea to Barking via Tilbury.

  There is usually a 13 per cent. seasonal reduction in passenger numbers in July and August, but owing to the closure it is expected that this will increase to 20 or 30 percent.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the ministerial statement of 17 March concerning the closure of Fenchurch Street station for seven weeks this summer,Official Report, column 1220, how many additional trains will be run by London Underground between Upminster or Barking and central London during weekday mornings and evening peak hours—between 07.00 hours and 10.00 hours and 16.00 hours and 19.00—during those weeks; and what number and proportion of timetabled trains outside those periods on those days, and on Saturdays and Sundays, respectively, will be run direct from Barking into and out of Liverpool Street station.

  Mr. Norris
  The eastern section of London Underground's District line already operates at full capacity during the peak periods, leaving no possibility of additional services during the seven weeks' closure of Fenchurch Street station. The frequency of peak hour services from Barking on the Hammersmith and City line 718
  will double from four to eight trains per hour, when London Underground Ltd. introduces new timetables in May. LUL has no plans to run Hammersmith and City line services to or from Barking outside peak hours.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the additional bus services planned by the management of the London, Tilbury and Southend line and management between stations on that line and Great Eastern stations; and how many additional trains will be run at peak hours during that period from either Southend or Shenfield into Liverpool Street station.

  Mr. Freeman
  Fenchurch Street station will be closed for seven weeks during the summer. London, Tilbury and Southend line management are working closely with local user groups to determine the best use of bus services between LT and S stations and nearby alternatives on the Great Eastern line. They are examining routes between Laindon and Billericay, Basildon and Wickford and the Leigh area to Rayleigh. LT and S management believe that many passengers will make their way to Southend Victoria, Prittlewell and Rayleigh where they will be able to travel to Liverpool Street on the Great Eastern line.

  Two trains an hour from Southend Victoria via Shenfield will be strengthened from eight to 12 cars to provide additional capacity. Colchester trains will call additionally at Romford where a short branch line connects the Great Eastern with the LT and S at Upminster.

  Owing to limited track and platform capacity it will not be possible to run additional trains into Liverpool Street.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decisions relating to(a) issuing and inspection of tickets, (b) passenger services, (c) signalling and safety and (d) platform allocation will be taken by (i) private commercial management of mainline London railway stations, (ii) the franchisees or (iii) Railtrack.

  Mr. Freeman
  Station operators will normally be responsible for(a). Franchisees and open access operators will be responsible for (b). Railtrack will have overall responsibility for (c) although all operators will be required to conform with its safety case. Station access agreements will cover (d).

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what activities he will open to the London mainline railway stations under private commercial management that could not have been activated by the British Railways Board.

  Mr. Freeman
  Private sector management of mainline stations in London and elsewhere will ensure that the commercial potential of such stations is more fully developed than under public sector ownership and management. Private sector management will also help to provide a more attractive environment for passengers and greater responsiveness to customer requirements at such stations.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to whether passenger transport authorities making payments to Railtrack from 1 April will have sufficient information about the basis of the charges to meet the statutory criteria required by their auditors; and if he will make a statement.
  719
  Mr. Freeman
  Passenger transport authorities, through the passenger transport executives, will not be making payments direct to Railtrack for the access charges attributable to their rail services, but will be paying the subsidy required by BR to run the trains. BR, in turn, will pay access charges to Railtrack.

  I understand Railtrack has been discussing with the passenger transport authorities the composition of the access charges for their services. I have no reason to believe that the passenger transport authorities will have insufficient information to meet the statutory criteria required by their auditors.

  Donaldson Inquiry
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to make public the findings of the Donaldson inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend expects to publish the report of Lord Donaldson's inquiry during May.

  Sleeper Services
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instruct the franchising director to include sleeper services on the Night West Countryman and the Night Riviera in the contract with train operating companies.

  Mr. Freeman
  The sleeper services on the Night West Countryman and the Night Riviera are included in the existing timetable. The objectives, instructions and guidance issued to the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising on 22 March by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State included an instruction to the effect that, for the initial letting of franchises, the specification of minimum service levels for railway passenger services is to be based on that being provided by British Rail immediately prior to franchising, taking into account the existence of, and justification for, seasonal variations in service schedules.

  Road Construction
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of published research into the role of road construction in stimulating economic regeneration in the areas concerned.

