Written Answers of 31 March 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Child Witnesses
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many pre-recorded pre-trial interviews, in line with the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and the "Manual of Good Practice", have been made since the coming into force of the Act; how many have been presented in evidence in child abuse cases; and how many have been refused as evidence.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is estimated that between the date of implementation of the relevant provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 1991–1 October 1992—and 30 September 1993, in excess of 14,000 interviews with child witnesses have been recorded on videotape. Between 1 October 1992 and 1 January 1994, there were 306 applications to submit a pre-recorded videotaped interview with a child witness under section 32A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, as amended by section 54 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. In 109 cases the tapes were shown in court. Applications to submit pre-recorded evidence have been refused in only 10 cases.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures are being taken by courts in Liverpool to protect child witnesses with particular reference to use of screens, television link equipment and pre-recorded interviews; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Two sets of television links and video playback equipment are in place in the Crown court sitting at Liverpool combined court centre. Arrangements can be made for screens to be available at the Crown and County court in Liverpool if required. All magistrates courts in Liverpool have access to screens and video playback equipment, and the youth court is equipped with TV links. When necessary, child witnesses appearing before the magistrates may use the television links in place at the Crown court centre.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which courts in Liverpool have child liaison officers to protect child witnesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There is a designated child liaison officer for every Crown court centre, including the one at Liverpool combined court centre.

SCOTLAND

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.
  900
  Mr. Lang
  Except for children's panels where ethnic origin is neither sought nor recorded, as far as I am aware, no Asian or black people were appointed in 1993 to the bodies sponsored by the Scottish Office and listed in "Public Bodies 1993".

  Traffic Orders
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many temporary traffic orders were made by local authorities in each year since 1985 under section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to restrict or prohibit the use of footpaths or bridleways for which the Scottish Office gave consent under section 15(2) of that Act for an extension of the period for which the order was in force.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Temporary traffic orders affecting footpaths and bridleways are not identified separately from those affecting road traffic and the information could be supplied only at a disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. Lang
  The number and percentage of officers in grades 1 to 7, including grade equivalents, and overall in the Scottish Office, its executive agencies and associated departments, excluding the Scottish prison service, who were(a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled, are shown below:

  Number and percentage of officers who are women—position as at 1 April 1993

  Grade (and equivalents)

  Women

  Percentage

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  3

  4

  16·7

  4

  3

  16·7

  5

  17

  12·7

  6

  37

  18·5

  7

  80

  17·1

  All Grades (Headcount)

  2,811

  42·2

  Notes:

  At April 1993, the total number of respondents to my Department's Ethnic Monitoring Survey who described themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority was 29 or 0·5 per cent. of the total number of respondents. Of that number 3 were at Grade 7 level and above.

  At 1 July 1993, there were 2 registered disabled persons at Grade 6 level and one at Grade 7 level which represents 1 per cent. and 0·2 per cent. respectively of staff in these grades. There were 87 registered disabled persons (1·3 per cent.) who were recorded as employed in my Department.

  Motorists (Culpable Homicide Charges)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many drivers of motor vehicles have been charged with culpable homicide in the last 20 years for which information is available; how many such charges have proceeded to trial; and how many convictions have resulted.
  901
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not available. However, I understand that there are very few such prosecutions—no more than one or two per year on average.

  Full-time Employment
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the definition in terms of hours of a full-time job in 1979 and what is it now; and if he will list the changes in definition with their dates and the reasons for them.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have been asked to reply.

  For the purposes of collecting and producing statistical information, a full-time worker is defined, in terms of hours worked, as an employee who works more than 30 hours per week, excluding overtime. For teachers and academics this is modified to 25 hours or more per week.

  This definition has been used consistently since before 1979.

PRIME MINISTER

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister how many Proton cars were purchased by the Cabinet Office in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and at what cost.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

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

  The Prime Minister
  The total cost of official hospitality by my office, for each year since 1990–91, is as follows:

  Year

  Cost £

  1990–91

  23,830

  1991–92

  40,976

  1992–93

  30,023

  An outturn for 199394 is not yet available.

  Former Prime Ministers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what restrictions govern the spending by former Prime Ministers of their annual allowances;

  (2) if he will list the total allowances paid to each former Prime Minister in each year since 1991;

  (3) what mechanisms are in place to monitor the use of allowances paid to former Prime Ministers.

  The Prime Minister
  On 1 April 1991, I introduced an allowance to assist former Prime Ministers with the continuing heavy burden of office and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is similar in purpose and amount to the parliamentary office costs allowance but is paid in respect of public not parliamentary duties.
  902
  The total payments from the allowance are as follows:

  Year

  Payments £

  1991–92

  88,956

  1992–93

  124,981

  1993–94

  1130,000

  1 Estimate.

  I do not think it right to disclose the amounts claimed by individual former Prime Ministers, any more than the House discloses details of claims by individual Members under the office costs allowance.

  Payments from the allowance are subject to the same scrutiny and controls as other payments from voted monies.

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government which have been introduced by his Department since 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Injunctions
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions, and when, since January 1990 the Government have met costs of injunctions against publications; at what cost; against which publications and on behalf of which Departments or Ministers.

  The Prime Minister
  There are no centrally held records of such cases.

  Interception of Communications Act 1985
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  A copy of Sir Thomas Bingham's second annual report, for 1993, has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential annexe to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the 1985 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his report. I note in particular his observations that the Secretaries of State take great care to satisfy themselves that the warrants are necessary for the purposes stated in the Act, and that the system for the issue of warrants is working as intended by Parliament.

  Sir Thomas Bingham's appointment as commissioner will end on 10 April. I am grateful to him for the work he has done in that capacity. He will be succeeded, with effect from 11 April, by Lord Nolan.

  Security Service Act 1989
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the commissioner appointed under the Security Service Act 1989 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  A copy of Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's fourth annual report, for 1993, has been laid
  903
  before the House today in accordance with section 4(6) of the Security Service Act 1989. The confidential annexe to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 4(7) of the 1989 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and in providing assistance to the tribunal as provided in the Act. His report confirms that he is satisfied that the Secretaries of State have exercised their warranty powers in accordance with the provisions of the 1989 Act.

  Sarajevo
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made with the initiative which he and President Clinton announced for the reconstruction of Sarajevo.

  The Prime Minister
  The draft report of the United Kingdom-United States civil planning mission for Sarajevo is now available. It is being circulated widely among donors, and President Clinton and I hope to transmit the final version to the United Nations Secretary-General shortly. I shall place a copy in the Library of the House.

  When I was in Sarajevo, I announced a United Kingdom contribution of £5 million for the most immediately needed activities. These are under way. They include help to restore electricial power more widely in Sarajevo, immediate repairs to the gas system to enable domestic gas consumers to use their facilities again safely, the extension of the tram system, and a programme of help to the hospitals in Sarajevo to support the work which is being done there.

  I am pleased to say that the United States is making available a similar immediate contribution. Discussions are now taking place with the United Nations and other donors on how best to take forward the recommendations in the report.

  Union (Scotland)
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Scotland's position in the Union.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government stand firmly behind Scotland's place in the Union. That is the basis on which we fought the last election and, as a result, were the only party to increase both our share of votes and number of seats in Scotland.

  I intend to continue to reaffirm the Government's commitment to Scotland's position at every possible opportunity, including during future visits to Scotland.

  I regret that, in answering a question from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall) on 10 March, I stated that the data for the opinion poll to which he referred were collected before my most recent visit to Scotland. I subsequently ascertained that they were collected after the visit.

  Council of Europe
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes there are to the United Kingdom delegation to the Council of Europe and the Western European Union.

  The Prime Minister
  Baroness Lockwood has resigned as a substitute member of the delegation, and has been replaced by Baroness Gould of Potternewton.

  Iraq (Pharmaceutical Products)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 704, what action he is taking on the document concerning pharmaceutical products required in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates, and on the provision of water pumps and water filters to Baghdad.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 30 March 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 23 March, Official Report, column 260.

  Institute of Irish Studies
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the hon. Members who have written to him asking for his support for the funding of a chair at the institute of Irish studies at the university of Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 30 March 1994]: I have received representations from the hon. Member. I will reply in due course.

  Friendly Countries
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) of 23 March,Official Report, column 259–60, if he will list those countries and Governments presently regarded as friendly.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 30 March 1994]: These countries would include all those which share our objective of seeking a stable international order characterised by the peaceful settlement of disputes, the international rule of law, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and good government and respect for human rights.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farming Incomes
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of all farming incomes in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the EC has been made up by subsidies in each year since 1990; and what is her estimate for each of the next three years.

  Mr. Jack
  Total income from farming is a net figure arrived at by subtracting gross input from gross output, of which subsidy payments are a part, and then taking into account land and labour costs, depreciation and interest charges. The table below expresses CAP expenditure as a percentage of farmers' total output for both the United Kingdom and the European Union. National payments to farmers by other member states are not readily available and so, to make comparisons meaningful, such payments are not included in the United Kingdom figures. Estimates for future years are not available.

  1991 per cent.

  1992 per cent.

  1993 per cent.

  United Kingdom1

  12

  12

  18

  European Union2

  16

  16

  n/a

  n/a=Not available.

  Source:1Tables 6.1 (calendar years) and 9.1 (financial years) of agriculture in the United Kingdom 1993.

  2 EUROSTAT.

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

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

  Mr. Jack
  In making appointments, we look carefully at a range of criteria including merit, experience and suitability to ensure that the most appropriate people are appointed for the job. Information held by the Ministry in respect of individuals relate to these qualities.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she 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. Jack
  Information about ministerial appointments, including appointments attracting salaries, to public bodies sponsored by this Ministry are given in "Public Bodies 1993". Except where otherwise stated in that publication, appointments are made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food either solely, or jointly with the Ministers of other Departments. All appointments are normally made for a three-year term and the names of appointees are generally made public by means of MAFF news releases.

  Details of public bodies subject to joint appointments are given in the table and the names of the appointees to those bodies were given in the answers to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) in the Official Report, references as shown.

  Appointments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, jointly with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.

  Column

  Agricultural Training Board—15 February 1994

  752

  Horticultural Development Council—16 February 1994

  845

  Meat and Livestock Commission—15 February 1994

  752

  Farm Animal Welfare Council—9 February 1994

  273

  Consumers' Committee for Great Britain—9 March 1994

  274

  Salmon Advisory Committee—10 February 1994

  427

  Appointments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, jointly with the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Column

  Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales (Chairman and independent members)—14 February 1994

  583

  Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis (Chairman) —9 February 1994

  272

  Consumers' Committee for England and Wales—9 February 1994

  272

  906

  Column

  Hill Farming Advisory Committee for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Members)—16 February 1994

  845

  Dairy Produce Quota Tribunal—17 February 1994

  979

  Sugar Beet Research and Education Committee—15 February 1994

  752

  Appointments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, jointly with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Column

  Food From Britain—15 February 1994

  752

  Home Grown Cereals Authority—16 February 1994

  844

  Sea Fish Industry Authority—17 February 1994

  979

  Appointments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, jointly with the Secretaries of State for Health, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Column

  Food Advisory Committee—16 February 1994

  843

  Veterinary Products Committee—14 February 1994

  582

  Appointments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, jointly with the Secretary of State for Health.

  Column

  Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes—17 February 1994

  983–84

  Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee—14 February 1994

  582

  Appointments made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, jointly with the Secretaries of State for Employment, Environment, Health, Scotland and Wales.

  Column

  Advisory Committee on Pesticides—10 February 1994

  426–27

  Lettuce Imports
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she is taking to assess the extent to which dumping of Spanish iceberg lettuce on the British market is undermining British growers; and what corrective action she is prepared to take.

  Mr. Jack
  Lettuce prices on United Kingdom markets are currently extremely low, largely as a result of over-supply within the Community. However, as I told the hon. Gentleman during the debate on the common agricultural policy on 24 March, if he can provide firm evidence to support these claims of unfair competition we will pursue the matter vigorously with the Commission and the member states concerned.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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 or (c) disabled, respectively.
  907
  Mr. Jack
  The information for MAFF and its executive agencies is as follows:

  Grade equivalent

  Women

  From ethnic minorities

  Registered disabled people

  Number

  Percentage of total staff

  Number of respondents to questionnaire

  Percentage total of all respondents to questionnaire

  Number

  Percentage of total staff

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  16·7

  —

  —

  1

  16·7

  3

  1

  4·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  10

  8·6

  1

  0·9

  1

  0·9

  6

  13

  8·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  150

  16·3

  15

  1·7

  2

  0·2

  All staff

  4,857

  46·0

  426

  4·4

  159

  1·6

  Notes:

  1.Figures for women and ethnic minorities are on a "head-count" basis and cover non-industrial staff as at 1 April 1993. The ethnic minority figures derive from a voluntary ethnic questionnaire and the response race on that date was 94 per cent.

  2.Figures for women exclude 11 officers on loan or seconded to other Government Departments.

  3.Figures for registered disabled persons are on a full-time equivalent basis and cover non-industrial and industrial staff as at 1 July 1993. The figures do not include staff with disabilities who have chosen not to register as disabled.

  4. All figures exclude casuals or seasonal staff.

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list by county how many applications for payment of sheep annual premium she has received in the current year; and what proportion in each county remained unpaid on 1 March.

