Written Answers of 30 March 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many cases received legal aid in the North West region last year; what was the average length of time taken to bring a case to court; and what was the average cost of each case;

  (2) how many legal aid certificates have been issued in the last two years for preliminary work only in the North West region; how many of these led to completed court cases; and how many were incomplete and did not come to court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The North-West region is served by four legal aid area offices which are situated in Chester, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The offices at Chester and Newcastle also serve other areas outside of the region. It is not possible to distinguish assisted persons residing in the North-West region from those residing in the other areas covered. In the geographical areas covered by all four offices 112,029 civil legal aid certificates were issued in the financial year 1992–93. According to statistical returns submitted by the courts 70,215 criminal legal aid orders were granted in the North-West region in the calendar year 1992. A further 2,563 criminal legal aid orders were granted by legal aid committees following appeals against magistrates' refusal of legal aid. The average cost of all legal aid bills paid in 1992–93 in England and Wales was as follows:

  Civil legal aid £906

  Criminal Magistrates' £449

  Criminal Higher £840

  Information is not available on the length of time taken to bring legally aided cases to court, but the average length of time taken from the granting of a civil legal aid certificate to the conclusion of the case is approximately three years.

  Legal aid certificates are not issued in respect of preliminary work only. A certificate may however be limited to specific steps in the proceedings, pending counsel's opinion on the legal merits of the case. The Legal Aid Board's management information does not distinguish limited certificates from full certificates.

  During the financial years 1991–92 and 1992–93 a total of 214,655 civil legal aid certificates were issued in the geographical areas covered by the area offices situated at Chester, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The average duration of a legally aided case is three years and therefore the majority of cases commenced in the last two years will not have reached a conclusion. Out of a total number of 164,038 cases concluded in 1991–92 and 1992–93 in the geographical areas covered 106,962 were settled out of court or otherwise disposed of.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is 742
  taking to ensure that solicitors receive adequate recompense for work carried out under the legal aid system where the value of the claim being pursued is for less than £3,000.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is the Lord Chancellor's aim to ensure that all legal aid remuneration rates give adequate recompense to solicitors who carry out work under the scheme.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will ensure that where solicitors are pursuing claims of less than £3,000 with legal aid that the work is not delegated to an unqualified fee earner.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is the responsibility of each solicitor doing legal aid work to ensure that work is conducted by the appropriate level of fee earner. The Lord Chancellor has no plans to change this.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the amount spent on the new franchising arrangement for legal aid; how many new posts were created; and what are the costs of the new staffing arrangements of the franchising units.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the year 1993–94 including recruitment, training and systems development, the new franchising arrangements costs were £3·4 million. Approximately 80 full-time equivalent posts have been created at an annual total employment cost of £2 million.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. John M. Taylor
  The number and percentage of officers in each of grades 1 to 7 and overall who are(a) women is set out in table 1. Information on the ethnic origin of officers and on numbers of disabled officers is obtained by the use of voluntary staff surveys. The number and percentage of respondents in each of grades 1 to 7 and overall who are (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled, respectively, are set out in tables 2 and 3.

  Table 1

  Number and percentage of officers in grades 1–7 and overall who are women as at 25 March 1994

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  1

  0

  0·0

  2

  0

  0·0

  3

  1

  9·1

  4

  0

  0·0

  5

  6

  17·6

  6

  19

  21·1

  7

  79

  37·2

  Overall

  7,922

  63·2

  Notes to table: The grades shown are for grade levels i.e. they include equivalent grades
  743

  Table 2

  Number and respondents of officers in grades 1–7 and overall who are ethnic minorities as at 25 March 1994

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  1

  0

  0·

  2

  0

  0·0

  3

  0

  0·0

  4

  0

  0·0

  5

  0

  0·0

  6

  *

  2·4

  7

  *

  2·2

  Overall

  916

  8·1

  Notes to table:

  (1) The grades shown are for grade levels i.e. they include equivalent grades.

  (2) Information on ethic origin is collected by the use of a voluntary survey of all staff. To date 23 per cent. of staff have chosen not to respond to the survey. The figures quoted in the above table are therefore based on the number of respondents.

  (3) The asterisks denote numbers that were so small as to enable identification of individuals, and are used to protect the privacy of those concerned.

  Table 3

  Number and Respondents of Officers in Grades 1–7 and Overall who have a Disability as at 25 March 1994

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  1

  0

  0·0

  2

  0

  0·0

  3

  0

  0·0

  4

  0

  0·0

  5

  0

  0·0

  6

  *

  2·5

  7

  *

  2·8

  Overall

  446

  4·6

  Notes to table:

  (1) The grades shown are for grade levels i.e. they include equivalent grades.

  (2) Information on disability is collected by the use of a voluntary survey of all staff. To date 10 per cent. of staff have chosen not to respond to the survey. The figures quoted in the table are therefore based on the number of respondents.

  (3) The asterisks denote numbers that were so small as to enable identification of individuals, and are used to protect the privacy of those concerned.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. John M. Taylor
  The figures for public appointments made by the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Northern Ireland Court Service in 1993 are for(a) Asians 1·5 per cent. and for (b) black people 1 per cent. This answer does not include judicial appointments. It is not our practice to give names: when asking appointees for information on their ethnic origin it is our practice to make it clear that it will be used only for statistical purposes.

  Building Projects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's 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)
  744
  Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Wakefield by his Department; and what was the cost of each project to his Department.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  (a) In Doncaster, the Lord Chancellor's Department comissioned a new Crown court building which became ready for use in the third quarter of 1989. The final total cost of the scheme was £5 million—inclusive of site purchase costs, construction and design costs. An extension to the magistrates court is now currently being designed. It is estimated to cost £2·6 million and construction is likely to begin during 1995–96.

  (a) There are no plans at present for a new court building scheme in Barnsley.

  (c)In Rotherham the construction of a new ten courtroom magistrates court building commenced in February 1992 and is now in the final stage, and is due to become operational in early May. The full cost is likely to be £5·4 million.

  (d)In Wakefield there are proposals to build a new magistrates court to contain six courts. If approved, construction could commence in 1997–98 and the estimated cost would be approximately £7·8 million.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. John M. Taylor
  None.

  Race Awareness Training
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures the Lord Chancellor has taken to ensure that(a) High Court judges and (b) circuit judges receive training in race awareness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Training for members of the judiciary is a matter for the Judicial Studies Board. I can tell the hon. Member that the board includes race awareness as a standard topic in all its refresher and induction seminars attended by High Court judges and circuit judges. In addition, the board is developing a programme of seminars on these issues for all circuit judges, recorders and assistant recorders in England and Wales to be carried forward over the next two years.

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total cost of official entertainment in the Lord Chancellor's Department in each year since 1990–91; if he will list the receptions held in each year at his Department's expense; and what was the cost of each reception.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Three principal receptions are funded each year by the Department: the Lord Chancellor's breakfast at the commencement of the legal year, a summer reception given by the Lord Chancellor for members of the media and—since 1992–93—a reception in the Inner Temple given by the Lord Chief Justice. The costs of these events, and the total costs of official entertaining each year since 1990–91, are given in the table.
  745
  While other individual receptions may have been held, the cost of identifying them and their related expenditure would be disproportionate.

  Lord Chancellor's Department official entertaining

  Lord Chancellor's breakfast £

  Lord Chief Justice's reception £

  Media reception £

  Total £

  1990–91

  7,105·59

  —

  —

  19,022·93

  1991–92

  8,661·32

  —

  605·94

  20,894·90

  1992–93

  9,816·84

  1,433·89

  734·55

  20,697·44

  1993–94 (to the end of February

  8,008·63

  1,594·10

  653·15

  17,463·63

  Magistrates
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, columns 271–72, if he will make it his policy to collect centrally information on the expressed political affiliations of magistrates and applicants for the magistrates bench.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Information is collected centrally for each bench on the expressed political affiliations of magistrates. The Lord Chancellor has no plans to collect centrally similar information on applicants.

EMPLOYMENT

  Annual Performance Agreement
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Employment Service annual performance agreement for 1994–95 will be published.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have today placed copies of the Employment Service annual performance agreement for 1994–95 in the Library. The new targets represent a considerable challenge to the Employment Service. I have set a demanding target of placing 1.7 million unemployed people in jobs next year. And I have asked the chief executive to give a high priority to helping unemployed people who face particular difficulties in getting back to work.

  We have agreed an exceptionally demanding target that 29·5 per cent. of total unemployed placings should be long-term claimants. This will mean finding jobs for at least 500,000 people who have been unemployed for six months or more. There will also be two new targets aimed at offering extra help to people who have been unemployed for 12 months and 24 months. I have also agreed the highest ever target for finding jobs for people with disabilities.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a table showing for each training and enterprise council in England the number of people covered by the youth training guarantee who have been waiting for over eight weeks for a YT place; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  On 10 March the number of young people covered by the youth training guarantee who had been waiting for eight or more weeks for a YT place was 746
  138. This was a fall of 97 per cent. from March 1993 when the total was 5,424. This is excellent progress and a tribute to the efforts of training and enterprise councils, careers services and all others involved in placing young people into training. The following table gives information for each TEC:

  YT guarantee monitoring YT seekers: waiting >8 weeks

  March 1993

  March 1994

  Avon

  88

  8

  AZTEC

  156

  0

  B arnsley/Doncaster

  36

  0

  Bedfordshire

  115

  0

  Birmingham

  110

  0

  Bolton/Bury

  41

  0

  Bradford

  15

  0

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  18

  0

  CAMBSTEC

  69

  0

  Central London

  136

  5

  Central England

  14

  4

  CEWTEC

  18

  2

  CILNTEC

  143

  1

  County Durham

  62

  3

  Coventry/Warwickshire

  79

  0

  Cumbria

  33

  1

  Devon and Cornwall

  66

  2

  Dorset

  23

  2

  Dudley

  2

  0

  ELTEC

  19

  0

  Essex

  373

  0

  Gloucester

  28

  0

  Greater Peterborough

  23

  0

  Greater Nottingham

  32

  0

  Hampshire

  207

  3

  HAWTEC

  19

  0

  Heart of England

  15

  1

  Hertfordshire

  107

  9

  Humberside

  47

  0

  Isle of Wight

  37

  5

  Kent

  338

  0

  LAWTEC

  40

  4

  Leeds

  37

  0

  Leicestershire

  27

  0

  LETEC

  439

  2

  Lincolnshire

  19

  1

  Manchester

  106

  1

  Merseyside

  42

  1

  METROTEC

  21

  0

  Milton Keynes

  32

  5

  Norfolk/Waveney

  4

  7

  NORMIDTEC

  13

  2

  North Yorkshire

  79

  3

  North West London

  111

  0

  North Nottingham

  91

  2

  North Derbyshire

  42

  1

  North London

  66

  4

  Northamptonshire

  62

  2

  Northumberland

  47

  7

  Oldham

  36

  0

  QUALITEC

  20

  0

  Rochdale

  18

  0

  747

  March 1993

  March 1994

  Rotherham

  4

  0

  Sandwell

  10

  0

  SECTEC

  0

  0

  Sheffield

  156

  0

  Shropshire

  19

  0

  SOLOTEC

  206

  1

  Somerset

  97

  0

  South Thames

  476

  0

  South Derbyshire

  25

  1

  Staffordshire

  4

  0

  Stockport

  16

  0

  Suffolk

  13

  1

  Surrey

  94

  4

  Sussex

  66

  24

  Teesside

  45

  3

  Thames Valley

  185

  3

  Tyneside

  60

  2

  Wakefield

  18

  2

  Walsall

  3

  2

  Wearside

  0

  2

  West London

  36

  0

  Wiltshire

  68

  5

  Wolverhampton

  2

  0

DEFENCE

  Government Contracts
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the report by the Review Board for Government Contracts on its 1994 annual review of the profit formula for non-competitive Government contracts.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government have accepted the overall target rate of return on capital employed as recommended by the review board in its report. The new rate will be 18·2 per cent. compared with the current rate of 19 per cent., both on the basis of historic costs. It will be effective from 1 April this year. There are other points arising from this report and from the board's report on the seventh general review last year which officials will be discussing with the Confederation of British Industry as part of our continuing drive to secure maximum value for money from our defence contracts and ensuring a fair return for our contractors. Copies of the report are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key performance targets have been set for 1994–95 for the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  Mr. Aitken
  The chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down is responsible for research to ensure that the United Kingdom armed forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. He has been set the following challenging key performance targets for 1994–95:

  1. To deliver to time 90 per cent. of the programme milestones agreed with the customers and have the work rated by the customer as meeting or exceeding the agreed objectives.

  2. To respond to 85 per cent. of requests accepted for unplanned urgent advice within the timescale negotiated at the outset.

  748

  3. To deliver the agreed work programme within the aggregate of the programme costs agreed with each customer—including individual package customers within the applied research programme.

  4. To increase the overall efficiency of CBDE by reducing net expenditure, as shown in the net expenditure account, by 1 per cent.

  5. To develop, in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence, an appropriate system of trading to provide greater empowerment of the customer by April 1995.

  6. To continue the agreed market testing programme with the objective of placing the service level agreement/contract by 31 March 1995.

  7. To survey customers to identify appropriate measures of the quality of service provided by CBDE to the Ministry of Defence, and conduct a full customer satisfaction survey on the basis of these measures by March 1995.

  8.To develop a strategy for a formal quality plan for the conduct of all research carried out at CBDE. This will include: standards of planning, management, execution and reporting of the work to the customer; measures of customer satisfaction; and peer review of scientific rigour, novelty and innovation.

  Helicopters
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in the procurement of support helicopters for the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Aitken
  I am pleased to say that we have made considerable progress since my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced our intentions in December.

  Invitations to tender are now being issued for my Department's requirements for additional support helicopters. In consequence, my Department will enter into parallel negotiations with Boeing (Chinook) and Westland (EH101 Utility) on the basis of its normal NAPNOC—no acceptable price, no contract—procedures, to determine the specifications, performance details, terms and conditions and prices, against which further support helicopters might be supplied.

  Accordingly, separate single invitations to tender are being issued to Boeing Defense and Space Group and to Westland Helicopters Ltd. for return on 30 June 1994, on the clear understanding that respective performance and value for money considerations will be taken into account as part of the Department's normal process of evaluation and will influence the Department's eventual decision on what support helicopters to buy.

  Sir Peter Harding
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has investigated the security aspects of the events leading to the resignation of Sir Peter Harding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  These matters have been investigated. The principal conclusion is that no evidence has been found of any compromise of classified or sensitive information. Nor has any evidence been found, in the events which led to Sir Peter's resignation as Chief of Defence Staff, of any intelligence operation or criminal conspiracy against him.

  Career and Manpower Review
  Dr. Charles Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is yet in a position to announce the appointment of a chairman for the independent review of
  749
  service career and manpower structure and terms and conditions of service; and if he will publish terms of reference for the review.

  Mr. Hanley
  Further to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 9 February,Official Report, columns 362–63, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has now invited Mr. Michael Bett to lead the independent team which will be conducting this major independent review of service career and manpower structure and terms and conditions of service. Further appointments to the team will be announced in due course. Terms of reference for the review are as follows:
  The review is to examine service career and manpower structures, and terms and conditions of service, and recommend changes required to render them appropriate to the needs of the 21st century.
  The review is to take account of changes in military commitments and deployment patterns, including any which may flow from the defence costs studies. It should draw on work already conducted in each service, and may need to subsume the current in-house review of the armed forces pension scheme. It should examine practices within the armed forces of other nations, and within other major organisations in the United Kingdom.
  The review should propose future structures which are robust, flexible, efficient and cost-effective, paying particular attention to:

  a) Current practice in such areas as length of service, career patterns, deployment patterns, rank structure and trade structures;

  b) The relationship between responsibility, rank, trade and pay, and the concept of performance pay; current sources of dissatisfaction; and the scope for a rationalised pay and allowance structure.

  The review should seek to contribute to the reduction over the longer term of the overall resource cost of manpower, and should identify clearly the resource implications of its proposals. It should at the same time take full account of the requirement to maintain disciplined, highly trained and well-motivated armed forces, and of the particular requirements of service life.
  The Review should consult widely within MOD, the Office of Manpower Economics and the services; and should ensure that the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and the Senior Salaries Review Board are consulted on matters within their remit.

  The review team will be led by Mr. Bett and will be supported by a small MOD project team. It is to submit its final report to the Secretary of State for Defence within 12 months of its starting work.

TRANSPORT

  Lands End-Isles of Scilly Monitoring Area
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make the sea between Lands End and the Isles of Scilly a mandatory reporting and monitoring area for ships under the international convention for the safety of life at sea.

  Mr. Norris
  There is already international agreement that laden vessels should report their intention to enter the traffic separation scheme in place between Lands End and Isles of Scilly. The United Kingdom is taking a leading role in international negotiations which should lead to changes in the safety of life at sea—SOLAS—convention and to the establishment of a legal framework for the mandatory reporting of ship movements.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources will be made available to local authorities affected by increased levels of rail traffic resulting from the channel tunnel for noise mitigation.

  Mr. Freeman
  Supplementary credit approvals of £1 million and £0·25 million respectively were previously allocated to Kent and Surrey county councils for jointly-funded schemes agreed with British Rail for the provision of acoustic barriers alonside existing tracks at locations in the areas expected to be most affected at night by noise from international freight trains. Kent county council has decided also to offer double glazing for certain isolated properties which could not be protected by noise barriers.

  More recently, I have agreed to provide further credit approvals of £0·375 million to Kent, to cover the balance of its costs, and £0·336 million to the London borough of Bromley, which has also agreed a joint noise mitigation scheme with BR.

  As stated in my answer of 18 February, Official Report, column 1007, I and my colleagues will be prepared to consider TPP applications for resources in 1995–96 from other authorities in London which agree schemes with BR. Such applications will be considered on their merits and in the light of the resources available.

  Victoria Station
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when rail customers are able to obtain service information at Victoria.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information point at Victoria is open Monday to Saturday 07.00am to 10.15pm, Sunday 08.00am to 10.00pm. Service information can also be obtained from telephone inquiry bureaux between 07·15am and 9.00pm daily, by ringing 071-928-5100 or 0273-206-755.

  Research Laboratory
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reached a conclusion on the future of the transport research laboratory.

  Mr. Macgregor
  Following a review I commissioned from consultants, KPMG Peat Marwick, I have decided that the transport research laboratory should transfer to the private sector.

  I have considered the consultants' report very carefully. I have also had discussions with the TRL trade unions. The consultants concluded that retention of TRL in the public sector would risk the laboratory being unable to respond adequately to changes in its market and so lead to a cycle of cumulative decline. The likelihood is therefore that TRL would be unable to continue to offer its current breadth of research. The consultants' analysis confirmed that privatisation was both feasible and desirable in allowing the laboratory to compete more effectively across a wider market than is currently available to it.

  I am satisfied that privatisation will provide the best opportunity for TRL's future progress. In setting objectives for the sale I shall have regard to a number of requirements, including to the need to secure the

  751
  Government's continuing requirement for high quality, independent transport research at good value for money, and the needs of staff working in the laboratory.

  I shall announce details of the form of sale in due course. My current aim is to provide for a competitive sale, attracting bids for the whole of the TRL business from a wide range of possible purchasers. I hope privatisation can be achieved during 1995–96.

  On-street Parking
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering to the management and provision of services for the new local authority on-street parking enforcement system under the Road Traffic Act 1991.

  Mr. Norris
  In November 1993 the Department of the Environment consulted local authorities nationally on a draft order to extend compulsory competitive tendering to the provision and management of services for the new local authority on-street parking enforcement system under part II of the Road Traffic Act 1991. This system is being applied initially only in London but is being extended to the rest of England and Wales.

  In general the authorities supported the principle of extending CCT to these services but some were concerned about the timing of its introduction. In particular the Parking Committee for London, which includes a representative from each London local authority, felt that the suggested commencement date of April 1995 should be deferred for six months. I have accepted this view and decided that CCT will apply from 1 October 1995 in the metropolitan areas and London, and following the local government review in other areas. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be laying an order before the House shortly.

  Hazardous Cargoes
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it mandatory for ships with hazardous cargoes to give notice of their intention to sail through the Pentland firth, in accordance with changes in the safety of life at sea convention.

  Mr. Norris
  There is already international agreement that laden vessels should report their intention to transit the Pentland firth. The United Kingdom is taking a leading role in international negotiations which should lead to changes in the safety of life at sea—SOLAS—convention and to the establishment of a legal framework for the mandatory reporting of ship movements.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 251, what penalties exist for ships carrying hazardous cargoes that do not use the safe deep water route around the Hebrides.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department is applying increasing pressure on the owners of ships carrying hazardous cargoes to use the deep water route west of the Hebrides. There is evidence to suggest that this is having a positive effect.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reporting is mandatory for ships carrying hazardous cargoes near environmentally sensitive areas.
  752
  Mr. Norris
  Whilst there are no requirements for reports to be made at the moment, the Department is applying increasing pressure on shipowners to comply with internationally agreed recommendations, and the United Kingdom is taking a leading role in international negotiations to set in place a legal framework for the mandatory reporting of ship movements.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ships carrying hazardous cargoes from the United Kingdom via the Hebrides have(a) made use of the safe deep water route via the outer Hebrides and (b) passed through the Minches in the last year.

  Mr. Norris
  This information is not held in the form requested. I can say, however, that in the last 12 months 113 ships carrying hazardous cargoes have reported their intention to use the Minch to HM Coastguard at Stornoway.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 251, what legal force backs the measures in place to keep ships carrying hazardous cargoes away from environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. Norris
  Routeing measures around the United Kingdom are in accordance with agreements reached at the International Maritime Organisation. For the most part they are voluntary and are enforced by complaint to the flag state of a transgressing vessel. The United Kingdom is actively engaged in negotiating in the IMO on mandatory routes which can be put in place to protect environmentally sensitive areas.

  River Buses
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost to public funds of maintenance and mooring of river buses on the Thames; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  No central Government funding is involved.

  Oil Discharges
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the annual volume of oil entering(a) the North sea, (b) the straits of Dover and (c) the English channel from shipping for each of the last four years; and, for each year, what proportion of that was intentionally discharged.

  Mr. Norris
  The information is as set out. There are no records of volumes of oil spilt in the Dover straits. The Bonn agreement estimates that between 1,000 and 2,000 tonnes of oil per annum are intentionally discharged in to the North sea—all sectors—each year but no such estimates exist for the Dover straits or the English channel.

  Tonnes

  1990

  North sea (United Kingdom sector)

  336

  English channel

  15

  1991

  North sea (United Kingdom sector)

  45

  English channel

  41

  753

  Tonnes

  1992

  North sea (United Kingdom sector)

  134

  English channel

  33

  1993

  North sea (United Kingdom sector)

  2170

  English channel

  3311

  1 Excluding the Rosebay spill of 1,100 tonnes.

  2 Excluding the Braer spill of 86,000 tonnes.

  3 Excluding the Apache spill of 256 tonnes.

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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.

  Mr. Norris
  Lists of any such organisations and individuals are not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  In general, my right hon. Friend consults the chairmen of the relevant committee or board and such consultation may, in some cases, be a statutory requirement. He will also consult professional and other organisations if necessary in order to find persons with suitable qualifications for an appointment. He has regard to the guidance on consultations with the Prime Minister and other Departments set out in Section 6 of the "Cabinet Office Guide on Public Appointments Procedures", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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 exercies 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. Norris
  Information on most of the appointments made by my right hon. Friend are shown in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1993". Further information on these and on some other appointments is to be found in "A Handbook for Women's Organisations" published by the Women's National Commission. Copies of both documents are available in the Libraries of the House. Up-to-date lists of persons currently appointed to posts are not held centrally, but information on membership of many public bodies was provided recently in response to questions tabled by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on 27 January 1994. Further detailed information in response to the points raised by the hon. Member could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The exercise of responsibility on behalf of my right hon. Friend is a matter for him and any delegation will vary according to the nature of the body and the appointments being made.

  Railway Stations, Yorkshire
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those British Rail stations within Humberside and the three counties of Yorkshire that are not yet classed as open stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Only four stations within Humberside and Yorkshire have ticket barriers. These are Bradford interchange, Huddersfield, Hull and Leeds.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Rail stations within Humberside and the three counties of Yorkshire regional passenger committee area are totally unstaffed; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Freeman
  A total of 138 stations within the Humberside and Yorkshire transport users' consultative committee for the north-east England area are totally unstaffed. I have placed the list in the Library and written to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Business Aviation
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the direction of trend in business aviation use at United Kingdom airfields.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department does not produce separate forecasts for demand for business aviation. However, the Government believe that such demand is likely to be correlated with economic growth and therefore in the longer term the trend is likely to be upward.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what spare capacity for business aviation exists at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports.

  Mr. Norris
  At Heathrow and Gatwick airports the runways are essentially full in the peak periods; general aviation services can obtain permission to use these airports no more than ten days in advance. At Stansted airport there is an administrative annual limit of 78,000 passenger air transport movements. Flights with less than 10 passengers and certain others are not included in this limit. Any increase to the annual limit would require the approval of both Houses of Parliament. Some 48,000 air transport movements operated last year.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the Government's policy on ensuring that a suitable airport or airports close to central London will continue to be available for business aviation use;

  (2) what are the plans to retain and develop suitable London airports for business aviation use.

  Mr. Norris
  The Government have acknowledged for some time that access to Heathrow and Gatwick airports will become increasingly difficult for general aviation and that alternative facilities will need to be used. The Government believe that there remains unused airport capacity within reach of central London—including at Stansted and Luton airports.

  As far as airport facilities not generally serving commercial passengers are concerned, there are facilities at a number of sites. The Department has been in discussion

  755
  with the Ministry of Defence about the scope for establishing a privately operated civil enclave for business aviation users at RAF Northolt.

  The recent planning policy guidance on transport—PPG13—published by the Secretary of State for the Environment says that local authorities should take into account the contribution of general aviation when formulating plans. This would be relevant if permission was being sought for any change of use.

  The Department will seek to ensure through the planning system that the benefits of business aviation are fully reflected in local plans. Within this framework it is for airport operators to make decisions on the development of facilities, in the light of their commercial judgment.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's estimates of the increase in demand over the next 20 years for business aviation capacity in the London area.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department does not produce estimates of demand separately for business aviation.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which airports within 30 miles of central London, which are currently being used for business aviation, are due to close during the next 10 years.

  Mr. Norris
  I understand that Hatfield and Leavesden aerodromes are to close this year.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Transport which airfields, other than Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, near London, are planned for continuing business aviation use.

  Mr. Norris
  Aerodromes near London available for continuing business aviation use are Biggin Hill, Blackbushe, Elstree, Fairoaks, Farnborough, London Luton, London City, Northolt and Southend. Some of these cannot take all types of aircraft.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department and the Civil Aviation Authority have made of the effect of access difficulties to London airports on the scale of business aviation; and what evidence he has of business aviation being transferred to France.

  Mr. Norris
  I have encouraged the business aviation community to provide me with information on the industry; my Department is currently undertaking a study with the Department of Trade and Industry into the demand

  Department of Transport—Staff in post 1 April 1993

  Grade

  Total number

  Women

  Ethnic minority

  Disabled

  Number

  percentage

  Number

  percentage

  Number

  percentage

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  25

  2

  8·0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  16

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  110

  8

  7·3

  1

  0·9

  0

  0

  6

  146

  7

  4·8

  6

  4·1

  0

  0

  7

  763

  73

  9·6

  24

  3·1

  0

  0

  All

  15,246

  6,946

  45·6

  736

  4·8

  198

  1·3

  756
  and economic case for business aviation. I have no evidence that business aviation is transferring from the United Kingdom to France.

  "Britain's Railways: A New Era"
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many copies were(a) printed and (b) distributed of his Department's document, "Britain's Railways: A New Era", and if he will list the recipients.

  Mr. Freeman
  A total of 8,000 copies of the document "Britain's Railways: A New Era" were printed. Distribution has been as follows:

  1,056 to BR and 2,000 to Railtrack; in turn I understand that BR and Railtrack are distributing the document to senior managers at national and regional level

  1,000 to the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising for distribution in response to enquiries

  827 copies to Peers and Members of Parliament

  50 copies to the media

  45 copies to attendees at a City seminar about rail privatisation 110 copies sent on request to the Railway Industry Association

  28 copies have also been sent on request to individuals with an interest in the rail industry.

  The residue will be distributed on request.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of(a) printing, (b) distributing and (c) writing the document "Britain's Railways: A New Era."

  Mr. Freeman
  (a) Printing costs were £16,000 within an overall total for production costs of £30,000;

  (b)The Department's distribution costs were £2,000.

  (c)The document was written by the Department, its advisers and others as part of their normal duties.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. Norris
  The following table shows numbers and percentages of staff in post in the Department of Transport and its agencies at 1 April 1993. The figures relating to ethnic origin are based on responses to voluntary and confidential surveys of staff and are derived from the Department's computerised personnel records.

  Coastline Protection
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make further protective measures immediately to protect the United Kingdom coastline, human and wild life communities and the lives of seafarers in the light of information about the collision of two ships in the Bosphorus on 14 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 23 March 1994 at column 251.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what emergency training for air traffic controllers has been implemented at Birmingham and Manchester airports by National Air Traffic Services.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: As the training of air traffic controllers is a matter for the Civil Airports Authority I am asking the chairman of the CAA to write in reply to the hon. Member's question.

  Shipping
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the Baltic Exchange's proposal for a British open register; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: Since the Baltic Exchange put its proposals for a British open register for shipping to Ministers on 3 December 1993 there have been a number of representations from various sources, some have been in favour, some against.

  As I explained to the hon. Member on 11 January, Official Report column 124, and again more recently to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Perry), Official Report, 16 March column 692, the proposal requires careful study before a conclusion can be reached. An announcement will be made shortly.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts his Department has had with consultants; and what has been the total cost in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 23 March 1994]: In each of the five years from 1989 to 1993 the number and value of contracts let by the Department to consultants for non-highways work was as follows:

  Year

  Number

  Value (£000s)

  1989

  74

  8,745

  1990

  126

  15,225

  1991

  186

  16,414

  1992

  254

  13,621

  1993

  378

  14,924

  For highways work, new consultant contracts awarded in respect of schemes in the trunk road programme, operation of the trunk road network and associated investigations were as follows:

  Number

  1989

  72

  1990

  115

  1991

  113

  758

  Number

  1992

  46

  1993

  44

  Since many of these commissions are continuing, it is impossible to provide final costs. However, on a financial year basis, total expenditure in the last four years on all such contracts—not just those identified—has been:

  £ million

  1990–91

  159

  1991–92

  181

  1992–93

  208

  1993–94

  1173

  1 To date.

  The figure for 1989–90 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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

  Mr. Norris
  Statistics are not kept on the total number of public appointments—including reappointments—made by my right hon. Friend each year. A check was made on the number of appointments held by members of ethnic minorities at 1 September 1993 as part of the Government-wide monitoring exercise for the purposes of the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1993". This revealed that a holder of one of the DOT appointments listed in it is a member of an ethnic minority. However, as information on ethnic origin is given in confidene, the policy is not to give details that would identify ethnic origins of individuals.

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

  Mr. Norris
  The Department of Transport—excluding its agencies—has spent the following amounts on official entertainment since 1990–91:

  £

  1990–91

  203,684

  1991–92

  169,050

  1992–93

  231,547

  1993–94

  1218,615

  1 To 28 March 1994 only.

  Information regarding individual receptions and the related costs is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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.
  759
  Mr. Norris
  The Department of Transport has not purchased any Proton cars in the last 10 years.

  Cycling (Code of Conduct)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce a cyclists' code of conduct; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Advice to pedal cyclists on safe cycling practices is contained in the highway code. Rules 36 to 154 apply to cyclists as they do to all vehicle users and rules 187 to 211 give further specific advice to cyclists. We have also issued a leaflet "Tips for Safer Cycling" as part of our Cycle Safe campaign.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice is given by his Department to local authorities on the design of traffic calming measures.

  Mr. Key
  The Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1993 build on the earlier Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1990 and provide local highway authorities with a wider choice of features to improve road safety and the local environment. The regulations provide for features such as chicanes, narrowings and gateways, as well as road humps, which can be used separately or in combination.

  It is for individual authorities to design local schemes but my Department provides technical advice on the regulations and individual design features in circulars and traffic advisory leaflets.

  Traffic Congestion (Cost)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the annual cost of traffic congestion.

  Mr. Key
  The cost of traffic congestion can be measured only against specific alternatives such as road schemes, junction improvements or initiatives to reduce or redirect traffic. It is not possible to provide a national aggregate measure.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since 1992;

  (2) if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since 1990.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 4 March,Official Report, columns 899–900, if he knows of any other people known to be Labour party supporters appointed to public bodies.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have nothing to add to my earlier answer.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 4 March,760
  Official Report, columns 899–900, (1) if he will construct a list of known Liberal Democrat party supporters appointed to public bodies;

  (2) if he will construct a list of known Conservative party supporters appointed to public bodies.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those former honourable and right honourable Members defeated in the general election of 1992 who, at any subsequent date, have been appointed to public bodies by the Government; and if he will list those appointments.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Information about individual public appointees is not held centrally.

  Parliamentary Ombudsman
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals the Government have to strengthen and extend the role of the parliamentary ombudsman.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As proposed in the White Paper "Open Government" (Cm 2290), there will be a major extension to the responsibilities of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration as from April 1994, when complaints may be referred to him in connection with the code of practice on access to Government information.

  The Government are also giving support to the private Member's Bill of the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Malone), which had its Second Reading in the House on 11 March, to extend the jurisdiction of the PCA to the administrative actions by the administrative staff in certain tribunals not already within his remit.

  Finally, the Government are considering the proposals in the first report of the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, Session 1993–94, on the powers, work and jurisdiction of the ombudsman, and will respond in due course.