  Mr. Key
  The conclusion to be drawn from published research is that in general there is no clear evidence for specific regeneration effects. The main likely reasons for this are that local or regional economic problems are varied and seldom specifically related to lack of adequate access by road, that road improvements help traffic in both directions, and therefore can help importers to a region as much as exporters from it, and that labour employed on road improvements does not necessarily come from the immediate area. However, road schemes taken forward by the Department of Transport or by local authorities with Department of Transport assistance show healthy economic benefits, principally from time and cost savings to local and through traffic. Their planning takes into account any appropriate regeneration or economic development measures that are proposed for the areas affected.
  720

  Second Tamar Bridge
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for a second Tamar bridge which also crosses the Tavy; when he expects to make an announcement about these proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The consultants who undertook a study of the feasibility of a new Tamar crossing advised that a new crossing is likely to be needed by the turn of the century. Their report was published in June 1993 and comments were invited on the four possible routes which had been identified. One of these, the purple route, would cross both the River Tamar and the River Tavy.

  I am considering the responses to the consultation before deciding if, when and how the proposal for a new Tamar crossing should be taken forward.

  Signposting
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review legislation on the size and display of public and private signs.

  Mr. Key
  We will shortly be placing before Parliament updated traffic signs regulations and general directions. These will offer a much wider range of signs than before—and of circumstances in which they can be used—and so reduce the need for traffic authorities to seek special authorisations from my Department, thereby substantially reducing bureaucracy. As a separate exercise we recently invited the views of a wide range of organisations on the procedures currently in place for approving the use of white-on-brown tourist signs. I am now considering how the procedures might be changed in the light of the responses to this consultation.

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been asked, since June 1992, to submit names of individuals to be considered for appointments to paid and upaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. Norris
  Names of candidates for appointments are obtained from the public appointments unit and from a wide range of other sources such as those described in section 4 of the Cabinet Office guide on public appointments procedures, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information on which bodies have been invited to submit names for particular appointments is not held centrally and could be assembled in respect of all appointments made by my right hon. Friend only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information his Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in(a) extreme left-wing organisations, (b) extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons;
  721
  (2) what procedures his Department has to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend does not seek information on involvement in political activities when considering candidates for public appointments, and no such information is held centrally within the Department. Where the rules on political activities referred to in paragraph 7.2 and annexe 7A of the Cabinet Office guide on public appointments procedures apply, they are drawn to the candidate's attention when the appointment is offered. It is then for the individual to decide whether to accept the appointment on these terms.

  London Buses (Privatisation)
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received from London regional Transport, London Buses Ltd or any other organisation on the expected change in bus mileage in the capital following privatisation of London Buses Ltd.

  Mr. Norris
  After privatisation of London Buses Ltd., London Transport will continue to be responsible for the general level of provision of bus services. It has no plans to make significant changes to its bus network. However, it intends to give bus operators the opportunity to increase service frequencies, if they wish, to make their services more responsive to the needs of their passengers.

  Continental Time
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what evidence his Department has as to the extra costs imposed upon United Kingdom(a) airlines, (b) ferry operators and (c) train operators by the one hour time difference between the United Kingdom and continental Europe;

  (2) what representations he has received from United Kingdom airlines, ferry operators and train operators regarding the one-hour time difference between the United Kingdom and continental Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  We have received representations from British Rail and British Airways on this issue. Both organisations have drawn attention to the reduced costs and other benefits which would result from harmonisation of United Kingdom and continental European time. I believe that the chamber of shipping takes a similar view.

  The Council of Ministers has recently adopted a common position on a Commission proposal to harmonise the end-date of summertime throughout the Community from 1996. The case for a move to single-double summertime in the United Kingdom is currently under consideration and I expect a conclusion to be reached shortly.

  Vocational Drivers
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 102, if he will list the reasons why certain offences will no longer be categorised as requiring disciplinary hearings after reorganisation.

  Mr. Key
  There has never been any requirement for drivers who have been convicted of offences by the courts 722
  to be called in addition to public inquiry by a traffic commissioner; offences involving more than six penalty points have, however, hitherto been referred routinely to the traffic commissioners, who have had discretion to call drivers to inquiry and, especially in cases involving disqualification, often did so. Under the new guidelines, traffic commissioners are recommended not to call to inquiry drivers who have received first-time disqualifications of 12 months or less, but to deal with such cases by warning letter. In addition, drivers who have received only very short disqualifications or penalty points short of a disqualification will no longer be routinely referred to the traffic commissioners for possible action unless the penalty points result from alcohol or drug-related offences.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 102, if he will list the categories of offences of the driver disciplinary hearings held in the last 12 months, giving details.