  Mr. Jack
  The table shows for each county the total number of claims under the 1994 sheep annual premium scheme lodged with the Ministry. No claims have been paid as at 1 March. It is expected that the first advance payment will be made in the autumn in the usual way.

  County

  Number of Claims

  Durham

  1,032

  Cleveland

  117

  West Yorkshire

  691

  South Yorkshire

  203

  North Yorkshire

  3,793

  York District

  115

  Humberside

  483

  Hereford and Worcester

  2,911

  Gloucestershire

  1,074

  Warwickshire

  805

  West Midlands

  75

  Bedfordshire

  177

  Cambridgeshire

  180

  Essex

  267

  Hertfordshire

  141

  Norfolk

  422

  Suffolk

  330

  Derbyshire

  1,173

  Leicestershire

  895

  Lincolnshire

  631

  Northamptonshire

  765

  Nottinghamshire

  285

  Dorset

  606

  Avon

  405

  Wiltshire

  1,512

  Somerset

  506

  Cheshire

  663

  Merseyside

  22

  Shropshire

  1,955

  Staffordshire

  1,007

  Greater Manchester

  215

  Cumbria

  3,852

  Lancashire

  1,762

  908

  County

  Number of Claims

  Tyne and Wear

  30

  Northumberland

  1,486

  Cornwall

  1,762

  Devon

  4,635

  Berkshire

  144

  Buckinghamshire

  539

  Hampshire

  458

  Isle of Wight

  110

  Kent

  1,115

  Greater London

  23

  Oxfordshire

  494

  Surrey

  303

  East Sussex

  673

  West Sussex

  364

  TOTAL

  41,206

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what date she expects all applications for sheep annual premium in the current year
  to be paid out.

  Mr. Jack
  I expect payments under the 1994 sheep annual premium scheme to be completed by June 1995.

  Salmon
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the context of her consideration of a proposal to postpone the opening date of the north-east coast salmon drift net fishery, she will also consider the proposal made by netsmen that the season should be extended to the end of September.

  Mr. Jack
  I can confirm that my right hon. Friend has received a request from the National Federation of Fisherman's Organisations to extend the season for the north-east coast salmon drift net fishery if the opening date is postponed; this will, of course, be looked at carefully.

  Central Science Laboratory
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the future of the Central Science Laboratory.
  909
  Mr. Soames
  An enlarged and strengthened Central Science Laboratory agency is being launched on 1 April. This results from the merger of the CSL agency and the food science laboratories at Norwich and Aberdeen.

  The new agency will be equipped to provide my Department with a range of scientific services and research and development to protect the food chain from the field to the consumer. The merger will produce significant benefits in terms of efficiency with a reduction in overheads and the more cost effective use of equipment and facilities. The enlarged agency will be better placed to respond to the challenge of competitive tendering in relation to the commissioning of research and development by my Department and the market testing of services.

  A copy of the agency's framework document is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Clenbuterol
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the testing of pig liver pâté for Clenbuterol.

  Mr. Soames
  Following the publication in October 1993 of a report by Somerset county council that traces of Clenbuterol had been found in samples of pig liver pate manufactured in Belgium, sampling of pâté across the United Kingdom was increased under the retail animal products survey. Between September and November 1993, 71 samples of pig liver pâté, of which 48 were manufactured in Belgium, were purchased from retail outlets throughout the United Kingdom and screened for residues of Clenbuterol. The results of the first 25 samples, which showed no evidence of contamination with Clenbuterol, were announced in a written answer on 26 October 1993,Official Report, columns 562–63. Analysis of the remaining samples has been completed. None has shown any evidence of contamination with Clenbuterol.

ENVIRONMENT

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

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department operates a freephone information service which gives information on current air pollution levels. The telephone number is 0800 556677.

  Costs for

  £

  1992–93

  29,629

  19931

  38,588

  1 To date.

  A freephone inquiry service was operated for the duration of the rent to mortgage advertising campaign, from October 1993. The purpose of the service was to assist the public in obtaining a leaflet giving further information about the scheme. The costs of the freephone service were £16,036. A freepost facility for the same purpose cost an additional £1,995.
  910
  A freepost reply service was used for the questionnaires enclosed in the document "London: Making the Best Better" at a cost of £2,750.

  My Department also operates a general freepost service which can be used for inquiries and replies to major publicity campaigns. In the financial year 1993–94 the cost of this service has been approximately £4,950.

  There were no costs for freepost or freephone services in 1992–93 except for the air quality line above.

  Information on the years prior to 1992–93 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department has given to companies to inform them of their charter rights in regard to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

  Mr. Atkins
  On 22 March HMIP launched its charter in the shape of a booklet "Pollution Prevention—Our Common Concern". Some 30,000 copies have been printed.

  The launch was made at the ET '94 exhibition at the national exhibition centre in Birmingham, where HMIP had a stand. By the end of the exhibition 1,200 copies had been taken by visitors, many of them from industry.

  In addition, copies have been sent to every local authority, trade associations, environmental groups, and to every Member of this House. It was also the subject of a full press release to all national and regional media.

  Copies are also available in every HMIP regional office, and pollution inspectors have been tasked to ensure that every company they inspect or visit receives a copy.

  The HMIP charter is also referred to in the DOE Publication "Your Council and the Environment" and in the HMIP booklet "Protecting Britain's Environment".

  The full tex of the charter will shortly become available to the public via the new "ECOFACTS" 24-hour a day phone-in, fax-out line, as part of a battery of HMIP information including an index to the public registers held at regional offices.

  Initial reaction to the publication has been very encouraging.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the distance between each station on the proposed Lewisham extension of the docklands light railway assuming that(a) the planned stations at Island Gardens and Cutty Sark are constructed and (b) there is no intermediate station between Mudchute and Greenwich.

  Sir George Young
  The approximate distance in metres between stations on the proposed Lewisham extension is as follows:

  Metres

  Mudchute to Island Gardens

  400

  Island Gardens to Cutty Sark

  700

  Cutty Sark to Greenwich

  700

  Greenwich to Deptford Bridge

  700

  Deptford Bridge to Elverson Road

  800

  Elverson Road to Lewisham

  550

  911
  If there were to be no intermediate station between Mudchute and Greenwich, the distance between those stations would be 1,800 m, of which 400 m would be under the River Thames.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average distance between stations on(a) the original docklands light railway, (b) the Beckton extension of the docklands light railway and (c) the proposed Lewisham extension of the docklands light railway including the planned stations at Island Gardens and Cutty Sark.

  Sir George Young
  The average distance in metres between stations on(a) the original docklands light railway, including the extension to Bank, is 880; on (b) the Beckton extension, including Canning Town, which is under construction, is 700; on (c) the proposed Lewisham extension including the planned stations at Island gardens and Cutty Sark, is 640.

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government which have been introduced by his Department since 1990.

  Mr. Baldry
  The following Acts of Parliament which affect local government have been introduced by the Department of the Environment since 1990. The list also includes consolidation Acts in respect of which the Department has responsibility, and legislation introduced before 1990 but receiving Royal Assent since then.

  * Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c.8)

  * Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c.9)

  * Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 (c.10)

  * Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c.11)

  Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c.43)

  Caravans (Standard Community Charge and Rating) Act 1991 (c.2)

  Community Charges (Substitute Setting) Act 1991 (c.8)

  Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991 (c.9)

  Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c.34)

  Local Government Finance and Valuation Act 1991 (c.51)

  * Water Industry Act 1991 (c.56)

  * Water Resources Act 1991 (c.57)

  * Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c.60)

  Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c.14)

  Local Government Act 1992 (c.19)

  Non-Domestic Rating Act 1992 (c.46)

  * Clean Air Act 1993 (c.11)

  * Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (c.12)

  Non-Domestic Rating Act 1993 (c.17)

  The Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (c.28)

  Non-Domestic Rating Act 1994 (c.3)

  * Consolidation Acts

  Ombudsman Service (Housing Association Tenants)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of establishing the housing association tenants ombudsman service; how much the operation of the service will cost; how these costs are broken down; how many staff are employed by the service; and what is its current remit.

  Sir George Young
  The ombudsman service for housing association tenants became operational in November 1993. The operating budget is as follows:912

  1993–94 £'000

  1994–95 £'000

  1995–96 £'000

  Staff costs

  150

  227

  227

  Non-staff costs1

  79

  145

  143

  Mediation/Legal, other Operational costs

  103

  123

  110

  332

  495

  480

  1 In 1993–94, there was an additional sum of £24,000 to set up premises.

  The total staffing complement available to the ombudsman service is seven.

  The main remit of the ombudsman service is to deal fairly and effectively with complaints about maladministration by registered housing associations. The service considers complaints from housing association tenants, applicants for a housing association tenancy and people receiving housing management services from an association.

  Waste Shipments Directive
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what draft circulars he has recently released to waste regulation officers on the proposed changes to United Kingdom legislation required to meet obligations under EC directive 259/93 on waste shipments by 6 May.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Deva) on 2 March,Official Report, column 714.

  Asthma
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent of a link between the incidence of asthma and(a) air pollution in general and (b) oxides of nitrogen; and what steps he is taking to reduce air pollution in general and the amount of nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government are continuing to assess the links between air pollution and asthma, with the assistance of its advisory bodies on the health impacts of air pollution. At present it appears that while the causes of asthma remain unclear, air pollution can aggravate attacks in those already with the condition. The health effects of oxides of nitrogen were considered in a report by the Department of Health's advisory group on the medical aspects of air pollution episodes—MAAPE—published in November 1993, a copy of which has been deposited in the Library.

  The systems for control of industrial emissions established in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and increasingly stringent vehicle emission controls are expected to secure significant reduction in the level of most pollutants over the next 10 years. Emissions of nitrogen oxides will be reduced in line with the United Kingdom's commitments under the Sofia protocol to the United Nations Commission for Europe convention on transboundary air pollution, signed in November 1988.

  I propose shortly to publish a discussion paper as the first stage of a consultative process on measures to secure further improvement in air quality.
  913

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy he has on subsequent applications for opencast being made for the same site after planning permission has been refused; and what period of time must elapse before a reapplication may be made.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Monday 28 March,Official Report, columns 493–94.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on whether very special circumstances must be shown by the applicant before compulsory rights orders may be granted under the Opencast Coal Act 1958 for a second application to be granted for the same site.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Monday 28 March,Official Report, column 494.

  Biodiversity
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the biodiversity action plan steering group; what are its terms of reference; and when he expects it to publish costed targets for key species and habitats.

  Mr. Atkins
  I expect to make an announcement shortly on membership of the group. The status and remit of the group are set out in paragraph 10.40 of "Biodiversity: the UK Action Plan" (Cm 2428) a copy of which is in the Library.

  The plan commits the Government to publishing costed targets to key species and habitats during 1995.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to improve the accessibility of wildlife data and encourage public awareness and involvement in conserving biodiversity.

  Mr. Atkins
  These are matters which are being taken forward on a broad front by the Government, the countryside agencies and non-governmental organisations, and which are among the issues to be addressed by the biodiversity action plan steering group.

  European Environment Agency
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many nominations he has received by organisations wishing to contribute to the European Environment Agency as (i) a topic centre or (ii) as part of a national information network.

  Mr. Atkins
  Some 104 organisations have expressed interest in both topic centre status and in participating in the national information network. A further 50 organisations have said they want to be considered as topic centres and another 28 are seeking to join the national information network.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received nominations from (i) English Nature, (ii) Scottish Natural Heritage, (iii) the Countryside Council for Wales or (iv) the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to contribute to the European Environment Agency as a topic centre or as part of a national information network.
  914
  Mr. Atkins
  All four organisations have said they want to contribute to the work of the European Environment Agency both as information network participants and as topic centres.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what moneys are available for urban and regeneration expenditure for 1994–95; how much is available under each of the 20 targeted Government programmes contained within the single regeneration budget; what were the corresponding figures for each year since 1988–89 in cash terms and at current prices; and what is the planned expenditure for 1995–96 and 1996–97 in cash terms at current prices.

  Mr. Baldry
  Planned funding by my Department on urban and regeneration expenditure in 1994–95 is as follows:

  £ million

  Urban Development Corporations

  286

  Housing Action Trusts

  88

  English Partnerships

  181

  Estate Action

  373

  City Challenge

  1213

  Urban Programme

  83

  Task Forces

  16

  City Action Teams

  1

  Safer Cities

  4

  Section 11 (part)

  60

  Ethnic Minority Grant/Business Initiative

  6

  Programme Development Fund

  3

  TEC Challenge

  4

  Local Initiative Fund

  29

  Business Start Up Scheme

  70

  Education Business Partnerships

  2

  Compacts

  6

  Teacher Placement Service

  3

  Grants for Education Support and Training

  5

  Regional Enterprise Grants

  9

  TOTAL: Single Regeneration Budget

  1,442

  Manchester Regeneration

  23

  Special Grants Programme

  2

  Coalfield Areas Fund

  2

  TOTAL:

  1,469

  Note: 1 Programme also supported by £19 million from the Housing Corporation.

  Information on expenditure in previous years for my Department's programmes can be found in the departmental annual reports and public expenditure White Papers, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Information on previous years' expenditure for the programmes transferring to the single regeneration budget from the Home Office, the Employment Department, the Department of Education and the Department of Trade and Industry will be contained in their respective departmental annual reports.