  Research Councils
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancster, what progress he has made in appointing members of the three new research councils.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences research council, Engineering and Physical Sciences research council, and Particle Physics and Astronomy research council, will come into being on 1 April 1994. I have appointed the following members to serve on the councils:

  BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL(BBSRC)

  Chairman: Sir Alistair Grant (Argyll Group)

  Chief Executive: Professor Tom Blundell FRS

  Members:

  Professor Jack Baldwin FRS (Oxford University)

  Dr. Peter Bunyan (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)

  Dr. Ed Dart (Zeneca)

  Professor Peter Dunnill FEng (University College London)

  Dr. Elliot Finer (Department of Trade and Industry)

  Sir Brian Follett FRS (University of Warwick)

  Mr. Ben Gill (National Farmers' Union)

  Dr. Keith Humphreys (Rhone-Poulenc)

  761

  Professor Susan Iversen (Oxford University)

  Professor Rachel Leech (University of York)

  Dr. Tom Little(Unilever)

  Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie (Scottish Office)

  Professor Lady Noreen Murray (University of Edinburgh)

  Dr. Brian Richards CBE (British Biotechnology Group)

  ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL (EPSRC)

  Chairman: Dr. Alan Rudge, OBE FEng FRS (BT)

  Chief Executive: Professor Richard Brook, OBE

  Members:

  Professor John Ball, FRS (Heriot Watt University)

  Professor Alec Broers, (FRS (Cambridge University)

  Professor Sir David Davies, CBE FEng FRS (Ministry of Defence)

  Dr. David Evans, (Department of Trade and Industry)

  Dr. David Giachardi, (Courtaulds)

  Professor Julia Higgins, (Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine)

  Professor B. F. G. Johnson, FRS (University of Edinburgh)

  Dr. Tony Ledwith, (Pilkington)

  Mr. S. C. Miller, CBE FEng (Rolls-Royce)

  Dr. D. J. H. Smith, (Whatman)

  Professor Jean Thomas, CBE FRS (Cambridge University)

  Professor David Wallace, FRS (Loughborough University of Technology)

  PARTICLE PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY RESEARCH COUNCIL (PPARC)

  Chairman: Dr. Peter Williams, CBE (Oxford Instruments)

  Chief Executive: Professor Ken Pounds, CBE FRS

  Members:

  Sir David Cooksey, (Advent)

  Professor Stan Cowley, (Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine)

  Mr. John de Fonblanque, (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

  Professor John Dowell, FRS (University of Birmingham)

  Professor John Enderby, FRS (University of Bristol)

  Dr. David Evans, (Department of Trade and Industry)

  Professor Ian Halliday, (University College Swansea)

  Dr. Carole Jordan, FRS (Oxford University)

  Sir Martin Rees, FRS (Cambridge University)

  Dr. Geoff Robinson, (IBM)

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what external routes of complaint have been established for each part of the Government service covered by the charter.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  For the purpose of this question I am taking "external routes of complaint" to mean the provision by public services covered by the charter of a route to deal with complaints which is separate from the management hierarchy of the service. Those which are known to my Department are:

  Benefits Agency War Pensions Unit: War Pensions Committees;

  British Gas: Gas Consumers' Council and OFGAS;

  British Rail: Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee (co-ordinated through the Central Transport Consultative Committee);

  British Telecom: OFTEL with recourse to a service provided by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators;

  British Waterways Board: British Waterways Ombudsman; 14 Electricity Companies: Electricity Consumers Committees and OFFER;

  Home Office Immigration and Nationality Department: Complaints Audit Committee;

  Housing Corporation: Housing Association Tenants Ombudsman Service;

  Inland Revenue: Revenue Adjudicator;

  Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce: Agency Complaints Adjudicator;

  London Buses and London Underground: London Regional Passengers Committee;

  762

  Department of National Savings: Adjudicator for National Savings;

  Police Service: Police Complaints Authority (England and Wales);

  Procurator Fiscal Service (Scotland);

  Post Office: Post Office Users' National Council with recourse to a service provided by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators;

  Probation Service: Area Probation Committees;

  32 Water companies: Regional Customer Services Committees and OFWAT.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

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

  Mr. Eggar
  No Proton cars have been purchased by my Department or the Department of Energy in the last 10 years.

  Overseas Trade
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) of 22 March,Official Report, column 210, if he will set out the reasons for the separate information on EC trade data not being available.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Separate information on volumes, unit values and terms of trade for United Kingdom trade with the EC is not available because of the unreliability of the price indices, or deflators, used in their calculation. These deflators are thought to be reliable overall but less so for trade with individual countries.

  The quality of those concerning United Kingdom trade with the EC is also adversely affected by problems associated with the introduction of Intrastat, the system for collecting information on EC trade following the completion of the single market.

  Construction Industry Deregulation Task Force
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the report of the construction industry deregulation task force will be published; and if the task force took evidence from(a) the Home Office and (b) fire service.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The booklet "Deregulation Task Forces: Proposals for Reform" was published on 19 January 1994 and copies placed in the Library of the House. The working papers of all the task forces will be placed in the Library of the House today.

  The construction industry task force held discussions with officials and Ministers in several Government Departments including the Home Office. The fire review announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 17 January 1994, Official Report, column 381, is exploring the fire safety issues identified by the task force in consultation with all interested parties including fire service bodies and is assisted by expert advisors including a chief fire officer.

  Coal Industry (Geological Data)
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he will take to ensure that as part of the denationalisation of the coal industry British Coal or its successor, the Coal Authority, will release all borehole information to the British Geological Survey; and if he will ensure that British Coal or the Coal Authority will remove the present embargo on academic study and research of geological data to develop geological knowledge for non-commercial purposes.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Coal Industry Bill currently before Parliament places a specific duty on the Coal Authority normally to provide public access to a wide range of information in its possession, including geological data.

  Export Assistance
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of the assistance his Department gives to help British companies market and sell their products abroad in the past five years; and what is the planned expenditure in 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The table records gross and net expenditure on export promotion assistance programmes. This does not include the running costs associated with delivering these programmes at home and abroad.

  In £ million—1993–94 and 1994–95 are forecasts

  Gross

  Net

  1988–89

  46·8

  30·4

  1989–90

  47·1

  32·9

  1990–91

  52·5

  36·9

  1991–92

  46·0

  27·8

  1992–93

  46·3

  29·8

  Enforcement agency

  Available to business

  Published

  ADAS Milk and Dairies Inspectorate

  15 April 19941

  Estimate late May 1994

  Agriculture Health and Safety Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Agriculture Wages Inspectorate

  1 January 1994

  6 April 1994

  Agriculture Wages Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Animal Health Act Inspectors and Veterinary Inspectors

  1 January 1994

  25 March 1994

  Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  British Waterways Board

  —

  Expected April 1994

  Central Statistical Office

  1 January 1994

  31 December 1993

  Civil Aviation Authority

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Companies House

  1 January 1994

  19 January 1994

  Companies Registry (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Contributions Agency

  21 January 1994

  17 January 1994

  Customs and Excise

  2—

  2—

  Department of Health: control activities in connection with places approved under the Abortion Act

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Drinking Water Inspectorate

  30 December 1993

  30 December 1993

  Driving and Vehicle Testing Agency (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Driving Standards Agency (register of approved driving instructors)

  10 March 1994

  10 March 1994

  Drugs Inspectorate (NI)

  3—

  3—

  Egg Marketing Inspectorate

  1 January 1994

  7 March 1994

  Egg Marketing Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Employment Agency Licensing

  4—

  4—

  Engineering Inspectorate

  14 December 1993

  14 December 1993

  Export Licensing Unit

  20 January 1994

  9 March 1994

  Fatstock Inspectorate

  1 January 1994

  25 March 1994

  Fertilisers and Feed Stuffs Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Fish Diseases Inspectorate

  115 April 1994

  Estimate late May 1994

  Fisheries Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Fisheries and Terrestrial Radiological Inspectorate

  1 January 1994

  18 February 1994

  Football Licensing Authority

  31 December 1993

  31 December 1993

  Gas Examiners, Gas Meter Examiners

  27 January 1994

  27 January 1994

  Health and Safety Executive

  6—

  12 January 1994

  Health and Safety Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  764

  Gross

  Net

  1993–94

  51·3

  36·6

  1994–95

  55·3

  39·4

  Correspondence
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many letters were received from, and written to, hon. Members by him and his ministerial colleagues in February.

  Mr. Heseltine
  During the month of February, I and my ministerial colleagues received 1,751 letters from hon. Members and responded to 1,376. Some letters are transferred to other Government Departments for reply.

  Government Enforcement Agencies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each Government enforcement agency covered by his Department's code the dates on which their codes of practice were published and made available to the public.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 March 1994]: The table sets out the dates on which each of the enforcement agencies listed in "Working with Business" published their code of practice. The table also shows the date from which each code was available since many agencies had their codes available to business while preparations for publication were underway.

  Following my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's seminar on deregulation on 19 January, it was agreed that all remaining enforcement agencies would finalise their codes by April 1994.
  765

  Enforcement agency

  Available to business

  Published

  Health and Social Services Board Inspectorate of Registered Nursing Homes (NI)

  6—

  6—

  Scottish Home and Health Department. Approval under Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 and Registration of Pregnancy Advice Bureaux (SO)

  14 January 1994

  14 January 1994

  HM Industrial Pollution Inspectorate (SO)

  29 April 1994

  29 April 1994

  HM Inspectorate of Pollution

  22 March 1994

  22 March 1994

  Home Office Drugs Branch

  1 April 1994

  1 April 1994

  Horticultural Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate

  1 January 1994

  18 February 1994

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)

  5 April 1994

  5 April 1994

  Inland Revenue

  2—

  2—

  Licensing and Inspection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

  5 January 1994

  5 January 1994

  Meat and Livestock (SO)

  22 April 1994

  22 April 1994

  Medical Devices Directorate

  28 December 1993

  4 January 1994

  Medicines Control Agency

  31 December 1993

  1 January 1994

  Medicines Inspectorate

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Milk and Milk Products Quality Assurance Division (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  National Rivers Authority

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  23 December 1993

  23 December 1993

  Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Occupational Pensions Board

  —

  by April 1994

  Office of Fair Trading

  19 January 1994

  19 January 1994

  Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate

  1 January 1994

  18 January 1994

  Plant Health Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Poisons Inspectorate (NI)

  3—

  3—

  Potato Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Radiocommunications Agency (Radio Investigation Services)

  End December 1993

  End December 1993

  River Purification Boards (SO)

  7—

  7—

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SO)

  10 January 1994

  12 January 1994

  Sea Fisheries Inspectorate

  1 January 1994

  6 April 1994

  Seeds Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Surveyor Generals Organisation (now—Marine Support Agency)

  8—

  March 1994

  The Good Laboratory Practice Monitoring Authority (GLP MA)

  11 January 1994

  11 January 1994

  Trading Standards Inspectorate (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Traffic Area Offices

  April 1994

  April 1994

  Transport Licensing and Enforcement (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  April 1994

  April 1994

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  April 1994

  April 1994

  Veterinary Services (NI)

  1 January 1994

  1 January 1994

  Wine Standards Board

  1 January 1994

  11 February 1994

  1—Delay due to changes in governing legislation.

  2—Intend existing Citizen's Charter documents to form basis of Code.

  3—Covered in a United Kingdom wide code.

  4—Committed to complying in full once position has been finalised under the Deregulation and Contracting out Bill.

  5—Existing publications were updated to bring them into line with Code.

  6—Withdrawn by Department of Health.

  7—Two codes published 10 February 1994 and 6 December 1993. Five others in preparation.

  8—Publication timed to coincide with launch of Agency on 1 April 1994.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. Sproat
  The information is for staff within the Department of National Heritage, excluding its two executive agencies, the Historic Royal Palaces and Royal Parks;

  The total percentage of women in each grades 1 to 7 and overall within the Department of National Heritage are listed:
  766

  DNH staff as at 28 February 1994

  Grade

  Total number in grade

  Per cent, of which are female

  1A

  1

  0

  G3

  4

  25

  G4

  1

  0

  G5

  16

  25

  G6

  5

  80

  G7

  44

  25

  SEO and below

  265

  49

  Note:

  Information on ethnic minorities is not yet held centrally;

  The percentage of registered disabled staff employed within the Department of National Heritage is 0·6 per cent.

  Royal Palaces
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many grace and favour apartments there are in the historic royal palaces.
  767
  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: At historic royal palaces 18 apartments are occupied on a grace-and-favour basis by pensioners, employees and holders of official positions in the royal household.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many rules and regulations her Department has passed in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 16 March 1994]: This Department made the following numbers of statutory instruments over the last three calendar years:

  Year

  Number

  1991

  93

  1992

  117

  1993

  143

  Not all instruments impose requirements or regulations on business and some amend, replace or revoke existing instruments.

  Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give a breakdown of feline spongiform encephalopathy cases for each month since the first case was reported and the areas in which they occurred.

  Mr. Soames
  This disease is not notifiable to the Ministry and report to the Ministry is usually by private veterinary surgeons. The information requested is therefore listed by date of onset of clinical signs of the disease and is as follows:

  Date of onset

  County

  1989

  November

  Avon

  1990

  January

  Leicestershire

  February

  Gloucestershire

  March

  Somerset

  March

  Clwyd

  April

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  May

  West Glamorgan

  June

  Hampshire

  June

  Leicestershire

  July

  Avon

  September

  Cornwall

  September

  Strathclyde

  October

  Cornwall

  October

  Suffolk

  October

  North Yorkshire

  October

  West Yorkshire

  December

  Clwyd

  1991

  March

  Lancashire

  May

  Devon

  June

  Shetland

  August

  Dorset

  August

  Berkshire

  August

  Fife

  September

  Guernsey

  November

  Bedfordshire

  768

  Date of onset

  County

  December

  Clwyd

  1992

  February

  Derbyshire

  March

  Somerset

  April

  Dorset

  April

  Clwyd

  April

  Gloucestershire

  August

  Hertfordshire

  August

  Shropshire

  August

  Wiltshire

  August

  Surrey

  September

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  October

  Norfolk

  October

  Bedfordshire

  October

  Gloucestershire

  December

  Surrey

  1993

  May

  Cambridgeshire

  May

  Cumbria

  August

  Nottinghamshire

  August

  Durham

  September

  Strathclyde

  October

  Devon

  November

  Surrey

  Food Stockpile
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 606, if she will list the recipients of the foodstuffs in the national food stockpile.

  Mr. Soames
  There have been numerous recipients of foodstuffs from the national food stockpile following the decision to run it down. Some foods have been donated for food aid. Other foods have been either sold by competitive tender or returned under contract to the supplier. Stocks no longer suitable for human consumption have been sold for animal feed or destroyed.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Proton cars were purchased by her Department in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and at what cost.

  Mr. Jack
  The policy is for the Ministry to buy cars for official use where they can provide the most cost-effective means of arranging travel on the Ministry's business. Only those models showing the basic features necessary for the business in question are purchased and all purchases are made through central call-off contracts set up for that purpose.

  There are no records of any purchase of Proton cars during the period in question.

  Fishing Quotas
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes she envisages in regulations concerning "quota hoppers" in respect of the joint declaration on ownership of fishing vessels (final act) of annex 1 Union common position of the Norway EV fisheries agreement; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: The text of the joint declaration corresponds to wording included in

  769
  the judgment of the European Court of Justice in cases 216/87 and 221/89. As such, the declaration does not appear to necessitate any change in United Kingdom legislation.

  Freshwater Fish Stocks
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 24 March,Official Report, column 374, if she will place in the Library copies of the studies commissioned by the National Rivers Authority on the reasons for declines in fish catches.

  Mr. Jack
  Studies carried out by the National Rivers Authority in response to anglers' concerns about the perceived decline in catches of fish often involve an assessment of the status of stocks at the location in question. Normally further work would be carried out only if this revealed a particular problem. The results of such studies are made available to local fishery interests but are seldom disseminated more widely in the form of formal published reports. I am, however, arranging for reports on two of the more extensive studies carried out recently—those relating to the Warwickshire Avon and to the Test and Itchen—to be deposited in the Library of the House.

  Legal Action (Dairy Producers)
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was paid by her Department during 1993–94 as a result of legal action taken by dairy producers.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Costs of £75,972 have arisen as a result of legal actions taken by dairy producers. This amount will be brought to account in the 1993–94 appropriation account.

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance targets she has set for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in 1994–95; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has submitted his proposals to me and I have agreed that the VMD should be set the following performance targets for 1994–95:

  full cost recovery for the three business activities of licensing, policy work and residues monitoring;

  75 per cent. of new licence applications to be issued within 120 clock days; 95 per cent. within 200 days;

  an overall efficiency gain of 2 per cent.

  These are challenging targets which will build on the improvements already made in the efficiency and quality of service provided by the directorate since its establishment as a next steps agency, and for which I commend the chief executive and his staff. In addition, I have agreed the VMD's corporate plan for 1994–95—1996–97, and copies are being placed in the Library of the House and the Public Information Office.

  Milk Development Council
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the National Farmers Union's proposal for a milk development council.
  770
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In deciding whether to establish a development. council, Ministers have to follow the procedures in the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947. In particular, they need to be satisfied that its establishment is desired by a substantial number of persons engaged in the industry.

  In mid-April the Ministry and the Welsh Office therefore intend to invite all milk producers in England and Wales to vote on a proposal for the establishment and operation of a milk development council covering Great Britain and its funding by means of a statutory levy.

  A development council would continue certain activities of the milk marketing boards in Great Britain—such as the funding of research and development and the provision of market information—which would not be assumed by commercially-oriented successor co-operatives but are of benefit to the industry generally.

  We intend to ask for completed questionnaires to be returned by 12 May. The Scottish Office intends to conduct a similar poll in Scotland.

  Coast Protection
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the progress made with the survey of coast protection works in England.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My Department commissioned a coast protection survey of England in 1993. The survey was to examine the extent, adequacy and state of repair of coast protection defences, which are designed to protect the land from erosion and encroachment by the sea. A lead consultant was appointed to co-ordinate the collection of data by associate consultants. The lead consultants' report has been published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  The condition of each defence element—for example, embankment groyne—around the coast of England was assessed by visual inspection and the results can be summarised as follows:

  Per cent.

  Class 1 (condition as built)

  12

  Class 2 (some signs of wear)

  47

  Class 3 (moderate works needed)

  33

  Class 4 (significant works needed)

  8

  It should be emphasised that where a defence element is in need of significant works this does not mean that the integrity of the defences for the relevant stretch of coastline is in immediate jeopardy.

  The survey also identified some 135 km of unprotected coast which is at present significantly eroding and where the provision of works may need to be considered within the next ten years.

  The survey results have been sent to the local coast protection authorities in England so that they can consider the condition of existing defences in their respective areas and the potential need for defences for unprotected lengths of coastline that are eroding significantly. Councils will also be drawing the survey results to the attention of other owners of defences in their areas. The Ministry will be discussing the survey results with the coast protection authorities in order to prioritise the necessary remedial works.
  771

  Sheep Dip
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will be able to announce the composition of the medical panel to investigate health effects claimed to arise from organophosphorus sheep dip exposure; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  I am pleased to announce that the following members have been appointed to the medical and scientific panel, which is being established to look into reports of long term health effects claimed to arise from organophosphorus sheep dip exposure.

  Dr. D. N. Bateman, BSc, MB BS, MRCS, MD, FRCP(Chairman)

  Professor P. G. Blain, Phd, BMedSci, MB BS, FIBiol, MFOM, FRCP (London), FRCP (Edinburgh)

  Dr. R. W. Brimblecombe, PhD, DSc, FRCPath, FIBiol

  Professor S. J. W. Evans, BS Hons, MSc

  Dr. G. A. Jamal, MBChB(Hons), MD, PhD, FRCP (Glasgow)

  Dr. M. K. Johnson PhD, BSc, ARCS, ARIC

  Professor M. Lader, DSc, PhD, MD, FRCPsych

  Dr. T. C. Mans, MB BS, MSc, MD, MIBiol, DipRCPath (Tox), FRCPath, FIBiol

  Dr. R. G. Rawbone, MB BS, LRCP, MRCS

  Professor P. K. Thomas, CBE, DSc, MD, FRCP, FRCPath

  The panel, which will act as a sub-committee to the Veterinary Products Committee, will hold its first meeting on 31 March. I look forward to receiving its advice on the issues it will be addressing.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 28 and 29 March; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  This meeting of the Council, at which I represented the United Kingdom, held a further lengthy discussion of the Commission's proposals for farm prices and related measures, including milk quotas, for 1994–95. The attitude that I took on these issues was the one that I explained to the House in the recent debate.

  The Council reached no conclusions and will return to the subject at its next meeting. Because prices were not fixed, it was necessary formally to extend the 1993–94 marketing years for beef and milk: the Council so decided by unanimity.

  I took the opportunity to refer to recent scare stories in the German press alleging a link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy and human health. I stressed that there was no scientific foundation for this claim, that the measures that had long been in place in the United Kingdom and in the Community were more than adequate protection, and that unilateral action to restrict trade in British beef and cattle would be illegal. I received strong support from the Commission and a number of other member states for my point of view.

  The Council adopted several relatively minor measures, namely: a regulation permitting member states to buy up milk quota for redistribution, using funds previously set aside to compensate producers for reductions in quotas; a regulation concerning the use of sums previously agreed for assisting farmers in Portugal affected by drought; a regulation strengthening the controls on subsidised exports of certain processed products; a regulation providing for the levy-free import of certain quantities of wheat, beef, poultrymeat, pork and milling residues, previously agreed as part of the settlement of an earlier dispute with third
  772
  countries concerning oilseeds; and a regulation providing for the import of a supplementary quantity of high quality beef in 1994. Belgium and Ireland voted against the last two measures and Italy against the one on export controls. The others were adopted unanimously.

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has made at the Agriculture Council of 28 and 29 March about British beef exports.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  At the Agriculture Council on 28 March I raised our concerns about the threats from Germany of unilateral action against British beef and confirmed that my colleagues in the Council are standing firm in support of the Commission's position, with which we agree, that trade measures must be based on scientific knowledge of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. This knowledge is already fully reflected in the current trade rules.

  I presented Commissioner Steichen with a dossier showing the damage which has already been done to United Kingdom exports by the German position. I made it clear that we cannot tolerate this when there is no justification whatsoever for the safety of our beef exports to be called into question. I pointed out that if member states behaved in this way it created a dangerous precedent and undermined the very foundation of free trade; there was no knowing which product from which country might next be similarly affected. Whilst Governments had to respond to public concerns they should do so in a responsible and measured way which reflected the known facts of the situation.

  As the House is aware the Government believe that BSE was caused by the use of contaminated feed, on which action was taken by the ruminant feed ban in 1988. The feed hypothesis, made six years ago on the basis of a thorough epidemiological study, has recently been supported by preliminary findings from collaborative research begun in 1991, and due to run until 1996, which we are conducting with the EC Commission and the European Renderers Association. These early results show that the BSE agent can survive some rendering processes. When a report on this research is available it will be deposited in the Library of the House and I shall consult the Spongiform Encephalopathy advisory committee as the work progresses.

  My representations in the Council were fully supported by the Commission and 10 other member states, who shared our view that the position taken by Germany was not sustainable.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Public Accounts Commission
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, pursuant to his answer of 16 December,Official Report, column 797–98, what is the proposed time scale for the relocation of staff and work from Sheffield to London; which private sector firms are being invited to tender; what is the nature of the tendering process; and under what legislation the process is taking place.
  773
  Sir Peter Hordern
  Decisions on the administration and organisation of the National Audit Office are a matter for the Comptroller and Auditor General to take within his budget, which is considered and approved by the Public Accounts Commission on behalf of the House. I have asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to write to the hon. Member.

  Upper Waiting Hall Exhibitions
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Crown Prosecution Service to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 18 April to Friday 22 April.

  Lady Chalker's overseas travel August 1993—end December 1993

  When

  Where

  Reason

  August

  6–12

  Barbados, Dominica, Anguilla, USA (New York)

  Bilaterals, project visits, visit British Development Division

  September

  4–8

  Cyprus

  Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, Limassol

  18–24

  Ethiopia/Eritrea

  East Africa Heads of Mission Conference, bilaterals;

  October

  30/9–1/10

  Washington DC/Japan

  US Conference on Middle East, Tokyo Conference on Africa, bilaterals

  25–26

  Germany

  Bilaterals

  November

  5–10

  Italy/Albania

  Albania: bilaterals and project visits Rome: FAO Conference; talks with Vatican, WFP

  13–15

  Egypt

  Bilaterals, project visits

  17–19

  USA (NY/Washington)

  Bilaterals

  December

  1–2

  Brussels

  EC Development Council

  4–11

  South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana Zimbabwe

  Bilaterals Project visits

  Pergau Dam
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what losses he estimates he might be liable for, if the overall contract price for the Pergau dam project were shown to be greater than if it had been awarded by open tender.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, Fast (Mr. Vaz), of 24 February,Official Report, column 389, if he will now set out the cost of accompanying officials on the 21 official visits made; and what was the nature of (a) the bilateral discussions, (b) the international conferences and (c) the EC meeting to which he refers.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The cost of officials accompanying my noble Friend, Baroness Chalker of Wallasey, on her visits overseas during 1993 was approximately £116,000. In some instances the officials concerned have also been undertaking official duties in addition to providing support for the specific purposes of my noble Friend's visits; it is not possible to disaggregate the costings to reflect these occasions.

  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 14 July 1993, columns 499–504 for details of my noble Friend's visits from January to July 1993. Details of my noble Friend's visits between August and the end of December 1993 are as follows:

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. Her Majesty's Government are not party to the contract between Tenaga Nasional Berhad—TNB—and the United Kingdom consortium, Kerjaya Balfour Beatty Cementation.

  Thailand
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 586, which

  775
  company or companies are seeking support under the aid and trade provision for the project to improve the quality of drinking water supplies in Thailand.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I regret that this information is commercial and confidential.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 586, when he expects to reach a decision on whether the project to improve the quality of drinking water supplies in Thailand should receive support under the aid and trade provision.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A decision will be taken when ODA's appraisal of the project has been completed and we have complied with OECD consultation requirements.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 586, what is the total cost of the project to improve the quality of drinking water supplies in Thailand; and what is the likely cost to the aid and trade provision of supporting this project.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The costs of the project cannot be finalised until the appraisal process is complete.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreement has been reached, following the Intergovernmental Administration on Drought and Development—IGADD—meeting on Sudan in Nairobi on 17 March, to allow full access to humanitarian agencies to give relief assistance to people in war affected areas; and which new areas are now to be accessible to international aid agencies.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  An agreement was reached on 23 March between the Government of Sudan and both factions of the Sudan People's Liberation Army on a number of principles designed to facilitate the delivery of relief assistance to all needy populations regardless of their locations. A copy of the agreement has been placed in both Libraries of the House. If the agreement holds, all war-affected areas should become accessible.

  Liberia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent humanitarian aid is now flowing in Liberia through the Ivory Coast access route and through Kakata.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Humanitarian aid convoys are presently moving freely along these routes.

  Desertification
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on problems encountered, and progress made, in the current negotiations for a global convention to combat desertification.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The main problem encountered has been the completion of both a convention text and a776
  regional instrument for Africa in the timescale set by the United Nations General Assembly. In the current round of negotiations some progress has been made on agreement of a convention text.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claiming income support in the Doncaster area offices of the Benefit Agency in 1992 and 1993 were refused benefit by an adjudication officer; how many appealed; how many of those who appealed subsequently had their claim for income support allowed; and how many of those concerned had children.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of income support 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 Michael Bichard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the appeals in the Benefits Agency's Doncaster District.
  The full range of information you request is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. This is because statistics relating to the refusal of Income Support and those which would identify families with children are not routinely collected. To obtain all the relevant information would require a physical examination of all income support cases within the Doncaster District.
  I am, however, able to provide records which show the number for income support appeals which are for January to December each year and are shown below.

  1992

  1993

  Appeals received

  321

  339

  Appeals withdrawn

  43

  48

  Appeals superseded

  79

  96

  Appeals allowed

  19

  20

  Appeals partially allowed

  4

  2

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what amount of income support payment is deemed to be designated for personal clothing needs.

  Mr. Burt
  Income support rates are intended to cover all normal day-to-day living expenses and no particular amounts are designated for specific purposes. Claimants are free to manage their benefit according to their own needs and preferences.

  Income Support (Deductions)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in the Doncaster area are having weekly deductions made from their income support for(a) electricity and (b) gas of (i) under £2 per week and (ii) in each £1 band above £2 per week up to £40 per week.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of income support 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.
  777
  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many households in the Doncaster area are having weekly deductions made from their income support for (a) electricity and (b) gas of (i) £2 per week and (ii) in each £1 band above £2 per week up to £40 per week.
  The full range of information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. This is because figures are not routinely collected on a local basis and to obtain the full range of information requested would require a physical examination of all cases with deductions for electricity and gas in the Doncaster area.
  However, the information which is available for the Doncaster area, is as follows:

  Number

  Cases with deductions for electricity

  374

  Cases with deductions for gas

  876

  This information has been collected by the Doncaster District Office whose area boundary coincides with that of the Doncaster area. No further breakdown is available.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements are made for repaying moneys to absent parents who have been wrongly assessed by the Child Support Agency.

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

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. John Spellar, dated 28 March 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency's arrangements for repaying money to absent parents where the maintenance assessment has been revised.
  The Agency acts as an intermediary between two parties in the arrangement of child maintenance, and has no powers to recover monies which have been overpaid to the parent with care. However, provisions have been made in the Arrears, Interest and Adjustment of Maintenance Assessment Regulations (regulation 10) to adjust future payments of maintenance in order to correct an under or overpayment, where this can be done.
  The parent with care is protected from a period of total loss of income by restricting the amount by which future payments of maintenance may be adjusted in order to correct overpayment. These provisions are normally applied by the Child Support Officer at the maximum rate of 1½ times the difference between the old and new assessment. However, where an absent parent makes representations about the level of adjustment a lesser rate can be considered.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar can expect an answer from the Child Support Agency in reply to her letter to the Minister dated 14 December concerning the case of Mrs. W. A. Rex-Cain.

  Mr. Burt
  I understand that Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive of the Child Support Agency, replied to the hon. Member on 25 March 1994.
  778
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will launch an independent investigation into the handling by the Child Support Agency of Mrs. Terri West's application for child maintenance support.

  Mr. Burt
  There are no such plans. My hon. Friend will understand that although I am unable to comment on an individual case, I should stress that either party to a child maintenance assessment has the right to seek a review, and following the review to seek leave to appeal to an independent child support appeal tribunal.

  State Pension Age
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer of 19 July 1993,Official Report, column 74, in respect of the information contained in the figure from "Options for Equality in State Pension Age".

  Mr. Hague
  The Government Actuary's Department has revised the information contained in figure 7, page 77, of the "Options for Equality in State Pension Age" document for current pension age, age 60 and age 65. The information is contained in the table. These estimates do not include any national health service allocation. There are obvious difficulties in predicting developments so far into the future, including the need to make hypothetical policy assumptions, for example, concerning the conditions for contracting out. For these reasons figures for age 63 have not been updated and the results given should not be interpreted as precise estimates but as broad indicators of the financial effects.

  Current state pension age

  Age 60

  Age 65

  Year

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1994–95

  18·25

  —

  —

  2025

  20·0

  22·0

  18·5

  2035

  19·8

  21·5

  18·7

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (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. Hague
  A number of organisations or individuals may be consulted about, or asked to submit names of, potential candidates for public appointments. Since June 1992 these have included:

  The Association of British Insurers

  The British Epilepsy Association

  The Confederation of British Industry

  Miss C. H. Dawes (Deputy Chairman of the Occupational Pensions Board)

  Expert members of the Disability Living Allowance Board

  The Forum of Private Businesses

  The Government Actuary

  779

  The Department of Health

  The Department of Health and Social Services Northern Ireland

  The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council

  The Lord Chancellor's Department

  The Public Appointments Unit within the Cabinet Office

  Sir Jeremy Rowe CBE, (former Chairman of the Occupational Pensions Board)

  The Secretary of State for Scotland

  The Social Security Advisory Committee

  The Department of Trade and Industry

  The Trade Union Congress

  HM Treasury

  The Secretary of State for Wales

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

  Mr. Scott
  As the Department of Health has the lead on this matter, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, on 25 March, at column 463. This Department ran no such specific projects.

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. Hague
  The information requested is as follows. All appointments are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Except where shown, appointments are for a three-year term and non-salaried.

  Occupational Pensions Board

  Chairman (£26,000):

  Mr. P. Carr CBE

  Deputy Chairman (£12,000), 3.5 year appointment:

  Miss C. H. Dawes

  Members:

  Mr. R. Amy

  Mrs. R. Brown

  Mr. R. Ellison

  Mr. H. Harris Hughes

  Mr. A. Herbert

  Mr. D. Lyburn

  Mr. A. Pickering

  Mr. W. Ramsey

  Mr. M. Slack

  Mr. K. Thomas

  Miss P. Triggs

  Central Advisory Committee for War Pensions

  Members:

  Mr. M. B. Day, MBE

  Councillor T. S. Deeming, MBE

  Mr. P. H. Dixon, OBE MA

  Mr. I. Duncan-Smith, MP

  Mr. W. Dunn, MBE JP

  Mr. C. G. Fox, FRSH FCIArb

  Mr. I. Grainger

  Mr. D. B. Hilton

  Mr. R. R. Holland, MBE

  Mr. R. W. E. House, MBE

  Mr. J. Hughes, CBE

  Mr. E. R. Jobson, OBE

  Councillor T. J. Jones, JP BEM KSG

  Mr. O. C. S. Light, MBE

  Lord Mackie of Benshie, CBE DSO DFC

  780

  Mr. A. Meale, MP

  Mr. G. R. Miller

  Mrs. H. Murphy

  Mr. W. S. Mutimer, MBE JP

  Mrs. M. F. K.Neale, MBE

  Mrs. P. L. Newnes, OBE

  Mr. F. E. Onyon, MBE

  Sir Roger Palin, KBE

  Mr. H. L. Payne, OBE

  Mr. C. G. S. Pigott, MBE

  Mr. J. J. Ray, MBE

  Mr. H. B. Salmon, MBE

  Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board

  Chairman (two year appointment):

  Professor R. Grahame, MB BS MD FRCP

  Deputy Chairman (two year appointment):

  Miss S. Knibbs, CQSW

  Members:

  Mrs. J. Allen-King, MBE

  Mrs. J. Ashcroft, MBE

  Mrs. P. Case, CBE BA

  Dr. A. Clarke, BSc MB BS FRCP

  Miss E. Fanshawe, OBE DipCOT

  Mrs. J. Franklin, CQSW

  Mr. S. Gallop, OBE MA

  Mrs. C. Henry, RGN

  Dr. J. Hunter, BSc MB ChB FRCP

  Sir Peter Large, CBE BSc

  Mr. C. Laurenzi, BSc CQSW

  Dr. R. Lucas, BSc MB BS MPhil FRCPsych

  Dr. I. McKinlay, BSc MB ChB FRCP DCH

  Mrs. S. Philbrook, BA MCSP

  Dr. T. Phillips, MB BS FRFPS MRCP MFOM

  Dr. M. Piper, MB BS FRCP

  Dr. M. Richards, BSc MB BChir FRCPGP

  Dr. S. Shorvon, MB BChir MD FRCP

  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council

  Chairman:

  Professor J. M. Harrington

  Members:

  Dr. J. Asherson

  Miss J. C. Brown

  Mrs. J. Carter

  Professor M. J. Cinnamond

  Dr. D. N. M. Coggon

  Professor A. D. Dayan

  Dr. C. P. Juniper

  Mr. T. Mawer

  Professor A. J. Newman Taylor

  Mr. R. Pickering

  Dr. L. Rushton

  Dr. C. Taylor

  Mr. O. D. Tudor

  Ms M. Tworney

  Social Security Advisory Committee

  Chairman: Mr. M. Bett CBE

  Members:

  Mrs. J. Anelay OBE

  Mr. A. Dilnot

  The Reverend G. H. Good OBE

  Mr. D. Guereca

  Mr. N. Hardwick

  Mr. M. Hastings

  Professor A. Ogus

  The Hon. Mrs.R. H. Price CBE

  Esme Scott CBE

  Professor O. Stevenson

  Dr. A. V. Stokes OBE

  Mr. O. Tudor

  Mr. R. G. Wendt DL

  Far East (Prisoners of War and Internees) Fund

  Trustees: (5 year appointments)

  Lord Gridley

  Reverend R. Rossiter

  Dr. Peter Watson

  781
  Queen Mary's Roehampton Trust

  Trustees:

  Mr. C. J. Flind

  Mr. M. Forrester MBE

  Dr. J. Watkinson

  Independent Living Fund

  Chairman (indefinite term): Mr. S. Shore

  Trustees (indefinite term):

  Mrs. A. Davis

  Mr. G. Mackey

  Mr. W. Morrison

  Mr. J. Shepherd

  Dr. A. Stokes

  Mr. R. Wendt

  Motabiliry Tenth Anniversary Trust

  Trustees (indefinite term)

  Mr. D. Chislett

  Sir Peter Large CBE

  Pensions Ombudsman (indefinite term), £53,500, Mr. M. Platt

  Social Fund Commissioner (salary range £46,100 to £55,800),

  Mrs. R. Mackworth

  Agency Chief Executives

  Benefits Agency five year appointment, (salary range £75,000 to £82,000), Mr. M. Bichard

  Child Support Agency (salary range £46,100 to £55,800), Mrs. R. Hepplewhite

  Contributory Agency (salary range £51,300 to £59,600), Miss A. Chant

  Information and Technology Services Agency (salary range £51,300 to £59,600), Mr. I. Magee

  Resettlement Agency (salary range £37,600 to £55,800), Mr. A. Ward

  War Pensions Unit to achieve Agency status in April 1994,
  (salary range £36,000 to £53,700), Mr. P. Mathison

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (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. Hague
  Where an appointment gives access to classified information the need for security vetting will be considered.