  Mr. Key
  During the last 12 months there have been approximately 9,000 individual disciplinary hearings for vocational drivers. Information on the category of offences on each of these hearings could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Railway Staff Redundancies
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the statutory requirements on the railway industry of operating with due regard to economy, efficiency and safety continue to be fulfilled in the light of redundancies and early retirements which have taken place since January 1993.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am satisfied that the railway industry will continue to fulfil all its statutory requirements in line with the objectives I have set and will continue to set.

  Motor Cyclists (Leg Protectors)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has commissioned on leg protectors for motorcyclists.

  Mr. Key
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 March to a question from the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer)Official Report, column 107.

  Barkby and Beeby Bypass
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any route has been approved by his Department for a new eastern bypass near the Leicestershire villages of Barkby and Beeby.

  Mr. Key
  No. The work done so far has just identified the broad corridor through which the proposed Leicester eastern bypass would be likely to run.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the status of the plans to build a new Leicestershire eastern bypass near the villages of Barkby and Beeby.

  Mr. Key
  Along with all trunk road schemes in the national roads programme, the future of the Leicester eastern bypass is under review. The outcome of the review should be known shortly but until then it is not possible to comment on the status of any individual scheme.
  723

  Accidents (Young People)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish tables covering the last three years showing the number of accidents to 17 and 18-year-olds who had passed their driving test within one and two years before an accident.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is not available.

  Civil Servants
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department the number of(a) male and (b) female, (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: I am placing copies of the information requested in the Library.

  Compensation Payments
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether he has discharged his responsibilities under section 52 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 in respect of a Woolwich constituent, Department of Transport, Ref. N/PSO/21676/93; what progress he can report subsequent to his letter to the hon. Member for Woolwich of 24 November 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The Secretary of State has considered his responsibilities under section 52 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 in respect of the hon. Member's constituent and he is satisfied they have been discharged. Agreement has been reached with the hon. Member's constituent for all the outstanding mortgages to be discharged. Officials will shortly seek agreement with the mortgagees of the hon. Member's constituent to complete this process.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the administrative cost of disallowing income support for one day in the case of applicants who absent themselves from the United Kingdom for one day.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It is not possible to give an accurate estimate as such costs are wholly dependent on the circumstances of each individual case.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single people with no dependants who work between 16 and 24 hours a week are now excluded from entitlement to income support.

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

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the maximum number of taught hours an unemployed adult can undertake without affecting his entitlement to family income support;
  724
  (2) what assessment he has made of the move of the Further Education Funding Council to mode 3 learning; to what extent the concept of full-time or part-time course or student still applies; and if he will make it his policy that that concept should not be used by his Department in determining eligibility for benefit.

  Mr. Hague
  People aged 19 or over but under pension age who are attending a full-time course at an educational establishment are not entitled to income support other than in a limited number of circumstances.

  People attending a part-time course may under certain circumstances continue to receive IS but only if the course is not more than 21 hours.

  The Further Education Funding Council's new funding methodology is concerned solely with the distribution of recurrent funding to colleges in the FE sector. It will not affect entitlement to social security benefits.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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.

  Mr. Hague
  For those executive and advisory bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1993", 4 per cent. of new appointments last year were from an ethnic minority. Ethnic origin details are given in confidence and names cannot be divulged.

  The information requested is not readily available for the independent tribunal service and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Industrial Disablement Benefit
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances a medical question in respect of a claim for industrial disablement benefit should be determined by more than one adjudicating medical practitioner; what standing instructions there are to officers acting on his behalf on when and how to apply regulation 29(1)(d) of the Social Security (Adjudication) Regulations 1986; and if he will place a copy of those instructions in the Library.

  Mr. Scott
  Medical questions must be referred to, and determined by, more than one adjudicating medical practitioner in the case of:

  (a) any question arising on an application for the review of a decision on the grounds that:

  (i) the decision was given in ignorance of, or based on a mistake as to, a material fact; or

  (ii)there has been an error of law;

  (b) any other case which, in the opinion of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, should be determined by more than one adjudicating medical practitioner.

  There are no standing instructions on the application of regulation 29(1)(d), but guidance is issued to adjudicating medical authorities.

  Industrial Injuries
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the level of administrative costs for the industrial injuries scheme as a proportion of all benefit paid under the scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  The cost is estimated as 9·6 per cent.
  725

  Disability Working Allowance
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 782, if he will publish the reasons for the low level of take-up of the disability working allowance before the completion of the research, commissioned by his Department, in October 1996.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so.

  Benefit Tourism
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the countries whose Governments have made representations concerning his proposals to tackle benefit tourism.