  In 1994–95, the single regeneration budget will largely operate through arrangements in place for the existing 20 programmes being brought together. Commitments under these programmes will be met for 1994–95 and later years. For 1995–96 and beyond, the non-departmental public bodies supported by the budget—English Partnerships, housing action trusts and urban development corporations —will, as now, receive specific allocations; and the rest of the budget will be combined.
  915
  On current plans, the budget will be worth some £1.3 billion in each of 1995–96 and 1996–97. The Department of the Environment's 1994 annual report provides more detailed information.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what moneys are available for local authorities to bid for and are uncommitted from the urban and regeneration expenditure for 1994–95; how much is available under each of the 20 targeted Government programmes; and what are the corresponding figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97 in cash terms and at current prices;

  (2) what funds are available for all non-urban programme areas to bid for, that are uncommitted, from the single regeneration budget excluding the year 1995–96; and how much is available under each of the 20 targeted Government programmes within the single regeneration budget;

  (3) what funds are available for all urban programme authorities to bid for, that are uncommitted, from the single regeneration budget, for the year 1995–96; and how much is available under each of the 20 targeted Government programmes within the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Baldry
  In 1994–95 the funds available under the single regeneration budget will be taken up in meeting existing commitments from the 20 programmes which habve been brought together to form the budget.

  The total budget, on current plans, will be worth some £ 1·3 billion in 1995–96 and it is expected that about £100 million will be available to support bids from local partnerships. The budget will be available throughout England, and we intend to issue guidance on bidding soon.

  On current plans, the budget will again be worth some £1·3 billion in 1966–67. It is too early to say how much will be available for bidding after 1995–96. The availability of resources will depend on the levels of commitments from previous years and the outcome on the annual public expenditure surveys.

  I provided further information about the programmes being brought together in the budget in the separate reply I gave to the hon. Member today.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each year since 1981 in cash terms and at current prices the total amount of moneys made available to(a) urban programme authorities, (b) non-urban programme authorities and (c) urban regeneration in (i) urban development corporations, (ii) urban programme, (iii) city grant, or urban regeneration grant or urban development grant, (iv) derelict land grant, (v) city challenge, (vi) housing action trusts, (vii) estate action, (viii) safer cities, (ix) urban crime fund, (x) task forces, (xi) city action teams, (xii) single regeneration budget and (xiii) other programmes available relating to linkage between economic, social and physical regeneration.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information sought is not available and cannot readily be produced in the form specified. In previous years a number of Government Departments have contributed to urban regeneration through a wide range of programmes under the action for cities initiative. From 1 April 1994, 20 regeneration programmes are being brought together to form a single regeneration budget which will be administered through the unified network of Government offices for the regions.

  Some information on expenditure on these programmes in previous years, including the Home Office's safer cities
  916
  programme, can be found in the relevant departmental annual reports and public expenditure White Papers, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds are available from the single regeneration budget for urban programme authorities and for non-urban programme authorities; what different criteria or rules will be adopted for the 57 urban programme areas; and how much is available for either urban programme or non-urban programme authorities and each of the 20 targeted programmes within the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Baldry
  As the single regeneration budget is available throughout England, and proposals for funding will be locally driven, the existing list of 57 urban priority areas will not be used to direct budget resources and is being discontinued. In assessing proposals which aim mainly at relieving deprivation, the Government offices for the regions will take account of detailed information about local conditions based on the 1991 index of local conditions, to be published soon, and other relevant data.

  I provided further information about the programmes being brought together in the budget in the separate reply I gave the hon. Member today.

  Home Ownership
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the percentage of home ownership in 1979 and what it is now; and how many more home owners there are now in the United Kingdom than there were in 1979.

  Sir George Young
  The available figures of the proportion of dwellings which are owner-occupied is shown in the table below:

  Percentage

  England

  United Kingdom

  December 1979

  56·6

  54·7

  September 1993

  67·4

  166·3

  1December 1992.

  The number of owner-occupier households in England was estimated at 9,170,000 households in 1977–78 and 13,460,000 in 1993. These figures are derived from the national dwelling and housing survey of 1977–78 and the labour force survey 1993 respectively, and are subject to sampling error. Comparable figures for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not readily available to this Department.

  Exhaust Emissions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for improving the accuracy of measuring fine particulate matter and benzene arising from vehicle exhaust emissions.

  Mr. Atkins
  The improvement of the accuracy of measurements of particulate and benzene in vehicle exhausts depends on the continuing development of measuring equipment. Contractors making these measurements for my Department will be expected to use the most up-to-date and accurate techniques practicable.
  917

  Caravan Sites
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish(a) a list of those local authorities in England and Wales that have a designation order under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 and (b) the names of authorities which have made an application, and where a decision is pending, his decision.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have arranged for an up-to-date list of English local authorities designated under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 to be placed today in the Library of the House. Nine formal applications for designation are at present before my right hon. Friend. Of these, he has decided to designate the area of Wychavon district council in Hereford and Worcester. He is not yet in a position to announce decisions on the remaining applications.

  For information about designation in Wales I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Rented Accommodation
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the change in households in the private rented sector; and what percentage of households have been in private rented accommodation in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Sir George Young
  Estimated numbers and percentages of households in private rented accommodation in England are as follows:

  number

  percentages

  1989

  1,610,000

  8·6

  1990

  1,690,000

  8·9

  1991

  1,760,000

  9·3

  1992

  1,790,000

  9·2

  1993

  1,950,000

  9·9

  These figures are from labour force surveys and are subject to sampling error. They nevertheless provide a good indication of the trend over this period in privately renting households.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the EC decision on the proposals for enterprise zones in East Durham, East Midlands and the Deane Valley; and when he expects to designate the new zones.

  Sir George Young
  I am pleased to announce that the EC has accepted, in full, our proposals for the three new enterprise zones. Once arrangements are in place to ensure that EC restrictions on state aids to industry are enforced on the new zones, I expect to issue a letter of invitation to local authorities to submit draft schemes. The subsequent United Kingdom procedures usually take about six months and designations are therefore expected in autumn this year.

  Isle of Wight Landslip
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide financial assistance to South Wight borough council under the Bellwin scheme towards its costs of dealing with the landslips which occurred between December 1993 and February 1994.
  918
  Mr. Baldry
  Yes. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that these incidents were indeed exceptional and that a scheme of assistance should be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to South Wight borough council to cover 85 per cent. of eligible costs which it has incurred above a threshold in dealing with the emergency.

  Flooding, West Sussex
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme to assist local authorities in west Sussex with the costs of dealing with the flooding which occurred in January.

  Mr. Baldry
  Yes. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that financial relief under the Bellwin scheme would be justified in this case. A scheme of assistance will therefore be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The Department will pay grant to those authorities in west Sussex which have incurred an undue financial burden as a result of flooding which took place between December 1993 and January 1994. Grant will cover 85 per cent. of eligible costs which are above a threshold.

  Perclorethylene
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the
  Environment what are the legal provisions governing the
  use of perclorethylene in proximity of food retail businesses.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 22 March 1994]: There are no specific legal provisions, but controls can be exercised under part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Homelessness
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households were accepted as homeless in each local authority area in 1979–80; and what are the latest full-year figures.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: I have today placed in the Library a table giving for each local authority in England the numbers of households which they reported as having accepted responsibility in the years 1979 to 1993 to secure permanent accommodation, under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the 1985 Housing Act.

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

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: The table shows the financial support which the Rural Development Commission has given in this period to the voluntary sector either through support for voluntary organisations themselves or through projects run by the voluntary sector. These include national organisations such as Help the Aged, Good Practice in Mental Health, National Youth

  919
  Agency, Rural Housing Trust. In addition, many grants are made to voluntary and community organisations as part of rural development programmes in the commission's

  Rural Development Commission Allocation of funding to the voluntary sector assisting rural communities

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Actual

  Actual

  Actual

  Actual

  To date

  Estimate

  Total

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Support for voluntary organisations

  National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

  80,000

  84,000

  89,000

  116,000

  92,332

  121,590

  582,960

  Action for Communities in Rural England (ACRE)

  73,000

  43,313

  85,652

  60,000

  61,300

  70,000

  393,265

  National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI)

  —

  27,000

  —

  8,242

  —

  18,250

  53,492

  Rural Community Councils (RCCs)

  2,181,000

  2,371,177

  2,493,607

  2,778,169

  2,818,000

  2,818,000

  15,459,953

  Project support

  National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB)

  75,000

  75,000

  —

  70,186

  —

  —

  220,186

  Rural Social Partnership Fund (RSPF)

  25,031

  182,043

  264,098

  184,685

  169,931

  327,000

  1,152,788

  Housing

  432,000

  387,867

  312,799

  277,689

  307,504

  340,639

  2,058,498

  Rural Action

  —

  —

  —

  196,672

  265,367

  400,000

  862,039

  Village Halls

  —

  —

  —

  146,169

  297,279

  350,000

  793,448

  RDP Social Projects1

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1,966,632

  2,383,000

  2,450,000

  6,799,632

  Total

  2,866,031

  3,170,400

  3,245,156

  5,804,482

  6,394,713

  6,895,479

  28,376,261

  1 The majority of grants under this head are for projects to the voluntary sector.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policies the Rural Development Commission has for the voluntary sector to be a vehicle for assisting rural communities.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: The Rural Development Commission regards voluntary activity and community self-help as an important means of tackling economic and social problems in rural areas, especially those relating to services, such as transport or village shops, and to the disadvantage experienced by particular groups of people, for example, the elderly, which is heightened by their living in a rural area. Nationally, the commission seeks to strengthen the rural work of the voluntary sector by supporting the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Action with Communities in Rural England in their roles as national umbrella organisations as well as working in partnership with national voluntary organisations such as Help the Aged or the Rural Housing Trust on specific projects or issues. Countrywide, it supports both the work of rural community councils which provide support to voluntary organisations in each county as well as a wide range of local projects put forward by voluntary and community groups principally as part of rural development programmes in the commission's priority areas.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures are used by board members and officials of the Rural Development Commission to inform themselves of the needs of rural areas nationally and locally.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 29 March 1994]: The Rural Development Commission uses a range of means to

  Assisted places scheme 1993–94

  School

  Number on roll January 1994

  Total number APS pupils in scheme September 1993

  Percentage APS: NOR

  Monmouth Boys

  544

  137

  25·1

  Penrhos College, Colwyn Bay

  332

  61

  18·3

  Howell's, Cardiff

  689

  165

  23·9

  Rydal School, Colwyn Bay

  330

  46

  13·9

  920
  priority areas. Detailed information on the sums and organisations involved could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  inform itself about the needs of rural areas nationally and locally. It draws on published research and data from a wide variety of sources and where necessary commissions its own research or surveys to fill gaps in knowledge or data. It also liaises with a broad range of organisations involved in economic and social development, including local authorities, training and enterprise councils, rural community councils, ACRE and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. In its priority areas the commission works in partnership with the rural development programme committees, which assess the economic and social needs of the areas concerned and develop a programme of action to tackle the problems identified. All these partnerships provide a valuable source of information on the needs of rural areas.

  The commission also funds some demonstration projects designed to improve information on rural needs and issues, and test out solutions to rural problems.

WALES

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

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Eight schools participate in the assisted places scheme in Wales. The information requested is set out in the table.
  921

  School

  Number on roll January 1994

  Total number APS pupils in scheme September 1993

  Percentage APS.NOR

  Landovery College

  239

  52

  21·7

  Christ College, Brecon

  364

  87

  23·9

  Howell's, Denbigh

  293

  72

  24·5

  Monmouth Girls

  631

  71

  11·2

  3,422

  691

  20·1

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans he has to reduce environmental protection measures as overseen by his Department in the Principality;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the opportunities to deregulate environmental protection measures in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office is fully committed to the deregulation initiative. Proposed changes to the Clean Air Act 1993 and Control of Pollution Act 1974—to be implemented using powers contained in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill—will take effect in Wales as well as England.

  The Government are also currently considering responses to the second round of consultation concerning "Amendments to the Prescribed Processes and Substances Regulations"—a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Many of its proposals are intended to minimise the regulatory burden on industry without compromising necessary environmental standards.

  Council Tax Appeals
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for(a) each district value listing office area and (b) each district council area (i) the total numbers of appeals received against banding for the council tax, (ii) the number of appeals which have been dealt with and completed and (ii) as a percentage of (i).