  Income-related Benefits
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many people receive part or all of their income by way of one or more of the income-related benefits.

  Grade (including equivalent professional and other grades)

  (a) Women (as at 28 February 1994)

  (b) Ethnic minorities1 (as at 28 February 1994)

  (c) Registered disabled2 (as at 1 July 1993)

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Grade 1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 3

  3

  18

  *

  8·3

  0

  0

  Grade 4

  3

  33

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 5

  29

  24

  *

  2·3

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  73

  23

  21

  12·2

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  152

  22

  7

  1·4

  4

  0·6

  All Grades

  64,119

  67

  3,394

  5·1

  1,396

  1·6

  782
  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. The number of people claiming each benefit is in the table.

  Benefit

  Recipients—May 1993

  Income Support1

  5,643,000

  Housing Benefit2

  4,530,000

  Council Tax Benefit2

  5,231,000

  Family Credit3

  515,000

  Disability Working Allowance

  3,184

  1Does not include partners or dependants.

  2Benefit Units.

  3Figures are for September 1993.

  Note: As individuals can be entitled to more than one income related benefit all figures are subject to overlap.

  Medical Boards and Tribunals (Appeals)
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the current waiting targets, and current waiting times, for appeals to special medical boards and medical appeal tribunals.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested on special medical boards is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Medical appeal tribunals are the responsibility of the president of the independent tribunal service. I am informed that the information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the target and current outturn for the time taken from lodgement of an appeal to the issue of the tribunal's decision.

  Target

  Outturn

  15 per cent. in 4 months

  18·6

  40 per cent. in 6 months

  46·5

  90 per cent. in 12 months

  79·9

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. Hague
  The information for permanent staff employed by the Department, including its agencies, is in the table.
  783
  Notes:

  1 Ethnic origin representation is calculated by taking ethnic minority respondents as a proportion of all respondents to the Department's ethnic survey. The response rate as at 28 February 1994 was 63.2 per cent. Asterisks have replaced very small numbers to avoid identifying individuals.

  2 Figures for disabled staff are for full time equivalents and cover only those registered as disabled: there are other staff with disabilities who have chosen not to register.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of applications for the disability working allowance, and the number accepted, for each month since the allowance was introduced; and what percentage of people with disabilities of working age this represents.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is in the table. The survey of disability conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, based on fieldwork conducted in 1985–1988 and published in 1989, suggested that there were around 2 million disabled people between the ages of 16 and 65. However many of these would be unlikely to qualify for disability working allowance because they were only slightly disabled or because their disability would prevent them from undertaking any work.

  Disability working allowance

  Period

  Claims

  Awards

  1992

  April

  7,056

  476

  May

  2,666

  317

  June

  2,697

  295

  July

  2,841

  296

  August

  2,085

  284

  September

  1,746

  446

  October

  1,573

  533

  November

  1,298

  414

  December

  1,001

  298

  1993

  January

  1,190

  405

  February

  1,350

  400

  March

  1,565

  570

  April

  1,205

  595

  May

  1,070

  610

  June

  1,235

  570

  July

  1,002

  518

  August

  1,103

  480

  September

  1,306

  681

  October

  1,228

  680

  November

  1,121

  646

  December

  838

  392

  1994

  January

  1,100

  683

  February

  1,200

  647

  Total

  39,476

  11,236

  Occupational Deafness
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will approve the addition of occupational deafness to the list of prescribed injuries for which disablement benefit is payable.

  Mr. Scott
  Occupational deafness has been prescribed as a disease, in relation to certain occupational activities, since October 1974.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what replies the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the Viscount Astor, has received from members of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions to his letter of 15 March about tobacco and alcohol-related claims for war pensions and war widows' pensions; how many members of the committee had previously indicated, when they were consulted, their approval of his Department's proposals to amend the Service Pension Order; and what further action he will be taking.

  Mr. Hague
  One member of the central advisory committee has written in response to the letter of 15 March.

  Eight members expressed approval of the proposals set out in the consultation letter of 4 January, three with reservations on points of detail.

  In accordance with normal procedures for amendments to the Service Pension Order, the changes were made by Order in Council. That order was laid before the House on 25 March and came into force on 28 March.

  Staff Sickness
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average loss of days worked per employee in sickness in(a) 1991, (b) 1992 and (c) 1993 for (i) staff in DSS benefit offices and (ii) staff employed by the Child Support Agency.

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

PRIME MINISTER

  Official Gifts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has chosen to purchase any official gift since becoming Prime Minister.

  The Prime Minister
  That is a private matter.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 10 March,Official Report, column 319, if he will list those charities which have benefited from the proceeds of the sale of small gifts given to him and his predecessor.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: That is a private matter.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister how much has been spent by his Office on the provision of official gifts in each of the last three years.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Provision of official gifts £

  1991

  17,470

  1992

  21,241

  1993

  18,385

  785
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if details of gifts received by Ministers in their official capacity and reported to the departmental permanent secretary are made available to the public; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: Gifts received by Ministers in their official capacity are dealt with in accordance with the procedures set out in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". The details are not made public.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 10 March,Official Report, column 319, if he will state the amounts accruing to official funds from the sale of gifts from the official inventory in each year since 1985.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: The only sales have been those to the Prime Minister of the day. These have all been carried out in accordance with "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". It is not the practice to publish details.

  Government Car Service
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers; and how many vehicles are involved.

  The Prime Minister
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1993, c. 222]: The charge to my office for ministerial use of the Government car service during 1992–93 was £130,198. Two vehicles are involved.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to his office in 1990–91 of use of the Government car service other than the vehicles for his ministerial use; and which persons other than Ministers had a car specifically allocated to them.

  The Prime Minister
  The charge to my office for official use of the Government car service in 1990–91 was £192,998. No cars were specifically allocated to individuals.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers in 1990–91; and how many vehicles were involved.

  The Prime Minister
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1993, c. 561]: The charge to my office for ministerial use of the Government car service during 1990–91 was £75,954. Two vehicles were involved.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will quantify the cost of the factors which led to a fall in the cost of cars for Prime Minister's use since 1990–91; what change has taken place in the cost of cars for No. 10, other than for the Prime Minister's use, since 1990–91; and what changes have taken place in the rules governing their use.

  The Prime Minister
  Since my answers of 8 and 14 December 1993, a detailed examination has been carried out of the invoices from the Government car service over the period from 1990–91 to 1992–93, in particular to check on the allocation between ministerial and official use. This has produced some changes from the figures originally given to the hon. Member.
  786
  Since 1990–91, GCS costs have increased, and in addition GCS charges have been restructured to reflect the fact that it had been under-recovering its costs in 1990–91. These factors have affected the costs of the cars for ministerial use and of those for official use. In addition, for the Prime Minister's cars, the basis of funding the necessary security work has changed, and now falls on the No. 10 running costs budget; this has increased the costs of the Prime Minister's cars by some 60 per cent., on top of the 12 per cent. increase in GCS charges for long-term hire. For the cars for official use, there has been an increase in costs arising from a change away from the GCS providing 24-hour cover for the cars on long-term hire towards greater use of pool cars. There has been no change in the rules governing the use of official cars by staff in 10 Downing street.

  The revised figures (net of recovered VAT) are as follows:

  Ministerial use £

  Official use £

  1990–91

  75,954

  192,998

  1992–93

  130,198

  339,549

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will provide substantive answers to the questions from the right hon. Member for Swansea, West tabled for answer on 16 December and on 13 January relating to the costs of cars used by his Office.

  The Prime Minister
  I have done so.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions took place between the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence prior to the Secretary of State's March 1988 visit to Malaysia about the range of subjects to be covered in the protocol; to what extent the question of civil aid was considered; what documentation is held at No. 10 Downing street and the Cabinet Office reporting on the progress of the negotiations in Kuala Lumpur; and how the Prime Minister's office was kept informed of the progress of the negotiations.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 9 March 1994]: In January 1988 my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence wrote to ministerial colleagues to secure agreement to the signing of a protocol covering the purchase of defence equipment by the Malaysian Government. This exchange made no mention of civil aid. No. 10 files confirm that the Prime Minister's office was informed about the negotiations in Kuala Lumpur, and the inclusion of the paragraph on civil aid, only after the protocol had been signed.

EDUCATION

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

  Mr. Forth
  None.
  787

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 15 February,Official Report, column 678, if he will list in order the 20 independent schools in England which received most money during the 1993–94 academic year from his

  Assisted Places Scheme 1992–93 academic year

  School name

  Number of assisted pupils

  Total roll

  Per cent, of assisted pupils

  Average fee £1

  Dulwich College

  273

  1,380

  20

  5,720

  Wisbecb Grammar school

  326

  628

  52

  4,050

  St. Edward's College

  396

  937

  42

  3,085

  Emanuel school

  290

  763

  38

  4,130

  Latymer Upper school

  312

  1,049

  30

  4,235

  Alleyns school Dulwich

  203

  1,038

  20

  5,240

  Haberdasher's Aske's Boys

  250

  1,327

  19

  4,795

  Royal Grammar school

  282

  916

  31

  3,930

  Newcastle-under-Lyme school

  390

  1,329

  29

  3,010

  Hereford Cathedral school

  233

  587

  40

  3,960

  Bristol Grammar school

  267

  1,232

  22

  3,430

  Wolverhampton Grammar school

  256

  646

  40

  3,910

  Bolton school (Boys)

  267

  1,003

  27

  3,855

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar

  260

  1,220

  21

  3,370

  James Aliens Girls school

  168

  1,039

  16

  5,005

  St. Mary's College Crosby

  254

  789

  32

  3,195

  Manchester Grammar school

  274

  1,436

  19

  3,495

  King Edward VI school

  241

  958

  25

  3,900

  Kings school

  182

  931

  20

  4,570

  Wellington school

  226

  838

  27

  3,805

  1 Tuition fees including incidental expenses.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, columns 587–88, if he will place in the Library the results of the pre and post-campaign market research on each campaign listed.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The market research listed in the answer of 14 February was commissioned for internal purposes only—for campaign evaluation and planning. It is analogous to the advice given by officials to Ministers. I am unable, therefore, to place the results in the Library.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, columns 587–88, how many coupon and telephone responses were received and leaflets issued in respect of each campaign.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The 1993 testing publicity campaign resulted in 24,000 telephone and coupon responses. A total of 2,100,000 copies of the leaflet "How is your child doing at school?" were issued.

  The GM advertising campaign resulted in over 3,000 telephone and coupon responses. A total of over 125,000 booklets were issued.

  The 1994 testing campaign is still running. By 25 March some 21,000 telephone and coupon responses had been received and 3,300,000 copies of the leaflet "National School Tests in 1994" had been issued.

  For the 1993 publicity campaign for the charters for further and higher education, by the end of February 1994 a total of 52,000 telephone and coupon responses had been received and 1,700,000 charters had been issued. Charters are continuing to be requested.
  788
  Department under the assisted places scheme with (a) the number of pupils covered by the assisted places scheme, (b) the number on that institution's school roll, (c) (a) as a percentage of (b) and (d) the fee charged for each pupil.

  Mr. Forth
  Information for the 1992–93 academic year, the latest for which complete data are available, is given in the table:

  There was no coupon or telephone service associated with the DFC Roadshow. Around 30,000 leaflets were issued.

  Education and Training Grants
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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 grants for education and training scheme.

  Mr. Forth
  The grants for education support and training programme for 1994–95 will support local education authority expenditure of £270.6 million, mainly at a grant rate of 60 per cent. Of this, £47·8 million—18 per cent.—was allocated on the basis of competitive bids from LEAs. All bids were carefully examined on their merits and each LEA's needs. The remaining £222·8 million was allocated by formula, but dependent on satisfactory bids from LEAs. All GEST grants are allocated subject to LEAs indicating their ability to take them up.

  Books and Equipment
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent by each local education authority on books and equipment, in constant prices, for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on total expenditure by each local education authority on books and equipment for the years 1988–89 to 1992–93, in 1992–93 prices, is given in the following table.
  789

  Expenditure on books and equipment in real terms

  £000

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  ILEA

  44,076

  33,543

  —

  —

  —

  Corporation of London

  —

  —

  20

  22

  25

  Camden

  —

  —

  2,107

  2,320

  2,770

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  2,882

  1,178

  15,052

  Hackney

  —

  —

  1,255

  1,740

  15,120

  Hammersmith

  —

  —

  1,743

  2,432

  2,209

  Islington

  —

  —

  1,671

  2,014

  14,571

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  —

  1,509

  1,851

  1,192

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  1,399

  1,216

  15,027

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  1,917

  1,090

  9,529

  Southwark

  —

  —

  3,795

  4,578

  4,112

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  4,464

  3,931

  15,837

  Wandsworth

  —

  —

  5,292

  4,502

  3,514

  Westminster

  —

  —

  2,750

  2,716

  4,910

  Barking

  3,049

  2,988

  3,005

  2,317

  3,465

  Barnet

  5,977

  3,449

  3,199

  4,101

  5,069

  Bexley

  3,165

  2,794

  2,572

  2,999

  2,274

  Brent

  3,077

  4,032

  2,849

  3,980

  4,239

  Bromley

  3,172

  3,331

  2,604

  2,661

  2,322

  Croydon

  5,628

  4,520

  4,584

  4,574

  5,403

  Ealing

  3,539

  2,396

  2,839

  3,123

  2,686

  Enfield

  2,291

  2,152

  3,170

  2,706

  1,337

  Haringey

  n/a

  4,175

  1,019

  869

  13,374

  Harrow

  2,967

  4,039

  3,523

  3,388

  13,750

  Havering

  3,363

  3,816

  3,491

  4,340

  4,392

  Hillingdon

  2,448

  2,415

  2,220

  1,864

  3,014

  Hounslow

  n/a

  2,391

  3,289

  3,951

  13,065

  Kingston upon Thames

  5,866

  2,694

  1,785

  2,039

  12,270

  Merton

  4,754

  2,895

  2,474

  1,791

  13,144

  Newham

  3,093

  3,564

  3,342

  4,365

  13,955

  Redbridge

  2,659

  3,338

  3,673

  3,657

  3,831

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,998

  2,433

  2,139

  2,002

  2,130

  Sutton

  1,908

  1,927

  1,726

  1,694

  1,801

  Waltham Forest

  2,236

  2,835

  2,044

  2,271

  3,015

  Birmingham

  13,328

  16,220

  21,543

  13,478

  17,895

  Coventry

  7,322

  5,787

  6,601

  5,273

  15,116

  Dudley

  3,825

  3,108

  3,325

  2,780

  3,027

  Sandwell

  3,756

  5,028

  785

  1,200

  2,738

  Solihull

  3,901

  2,865

  3,136

  3,547

  3,505

  Walsall

  3,072

  1,513

  4,168

  4,224

  4,730

  Wolverhampton

  6,097

  3,402

  1,896

  3,922

  2,975

  Knowsley

  1,886

  2,228

  2,606

  3,202

  2,832

  Liverpool

  8,671

  4,174

  3,838

  4,662

  4,921

  St. Helens

  2,232

  3,269

  2,292

  2,955

  13,094

  Sefton

  2,972

  2,765

  2,137

  4,432

  4,316

  Wirral

  7,524

  7,789

  5,438

  4,701

  5,122

  Bolton

  3,953

  3,286

  2,731

  3,586

  13,666

  Bury

  2,547

  2,426

  2,381

  2,532

  12,593

  Manchester

  n/a

  9,212

  6,829

  8,007

  7,904

  Oldham

  2,876

  2,868

  3,371

  3,167

  3,891

  Rochdale

  2,728

  3,225

  2,667

  2,451

  2,221

  Salford

  4,371

  3,513

  3,163

  2,851

  1,316

  Stockport

  4,271

  4,013

  4,559

  5,227

  5,586

  Tameside

  2,292

  3,015

  2,588

  2,434

  3,120

  Trafford

  2,740

  2,739

  2,422

  3,212

  12,884

  Wigan

  3,490

  6,167

  5,136

  5,404

  5,723

  Barnsley

  2,019

  2,330

  2,077

  3,242

  4,645

  Doncaster

  3,292

  2,427

  1,810

  1,071

  1,110

  Rotherham

  2,675

  3,574

  2,173

  2,703

  3,999

  Sheffield

  5,707

  4,143

  5,223

  6,581

  7,397

  Bradford

  7,490

  6,801

  6,422

  8,306

  8,422

  Calderdale

  2,712

  3,040

  2,637

  2,857

  2,886

  Kirklees

  6,719

  4,254

  4,217

  3,123

  9,193

  Leeds

  7,303

  3,070

  7,293

  8,602

  9,499

  Wakefield

  n/a

  4,609

  3,585

  4,675

  14,428

  Gateshead

  2,552

  1,874

  2,383

  2,694

  2,797

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  6,050

  4,504

  3,524

  3,922

  3,588

  North Tyneside

  n/a

  1,959

  2,022

  2,185

  12,590

  South Tyneside

  2,381

  2,248

  1,740

  1,641

  2,656

  Sunderland

  5,278

  3,941

  4,189

  5,994

  5,422

  Isles of Scilly

  28

  35

  38

  17

  5

  Avon

  13,578

  10,606

  12,778

  14,318

  17,988

  Bedfordshire

  8,502

  7,342

  8,691

  11,083

  12,347

  Berkshire

  10,089

  8,554

  13,282

  15,329

  17,118

  Buckinghamshire

  8,324

  8,164

  7,964

  8,413

  11,552

  Cambridgeshire

  11,804

  9,414

  8,744

  9,945

  11,153

  790 791

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Cheshire

  10,996

  10,853

  12,197

  14,109

  12,276

  Cleveland

  4,979

  6,739

  3,890

  9,130

  110,691

  Cornwall

  6,658

  5,120

  5,979

  5,866

  8,311

  Cumbria

  7,335

  5,919

  4,949

  5,416

  6,574

  Derbyshire

  11,232

  16,703

  12,769

  13,255

  12,914

  Devon

  14,954

  15,173

  13,443

  14,690

  18,741

  Dorset

  11,041

  9,939

  8,917

  10,017

  9,024

  Durham

  7,604

  9,441

  8,674

  9,786

  8,660

  East Sussex

  10,422

  9,357

  7,755

  9,549

  10,087

  Essex

  22,212

  21,865

  17,603

  22,514

  20,296

  Gloucestershire

  6,840

  8,380

  8,113

  7,331

  7,952

  Hampshire

  27,350

  23,310

  17,970

  27,202

  26,957

  Hereford and Worcester

  8,586

  8,533

  14,560

  11,000

  10,782

  Hertfordshire

  20,493

  17,047

  18,430

  7,651

  7,030

  Humberside

  15,756

  15,190

  17,139

  21,534

  21,141

  Isle of Wight

  1,817

  1,678

  1,727

  2,151

  2,117

  Kent

  19,064

  14,771

  22,570

  21,975

  n/a

  Lancashire

  21,309

  20,899

  15,913

  19,465

  125,623

  Leicestershire

  16,800

  15,615

  16,625

  19,696

  25,876

  Lincolnshire

  3,960

  4,503

  6,574

  9,725

  9,693

  Norfolk

  8,429

  8,387

  7,444

  8,811

  8,153

  North Yorkshire

  9,806

  10,549

  11,139

  12,100

  15,476

  Northamptonshire

  10,579

  11,272

  11,258

  12,101

  11,000

  Northumberland

  4,307

  4,639

  3,870

  4,255

  4,113

  Nottinghamshire

  15,696

  12,762

  12,192

  15,535

  15,973

  Oxfordshire

  9,489

  9,047

  8,125

  9,769

  11,602

  Shropshire

  4,971

  6,665

  6,991

  7,526

  6,680

  Somerset

  7,777

  8,649

  7,311

  6,715

  8,400

  Staffordshire

  20,377

  17,040

  17,012

  18,708

  17,330

  Suffolk

  8,863

  13,894

  10,101

  18,631

  20,396

  Surrey

  11,812

  7,274

  8,656

  13,557

  9,884

  Warwickshire

  8,599

  9,189

  8,299

  8,477

  14,351

  West Sussex

  7,779

  10,796

  8,173

  9,090

  12,693

  Wiltshire

  8,518

  10,361

  9,788

  10,205

  11,709

  Notes to table

  1The figures for 1992–93 include estimates of expenditure for the LEAs. The 1992–93 figures are subject to final checking by the Department of Environment and the Department for Education.

  1. figures are derived from local education authorities' returns of their spending to the Department of the Environment.

  2. "N/A" indicates that a return has not been received from the local education authority or that the return is subject to further enquiries.

  3. Real terms figures are at 1992–93 prices, repriced using the latest GDP (Market Prices) Deflator index.

  Parental Choice
  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 of parents who secured the

  Admission Appeals 1988–891 Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools2

  Not heard by appeals committee:

  Heard by appeals committee:

  Appeals withdrawn before committee stage

  Appeals settled to mutual satisfaction of authority and parents before committee stage

  Appeals rejected by committee

  Appeals decided in parent's favour by committee

  Local education authority

  number

  percentage

  number

  percentage

  number

  percentage

  number

  percentage

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  0

  2

  11

  14

  78

  2

  11

  Barnet

  26

  9

  38

  13

  172

  59

  57

  19

  Bexley

  48

  52

  2

  2

  22

  24

  21

  23

  Brent

  13

  22

  14

  23

  23

  38

  9

  15

  Bromley

  9

  2

  36

  10

  233

  62

  99

  26

  Croydon

  40

  10

  71

  19

  210

  55

  61

  16

  Ealing

  15

  13

  14

  12

  52

  44

  37

  31

  Enfield

  10

  3

  24

  7

  226

  67

  76

  23

  Haringey

  9

  13

  4

  6

  26

  37

  31

  44

  Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  109

  64

  61

  36

  Havering

  17

  9

  0

  0

  134

  68

  45

  23

  Hillingdon

  11

  9

  42

  34

  38

  31

  32

  26

  Hounslow

  5

  9

  0

  0

  1

  2

  52

  90

  Kingston Upon Thames

  7

  19

  0

  0

  26

  70

  4

  11

  Merton

  12

  18

  21

  32

  10

  15

  22

  34

  Newham3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Redbridge

  0

  0

  0

  0

  270

  77

  82

  23

  Richmond Upon Thames

  5

  4

  5

  4

  60

  51

  48

  41

  792
  secondary school of their first choice for their child; and if he will give these figures for both the earliest and latest years for which they are available since 1964.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested for the academic years 1988–89 and 1991–92, the earliest and latest dates for which information is available, is given in the tables.
  793

  Not heard by appeals committee:

  Heard by appeals committee:

  Appeals withdrawn before committee stage

  Appeals settled to mutual satisfaction of authority and parents before committee stage

  Appeals rejected by committee

  Appeals decided in parent's favour by committee

  Local education authority

  number

  percentage

  number

  percentage

  number

  percentage

  number

  percentage

  Sutton

  15

  4

  204

  60

  64

  19

  54

  16

  Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  6

  7

  44

  53

  33

  40

  Birmingham

  171

  15

  12

  1

  558

  50

  372

  33

  Coventry

  9

  7

  15

  11

  52

  39

  57

  43

  Dudley

  1

  4

  6

  26

  12

  52

  4

  17

  Sandwell

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  100

  Solihull

  4

  3

  25

  21

  36

  31

  53

  45

  Walsall

  10

  11

  1

  1

  38

  40

  45

  47

  Wolverhampton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  61

  72

  24

  28

  Knowsley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  23

  10

  114

  49

  94

  41

  St. Helens

  5

  4

  21

  17

  46

  38

  50

  41

  Sefton

  6

  23

  2

  8

  11

  42

  7

  27

  Wirral

  120

  44

  0

  0

  93

  34

  60

  22

  Bolton

  0

  0

  8

  9

  24

  26

  61

  65

  Bury

  24

  5

  94

  21

  89

  20

  238

  53

  Manchester

  6

  1

  187

  36

  192

  37

  134

  26

  Oldham

  0

  0

  109

  37

  127

  43

  59

  20

  Rochdale

  88

  38

  0

  0

  69

  30

  75

  32

  Salford

  1

  3

  6

  20

  6

  20

  17

  57

  Stockport

  32

  25

  5

  4

  46

  35

  41

  32

  Tameside

  1

  1

  5

  4

  12

  9

  115

  86

  Trafford

  1

  1

  4

  2

  85

  52

  69

  43

  Wigan

  11

  19

  16

  27

  18

  31

  14

  24

  Barnsley

  3

  10

  2

  7

  7

  23

  18

  60

  Doncaster

  6

  7

  16

  18

  27

  30

  39

  44

  Rotherham

  3

  7

  5

  12

  21

  49

  14

  33

  Sheffield

  36

  13

  198

  74

  1

  0

  34

  13

  Bradford

  5

  1

  252

  31

  293

  36

  257

  32

  Calderdale

  57

  29

  1

  1

  90

  46

  48

  24

  Kirklees

  4

  3

  15

  12

  19

  16

  81

  66

  Leeds

  0

  0

  0

  0

  25

  10

  238

  90

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  1

  1

  34

  41

  48

  58

  Gateshead

  2

  4

  8

  15

  18

  35

  23

  44

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  0

  0

  8

  21

  0

  0

  31

  79

  North Tyneside

  0

  0

  21

  48

  21

  48

  2

  5

  South Tyneside

  0

  0

  4

  100

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  6

  4

  5

  4

  76

  54

  55

  39

  Inner London Education Authority

  471

  19

  0

  0

  1,326

  54

  650

  27

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Avon

  60

  11

  66

  12

  176

  33

  220

  41

  Bedfordshire

  8

  3

  15

  7

  114

  50

  88

  38

  Berkshire

  54

  7

  149

  19

  346

  45

  220

  29

  Buckinghamshire

  15

  4

  6

  1

  269

  65

  122

  30

  Cambridgeshire

  5

  6

  18

  20

  49

  56

  16

  18

  Cheshire

  1

  2

  15

  31

  12

  24

  21

  43

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  20

  69

  9

  31

  Cornwall

  1

  50

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  50

  Cumbria

  2

  15

  2

  15

  7

  54

  2

  15

  Derbyshire

  16

  7

  20

  8

  90

  38

  111

  47

  Devon

  21

  9

  23

  10

  110

  47

  78

  34

  Dorset

  3

  3

  2

  2

  55

  55

  40

  40

  Durham

  24

  13

  38

  20

  62

  32

  68

  35

  East Sussex

  4

  6

  23

  33

  27

  39

  15

  22

  Essex

  5

  2

  26

  13

  141

  68

  35

  17

  Gloucestershire

  11

  5

  55

  27

  72

  35

  62

  31

  Hampshire

  13

  21

  20

  32

  6

  10

  23

  37

  Hereford and Worcester

  23

  19

  19

  16

  56

  46

  23

  19

  Hertfordshire

  52

  14

  0

  0

  197

  55

  112

  31

  Humberside

  5

  2

  28

  13

  65

  29

  123

  55

  Isle of Wight

  7

  10

  36

  52

  17

  25

  9

  13

  Kent

  576

  47

  276

  23

  274

  23

  89

  7

  Lancashire

  0

  0

  373

  24

  370

  24

  820

  52

  Leicestershire

  0

  0

  102

  63

  36

  22

  25

  15

  Lincolnshire

  9

  8

  0

  0

  57

  49

  51

  44

  Norfolk

  64

  44

  12

  8

  48

  33

  23

  16

  North Yorkshire

  4

  5

  10

  13

  24

  30

  41

  52

  Northamptonshire

  3

  4

  23

  33

  31

  44

  13

  19

  Northumberland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  16

  29

  39

  71

  Nottinghamshire

  42

  34

  0

  0

  43

  34

  40

  32

  Oxfordshire

  10

  16

  1

  2

  29

  45

  23

  36

  Shropshire

  6

  3

  11

  6

  8

  5

  147

  85

  794 795

  Not heard by appeals committee:

  Heard by appeals committee:

  Appeals withdrawn before committee stage

  Appeals settled to mutual satisfaction of authority and parents before committee stage

  Appeals rejected by committee

  Appeals decided in parent's favour by committee

  Local education authority

  number

  percentage

  number

  percentage

  number

  percentage

  number

  percentage

  Somerset

  23

  12

  63

  32

  39

  20

  74

  37

  Staffordshire

  1

  2

  3

  5

  30

  54

  22

  39

  Suffolk

  10

  8

  55

  42

  37

  28

  28

  22

  Surrey

  0

  0

  120

  34

  113

  32

  121

  34

  Warwickshire

  4

  4

  1

  1

  39

  40

  53

  55

  West Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  31

  54

  26

  46

  Wiltshire

  41

  59

  8

  12

  13

  19

  7

  10

  England

  2,448

  12

  3,177

  15

  8,510

  40

  6,996

  33

  1 Does not include appeals still to be decided by committee.

  2 Includes County, Voluntary Controlled, Voluntary Aided, and Special Agreement Schools.

  3 No LEA return for the 1988–89 academic year.

  Admission appeals 1991–921 Maintained (including self-governing (GM) primary and secondary schools2

  Not heard by appeals committee

  Heard by appeals committee

  Appeals withdrawn before committee stage

  Appeals settled to mutual satisfaction of authority and parents before committee stage

  Appeals rejected by committee

  Appeals decided in parents' favour by committee

  Local education authority

  number

  per cent.

  number

  per cent.

  number

  per cent.

  number

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Corporation of London

  0

  0

  4

  100

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  85

  22

  14

  4

  221

  57

  65

  17

  17

  Greenwich

  34

  8

  116

  27

  149

  34

  129

  30

  30

  Hackney

  16

  5

  81

  26

  152

  50

  57

  19

  19

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  9

  4

  21

  9

  152

  65

  51

  22

  22

  Islington

  40

  15

  0

  0

  158

  58

  72

  26

  26

  Kensington and Chelsea

  10

  23

  1

  2

  29

  67

  3

  7

  7

  Lambeth

  127

  25

  74

  15

  202

  40

  95

  19

  19

  Lewisham

  0

  0

  131

  21

  413

  65

  95

  15

  15

  Southwark

  42

  7

  78

  14

  239

  42

  208

  36

  36

  Tower Hamlets

  12

  2

  97

  18

  367

  67

  52

  10

  10

  Wandsworth

  101

  59

  10

  6

  47

  27

  14

  8

  8

  Westminster

  18

  10

  12

  7

  140

  76

  14

  8

  8

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  0

  72

  32

  70

  31

  81

  36

  36

  Barnet

  175

  22

  176

  22

  311

  39

  141

  18

  18

  Bexley

  20

  5

  80

  19

  77

  19

  239

  57

  57

  Brent

  13

  10

  63

  47

  40

  30

  16

  12

  12

  Bromley

  59

  12

  100

  21

  251

  52

  71

  15

  15

  Croydon3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ealing

  11

  5

  14

  6

  117

  49

  99

  41

  41

  Enfield

  200

  22

  9

  1

  488

  53

  228

  25

  25

  Haringey

  28

  13

  36

  16

  98

  45

  57

  26

  26

  Harrow

  101

  20

  118

  24

  196

  40

  78

  16

  16

  Havering

  20

  4

  33

  7

  326

  70

  86

  18

  18

  Hillingdon

  8

  5

  12

  8

  98

  66

  27

  18

  18

  Hounslow

  17

  7

  18

  7

  166

  64

  58

  22

  22

  Kingston upon Thames

  6

  5

  19

  17

  68

  59

  22

  19

  19

  Merton

  63

  40

  27

  17

  37

  24

  29

  19

  19

  Newham

  18

  5

  33

  9

  119

  33

  189

  53

  53

  Redbridge

  0

  0

  0

  0

  301

  79

  78

  21

  21

  Richmond upon Thames

  5

  2

  0

  0

  144

  70

  58

  28

  28

  Sutton

  5

  1

  112

  32

  168

  48

  63

  18

  18

  Waltham Forest

  6

  3

  7

  3

  116

  54

  84

  39

  39

  Birmingham

  311

  16

  9

  0

  1,079

  55

  552

  28

  28

  Coventry

  13

  3

  65

  14

  227

  49

  154

  34

  34

  Dudley

  51

  16

  38

  12

  181

  55

  59

  18

  18

  Sandwell

  106

  8

  1,112

  86

  10

  1

  61

  5

  5

  Solihull

  37

  13

  92

  33

  116

  41

  36

  13

  13

  Walsall

  11

  8

  23

  17

  54

  40

  46

  34

  34

  Wolverhampton

  6

  8

  0

  0

  49

  65

  20

  27

  27

  Knowsley4

  3

  100

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  57

  8

  0

  0

  384

  51

  314

  42

  42

  St. Helens

  12

  13

  15

  16

  32

  34

  35

  37

  37

  Sefton

  5

  5

  36

  35

  40

  38

  23

  22

  22

  Wirral

  0

  0

  101

  18

  330

  60

  121

  22

  22

  Bolton

  10

  7

  12

  9

  52

  37

  67

  48

  48

  Bury

  85

  13

  197

  31

  112

  18

  237

  37

  37

  796 797

  Not heard by appeals committee

  Heard by appeals committee

  Appeals withdrawn before committee stage

  Appeals settled to mutual satisfaction of authority and parents before committee stage

  Appeals rejected by committee

  Appeals decided in parents' favour by committee

  Local education authority

  number

  per cent.

  number

  per cent.

  number

  per cent.

  number

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Manchester

  87

  6

  142

  10

  772

  54

  421

  30

  30

  Oldham

  2

  0

  226

  56

  138

  34

  40

  10

  10

  Rochdale

  11

  4

  81

  31

  95

  37

  72

  28

  28

  Salford

  2

  3

  14

  23

  17

  28

  27

  45

  45

  Stockport

  8

  4

  0

  0

  94

  52

  79

  44

  44

  Tameside

  16

  17

  0

  0

  23

  24

  57

  59

  59

  Trafford

  9

  5

  42

  24

  65

  38

  51

  29

  29

  Wigan

  38

  15

  51

  20

  92

  37

  70

  28

  28

  Bamsley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  29

  20

  71

  71

  Doncaster

  6

  15

  5

  13

  24

  60

  5

  13

  13

  Rotherham

  14

  11

  10

  8

  56

  46

  43

  35

  35

  Sheffield

  54

  17

  228

  71

  15

  5

  25

  8

  8

  Bradford

  132

  14

  343

  36

  302

  31

  189

  20

  20

  Calderdale

  70

  48

  17

  12

  35

  24

  24

  16

  16

  Kirklees

  22

  14

  69

  44

  48

  30

  19

  12

  12

  Leeds

  41

  2

  1,475

  68

  301

  14

  337

  16

  16

  Wakefield

  6

  6

  4

  4

  48

  48

  41

  41

  41

  Gateshead

  10

  13

  51

  65

  7

  9

  10

  13

  13

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  8

  7

  27

  25

  21

  19

  54

  49

  49

  North Tyneside

  0

  0

  5

  36

  7

  50

  2

  14

  14

  South Tyneside

  0

  0

  3

  60

  2

  40

  0

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  7

  5

  18

  14

  56

  44

  47

  37

  37

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Avon

  100

  11

  86

  10

  293

  33

  404

  46

  46

  Bedfordshire

  3

  2

  2

  1

  88

  55

  30

  19

  19

  Berkshire

  61

  8

  80

  11

  361

  48

  242

  32

  32

  Buckinghamshire

  13

  3

  9

  2

  234

  59

  144

  36

  36

  Cambridgeshire3

  0

  0

  1

  100

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire4

  7

  10

  1

  1

  43

  59

  22

  30

  30

  Cleveland

  5

  6

  0

  0

  44

  52

  35

  42

  42

  Cornwall

  0

  0

  4

  15

  10

  38

  12

  46

  46

  Cumbria

  6

  6

  61

  57

  20

  19

  20

  19

  19

  Derbyshire

  28

  6

  71

  14

  199

  40

  204

  41

  41

  Devon

  22

  6

  100

  26

  154

  41

  103

  27

  27

  Dorset

  0

  0

  26

  10

  113

  45

  114

  45

  45

  Durham

  31

  15

  43

  20

  61

  29

  76

  36

  36

  East Sussex

  24

  9

  67

  26

  113

  43

  58

  22

  22

  Essex

  23

  8

  6

  2

  169

  62

  75

  27

  27

  Gloucestershire

  54

  14

  57

  15

  173

  45

  97

  25

  25

  Hampshire

  7

  15

  7

  15

  28

  61

  4

  9

  9

  Hereford and Worcester

  9

  6

  28

  19

  72

  48

  41

  27

  27

  Hertfordshire

  82

  10

  125

  15

  392

  46

  259

  30

  30

  Humberside

  27

  7

  42

  10

  135

  33

  204

  50

  50

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  0

  0

  14

  52

  13

  48

  48

  Kent

  222

  14

  925

  57

  276

  17

  199

  12

  12

  Lancashire

  297

  14

  53

  3

  650

  32

  1,058

  51

  51

  Leicestershire

  9

  3

  37

  12

  197

  63

  71

  23

  23

  Lincolnshire

  15

  7

  36

  18

  80

  39

  74

  36

  36

  Norfolk

  38

  16

  144

  61

  39

  17

  14

  6

  6

  North Yorkshire

  9

  4

  38

  16

  77

  31

  121

  49

  49

  Northamptonshire

  4

  4

  47

  43

  24

  22

  35

  32

  32

  Northumberland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  21

  11

  79

  79

  Nottinghamshire

  75

  27

  28

  10

  80

  29

  92

  33

  33

  Oxfordshire

  3

  2

  1

  1

  64

  36

  108

  61

  61

  Shropshire

  13

  7

  9

  5

  35

  19

  130

  70

  70

  Somerset

  22

  9

  53

  22

  98

  41

  67

  28

  28

  Staffordshire

  12

  7

  13

  7

  96

  55

  55

  31

  31

  Suffolk

  7

  8

  28

  31

  25

  28

  29

  33

  33

  Surrey

  20

  5

  128

  33

  139

  36

  96

  25

  25

  Warwickshire

  8

  9

  35

  41

  25

  29

  18

  21

  21

  West Sussex

  1

  1

  19

  25

  37

  49

  18

  24

  24

  Wiltshire

  4

  7

  4

  7

  34

  57

  18

  30

  30

  England

  3,760

  10

  8,493

  23

  15,047

  40

  10,286

  27

  27

  1 Does not include appeals still to be decided by committee.

  2 Includes County, Voluntary controlled, Voluntary Aided, Special Agreement and Self-governing (GM) Schools.

  3 No LEA return for 1991–92 year. The figures relate to the self-governing (grant-maintained) sector only.

  4 Figures based on incomplete data.

  798 799

  Asthma
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in the age range five to 11 years attend schools in England; and what percentage of these children is classified as suffering from asthma.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested regarding numbers of children who have asthma is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will make a statement on his policy on the carriage of asthma ventilators on their person, at all times, on school premises by children in the age group five to 11 years;

  (2) to what extent the carrying at all times of asthma ventilators by asthma suffering children of the age range five to 11 years, while at school is a matter to be decided by (a) the child's parents, (b) the school's head teacher or (c) other education authority groupings.