  Mr. Hague
  The Republic of Ireland.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Proton cars were purchased by his Department in each year since 1988 for which inforrnation is available; and at what cost.

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Pensioners (Benefit Loss)
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security from what date the benefit loss to a pensioner was set at £1 per £250 of savings.

  Mr. Hague
  The formula applied for taking account of capital above £3,000 in the income-related benefits was introduced in April 1988. In housing benefit and council tax benefit, however, the effect of the tapers which apply to those benefits means that housing benefit is reduced by only 65p and council tax benefit by only 20p for each £1 above a set level.

  Residence Test
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what representations he has received expressing concern at the Government's new residence test; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the points raised by the Irish in Britain's representation group concerning the economic effects of the new residence test proposals on immigrant Irish youth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  Proposals for the introduction of a habitual residence test into income support, housing benefit and the council tax benefit are before the Social Security Advisory Committee. Representations are currently being considered by the committee, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will receive their report in due course.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to change the way in which assumed amounts of national insurance contributions are calculated in determining the net amount of estimated earnings and bonus and commission payments in the assessment of family credit and disability working allowance entitlement.
  726
  Mr. Burt
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State laid before Parliament on 10 March 1994 amendments to the family credit and disability working allowance regulations on the calculation of these assumed amounts. Because of the difficulty of ascertaining the actual rate of contribution for which the person would be liable, it has been the practice to make all the calculations at the rate applicable to a person who is not contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme. This was considered to be within the terms of regulations 20, 20A and 26 of the Family Credit (General) Regulations 1987, and regulations 22, 23 and 29 of the Disability Working Allowance (General) Regulations 1991, but recent legal advice is that they do not permit this. In consequence, overpayments have occurred since the introduction of the schemes, in April 1988 and April 1992 respectively, amounting to a total of about £725,000. The cost of the administrative arrangements which would be required to prevent the overpayments would be well in excess of the amounts overpaid. The regulations are therefore being amended urgently to regularise the situation and, in the meantime, the additional payments are continuing to be made on an ex-gratia basis. A note will be included in the relevant appropriation account.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals there were against invalidity benefit being removed in the Doncaster area in the last 12 months; and what was the figure for the previous 12 months.

  Mr. Scott
  This is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 28 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about appeals against removal of Invalidity Benefit (IVB) in Doncaster.The information is not available in the exact format requested. This is because Benefit Agency District boundaries do not correspond with county or borough boundaries. Part of the Doncaster postal area falls within that covered by the Mexborough Branch Office of the Agency's Rother and Deame District.The Agency's Doncaster District, comprising Doncaster West District Office and Doncaster East Branch Office deals with the remainder of the Doncaster postal area.Statistics are maintained to show the number of appeals received at each office. Within these figures it is possible to identify the number of appeals against removal of IVB.
  The number of appeals received at each office against removal of IVB received for people in the Doncaster area were as follows:

  Number

  Doncaster West District Office from 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  34

  Doncaster East Branch Office from 1 August 1992 to 31 March 1993

  41

  Mexborough Branch Office from 23 March 1992 to 22 March 1993

  24

  Information is required to be kept for 18 months and is not available for Doncaster East Branch Office between 1 April 1992 and 31 July 1992.
  727

  Number

  Doncaster West District Office from 1 April 1993 to 22 March 1994

  172

  Doncaster East Branch Office from 1 April 1993 to 22 March 1994

  167

  Mexborough Branch Office from 23 March 1993 to 22 March 1994

  68

  The information for Mexborough only includes those people resident in the Doncaster postal district.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Prosecutions
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many prosecutions were instigated by his Department in the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 by nature of offence, the number of convictions, the number of custodial sentences and the financial penalties levied.

  Mr. Hague
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 March 1994, columns 167–68]: The totals shown in the table should read as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1990–91

  8,336

  1991–92

  4,618

  1992–93

  5,902

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were(a) the start-up costs, (b) the running costs and (c) the moneys recovered from absent parents in the first year of the Child Support Agency; and what was the target sum for (c).

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

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Frank Field, dated 28 March 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the costs of the Child Support Agency and the money recovered by the Agency.The total cost of setting up the Agency was around £146 million. This figure includes the 1992–93 cost of liable relative work, transferred in April 1992 from the Benefits Agency to the Child Support Unit, as the shadow Agency was known before its launch in April 1993. The running costs for the Agency in 1993–94 are estimated at £97·8 million.The Agency was set a target to recover £530 million in benefit savings in the financial year 1993–94. To 31 January 1994, £250 million had been recorded as recovered. This does not represent the total amount of savings during the period as some will be scored restrospectively.I hope this is helpful.
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the operation of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Child Support Agency was introduced to ensure that parents meet their responsibility for the financial maintenance of their children where they can afford to do so. It replaced an inconsistent, often unreliable system which resulted in a drastic decline in maintenance payments over the past decade.
  728
  There is already the right of appeal to an independent tribunal against a decision of a child support officer on the basis of an incorrect application of the formula.