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The position on 28 February 1994 was as follows:

  Valuation District and District Council

  Number Received

  Number Settled

  Percentage Settled

  Bangor

  Colwyn

  1,286

  442

  34·37

  Aberconwy

  1,152

  254

  22·05

  Arfon

  977

  182

  18·63

  Dwyfor

  775

  137

  17·68

  Meirionnydd

  1,012

  440

  43·48

  Ynys Mon

  1,724

  500

  29·00

  TOTAL

  6,926

  1,955

  28·23

  Cardiff

  Cardiff City

  3,869

  776

  20·06

  Vale of Glamorgan

  1,875

  423

  22·56

  TOTAL

  5,744

  1,199

  20·87

  Carmarthen

  Ceredigion

  3,768

  501

  13·30

  Preseli

  2,541

  764

  30·07

  South Pembrokeshire

  1,594

  623

  39·08

  Dinefwr

  1,981

  569

  28·72

  Carmarthen

  2,338

  500

  21·39

  922

  Valuation District and District Council

  Number Received

  Number Settled

  Percentage Settled

  TOTAL

  12,222

  2,957

  24·19

  Merthyr

  Cynon Valley

  917

  306

  33·37

  Merthyr Tydfil

  665

  284

  42·71

  Rhymney Valley

  961

  308

  32·05

  Brecknock

  2,082

  831

  39·91

  Radnor

  1,155

  244

  21·13

  TOTAL

  5,780

  1,973

  34·13

  Newport

  Blaenau Gwent

  666

  238

  35·74

  Islwyn

  693

  158

  22·80

  Monmouth

  2,612

  726

  27·79

  Newport

  1,279

  610

  47·69

  Torfaen

  886

  255

  28·78

  TOTAL

  6,136

  1,987

  32·38

  Pontypridd

  Ogwr

  1,569

  388

  24·73

  Port Talbot

  671

  174

  25·93

  Rhondda

  648

  423

  65·28

  Taff Ely

  1,285

  420

  32·68

  TOTAL

  4,173

  1,405

  33·67

  Swansea

  Llanelli

  1,084

  334

  30·81

  Lliw Valley

  929

  278

  29·92

  Neath

  925

  251

  27·14

  Swansea

  3,397

  955

  28·11

  TOTAL

  6,335

  1,818

  28·70

  Wrexham

  Alyn and Deeside

  1,154

  257

  22·27

  Delyn

  1,113

  314

  28·21

  Glyndwr

  1,172

  296

  25·26

  Montgomeryshire

  1,715

  635

  37·03

  Rhuddlan

  777

  227

  29·21

  Wrexham Maelor

  1,864

  668

  35·84

  TOTAL

  7,795

  2,397

  30·75

  Lumpy Skin Disease
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of lumpy skin disease occurred in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None.

  Health Promotion Authority for Wales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to Mr. David Griffiths, board member of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales, and Mr. Griffith's letter to him of 29
  923
  January 1994 in relation to improving financial controls and management procedures in the authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Arrangements have been made for a copy of my letter to be placed in the Library of the House. Mr. Griffiths marked his letter as "Private and Confidential". The release of this letter is a matter for him.

  Rawnsley Psychiatric Clinic
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the south Glarnorgan health authority concerning the proposed closure of the Rawnsley psychiatric clinic at the University hospital of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwoood
  None.

  Departmental Buildings (Cleaning)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the cleaning contract for he Welsh Office Crown buildings, Cathays park.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department's offices at Cathays park are currently cleaned by Mitie Cleaning (South West) Ltd. under a two-year contract, which runs until 31 December 1994.

  Hip and Knee Joint Replacement
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan and Mid Glamorgan health authorities in relation to the non-completion by the former of the latter's contract for hip and knee joint replacements; what is the value of the refund required by the latter from the former for non-completion of the contract; in what form the refund will be made; and what guidelines he has issued to cover refund transactions between Welsh health authorities.

  Mr. Redwood
  This matter has been resolved by the Mid and South Glamorgan health authorities. I am advised that at 1 April 1994 there will be no outstanding financial issues. Guidance on the resolution of contract disputes was issued on 1991.

EMPLOYMENT

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what factors account for the fall in employment in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom since 1990; and how much of the increase over the same period in output per person employed is a reflection of the faster rate of contraction in labour intensive industries and occupations.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Employment fell due to a number of factors including the cyclical downturn in the economy. Productivity growth has been strong across manufacturing, whatever the compositional changes.
  924

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. Michael Forsyth
  The total cost of official entertaining in the Department in 1992–93 was £48,702; in 1993–94 it was £33,666. Figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are stored off-line on magnetic tape and cannot be recalled until all current end-of-year accounts for the Department have been processed. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the figures can be obtained.

  Working Hours
  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 in the Official Report a table showing the estimated number of hours worked in the whole economy and in manufacturing each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Estimates from the labour force survey—LFS—of the total number of hours worked are available since 1984 and are shown in the following table:

  Total hours worked by employees and self-employed

  Great Britain

  Not seasonally adjusted Millions

  Quarter

  Total hours worked in manufacturing

  Total hours in whole economy

  Spring 1984

  227

  845

  Spring 1985

  231

  863

  Spring 1986

  232

  870

  Spring 1987

  223

  882

  Spring 1988

  237

  925

  Spring 1989

  234

  951

  Spring 1990

  234

  959

  Spring 1991

  222

  939

  Spring 1992

  190

  816

  Spring 1993

  189

  815

  Autumn 1993

  188

  829

  Source: Labour Force Survey.

  Note:

  Methodological improvements to the LFS introduced in 1992 mean that estimates of hours worked from 1992 onwards are of better quality than figures for earlier years.

  Strikes
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were(a) the number of strikes and (b) the number of working days lost through strikes in the latest year for which figures were last lower.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is provisionally estimated that there were 211 strikes in 1993, the lowest in any calendar year since records began in 1891.

  The number of working days lost is provisionally estimated at 600,000, the lowest since records began in 1891, apart from 1992 where 500,000 days were lost.
  925

  Vane Tempest Colliery
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Coalfield Communities Campaign on Vane Tempest colliery, the work force and employment prospects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am not aware of any representations being made specific to Vane Tempest colliery.

  Outdoor Education Centres
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 719, what information is collected by his Department about outdoor education centres.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Health and Safety Executive has collected information about standards of health and safety appropriate to the activities that are undertaken at outdoor education centres and about the locations of centres. The information has been gathered with the help of organisations such as the Sports Council, tourist boards and national governing bodies, and the HSE has drawn on local knowledge in the area which are participating in the proposed special programme of inspections.

  I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 28 March 1994, Official Report, columns 524–25.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many deaths were reported to the Health and Safety Executive in each region in each year since 1983 in(a) agriculture, forestry and fisheries, (b) energy and water supply, (c) manufacturing, (d) construction and (e) the service sector; and how many of these were deaths of (i) employees, (ii) self-employed and (iii) members of the public.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Figures for the financial years 1986–87 to 1992–93 are provided in the tables which have been placed in the Library. Fatal injuries for the years 1983 to 1985 were assigned to an earlier industrial classification and aggregation on a regional basis into the sectors specified is not possible except at disproportionate cost.

  Industrial Injuries
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many major injuries were reported to the HSE in each region in each year since 1983 in(a) agriculture, forestry and fisheries, (b) energy and water supply, (c) manufacturing, (d) construction and (e) the service sectors; and how many of these were injuries of (i) employees, (ii) the self-employed and (iii) members of the public.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Figures for the financial years 1986–87 to 1992–93 are provided in the tables which have been placed in the Library. Due to changes in reporting legislation, major injuries reported for the years 1983 to 1985 are not directly comparable with those for later years. In addition, the 1983 and 1984 injuries were assigned to an earlier industrial classification and aggregation on a regional basis into the sectors specified is not possible except at disproportionate cost.
  926
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many minor injuries involving three or more days off work were reported to the Health and Safety Executive in each region in each year since 1983 in(a) agriculture, forestry and fisheries, (b) energy and water supply, (c) manufacturing, (d) construction and (e) the service sector; and how many of these were injuries of (i) employees and (ii) the self-employed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Figures for the financial years 1986–87 to 1992–93 are provided in the tables which have been placed in the Library. There was no requirement to notify the Health and Safety Executive of injuries causing incapacity for normal work for more than three days during the years 1983 to 1985.

EDUCATION

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the Acts of Parliament and consolidation Acts that affect local government which have been introduced by his Department since 1990.

  Mr. Boswell
  The following Acts affect local education authorities:

  School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1991-1991, chapter 49

  Further and Higher Education Act 1992-1992, chapter 13

  Education (Schools) Act 1992-1992, chapter 38

  Education Act 1993-1993, chapter 35.

  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, what was the budgeted and actual cost of each advertising campaign listed.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The costs are as follows:

  £

  £

  Budgeted Cost

  Actual Cost

  The 1993 school testing campaign

  450,000

  449,000

  Charters for Further and Higher Education campaign

  500,000

  486,000

  GM schools advertising campaign

  200,000

  207,000

  £

  £

  Budgeted Cost

  Estimated Cost1

  The 1994 school testing campaign

  500,000

  500,000

  1This campaign is still running.

  Teachers
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time school teachers there were in the state sector in each local education authority area in the three most recent years available; and how many in each category were newly appointed.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table following shows the number of full-time qualified teachers and the full-time equivalent of part-time qualified teachers in the maintained
  927
  nursery, primary and secondary sector, including self-governing schools, in each local education authority in England at January of 1991, 1992 and 1993. It is not possible to identify which of these teachers were newly appointed.

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Full-time

  FTE of part-time

  Full-time

  FTE of part-time

  Full-time

  FTE of part-time

  Bradford

  4,720

  262

  4,734

  322

  4,539

  431

  Calderdale

  1,683

  95

  1,707

  88

  1,732

  85

  Gateshead

  1,681

  55

  1,660

  53

  1,615

  71

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,243

  93

  2,190

  84

  2,122

  81

  North Tyneside

  1,745

  74

  1,693

  72

  1,683

  78

  South Tyneside

  1,373

  26

  1,344

  34

  1,288

  32

  Sunderland

  2,609

  61

  2,619

  65

  2,588

  56

  Isles of Scilly

  26

  3

  26

  1

  25

  3

  Avon

  6,875

  508

  7,438

  529

  7,073

  518

  Bedfordshire

  4,519

  341

  4,482

  351

  4,572

  309

  Berkshire

  5,284

  536

  5,274

  556

  5,412

  593

  Buckinghamshire

  4,708

  401

  4,477

  468

  4,721

  465

  Cambridge

  5,037

  315

  5,041

  336

  5,298

  338

  Cheshire

  7,548

  319

  7,521

  406

  7,606

  432

  Cleveland

  5,305

  218

  5,259

  263

  5,268

  254

  Cornwall

  3,547

  181

  3,490

  192

  3,284

  348

  Cumbria

  3,878

  305

  3,809

  331

  3,864

  317

  Derbyshire

  8,025

  445

  7,425

  458

  7,537

  488

  Devon

  6,672

  443

  6,563

  484

  6,693

  519

  Dorset

  4,208

  257

  4,241

  255

  4,091

  272

  Durham

  4,661

  147

  4,812

  155

  5,032

  157

  East Sussex

  4,073

  423

  4,172

  473

  4,441

  433

  Essex

  11,402

  666

  11,287

  756

  11,067

  714

  Gloucestershire

  3,868

  475

  3,749

  283

  3,729

  351

  Hampshire

  10,492

  867

  10,558

  945

  10,890

  1,065

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  5,064

  338

  5,113

  322

  5,081

  345

  Hertfordshire

  7,342

  797

  7,193

  825

  7,372

  775

  Humberside

  7,322

  364

  7,250

  388

  7,304

  393

  Isle of Wight

  932

  73

  928

  89

  912

  83

  Kent

  10,796

  745

  10,699

  819

  10,951

  844

  Lancashire

  11,128

  606

  11,015

  672

  11,235

  638

  Leicestershire

  7,174

  526

  7,111

  662

  7,095

  422

  Lincolnshire

  4,578

  268

  4,395

  313

  4,471

  291

  Norfolk

  5,235

  296

  5,203

  409

  5,284

  420

  North Yorkshire

  5,343

  306

  5,334

  456

  5,436

  504

  Northamptonshire

  4,992

  264

  5,075

  281

  5,104

  274

  Northumberland

  2,626

  107

  2,654

  134

  2,503

  171

  Nottinghamshire

  7,931

  432

  8,050

  461

  8,000

  482

  Oxfordshire

  3,681

  340

  3,746

  364

  3,823

  353

  Shropshire

  3,400

  220

  3,454

  240

  3,330

  211

  Somerset

  3,293

  275

  3,252

  288

  3,289

  284

  Staffordshire

  8,414

  383

  8,346

  393

  7,953

  355

  Suffolk

  4,607

  306

  4,836

  365

  4,821

  381

  Surrey

  5,823

  756

  5,747

  694

  5,871

  751

  Warwickshire

  3,666

  309

  3,598

  297

  3,609

  339

  West Sussex

  4,399

  440

  4,769

  409

  4,830

  460

  Wiltshire

  4,081

  415

  4,157

  377

  4,242

  325

  ENGLAND

  367,977

  23,569

  365,701

  25,157

  366,848

  25,576

  Source:

  DFE From 618G.

  Qualified teacher numbers in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector in England, including self-governing (GM) schools, as at January of each year.