  Mr. Forth
  It is considered good health care practice for children with asthma, where possible, to manage their own condition as early as is consistent with their development. Teachers should, in consultation with parents and with the benefit of appropriate medical advice, do all that is reasonable to enable children to participate as fully as possible in school life.
  800

  Building Projects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what major building projects since 1989, valued at over £1 million are being, or have been wholly or partly financed 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. Forth
  There have been no major building projects at voluntary aided and special agreement schools since 1989, valued at over £1 million financed by this Department in any of the local education authorities cited above. The Department does not control the funding of projects at individual county and voluntary controlled schools. It is for authorities to decide their own capital expenditure priorities and to make the best use of the resources available to them.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to promote further the opting out of schools.

  Mr. Patten
  I intend to ensure that parents, governors and teachers have access to the factual information that they need about grant-maintained status in order to make an informed decision about whether it would be right for their school. I expect that in most cases the benefits will be very apparent.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Middle East
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of participating states and organisations in the middle east peace negotiations to discuss progress.

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of participating states and organisations in the middle east peace negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Israel, the occupied territories, Lebanon and Jordon from 2 to 6 January and met the key figures involved in the peace process. He and I met Mr. Arafat's envoy, Nabil Shaath, on 3 March.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in the middle east peace process.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom cosponsored United Nations Security Council resolution 904 was adopted on 18 March. This calls for the implementation without delay of the Israeli-PLO declaration of principles. We hope for early agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Jericho. We welcome the announcement that bilateral talks between Israel and Syria, Lebanon and Jordan will resume in Washington in April.

  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's support for the Washington accord in resolving the Palestine-Israeli conflict.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom cosponsored UN Security Council resolution 904. This calls for the implementation without delay of the Israeli-PLO declaration of principles. Our aid to the occupied territories will amount to £20 million this financial year and £70 million for the next three financial years. We have also provided £85,000 to help fund surgeons and specialist medical equipment and supplies to treat the victims of the Hebron massacre.

  Today we have provided £500,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its operation in the occupied territories.

  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's role in bringing about a recommencement of the middle east peace negotiations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom cosponsored United Nations Security Council resolution 904. We have urged on all parties to the negotiations the importance of concluding a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement as soon as possible.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the chance of further progress on the middle east peace accord, until there is better protection of the Palestinians; and what representations he has made to the Israelis about this subject.
  802
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The details of an international presence and of security measures for the protection of Palestinians in the occupied territories are under discussion between Israel and the PLO. We hope negotiations on Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Jericho will resume soon. I wrote to the Israeli ambassador drawing his attention to the statement on 7 March by European Union Foreign Ministers which called for protection of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent he is involved in international discussions to supply an international security force for the occupied territories in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We co-sponsored United Nations Security Council resolution 904 which called for an international or foreign presence. We are in close touch with interested parties on the follow-up to that resolution.

  India
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions about human rights he had with the Indian Prime Minister on his recent visit to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what human rights issues he raised with the Indian Prime Minister during his recent visit to London.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed human rights with Mr. Narasimha Rao during his visit to Britain last week.

  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had discussions with the Indian Government about human rights in the Punjab; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed human rights in India with the Indian Prime Minister during his visit to Britain earlier this month. The main focus of the discussion on human rights was, however, Kashmir.

  East Timor
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in East Timor.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We believe the Indonesian Government have made progress in observing their human rights obligations. We are encouraging them to continue this positive trend and, in particular, to co-operate with the United Nations human rights mechanisms.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government over the illegal occupation of 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.
  803
  We hope the return to consensus language at this year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 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.

  European Union
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his counterparts in the European Union to discuss greater political union.

  Mr. Hurd
  There are no plans for a meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers to discuss greater political union.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current position concerning discussions with Argentina about prospecting for oil in the waters surrounding the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We are considering the next steps for the development of the Falklands continental shelf. We shall be discussing the matter shortly with the Falkland Islands Government. In due course we would expect also to have discussions with the Government of Argentina.

  Malaysia
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made to restore trading relations with Malaysia.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have been in close and frequent touch with the Malaysian Government, the business community and others both here and in Malaysia. We want to restore the flourishing state of our relations as soon as possible.

  The Malaysian Government's concern has been about certain articles in the British press. I believe that they have reflected fully how much the Malaysians helped us in finding the missing British service men in Sabah. That assistance highlights the real relationship between our two countries.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 23 March,Official Report, column 294, if he will state the dates on which representations were made by the Government of Malaysia.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: No. The details of our relations with other Governments are confidential.

  Turkey
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he hopes to discuss the question of human rights with the Turkish Government.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have no immediate plans to do so. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised 804
  human rights with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkey when he visited Ankara on 19 and 20 January. I stressed our concerns to the Turkish Minister for Human Rights in London recently.

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress the Westminster Foundation for Democracy is making.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In 1993–94, with a grant-in-aid of £2 million, the foundation embarked on 205 projects in 37 countries.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Indian and Pakistani Governments to discuss the situation in Kashmir.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in Kashmir when he met the Indian Prime Minister earlier this month during his visit to Britain.

  I last discussed the subject with the Pakistan Foreign Secretary in February.

  Israel
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Israel relating to the disarming of Jewish settlers in the occupied territories following the massacre at Hebron.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I wrote to the Israeli ambassador drawing his attention to the statement on 7 March by European Union Foreign Ministers which called for protection of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the up-to-date position of the United Kingdom Government on the possibility of re-joining the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to keep this issue under close review, but have not yet reached any decision.

  Pacific Rim
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EEC counterparts about relations with Pacific rim countries.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Relations with third countries are discussed on an ad hoc basis at Foreign Affairs Councils. We and our partners understand the growing political and economic importance of this part of the world—in 1992, 7.8 per cent. of United Kingdom exports went to the Asia Pacific region and, for the first time, the European Union traded more with east Asia than with north America. The EC has co-operation agreements with the Association of South-East Asian Nations and with China and one is currently being negotiated with Vietnam.
  805
  During the United Kingdom presidency we made a priority of developing the Community's relations with Japan, based on the arrangements for consultation as laid out in the EC-Japan joint declaration of 1991 and we continue to press for this to be consolidated. The Germans have stated that the strengthening of relations between the European Union and Asia will be a focal point of their presidency—including intensification of the European-Japanese dialogue, and examination of the options for concluding a co-operation agreement with the Republic of Korea, as well as the normal ministerial EC/ASEAN meeting scheduled for September. We have welcomed this.

  European Union
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the enlargement of the European Union.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member (1) to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 14 March,Official Report, columns 474–77 and to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Wells) on 21 March, Official Report, columns 11–12, (2) to my reply to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 25 March, Official Report, columns 478–79, (3) to the reply of my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 22 March, Official Report, columns 120–22 and to the statement of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the House on 29 March, Official Report, columns 797–98.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Turkish and Turkish Cypriot authorities regarding the occupation of properties in northern Cyprus by Turkish settlers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Turkish Government and the Turkish Cypriots are aware of our position on this issue. The communique issued at last October's Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting expressed concern at the influx of Turkish settlers to Cyprus and emphasised that nothing should be done to change the demographic structure of the Island.

  Asia and Pacific Rim
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made to reinforce the commercial sections of British embassies in Asia and the Pacific rim countries.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Since 1990, total export promotion effort at FCO posts in Asia and Pacific rim countries, measured in man years, has risen by 23 per cent.

  This year alone we are creating 23 new frontline commercial jobs at our Asian and Pacific rim missions in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and at the British trade and cultural office in Taipei.

  In addition, discussions are well advanced for opening new commercial offices in Pusan in Korea and Nagoya in Japan, to be run by locally employed staff.
  806

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the ambassador of the People's Republic of China to discuss the future of Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met ambassador Ma Yuzhen to discuss Hong Kong issues on 23 November. We wish to co-operate with China in the interests of a smooth transition for Hong Kong and full implementation of the Sino-British joint declaration.

  Russia
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to assist the progress of democratic and economic reform in Russia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have given our full support to the process of democratic and economic reform in Russia, and shall continue to do so, providing assistance through both bilateral and multilateral aid programmes.

  Nigeria
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the Government of Nigeria regarding the protection of human rights and the introduction of democracy in that country.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on Monday 21 February at column 30 to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry).

  Somalia
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Somalia. He last visited in September 1992, as part of an EC Foreign Ministers Troika who went to see personally the situation in Somalia. My noble friend, Baroness Chalker of Wallasey has no current plans to visit the country.

  We welcome the latest Security Council resolution adopted on 4 February which underlines the international community's continuing commitment to assist the people of Somalia. The Somali people should now build on the momentum created by the agreement signed in Nairobi on 24 March by Ali Mandi and General Aideed. We hope a process has started which will lead to the creation of a national reconciliation conference.

  IAEA
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors' meeting on 21 March; how Britain was represented; and what was the United Kingdom's stance at the meeting.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A resolution was passed by the IAEA board of governors on 21 March which expressed
  807
  grave concern at North Korea's continued failure to comply with its safeguards agreement, and requested the agency's director-general to transmit the report on the most recent round of inspections to the UN General Assembly. We fully supported this resolution. Her Majesty's permanent representative at the United Kingdom's mission to the IAEA attended.

  Mrs. Timmreck
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 March, when Mrs. Timmreck left St. Helena; how long she had been resident on the island; and whether any civil or criminal cases involving Mrs. Timmreck had been brought before her departure.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  When Mrs. Timmreck left St. Helena in August 1993, she had been on the island for 32 months from October 1990, except for two brief visits to Cape Town. Prior to that, following her first arrival on St. Helena in December 1985, she made four visits totalling 7½ months. No civil or criminal cases involving her had been brought before her departure.

  Korea
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the present military position between North and South Korea.

  Mr. Goodlad
  There is a high concentration of military forces on the border. There has been a steady shift of North Korean forces over the last decade which has led to the present deployment of 750,000–1 million troops near the border. This is a cause for anxiety, and increases the need for North and South Korea to pursue the dialogue between them.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. Goodlad
  None.

  Iran
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) in which way the United Kingdom delegation voted in the United Nations on the question of the violation of human rights and on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, in March this year; and if he will make a statement.

  (2) if he will make a statement on Iran's refusal to comply with international instruments on human rights, including the international covenant on civil and political rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and our European partners condemn Iran's refusal to fulfil its obligations under international instruments of human rights. We were involved in the drafting and co-sponsored and voted in favour of the resolution on Iran introduced by the European Union at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in March. It reflected our concerns at Iran's human 808
  rights record and called on the Iranians to co-operate with the United Nations special representative on human rights in Iran.

  Trade and Aid
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had with representatives of the Indonesian Government to discuss trade and aid agreements with that country.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We regularly discuss a wide range of issues with the Indonesians, including trade, education, human rights, regional political and security matters, aid and economic issues.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Indonesia in April last year. I will be visiting Indonesia myself after Easter.

EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what property, leased or owned for the purposes of his Department, is not in current use.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Employment Group has an estate of 1,779 properties and holdings of which:

  702 are occupied and are part of the Government Estate managed by Property Holdings;

  902 are occupied and managed by the Department.

  Some 175 properties managed by the Department are not in current use and are being marketed actively for sale or disposal.

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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.

  Mr Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State takes into account the background and experience of candidates before making an appointment.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. Michael Forsyth
  The appointment to public bodies for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible are listed in "Public Bodies 1993" a copy of which is available in the Library, with the additions of the Commissioner for Protection against Unlawful Industrial Action, and Investors in People (UK), which are new appointments.

  Any remuneration attached to a post is also listed in "Public Bodies".
  809
  The information about terms of appointment and current appointees could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what procedures his Department has to prevent the possible apppointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State makes such inquiries as may be necessary before making an appointment.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) 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;

  (2) 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.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State consults such organisations as are appropriate to the appointment in question.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. Michael Forsyth
  The total number of ethnic minority appointments made by the Department to public bodies was given in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1993", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Information on ethnic minorities is collected in confidence, and it is not the Department's practice to release the details of the ethnic origin of individual members of public bodies.

  Workplace Deaths
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average length of time of each investigation by Health and Safety Executive inspectors in each region into each workplace death.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action was taken as a result of each workplace death investigation completed in the last 12 months in each region.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  The following table shows the number of fatal injuries, provisional, reported to each region in the Health and Safety Executive's field operations division between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1993 and how many of them have led to inspectors taking prosecution action to date.
  810

  HSE region

  Number of fatal injuries reported

  Of which resulted in prosecution action

  Wales and South West

  52

  6

  Home Counties

  46

  7

  London and South East

  48

  5

  Midlands

  55

  9

  Yorkshire and North East

  54

  10

  North West

  46

  8

  Scotland

  45

  10

  Information on any other action taken as result of each workplace death investigation is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Health and Safety Executive investigations into workplace deaths were started in each year since 1983 in each region; and how many of these were completed within(a) one week, (b) two weeks, (c) one month, (d) two months and (e) longer than two months.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  The Health and Safety Executive gives a high priority to the investigation of fatal injuries in the workplace. The following table shows the number of fatal injuries reported to HSE's factory, agricultural and quarries inspectorates from 1983 to 1992–93, provisional:

  Year

  Number of fatal injuries reported

  19831

  472

  19841

  485

  19851

  5182

  1986–871

  399

  1987–881

  455

  1988–891

  472

  1989–901

  5863

  1990–911

  468

  1991–922

  368

  1992–93

  3464

  1 Excludes reports made to the Quarries Inspectorate.

  2 Includes 56 members of the public killed in the Bradford City FC fire disaster.

  3 Includes 95 reportable fatalities arising from the Hillsborough Stadium disaster.

  4 Provisional.

  Information is not available on the length of time taken to complete investigations.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Health and Safety Executive staff in each region are involved in the investigation of each workplace death.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not available in the form requested. The number of Health and Safety Executive staff involved in the investigation of each workplace death varies according to the technical, medical and scientific expertise required during the investigation.
  811

  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 steps he has taken to ensure that the decisions referred to in his first paragraph are taken on a level playing field.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Government policy remains that decisions on pay and related matters are for the employers and workers concerned to make in the light of their particular local circumstances, without Government intervention.

  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, whether he will publish a table showing the annual increase in output per person employed for the whole economy less manufacturing together with the figures for the whole economy and manufacturing.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The annual increases in ouput per person for the whole economy and manufacturing, since 1979, are given in the table. Figures for the whole economy less manufacturing are not calculated.

  Manufacturing

  Whole economy

  1979

  0·3

  1·4

  1980

  -3·8

  -1·3

  1981

  3·3

  2·4

  Improvement notices 1 April 1993 to 28 February 1994

  Number

  Date

  Name of company

  Installation/vessel

  1.

  2 April 1993

  ETPM Services UK Ltd.

  ETPM Laybarge LB200

  2.

  10 June 1993

  Amoco (UK) Exploration

  49/27C

  3.

  12 August 1993

  Shell UK Exploration

  Shell/Esso 49/24K

  4.

  18 August 1993

  Sedco Forex Drilling

  Sedco Installations

  5.

  26 August 1993

  Amoco (UK) Exploration

  Amoco 23/21A

  6.

  8 September 1993

  Dolphin Drilling

  Borgny Dolphin

  7.

  24 September 1993

  Shell UK Ltd.

  Brent Delta

  8.

  20 October 1993

  Conoco (UK) Ltd.

  All installations

  9.

  20 October 1993

  Conoco (UK) Ltd.

  All installations

  10.

  20 October 1993

  Conoco (UK) Ltd.

  All installations

  11.

  20 October 1993

  Conoco (UK) Ltd.

  All installations

  12.

  20 October 1993

  Conoco (UK) Ltd.

  All installations

  13.

  28 October 1993

  Phillips Petroleum

  Maureen Alpha

  14.

  28 November 1993

  Phillips Petroleum

  Maureen Alpha 16/29a

  15.

  8 November 1993

  Amerada Hess Ltd.

  Foating Pro Facility AH001

  16.

  8 November 1993

  Amerada Hess Ltd.

  Floating Pro Facility

  17.

  25 November 1993

  Mobil North Sea Ltd.

  Beryl Alpha

  18.

  6 December 1993

  Texaco North Sea

  Tartan Alpha

  19.

  16 December 1993

  Shell UK Ltd.

  Auk A 30/16

  20.

  15 December 1993

  Santa Fe Drilling

  Auk A 30/16

  21.

  28 January 1993

  Marathon Oil

  Brae B

  22.

  3 February 1994

  Agip UK Ltd.

  Tiffany 16/17

  improvement notices 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  Number

  Date

  Name of company

  Installation/vessel

  1.

  29 April 1992

  Elf Enterprise Caledonia

  Claymore A

  2.

  20 May 1992

  EE Caledonia Ltd.

  MSV Tharos

  3.

  8 June 1992

  Texaco North Sea UK Co.

  Tartan A

  4.

  8 June 1992

  Shell UK Ltd.

  Fulmar A

  5.

  16 June 1992

  Dolphin Drilling Ltd.

  Borgny Dolphin

  6.

  15 October 1992

  Sonat Offshore

  Sonat Arcade

  7.

  3 November 1992

  Global Marine Drilling

  Global Labrador I

  8.

  3 November 1992

  Global Marine Drilling

  Global Labrador I

  9.

  5 November 1992

  BP Exploration

  Thistle A

  10.

  5 November 1992

  BP Exploration

  Thistle A

  11.

  6 November 1992

  Emerald Field Contracting

  Emerald Producer

  812

  Manufacturing

  Whole economy

  1982

  6·3

  3·9

  1983

  7·6

  4·6

  1984

  5·3

  0·3

  1985

  3·3

  2·9

  1986

  3·6

  3·8

  1987

  5·6

  2·8

  1988

  5·6

  1·6

  1989

  4·4

  -0·2

  1990

  1·9

  -0·1

  1991

  1·4

  0·5

  1992

  4·8

  2·2

  1993

  5·5

  3·5

  Offshore Safety
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvement notices the offshore safety division of the Health and Safety Executive has instigated since taking over this responsibility; and if he will list each company and installation to which such notices have been issued.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Some 41 improvement notices have been issued by the offshore safety division of the Health and Safety Executive since taking over responsibility for offshore safety. The companies and installations are listed in the following tables:
  813

  Number

  Date

  Name of company

  Installation/vessel

  12.

  6 November 1992

  Emerald Field Contracting

  Emerald Producer

  13.

  11 November 1992

  Shell UK Ltd.

  Kittiwake

  14.

  9 December 1992

  Hamilton Oil Co. Ltd.

  Deep Sea Pioneer

  15.

  21 December 1992

  Sedco Forex

  Drillstar

  16.

  21 December 1992

  Sedco Forex

  Sedneth 701

  17.

  20 January 1994

  Elf Enterprise Caledonia Ltd.

  Salitre

  18.

  3 March 1993

  Elf Enterprise Caledonia Ltd.

  MSV Tharos

  19.

  3 March 1993

  Elf Enterprise Caledonia Ltd.

  MSV Tharos

  1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992

  Nil improvement notices

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many recommendations for prosecution under the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 the offshore safety division of the Health and Safety Executive has instigated; and if he will list the companies and installations to which such recommendations have applied.

  Table 1

  Year

  Company

  Installation

  Date of offence

  Date convicted

  1991–92

  Allseas Marine Contractors

  Lorelay

  7 August 1990

  15 May 1991

  1991–92

  Smedvig Ltd.

  NW Hutton

  9 September 1990

  9 March 1992

  1991–92

  Amoco (UK) Exploration

  NW Hutton

  9 September 1990

  9 March 1992

  Table 2

  Year

  Company

  Installation

  Date of offence

  Date convicted

  1992–93

  Atlantic Drilling

  Benreoch

  10 December 1990

  21 April 1992

  1992–93

  Stena Offshore Ltd.

  DSV Seaspread

  10 June 1990

  9 May 1992

  1992–93

  Employee DSV Seaspread

  DSV Seaspread

  10 June 1990

  8 May 1992

  1992–93

  Sedco Forex Drilling Services

  Sedco 703

  31 January 1992

  22 July 1992

  1992–93

  ETMP Services (UK)

  LB200

  18 April 1992

  26 November 1992

  1992–93

  BP Exploration

  Miller

  20 June 1992

  17 December 1992

  1992–93

  Amoco UK

  DSV British

  unsuccessful

  1992–93

  Stena Offshore

  Enterprise V

  Table 3

  Year

  Company

  Installation

  Date of offence

  Date convicted

  1993–94

  Shell UK Exploration and Production

  Brent Delta

  5 March 1993

  Awaiting court hearing

  1993–94

  Smedvig Ltd.

  West Sigma

  7 January 1993

  Awaiting English court hearing

  1993–94

  BP Exploration and Production

  Forties Bravo

  16 March 1993

  4 November 1993

  1993–94

  Sedco Forex Drilling Ltd.

  Sedco 704

  24 July 1992

  17 May 1993

  1993–94

  Cape Scaffolding Ltd.

  Bruce

  28 December 1992

  16 May 1993

  1993–94

  Heeremac

  DB102

  12 March 1993

  Abandoned

  1993–94

  Rookwater

  DSV Regalia

  8 June 1993

  24 September 1993

  1993–94

  Dolphin Drilling

  Borgny Dolphin

  24 August 1993

  24 February 1994

  1993–94

  Arco British Ltd.

  Ocean Odyssey

  22 September 1988

  24 September 1993

  1993–94

  Odeco Drilling (UK) Ltd.

  Ocean Odyssey

  22 September 1988

  10 August 1993

  1993–94

  Hamilton Oil Co.

  Deepsea Pioneer

  28 October 1992

  8 October 1993

  1993–94

  Santa Fe

  Santa Fe Magellan

  20 July 1993

  11 February 1994

  1993–94

  Odeco UK Ltd.

  Ocean Victory

  7 November 1990

  29 November 1993

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvement notices, prohibition notices and pending prosecutions were outstanding when the offshore safety division of the Health and Safety Executive took over responsibility for those matters from the Department of Energy; which(a) companies and (b) installations they applied to; and how many are still outstanding.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No improvement notices or prohibition notices were outstanding when the Health and
  814
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Since 1 April 991, prosecutions have been instigated by the procurator fiscal in Scotland in 22 cases, following receipt of a report from the Health and Safety Executive. One of these was subsequently abandoned. One case has been prosecuted in England. Details are set out in the following tables:

  Safety Executive took over responsibility for offshore safety. In England, no pending prosecutions were outstanding at that time. Decisions on prosecutions in Scotland are solely the responsibility of the procurator fiscal and the Crown Office for Scotland.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further changes he proposes to make to improve health and safety on offshore installations.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Health and Safety Executive is reviewing a large number of safety cases and
  815
  discussing with individual owners and operators of installations any improvements which may need to be made.

  In addition, the Health and Safety Commission has put in hand a review of offshore health and safety legislation with the aim of modernising and streamlining provision, and replacing or revoking existing prescriptive requirements. New goal-setting regulations are being developed, in line with Lord Cullen's recommendations, to cover fire and explosion, emergency response, management and administration; and design and construction.

  Consultants
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will provide a table showing the contracts currently being worked on for his Department by Coopers and Lybrand, Ernst and Young, Price Waterhouse, KPMG Peat Marwick, Grant Thornton, Robson Rhodes, BDO Binder Hamlyn, Levy Gee, Hacker Young, Pannell Kerr Forster and Stoy Harward.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Jobplan Workshops
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what monitoring arrangements of the standard of jobplan workshop courses is in place; what complaints about such courses have been received; if he will summarise the nature of the complaints; what arrangements there are for complaints to be made and taken into account in the running of the workshops; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Mr. A. G. Johnson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 30 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about arrangements to monitor Jobplan Workshops and the nature and handling of complaints about their delivery. I am replying in the Chief Executive's absence.
  It may be helpful if I explain that Jobplan is designed to help people who have been unemployed for some time compete for jobs and opportunities. During the workshop, which lasts for one week, clients are able to take a fresh look at their situation, review their strengths and skills and set themselves clear and achievable job goals. The workshop was developed to accommodate people with varying experiences and backgrounds. During the workshop, people have the opportunity for personal reviews as well as undertaking group work. Since April 1993, over 270,000 people have attended Jobplan.
  Jobplan is delivered by organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors on the Employment Service's (ES) behalf. Contracts are awarded following a competitive tendering exercise.
  A full specification is issued to all prospective contractors. This specification, and a manual which sets out how the programme is to be run, forms the basis against which subsequent monitoring and assessment of the provider is undertaken.
  At the end of each workshop, management information is collected and sent to the ES. This covers the number of people
  816
  who have taken part in the workshop and the action they have decided to take at the end. This information is used by people in the ES to assess the performance of the provider and the value for money that is being achieved. Participants are issued with review sheets at the end of the workshop and invited to comment on the delivery of the workshop. These provide us with further information about the quality of the workshop.
  A schedule of monitoring visits is drawn up for each contract to ensure that workshops are inspected regularly. We will observe workshop sessions and assess whether the provider is delivering the workshop to the appropriate standard and quality. The findings of these visits are discussed with the provider and their leaders and where remedial action is required, the provider will be asked to take the action within a specified time. We will later review to ensure that any problems have been put right.
  As part of the Citizens Charter we have established, in the Jobseekers Charter, a suggestions and complaints procedure which enables people to comment on the quality of the service they have received. Providers are contractually obliged to follow the principles of the Jobseekers Charter, which amongst other things, requires them to have posters and leaflets on display so that people who wish to complain or make suggestions may do so easily. The responsibility for answering these lies initially with the provider who is required to reply to the person within seven days.
  Should someone who has complained feel that their complaint has not been satisfactorily answered, they can approach our local managers for redress. Where complaints are made to the provider or to the local manager the focus is on setting things right locally. We do not collect statistics centrally but, of course, the contract managers pay close attention to the number and nature of complaints when workshops are re-tendered. In some cases complaints are also made through an MP or directly to the Secretary of State for Employment. We have central statistics on these. Since April 1993, seven people have written to complain about the standard of delivery of the workshop and three have written to say that they felt that the workshop was not helpful to them. I am sure you will agree that as a proportion of the 270,000 people who have taken part, this number of complaints is remarkably low.
  I am also encouraged that a number of people who have attended workshops have written to say how useful the workshops have been in their search for work and how positive they found the experience. I am attaching a sample of the comments that have been made about Jobplan.
  I hope this is helpful.

  What people say about Jobplan
  "Very helpful—I was lost and stranded until I attended Jobplan."
  "I was dubious about what Jobplan could offer but found the workshop of immense benefit to me—full marks—it was just what I needed."

  "The personal interview was the most helpful thing I've had. There are courses I didn't know about and I've applied for one of them."
  "I found it to be rewarding and enlightening and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone seeking work."
  "I wish this had been offered to me a year ago."
  "It's a lot better than I thought. I'm glad we can make choices for ourselves."
  "I was really nervous before I came here, but now I'm glad I was told about it."

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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 or (c) disabled, respectively.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is set out in the following table:
  817

  Staff in the Employment Department (ED) Group

  Grade

  Women staff at 1 April 1993

  Ethnic minority staff at 1 April 1993

  Registered disabled staff at 1 July 1993

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number G1—G7

  PercentageG1—G7

  Grade 1

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  22·0

  0·7

  Grade 2

  1

  20·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 3

  1

  4·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 4

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 5

  22

  20·2

  0

  0·0

  Grade 6

  17

  12·0

  1

  0·7

  Grade 7

  182

  23·7

  7

  0·9

  3·0

  0·4

  All Staff

  42,659

  67·2

  3,669

  16·2

  2,020·50

  3·4

  1Figure represents respondents to the ethnic origin survey.

  2Separate information by grade for registered disabled staff is not available above Grade 7. Registration is voluntary therefore the ED Group employs more disabled people than are counted.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 3 March,Official Report, column 861, what is his assessment of the reasons for the fall in the number of hours worked; and what effect he expects economic recovery to have on this fall.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The fall in total hours worked by manufacturing operatives since 1989 is due to two main factors. First, a short-term, cyclical fall in demand for labour due to the economic recession. Secondly, the longer-term movement of jobs away from manufacturing and into services. The Department does not forecast changes in hours worked.

WALES

  Agricultural Development Advisory Service
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh farmers asked the Agricultural Development Advisory Service for advice in the year(a) before and (b) after fees were introduced.

  Mr. Redwood
  This is a matter for the ADAS agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. M. Walsh to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 30 March 1994:
  The Minister of State for Wales has asked me to reply to your Question on how many Welsh farmers asked the Agricultural Development Advisory Service for advice in the years (a) before and (b) after fees were introduced.Part (a) of your question refers to the ADAS financial year 1986–87 (1 April to 31 March). Up to and including this period ADAS did not keep records of how many Welsh farmers asked ADAS for advice.Part (b) of your question refers to the financial year 1987–88 during which ADAS first charged some of the beneficiaries of its services as a result of a policy decision to make ADAS more financially accountable.Management Information Systems were new and undeveloped at this time and information is therefore limited. I am only able to tell you that out of 13,000 full time farm holdings in Wales (source: 1993 Agricultural Census) ADAS issued approximately 7,000 invoices to Welsh customers.I would also estimate that there was no significant fall in customers after charging was introduced as our evidence indicates that charging for our consultancy services "added value" in the perception of some of our customers and certainly attracted a new type of farming customer to complement existing customers.

  M4
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost of(a) introducing variable text signs on the M4 in south Wales and (b) employing a road manager for the M4.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The cost of upgrading the motorway signed infrastructure to provide variable text signs, as seen on the M25, would be between £8 million and £10 million. On the issue of road management, I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 14 March,Official Report, column 526.

  Housing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how his proposals for access to local authority and housing association tenancies will ensure that decisions over housing tenancies will remain under the control of local authorities.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Local authorities exercise nomination rights by agreement over elements of the housing association stock. In allocating their own tenancies, councils are expected to take account of relevant legislation and of good practice advice. Similar considerations would apply under the Government's recent proposals for change.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the extent to which rent bonds and guarantees increase in the private housing sector when private sector landlords know that local authorities will be responsible for such payments.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  These schemes are run by local authorities. No such indications have been reported to the Welsh Office.

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

  Mr. Redwood
  The amounts spent by the Welsh Office on official hospitality were:

  £

  1990–91

  45,419

  1991–92

  35,982

  1992–93

  38,382

  11993–94

  26,375

  1 To 25 March 1994.

  819
  The number and cost of individual receptions could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what date he expects all applications for sheep annual premium in the current year to be paid out.