DEFENCE

  RAF Personnel Management Centre
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 March,Official Report, column 394, what was the cost of refurbishment to the personal residence of the air officer commanding the RAF personnel management centre, Innsworth.

  Mr. Hanley
  The current air officer commanding the personnel management centre at RAF Innsworth vacated his official residence, Haymes Garth, in May 1992. That was to allow it to be refurbished for the air officer commander in chief of the new RAF personnel and training command. Since May 1992, the existing air officer commanding has been living in his own private residence. The value of the work being carried out at Haymes Garth is estimated at around £260,000 and includes substantial expenditure on repairs to the roof, on rewiring and re-plumbing.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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.

  Mr. Hanley
  No Asians or black people were appointed to MOD non-departmental public bodies during 1993.

  David Hart
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role and status David Hart has in his Department; what are his terms and conditions of employment; and when he was appointed.

  Mr. Hanley'
  Mr. Hart is not an employee of the Ministry of Defence. He is one of a number of people who provide unpaid advice to my right hon. and learned Friend from time to time. He has carried out this role since July 1993.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 752, if he will now give the same information for south Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I did not visit south Yorkshire on that date.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out on the possible cumulative effect of low flying sorties on the hearing of young infants; and if he will make a statement on their findings.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department has not carried out specific research into the cumulative effect of low flying
  729
  sorties on the hearing of young infants. In 1990, however, we commissioned a study to review the available information on any possible relationship between aircraft noise and hearing loss. The review included consideration of research reports of possible hearing loss in children due to aircraft noise. A copy of the report was placed in the Library of the House—university of Southampton institute of sound and vibration research, "Risk to Hearing from Overflight Noise of Military Aircraft".

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying sorties have been conducted over mainland Britain for every year since 1979(a) above 250 ft, (b) between 100 and 250 ft and (c) below 100 ft.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total numbers of sorties booked in the United Kingdom low flying system—UKLFS—for each year since 1979 are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1979

  1108,860

  1980

  1122,851

  1981

  1131,841

  1982

  1130,313

  1983

  1127,683

  1984

  133,519

  1985

  141,762

  1986

  151,164

  1987

  147,661

  1988

  151,291

  1989

  144,323

  1990

  141,390

  1991

  127,400

  1992

  131,464

  1993

  119,410

  1 Before 1984 sorties were not recorded, but have been estimated from the number of movements into individual low flying areas.

  Central records are not maintained of the heights at which low flying sorties are flown. Information is, however, available on operational low flying—OLF—which is flying by fixed-wing military aircraft below 250 ft and down to 100 ft and which may only take place in three tactical training areas—TTAs—in central Wales, northern Scotland and the borders. Details of OLF sorties are not available, but the total numbers of movements authorized into the TTAs in each year since 1979 are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1979

  787

  1980

  797

  1981

  660

  1982

  240

  1983

  1,922

  1984

  1,007

  1985

  476

  1986

  1,200

  1987

  1,386

  1988

  2,115

  1989

  2,694

  1990

  6,027

  1991

  1,814

  1992

  3,220

  1993

  3,049

  The figures from 1988 onwards reflect the division of the borders TTA into east and west sectors. Movements for the two sectors were counted separately so that sorties which crossed the border between the two sectors
  730
  generated additional movements; this led to an overstatement of the amount of activity in comparison with earlier years. The division between the two sectors was removed in October 1993. Analysis of the figures which show OLF movements on the basis of treating the borders TTA as a single area give revised figures from 1991 onwards as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1991

  1,050

  1992

  2,026

  1993

  1,874

  Note: Revised figures for 1988–90 are not available.

  OLF may be authorised down to a minimum level of 100 ft but records do not distinguish between movements flown below 250 ft and at 100 ft.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the total number and type of low flying exercises that have been conducted over Britain since 1979; if he will account for each significant change since 1990; and if he will describe future plans during 1994.

  Mr. Hanley
  Central records of all low flying exercises in the United Kingdom are not held. There have been no significant changes in the broad pattern of exercise activity in the United Kingdom since 1990, and none are anticipated during 1994.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid out in compensation to farmers in Wales for loss of livestock, abortion and loss of production caused by low flying aircraft during each year since 1990.