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Full-time

  FTE of part-time

  Full-time

  FTE of part-time

  Full-time

  FTE of part-time

  City

  11

  1

  9

  0

  12

  1

  Camden

  1,061

  119

  1,160

  84

  1,150

  80

  Greenwich

  1,899

  226

  1,970

  233

  1,795

  208

  Hackney

  1,440

  97

  1,399

  101

  1,381

  88

  Hammersmith

  915

  118

  939

  72

  921

  88

  Islington

  1,175

  97

  1,216

  90

  1,329

  169

  Kensington and Chelsea

  601

  64

  682

  66

  622

  41

  Lambeth

  1,287

  137

  1,355

  128

  1,371

  129

  Lewisham

  1,678

  91

  1,222

  160

  1,538

  221

  Southwark

  1,520

  120

  1,514

  130

  1,537

  132

  928
  Separate information on the numbers of newly qualified teachers taking up their first full-time teaching posts by local authority in 1993 will be placed in the Library when it becomes available, although this is not expected to be before spring 1995.
  929

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Full-time

  FTE of part-time

  Full-time

  FTE of part-time

  Full-time

  FTE of part-time

  Tower Hamlets

  1,920

  89

  1,918

  97

  2,025

  106

  Wandsworth

  1,545

  140

  1,542

  161

  1,561

  172

  Westminster

  1,013

  89

  1,019

  91

  1,068

  85

  Barking

  1,178

  57

  1,229

  55

  1,269

  52

  Barnet

  2,106

  228

  2,214

  284

  2,237

  271

  Bexley

  1,610

  105

  1,598

  93

  1,623

  115

  Brent

  1,869

  92

  1,864

  112

  1,882

  121

  Bromley

  1,795

  154

  1,776

  134

  1,904

  148

  Croydon

  2,278

  247

  2,184

  247

  2,116

  219

  Ealing

  2,033

  139

  1,955

  153

  1,922

  163

  Enfield

  2,029

  197

  2,087

  165

  2,117

  162

  Haringey

  1,501

  47

  1,486

  87

  1,473

  74

  Harrow

  1,312

  120

  1,397

  131

  1,404

  143

  Havering

  1,814

  148

  1,840

  145

  1,829

  141

  Hillingdon

  1,627

  106

  1,634

  110

  1,702

  121

  Hounslow

  1,682

  168

  1,615

  184

  1,661

  150

  Kingston upon Thames

  934

  92

  879

  89

  927

  107

  Merton

  1,207

  95

  1,171

  94

  1,193

  93

  Newham

  1,979

  42

  1,934

  40

  1,871

  45

  Redbridge

  1,544

  122

  1,589

  150

  1,644

  150

  Richmond upon Thames

  894

  109

  966

  151

  883

  126

  Sutton

  1,218

  105

  1,169

  109

  1,155

  105

  Waltham Forest

  1,776

  91

  1,816

  97

  1,731

  113

  Birmingham

  8,688

  404

  8,853

  445

  8,999

  480

  Coventry

  2,534

  167

  2,558

  192

  2,507

  201

  Dudley

  2,593

  129

  2,613

  139

  2,525

  115

  Sandwell

  2,872

  55

  2,813

  80

  2,829

  98

  Solihull

  1,703

  142

  1,647

  130

  1,717

  128

  Walsall

  2,582

  141

  2,466

  134

  2,429

  125

  Wolverhampton

  2,428

  135

  2,474

  136

  2,322

  132

  Knowsley

  1,443

  37

  1,355

  39

  1,311

  38

  Liverpool

  4,335

  128

  4,090

  114

  4,059

  106

  St. Helens

  1,664

  46

  1,600

  54

  1,616

  59

  Sefton

  2,315

  106

  2,356

  110

  2,383

  117

  Wirral

  2,980

  118

  2,814

  107

  2,838

  117

  Bolton

  2,454

  78

  2,390

  84

  2,398

  93

  Bury

  1,412

  70

  1,385

  74

  1,387

  77

  Manchester

  4,070

  154

  3,787

  150

  3,790

  216

  Oldham

  2,078

  109

  2,135

  102

  2,149

  98

  Rochdale

  1,841

  93

  1,936

  51

  1,761

  78

  Salford

  2,109

  28

  1,993

  49

  1,965

  27

  Stockport

  2,214

  124

  2,209

  122

  2,239

  120

  Tameside

  1,954

  87

  1,968

  115

  1,913

  93

  Trafford

  1,691

  68

  1,545

  62

  1,540

  71

  Wigan

  2,849

  114

  2,843

  162

  2,891

  196

  Barnsley

  1,731

  29

  1,681

  33

  1,659

  37

  Doncaster

  2,649

  95

  2,573

  107

  2,646

  102

  Rotherham

  2,429

  78

  2,377

  78

  2,285

  39

  Sheffield

  3,666

  329

  3,512

  338

  3,456

  331

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

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

  Assisted places scheme 1992–93 academic year

  School name

  Total roll

  Percentage of assisted pupils

  Wisbech Grammar

  628

  52

  Batley Grammar

  595

  43

  St. Edward's College

  937

  42

  Hereford Cathedral

  587

  40

  Wolverhampton Grammar

  646

  40

  930

  School name

  Total roll

  Percentage of assisted pupils

  Emanuel, London SW11

  763

  38

  Denstone College

  273

  38

  King Edward VII Lytham

  597

  38

  Queen Mary, Lytham

  622

  37

  Ursuline High, Ilford

  383

  36

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital

  503

  34

  La Sagesse Convent

  493

  33

  St. Mary's College, Crosby

  789

  32

  Belvedere GPDST

  567

  31

  Friends, Saffron Walden

  272

  31

  St. Joseph's Convent

  422

  31

  Royal Grammar, Worcester

  916

  31

  Colston's Girls

  555

  31

  Carmel College

  236

  31

  Red Maids, Bristol

  573

  30

  931

  Further and Higher Education
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of school leavers went on to further or higher education in 1979; and what is the percentage now.

  Mr. Boswell
  The percentage of school leavers in England intending to go on to further or higher education in 1978–79 was 21 per cent. The percentage for 1991–92, the latest academic year for which the information is available, is 52 per cent.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students were in(a) higher and (b) further education in 1979; and how many there are in each sector currently.

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of students on higher and further education courses in England in 1979 and 1992, the latest year for which statistics were available, are shown in the following table:

  The number of students as of 1 November of the appropriate year on higher and further education courses in England

  Academic year

  Number of HE1 students (thousands)

  Number of FE2 students (thousands)

  1979–80

  585

  1,439

  1992–93

  1,070

  1,761

  1 The HE figures do not include students of the Open University.

  2 The FE student numbers do not include students on further education courses in LEA maintained adult education centres or run by the Workers' Educational Association. Figures for 1979 and 1992 do not exist on a comparable basis for such students. Nor do they include students in sixth form colleges. From 1 April 1993 sixth form colleges transferred to the new FE sector. In 1992–93 there were 94,000 students in sixth form colleges in England.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, column 517, if he will list the courses and private institutions of higher education listed under the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations.

  Mr. Boswell
  No list is maintained by the Department of the courses in private institutions that are subject to automatic designation by class under the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations. The following courses at private institutions have been designated individually by my right hon. Friend under regulations 10(1)(b)(iii) and 10(1)(e)(ii) of the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations:Anglo-European College of Chiropractic

  BSc (Hons) in Human Sciences (Chiropractic)

  Architectural Association School of Architecture

  Diploma of the Architectural Association School of Architecture

  British College of Naturopathy & Osteopathy

  BSc (Hons) in Osteopathic Medicine

  British School of Osteopathy

  BSc in Osteopathy

  Buckland University College

  LLB

  City of London College

  BSc in Economics

  932
  Elim Bible College

  BA/BA (Hons) in Theology and Christian Ministry

  European Business School

  BA (Hons) in European Adinistration

  BA (Hons) in International Business Administration

  BA (Hons) in International Business Studies

  BA (Hons) in Business Administration and Language Studies

  Evangelical Theological College of Wales

  BA/BA (Hons) in Theological Studies

  Glasgow Bible College

  BA/BA (Hons) in Theology

  Greenwich College

  BSc (Hons) in Business Management

  Guildhall School of Music and Drama

  BA in Acting

  Diploma of Associate of the Guildhall School of Music

  Bachelor of Music

  BA (Hons) in Stage Management and Technical Theatre

  Gyosei International College in the UK

  BA (Hons) in Business Studies

  BA (Hons) in Business with Culture Studies

  BA (Hons) in Business with Language Studies

  Holborn College

  LLB (Hons)

  Jew's College London

  BA in Jewish Studies

  Leo Baeck College

  BA (Hons) in Jewish Studies

  London Bible College

  BA in Theology

  Nazarena Theological College

  BA in Theology

  BA (Hons) in Theology

  Newbold College

  BA/BA (Hons in Biblical and Pastoral Studies

  Oak Hill College

  BA in Theological and Pastoral Studies

  Ripon College

  Bachelor of Theology (Hons)

  Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester

  BSc in Crop Production Ecology and Management

  BSc in Agriculture and Land Management

  BSc in Rural Land Management

  BSc in International Agribusiness Management

  BSc Agriculture and Equine Business Management

  Spurgeon's College

  Bachelor of Divinity

  St. Stephen's House

  Bachelor of Theology (Hons)

  Trinity College, Bristol

  BA in Theological Studies

  Wycliffe Hall

  Bachelor of Theology

  933

  Methodist Church
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has had from the Methodist Church about its reservations in regard to the Education Bill[Lords]; what reply he is sending; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend received a letter last week from the Methodist Church about the role of higher education in initial teacher training. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my reply.

  Colleges (Legal Disputes)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if the costs of legal action taken by the National Employers Organisation on behalf of a college in dispute with the National Association of Teachers of Further and Higher Education are paid by the employers' national body or wholly or partly by the college.

  Mr. Boswell
  This is a matter for the parties involved, not for my right hon. Friend.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes were initiated in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The year-on-year increases in the number of neighbourhood watch schemes in England and Wales in the years since 1989 have been 11,000 in 1990, 8,000 in 1991, 15,000 in 1992 and 15,000 in 1993.

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

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  At the end of December 1993 there were estimated to be over 130,000 neighbourhood watch schemes in England and Wales covering over 5 million households. These schemes are an excellent way in which the public can assist the police in the fight against crime.

  Immigration Controls
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to immigration officials when dealing with travellers from other European economic area countries who refuse to submit to examination under powers granted by the Immigration Acts, citing instead a right to enter without being checked under the provision of article 7A of the European Community treaty.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Immigration officers are instructed to admit freely passengers who satisfy them that they are nationals of European economic area countries.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people, by nationality, were refused leave to enter and removed at United Kingdom airports in 1993 whose travel was wholly internal to the European Community
  934
  (2) how many people whose journey was internal to the European Community were refused entry and returned abroad by immigration officials at United Kingdom airports during the course of 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, by nationality, were refused leave to enter and removed at United Kingdom channel ports in 1993 whose travel was wholly internal to the European Community.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The following table shows the numbers and nationalities of passengers refused entry and removed at the ports of Dover, Folkestone, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Ramsgate in 1993.

  Number

  Commonwealth citizens

  Australia

  21

  Bangladesh

  5

  Canada

  8

  Cyprus

  6

  Ghana

  45

  Hong Kong

  11

  India

  39

  Jamaica

  3

  Kenya

  4

  Malaysia

  66

  Malta

  1

  Mauritius

  8

  New Zealand

  19

  Nigeria

  23

  Pakistan

  25

  Sierra Leone

  45

  Singapore

  5

  Sri Lanka

  33

  Tanzania

  7

  Trinidad and Tobago

  5

  Uganda

  1

  Zimbabwe

  3

  British overseas citizens

  2

  Other Commonwealth

  15

  Other nationals

  Algeria

  87

  Angola

  13

  Argentina

  7

  Austria

  10

  Brazil

  65

  Bulgaria

  6

  Chile

  8

  China

  4

  Colombia

  19

  Czechoslovakia

  295

  Egypt

  1

  Ethiopia

  8

  Finland

  6

  Hungary

  82

  Indonesia

  2

  Iran

  2

  Israel

  22

  Japan

  13

  Libya

  1

  Mexico

  6

  Morocco

  17

  Norway

  1

  Peru

  9

  Philippines

  3

  Poland

  1,254

  Rumania

  32

  Somalia

  10

  South Africa

  85

  935

  Number

  South Korea

  13

  Sudan

  1

  Sweden

  11

  Switzerland

  8

  Thailand

  1

  Tunisia

  2

  Turkey

  30

  United States of America

  110

  USSR

  8

  Venezuela

  3

  Yugoslavia

  20

  Zaire

  24

  Others

  270

  Stateless Hong Kong

  2

  Stateless others

  757

  European Community1

  Belgium

  7

  France

  74

  Greece

  1

  Italy

  22

  Netherlands

  29

  Numbers of reported cases involving attacks by dogs of all types on humans

  Year

  Police force

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Kent

  n/a

  n/a

  1,002

  1,150

  853

  Merseyside

  347

  351

  371

  271

  243

  Northumbria

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  246

  175

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received on the review of the operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) on 17 March, column 763, which gave information about the representations received about the reform of the criminal injuries compensation scheme. The new tariff scheme comes into force on 1 April.

  Prisoner Escapes
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from each United Kingdom prison and in total since the introduction of "fresh start".

  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. Escapes from prisons in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters 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.

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 3 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 number of prisoners who have escaped from within each prison in the United Kingdom since the introduction of Fresh Start.

  Fresh Start was introduced into prisons in England and Wales from 3 April 1987 as a rolling programme. Central recording of
  936

  Number

  Portugal

  20

  Spain

  3

  1 Most of these would have been non-EC nationals presenting documents to which they were not entitled but whose nationality is not otherwise recorded.

  Dog Attacks
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is available from his Department's recent questionnaire sent to police authorities about the number of dog attacks for each of the last five years in each police authority area.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Statistics on dog attacks are not routinely collected by all police forces. Recent inquiries of a number of forces by the Home Office, however, have revealed the following information:

  escapes did not start until 20 June 1988. For these reasons the information requested cannot be provided centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The attached table lists the number of prisoners who have escaped from prisons in England and Wales from 20 June 1988 to 24 March 1994.