  Mr. Redwood
  Almost 90 per cent. of claimants for the 1993 sheep annual premium in Wales have received the two advances of payments. The balance of the premium should be paid by June. Most of the unpaid claims await the resolution of queries and some require farm visits. Priority is being given to clearing these cases as quickly as possible.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by county how many applications for payment of sheep annual premium he has received in the current year; and what proportion in each county remained unpaid on 1 March.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information, which is available only on an administrative area basis, for the week ending 4 March, is as follows:

  Gwynedd/Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Powys/Gwent/Glamorgans

  Application for 1993 premium

  5,701

  5,101

  6,676

  Proportion unpaid on 1 March 1993 (per cent.)

  9

  20

  9

  Oscar Ceremonies
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek from the respective chairmen of(a) the Welsh Development Agency, (b) the Welsh Tourist Board, (c) S4C and (d) BBC Wales the number of their respective employees who visited the recent Oscar ceremonies in Los Angeles; what was the cost in each case for the staff visits to Los Angeles; and if the cost will be borne by the Exchequer or in the case of (d) be a charge on the television licence.

  Training weeks provided 1991–92 to 1993–94

  1991–92

  TEC

  Youth Training and Credits

  Employment Training

  Employment Action

  Total

  Gwent

  156,778

  82,826

  2,656

  242,260

  Mid Glamorgan

  193,746

  98,734

  6,228

  298,708

  North East Wales

  91,426

  38,157

  145

  129,728

  Targed

  104,581

  45,351

  0

  149,932

  Powys

  35,798

  17,886

  107

  53,791

  South Glamorgan

  93,619

  63,572

  1,302

  158,493

  West Wales

  228,064

  139,704

  3,861

  371,629

  1992–93

  TEC

  Youth Training and Credits

  Employment Training

  Employment Action

  Total

  Gwent

  128,673

  107,639

  12,338

  248,650

  Mid Glamorgan

  151,215

  99,273

  25,702

  276,190

  North East Wales

  82,357

  36,506

  6,185

  125,048

  Targed

  106,611

  53,961

  12,118

  172,690

  Powys

  35,513

  15,077

  3,762

  54,352

  820
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No. Such operational matters are for the respective organisations concerned.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a table showing the amount of(a) Welsh Office grant and (b) self-generated income which financed each TEC in each year since their inception in (i) cash prices and (ii) 1993–94 prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  The amounts of income received by the seven TECs in Wales for delivering their training and enterprise activities under contract with the Welsh Office together with other income generated for the three years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 are shown in the published audited annual accounts of TECs, copies of which are in the Library of the House. The figures for 1993–94 are not yet available.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was(a) the budget and (b) the outturn for each of the TECs for each year since their inception in (i) cash prices and (ii) 1993–94 prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  Much of the information requested has been provided to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms Short), in my letter dated 10 February 1994, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. I will write to the hon. Member in the new financial year when the further information requested is available.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many training weeks were undertaken by each of the TECs in each year since their inception; and how many training weeks are expected to be undertaken in the current year.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is in the table. The statistics for 1993–94 refer to planned training weeks, whereas the figures for earlier years are training weeks delivered. Training for work replaced employment training and employment action in April 1993.
  821

  TEC

  Youth Training and Credits

  Employment Training

  Employment Action

  Total

  South Glamorgan

  89,729

  61,071

  14,910

  165,710

  West Wales

  218,017

  146,367

  19,181

  383,565

  1993–94

  TEC

  Youth Training and Credits

  Training for Work

  Total

  Gwent

  160,000

  95,000

  255,000

  Mid Glamorgan

  170,040

  100,000

  270,040

  North East Wales

  98,240

  36,000

  134,240

  Targed

  122,000

  54,600

  176,600

  Powys

  35,000

  17,000

  52,000

  South Glamorgan

  98,751

  65,650

  164,401

  West Wales

  225,122

  134,000

  359,122

  Source:

  1991–92 and 1992–93 TEC Management Information Statistics.

  1993–94 TEC Plans.

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many neighbourhood watch schemes there are in operation in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  At 31 December 1993 there were 5,748 neighbourhood watch schemes operational in Wales.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many neighbourhood watch schemes were initiated in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is included in the table.

  Total schemes

  Initiated in-year

  1989

  2,856

  n.a.

  1990

  3,162

  306

  1991

  3,857

  695

  1992

  4,971

  1,114

  1993

  5,748

  777

  European Charter on Minority Languages
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the Government will decide whether or not to become a signatory to the European charter on minority languages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government will make a decision on this matter in due course.

  Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the projected expenditure for each(a) health authority, (b) family health services authority and (c) national health service trust for 1994–95;

  (2) on which date spending levels for 1994–95 were communicated to each (a) health authority, (b) family health service authority and (c) national health service trust; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend announced the provisional cash allocations for 1994–95 for health 822
  authorities and family health services authorities and the provisional external financing limits for NHS trusts on 16 March. Health authorities and family health services authorities will provide information relating to their income and expenditure planning intentions for 1994–95—indicating how these will be contained within the cash allocations notified—in their final health plans which are due for submission to the Department by 16 April. NHS trusts will similarly provide information relating to their expenditure plans in their final 1994–95 operational plans which are due for submission by 30 April.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement concerning the discharges into the Irish sea, Liverpool bay and the Dee estuary from industries and the impact upon beaches and health and safety of local communities of these discharges;

  (2) if he will prepare and publish a report on the discharge by dangerous and impure substances into Liverpool bay and the River Dee estuary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Discharges into inland and coastal waters are controlled by the National Rivers Authority under the Water Resources Act 1991 and by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Under this legislation, details of consents and authorisations, and the results of subsequent monitoring, are kept on public registers.

  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food monitors contaminants in the aquatic environment and the latest results are published in Aquatic Environment Monitoring Reports Nos. 36 and 38.

  Waters on the United Kingdom coastline that are popular for bathing come within the scope of the EC bathing water directive 76/160/EEC which sets water quality standards intended for the protection of public health. The water industry is currently undertaking a major investment programme to improve its discharges into coastal waters to ensure that bathing waters consistently meet these standards.

  Local Government Boundaries
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the area of the pre-1974 counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Monmouthshire, Pembrokeshire and the present county of Powys will be included within the boundaries of the counties of the same name proposed in the Local Government (Wales) Bill[Lords].

  Mr. Redwood
  All the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The present county of Powys would be wholly included in the new county of that name.

  National Health Service Staff
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified NHS nurses and midwives, unqualified NHS nursing staff and nursing learners there

  Nursing and midwifery staff in post (whole-time equivalents) as at 30 September1

  Qualified

  Unqualified2

  Learners3

  Number

  Percentage of total

  Number

  Percentage of total

  Number

  Percentage of total

  1989

  17,850

  63·7

  7,069

  25·2

  3,118

  11·1

  1990

  17,986

  64·0

  7,031

  25·0

  3,075

  10·9

  1991

  18,010

  64·4

  7,019

  25·1

  2,934

  10·5

  19924

  18,096

  66·0

  7,355

  26·8

  1,970

  7·2

  19935

  17,912

  68·3

  7,220

  27·5

  1,033

  3·9

  1Includes staff employed by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  2Staff paid as grade A, B or nursery staff.

  3Since the autumn of 1991 student nurses have been reclassified as students and are no longer included in the NHS staff figures. Staff included here are students finishing courses begun before this date. However at 1 October 1993 there were about 1,900 Project 2000 nursing students in Wales.

  4Excludes staff paid on local payscales whose staff group cannot be identified centrally.

  5In addition there are 72 whole-time equivalent nursing staff for whom no grade details are known centrally. The percentage shown do not, therefore, add to 100 for 1993.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation and with Balfour Beatty Costain Construction consortium in relation to the start date of the barrage construction contract and the complaints by the environment directorate of the European Union, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the World Wide Fund for Nature regarding the Cardiff bay barrage and the Cardiff bay site of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have had no such discussions with Balfour Beatty Costain. The chairman of the development corporation has been kept fully informed of the position regarding the complaint to the European Commission.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial controls he proposes should apply to councils during the suspension of compulsory competitive tendering because of local government reorganisation.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The suspension of compulsory competitive tendering does not affect the duty for councils to achieve a specified rate of return under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, or my right hon. Friend's powers to take action in cases of failure to achieve the rate of return.

  The suspension of CCT means that, for principal councils in Wales, there would be no requirement to achieve a specified financial objective, or any sanctions in case of failure, for work which is currently a "defined activity" for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1988.

  The Government propose to bring forward an amendment to the Local Government (Wales) Bill to provide that, notwithstanding the suspension of CCT, authorities should continue to be under a duty:

  —to keep accounts for this work;

  —to submit returns to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State; and

  —to achieve a specified financial objective.

  824
  were in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 in (a) numbers and (b) as a percentage of the total NHS nursing and midwifery staff.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is given in the table.

  The amendment would also give my right hon. Friend the power to act in the event of failure to achieve the specified financial objective. The obligations and powers sought would have retrospective effect, from 1 April 1994, but would not differ from those which currently apply.

  Local authorities will be informed of the detail of the
  Government's proposal.

  Health Authorities (Restructuring)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish his proposals to restructure health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have today written to Welsh Members enclosing a copy of a consultation paper which I have published, setting out a range of proposals, including my preferred option. I have also arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House. Comments on the proposals have been invited from a wide range of interested bodies.

  Ancient Monuments Board
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish the next report of the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The 39th annual report of the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales has been published today. The report covers the financial year 1992–93 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. Lang
  This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  825
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

  Mr. Lang
  There is no set list of organisations or individuals that are consulted about appointments to bodies which are sponsored by my Department, although there may be specific legislative requirements regarding consultation in relation to appointments to a particular body.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

  Mr. Lang
  Appointments are made on the basis of aptitude and merit. No central record is kept of the political affiliation of those appointed to public bodies.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of Stare for Scotland 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. Lang
  There are no formal procedures. Given the qualities required of the holders of such posts however it is in practice unlikely that an individual with extreme political views would be appointed where his or her views would be relevant to the responsibilities of the post.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each appointment for which a Minister has to approve the appointment or shortlist fcr 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. Lang
  The Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" lists those public bodies sponsored by my Department at 1 April each year and indicates the number of appointments which I make to each body at 1 September. This publication also shows the level of remuneration, if any. Copies of the latest edition of this publication are available in the Library of the House. Information about the current appointees to these bodies is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take action to prevent national health service trusts reducing the take-home pay of their work forces.
  826
  Mr. Stewart
  Trusts are free to negotiate terms and conditions with their employees. Take-home pay of the staff of an NHS trust is a matter between the staff concerned and the trust as an employer.

  Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the specific skills being learnt by people on Government training schemes for young people or the unemployed; and what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which these meet Scotland's training needs.

  Mr. Stewart
  Information about the specific skills being learnt by people on Government training schemes for young people or the unemployed is not available. It is the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to deliver, through their respective networks of local enterprise companies, Government training schemes, with the aim of providing young people and unemployed adults with the skills, vocational qualifications and work experience to meet the needs of local labour markets.

  Schools (Opting Out)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many current applications he has before him from schools seeking to opt out of local authority control.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  One, namely the application from St. Mary's episcopal primary school, Dunblane, on which additional information from the St. Mary's school board has been requested in order that its application can be further considered.

  Royal Scottish National Hospital
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he made of the financial viability of the Royal Scottish national hospital management application for trust status before giving it approval;

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of a detailed statement of the financial accounts of the Royal Scottish national hospital trust since its inception;

  (3) if he will conduct a thorough investigation into the finances of the Royal Scottish national hospital before deciding on the application for merger with Forth Valley Healthcare;

  (4) if he will arrange for an independent inquiry into the finances of the Royal Scottish national hospital trust.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: A thorough assessment of the finances of the Royal Scottish national NHS trust involving financial consultants was made during the public consultation period on the hospital's trust application. Trust status would not have been granted if the hospital had been considered not to be financially viable. The trust is required to make monthly financial monitoring returns to the management executive and these show that the trust is on course to meet its year end financial targets for the first year of its operation. The trust must also produce an annual report including accounts in respect of its first year of operation by September 1994. This is a public document which will be obtainable from the trust.
  827
  In order to inform my noble and learned Friend's decision on the merger application, a thorough assessment of the finances of the Royal Scottish national hospital and Forth Valley Healthcare will be conducted by independent financial consultants in conjunction with the management executive. There are no reasons for any further investigation or independent inquiry.

  Trade Descriptions
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prosecutions there have been in the past 10 years under section 14 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 for knowingly or recklessly making a false statement about the provision of business; and what was the penalty in each case of guilt being established.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The information requested is not separately identifiable within the Scottish Home Office and Health Department's classification of crimes and offences.

  Hospital Staff
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers of nurses, doctors, administrative staff, senior managers and domestic staff employed in each hospital(a) at the nearest available date and (b) three years ago.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is not collected as part of the workforce data set submitted centrally by the NHS in Scotland. Limited statistics are available in section 2A of "Scottish Health Service Costs" for the years 1991–92 and 1992–93, copies of which are held in the House of Commons Library. Data for earlier years are not published in SHSC in the exact form required.

  Coastal Quarries
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the national planning guidelines on coastal quarries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: My right hon. Friend intends to publish a national planning policy guideline on land for mineral working as soon as possible. This will include guidance on coastal quarries.

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to extend patients charter maximum waiting times guarantees to include the waiting time for the first out-patient appointment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: Maximum waiting times guarantees covering the time from GP referral to first out-patient appointment were introduced in Scotland in April 1993.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps the Greater Glasgow health board took to satisfy itself that Executive Healthcare was not dependent on financial support from related companies before allocating contracts to the company;
  828
  (2) if he will investigate the time taken for Greater Glasgow health board's evaluation of tenders for contracts at Glasgow royal infirmary and Glasgow royal maternity hospitals;

  (3) what steps the Greater Glasgow health board has taken to satisfy itself about the past history of Executive Healthcare and its parent company or any associated companies.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave her on 29 March, Official Report, column 715.

  Executive Health Care
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will carry out a study of the pay and conditions of the staff employed on contracts currently held by Executive Healthcare at Carstairs in comparison with their previous employment.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: No. Pay and conditions of service are matters entirely between Executive Healthcare and its employees.

  Family Mediation and Conciliation Services
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to give financial support to family mediation and conciliation services in the next financial year; and if he will make a statement on his office's attitude to such services.

  Mr. Stewart
  Family Mediation Scotland will receive a grant of over £56,000 in 1994–95 as part of a three-year award under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. In addition, four local services—Borders, Central, Tayside and Western Isles—will receive grant in 1994–95 as part of three-year awards. The precise amounts are still being worked out with the organisations concerned.

  We have received letters of support for the mediation services from throughout Scotland and the award of grants is an indication of how we value their worthwhile work of mediation.

  Child Care Law
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce legislation relating to child care law and policy in the present parliamentary session.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to promote legislation this Session beyond that already indicated in the Queen's Speech.

  Adoption
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what future arrangements he plans for adoption agencies and prospective adopters; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what specific proposals he has to ensure that adoption services are part of the full range of child care services which will require to be provided by each of the new local authorities;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the arrangements for adoption following local government re-organisation; what co-ordination there will be; who will provide funding; and if he will make a statement;
  829
  (4) what arrangements he intends making to ensure that children have the opportunity of adoption in each of the new local authority areas.

  Mr. Stewart
  Adoption is, and will continue to be, an important part of the range of services available for the care of children. Adoption law has been subject to extensive review and consultation in Scotland over the last few years and we propose to publish a policy statement shortly.

  Reorganisation of local government will clearly involve some restructuring of services and every care will be taken to ensure that services available now will be maintained, including those provided by adoption agencies. The strategic child care plans which are to be developed from the proposals in the White Paper "Scotland's Children" are of direct relevance in this context. Scottish Office officials have had preliminary discussions about reorganisation with the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering which are grant aided by the Government and which have an important national role to play in the development of adoption services.

  Record Office
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the targets he expects the Scottish Record Office to achieve in 1994–95.

  Mr. Lang
  I have set the Scottish Record Office the following key targets for 1994–95:

  to reduce the unit cost of preserving and making available the records of Scotland by 7 per cent. (omitting the start up costs of the new repository building);

  to increase the number of catalogue entries available for public scrutiny on the electronic system from 116,000 in 1993–94 to 119,000;

  to maintain the standards of reader services;

  material in some building produced for readers in 30 minutes or less in 90 per cent of cases;

  90 per cent. of photocopying for legal customers produced in 24 hours;

  95 per cent. of correspondence dealt with in 10 days;

  while absorbing an expected 2 per cent. increase in demand; and

  to complete and occupy the new repository building within budget by 31 March 1995.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many Forestry Commission woods have been sold off since 1981; and in how many of those sold all prior public access have been preserved.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 March 1994]: Between July 1981 and 31 December 1993 the Forestry Commission sold over 2,000 individual areas of forestry land.

  Access along public rights of way is not, of course, affected by a change of ownership and so any rights of way through these woodlands are still freely available. In addition, the commission offers to make access agreements with local authorities before woodlands are sold; these agreements ensure that full public access is maintained.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his latest estimates of the transition cost of local government reform.
  830
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 23 March 1994]: The transitional cost of reorganisation of local government is estimated at between £120 million and £194 million for a 30-council structure.

  Purchasing Health Boards
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each purchasing health board in Scotland, the figures for revenue funding in 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95, and the estimated figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97; and if he will identify the changes for each health board's revenue budget resulting from the replacement of the resource allocation working party system of determining funding allocation.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 23 March 1994]:Revenue funding is as follows:

  Health Board

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Argyll and Clyde

  220,019

  231,224

  242,301

  Ayrshire and Arran

  172,159

  183,530

  193,226

  Borders

  54,717

  58,374

  62,855

  Dumfries and Galloway

  78,616

  81,524

  86,965

  Fife

  158,314

  171,020

  178,766

  Forth Valley

  127,242

  138,154

  142,756

  Grampian

  254,470

  271,938

  277,805

  Greater Glasgow

  562,296

  586,662

  577,370

  Highland

  108,666

  112,182

  120,336

  Lanarkshire

  239,761

  258,272

  262,876

  Lothian

  405,413

  405,131

  418,193

  Orkney

  11,209

  12,525

  12,731

  Shetland

  12,898

  14,494

  14,789

  Tayside

  241,455

  242,979

  243,375

  Western Isles

  20,929

  23,012

  25,525

  (Note:

  1. The allocations for 1993–94 and 1994–95 are exclusive of the provision for AIDS, artifical limbs and appliance centres and breast cancer screening services which are now funded as national services.

  2. The 1994–95 allocation excludes funding for doctors in training, which is now funded through the Scottish Council for Post-graduate Medical and Dental Education, and includes funding for ambulance services which were previously funded through the Common Services Agency.

  3. Initial allocations for 1994–95 are shown. Further allocations will be distributed to Health Boards later in the year for a number of specific services.)

  Estimated figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97 are not available.

  Details of allocations based on the resource allocation working party system are not available. It is not therefore possible to identify the changes to Health Board Revenue budgets resulting from the replacement of the system of determining funding allocation.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Policing Structures
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will issue his consultation document on policing structures.

  Sir John Wheeler
  I am today issuing a paper entitled "Policing in the Community" which examines policing structures in the light of the considerable changes which have occurred in the Province since the present system was established a quarter of a century ago.

  The existing structures have stood under the most difficult circumstances, but it is now time to examine the best means of further improving the effectiveness of the police service, while ensuring that it is properly accountable to the whole community. The paper proposes

  831
  a strengthened framework for policing in Northern Ireland, by clarifying responsibilities and lines of accountability between the Secretary of State, the Police Authority and the Chief Constable. I believe that these changes will secure substantial improvements in the effectiveness and responsiveness of the arrangements for policing in Northern Ireland.

  I have invited comments on the paper by 31 May 1994.

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

  Sir John Wheeler
  At 1 January 1993, there were 12,989 female staff in Northern Ireland civil service, which is 43 per cent. of the service. There were 1,282 staff—4·3 per cent. of the service—who self-reported a disability and, of these, 463-1·5 per cent. of the service—were, or had been, registered as disabled. The Northern Ireland civil service does not monitor the ethnic origin of its staff.

  The number and percentage of female staff and staff with disabilities in each grade—1 to 7—was:

  Grade

  Number of Females

  Per cent. Females

  Number who self-reported a disability (SED)

  Per cent. SRD

  Number registered as disabled (RD)

  Per cent. RD

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1

  2·5

  1

  2·5

  1

  2·5

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  15

  7·5

  8

  4·0

  —

  —

  6

  61

  17·3

  11

  3·1

  3

  0·9

  7

  100

  11·4

  20

  2·3

  3

  0·3

  In addition, 77 civil registered disabled people are currently working in the Northern Ireland civil service under the sheltered placement scheme.

  At 1 March 1994 there were 108 female staff in the Northern Ireland Office, HCS, which represents 52 per cent. of the Department. The number in grades 1 to 7 was as follows:

  Percentage of Women in Grades 1 to 7

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  1

  0

  —

  2

  0

  —

  3

  0

  —

  4

  0

  —

  5

  0

  —

  6

  0

  —

  7

  5

  20

  Some 16 per cent. of the Department are from the ethnic minorities, London only, and none of the staff are registered disabled.

  Institute of Irish Studies
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the hon. Members who have written to him asking for the funding of a chair at the institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.
  832
  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have received only one such letter on this subject, from the hon. Gentleman himself. I hope to be in a position to reply to that letter very shortly.

  Fisheries Policy
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last discussed fisheries policy with(a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) the Scottish Office; and if he will make a statement about co-operation on fisheries policy with both the Republic and Scotland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The last occasion on which fisheries policy was discussed with the Republic of Ireland by Northern Ireland Office Ministers was at the Anglo-Irish conference held in Dublin on 28 January 1994 when inland fisheries was the economic and social item on the agenda. United Kingdom sea fisheries policy is co-ordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the last occasion when all EC Fisheries Ministers met was at the 20 to 21 December Fisheries Council when the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food led the United Kingdom delegation on behalf of the whole of the United Kingdom including Northern Ireland. The next meeting of the Council will be on 12 April. Officials of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland are in constant dialogue with their colleagues in the other United Kingdom Fisheries Departments including the Scottish Office and as necessary with the Department of the Marine in Dublin. My noble Friend, Baroness Denton, has as recently as 23 March written to United Kingdom colleagues about aspects of fishery policy as they affect the Northern Ireland industry.

  University Students
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland students are receiving university education in(a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  In 1992–93, the latest year for which information is available, the numbers of Northern Ireland students receiving university education were 2,401 in Scotland and 761 in the Republic of Ireland.

  Water and Sewerage
  Mr. Wolfson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for attracting private sector finance into the water and sewerage capital works programme in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The purpose of the Government's private finance initiative is to encourage the involvement of the private sector in the provision of high quality, good value public services. As such it offers real benefits to the public by promoting efficiency and improving services by harnessing the private sector's expertise. As part of the initiative, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has appointed Price Waterhouse to carry out a study into the scope for attracting private sector finance to the Department's water and sewerage construction and improvement programme. The study, which is expected to take three months to complete, will begin in early April 1994. The consultants have been asked to advise on the most appropriate mechanisms for securing and utilizing
  833
  private finance, to identify schemes where private finance could play a part and to identify the detailed requirements for taking forward any particular projects.

  Mr. Thomas Francis Doheny
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the basis of the prosecution against Mr. Thomas Francis Doheny in March 1993; on what basis his home was raided by police officers acting on a warrant granted to the Royal Ulster Constabulary; what was the source of authorisation for the issue of warrants against him(a) in Ulster and (b) in the United Kingdom; and who gave backing for the warrant for execution in the United Kingdom.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: A warrant was sought and issued for Mr. Doheny's arrest based on a complaint about the theft of a vehicle. This warrant was duly executed in England by virtue of section 38 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the investigation into the case of Mr. Thomas Francis Doheny referred to in the letter of 9 March from the Northern Ireland Office to Mr. M. O'Brien of the Committee on the Administration of Justice to be completed; if the report of the investigation of the case will be made available on publication; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: The investigation of Mr. Doheny's case has been completed and a file is currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions. Reports of such investigations are not published.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his customary practice for Northern Ireland in suspending the issue of warrants for imprisonment upon convicted persons for a number of hours following such convictions; what is the purpose of such delays in issue; what is the frequency of instances where the issue of warrants upon convicted persons is

  Table 1

  Magistrates' courts

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Findings (indictable and summary)

  16,428

  15,613

  16,667

  16,313

  16,931

  16,210

  14,662

  14,315

  13,696

  13,327

  Guilty pleas

  13,598

  12,945

  13,881

  13,886

  14,031

  14,471

  12,340

  11,927

  11,491

  10,872

  Percentage

  83

  83

  83

  85

  83

  83

  84

  83

  84

  82

  Conviction after not guilty plea

  1,302

  1,397

  1,203

  773

  876

  821

  461

  430

  470

  665

  Percentage

  8

  9

  7

  5

  5

  5

  3

  3

  3

  5

  Acquittals

  1,528

  1,271

  1,583

  1,654

  2,024

  1,918

  1,861

  1,958

  1,735

  1,790

  Percentage

  9

  8

  9

  10

  12

  12

  13

  14

  13

  13

  Table 2

  Crown Court: scheduled offences

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Findings (Indictable and Summary)

  638

  507

  698

  596

  713

  515

  456

  470

  423

  413

  Guilty Pleas

  464

  426

  552

  528

  634

  442

  373

  386

  343

  301

  Per cent.

  73

  84

  79

  89

  89

  86

  82

  82

  81

  73

  Conviction after not guilty plea

  113

  38

  73

  39

  46

  45

  41

  54

  45

  53

  Per cent.

  18

  7

  10

  7

  6

  9

  9

  11

  11

  13

  Acquittals

  61

  43

  73

  29

  33

  28

  42

  30

  35

  59

  Per cent.

  10

  8

  10

  5

  5

  5

  9

  6

  8

  14

  834
  delayed; and if he will make a statement on the operation of those principles in the case of Mr. Thomas Francis Doheny, convicted in the petty sessions district of Omagh on 12 March 1993.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]The decision to delay the issue of a warrant in any particular case is a matter within the discretion of the resident magistrate and it would not therefore be appropriate for me to comment. The frequency of instances where such delays are applied is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor to answer. However, I understand that the information is not available in the form requested and to extract it would incur disproportionate cost.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a table showing the number of cases dealt with by(a) magistrates courts (b) trial by jury and (c) judges sitting alone under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Acts in each year since 1983; and how many and what percentage in each category were recorded as (i) guilty pleas, (ii) convictions after not guilty plea and (iii) acquittal.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 29 March 19941: The following tables provide, for each available year, information on the number of defendants dealt with (a) by magistrates' courts, and (b) by the Crown court. Information is provided on the numbers and percentages of guilty pleas recorded, convictions following not guilty pleas and acquittals. The 1993 figures are not yet available for publication.

  Crown court figures have been divided into scheduled and non-scheduled business according to schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991.

  Subject to the approval of the Director of Public Prosecutions, some scheduled offences can be tried at magistrates' courts. These tend to be of a less serious nature and are included within the figures for all offences dealt with at magistrates' courts. They could be identified separately only at disproportionate cost.
  835

  Table 3

  Crown Court: Non-scheduled offences

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Findings (indictable and summary)

  1,231

  1,121

  1,333

  1,263

  1,210

  971

  911

  952

  919

  891

  Guilty pleas

  1,055

  926

  1,090

  1,101

  1,056

  783

  767

  716

  717

  673

  Percentage

  86

  83

  82

  87

  87

  81

  84

  75

  78

  76

  Conviction after not guilty plea

  84

  99

  115

  78

  79

  97

  53

  100

  104

  108

  Percentage

  7

  9

  9

  6

  7

  10

  6

  11

  11

  12

  Acquittals

  92

  96

  128

  84

  75

  91

  91

  126

  98

  110

  Percentage

  7

  9

  10

  7

  6

  9

  10

  14

  11

  12

  Notes:

  1. Some scheduled offences may be heard at the Magistrates' courts and do not appear in Table 2.

  2. Cases tried before jury and tried before judges sitting alone equate to non-scheduled and scheduled cases heard in the Crown court respectively.

  3. Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) 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;

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

  Mr. Howard
  Where appointments are made to posts for which security clearance is necessary, the normal procedures set out in the then Prime Minister's statement of 24 July 1990 will apply. As the Prime Minister announced on 23 March, these procedures are currently under review.

  Chairmen and deputy chairmen of public boards and other full-time members of boards are expected to show a degree of detachment from political activities. Rules for the guidance of members of public boards are listed in annex 7A of the "Guide on Public Appointments Procedures", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Howard
  Details of principal appointments for which I have overall responsibility are as follows:

  Chairman of Alcohol Education and Research Council

  (a) Mr. Charles Wardle MP

  (b) Expenses only

  (c) 3 years, extendable to 6 years

  (d) Vacant

  Chairman of panel of advisers on deportations made at my personal direction under section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971.

  (a) Mr. Charles Wardle MP

  (b) Expenses only

  (c) 3 years

  836

  (d) Lord Lloyd of Berwick

  Chairman of Criminal Justice Consultative Council

  (a) Mr. David Maclean MP

  (b) No remuneration

  (c) 3 years

  (d) Lord Justice Rose

  Chairman of Horse Race Betting Levy Board

  (a) The Right Hon. Peter Lloyd MP

  (b) £40,000

  (c) 2–3 years renewable

  (d) Sir John Sparrow

  Chairman of Horse Race Totalisator Board

  (a) The right hon. Peter Lloyd MP

  (b) £95,000

  (c) 2 years

  (d) Lord Wyatt of Weeford

  Chairman of Health Advisory Committee to the Prison Service

  (a) The Right Hon. Peter Lloyd MP

  (b) £10,560

  (c) 3 years

  (d) Sir Donald Acheson

  Chairman of Parole Board for England and Wales

  (a) The Right Hon. Peter Lloyd MP

  (b) £45,060

  (c)5 years

  (d) Lord Belstead

  Chairman of Animal Procedures Committee

  (a) Mr. Charles Wardle MP

  (b) £155 per day

  (c) 4 years

  (d) Professor Margaret Brazier

  Civil Emergencies Adviser

  (a) The Right Hon. The Earl Ferrers

  (b) £27,600 (3 days per week)

  (c) 3 years, extendable to 5 years

  (d) Mr. David Bawtree

  Chairman of Police Discipline Appeals Tribunal

  (a) The Right Hon. The Earl Ferrers

  (b) £306 per day plus expenses

  (c) Appointments are made for an indefinite period

  (d) Chairmanship taken on an ad hoc basis

  Chair of Advisory Board on Restricted Patients

  (a) Mr. David Maclean MP

  (b) Expenses only

  (c) 3 years

  (d) Judge Valerie Pearlman

  Chairman of Appeals Panel to Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

  (a) Mr. David Maclean MP

  (b) £15,675

  (c) 2 years

  (d) Mr. Michael Lewer QC (as from 1 April)

  Chairman of Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

  (a) Mr. David Maclean MP

  (b) £32,420

  837

  (c) 5 years

  (d) The Rt. Hon. Lord Carlisle of Bucklow QC

  Chairman of Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

  (a) Mr. David Maclean MP

  (b) Expenses only

  (c) 3 years

  (d) Professor David Grahame-Smith CBE MB BS MRCS LRCP PhD FRCP

  Chairman of Misuse of Drugs Professional Panel

  (a) Mr. David Maclean MP

  (b) £179·46 per hearing

  (c) Appointments made for each hearing only

  Chairman of Advisory Committee on Service Candidates

  (a) The Rt. Hon. Peter Lloyd MP

  (b) No remuneration

  (c) Appointments made for an indefinite period

  (d) Vacant

  Chairman of Gaming Board for Great Britain

  (a) The Rt. Hon. Peter Lloyd MP

  (b) £31,450

  (c) 3 years

  (d) Lady Littler

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

  (a) The Right Hon. The Earl Ferrers

  (b) Salary, civil service grade 4 daily rate

  (c) 3 years

  (d) Mr. J. J. Rowe, QC

  Chairman of Police Promotions Examinations Board

  (a) The Right Hon. The Earl Ferrers

  (b) Expenses only

  (c) 3 years

  (d) Professor John Andrews, MA, BCL (Oxon)

  Chairman of Firearms Consultative Committee

  (a) The Right Hon. The Earl Ferrers

  (b) Expenses only

  (c) 5 years from 1989

  (d) Lord Kimball

  Chairman of Retail Action Group for Crime Prevention

  (a) Mr. Charles Wardle, MP

  (b) None

  (c) 2 years, renewable

  (d) Mr. Keith Ackroyd

  Chairman of Vehicle Crime Prevention Group

  (a) Mr. Charles Wardle, MP

  (b) No remuneration

  (c) 2 years, renewable

  (d) Mr. Peter Batchelor

  Chairman of Fire Service Research and Training Trust

  (a) Mr. Charles Wardle

  (b) Expenses only

  (c) Appointments made for an indefinite period

  (d) Mr. R. Shuffrey

  Chief Executive of Commission for Racial Equality

  (a) The Right Hon. Peter Lloyd, MP

  (b) £70,000

  (c) 5 years

  (d) Mr. Herman Ouseley

  Chair of the Immigration and Nationality Department Complaints Audit Committee

  (a) Mr. Charles Wardle, MP

  (b) £203·12 per day plus expenses

  (c) 3 years

  (d) Mrs. Diana Rookledge

  Chief Executive of Community Development Foundation

  (a) The Right Hon. Peter Lloyd, MP

  (b) No remuneration

  838

  (c) 3 years

  (d) Mr. Alan Haselhurst, MP

  Chairman of National Lottery Charities Board

  (a) The Right Hon. Peter Lloyd, MP

  (b) Salary, civil service grade 3 pro rata (2–2½ days per week)

  (c) Term of appointment not more than five years

  (d) Vacant

  Information about other appointments, including chairmen of boards of visitors and local review committees, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Howard
  As at 1 September 1993, of 1,875 appointments to Home Office non-departmental public bodies where the ethnic origin of the appointee was known, 4·2 per cent. of appointees were Asian and 3·6 were black. An undertaking was given when the information was collected that individuals would not be identified.

  South Yorkshire Police
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were available in(a) the South Yorkshire police authority area and (b) by each division for beat duties in 1993; what are the projected figures for the current year; and what are the comparable figures for those allocated to desk duties.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  At the end of 1993, 1,694 officers were deployed to beat duties in the South Yorkshire police area as a whole. Information is not held centrally on deployments at divisional level, or on projected deployments. Data held on other police activities do not distinguish the proportion allocated to desk duties.

  Schizophrenia
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take to ensure that severely disturbed victims of schizophrenia in need of treatment are not kept in police cells in lieu of psychiatric care.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The codes of practice issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 require police custody officers immediately to call the police surgeon to examine a person in their custody who appears to be suffering from a mental disorder. Persons who are detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 for their own protection or for that of others should be assessed as soon as possible by a psychiatrist and an approved social worker to ensure that they receive any necessary care and treatment. Under section 136 the police are empowered to remove persons to a place of safety, which the Government recommend should be a hospital rather than a police station, with a view to providing appropriate facilities for the care of the mentally disordered.