  Mr. Hanley
  Since 1990 the Ministry of Defence has paid out the following amounts in compensation to farmers in Wales to cover livestock-related losses caused by low flying military aircraft:

  Year

  £

  1990

  47,953

  1991

  59,159

  1992

  33,152

  1993

  29,999

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the geographical area included in the central Wales tactical training area.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Welsh tactical training area comprises the south-west portion of Montgomery, the north-west corner of Brecon and Radnor, the north-east corner of Carmarthen and north Pembroke. The area, which is designated low flying area 7T, is shown on the copy of the map of the day low flying system which is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the total number of low flying sorties that have crossed the terrain of the Carmarthen constituency (1) on average per year from 1979 to 1991, (2) during 1992 and (3) during 1993.

  Mr. Hanley
  Although records are maintained of the total number of sorties flown in the United Kingdom low flying system, it is not possible to estimate the number of sorties flown over particular locations.
  731
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations have been received by his Department against low flying aircraft during each year since 1979.

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of inquiries and complaints received by my Department about low flying in each year since 1979 are as allows:

  Year

  Number

  1979

  4,004

  1980

  3,365

  1981

  4,502

  1982

  3,304

  1983

  5,164

  1984

  5,609

  1985

  4,206

  1986

  5,304

  1987

  5,695

  1988

  5,763

  1989

  8,057

  1990

  7,130

  1991

  4,846

  1992

  6,295

  1993

  5,738

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what form of warning is given to farmers and residents of mid and west Wales prior to Royal Air Force test flights scheduled to fly in their area at altitudes below 250 ft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  All low flying below 250 ft and down to 100 ft in Wales by fixed wing military aircraft takes place in the Welsh tactical training area—TTA. Each month my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence notifies hon. Members in the areas affected of the planned usage of the TTA.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum height at which low flying takes place(a) in the central Wales tactical training area, (b) in the rest of Wales and (c) in the rest of Britain.

  Mr. Hanley
  Fixed-wing military aircraft, except light propeller-driven aircraft, are permitted to fly to a minimum height of 100 ft in the tactical training areas in central Wales, northern Scotland and the borders. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom low flying system the minimum height is 250 ft.

  Light propeller-driven aircraft are permitted to fly to a minimum height of 50 ft. There is no minimum height restriction for helicopters.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's officials are involved in the selling of British arms to other European NATO countries outside the Western European Union.

  Mr. Aitken
  Taking into account associate membership of the WEU, there are no European NATO countries outside the WEU.

  Pregnant Personnel
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current employment policies when female personnel in the armed forces become pregnant.
  732
  Mr. Hanley
  Service women who become pregnant can choose either to take a period of up to 48 weeks maternity leave and return to duty, or if they prefer, to leave the armed forces. Those who choose to leave can apply to re-enter subsequently if they wish.

  Child Care
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent child care facilities are made available to personnel in the armed forces.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 January,Official Report, column 940.

  Female Personnel
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the percentage of female personnel in each of the armed forces.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Service

  Percentage of Female Personnel (as at 1 January 1994)

  Royal Navy

  7·6

  Army

  5·7

  Royal Air Force

  8·5

  Porton Down
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 March,Official Report, columns 392–93, what were the cash outturns at 1992–93 prices for the chemical and biological establishment at Porton Down for each financial year between 1969 and 1979.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 29 March 1994:
  Parliamentary Question 3, Order Paper 24 March 1994
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking pursuant to the answer of 10 March, Official Report, columns 392–3 what were the cash outturns at 1992–93 prices for this Establishment for each financial year between 1969 and 1979 has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The cash outturns for 1975–76 to 1978–79 at 1992–93 price levels are as follows:

  Outturn at 1992–93 Price Levels

  Year

  £ million

  1975–76

  18·7

  1976–77

  17·0

  1977–78

  15·8

  1978–79

  13·5

  I regret that the cash outturns for 1969–70 to 1974–75 are not readily available.
  733

  Air Cadets
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the representations he has received about the future of the Air Cadets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 3 March,Official Report, column 871.

EDUCATION

  Examination League Tables
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has concerning the publication of examination league tables this year.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend is currently considering the responses to consultation on the content and format of the 1994 school and college performance tables. He intends to build on the considerable success of previous years' tables and is minded, as in 1993, to publish in November two sets of booklets, covering secondary schools and institutions catering for students aged 16 to 18. He has also proposed that the secondary school tables should, for the first time, include data on authorised absence as well as on unauthorised absence from school, and information on the length of the taught week.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received on the funding of teacher salary increases within local management of school budgets.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has received comments on the funding of teacher salary increases for 1994–95 from the teacher unions, local authority associations and others who were invited to comment on his proposals for implementing the recommendations of the school teachers' review body. A further 70 letters have been received from individual LEAs, head teachers and governors.