  There were during this period 30 establishments, not included in the table below, from which no prisoner escaped. The figures exclude escapes from escorts.

  Establishment

  Escapers

  Acklington

  30

  Aldington

  45

  Ashwell

  24

  Bedford

  4

  Belmarsh

  1

  Birmingham

  1

  Blakenhurst

  2

  Blantyre House

  4

  Blundeston

  1

  Brinsford

  1

  Bristol

  1

  Brixton

  2

  Brockhill

  4

  Buckley Hall

  1

  Bullwood Hall

  3

  Camp Hill

  11

  Campsfield House

  1

  Canterbury

  5

  Cardiff

  8

  Castington

  2

  Channings Wood

  29

  Chelmsford

  1

  Coldingley

  1

  Dartmoor

  3

  Deerbolt

  28

  Dorchester

  2

  Dover

  11

  Down view

  14

  Durham

  5

  Eastwood Park

  8

  Elmley

  2

  Erlestoke

  20

  Everthorpe

  20

  Exeter

  3

  Featherstone

  33

  937

  Establishment

  Escapers

  Feltham

  58

  Frankland

  1

  Glen Parva

  21

  Gloucester

  19

  Guys Marsh

  22

  Haslar

  18

  Haverigg

  25

  Hewell Grange

  1

  Highdown

  1

  Highpoint

  87

  Hindley

  16

  Holloway

  2

  Huntercombe

  14

  Hull

  2

  Kingston

  1

  Kirklevington

  7

  Latchmere House

  2

  Lancaster

  1

  Lancaster Farms

  1

  Leeds

  2

  Leicester

  1

  Lewes

  2

  Leyhill

  1

  Lincoln

  1

  Lindholme

  69

  Littlehey

  20

  Maidstone

  5

  Manchester

  1

  Moorland

  1

  The Mount

  22

  New Hall

  11

  Northeye

  12

  Norwich

  30

  Nottingham

  1

  Onley

  15

  Oxford

  8

  Parkhurst

  1

  Pentonville

  7

  Portland

  63

  Preston

  7

  Pucklechurch

  4

  Ranby

  89

  Risley

  8

  Rochester

  7

  Rollestone

  1

  Send

  14

  Shepton Mallet

  9

  Stafford

  10

  Stocken

  9

  Stoke Heath

  11

  Styal

  1

  Sudbury

  4

  Swaleside

  1

  Swansea

  2

  Thorn Cross

  1

  Thorp Arch

  7

  Usk

  1

  The Verne

  26

  Wandsworth

  3

  Wayland

  19

  Wellingborough

  18

  Werrington

  19

  Wetherby

  16

  Whatton

  3

  Winchester

  5

  The Wolds

  2

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1

  Wymott

  38

  Total

  1,239

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners from(a) Durham, (b) Frankland and (c) Low Newton prisons have escaped while on hospital visits in each year since 1979.
  938
  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. Gerry Steinberg, dated 31 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 number of prisoners from Durham, Frankland and Low Newton prisons who have escaped whilst on hospital visits in each year since 1979.

  The following table shows escapes from hospital visits from 20 June 1988 which is the earliest date at which this information was recorded centrally.

  Year

  Durham

  Frankland

  Low Newton

  11988

  0

  0

  0

  1989

  1

  0

  0

  1990

  0

  0

  0

  1991

  2

  1

  0

  1992

  1

  0

  1

  1993

  1

  0

  0

  21994

  0

  1

  0

  1from 20 June.

  2to 25 March.

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Howard
  The cost of official entertaining in the years from 1 April 1990 is included in the running cost expenditure for my Department which is published each 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.

  Prison Accommodation
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about capacity limits for prison accommodation.

  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. Win Griffiths, dated 31 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 capacity limits for prison accommodation.

  All accommodation used for inmates is certified to meet the requirements of section 14 of The Prison Act 1952 and of Rule 23 of the Prison Rules 1964. An officer of the Secretary of State is required, inter alia, to certify that each unit of accommodation is adequate for health in respect of its size, lighting, heating, ventilation and fittings, and that prisoners are able to communicate at any time with a prison officer. This duty is undertaken by the Prison Service's 15 Area Managers for establishments in their own areas.
  939
  Each unit of accommodation (cell, double cell, cubicle or room) is assessed for the number of prisoners that can be accommodated in conditions satisfactory for both health and supervision. This number is the certified normal accommodation (CNA) of the unit and represents its uncrowded capacity. The CNA of an establishment is the sum of the CNA figures for all units of accommodation which are not set apart for special purposes. This number represents the uncrowded capacity of the establishment.

  Each establishment also has an operational capacity, which is determined by the Area Manager. This takes account of any authorised overcrowding, staffing and other operational constraints. In many establishments CNA and operational capacity are the same. In the majority of local prisons, remand centres and some older training prisons, a certain degree of overcrowding has been authorised, so that operational capacity can be higher than CNA. In some circumstances, where specialist use is being made of accommodation, operational capacity can be lower than CNA.

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

  Mr. Howard
  On 28 March 1994, 249 staff in grades 1 to 7, including their departmental specialist equivalents, were women, representing some 17 per cent. of staff in those grades. Within the grades: nine—23 per cent. of staff at grade 3; two—13 per cent.—at grade 4; 28-19 per cent.—at grade 5; 31-9 per cent.—at grade 6; and 179 —20 per cent.—at grade 7 were women. There are no women in grades 1 and 2.

  On the most recent figures derived from ethnic origins surveys carried out by the Department, in grades 1 to 7 and their equivalents, 142 staff in grades 1 to 7 and their equivalent are classified as being of ethnic minority origin, representing 12 per cent. of the total—16, or 12 per cent. at grade 5; 43 or 14 per cent., at grade 6; and 83, l2 per cent., at grade 7.

  Table A

  Numbers1 of applications for asylum and grants 1–2 of asylum, and dependant children, 1990 to 1993 and January to February 1994

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  199412

  Total principal applications for asylum3

  26,205

  44,840

  24,605

  22,370

  4,355

  children5 under 18 accompanying or subsequently joining4 principal asylum applicants by year of principal application

  —12

  18,0451

  5,020

  3,850

  —13

  Cases recognised as a refugee and granted asylum3

  920

  505

  1,115

  1,590

  125

  children5 under 18 accompanying cases granted asylum4 by year of grant of asylum

  —13

  1406

  435

  770

  —13

  Acceptances for settlement of South East Asian refugees on arrival (including dependants)7

  645

  485

  615

  510

  —13

  Principal applications for asylum by unaccompanied children8–9 port

  —13

  13010

  18510

  24510

  —13

  in-country

  —13

  —13

  510–11

  3010

  —13

  1 Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

  2 Grants of asylum do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same year.

  3 Exclude dependants.

  4 Information on children is of those applying with the principal applicant or arriving subsequently, before the principal application was decided. Information excludes children who arrive after the principal decision.

  5 Estimated figures.

  6 May be underrecorded.

  7 Figures for children are not separately identifiable.

  8 Included in the total for principal applications for asylum.

  9 Unaccompanied at the point of their arrival, and not known to be joining a close relative in the United Kingdom.

  10 The information for 1991 is for children aged 16 or under, and for the years 1992 and 1993 for children aged 17 and under.
  940
  As at November 1993 the latest date for which figures are available, 302 members of staff in the Home Office were known to be disabled, including a number who were not registered as such. This represented 0·6 per cent. of all staff. At grades 1–7 and their equivalents there were four registered and three unregistered disabled members of staff, representing 0·5 per cent. of all staff in those grades.

  Asylum Seekers and Refugees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total numbers of(a) asylum seekers and refugees, (b) children of asylum seekers and refugees, (c) unaccompanied children admitted as asylum seekers or refugees and (d) children admitted for family reunion reasons, admitted to the United Kingdom in each year since 1990–91, including estimates up to 1993–94.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information for the period 1 January 1990 to 28 February 1994 on the number of principal asylum seekers, the number of cases granted asylum, the available information on the estimated number of dependants associated with these two groups, and unaccompanied child applicants is given in the table.

  Information for the period 1 January 1990-30 June 1993 on the total number of children accepted for settlement is published in table 6.3 of the Home Office Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1992", Cm 2368, and in table 3 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Issue 33/93 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—First and Second Quarters of 1993". Information for the second half of 1993 will be published around the end of April. Information for the first part of 1994 is not yet available. Copies of both publications are available in the Library. These figures include children accepted in line with one or both parents being accepted for settlement at the same time, and acceptances of children where both parents were already settled in the United Kingdom.
  941
  11 Information for 1992 is only available for the period October to December

  12 January to February 1994.

  13 not available.

  Obscene Publications Branch
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the proposed closure of the obscene publications branch; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Metropolitan police head-quarters functions and specialist units, such as the obscene publications branch, fall within the scope of the commissioner's restructuring exercise, which aims to make the best possible use of resources and to place functions where they are most appropriate. No proposals about the future of the branch have yet been made.

  Central European Time
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 December,Official Report, column 285, (1) whether his Department will re-examine the British crime surveys of 1988 and 1992 to determine what impact an increase in evening daylight would have on the incidence of crime; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessment he had made of recent research on the link between daylight and crime; and what conclusions he has drawn.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office research and planning unit has re-examined the results from the 1988 and 1992 British crime surveys from the point of view of determining how an increase in evening daylight would affect the incidence of crime. These results are summarised in "Time for Change", October 1993, a publication by the Policy Studies Institute. This concludes that "darkness facilitates many criminal acts". Our own assessment however is that, although more crimes are committed when it is dark, definite conclusions are difficult to draw as regards the effect of darkness on overall levels of crime. Increasing evening daylight may for example have different effects for different crimes.

  This assessment does not differ from earlier analyses done on the basis of the 1988 data alone, which formed the basis of the discussion in the 1989 Green Paper, paragraphs 46 to 48.

  Police
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the ratio of police officers per head of the local population for each of the police forces in England and Wales.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Ratios of population per police officer for forces in England and Wales as at 31 December 1993 are given in the table.

  Police force

  Population per officer1

  Avon and Somerset

  467

  Bedfordshire

  456

  Cambridgeshire

  546

  Cheshire

  504

  942

  Policeforce

  Population per officer1

  City of London

  5

  Cleveland

  373

  Cumbria

  413

  Derbyshire

  512

  Devon and Cornwall

  519

  Dorset

  510

  Durham

  437

  Dyfed Powys

  485

  Essex

  503

  Gloucestershire

  457

  Gwent

  445

  Hampshire

  524

  Hertfordshire

  502

  Humberside

  433

  Kent

  490

  Lancashire

  438

  Leicestershire

  487

  Lincolnshire

  495

  Merseyside

  307

  Metropolitan

  265

  Norfolk

  528

  Northamptonshire

  496

  Northumbria

  399

  North Wales

  478

  North Yorkshire

  510

  Nottinghamshire

  437

  South Wales

  418

  South Yorkshire

  430

  Staffordshire

  475

  Suffolk

  526

  Surrey

  460

  Sussex

  475

  Thames Valley

  522

  Warwickshire

  482

  West Mercia

  537

  West Midlands

  377

  West Yorkshire

  395

  Wiltshire

  490

  1 Ratios are based on approved establishments.

  Prison Assaults
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults by prisoners on other inmates and on prison officers took place in each of the last 10 years; what assessment he has made of the extent to which these assaults are influenced by drug and alcohol intoxication; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Frank Field, dated 31 March 1994:

  Assaults in prisons

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent question about the numbers of assaults by prisoners on other inmates and on prison officers during the last ten years.

  The available information is for the number of assaults proved at adjudication hearings and these are published each year in 'Statistics of Offences against Prison Discipline and Punishments England and Wales'. For convenience, the figures are on the attached table.
  943
  I regret that no information is available centrally on the influence, if any, of drug and alcohol intoxication on these assaults.

  Assaults1 on staff, prisoners and others in Prison Service establishments 1984 to 1993

  Number

  1984

  3,273

  1985

  3,473

  1986

  3,443

  1987

  3,548

  1988

  3,512

  1989

  3,636

  1990

  3,801

  1991

  4,062

  1992

  4,458

  21993

  5,320

  1 Proved at adjudication, includes attempt, incite or assist an assault.

  2 Provisional.

  Campsfield House
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those establishments to which detainees, formerly detained at Campsfield House detention centre, have been sent; how many of those detainees are currently refusing to eat; how regularly such detainees are seen by a doctor; how many detainees have been moved more than once, to date, after leaving Campsfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Since 18 February detainees at Campsfield house have been transferred to the following establishments:

  Harmondsworth Detention Centre

  Queens Building, Heathrow

  Stockton Hall Hospital

  HM Prison Birmingham

  HM Prison Blakenhurst

  HM Prison Bullingdon

  HM Prison Holloway

  One detainee only, in Binningham prison, continues to refuse meals.

  All detainees have daily access to a doctor. Those who claim to have refused meals for four days or more are closely monitored by a doctor at least once a day.