  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the funding for the course on mental illness run for police officers by the National Schizophrenic Fellowship; and what plans he has for improving the training in mental illness available to police officers generally.
  839
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand that the Association of Chief Police Officers is currently in touch with the National Schizophrenic Fellowship and is looking at ways of funding a national training video. The Home Office intends to issue further guidance shortly to those working in the criminal justice system generally about dealing with cases involving mentally disordered persons. In particular, chief officers of police will be asked to examine existing force policy and practice, including current training provision.

  Blakenhurst Prison
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners rioted at Blakenhurst prison, Birmingham, on or around 24 February: why it was necessary to call in the Prison Officers Association to rescue the situation; and how many other riots or disturbances have occurred at privately run prisons.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Michael Meacher, dated 30 March 1994:

  HM PRISON BLAKENHURST

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the incident at Blakenhurst prison on 24 February.

  A total of 111 prisoners was in the particular houseblock where the incident occurred, but not all were actively involved in the subsequent events.

  No member of the Prison Officers Association was called or required to attend the incident, other than any Blakenhurst staff who may be members of the Association. Sixty-one prisoners were transferred temporarily to other prisons establishments. This is normal practice in such an event and Blakenhurst, as an integral part of the Prison Service, has received prisoners from other establishments when they have experienced difficulties.

  You also requested information on disturbances at the contracted out prisons. Details of incidents, including acts of concerted indiscipline, at Wolds between the opening of the prison and 29 June 1993 have already been provided to Parliament (Official Report: 26 July 1993, column WA 75–79). Since that time there have been three instances of concerted indiscipline, making a total of 28 incidents in all. There have been a total of seven acts of concerted indiscipline at Blakenhurst since its opening.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Prison Service is to withhold any part of the payment to United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. in respect of the contract to manage Blakenhurst prison; how much money is to be withheld; and for what reason.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 30 March 1994:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Blakenhurst prison.

  It is intended to take an appropriate financial remedy under the terms of the contract in relation to the incident on 24 February. The amount has not yet been finally settled.

  Brian Charrington
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what part will be played by his Department in the investigation by Thames Valley police into the conduct of the Brian Charrington case by Cleveland police force.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None.

  Vehicles (North Yorkshire Police)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles leased to the north Yorkshire police are currently mothballed; why these vehicles are not being used to police the county; from whom the vehicles are leased; how much it has cost to replace the mothballed vehicles with other vehicles; how much it would have cost under the terms of the leasing agreement to keep on using the leased vehicles; and whether he intends to issue advice to chief constables about the terms for leasing vehicles.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The procurement and use of police vehicles is a matter for chief officers of police and their police authorities.

  Guidance notes providing advice on vehicle fleet management, including leasing arrangements, have been issued by the Treasury's central unit on procurement. Copies of the relevant notes—Nos. 24a to 24e and 37—are available in the Library.

  Youths (Reoffending)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the reoffending rates for the various different forms of treatment of convicted youths up to the age of 18 years; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what are the reoffending rates for youths sentenced to periods of detention in (a) prisons and (b) other forms of detention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is for reconvictions within two and four years of commencement of probation or community service orders and within two and four years of discharge from Prison Service establishments. Reconviction statistics relate to "standard list" offences as defined in appendix 4 of "Criminal Statistics England and Wales, 1992", Cm 2410. Estimates of reconviction rates are shown in the table for samples of males aged 17 or under when they commenced supervision under the probation service in 1987 and for a sample of males discharged from Prison Service establishments in 1987 aged 17 or under on sentence.

  Asylum Seekers (Sudan)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider his decision to return unsuccessful asylum seekers to Sudan; and what account he has taken of the human rights situation in that country.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Circumstances in both northern and southern Sudan, including the human rights situation, are kept under continual review, but we see no reason at present to change our practice on returning unsuccessful asylum seekers to Sudan.

  Young Offenders (Employment)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of young offenders finds gainful employment upon release from(a) prison and (b) other custodial sentences.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police Officers (Assaults)
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults upon police officers are recorded in each of the years 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1993 in total and by constabulary using(a) automatic weapons, (b) knives or (c) other weapons.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Civilian Hours
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours per week are worked by civilians in functions which were previously police jobs(a) in total and (b) per person.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  These figures are not kept centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Transferred Police Functions
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what functions formerly performed by the police service have been transferred to(a) traffic wardens and (b) civilians since 1980.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The powers of traffic wardens to carry out certain police functions in relation to traffic offences are set out in the Functions of Traffic Wardens Order 1970. This was amended on 1 June 1993 to enable wardens to authorise the clamping or removal of illegally parked vehicles and to empower them to deal with endorsable parking offences.

  No police functions have been formally transferred to civilian staff. It is the responsibility of chief officers to allocate staff to suitable posts.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what jobs are currently performed by civilians which previously were police functions.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The specific information sought is not held centrally. However, a number of areas have been identified in which civilian staff could provide support services to police officers and these are listed. It is, of course, for chief officers to decide how best to organise their staff.

  Aliens Registration

  Buildings Maintenance

  Catering

  Closed Circuit Television/Audiovisual services

  CID Support

  Communications

  Computers

  Coroner

  Court Liaison

  Court Security

  842

  Criminal Records Office

  Dogs

  Drivers

  Equal Opportunities

  Finance

  Fingerprints/Photos

  Firearms and Explosives

  Fixed Penalties

  Gaoler

  HOLMES Unit

  Juvenile Liaison

  Licensing

  Marine

  Mounted Horses

  Personnel

  Plan Drawing

  Property

  Prosecutions (Administrative Support Units)

  Protection Administration

  Research/Planning/Analysis

  Scenes of Crimes Officers

  Special Branch Administration

  Statistics

  Stores and Suppliers

  Traffic Support

  Traffic Warden Administration

  Underwater

  Vehicle Fleet Management

  Warrants

  Welfare

  Other Administration/Clerical

  Slopping-out
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each prison in England where slopping-out is still in practice; and if he will state his plans and estimated date for ending slopping-out for each prison.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 March 1994:

  Slopping-out

    ACCESS TO SANITATION
    The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the Prison Service's programme to end slopping-out.
    Only 27 of 131 establishments are without 100 per cent. access to sanitation throughout 24 hours but, as you will note from the following table, in many cases this involves small numbers of cells. The dates in the table are the dates on which we currently plan to take the last of these cells at each establishment out of use for the installation of sanitation, at which point slopping-out will end at those establishments. Population changes and other operational factors may require adjustments to some of those dates, which are kept under regular review.
    The Prison Service continues to give very high priority to completing the sanitation programme as planned. Ninety per cent. of prisoners now have 24 hour access to sanitation and this should increase to over 95 per cent. by December 1994. We aim to achieve 100 per cent. access nationally by February 1996.

    Prison establishments without 100 per cent. 24 hour access to sanitation

    Establishment

    Number of cells

    Planned end date

    Aylesbury A, B and C wings

    210

    3/95

    Birmingham hospital

    18

    7/94

    Brixton G wing

    173

    10/95

    Brockhill C, D and F wings

    72

    10/94

    Bristol B wing

    102

    7/94

    Chelmsford D wing

    33

    6/94

    Dartmoor C and E wings

    167

    2/96

    Durham A, C and B (North) wings

    202

    9/94

    Establishment

    Number of cells

    Planned end date

    Erlestoke Wessex wing

    60

    6/94

    Everthorpe Seg unit

    10

    11/94

    Exeter C wing and hospital

    97

    6/94

    Grendon G and H wings

    28

    6/94

    Hindley A nd B wings

    124

    1/95

    Hollesley Bay Seg unit

    11

    5/94

    Leeds A, C and D wings

    508

    2/96

    Lewes C and G wings

    130

    1/95

    Liverpool A, H and K wings

    347

    2/96

    Long Lartin D wing

    77

    8/94

    Moorland hospital

    7

    5/95

    Norwich hospital

    15

    4/94

    Parkhurst M wing

    40

    2/96

    Pentonville A wing

    153

    3/95

    Preston A, C and D wings

    346

    2/96

    Standford Hill Seg unit

    4

    4/94

    Wandsworth A, B wings and hospital

    288

    2/96

    Winchester B wing

    108

    8/94

    Wormwood Scrubs A and B wings

    333

    9/94

    Competitive Bids
    Mr. Robert Ainsworth
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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 (i) safer cities, (ii) section 11 grants, (iii) ethnic minority business initiative and (iv) ethnic minority grant.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd
    Safer Cities estimated out-turn for 1993–94 is £6 million. I am unable to give precise figures until the tendering process for the second phase of safer cities projects is complete. All safer cities projects have been chosen having regard to statistical data on crime rates.

    Section 11, Ethnic Minority Business Initiative, Ethnic Minority Grant: In the 1992–93 financial year, £129 million was spent under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, £4 million under ethnic minority grant and £0·4 million under the ethnic minority business initiative. In all instances, grant is allocated to projects approved for funding strictly on the basis of the assessment of particular need identified in an application, and of the objectives and targets set out for addressing that need.

    Hospital Visits
    Mr. Steinberg
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hospital visits have been allowed to prisoners from(a) Durham, (b) Frankland and (c) Low Newton Prisons, in each year since 1979.

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

    Letter front A. J. Butler to Mr. Jerry Steinberg, dated 30 March 1994:
    I have been asked to reply to your Question seeking information about hospital visits by prisoners from Durham, Frankland and Low Newton since 1979.
    Central statistical information about health care services is available only from 1985. The available information is as follows:
    844

    Durham

    Durham

    Frankland

    Low Newton

    Low Newton

    Year

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    11985

    252

    22

    114

    98

    18

    21985

    40

    5

    12

    5

    5

    11986

    312

    19

    98

    109

    26

    21986

    45

    8

    19

    5

    5

    11987

    365

    29

    54

    95

    28

    21987

    55

    5

    17

    5

    4

    11988

    382

    20

    61

    72

    23

    21988

    42

    1

    15

    3

    5

    11989

    388

    18

    86

    3—

    3—

    21989

    37

    2

    16

    3—

    3—

    11990

    383

    3—

    124

    68

    33

    11990

    51

    3—

    16

    6

    4

    11991

    423

    20

    144

    109

    30

    21991

    57

    3

    23

    8

    7

    11992

    240

    6

    145

    122

    41

    21992

    34

    2

    9

    11

    6

    1 Number of occasions on which prisoners attended outpatient facilities.

    2 Number of occasions on which prisoners were transferred to national health service hospitals.

    3 Information not available.

    Firefighters
    Mrs. Bridget Prentice
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firefighters have been(a) injured and (b) killed in London in the line of duty in each year since 1980.

    Mr. Charles Wardle
    The information is given in the following table.

    Number of London fire brigade firefighters seriously injured1 or killed in the line of duty. 1980–92

    Fatalities

    Serious injuries

    1980

    1

    154

    1981

    2

    147

    1982

    —

    141

    1983

    1

    184

    1984

    1

    86

    1985

    —

    164

    1986

    —

    134

    1987

    1

    152

    1988

    —

    151

    1989

    —

    133

    1990

    —

    133

    1991

    2

    139

    1992

    1

    132

    1Serious injuries are defined as those which result in absence of duty for at least one month.

    Proton Cars
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Howard
    From the information available, no Proton cars have been purchased by the Home Office in any of the last 10 years.
    845

    Paedophile Records
    Miss Lestor
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the paedophile records that were recently sent to the national criminal intelligence service from the Metropolitan police are now still with the national criminal intelligence service.

    Mr. Charles Wardle
    A card index system, containing in excess of 3,000 names, was transferred to the national criminal intelligence service by the Metropolitan police in April 1992. These records are in the process of being entered onto a computer database. So far, 1,466 computer records, some containing many names, have been created and 150 names have been weeded.

    Traffic Videos
    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 31, (1) if he will make it his policy to issue guidelines to police forces regarding the sale of road traffic video footage to private companies;

    (2) when the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers is to consider the sale of road traffic videos to private companies;

    (3) if he will discuss with the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers the use and disposal of road traffic video footage;

    (4) what representations he has had from chief police officers regarding the use of this road traffic video footage;

    (5) how the moneys received from the disposal of road traffic video footage can be utilised;

    (6) by what criteria he decided that the release of police traffic videos is an operational matter for chief police officers.

    Mr. Charles Wardle
    Guidance is issued to chief officers of police on the disclosure of information in respect of criminal and civil proceedings. However, chief officers retain an absolute discretion, subject to the direction of a court, to disclose or provide other information from police records. The provision of road traffic video footage is similarly a matter for chief officers. I understand that none of the police forces concerned received money for supplying footage. My right hon. and learned Friend does not intend to issue guidelines on the matter nor does he plan to discuss it with the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers. That committee will be considering the issue at its next meeting on 11 May. I have not received any representations from chief officers about the matter.

    Asylum Seekers
    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom are currently held in detention; what was the figure a year ago; and if he will list those establishments which are used regularly for such detention.

    Mr. Charles Wardle
    On 21 March 645 people who had applied for asylum at some stage were held in detention. Information on the number of asylum seekers held in detention a year ago is not available.

    The establishments which regularly hold the greatest numbers of immigration detainees are as follows:
    846
    Immigration Service Accommodation

    Campsfield House

    Harmondsworth

    The Beehive, Gatwick Airport

    Queen's Building, Heathrow

    Manchester

    Stansted

    Prison Service Accommodation

    Birmingham

    Blakenhurst

    Canterbury

    Dover

    Haslar1

    High Down

    Holloway

    Pentonville

    1Haslar Holding Centre is primarily an Immigration Detention Centre, although managed by the Prison Service.

    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons, held in detention, who have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom are currently refusing to eat; what arrangements are made for such people to be seen by a doctor or to have access to standard hospital facilities; how many detainees held at Campsfield house are currently refusing to eat; how many detainees have been dispersed from Campsfield house to other establishments; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Charles Wardle
    On 28 March, 69 detainees were refusing food, 22 of whom were located at Campsfield house.

    Between 18 February and 28 March 87 detainees left Campsfield house. Of these, 27 were released on temporary admission or bail, 22 were sent to other establishments and the remaining 38 were removed from the United Kingdom.

    Detainees in immigration detention centres have access on a daily basis to a resident or visiting doctor. The Prison Service is responsible for providing similar access to a doctor for those Immigration Act detainees accommodated at prison establishments. Depending on the circumstances of the case, a detainee who requires medical attention beyond that which can be provided in an immigration detention centre may be transferred to a prison hospital or outside hospital.

    Illegal Drugs
    Mr. Tony Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the quantities and estimated value of drugs seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the police for the last three years for which figures are available; and what estimate he made for the quantity and value of drugs illegally used for those years.

    Mr. Maclean
    The information requested with regard to the quantity of controlled drugs seized by Her Majesty's Customs and the police respectively is contained in tables S1.2 to 1.7 of the supplementary tables to the Home Office Statistical Bulletins "Statistics of drugs seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom" (1990–92), copies of which are in the Library.

    In addition, Her Majesty's Customs informed us that the following quantities of controlled drugs were seized by them during 1993:

    847

    Amounts in kilogrammes

    Heroin

    561

    Cocaine

    748

    Amphetamines

    1,096

    Cannabis (all forms)

    53,137

    Data for 1993 for police forces will be published later in the year. The combined estimated value of police and Customs drugs seizures is not availble. Since drug misuse is by its nature a clandestine activity, there is no information on the estimated quantity and value of drugs actually used.

    Mr. Tony Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Moss Side, Manchester in respect of the control of illegal drugs; and what new initiatives will emerge as a result of his visit to Moss Side, Manchester.

    Mr. Howard
    I have written to the hon. Member today.

    Prisoners (Costs)
    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of keeping a prisoner in(a) a privately run prison and (b) a state prison; and if he will give a detailed breakdown of these costs.

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

    Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Andrew Welsh, dated 30 March 1994:
    The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the costs of keeping a prisoner in (a) a private run prison and (b) a state prison.
    In 1992–93 the net operating costs per prisoner place per week were £333 in Wolds remand prison and £466 in the directly managed prison system, which included a range of different types of establishment.

    The costs in directly managed establishments break down as follows:

    £

    Prisoner control

    191

    Prisoner care

    70

    Prisoner occupation

    50

    Escorts of prisoners

    16

    Building services

    44

    Administration costs

    95

    466

    It is not possible to give a detailed breakdown of the costs for Wolds: the contractors are paid an agreed sum for a total service.

    Fuel Subsidies
    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what subsidies privately run prisons receive towards the cost of electricity or gas.

    Mr. Peter Lloyd
    Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
    848
    Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Andrew Welsh, dated 30 March 1994:

    CONTRACTED OUT PRISONS: UTILITY COSTS
    The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about any subsidies which privately run prisons receive towards the cost of electricity or gas.
    No such subsidies are paid. The contractor who manages Blakenhurst prison pays these costs under the operating contract. This will also be the case at Doncaster when it opens in June. The position at Wolds prison is temporarily a little different, however, in that there the costs of gas and electricity are currently met directly by the Prison Service. This reflects the fact that Wolds' unique design made it impossible at the outset to set benchmark levels for consumption, and therefore cost, in the contract. They have, however, been included in the published total operating costs of the prison and in the published comparative cost analyses contained in the Prison Service Annual Report. Now that energy consumption levels are known, arrangements are in hand to amend the contract so that these costs become the contractor's responsibility.
    The efficient use by contractors of public utilities is monitored by the Prison Service controllers who are assisted by the Prison Service Energy Management Group.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 223, if he will list the number of contracts and their cost with management consultants in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]:The Home Office let 70 contracts to management consultants during 1993–94. The total cost was £3,489,463.

ENVIRONMENT

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Baldry
  In November 1992, the Department commissioned Succession Planning Associates, a firm of executive search consultants, to identify women and ethnic minority candidates suitable for appointment to DOE-sponsored public bodies and now maintains a list of the names they obtained. The consultants approached a wide range of organisations and individuals in order to draw up their list. In addition, the Departtment usually asks the public appointments unit of the Cabinet Office for information on possible candidates. The Department welcomes inquiries from people interested in serving on the boards of its non-departmental public bodies.

  Individuals from all walks of life may approach the Department and appointments are made on the basis of aptitude and merit. The Department has produced a form for self-nomination which is issued on request.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations and individuals outside his Department who are sent information on, or consulted about, individuals who are, or
  849
  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. Baldry
  The Department follows the advice on consultation set out in the Cabinet Office's "Guide on Public Appointments Procedures", a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library. In addition to consulting in accordance with the guide, the need for any wider consultation is borne in mind depending on the individual circumstances of the particular appointments under consideration.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Baldry
  A list of the appointments to nationalised industries and non-departmental public bodies, and their salaries, is published annually in "Public Bodies", a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library. Other appointments by the Secretary of State, and their salaries, were listed in my answer of 1 March to the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Dr. Wright). No central record is maintained of names of the persons currently appointed, who number over 900, or the terms of their appointments.

  All appointments are the responsibility of the Secretary of State, other than those identified as exceptions in "Public Bodies" and my answer of 1 March to the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood, Official Report, columns 638–39.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) 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;

  (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, (b) extreme right wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has no procedures for obtaining or storing information about political views. Nomination forms provided by the Department and the public appointments unit of the Cabinet Office do not contain questions about candidates' political affiliations. The aim of the appointment system is to obtain candidates who, on the basis of merit and experience, are considered the most suitable for the posts in question. Information to assist the Department is obtained from the nomination form, followed by shortlisting and interview, the taking-up of references and advice from other Government Departments.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available in a form useful to local authorities the programme used for calculating standard spending assessments.

  Mr. Baldry
  Standard spending assessments are calculated in accordance with the methodology set out in the local government finance report. Local authorities already receive from my Department all the information they need to calculate their own standard spending assessments. My Department will discuss with the local authority associations whether other ways of presenting this material would be useful.

  European Environment Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he plans to put to the European Environment Council in Brussels on 24 to 25 March.

  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at the Environment Council on 24 and 25 March. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside also attended on 24 March.

  The Council unanimously agreed, on the basis of a United Kingdom text, a common position to ban the export of hazardous waste to non-OECD countries by 31 December. 1997.

  In a separate discussion of the draft directive on landfill waste the Council concentrated on the scope of the directive and the question of exemptions. I pressed our views on the environmental advantages of controlled disposal of certain difficult and non-hazardous waste together—"co-disposal"—but overall little progress was made and the Council referred the topic back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives—COREPER—for further work to prepare for the June Council.

  In discussion of an amendment to the birds directive I secured assurances that the proposal would not reduce the level of protection for birds and that scientific and conservation criteria would be used in implementing it. The proposal will now be put to the European Parliament.

  An amendment to the directive concerning noise from earth moving machinery was adopted after a vote in which the United Kingdom abstained. A unanimous decision was reached on the four year programme—1994–1997—on official statistics of the environment. The Council also agreed a common position on a minor amendment to the large combustion plants directive—88/609/EEC.

  The Council agreed conclusions on climate change which urged all member states to complete by 1 May 1994 the national programmes aimed at limiting CO2 emissions that they are required to prepare under the climate change convention and the Community's own monitoring mechanism. We published the United Kingdom programme on 25 January. The Council also decided to establish a working group to examine various aspects of Community approaches to the use of carbon and energy taxation to limit CO2 emissions.

  There was a useful orientation debate on the proposed directive on integrated pollution prevention and control. I welcomed the aims of the directive and was supported in this by most other member states. The draft directive will now be considered further in the environment working group.
  851
  The Council also adopted a resolution on integrated coastal zone management, and in a short discussion of the Commission White Paper, "Growth Competitiveness and Employment", the Commissioner outlined ideas for taking things forward in the coming months.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Gummer
  The figures requested are(a) 0 per cent. and (b) 28 per cent. I am unable to list the individuals' names as the Department's survey of the ethnic origins of appointees is voluntary and on the understanding that the information collected will be used for statistical purposes only.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations underpinned the omission from paragraphs 3.4.14 to 3.4.18, at page 54 of the United Kingdom report to the Commission on Sustainable Development 1994, in management of radioactive waste of Her Majesty's Government's policy to return to countries of origin reprocessing radioactive waste arising from the reprocessing of imported spent nuclear fuel to Sellafield and Dounreay.

  Mr. Atkins
  It was an editorial decision. As I made clear in the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member on 15 March,Official Report, column 579, the Government intend that British Nuclear Fuels plc should exercise its options for the return of reprocessing waste to the country of origin.

  Pollution (Appeals)
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 are awaiting determination and what were the dates on which each of those appeals was lodged.

  Mr. Atkins
  A total of 60 appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 are currently before my right hon. Friend for determination. The dates on which the appeals were lodged are as follows:

  Appeals at procedural stage (i.e. written representations being made by parties or appeal subject to a hearing)

  29 April 1991

  4 August 1992

  8 March 1993

  11 March 1993

  May 1993

  19 May 1993

  5 July 1993

  14 July 1993

  10 September 1993

  4 October 1993

  10 November 1993

  12 November 1993

  23 November 1993

  7 December 1993

  17 December 1993

  17 December 1993

  21 December 1993

  21 December 1993

  19 January 1994

  852

  25 January 1994

  3 February 1994

  15 February 1994

  17 February 1994

  22 February 1994

  24 February 1994

  2 March 1994

  Appeals at determination stage (i.e. submission of written representations by parties concluded or hearing held)

  6 February 1989

  7 February 1990

  30 March 1990

  22 August 1991

  28 October 1991

  31 January 1992

  14 February 1992

  31 March 1992

  7 May 1992

  15 July 1992

  30 July 1992

  15 September 1992

  16 September 1992

  9 October 1992

  12 February 1992

  22 March 1993

  28 May 1993

  15 June 1993

  Appeals in abeyance (e.g. negotiations taking place between parties or awaiting resolution of planning issues)

  9 December 1987

  1 August 1988

  26 April 1991

  9 July 1992

  26 August 1992

  23 November 1992

  5 January 1993

  24 February 1993

  9 March 1993

  16 April 1993

  26 April 1993

  26 July 1993

  10 August 1993

  22 September 1993

  20 October 1993

  18 November 1993

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what effect he expects the additional grounds for appeal and the need to establish precedents to have on the incidence of waste licensing appeals following the introduction of the new waste management licensing system on 1 May;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the time taken to deal with appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974;

  (3) how many staff are employed in his Department on appeals made under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974; and what proportion of their time was spent thereon in the periods (a) 1 March 1993 to 31 August 1993 and (b) 1 September 1993 to 28 February 1994;

  (4) what steps he is taking to expedite determination of (a) current appeals made under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and (b) future appeals made under section 43 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 from 1 May.

  Mr. Atkins
  The administration or determination of appeals forms part of the duties of four members of staff within the Department's waste management division. Members of staff in the Department's planning inspectorate—PINS—are also employed on appeals where they take the form of a hearing. The proportion of staff time spent on the administration or determination of
  853
  appeals, and the administration and conduct of hearings, depends on a number of factors and varies from day to day. The time taken to determine appeals also depends on factors such as the time taken by the parties to provide written representations or their availability to attend a hearing. It is the Department's aim to deal with all appeals expeditiously and wherever possible to improve on the time taken to determine them.

  Responsibility for the administration of appeals which are to be determined on the basis of written representations will be transferred from waste management division to PINS on 1 May 1994 when the new waste management licensing system under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 comes into force. PINS' duties will include responsibility for appeals made under section 43 of the 1990 Act and, where appropriate, appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

  Section 43 of the 1990 Act will widen the grounds on which an appeal may be made against a waste regulation authority's decision. However, sections 35(8) and 74(5) require authorities to have regard to any guidance issued to them with respect to the discharge of their functions. The guidance which we intend to issue under sections 35(8) and 74(5) should ensure that proportionately fewer appeals need to be made under section 43 of the 1990 Act than has historically been the case under section 10 of the 1974 Act.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 have been determined in the periods(a) 1 March to 31 August 1993 and (b) 1 September 1993 to 28 February 1994.

  Mr. Atkins
  Eight appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 were determined in the period 1 March to 31 August 1993; and two appeals were determined in the period 1 September 1993 to 28 February 1994.

  Unitary Authorities
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library all submissions and other comments made to him on the most workable formula for the discharge, through joint working, of strategic functions and planning by new or proposed

  Mr. Baldry
  We have received a large number of representations on the general issue of joint working, including those received in response to our 1992 consultation exercise on the policy guidance to the Local Government Commission. These could not be assembled except at disproportionate cost. We have said, however, that when we lay implementation orders for each area where the Local Government Commission recommends change to the structure of local government, we will place

  Women

  1Ethnic minority

  1Disabled

  Total staff

  Men

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Grade 1

  1

  1

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 2

  7

  4

  3

  43·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 3

  34

  30

  4

  12·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 4

  7

  7

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Grade 5

  140

  119

  21

  15·0

  1

  0·7

  1

  0·7

  Grade 6

  322

  293

  29

  9·0

  1

  0·3

  0

  0·0

  Grade 7

  788

  654

  134

  17·0

  11

  1·4

  7

  0·9

  854
  in the Library a summary of all representations received by the Secretary of State about the recommendations. Individual representations will be made available if requested unless the writers intended their views to be treated in confidence.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those people and organisations he has consulted as to the most workable formula for the discharge, through joint working, of strategic functions and planning by new or proposed unitary authorities.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is for the Local Government Commission to consider, for each area that it reviews, whether or not joint working between any proposed unitary authorities is necessary for particular functions. A list of those persons and organisations whom the Commission is required to consult on its draft recommendations is included in our procedure guidance to the Commission, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the strategic functions on which he has consulted as to their discharge, through joint working, by new or proposed unitary authorities.

  Mr. Baldry
  Annex B of the Department's policy guidance to the Local Government Commission sets out considerations relevant to structural change for a range of local government functions. That guidance, which was issued after an extensive consultation process, draws attention to options for joint working, particularly in relation to strategic planning. A copy of the guidance is in the Library.

  Council Tax
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against council tax banding and valuation are currently outstanding(a) in total and (b) in each valuation district.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson), on 23 March,Official Report, column 276.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Gummer
  The following information covers non-industrial staff in my Department—excluding PSAS—as at 1 March 1994:
  855

  Women

  1Ethnic minority

  1Disabled

  Total staff

  Men

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  OVERALL TOTAL

  6,582

  3,909

  2,673

  41·0

  501

  7·6

  142

  2·2

  1 Figures are based on voluntary responses to staff surveys. The response rate to the ethnic origin survey is 91 per cent. Respondents to the disability survey include registered and non-registered disabled staff.

  House Improvement Grants
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many mandatory house improvement grants have been made available in the areas covered by the five district councils on Merseyside during the past financial year; how many applications were received; how many homes remain in the pipeline awaiting renewal; when he expects to make an announcement concerning the targeting of house improvement grants into designated renewal areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  Information on the number of mandatory renovation grants made available by the five Merseyside district councils during 1993–94 is provided to my Department through local authority quarterly monitoring returns. The number of returns received to date and the number of grants approved is shown in the table.

  1993–94

  Number of returns

  Grants approved

  Knowsley

  2

  97

  Liverpool

  2

  361

  Sefton

  —

  —

  St. Helens

  3

  158

  Wirral

  3

  143

  My Department does not hold statistics of renovation grant applications made to authorities or of applications still under consideration. The Government will announce their conclusions on the future of private sector housing renewal programmes following last year' consultations in due course.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the single regeneration budget he expects is likely to support bids from local partnerships as mentioned in paragraph 5.9 of the Department's annual report.

  Mr. Baldry
  The first round of bidding for single regeneration budget funding will be for new initiatives starting in 1995–96. On current plans, the total budget will be worth over £1.3 billion in 1995–96 and it is expected that about £100 million will be available to support new bids. Following the recent public consultation exercise, bidding guidance will be published soon.

  Urban and Housing Programmes
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 (i) city challenge, (ii) urban programme, (iii) inner city task forces, (iv) city action team, (v) English
  856
  Partnerships, (vi) urban development corporations, (vii) the docklands light railway, (viii) esetate action and (ix) housing action trusts.

  Mr. Baldry
  The total amount of funding provided by my department under each of these support regimes for the financial year ending March 1994 is estimated to be:

  1993–94 estimated out-turn (£m)

  (i) City Challenge

  223·2

  (ii) Urban Programme

  173·0

  (iii) Inner Cities Task Forces

  18·0

  (iv) City Action Teams

  3·4

  (v) English Partnerships

  161·9

  (vi) Urban Development Corporations (including Docklands Light Railway)

  380·8

  (vii) Estate Action

  356·0

  (viii) Housing Action Trusts

  78·1

  City challenge and the £20 million urban partnership fund—which forms about 12 per cent. Of the urban programme in 1993–94—targeted resources on projects selected by competition among the local authorities in the 57 urban priority areas. Local housing authorities also compete for estate action resources. The other support regimes operate in the most deprived urban areas, run-down council housing estates, and areas of concentrated or extensive dereliction. Since resources are likely to provide the best value for money.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish his response to the Environment Committee's report on standard spending assessments.

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend has today laid before the House the Government's responses to the Environment Committee's first report on standard spending assessments. Copies of the response have been placed in the Library and the Vote Office.

  The Environment Committee's recommendations will be reflected in the development work on SSAs which we will undertake in partnership with the local authority associations in 1994 and in the longer term.

  >Dumplington Scheme
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now refrain from participating in the appeal hearing due to be held in the Appeal Court, against the granting of planning permission for the Dumplington scheme in Greater Mancester.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: No.

  Lewisham
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he or his Ministers last visited Lewisham, East; with whom they met and for what purpose; and if he intends to inform hon. Members when he visits their constituencies.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: All Ministers in the Department of the Environment customarily inform hon. Members when they are visiting their constituencies on official business. My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning has not recently visited Lewisham, East on official business.

  Environmental Technology and Management
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department made to the Employment Training '94 exhibition on environmental technology and management held in Birmingham from 22 to 24 March.

  Mr. Atkins
  Both the energy efficiency office and Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution took stands at ET '94 in Birmingham to promote the benefits of energy efficiency, and to explain the work of HMIP on pollution control. One of our pollution inspectors also presented a talk.

  Playgrounds, Leicestershire
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what percentage of playgrounds in Leicestershire comply with British Standards Institute BS 5696; and if he will publish a list of playgrounds which do not comply.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have been asked to reply.

  This Department has policy responsibility for play-ground safety and issues guidelines advising local authorities and others on relevant playground standards including BS 5696 and the German DIN 7926 standard. Compliance information on individual playgrounds is not held centrally.

  London Senior Regional Director
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the duties of the senior regional director for London; what support staff he will have; where he will be based; what will be the cost of this area of administration; what are the geographical boundaries of his administration; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The duties of the regional director will be those set out in my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State's, reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 8 February,Official Report, column 146. The regional director will be supported by some 320 staff and contributing Departments are now finalising administrative budgets for the new office. A decision on the operational base of the regional director will be made in the very near future. The regional director and his office will be responsible for the Greater London area.

  Incineration
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's report on incineration.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government have welcomed the report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution on the incineration of waste as a clear and comprehensive analysis of the role of incineration as a waste management option. A full response by Government to the report will be published later this year.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he is making to improve the tendering process for local authority waste disposal contracts under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Atkins
  Competitive tendering for waste disposal under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 generally works well and there are no plans to change the requirements of the 1990 Act. However, my Department is working on updated guidance to local authorities which will re-emphasise the importance of taking environmental factors into account in that process, such as the benefits of the waste-to-energy option in appropriate locations. We hope to consult on draft guidance later this year.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to his Department's cash limits for 1993–94.

  Mr. Gummer
  I propose to make the following changes:1. The DoE/OES (other environmental services) non-voted cash limit will be increased by £2,676,000 from £45,000,000 to £47,676,000. This increase will be matched by a corresponding reduction in the DoE/NT (new towns) non-voted cash limit. The switch reflects local authority contributions to the Commission for the New towns under road cost sharing agreements. The increase in provision on the DoE/OES cash limit will be used to provide supplementary credit approvals to local authorities to cover their capital contributions to the Commission for the New Towns.
  2. The DoE/LACAP (local authority capital) non-voted cash limit will be increased by £99,577,000 from £2,457,808,000 to £2,557,385,000. The increase will be matched by a corresponding reduction in the DoE/NT cash limit. This results from the provision of additional supplementary credit approval resources to Basildon district council to facilitate the bulk transfer of rented housing stock between the Commission for the New Towns and the council. It also includes provision for Milton Keynes borough council and Wrekin district council to purchase residual rented housing stock from the commission.
  3. The DoE/NT (New Towns) non-voted cash limit will be reduced by £102,253,000 from -£96,325,000 to -£198,578,000. This is the result of reductions of £2,676,000 and £99,577,000 resulting from additional receipts from local authorities financed by the cash limit increases described above.
  4. The cash limit for class VII, vote 8 (revenue support grant, payments of non-domestic rates, Valuation Office services, etc., England) will be reduced by £35,000 from £28,808,113,000 to £28,808,078,000. This reduction is due to a saving on the council tax preparation grant resulting from lower than expected claims. This saving will be used to offset increased expenditure within the new control total on class VII, vote 12 (community charge grants, council tax transitional reduction grant, rate rebate grants, emergency financial assistance to local authorities, non-domestic rates outturn payments, etc., England), to meet claims for

  859
  emergency assistance to local authorities. The increase within vote 12 is being met by virement from voted expenditure not included in the new control total.