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Gulbenkian Foundation survey of discretionary awards will be published.

  Mr. Boswell
  Although publication is not in the Government's hands, I understand that, in order to avoid publication at the beginning of the Easter break, the survey's steering committee has now decided to publish the report on 8 April.

  Direct Grant Schools
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what applications for capital spending he has received from direct grant schools on Merseyside for the year up to 1 April; and what allowance has been made by his Department to those schools during the same period.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to capital bids by self-governing—grant-maintained—schools for 1993–94. One such school on 734
  Merseyside received a named project allocation totalling £750,000. Emergency grants totalling £188,000 have also been made to schools on Merseyside in the same period.

  Nursery Education
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to expand nursery provision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the provision of private sector nursery education and its relationship to state nursery education provisions.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to extend nursery education to all four and five-year-olds whose parents want it.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recommendations he has for nursery education.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Over 90 per cent. of three and four-year-olds already receive some form of pre-school provision, whether in maintained nursery and primary schools or in playgroups or elsewhere in the private sector. Our policy is to promote diversity, choice, quality and cost-effectiveness. We are currently reviewing possible ways of extending opportunities still further for the under fives, as resources allow. We will announce our conclusions when we are ready.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the educational and social benefits of nursery education.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 17 February at columns 934–35.

  School Places (Portsmouth)
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from Hampshire local education authority concerning school places in Portsmouth.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Public Examinations (Course Work)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about the role of course work in GCSE.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend is clear that the proportion of course work assessment must be appropriate to the type of qualification and to the knowledge, skills and understanding that are being tested. He recognises that some aspects of achievement are better assessed through course work than through terminal examination.

  Medical Students (Financial Support)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to special provision of further financial support for medical students and others on four and five-year degree courses; and if he will make a statement.
  735
  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer told the House on 30 November 1993 that the total support available to students through the mandatory maintenance grant and the student loan would rise by 4 per cent. in 1994–95. The same annual rates of grant and loans apply to all students irrespective of their course length. We have no plans to change that arrangement.

  Truancy
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the principal findings of the tables on truancy published last year by his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  The tables published in November 1993 found that significant amounts of valuable learning time are being lost due to unauthorised absence; 12 per cent. of all pupils in primary and in secondary schools had been absent without authority in the period covered by the tables. An average of 12 half-days were lost by every absent primary school pupil and 24 half-days were lost by every absent secondary pupil. Rates of unauthorised absence varied widely between individual LEAs and schools.

  Grade

  Number of women

  Percentage women

  Number of ethnics

  Percentage ethnics

  Number of disabled

  Percentage disabled

  Grade 1

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 2

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 3

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 4

  1

  25·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 5

  12

  26·1

  0

  0·0

  1

  2·2

  Grade 6

  2

  13·3

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 7

  44

  28·8

  4

  2·6

  1

  0·7

  TOTAL IN DFE

  1,309

  58·4

  164

  7·3

  63

  2·9

  There were other staff in the Department with disabilities who chose not to register and are not therefore included in the figures.

  These figures include 376 staff in post in the Teachers' Pensions Agency.

  Parental Appeals
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give figures, in total and for each local education authority, on the number and percentage of parental appeals on school admission which are(a) rejected, (b) withdrawn, (c) settled and (d) upheld; and if he will give these figures for both the earliest and latest years for which they are available since 1964.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Data on the number of parents securing their first choice of secondary school are not collected centrally. However, the most recent evidence—from surveys commissioned by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities in 1992 and The Times in 1993—shows that some 90 per cent. of parents gain a place at their first choice of school.
  736

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils are now being educated in self-governing grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We estimate that over 530,000 pupils are currently being educated in grant-maintained schools. As more schools join the sector next month this total will rise to over 580,000.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the future of the assisted places scheme.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government remain fully committed to this excellent scheme. We expect to achieve our target—namely, 35,000 available places in England and Wales, by 1995.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many, and what percentage of officers in each of grades 1 to 7 and overall in his Department are(a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled, respectively.

  Mr. Boswell
  The figures are as follows:

  Forensic Medicine
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines he has on the training of medical students in forensic medicine.