  Information on the number of detainees moved more than once, after leaving Campsfield, is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Data Protection (Universities)
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the data protection legislation to enable universities to provide a list of students resident in their accommodation to the electoral registration officer.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Personal data are exempt from the non-disclosure provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984 in any case in which the disclosure is required by or under any enactment. Electoral registration officers have a power under the Representation of the People Regulations 1986 to require any owner of premises within the area for which they act to provide information which they need to compile the register of electors. They are therefore entitled to ask for the names of eligible students living in universities accommodation.
  944

  William Harper
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to investigate the background to the gaoling of William Harper in 1988 for the falsification of an insurance certificate to cover the sale of anti-tank missiles to Iran.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no representations about this case, but he is ready to consider in the light of any such representations which might be made whether there are grounds for exercising his power to refer a case to the Court of Appeal under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 or whether any other action might be appropriate.

  Asylum Seekers
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of applicants for political asylum in 1993; and how many of them were refused permission to stay in this country;

  (2) how many people are currently seeking political asylum.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information for 1993 on the number of applications for asylum, and on decisions made, is given in the table. At the end of February 1994 the estimated number of applications for asylum outstanding was 47,100.

  Decisions1 on applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1993

  Number of principal applicants

  Asylum applications2

  22,370

  Decisions23

  23,400

  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum4

  1,590

  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain5

  11,125

  Refused asylum and ELR— after full consideration

  4,705

  Refused under para 180F6

  5,240

  Refused on safe third country grounds7

  745

  1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5.

  2 Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.

  3 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in 1993.

  4 Excluding South East Asian refugees.

  5 Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review.

  6 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview to establish identity (para. 101 prior to 26 July 1993).

  7 Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates are available of the hours worked by special constables in each constabulary in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not centrally available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  945
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has of the hours worked each week and each month by a typical special constable in each constabulary in 1985, 1990 and 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not centrally available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Executed Prisoners
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exhumations to allow reburial of executed prisoners have taken place since the abolition of capital punishment.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information is not centrally available.

  Capital Convictions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people reprieved from a capital conviction are now at large in the community on licence; and what is the rate of recall of such people.

  Mr. Maclean
  I regret that we do not have the information which would enable us to reply to the hon. Gentleman's question.

  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held on 23 March.

  Mr. Howard
  The meeting on 23 March was the second Justice and Home Affairs Council held under the provisions of the Treaty on European Union. The main points dealt with were as follows.

  The European Commission gave a presentation on its communication on immigration and asylum policies. The Council agreed to consider how best to take forward this communication, and will discuss it again at its informal meeting in May.

  The council noted progress on the draft European information system convention. It called for further work on the convention, in particular on the question of what provisions it should include on police and judicial co-operation, with a view to agreement being reached at the June Council.

  The Council noted progress on the Europol convention and urged member states to work towards meeting the previously agreed deadline of October 1994. It remitted to a future Council a final decision on senior appointments to the Europol drugs unit.

  The Council decided to ask the Telecommunications Council to ensure that developments in telecommunications took account of the need for legally authorised interception of telecommunications.

  It approved a report on operational co-operation in combating terrorism.

  It discussed a report on progress in simplifying and improving co-operation in the field of extradition.

  The Council heard a presentation from the United Kingdom on its proposal for a legally binding joint action under title VI of the treaty on European Union to combat fraud against the Community budget, and expressed the
  946
  hope that an interim report on fraud, to include consideration of the United Kingdom initiative, would be ready for discussion at the June Council.

  Gas Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on proposals for gas weapons for use by the police; what research has been done in this area and in respect of which chemicals; what controls exist on the use of existing gas weapons; and what plans he has to change them.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Association of Chief Police Officers is considering the possible use of products containing the incapacitating inflammatory agent, oleo-resin capsicum. My right hon. and learned Friend will consider this matter carefully, taking full account of extensive technical information provided by the Home Office police scientific development branch and advice from other Government departments, before any decisions are reached.

  The only chemical agent which police forces are currently permitted to use is CS irritant. The considerable research which has been undertaken into this agent was evaluated by the 1969–1971 inquiry into the medical and toxicological aspects of CS, reported in cmnds. 4173 and 4775. Police forces are permitted to use CS in extreme public order incidents where the chief officer of police judges such action to be necessary because of risk of loss of life or serious injury or widespread destruction of property; or against armed besieged criminals or violently insane persons where a senior officer judges that not to use it would endanger lives. There are no current proposals to change arrangements relating to CS.

  Drugs-related Offences (Nigerians)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Nigerians are currently in prison in Britain for drugs-related offences; how many are men and how many are women; and what percentage of Nigerian women make up of the total female prison population in Britain.

  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. Tony Worthington, dated 31 March 1994:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how many Nigerians are currently in prison in Britain for drugs related offences; how many are men and how many are women; and what percentage of Nigerian women make up the total female prison population in Britain.

  The latest available provisional information is for 31 December 1993. On that date 103 Nigerians (of whom 63 were male and 40 were female) were recorded centrally as being held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales under sentence for a drugs offence which was the principal offence. On the same date 71 or 4·5 per cent. of the total female prison population in England and Wales were Nigerian women. Within the total prison population the type of offence was not recorded for about 6 per cent. of sentenced prisoners.
  947

  Harold. Martinez
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the application for asylum by Harold Martinez, a Colombian national.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Mr. Martinez's application was refused and his appeal against this decision was dismissed by both the special adjudicator and the Immigration Appeals Tribunal. In its determination of 4 March this year, the tribunal found that Mr. Martinez did not qualify for asylum as a refugee under the terms of the 1951 United Nations convention on the status of refugees, and that it would not therefore be a breach of that convention to return him to Colombia. However, the tribunal made an extra-statutory recommendation that Mr. Martinez be allowed to remain in the United Kingdom exceptionally. Although such recommendations are not binding on the Secretary of State, the tribunal's comments are being considered and a decision will be made shortly.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he makes of the effectiveness of his strategy to control illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement on that strategy.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 30 March 1994]: The Government's strategic framework for tackling drug misuse involves simultaneous action on the following fronts.

  Educating our children on the dangers of drug misuse is a vital element. The national curriculum requires schools to teach aspects of health education, including aspects of drug misuse, and the National Curriculum Council has issued detailed guidance on health education to help schools plan comprehensive programmes for all pupils aged five to 16.

  The Government are committed to ensuring that, both through the national curriculum and otherwise, schools will continue to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they need to promote their immediate and long-term good health.

  Education is being backed up by anti-drugs publicity. Since 1985 the Department of Health has spent increasing amounts on national drug prevention, information and public education campaigns. Some £5 million is being spent in 1993–94 and independent evaluation has shown that the campaigns have succeeded in raising awareness of the problem.

  There have also been innovative developments in the drugs prevention field. The drugs prevention initiative was launched in 1989 as a partnership between Government and the community to promote the prevention of drug misuse. Teams are now operating in 20 locations to mobilise local communities to stop young people and others at risk from drug taking and help them realise the harmful consequences. Many successful schemes are in place—the initiative has been involved in the funding of over 900 projects.

  All this project work is being evaluated—some by independent researchers—and the impact of the initiative as a whole is being assessed to determine the effectiveness of its approach and to encourage the widespread adoption of good practice.

  The collective experience of the work of the 20 teams in their local community is being pulled together. This will
  948
  provide valuable information about the kinds of approaches which can be effective in drugs prevention, and the factors which influence their effectiveness, on which future action can be based.

  Effective treatment and rehabilitation facilities for drug misusers are in place with £31 million allocated for drugs services in England and Wales in 1993–94.

  In addition to all these measures for reducing the demand for drugs considerable effort is also being put in to reducing the supply through effective enforcement action. Police and customs continue to work hard to reduce the supply of drugs into the country with notable successes —recent seizures include 260 kg of cocaine in December and a consignment of 100 kg of cannabis in the London area.

  We have made tough penalties available to the courts for use against drug traffickers—including up to life imprisonment for dealing in drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

  United Kingdom laws for getting at the profits of drugs smugglers are among the toughest in the world. Legislation introduced in 1986 enables the courts to deprive drug traffickers of their profits and makes laundering of drugs money a criminal offence. Legislation has been strengthened, most recently in the Criminal Justice Act 1993. By the end of 1992 it is estimated that the courts had ordered the confiscation of drug trafficking proceeds totalling some £42·5 million.

  All this comes together in a comprehensive anti-drugs strategy involving 10 Government Departments spending over £500 million a year. We have recognised the need, however, to review our strategy to ensure that the policies we are pursuing are correctly identified and are co-ordinated effectively. To this end, the establishment of the central drugs co-ordination unit was announced last December. One of the unit's main tasks is to work closely with Government Departments to ensure that drugs policies are planned, developed and implemented within a clear strategic framework. The unit's immediate task is to review our strategy on drugs and make recommendations for its improvement.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Brian Charrington Case
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has been invited to make submissions to the Thames Valley police officers investigating the conduct of the Brian Charrington case by Cleveland police force.

  The Attorney-General
  In the event of my being asked to assist such an investigation I would of course do so, but it is not my practice to comment on the operational aspects of a police investigation.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General how many Proton cars were purchased by the Law Officers' Departments in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and at what cost.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government which have been introduced by his Department since 1990.

  The Attorney-General
  No Acts of Parliament, including consolidation Acts, affecting local government have been introduced by my Department since 1990.

  Consultants
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will provide a table showing the contracts currently being worked on for his Department by Coopers

  Department

  Consultant

  Task/case

  Treasury Solicitor's

  BDO Binder Hamlyn

  Design, development and installation of new accounting system

  Serious Fraud Office

  Cooper and Lybrand

  BCCI

  Letap Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

  Ernst and Young

  Brent Walker

  Price Waterhouse

  Blackspur plc

  KPMG Peat Marwick

  Polly Peck

  Maxwell

  Grant Thornton

  Extra Special Vehicles

  Castlegate

  Photocopies (Charges)
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the current practice of prosecuting authorities in relation to charging for the provision of photocopies of unused material.

  The Attorney-General
  Different practices have developed among the prosecuting authorities as to the extent to which charges are levied, if at all, in respect of the supply of unused material in compliance with requests made by defence solicitors under paragraph 5 of the "Guidelines on Disclosure of Unused Material" issued by my predecessor in December 1981. Following recent developments in the case law relating to the nature and extent of the obligations on the prosecution to make disclosure, the position has been reviewed with the benefit of advice of Treasury Counsel. Counsel has advised that, where the prosecution is under a duty to provide copies of unused material as an integral part of its duty of disclosure, no charge can be made for such copies. That advice has been accepted and no further charges will therefore be levied by the prosecuting authorities; this advice is also being drawn to the attention of those police forces whicl1 levy charges.

  Prosecuting authorities will reimburse all charges which have been levied which can be substantiated if the costs involved have not already been the subject of reimbursement by either the legal aid fund or central funds. Announcements are to be made in professional journals inviting individuals and their legal advisers to register claims for reimbursement. The prosecuting authorities themselves are seeking to identify cases where a charge in excess of £100 was paid and will, in such cases, contact the solicitor concerned directly if no claim has already been submitted. The prosecuting authorities will make prompt repayment as soon as the claim is properly substantiated.
  950
  and Lybrand, Ernst and Young, Price Waterhouse, KPMG Peat Marwick, Grant Thornton, Robson Rhodes, Levy Gee, BDO Binder Hamlyn, Hacker Young, Pannell Kerr Forster and Stoy Hayward.

  The Attorney-General
  In respect of the Departments for which I have responsibility, the legal secretariat to the Law Officers and the headquarters office of the Crown Prosecution Service have no contracts with the named firms. CPS areas have devolved budgets and may occasionally engage firms of accountants, but the details of any contracts are not held centrally. The following table lists contracts entered into by the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Serious Fraud Office.

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the total cost of official entertaining in the Law Officers' Departments in each year since 1990–91; if he will list the receptions held in each year at the Departments' expense; and what was the cost of each reception.

  The Solicitor-General
  The total cost of official entertainment in the departments for which I am responsible in each year since 1990–91 is set out in the table below. Those figures are included in the running costs expenditure for each department and are published in the annual report. The entertainment budget is used for a variety of functions including receptions. Separate figures are not kept for individual functions.

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  21993–94

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Department

  Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  Not available

  7,000

  3,900

  4,700

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  Not available

  2,700

  1,700

  2,100

  Government Property Lawyers Agency

  1—

  1—

  1—

  3,600

  Crown Prosecution Service

  14,700

  19,500

  20,700

  11,500

  Serious Fraud Office

  7,500

  2,900

  3,700

  4,800

  1Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. The Government Property Lawyers Agency came into existence on 1 April 1993.

  2Todate.

TREASURY

  PAYE and National Insurance
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amounts of PAYE and national insurance written off in each year since 1975 at current values and the cash figures for 1993 in the form of his answer of 3 November,Official Report, column 260.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The amounts of PAYE and national insurance written off between 1975 and 1992 at current values are set out in the following table. The figure for the amount written off for 1993 is not yet available.

  Year

  PAYE amount in £ thousands at current values

  Class I and IA NIC amount in £ thousands at current levels

  1975

  n/a

  n/a

  1976

  n/a

  n/a

  1977

  n/a

  n/a

  1978

  n/a

  n/a

  1979

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  23,295

  2,481

  1981

  23,080

  2,338

  1982

  27,677

  2,284

  1983

  38,281

  2,631

  1984

  53,880

  3,188

  1985

  71,850

  3,405

  1986

  88,540

  6,362

  1987

  130,315

  11,987

  1988

  177,057

  21,527

  1989

  156,970

  19,322

  1990

  126,886

  20,425

  1991

  146,188

  23,393

  1992

  393,039

  33,584

  Note: Separate figures for PAYE and National Insurance for the years 1975–1979 are no longer available in the form requested.