  All increases will be offset by reductions in other cash limited expenditure and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Birch Coppice
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 578, when a decision was made not to comment on the merits of a decision or the process by which it was reached.

  Mr. Baldry
  This is a longstanding position to preserve the integrity of planning decisions.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 578, what steps he has taken to ensure that parties in respect of the Birch Coppice opencast application have the opportunity to make a submission based on the case and therefore on the mineral planning guidance note on which any decision is to be based;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 15 March, Official Report, column 578, when he proposes to make a final decision on the Birch Coppice opencast application;

  (3) by what date he expects the decision on Birch Coppice to be made;

  (4) what procedures have to be complied with in the specific case of the Birch Coppice opencast application in north Warwickshire before a decision can be made;

  (5) what arrangements he has made to seek representa-tions from relevant parties on any further decision on opencast at Birch Coppice in Warwickshire;

  (6) what sort of evidence will be sought by the public inquiry due to take place before a decision into opencast at Birch Coppice can be made;

  (7) if his Department will write to all the objectors involved in the public inquiry in 1991 into the Birch Coppice opencast application to tell them that the decision may be reached on a basis other than that on which the original inquiry was conducted.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Monday 28 March,Official Report, columns 488–89.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer on 15 March,Official Report, column 578, how many exceptions there have been to his policy of not answering questions on the merits of, or process leading to, decisions in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Baldry
  None of which I am aware.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department has spent on getting legal advice on the opencast decision at Birch Coppice in Warwickshire(a) from external sources and (b) from sources within his Department.

  Mr. Baldry
  Approximate figures to date are(a) £2,000 and (b) £1,000.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the available information on the total cost to his Department to date in dealing with all matters relating to the Birch Coppice opencast application.
  860
  Mr. Baldry
  No records have been kept of this information.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek a statement from(a) North Warwickshire borough council and (b) Warwickshire county council on the amounts they spent on the Birch Coppice public inquiry on 30 July to 23 August 1991; and how much the Birch Coppice inquiry cost the applicants and his Department.

  Mr. Baldry
  No.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report,, column 578, on which version of mineral planning guidance 3 he expects to base his decision on Birch Coppice.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 March,Official Report, column, 578.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his practice to take legal advice before announcing a decision on opencast applications; and whether his Department obtains legal advice from other Departments on opencast decisions as a matter of practice.

  Mr. Baldry
  Consideration is given on a case-by-case basis for the need to seek legal advice. My Department does not obtain legal advice from other Departments on opencast decisions as a matter of practice.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many lawyers are employed in his Department(a) generally and (b) dealing with opencast decisions; and how many lawyers in his Department have given legal advice on opencast decisions in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Baldry
  (a) 43 full time equivalents.

  (b) Currently and at any one time over each of the last three years, two lawyers have been available to give legal advice on opencast decisions.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans and provision he has made to compensate persons prejudiced by his decision of 24 February on the Birch Coppice opencast inquiry.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what compensation his Department has paid out in each of the last 10 years as a result of maladministration of any sort during the planning process.

  Mr. Baldry
  Compensation was paid out in four of the last 10 years. This is broken down as follows: 1986, £8,804, 1987, £2,410·75, 1988, £6,710 and 1993, £1,322.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department takes to ensure citizens are informed of their rights to redress if the Department makes an error during the planning process.

  Mr. Baldry
  All appellants are sent a copy of "Planning Appeals—A Guide" which explains the process for High Court challenges and investigations by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. Interested parties who write to the Department are informed of these rights.
  861
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions has he had concerning the costs to councils, British Coal and objectors of his decision of 24 February to set aside his decision of 2 August 1993 on Birch Coppice in Warwickshire.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 578, if he will set out in respect of each of the responsibilities of his Department those matters on which it is his practice not to answer parliamentary questions.

  Mr. Baldry
  The general practice of this and previous administrations is described on page 292 of the current edition of "Erskine May".

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 578, regarding the Birch Coppice opencast decision, which mineral planning guidance note was in force on 2 August 1993.

  Mr. Baldry
  Mineral planning guidance note 3 (1988) as amended by the interim planning guidance for opencast coal issued on 25 March 1993.

  Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a list of approved or suitably qualified bodies available to carry out environmental impact assessment studies.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department does not maintain a list of approved or qualified persons suitable to prepare environmental statements.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has issued on environmental impact assessment procedures to local authorities, other statutory bodies, non-governmental bodies funded by central Government practitioners and other bodies or individuals.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has issued the following guidance on environmental assessment:

  —Circular 15/88 "Environmental Assessment", dated 12 July 1988

  —Circular 7/94 "Environmental Assessment: Amendment of Regulations", dated 18 March 1994

  —a booklet "Environmental Assessment: A Guide to the Procedures", 1989

  —a free leaflet "Environmental Assessment", 1989.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors should be taken into account in environmental impact assessment studies in cases where proposed developments would have an effect on the local environment.

  Mr. Baldry
  Where a project which is the subject of a planning application requires environmental assessment, the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 provide that the environmental statement submitted by the applicant shall include a description of the likely significant effects on the environment. These include the impact on human beings, flora, fauna, soil, water, air, climate, the landscape,862
  material assets and the cultural heritage. The statement must also describe the measures envisaged to avoid, reduce or remedy any significant adverse effects.

  Basle Convention
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implications for United Kingdom waste management policy of the decisions taken at the recent review meeting of the Basle convention.

  Mr. Gummer
  The major issue considered at the second meeting of the conference of the parties to the Basle convention which took place between 21 and 25 March was a proposal to ban movements of hazardous waste from OECD to non-OECD countries. The Government entered the negotiations with two objectives: the first objective, shared with environmentalists, was not to allow the export of wastes for recovery to those non-OECD countries which were unable to manage wastes in an environmentally sound manner. The second objective was to protect legitimate trade in secondary raw materials with non-OECD countries wishing to import hazardous wastes for recovery. During the negotiations the G-77 countries were unanimous in their view that a ban was the best way to protect the environment in non-OECD countries. In view of this unanimous position the Government decided, along with their EC and OECD partners, to agree to a ban. The Government welcome the decision, which was adopted by consensus.

  The decision prohibits immediately all movements of hazardous waste for final disposal from OECD to non-OECD states, and prohibits from 31 December 1997 all movements of hazardous wastes for recycling or recovery from OECD to non-OECD states. Movements for recycling or recovery can continue until 31 December 1997 if a non-OECD country allows such imports and has provided information about the categories, quantities and management of acceptable waste imports to the Basle secretariat. The decision will be implemented in the United Kingdom under the Waste Shipments Regulation and will take effect when the United Kingdom becomes a party to the convention on 8 May.

  The conference also decided to develop guidance to assist states on the question of what constitutes hazardous waste under the convention. The guidance will be presented to the third meeting of the conference of the parties to be held in September and October 1995. The United Kingdom intends to play an active part in this work. The Government consider that non-hazardous wastes are an important source of business both to OECD and to non-OECD states and ought not to be affected by the decision taken.

  "Decision
  Recalling the request of the G-77 countries at the First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention in Uruguay, 30 November—4 December 1992, for the total ban on all exports of hazardous wastes from OECD countries to non-OECD countries.
  "Recognising that transboundary movements of hazardous wastes from OECD to non-OECD States have a high risk of not constituting an environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes as required by the Basel Convention.
  "1. Decides to prohibit immediately all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes which are destined for final disposal from OECD to non-OECD States;

  863
  "2. Decides also to phase out by 31 December 1997, and prohibit as of that date, all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes which are destined for recycling or recovery operations from OECD to non-OECD States;
  "3. Decides further that any non-OECD State, not possessing a national hazardous wastes import ban and which allows the import from OECD States of hazardous wastes for recycling or recovery operation until 31 December 1997, should inform the Secretariat of the Basel Convention that it would allow the import from an OECD State of hazardous wastes for recycling or recovery operations by specifying the categories of hazardous wastes which are acceptable for import; the quantities to be imported; the specific recycling/recovery process to be used; and the final destination/disposal of the residues which are derived from recycling/recovery operations;
  "4. Requests the Parties to report regularly to the Secretariat on the implementation of this decision, including details of the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes allowed under paragraph 3 above. Further requests the Secretariat to prepare a summary and to compile these reports for consideration by the Open-ended Ad Hoc Committee. After considering these reports, the Open-ended Ad Hoc Committee will submit a report based on the input provided by the Secretariat to the Conference of the Parties of the Convention;
  "5. Requests further the Parties to cooperate and work actively to ensure the effective implementation of this decision."

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decisions on the extension of compulsory competitive tendering to local authorities' security work, management of on-street parking and vehicle management.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department received 90 responses to the consultation paper issued on 16 November 1993 from local authorities and other interested parties. We are considering carefully the comments made. I expect to lay the necessary draft statutory instruments before the House shortly.

  It is widely accepted that competition is the best guarantee of value for money in public service provision. I am keen to see local authorities press ahead with competitive tendering for these services as soon as possible. Neverthless, I recognise that they must be allowed adequate time to prepare for tendering and to conduct a fair and even-handed competition.

  We would expect the tendering process to take up to 12 months, and authorities will need a little time to prepare for market testing once the statutory instruments have come into force. The date originally proposed for vehicle management in England, 1 April 1995, would not allow authorities adequate time and I have therefore decided to defer the start date for this work until 1 October 1995. This brings vehicle management into line with security work, where I intend the start date to remain 1 October 1995. After this date, the in-house team will not be able to carry out this work unless they have won it in competition. I anticipate that authorities will begin inviting tenders in the autumn of this year. As I told the House on 15 December, Official Report, columns 734–35, CCT for all new services will be introduced in shire areas following the local government review.

  My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London has today made a separate announcement about the implementation timetable for CCT for the management of on-street parking services.

  Old Mineral Permissions
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the consultation paper on the reform of old mineral permissions.

  Mr. Curry
  The consultation paper on reform of old mineral permissions granted between 1948 and 1981 is to be published today.

  This consultation paper follows on from the options paper issued by my Department two years ago in March 1992 as part of the review of the operation of the Minerals Act 1981. That paper received a wide ranging and diverse response which has informed today's specific proposals for reform.

  The Government recognise that minerals are vital to our economy and I am very pleased that the minerals industry recognises that it has a duty to the public to operate to high environmental standards and to be considerate neighbours to those communities most affected by mining. We want to develop and extend the good work done by the industry and are determined to secure improved operating and environmental standards for all old mining permissions granted between 1948 and 1981.

  One of the points made most forcibly to us in the response to the 1992 paper was the need to establish a level playing field between minerals operators regardless of the date when their permissions were granted. At the moment holders of modern permissions and reformed IDO permissions granted between 1943 and 1948 are perceived to be at a disadvantage. We are determined to update standards as a whole across the range of these permissions and are concerned that quicker action has not been taken under the existing powers introduced by the Minerals Act 1981. We are therefore proposing a statutory timetable for reviews and for the updating of conditions. There are also particular proposals for dealing with ancillary mining development, compensation, and change to the 2042 expiry date for pre-1982 permissions as well as consideration of other issues including minerals waste tipping.

  Conservation Areas
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he and his right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for National Heritage, have reached on the response to last July's consultation paper on planning controls in conservation areas.

  Mr. Curry
  We accept that conservation areas merit protection from unharmful change. We aim to achieve this objective without unreasonable restrictions on house-owners or unacceptably increasing the workload of local planning authorities.

  We have concluded that each planning authority should be enabled to identify conservation areas which merit additional protection and to introduce stricter control in those areas. We propose a new power for planning authorities to make a direction withdrawing "permitted development" rights for a prescribed range of development materially affecting some aspects of the external appearance of dwelling houses, such as doors, windows, roofs and frontages. There would be no requirement to obtain the Secretary of State's approval for a direction but authorities would have to publicise their proposals in

  865
  advance and have regard to the views of local people. We shall be consulting about the detailed arrangements but hope to include the new power in amendments to the General Development Order to be laid before Parliament as soon as possible.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the drinking water inspectorate has completed its consideration of the report of the review of the process of technical audit of water companies, carried out by the late Professor Stott; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am pleased to announce that the drinking water inspectorate has today published its response to the report of the independent review of the technical audit process. I have placed a copy of the inspectorate's response in the Library.

  Professor Stott confirmed the validity of the system and methods devised and developed by the inspectorate for checking the compliance of water companies and the regulatory requirements. His main recommendation was that water companies should develop quality assurance systems to assist them in meeting their statutory obligations consistently and to enable the inspectorate to determine whether the statutory requirements have been met.

  The inspectorate agrees that quality assurance systems should become more widespread as a means of ensuring consistently high quality drinking water. As such systems are introduced the inspectorate will adapt its techniques of inspection so that it can be satisfied that those systems are fully observed and that they remain appropriate for delivering wholesome drinking water and protecting public health.

  Waste Imports
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his future policy on the importation of wastes for treatment and disposal into the United Kingdom subsequent to the new powers available to him to prohibit waste imports after 6 May.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have nothing to add to my answer of 7 March to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond),Official Report, column 43.

  European Environment Council
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions were made at the March meeting of the European Council of Environmental Ministers on(a) the environmental appraisal of goods to be traded under the general agreement on tariffs and trade and (b) the EC birds directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Council did not discuss the question of environmental appraisal of goods to be traded under GATT. The Council considered an amendment to the birds directive to clarify the arrangements for protecting birds. My right hon. Friend obtained important assurances that this proposal would not reduce the level of protection for birds and that scientific and conservation criteria would be 866
  used in implementing the proposal. The amendment will now be referred to the European Parliament for consideration.

  Coal Industry Bill
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the National Rivers Authority regarding the Coal Industry Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department is in regular contact with the National Rivers Authority about the pollution which might result from colliery closures and is aware of its views. The Coal Industry Bill is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what new guidance he proposes to give to local authorities when their waste disposal contracts are tendered;

  (2) what support he proposes for the United Kingdom waste to energy industry;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the environmental benefits of integrated waste management schemes incorporating waste to energy;

  (4) what plans he has to incorporate targets for energy from waste within revised recycling targets for local authorities.

  Mr. Atkins
  In its report on incineration published last year, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution concluded that there are significant environmental benefits in integrated waste management schemes incorporating waste to energy. It recommended that such schemes should play an increasingly important role in our future waste management practices. The Government broadly welcome the conclusions of the Royal Commission in this respect and we are preparing a detailed response which I hope will be completed in the summer.

  In the meantime, the Government are taking steps further to encourage the development of incineration with energy recovery in the United Kingdom. In general, waste to energy schemes should be operated on a normal commercial basis. However, the Government recognise the environmental benefits of using waste as a renewable fuel source and so support waste to energy schemes through the non-fossil fuel obligation, under which operators can be paid a premium for the electricity they generate. A third NFFO order was announced last July. In addition, my Department is currently reviewing the guidance given to local authorities on tendering for waste disposal contracts. The updated guidance will re-emphasise the importance of taking environmental factors into account in that process, such as the benefits of the waste to energy option in appropriate locations. We hope to consult on draft guidance later this year.

  We have no plans to revise our target for local authorities to recycle 25 per cent. of household waste by 2000 to include targets for waste from energy.

  River Cleaning
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission a new and independent study into the cost of cleaning up rivers and water supplies to comply with European Union legislation.
  867
  Mr. Atkins
  The costs of meeting current obligations arising from European Community legislation for cleaning up rivers and water supplies fall in the main to water companies. These costs are currently being assessed by the Director General of the Office of Water Services as part of his periodic review of water price limits.

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

  Mr. Gummer
  The total cost of official entertainment in the years from 1 April 1990 was £313,200 and is included in the running cost expenditure for my Department which is published every year in the annual report; figures for 1993–94 are not yet available. The entertainment budget is used for a variety of functions including receptions. Separate figures are not kept for individual functions.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many countries had submitted their sustainable development plans to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development by 21 March; and to whom Her Majesty's Government have made available the United Kingdom sustainable development report in addition to the United Nations Commission.

  Mr. Atkins
  I understand that 22 countries, including the United Kingdom, have submitted their reports to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Copies of the United Kingdom's report have been placed in the Library and are being sent to all member countries of the Commission on Sustainable Development and to other interested parties. Further copies are available from the Department of Environment.

  Oil Pollution, Bournemouth
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 833, on oil pollution at Bournemouth, what evidence he has that the incidence of such pollution is more frequent at and around bank holiday periods; and if he will consider the monitoring of the English channel during such periods.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government have no evidence that incidences of oil pollution are more common at bank holiday periods. Surveillance for oil pollution in the English channel and elsewhere around the United Kingdom coast is already carried out.

  Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the packaging producer responsibility group on the role of converting waste to energy in meeting national environmental targets on greenhouse gas emissions.

  Mr. Atkins
  Incineration of packaging waste to recover energy plays a significant part in the producer 868
  responsibility for industry group's proposals set out in its plan of 7 February, a copy of which is in the Library. The report of the group's technical committee on waste to energy reflects the view of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution that increased incineration of waste, with energy recovery, could make a significant contribution to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. We are considering with the group, and other interested parties, how the 7 February plan can best be taken forward.

  Cardiff Bay
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received from the Environment Directorate of the European Union in relation to a delay in adjudicating on the complaint by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the World Wide Fund for Nature regarding the Cardiff Bay barrage and the Cardiff Bay site of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 March,Official Report, column 643.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list(a) the 10 authorities which gained most proportionate to population from the use of residents of non-self contained accommodation as an indicator for the purpose of standard spending assessment distribution, (b) the amounts gained and (c) the effect on Coventry's standard spending assessment of the use of this indicator;

  (2) if he will list (a) the 10 authorities which gained most proportionate to population from the use of housing benefit claimants as an indicator for the purpose of standard spending assessment distribution (b) the amounts gained and (c) the effect on Coventry's standard spending assessment of the use of this indicator;

  (3) if he will list (a) the 10 authorities which gained most proportionate to population from the use of residents at non-self contained or non-permanent accommodation as an indicator for the purpose of standard spending assessment distribution (b) the amounts gained and (c) the effect on Coventry's standard spending assessment of the use of this indicator;

  (4) if he will list (a) the 10 authorities which gained most proportionate to population from the use of households living in rented purpose built flats as an indicator for the purpose of standard spending assessment distribution (b) the amounts gained and (c) the effect on Coventry's standard spending assessment of the use of this indicator;

  (5) if he will list (a) the 10 authorities which gained most proportionate to population from the use of elderly living in rented accommodation as an indicator for the purposes of standard spending assessment distribution (b) the amounts gained and (c) the effect on Coventry's standard spending assessment of the use of this indicator;

  (6) if he will list (a) the 10 authorities which gained most from the use of children in rented accommodation proportionate to population as an indicator for the purposes of standard spending assessment distribution (b) the amounts gained and (c) the effect on Coventry's standard spending assessment.
  869
  Mr. Baldry
  The information is provided in the tables. However, there are some important technical points relating to the interpretation of the figures provided.

  In a simple arithmetic sense, it is possible to say how much of an authority's standard spending assessment arises from a particular indicator. In most cases, it is simply a matter of multiplying the value of the indicator in that particular authority by the weighting, and scaling factor, attached to it in "The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1994–95 [HC 179]". This is the basis for the figures in the tables.

  But there are two important qualifications to the results of those calculations. One is general. The other applies specifically to four indexes reflecting social and economic conditions: the social index, the other social services index, the economic index and the children in need index.

  The general qualification is that the simple arithmetic calculation does not show how much better off or worse off the authority is as a result of that particular indicator being included in the formula. It would do so only if the rest of the formula remained unchanged when that indicator was removed. But it would not remain unchanged, because that would normally lead to a reduction in the national total of SSAs. To maintain the national total, there would have to be other compensating changes in the SSA formula. This would not be a simple scaling up of the factors; it would be usual to draw on statistical analyses to determine the weights on the remaining indicators. The weights would be likely to change differentially, to make good, as far as possible, the effect of the indicator which had been left out. In practice, if one indicator was left out of the analysis, it might well be appropriate to bring in some other similar indicator in its place.

  In other words, to find out how much an authority is advantaged or disadvantaged by a particular indicator would require the production of a hypothetical SSA in which that indicator had been omitted, but in which other compensating changes had been made. There is no basis on which such a hypothetical SSA formula could be defined conclusively. Consequently, there is no basis for saying conclusively how much an authority gained or lost by the adoption of an indicator in the actual SSA formula.

  The specific qualification relates to the indicators which are within the indexes reflecting social and economic conditions. All the general qualifications apply equally to the components of these indexes. But, in addition, the indexes are unlike other indicators in that they are not intended to reflect the total amount in SSAs attributable to social and economic conditions, but are only the amount by which the relevant part of an authority's SSA is increased or decreased from a national average because of those conditions.

  The figures in the tables have been calculated by applying the weighting and scaling factor for each indicator to the data for that indicator for the authority mentioned. The figures exclude any area cost adjustment. In each case, the amount for Coventry is shown for comparison.
  870

  Table 1 The proportion of household residents living in accommodation which is not self-contained

  Ranking and Local authority

  Contribution per head to SSA(£)

  Coventry

  2

  1 Islington

  44

  2 Hackney

  39

  3 Lambeth

  38

  4 Haringey

  38

  5 Camden

  35

  6 Hammersmith and Fulham

  32

  7 Kensington and Chelsea

  28

  8 Brent

  25

  9 Westminster

  23

  10 Lewisham

  21

  Table 2 The proportion of households living in rented purpose-built flats in residential buildings

  Ranking and Local authority

  Contribution per head to SSA (£)

  Coventry

  0

  1 City of London

  236

  2 Tower Hamlets

  38

  3 Southwark

  29

  4 Westminster

  27

  5 Hackney

  26

  6 Islington

  23

  7 Camden

  21

  8 Lambeth

  18

  9 Greenwich

  12

  10 Hammersmith and Fulham

  11

  Table 3 The proportion of household residents living in accommodation which is not self-contained or is non-permanent

  Ranking and heal authority

  Contribution per head to SSA (£)

  Coventry

  -3

  1 Kensington and Chelsea

  29

  2 Westminster

  29

  3 Camden

  25

  4 Hammersmith and Fulham

  20

  5 Islington

  19

  6 Haringey

  19

  7 Brent

  15

  8 Lambeth

  14

  9 Runnymede

  14

  10 Hackney

  13

  Table 4 The average number of Housing Benefit claimants

  Ranking and local authority

  Contribution per head to SSA(£)

  Coventry

  1

  1 City of London

  152

  2 Manchester

  9

  3 Tower Hamlets

  8

  4 Camden

  8

  5 Hackney

  8

  871

  Ranking and local authority

  Contribution per head to SSA(£)

  6 Haringey

  7

  7 Islington

  6

  8 Southwark

  5

  9 Newham

  5

  10 Salford

  5

  Table 5 The proportion of household residents under 16 years of age living in rented accommodation

  Ranking and Local authority

  Contribution per head to SSA(£)

  Coventry

  0

  1 Tower Hamlets

  10

  2 Southwark

  7

  3 Hackney

  6

  4 Islington

  6

  5 Lambeth

  5

  6 Isles of Scilly

  5

  7 Manchester

  4

  8 Camden

  4

  9 Greenwich

  4

  10 Westminster

  4

  Table 6 The proportion of household residents of pensionable age living in rented accommodation

  Ranking and Local authority

  Contribution per head to SSA(£)

  Coventry

  12

  1 Camden

  32

  2 Westminster

  31

  3 Tower Hamlets

  31

  4 Islington

  30

  5 Southwark

  30

  6 Sheffield

  29

  7 Hackney

  29

  8 South Tyneside

  28

  9 Newcastle upon Tyne

  27

  10 Manchester

  27

TREASURY

  VAT on Fuel (Advance Payments)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the revenue lost to the Exchequer by advance payments of VAT by customers of utility companies now subject to VAT from April.

  Sir John Cope
  Some loss through advance payments was anticipated on this, as on other tax adjustments, and was taken into account in the Budget calculations. It is too early to say what the actual effect on revenue will be.

  Taxpayers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number and percentage of(a) basic rate and (b) higher rate tax payers in each English county, metropolitan district and London borough for the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table provides estimates for each English county for 1991–92, the latest available year for 872
  which information can be provided below the United Kingdom level. I regret that information is not available for metropolitan districts and London boroughs.

  Basic and higher rate taxpayers 1991–92

  Taxpayers liable at only basic rate

  Taxpayers liable at higher rate

  County

  000s

  Per cent.

  000s

  Per cent.

  Cleveland

  171

  96·2

  7

  3·8

  Cumbria

  256

  96·3

  10

  3·7

  Durham

  221

  95·4

  11

  4·6

  Northumberland

  141

  95·4

  7

  4·6

  Tyne and Wear

  429

  96·3

  16

  3·7

  Humberside

  327

  94·8

  18

  5·2

  North Yorkshire

  359

  93·7

  24

  6·3

  South Yorkshire

  505

  97·2

  14

  2·8

  West Yorkshire

  862

  95·9

  37

  41

  Cheshire

  413

  93·5

  29

  6·5

  Greater Manchester

  1,040

  96·1

  42

  3·9

  Lancashire

  601

  95·2

  30

  4·8

  Merseyside

  561

  96·4

  21

  3·6

  Derbyshire

  395

  95·9

  17

  4·1

  Leicestershire

  384

  94·8

  21

  5·2

  Lincolnshire

  257

  95·7

  11

  4·3

  Northamptonshire

  288

  94·4

  17

  5·6

  Nottinghamshire

  431

  96·4

  16

  3·6

  Hereford and Worcester

  317

  95·5

  15

  4·5

  Shropshire

  169

  95·8

  7

  4·2

  Staffordshire

  426

  95·8

  18

  4·2

  Warwickshire

  210

  92·6

  17

  7·4

  West Midlands

  1,040

  96·6

  37

  3·4

  Cambridgeshire

  326

  94·2

  20

  5·8

  Norfolk

  355

  95·3

  17

  4·7

  Suffolk

  294

  95·0

  15

  5·0

  Bedfordshire

  230

  92·9

  18

  7·1

  Berkshire

  313

  87·9

  43

  12·1

  Buckinghamshire

  259

  85·7

  43

  14·3

  East Sussex

  312

  93·8

  20

  6·2

  Essex

  709

  92·1

  61

  7·9

  Greater London

  3,020

  90·1

  331

  9·9

  Hampshire

  707

  91·9

  63

  87·1

  Hertfordshire

  441

  88·6

  57

  11·4

  Kent

  656

  92·6

  52

  7·4

  Oxfordshire

  240

  90·6

  25

  9·4

  Surrey

  477

  85·2

  83

  14·8

  West Sussex

  354

  90·9

  35

  9·1

  Isle of Wight

  54

  97·8

  1

  2·2

  Avon

  423

  94·3

  25

  5·7

  Cornwall

  202

  97·2

  6

  2·8

  Devon

  503

  95·5

  24

  4·5

  Dorset

  304

  95·0

  16

  5·0

  Gloucestershire

  250

  93·2

  18

  6·8

  Somerset

  211

  95·5

  10

  4·5

  Wiltshire

  266

  94·7

  15

  5·3

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information the Treasury 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.

  Mr. Nelson
  All relevant background and experience is taken into account when considering individuals for appointment to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures the Treasury has to prevent the
  873
  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. Nelson
  The Treasury takes all reasonable steps to ensure that all relevant background and experience is taken into account when a Minister has to approve a person or shortlist for an appointment.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the organisations and individuals outside the Treasury 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.

  Mr. Nelson
  The public appointments unit is 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 shortlist for appointment or the person appointed.

  Foreign Assets
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the assets(a) in total and (b) per head of population 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. Nelson
  Information on most countries' GNP and per capita GNP is available from various published sources, including the World bank's annual world development reports and the OECD's annual "Geographical distribution of financial flows to developing countries", copies of which are held in the Library.

  Private Sector Debt
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total United Kingdom personal private sector debt; and what is the total United Kingdom personal private sector debt per household.

  Mr. Nelson
  Total indebtedness of the personal sector—which includes unincorporated businesses and private non-profit making bodies, as well as households—was £499 billion in September 1993. Figures for household debt are not available. The number of households in the United Kingdom was 22·4 million in April 1991. Both figures are the latest available.

  Household Debt
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average level of household debt for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Nelson
  Debt figures for the personal sector—which includes unincorporated businesses and private non-profit making bodies, as well as households—are available from the Central Statistical Office database. Separate figures for the household sector are not available.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons why the nominal exchange rate against the ecu in January was only 2 per cent. less than in December 1989; what was the corresponding reduction/increase in the real exchange rate against the ecu based on(a) relative producer prices, (b) relative export unit values and (c) the terms of trade for manufacturers: and what has been the effect on output and employment in manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Nelson
  Movements in the nominal exchange rate between currencies reflect many factors in the countries concerned, including relative growth rates, cyclical positions and inflation prospects. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 March 1994,Official Report, column 15, which provides references to data which can be used to calculate the information requested. In the same answer I made a statement about the effect of the real exchange rate on output and employment in manufacturing industry, to which I also refer him.

  Personal Investment Authority
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the appointment of Mr. Joe Palmer as chairman of the Personal Investment Authority.

  Mr. Nelson
  A number of representations have been received. However, the appointment of the chairman of the Personal Investment Authority is a matter for the board of the authority.

  Taxation
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received concerning the effect Government tax policies will have from the beginning of April on the economic well-being of the average family with two children and one spouse on average male earnings.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Treasury Ministers have received a number of representations concerning the effects of the Government's tax policies on the living standards of families.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received concerning the cost to the average family of the cumulative tax increases announced since March 1993.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Treasury Ministers have received a number of representations.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax burden of a married couple on typical earnings and with two children.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A single-earner couple with two children on average earnings is likely to pay under 22 per cent. of its gross earnings in income tax and national insurance contributions in 1994–95. Under the last Labour Government it paid 23 per cent. on average.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the change in the tax burden
  875
  for a married couple on typical earnings, and with two children, since 1978–79 is accounted for by increases and extensions in VAT.

  Sir John Cope
  The change in the tax burden since 1978–79 has been determined by a range of factors, including the growth in real earnings as well as changes in the tax system. Reliable estimates of the contribution of changes in the rate and coverage of VAT are not available.

  Shareholders
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct the Bank of England to ensure that individual shareholders in public companies continue to receive company reports and so on, and share certificates in any new trading system for the stock exchange.

  Mr. Nelson
  I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the proposed paperless share settlement system called CREST. The Bank of England has designed CREST to permit individual shareholders, if they wish, to participate in CREST while remaining on the company register and so receive company reports, etc. direct from the companies in which they hold shares. Moreover, membership of the system will be voluntary, so that any shareholder may instead continue to hold share certificates and remain on the company register. This may be a simpler option for the less active smaller investor.

  Indirect Taxation
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people with earnings so low that they do not pay income tax will be affected this month by increases in indirect taxation.

  Sir John Cope
  It is not possible to determine the number of individuals with earnings but not paying tax who will be affected by indirect tax increases.

  VAT
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new businesses have been registered for VAT in each of the last five years in(a) Milton Keynes, (b) Bedford and (c) Luton.

  Sir John Cope
  Customs hold registration information by local office. The local VAT office at Bedford covers Milton Keynes. The number of new businesses registered for VAT in Bedford and Luton in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  New registrations at the Bedford office

  New registrations at the Luton office

  1989

  3,222

  2,574

  1990

  2,909

  2,200

  1991

  2,160

  2,320

  1992

  1,784

  2,166

  1993

  1,912

  2,084

  Stable Prices
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, column 665, what priority he accords to stable
  876
  prices; and what is the connection between that and (a) each of the priorities indicated in his answer and (b) reducing unemployment.

  Mr. Nelson
  Low inflation on a permanent basis is an essential condition for sustained economic growth and higher living standards. But in itself it is not enough. Combined with the Government's policies to improve the functioning of the labour market, and the operation of markets more generally, it will contribute to a lasting fall in unemployment.

  Low Incomes
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to compensate the poorest 10 per cent. of wage earners, following the changes announced in last year's Budget which came into effect this month.

  Mr. Portillo
  Since 1979 those in the lowest decile of adult male full-time earnings have enjoyed a real increase in take home pay of 18·2 per cent.

  Flower Growers
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence there is that mainland European flower growers are selling produce into British markets and evading taxation.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am unaware of any evidence of tax evasion in this area. But the revenue departments are always prepared to investigate such evidence if brought to them.

  Decentralisation
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to revise his policy on the devolvement and decentralisation of Government functions and activity to the regions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The policy remains as set out in the relocation guidelines, as updated in January 1993, a copy of which is in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Mortgage Interest Relief at Source
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people received MIRAS in 1988; and what was the total cost to the Exchequer.

  Mr. Dorrell
  About 9.2 million single people or married couples received mortgage interest relief in 1988–89 at a total cost of £5·4 billion.

  Industrial Building Allowance
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much revenue is forgone by allowing industrial building allowance to extend to office and retail premises for sporting and recreational facilities;

  (2) if he will publish an estimate for the latest year for which information is available of the value of industrial building allowances against corporation tax due on buildings associated with the provision of sporting and recreational facilities to employees.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that the information requested is not available.
  877
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the industrial building allowance is available for workplace nurseries in workplaces other than factories and warehouses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Industrial building allowances may be available for workplace nurseries within premises which are in use for the purposes of a trade carried on in a factory, or for other purposes defined in sections 18 and 19 of the Capital Allowances Act 1990.

  Workplace Nurseries
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many employers have workplace nurseries; (2) how many employees get the benefit of tax relief for workplace nurseries.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information is not available centrally on the number of nurseries. It is estimated about 20,000 employees had a full-time or part-time place for their children in a workplace nursery in 1991.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an estimate for the latest year for which information is available of the revenue raised from income tax charged on the benefit in kind to employees who make use of child care facilities paid for by their employers other than tax-exempt workplace nurseries.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is estimated that in 1993–94 the tax charged was about £5 million.

  Vice President Gore (Meeting)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 446, what agreements were reached on environmental matters during dinner with Vice President Gore on 14 March; and what decisions he took consequently to that dinner.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  None. The discussion was an internal exchange of views and was not intended to be the occasion for decisions on specific issues.

  Privatisation Costs
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure it is proposed to incur in order to finance privatisation costs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Expenditure will be needed to cover:

  (i) the initial costs of advisers, estimated at £2,000,000, in connection with the forthcoming sale of shares in the two Generating Companies;

  (ii) expenditure, estimated at £600,000, in connection with the Treasury's sale of privatised companies' debt this year.

  Parliamentary approval of these new services will be sought in the 1994–95 main and summer supplementary estimates for Her Majesty's Treasury's sale or sales of residual Government shareholdings and Government holdings of privatised companies' debt vote (class XVII, vote 16). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £2,600,000 will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  European Union (United Kingdom Payments)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the additional payments the United Kingdom will be obliged to make to the 878
  European Union in (a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97 as a result of the imposition of VAT on domestic fuel.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 25 March 1994]: The contributions made to the EC Budget under the Community's VAT—or "Third"—resource are made on the basis of a harmonised VAT base, designed to ensure that variations in VAT coverage and rates do not affect contributions. The Community's GNP—or "Fourth"—resource is based on GNP at market prices, and the imposition of VAT on domestic fuel is likely to increase very slightly United Kingdom payments under this heading. The EC budget is only established one year in advance so estimates of future payments are necessarily uncertain and the amounts will depend on the detailed circumstances of the EC budget in each year and the overall growth in EC GNP in general and United Kingdom GNP in particular.