  Mr. Boswell
  It is for individual universities to determine the content and organisation of their medical curriculum taking account of guidelines issued by the General Medical Council.

  Teachers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 8 March,Official Report, column 134, when the information about the number of people who graduated or qualified or failed in teacher training in 1993 will be available.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is expected to become available for statistical use during the summer. The required information will then be placed in the Library.

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list each appointment for which a Minister has to approve the appointment or shortlist for the
  737
  appointment, showing for each appointment (a) which Minister exercises the responsibility, (b) the salary, if any, attached to the post, (c) the term of the appointment and (d) the person currently appointed to the post.

  Mr. Boswell
  The information has been placed in the Library. Ministerial responsibility for approval rests ultimately with my right hon. Friend.

  Charing Cross Medical School
  Mr. Vat
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the future of the Charing Cross medical school.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government accepted Sir Bernard Tomlinson's recommendation that Charing Cross medical school should merge with St. Mary's medical school within Imperial college. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is taking forward discussions on the merger with the institutions themselves.

  Secondary Schools
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 532, which four local authority secondary schools in London he visited in the last 12 months; and how many he plans to visit during 1994.

  Mr. Patten
  The four local authority schools that I have visited in London during the last 12 months are: Bishop Thomas Grant secondary school, Lambeth; The Hague primary school, Tower Hamlets; Mulberry school for girls, Tower Hamlets; and Hasmonean school, Barnet.

  During the same period I have visited Archbishop Tennison school and Bexley and Erith technical high school for boys which are both self-governing, grant-maintained, schools; my plans for further visits this year are under consideration.

  Music Teachers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his latest assessment of the shortage of teachers of music.

  School

  Bid £

  Description

  Allocation £

  Greenwood Dale

  550,206

  Roof/cladding/boiler repairs

  Nil

  144,225

  Refurbishment of five science laboratories

  120,000

  George Spencer

  119,606

  Roof works and asbestos removal

  100,000

  715,117

  Science/technology provision

  250,000

  Ravensdale middle

  129,250

  Refurbishment of science laboratory and administration area

  Nil

  22,372

  Renewal of defective felt roofing

  20,000

  Iraqi Students
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Iraqi students were studying in the United Kingdom at the latest available date; and what were the numbers five years ago.

  Mr. Boswell
  The latest available information relates to the 1991–92 academic year, when there were 174 Iraqi students enrolled as full-time students at universities,
  738
  Mr. Robin Squire
  There is currently no significant shortage of teachers of music. In January 1993 only 0·7 per cent. of music posts were vacant—some 30 posts. Recruitment to initial teacher training in music in 1993 rose by 9 per cent. from the previous year. Applications for entry to initial teacher training in autumn 1994 are higher than this time last year.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many grant-maintained schools and schools operating under local management of schools in(a) the primary sector and (b) the secondary and tertiary sectors had a budget (i) surplus and (ii) deficit last year; how much money was involved in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested on local education authority schools could be collated only at disproportionate cost. No grant-maintained school was in cash deficit at the end of the financial year 1992–93. In the interests of effective management of public funds, schools operating under local management of schools are able to carry forward balances from one year to another, as are grant-maintained schools within limits set by the Department.

  Schools (Capital Projects)
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what named capital projects the Greenwood Dale GM school, the George Spencer comprehensive school and the Ravensdale middle school bid in 1994–95; what was the total amount of each bid; and how much finance was allocated to each school.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following are details of the named capital project bids made by the schools for funding in 1994–95:

  polytechnics, Scottish central institutions and other colleges maintained or assisted by local authorities or grant-aided by education departments in the United Kingdom. This compares to 1,300 in the 1987–88 academic year.

  Pupil Exclusions
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received about the powers of maintained schools to exclude pupils.
  739
  Mr. Forth
  The Department has received a wide range of responses to the draft circular on exclusions, which was issued for consultation in January as part of the "Pupils with Problems" package. Those responses are currently 740
  being analysed. From time to time the Department also receives representations from parents or other interested parties about individual exclusion cases.

  PRISON SERVICE AND PRISONER CARE: EXPENDITURE
  PRISON SERVICE AND PRISONER CARE: EXPENDITURE
  LATCHMERE HOUSE: PRISONER COSTS
  LATCHMERE HOUSE: PRISONER COSTS
  BASINGSTOKE NORTHERN BYPASS: DoT SIGNS
  BASINGSTOKE NORTHERN BYPASS: DoT SIGNS
  SPEED LIMITERS on HGVs
  SPEED LIMITERS on HGVs
  DHSS EXPENDITURE
  DHSS EXPENDITURE