  Fuel Consumption
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what advice Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has given to British Gas and the regional electricity supply companies setting out options for apportioning bills for supplies consumed before and after the day when VAT is introduced;

  (2) if he will publish details of the agreements negotiated by British Gas and the regional electricity supply companies with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise regarding the calculation of fuel consumed after 1 April on the basis of warmer weather; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: Apportionment can be based on meter readings taken on 31 March. Customs have also agreed that it would be acceptable to apportion bills by using the ratio of the number of days before and from 1 April or by applying weighting factors of 1·75:1 for electricity and 2·5:1 for gas. The actual method of apportionment chosen is a commercial matter between the individual suppliers and their customers.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice is given to consumers who believe that the apportionment of their electricity or gas bills for fuel consumed before and after 1 April 1994 is not fair or reasonable; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: Consumers should approach their supplier with evidence that would support a different apportionment.

  European Investment Bank Loans
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the level of allocation of European Investment bank loans for projects in the United Kingdom in 1993 changed from previous years; and what were the reasons for the difference.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: The following is the information:

  879

  European Investment Bank lending in the United Kingdom (Loan signatures)

  Year

  £ million

  Million ecu

  1993

  1,502

  1,929

  1992

  1,796

  2,407

  1991

  1,467

  2,091

  1990

  1,365

  1,893

  1989

  1,084

  1,623

  Figures for European Investment bank lending in the United Kingdom, over the past five years, are shown in the table. It should be noted, however, that these do not reflect a pre-planned lending programme, with fixed amounts allocated in advance to lending in the United Kingdom.

  The European Investment bank has a dual character, as both a development institution, and as a bank. It lends to capital investment projects which must both, contribute to the development of the Community, and meet normal banking criteria, especially that of financial viability. As a consequence, it does not attempt to set overall, national, or sectoral targets for lending, but rather responds to market demand, considering every application for a loan on an individual basis, against its objectives.

  The annual outturn figures published by the European Investment bank reflect this process, but they can also be influenced by decisions by the bank and promoters as to exactly when they will choose to sign for a loan, once it has been approved. Delays in signing agreed loans over a year end can have a significant impact on the figures. This occurred in 1993, when, for this reason, an increase in approvals of loans was not matched by a corresponding increase in loan signatures.

HEALTH

  Medicines (Advertising) Regulations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to make the Medicines (Advertising) Regulations under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

  Mr. Sackville
  This is currently under consideration.

  Hospital Staff, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the percentage ratio of trained nurses to the number of in-patients in the Doncaster area national health service hospitals for(a) 1982–83, (b) 1984–85, (c) 1990–91, (d) 1991–92 and (e) 1992–93.

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

  1990

  1991

  1992

  In-patients1

  48,867

  49,856

  50,984

  Qualified nurses2 in Doncaster Health Authority area at 30 September

  1,380

  1,350

  1,350

  Ratio nurses:in-patients

  1:35

  1:37

  1:38

  1 In-patient figures are calculated by adding together ordinary admissions and day cases.

  2 The figure for qualified nurses excludes community nurses and midwives.

  Planning Forums (Representation)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representation there is of disabled people, carers of disabled people, parents of disabled children and disabled children on the planning forums of each local authority in England.

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authorities are obliged by law to consult service users and carers on their community care plans. It is for each authority to determine how best to consult and involve people.

  Mental Health Services
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the targets for improvements in mental health services which she has asked the national health service executive to monitor with regard to the care of patients in the special supervision group identified by the Ritchie report.

  Mr. Bowis
  From April 1 1994, providers of mental health services will be required to establish supervision registers of those patients with a severe mental illness, who may pose a significant risk to themselves or others. The national health service executive will monitor the introduction of the registers to ensure that all patients in contact with the specialist psychiatric services have been assessed for inclusion on local registers by October 1994. The executive will also be monitoring provider units to ensure that all patients in contact with the specialist psychiatric services are subject to the care programme approach.

  Child Guidance Clinics
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child guidance clinics were operating in 1985 and in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Children's In-patient Units
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children's in-patient units were operating in 1985 and in each year since 1990.

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

  Number of units

  Number of beds

  1990–91

  427

  14,458

  1991–92

  1306

  14,436

  1992–93

  295

  14,152

  1 Before 1991–92 information was collected by hospital site. Thereafter, as a result of National Health Service re-organisation, some individual hospital sites were aggregated under larger hospital and community units. The overall number of beds is therefore shown for comparative purposes.

  Figures for 1985 are not comparable as they were then collected by consultant speciality—not by numbers of designated children's beds and units.

  Junior Doctors
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the average hours contracted for junior doctors in each EU country.
  881
  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the results of her new deal initiative for junior doctors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We receive regular reports on junior doctors' hours from regional task forces. Between September 1990 and September 1993 the number of junior doctors and dentists contracted for more than an average of 83 hours a week fell from over 13,300 to 91, a reduction of 99 per cent. This is a remarkable achievement. The remaining few posts are being tackled as a priority.

  From August 1992 to September 1993 the number of those working in hard-pressed on-call posts contracted on average for between 73 and 83 hours a week fell from over 10,200 to 7,800, a 24 per cent. reduction. We announced in December last year that eliminating the remaining posts in this category is a priority in 1994.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that hospital trusts abide by her new deal for junior doctors.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Our regional task forces work very closely with trusts and authorities to monitor progress and support local action to reach the new deal targets. Task forces receive regular detailed reports from all units and, in turn, submit returns to the ministerial group on junior doctors' hours.

  I and the chief executive of the national health service have also written respectively to chairmen and chief executives of trusts and authorities to re-affirm the Government's commitment to eliminating hard-pressed on-call posts contracted for more than 72 hours a week. This is a priority for 1994 and we have issued a detailed action plan to all regions, trusts and authorities.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to issue guidelines on minimum sleep for junior doctors within 24 hour and seven day periods.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The guidance on the new deal for junior doctors issued in June 1991, copies of which are available in the Library, advises that those working on on-call rotas should have a reasonable expectation of eight hours rest during a period of 32 hours on duty, principally within the on-call period. Where possible the greater part of this rest period should be continuous. For junior doctors working on partial shifts there should be a reasonable expectation of four hours rest during a duty period of 16 hours. Those on full shifts should also be allowed reasonable time for natural breaks during their working time. The implementation of this guidance forms part of our overall policy of reducing junior doctors' hours of work as part of the new deal. No further guidance is necessary.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior doctors in each region are working more than 72 hours per week; and what plans she has to ensure that no doctor works more than 72 hours by her target date of 1 January 1995.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on the number of hours worked by junior doctors is not available centrally. The number of junior doctors and dentists contracted for more than an average of 72 hours a week in England, by region, is:882

  Posts contracted for over 72 hours per week at 30 September 1993 (England)

  Region

  Number

  Northern

  780

  Yorkshire

  1,381

  Trent

  550

  East Anglian

  517

  North West Thames

  729

  North East Thames

  1,229

  South East Thames

  762

  South West Thames

  801

  Wessex

  520

  Oxford

  532

  South Western

  327

  West Midlands

  925

  Mersey

  783

  North Western

  1,369

  England

  11,205

  Notes

  (i) Figures derived from the reports of the 14 English Regional Task Forces.

  (ii) SHAs included in the figures for the Thames Regions.

  Our priority is to eliminate all hard-pressed on-call posts contracted for an average of more than 72 hours a week by 31 December 1994. To this end I and the chief executive of the national health service have written respectively to chairmen and chief executives of trusts and authorities to re-affirm the Government's commitment to this target. Detailed guidance—EL(94)17—has also been sent to regions, authorities and trusts which provides a plan for action for the remainder of 1994. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

  We are also providing in 1994–95 an extra £11·6 million from central funds to create at least 125 new consultant posts and for local initiatives to help the new deal. This will bring the total number of new posts for senior doctors created to reduce hours since the new deal was launched in 1991 to 750.

  Orthopaedics
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what difficulties are being experienced in hospitals in the Hillingdon area in appointing suitable candidates to fill consultant posts in orthopaedics; what steps she is taking to increase the number of doctors qualifying in this specialty; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At the last review of trauma and orthopaedics by the joint planning advisory committee—JPAC—in February 1993, the senior registrar national target was increased from 181 to 210 posts, and the career registrar national target from 153 to 202 posts. We are confident that all these posts will be funded within the target timescales. This should increase the number of suitable candidates to fill consultant vacancies.

  My hon. Friend may wish to consult the chairmen of national health service trusts in Hillingdon for local details.

  Fostering Respite Care
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of authorities offer fostering respite care.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information available centrally relates to local authorities who have provided children with a series of short term placements with foster carers under one
  883
  agreement. Such placements generally relate to respite care if parents need relief, either from caring for a disabled child or for other reasons, or because a child is at risk of harm from their own behaviour.

  In the period 14 October 1991 to 31 March 1992, 76 authorities—78 per cent. of those submitting returns—looked after children in this way.

  Redundant Health Facilities
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the amount spent by health authorities in keeping redundant hospital and other redundant health facilities wind and water tight and safe from vandalism and theft.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. Regional health authorities, and national health service trusts, are responsible for property management.

  Asthma
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged five to 11 years have died following acute asthma attacks in each health region in England since 1990.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Number of deaths from asthma (ICD1 493) in each health region of England for the grouped ages of 5 to 11, 1990–92

  Regional health authority

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Northern

  1

  1

  —

  Yorkshire

  —

  1

  1

  Trent

  —

  —

  —

  East Anglian

  1

  —

  —

  North West Thames

  —

  3

  —

  North East Thames

  1

  1

  —

  South East Thames

  —

  —

  1

  South West Thames

  —

  1

  —

  Wessex

  1

  —

  1

  Oxford

  2

  —

  —

  South Western

  —

  1

  —

  West Midlands

  —

  2

  —

  Mersey

  3

  —

  1

  North Western

  3

  1

  —

  1 International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many asthma-related deaths of children aged

  Hospital episodes with a main diagnosis of asthma (1CD9 493) In-patients by region of treatment

  Discharges and deaths

  Finished consultant episodes

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  11989–90

  11990–91

  Northern

  2,190

  2,550

  2,660

  3,180

  3,090

  4,000

  3,950

  7,686

  5,699

  Yorkshire

  3,230

  3,630

  3,960

  4,220

  4,230

  4,650

  5,610

  7,189

  7,928

  Trent

  3,710

  3,710

  4,970

  5,150

  5,790

  6,300

  7,300

  8,722

  8,490

  East Anglian

  1,240

  1,520

  2,060

  1,770

  1,950

  2,480

  2,700

  3,198

  2,914

  North West Thames

  2,740

  3,320

  3,880

  4,480

  4,840

  5,560

  6,460

  8,922

  7,378

  North East Thames

  3,650

  4,140

  4,950

  5,550

  5,650

  6,920

  7,090

  9,538

  8,341

  South East Thames

  2,690

  3,490

  4,040

  4,150

  5,080

  5,690

  5,910

  7,817

  7,053

  South West Thames

  2,090

  2,400

  3,140

  3,390

  3,560

  4,190

  3,890

  5,548

  5,511

  Wessex

  1,740

  1,350

  3,020

  2,500

  3,600

  3,050

  3,180

  4,143

  4,317

  Oxford

  1,780

  2,280

  2,390

  3,020

  3,240

  3,440

  3,660

  5,161

  3,691

  South Western

  1,960

  2,310

  2,570

  3,000

  2,950

  3,460

  3,820

  5,683

  5,455

  West Midlands

  3,510

  4,090

  5,080

  6,050

  6,900

  7,140

  8,320

  10,130

  10,034

  Mersey

  2,010

  2,610

  2,670

  3,430

  3,360

  3,730

  3,950

  4,968

  5,047

  North Western

  5,090

  4,900

  5,880

  6,700

  7,370

  8,300

  8,900

  10,232

  10,550

  SHA's

  1,020

  1,310

  1,510

  1,710

  1,500

  1,450

  1,390

  1,251

  869

  884
  five to 11 years there have been on school premises in the current academic year in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Figures for the current academic year are not available. There were four deaths recorded for this age group in 1992 in England and Wales but none occurred on school premises. Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her policy on the immediate availability of ventilators for children suffering from asthma aged(a) under 5, (b) 5 to 11 and (c) 11 to 18 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  I understand that the hon. Member is referring to the immediate availability of portable inhalers which are prescribed for asthma sufferers to help control their condition. Our advice is that children should have immediate access to the medication they require, and that in consultation with parents and with appropriate medical advice, children should be encouraged to manage their own medical condition as early as is consistent with their development.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of asthma were reported in each health region for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information available, which derives from hospital in-patient data and which does not cover all cases of asthma, is shown in the table. The 1979 to 1985 data are based on a survey of discharges and deaths in hospital, and the figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 are based on finished consultant episodes. The first year of published data from the hospital episode statistics is 1989–90. The reason for the increase over the period 1979 to 1990–91 is not known, but some proportion of the increase can be attributed to a change in diagnostic practice.

  Figures were not collected in 1986. As 1987–88 was the first year of changing to the, then, new Körner system there was considerable under reporting and the resultant data are incomplete in certain important areas.
  885

  Discharges and deaths

  Finished consultant episodes

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  11989–90

  11990–91

  England

  38,650

  43,610

  52,780

  58,310

  63,100

  70,360

  76,130

  100,188

  93,277

  Sources: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) 1979 to 1985.

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) 1989–90 onwards.

  1provisional figures.

  Emergency Contraception
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total annual cost to the national health service of prescriptions for emergency contraception.

  Mr. Sackville
  There is only one product under this category of drug. The information requested is therefore commercially confidential to the manufacturer and cannot be disclosed.

  Care Orders
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of homeless people aged under 16, 16 to 18 and 18 years or more have had care orders at some time in the past; and what is the national average percentage of children who have care orders.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department does not collect information about the whereabouts of children once they have ceased to be looked after by a local authority. The number of children subject to care orders at 31 March 1992 in England, as a percentage of the estimated total number of children aged under 18 years, was 0·33 per cent.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were received into care because of homelessness in each of the 10 years preceding the implementation of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information available centrally relates to the number of children in England taken into care on a voluntary basis because their families were made homeless. Figures for the 10 years preceding 1977 are in the table.

  Children admitted to care due to homelessness England 1968–77

  England

  1968

  —

  1969

  —

  1970

  —

  1971

  2,829

  1972

  2,811

  1973

  2,619

  1974

  2,204

  1975

  1,503

  1976

  1,194

  1977

  946

  BCG Vaccination
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's target for coverage of BCG vaccination; and if she will list those district health authorities and regional health authorities not reaching those targets.
  886
  Mr. Sackville
  There is no target for coverage of BCG immunisation. The Government recommend that BCG be offered to all school children between the ages of 10 and 14 years and also to new immigrants from countries with a high prevalence of the disease; to their newly born children; and to certain other higher risk groups which are listed in "Immunisation against infectious disease", copies of which are available in the Library. About 75 per cent. of school children are immunised each year whilst a further 5 to 7 per cent. are already tuberculin positive and, therefore, do not require immunisation.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to include the BCG vaccination in the targets for general practitioners.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 5 November 1993 at column 536.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which districts no longer carry out routine school programmes for BCG vaccination; how many children were vaccinated for BCG in each of the last five years; and what percentage of children have had BCG vaccination by the target date in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  We understand that 15 health authorities have discontinued the school's BCG immunisation programme but details are not available centrally.

  The number of children immunised with BCG in the last five years is hown in the table:

  Children given BCG vaccination by age in the years 1988–89 to 1992–93

  Number of vaccinations (thousands)

  Total

  Under 1

  1–9

  10–13

  14–15

  1988–89

  404·0

  31·3

  4·6

  269·1

  99·0

  11989–90

  194·5

  31·4

  4·6

  120·8

  37·7

  1990–91

  472·5

  36·7

  5·5

  300·0

  130·3

  1991–92

  453·6

  34·5

  6·7

  294·5

  117·9

  1992–93

  393·6

  43·9

  4·1

  262·8

  82·8

  1The school BCG programme was suspended in 1989 as there were insufficient supplies of BCG vaccine.

  The percentage of children which have had BCG immunisation in each of the last five years is not available.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's policy on BCG immunisation of neonates; how many district health authorities and regional health authorities are without policies in BCG immunisation of neonates; and how many offer BCG immunisation of neonates.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government's policy on the BCG—Bacille-Calmette-Guérin—immunisation of neonates is as set out in the memorandum, "Immunisation against infectious disease" copies of which are available in the Library. It is recommended that all babies born to immigrants to the United Kingdom who have come from
  887
  countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis are immunised with BCG. Eighty per cent. of districts, including 14 of the 15 of those who have stopped the schools immunisation programme, offer BCG to neonates. Thirty-one districts do not offer BCG to neonates.

  Commissioning Agencies
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide a list of commissioning agencies and the health authorities that they cover.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is currently being collected.

  Col 1 Grade

  Col 2 Total staff (Numbers)

  Col 3 Women Number

  Col 4 Per cent.

  Col 5 Ethnic Minorities Number

  Col 6 Per cent.

  Col 7 Disabled people Number

  Col 8 Per cent.

  1

  3

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  2

  8

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  3

  25

  5

  20·0

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  4

  28

  11

  39·2

  0

  0·0

  2

  7·1

  5

  204

  78

  38·2

  11

  5·3

  0

  0·0

  6

  136

  44

  32·3

  7

  6·3

  0

  0·0

  7

  575

  150

  26·0

  21

  3·7

  3

  0·5

  All Grades (including 1–7)

  5,110

  2,653

  51·9

  648

  13·2

  67

  1·4

  Notes

  1. Cols 2–4 exclude staff on loan to other government departments, on maternity leave of more than three months, on unpaid career/study breaks and casual staff.

  2. Cols 5–8 exclude Youth Treatment Service, staff on loan, secondees into the Department and casual staff and the percentages shown relate to the numbers of staff in this definition, rather than the definition in note 1.

  3. Numbers of staff from ethnic minorities relate to those responding to the Department's ethnic origin questionnaire.

  4. The figures for disabled people are for Registered Disabled People only.

  Family Centres
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to develop the network of family-based centres to help families in crisis.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government fund local authorities, through the revenue support grant, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need by providing a range of appropriate services, including family centres.

  They make their own decisions on the allocation of resources available to them. Local authorities have a duty to provide family centres as they consider appropriate, either themselves or through working jointly with other organisations including voluntary bodies.

  The Department has funded the family centre network for a number of years with the aim of promoting the family centre approach. It also funds other voluntary organisations which run family centres with the support of local authorities and, in some cases of health authorities.

  Behavioural Difficulties
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to establish an inter-departmental agency to co-ordinate responses to children with behavioural difficulties.

  Mr. Bowis
  None.

  Vaccination Methods
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has on the extent to which pre-filling syringes to be used in vaccinations reduces anxiety in patients.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

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

  Mr. Sackville
  The information shows the position on 23 March 1994.

  Young People (support)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase funding for aftercare support for young people leaving residential care.

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for local authorities to determine their priorities and the level of funding to be allocated from within their overall budget.

  Passive Smoking
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the findings of the most recent research she has commissioned on the health risks in terms of morbidity and mortality of passive smoking.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available evidence on the health effects of passive smoking is summarised in paragraph 2.13 of "Smoke Free For Health" which was published in February 1994. Copies of the report are available in the Library.

  The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health will be reviewing the available research findings on this issue at the earliest opportunity.

  Adoption
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the length of time a child is fostered prior to adoption.

  Mr. Bowis
  No definitive timescale can be given about the length of time a child might spend in foster care prior
  889
  to adoption. A placement can be made only when all the important factors of the child's circumstances and needs have been carefully considered as well as the availability of prospective adopters to meet those needs.

  Nurses (Smoking)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has of the percentage of nurses who smoke.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. The Government are committed to ensuring that the whole of the health service works towards a virtually smoke-free environment for staff, patients and visitors.

  Immunisation
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the relative costs of delivering immunisation by prefilled syringe and by the traditional method of vial, syringe and needle.

  Mr. Sackville
  Some vaccines are supplied in pre-filled syringes; the costs are matters of commercial confidence.

  Vaccinations
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest average national targets being achieved by general practitioners for measles, mumps and rubella—MMR—polio, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccinations.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  At 1 October 1992, 88 per cent. of general practitioners had achieved the higher target and 7 per cent. had achieved the lower target.

  Drug Companies
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to issue further guidelines on the relationship between general practitioners and drug company representatives.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to issue guidelines on the relationship between general practitioners and drug

  Number of children under care orders by age and placement at 31 March 1992—England estimates

  Placement

  Total

  Foster placement total

  With relative orfriends

  Other placement

  Community homes

  Other

  Total

  36,300

  21,100

  3,100

  18,000

  3,400

  11,800

  Under 1

  550

  400

  30

  370

  10

  140

  Age at 31 March 1992

  1

  1,200

  750

  80

  670

  10

  460

  2

  1,400

  810

  100

  710

  10

  550

  3

  1,600

  920

  140

  780

  10

  680

  4

  1,600

  970

  140

  830

  40

  640

  5

  1,700

  1,000

  160

  840

  40

  660

  6

  1,700

  1,100

  150

  900

  60

  600

  7

  1,800

  1,100

  160

  960

  70

  620

  8

  1,800

  1,100

  160

  980

  80

  560

  9

  1,900

  1,200

  170

  1,000

  130

  540

  10

  1,900

  1,300

  170

  1,100

  150

  510

  11

  2,000

  1,400

  200

  1,200

  200

  430

  12

  2,200

  1,500

  200

  1,300

  250

  500

  13

  2,200

  1,500

  200

  1,100

  340

  510

  14

  2,500

  1,500

  220

  1,300

  440

  580

  15

  2,900

  1,600

  260

  1,300

  620

  700

  16

  3,500

  1,700

  270

  1,400

  590

  1,200

  890
  company representatives. Advice on professional conduct is a matter for the General Medical Council Ethical committee.

  Care
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on children aged 16 to 18 years and young adults and after care within families.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Children Act provides a flexible framework of powers which enable local authorities to tailor support to the needs of the individual child leaving care.

  Care Orders
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans or guidelines she has for ensuring that children, subject to care orders, return to a family environment as soon as possible.

  Mr. Bowis
  Part III of the Children Act 1989 emphasises the duty on local authorities to provide services to support parents in bringing up children in need in their own home and to work in partnership with parents in looking after children away from home. The Children Act "Guidance and Regulations Volume 3", on family placements, contains guidance on the planned return of a child to his family after a placement with another carer under a care order. This takes into account the views of parents along with the views of the child—where he is of sufficient understanding—so far as this is practicable and in the best interests of the child.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in each year of age up to 18 years with care orders are(a) placed with foster families, (b) in homes and (c) in neither; and how many are placed with foster families who are relatives.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information available centrally is shown in the table.
  891

  Placement

  Total

  Foster placement total

  With relative or friends

  Other placement

  Community homes

  Other

  17

  3,500

  1,400

  230

  1,200

  330

  1,700

  18

  300

  100

  10

  90

  30

  170

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 for estimates a thousand or more and to the nearest 10 otherwise.

  Hospital Records
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legislation is in place to safeguard(a) hospital medical records and (b) administrative hospital records; what provisions are made to send them to a central depository or local archives; what differences there are for NHS trusts; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Medical and administrative records of national health service authorities, hospitals and trusts in England and Wales are covered by the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967. The safe keeping and archiving of these records is the responsibility of individual NHS bodies, under the guidance of the Public Record Office. Advice on this was given to the NHS in health circular HC(89)20, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.

  Hospital records selected for permanent preservation are kept in places of deposit appointed by the Keeper of Public Records on behalf of the Lord Chancellor under section 4(1) of the Public Records Act 1958, the great majority of which are local authority record offices.

  Cancer Treatment
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has conducted into which cancers are better treated in a specialist cancer centre and for which cancers where it makes no difference.

  Mr. Sackville
  On the basis of research undertaken by the childhood cancer research group, funded by the Department at the University of Oxford, the survival rates of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia—the most common form of childhood leukaemia—are found to be higher at centres treating larger numbers of patients.

  For acute myeloid leukaemia, survival rates in children treated at specialist teaching hospitals were found to be higher.

  For several other types of childhood cancer, survival rates were better when children were treated at specialist paediatric oncology centres.

  Whether adult cancer patients are better treated in specialist centres, is one of the principal issues being addressed by the Government's Chief Medical Officer's expert advisory group, which is carrying out an overall examination of cancer services.

  GP Fundholders
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fundholders have informed her that they would go private if the system were ended.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The recent Kings Fund Institute report, "Evaluating the NHS Reforms", states that the abandonment of fundholding"…would probably lead to a substantial exodus from the NHS of fundholders setting up private insurance based HMOs".
  892
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has that non-fundholding general practitioners plan to go private.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the provisional figures for(a) the total general practitioner fundholding budget, (b) the total savings in real terms and (c) the total management cost of general practitioner fundholding in real terms in 1992–93.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Provisional figures suggest that in 1992–93 general practitioner fundholders achieved savings of £30 million on budgets totalling about £805 million. The management allowance costs for these fundholders was about £19 million.

  Laxatives
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths are caused by laxatives every year.

  Mr. Sackville
  No deaths were recorded due to laxative poisoning—ICD1 973.1, 973.2 and 973.3—or due to adverse effects in correct usage—ICD E943.1, E943.2 and E943.3—from 1990 to 1992 in England and Wales.

  1 International Classification of Disease (9th revision).

  Diphtheria
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of diphtheria in EC countries in each year since 1991; and how many cases of diphtheria have been recorded in each year since 1988 in England and Wales.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Number of notifications reported to Office of Population Censuses and Surveys of Diphtheria in England and Wales 1988–1992

  Number

  1988

  1

  1989

  2

  1990

  2

  1991

  2

  11992

  8

  1 Data for 1992 are provisional.

  The information relating to European Community countries is not available.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce a booster vaccination for diphtheria.

  Mr. Sackville
  We are currently considering the introduction of a booster dose.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths from(a) diphtheria and (b) hepatitis B have occurred in the last five years.
  893
  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  The number of deaths from diphtheria ICD1 032 and hepatitis B ICD 070·2–070·3 for the last five years in England and Wales

  Year

  Diphtheria

  Hepatitis B

  1988

  —

  59

  1989

  —

  58

  1990

  —

  53

  1991

  —

  53

  1992

  —

  78

  1 Ninth revision international classification of disease code.

  Drugs Advertising
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which drugs and medicines cannot be advertised by law; and how many deaths are caused each year by such drugs;

  (2) what rules govern the advertising of laxatives on television.

  Mr. Sackville
  Licensed medicines may be advertised under the control of the Medicines Act 1968 and supporting regulations. Those available without prescription may be advertised to the public including by television.

  Information on the overall number of deaths caused by drugs is not available.

  Water Births
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking, in addition to commissioning the Oxford perinatal epidemiology unit study, to determine the safety for the baby of labour or delivery in water; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is currently considering proposals for research into outcomes for babies whose mothers have delivered or laboured in water and will make a decision as soon as possible.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect in advertising terms of tobacco-sponsored events on television and the effect of banning such indirect advertising on the consumption of cigarettes.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department of Health discussion document "Effect of tobacco advertising on tobacco consumption" reviewed the available evidence in this area. It made no assessment of either the effect in advertising terms of tobacco sponsored events on television or of the effect of banning indirect advertising on cigarette consumption. Copies of the report, published in October 1992, are available in the Library.

  Sterilisation
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the present fees to surgeons performing(a) a vasectomy and (b) a female sterilisation procedure in the NHS.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The family planning fees effective from 1 April 1994 are:894

  Operating fee£

  Anaesthetist's fee£

  Fee per case of male sterilisation performed

  a. As a separate procedure

  74·25

  36·65

  b. During the course of another procedure

  50·25

  24·30

  Fee per case of female sterilisation performed

  a. As a separate procedure

  100·45

  49·05

  b. During the course of another procedure

  67·15

  32·75

  Temazepam
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ban temazepam capsules.

  Mr. Sackville
  The licensing authority has no plans to ban temazepam capsules. The matter currently under review by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department is whether temazepam should be rescheduled under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985.

  Psychiatric Beds
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average daily cost to the NHS of using(a) a private psychiatric hospital bed and (b) an NHS psychiatric hospital bed in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Bowis
  The average daily cost to the national health service of using a NHS psychiatric hospital bed in each of the last five years is shown in the table. The annual accounts and financial returns of health authorities do not separately identify expenditure incurred specifically on the purchase of healthcare outside the NHS.

  Average daily cost per patient for psychiatric specialties

  Directly managed units and national health service trusts—England (£)

  1988–89

  40·14

  1989–90

  46·45

  1990–91

  51·89

  1991–92

  103·44

  1992–93

  116·04

  Source:

  Annual financial returns of health authorities and NHS trusts.

  Notes:

  1. Figures for 1992–93 are provisional.

  2. Figures for 1988–89 to 1990–91 are not comparable with later years because:

  a. Figures prior to 1991–92 include only direct costs. From 1991–92 they additionally include:

  (i) Overheads

  (ii) Capital charges

  b. Changes in accounting practice.

  Nurse Redundancies
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the number of nurses likely to be made redundant by the reorganisation in London health services; and how much money is earmarked for retraining them.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of redundancies will depend on action taken within individuals trusts and units.
  895
  An initial sum of £200,000 has been made available for retraining nurses affected by the changes in London. Additionally, the London implementation group is developing retraining programmes for displaced hospital staff who wish to work in primary and community care.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances NHS trusts will be allowed to prevent the sale of national lottery tickets from outlets on their premises.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This will be a matter for individual national health service trusts.

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–95

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Health Education Authority/National AIDS helpline

  10.00

  11.00

  11.225

  11.506

  1—

  Health Authorities

  127.5

  137.3

  181.5

  214.4

  228.0

  Local Authorities

  9.8

  10.2

  15.3

  12.4

  12.98

  Voluntary Organisations (HIV)

  1.80

  1.90

  1.987

  1.927

  1.789

  Voluntary Organisations (Sexual Health)

  .228

  .253

  .294

  .293

  .283

  1 To be settled.

  A list of individual projects is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the work of her Department, the national health service and the Health education authority to improve the sexual health and sex education of homosexual men and lesbians.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government have developed a comprehensive approach to limit the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as providing treatment and care to those affected. The prevention strategy takes account of a range of sexual behaviours and seeks to discourage practices which carry a risk of HIV infection. The Health Education Authority, national AIDS helpline, voluntary organisations and the national health service all contribute in many ways to this approach.

  Nursing Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints regarding private or voluntary nursing homes were received in each district health authority for each year since the implementation of the Registered Homes Act 1984.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private or voluntary nursing home beds, and how many private or voluntary nursing homes, were registered with each district health authority for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent nursing staff were allocated to registration and inspection duties under the Registered Homes Act 1984 within each district health authority for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  Health authorities are responsible for the registration and inspection of all independent nursing
  896

  Sex Education
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those AIDS, sexual health and sexual education projects funded by the Department of Health together with the size of any grants or loans made by her Department in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Sackville
  Funding in the area of HIV-AIDS and sexual health falls into two categories, allocations to health and local authorities and to the voluntary sector. These all include a proportion of funds for prevention initiatives. Since 1990 the following amounts have been made available:

  homes in their area. The number of nurses employed on registration and inspection is a decision for each health authority.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been deregistered for NHS dentistry treatment in each of the health authority areas within the south West region for the last 52 weeks for which figures are available; and what these totals represent as a proportion of the total population in each case.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information will be placed in the Library. At 30 September 1993 there were 22 more dentists in contract with family health services authorities in South Western region than at 30 September 1992.

  Cancer Diagnosis
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are in place on the training of general practitioners and nurses in cancer diagnosis.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Cancer is recognised as a major cause of morbidity and death. As such the diagnosis and treatment of the various forms of cancer figures prominently in the education and training at all stages of a doctor's career.

  Nurses are not trained in the diagnosis of cancer which is a medical responsibility.

  Breast Cancer
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist breast care nurses are employed in the national health service, by region.

  Mr. Sackville
  There is no specific occupation code for breast care, therefore any nurses working within this area are not separately identifiable.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she plans to change the national health service trusts external finance limit for 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The external finance limit for national health service trusts in England will be increased by £10,993,000 for 1993.94 from £319,013,000 to £330,006,000, reflecting the take up of agreed end year flexibility entitlement. This will be charged to the reserve and therefore will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Consultancies
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the money spent on all types of consultancy by her Department in 1992–93 was spent by(a) the national health service management executive, (b) by regional health authorities and (c) by centrally run patient services.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: Expenditure on consultancy funded from the administration vote of the Department for the national health service management executive in 1992–93 was £6,765,821. Consultancy expenditure incurred from centrally held budgets funded from the hospital and community health services vote is not separately identifiable.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Joy Gardner Case
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Crown Prosecution Service will bring forward recommendations on the possible prosecutions of those officers involved in the Joy Gardner case; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service is at present considering the evidence which has been obtained as a result of the recent police investigation. I am not yet able to say when a decision will be taken.

  Building Projects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General 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.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  EUROPEAN UNION QUALIFIED MAJORITY VOTING
  EUROPEAN UNION QUALIFIED MAJORITY VOTING
  GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY
  GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY
  IMMIGRATION DETENTION COSTS
  IMMIGRATION DETENTION COSTS
  CORMORANTS
  CORMORANTS
  EUROPEAN COMMISSION PAMPHLET
  EUROPEAN COMMISSION PAMPHLET
  SEX EDUCATION: PARENTS' RIGHTS
  SEX EDUCATION: PARENTS' RIGHTS
  PUBLIC INTEREST IMMUNITY CERTIFICATES
  PUBLIC INTEREST IMMUNITY CERTIFICATES
  CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY: EARNINGS CALCULATIONS
  CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY: EARNINGS CALCULATIONS
  SOCIAL FUND PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE
  SOCIAL FUND PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE
  HEALTH EDUCATION AUTHORITY: SEX EDUCATION
  HEALTH EDUCATION AUTHORITY: SEX EDUCATION
  NON-COMPETITIVE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS: RETURN ON CAPITAL
  NON-COMPETITIVE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS: RETURN ON CAPITAL
  SERVICE CAREER AND MANPOWER STRUCTURE: REVIEW
  SERVICE CAREER AND MANPOWER STRUCTURE: REVIEW
  SUPPORT HELICOPTERS
  SUPPORT HELICOPTERS
  CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENCE ESTABLISHMENT
  CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENCE ESTABLISHMENT
  HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS:PPG NOTE
  HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS:PPG NOTE
  HUNTINGDONSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL: ADVERTISEMENTS
  HUNTINGDONSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL: ADVERTISEMENTS
  OLD MINERAL PERMISSIONS: REFORMS
  OLD MINERAL PERMISSIONS: REFORMS
  CONSERVATION AREA PLANNING CONTROLS
  CONSERVATION AREA PLANNING CONTROLS
  WATER COMPANIES: REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AUDIT PROCESS
  WATER COMPANIES: REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AUDIT PROCESS
  ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL, 24 AND 25 MARCH
  ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL, 24 AND 25 MARCH