  Tax is written off when it cannot be collected—for example, because the taxpayer is insolvent. Similarly, it is on occasion necessary to remit tax which it would be unconscionable to collect—for example, because payment would cause gross hardship.

  Inland Revenue Prosecution
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of prosecutions by the Inland Revenue in the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 by nature of offence, the number of convictions, the number of custodial or other sentences and the financial penalities levied.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Numbers of prosecutions and convictions, categorised by nature of offence, are given in the annual report of the board of Inland Revenue for 1992–93—appendix 1, table 6. Sentencing details are not recorded on the same basis. Financial penalties, chargeable under tax law, are not levied in respect of offences where convictions are secured.

  Public Sector Debt
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures for(a) total United Kingdom public sector debt, (b) United Kingdom total public sector debt per head of population, (c) total United Kingdom public sector debt less that attributed to local
  952
  authorities, (d) the current annual cost of servicing the debt in (c) and (e) the current annual cost per head of population of servicing the debt in (c).

  Mr. Nelson
  The following table gives the information.

  £ billion

  Gross public sector debt (end-March 1993) Per head of population (£4,300)

  249·6

  Gross debt of central government and public corporations (end-March 1993)

  243·1

  Annual cost of servicing gross debt of central government and public corporations (1992–93)

  17·4

  Per head of population (£300)

  Capital Transfer Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the value of revenue from capital transfer taxes as a proportion of gross domestic product in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each other OECD country for the latest year for which information is available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  United Kingdom capital transfer tax was replaced by inheritance tax for transfers on or after 18 March 1986. The table gives OECD data for all OECD countries for estate, inheritance and gift taxes, which broadly covers inheritance taxes, expressed as a proportion of GDP. The latest year for which complete information is available is 1991.

  Country

  Estate, inheritance and gift taxes as a percentage of GDP

  Australia

  0·0

  Austria

  0·1

  Belgium

  0·0

  Canada

  0·0

  Denmark

  0·3

  Finland

  0·2

  France

  0·6

  Germany

  0·1

  Greece

  0·4

  Iceland

  0·1

  Ireland

  0·2

  Italy

  0·0

  Japan

  0·6

  Luxembourg

  0·2

  Netherlands

  0·2

  New Zealand

  0·1

  Norway

  0·1

  Portugal

  0·2

  Spain

  0·1

  Sweden

  0·1

  Switzerland

  0·3

  Turkey

  0·0

  United Kingdom

  0·2

  United States

  0·3

  Source: Revenue Statistics for OECD countries 1965–1992.

  VAT
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total yield from VAT in 1978–79; and what is the total estimated yield for 1994–95.
  953
  Sir John Cope
  Published figures show £4·8 billion and £43·1 billion respectively.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that mainland European flower growers who sell direct to British florist outlets pay the appropriate levels of value added tax;

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that British flower growers do not face unfair competition from growers on the mainland of Europe who sell in British outlets and evade payment of value added tax.

  Sir John Cope
  Supplies of flowers made by businesses from another member state are subject to VAT under the usual conditions, either in this country or in the country of origin if the total is below the threshold, depending on the circumstances, and the normal controls apply.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate what the nation's tax burden as a percentage of gross domestic product will be in 1998–99; and what this figure was in 1978–79.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 February,Official Report, Column. 274.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he estimates will be raised by the Treasury in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and —(c) 1996–97 from the freezing of personal income tax allowances.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information was given in table 4.1 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994–95" published on 30 November 1993.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people will be affected by his decision, announced in the last Budget, to reduce the married couple's income tax allowance to 15 per cent. in 1994–95.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 14 December 1993,Official Report, columns 579–80.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the reduction in tax payable resulting from full indexation of the additional personal allowance applied at the standard or higher rate for(a) a lower-rate taxpayer, (b) a basic-rate taxpayer and (c) a higher-rate taxpayer in (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96; and what would be the gross revenue cost of these measures;

  (2) what would be the reduction in tax payable resulting from full indexation of the widow's bereavement allowance applied at the standard or higher rate of relief for (a) a lower-rate taxpayer, (b) a basic-rate taxpayer and (c) a higher-rate taxpayer in (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 19954–96; and what would be the gross revenue cost of these measures.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 24 March 1994]: The table shows the typical gain for each type of taxpayer if the 1993–94 levels of the allowances had been indexed and they remained available at the taxpayer's marginal rate.
  954

  Difference in tax between 1993–94 indexed regime and proposed regimes in 1994–95 and 1995–96

  £ per year

  Additional personal allowance

  Widow's bereavement allowance

  1994–95

  Lower rate taxpayer

  +8

  +8

  Basic rate taxpayer

  +96

  +96

  Higher rate taxpayer

  +360

  +360

  1995–96

  Lower rate taxpayer

  +106

  +106

  Basic rate taxpayer

  +197

  +197

  Higher rate taxpayer

  +470

  +470

  Revenue cost in a full year of 1993–94 indexed regime compared with proposed regimes

  £ million

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Additional personal allowance

  60

  130

  Widow's bereavement allowance

  10

  20

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the reduction in tax payable resulting from full indexation of relief on the married couple's allowance at the standard or higher rate for those aged over 65 years to pensioner couples paying tax at(a) the lower rate, (b) the basic rate and (c) the higher rate if they are (i) 65 to 74 years and (ii) 75 years and over; and what would be the gross revenue cost of these measures;

  (2) what would be the reduction in tax payable resulting from full indexation of relief on the married couple's allowance at standard and higher rate for taxpayers aged over 65 years at (a) the basic rate and (b) the higher rate if they are (i) 65 to 74 years and (ii) 75 years and over; and what would be the gross revenue costs of these changes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 24 March 1994]: The table shows the typical gain or loss for taxpayers in each age group if the 1993–94 levels of the allowances had been indexed and they remained available at the taxpayer's marginal rate. The gain or loss depends on the marginal tax rate of the spouse receiving the allowance, so the effect for a couple will be the same regardless of the tax liability of the spouse without the allowance.

  Difference in tax between 1993–94 indexed regime and proposed regime for 1994–95

  Lower rate taxpayer £ per year

  Basic rate taxpayer £ per year

  Higher rate taxpayer £ per year

  Married couple's allowance for those aged 65 to 74

  -30

  +96

  +473

  Married couple's allowance for those aged 75 or over

  -30

  +98

  +481

  The Exchequer effect would be broadly revenue neutral for the full year 1994–95.

  Governor of the Bank of England
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the views expressed by the Governor of the Bank of England at meetings of EEC central bankers on
  955
  fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policy represent the views of Her Majesty's Government; and to what extent they are recognised as such by other central bankers and their Governments.

  Mr. Nelson
  In accordance with article 8 of the statute of the European Monetary Institute, the Governor, representing the Bank of England at meetings of the EMI council, acts according to his own responsibilities. Fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policy in the United Kingdom are decided by Ministers. The extent, if any, to which other central banks and their Governments recognise the views of the Governor as representing those of the United Kingdom Government is a matter for them.

  Capital Losses
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reasons underlying the indexation of capital losses for capital gains tax purposes and the Government's purposes in abolishing it.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Indexation of losses has given rise to widespread tax avoidance, including the creation of artificial schemes which have created substantial allowable losses when no economic loss has been incurred. Unchecked, this abuse would have led to the loss of some £3 billion a year by the end of the decade. The current Finance Bill contains provisions which restrict indexation relief for capital losses.

  Tax Yield
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the tax yield from denying tax relief to pension scheme surpluses.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The amount of tax liable on refunds of surplus funds to employers is provisionally estimated to be £70 million in 1993–94.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total number of people in receipt of occupational pensions and the average value of these pensions by decile group together with the average value of tax liability of each decile.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Latest available estimates using the 1991–92 survey of personal incomes are given in the table. The information is based on administrative records and excludes some individuals whose income is below the tax threshold.

  Decile group of people in receipt of an occupational pension ranged by amount of occupational pension

  Number of people in each decile (thousands)

  Average amount of occupational pension £

  Average income tax liability1 £

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  530

  270

  20

  10-20 per cent.

  530

  620

  50

  20-30 per cent.

  530

  1,000

  80

  30-40 per cent.

  530

  1,410

  140

  40-50 per cent.

  530

  1,880

  210

  50-60 per cent.

  530

  2,500

  290

  60-70 per cent.

  530

  3,450

  510

  70-80 per cent.

  530

  4,820

  730

  80-90 per cent.

  530

  6,950

  1,320

  956

  Decile group of people in receipt of an occupational pension ranged by amount of occupational pension

  Number of people in each decile (thousands)

  Average amount of occupational pension £

  Average income tax liability1 £

  Top 10 per cent.

  530

  13,600

  3,270

  Total

  5,300

  3,650

  660

  1 The figures are the tax liability on occupational pensions assuming that they represent the top slice of taxable income.

  Tax Increases
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to compensate typical families, with two children and one spouse working on average male earnings, following the increases in income tax and national insurance which come into effect in April.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Average earnings have increased by over 40 per cent. since 1978–79. This is worth £83 a week in 1993–94 prices.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the rules for the introduction of the current year basis of assessment for income tax.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue has today published, in a press release, details of the rules that the Government intend to introduce in the next Finance Bill concerning the anti-avoidance provisions for the transition from the preceding year basis to the current year basis.

  The transitional rules are set out in schedule 19 to the 1994 Finance Bill. They apply to businesses that commence before 6 April 1994 and to other sources from which income first arises before that date. Broadly, for the year 1996–97 they allow a catching-up process by averaging the profits for the two years ending in that year. Income in that period is therefore effectively taxed, in most cases, at half of the normal marginal rate for that year, and business profits arising in the period from the latest accounting date in 1996–97 to 5 April 1997 ultimately drop out of account altogether.

  The purpose of the transitional rules is broadly to ensure that there is no double taxation of business profits and other income, presently taxed on the preceding year basis under schedule D, which the change to the current year basis of assessment might otherwise cause. But, because of the way that the rules work, and the certainty that profits or income arising in a particular period will be taxed at a reduced rate, and in some cases will drop out of account altogether, it is necessary to counteract the effect of artificially moving profits or income into these periods. The Government's intention is to deter such avoidance.

  The proposals also deal with the treatment of other income, including interest, assessed on the preceding year basis, and with the treatment of interest paid on borrowings to finance trades, professions and businesses carried on in partnership.

  The proposed legislation will have effect in respect of all periods which affect the amount of income assessed in 1996–97. For businesses taxed under cases I or II of schedule D this could commence as early as 7 April 1994.
  957
  The legislation will also affect the period before 6 April 1997 which is taxed in 1997–98. The new rules do not affect limited companies.

  The Inland Revenue has consulted on the proposals and will publish draft legislation later this year.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer of 18 February to the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain),Official Report, column 1032, if he will give estimates for each year from 1978–79 of the

  1981–82

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Individuals paying tax1

  Civilian labour force population of working age2

  Individuals paying tax1

  Civilian labourforce population of working age2

  Individuals paying tax1

  Civilian labourforce population of working age2

  Individuals paying tax1

  Civilian labourforce population of working age2

  North

  1,260

  1,450

  1,240

  1,460

  1,240

  1,440

  1,270

  1,430

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,070

  2,270

  2,120

  2,360

  2,160

  2,390

  2,140

  2,390

  North West

  2,760

  3,010

  2,630

  3,090

  2,840

  3,080

  2,740

  3,060

  East Midlands

  1,530

  1,810

  1,760

  2,020

  1,910

  2,020

  1,840

  2,020

  West Midlands

  2,280

  2,450

  2,250

  2,580

  2,340

  2,610

  2,260

  2,590

  East Anglia

  800

  850

  970

  990

  990

  1,020

  1,030

  1,010

  South East

  8,050

  8,040

  8,180

  8,750

  8,850

  8,810

  8,610

  8,750

  South West

  1,850

  1,910

  1,980

  2,240

  2,350

  2,240

  2,270

  2,270

  Wales

  1,090

  1,210

  1,130

  1,300

  1,220

  1,320

  1,240

  1,310

  Scotland

  2,190

  2,380

  2,480

  2,450

  2,340

  2,470

  2,320

  2,430

  Northern Ireland

  530

  620

  570

  660

  540

  670

  510

  670

  1 Including taxpayers above and below working age.

  2 Men aged 16–64 years, women aged 16–59 years.

NORTHERN IRELAND

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

  (2) what information the Northern Ireland Office 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.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Individuals are appointed to public bodies on merit and potential to contribute to the work of the particular body, taking account of the need of each body to have the experience and skills necessary to carry out its functions. The Secretary of State and Ministers consider all relevant factors known to them before making an appointment.

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. Ancram
  The number of applications received under the 1994 sheep annual premium scheme is as follows:958
  number of individuals paying tax and the size of the work force in each region of the United Kingdom; and if he will give estimates for each year up to and including 1996–97.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 24 March 1994]: Regional estimates are not readily available for all the past years requested. Information based on the survey of personal incomes for 1981–82, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  County

  Number of Applications

  Antrim

  2,652

  Armagh

  1,219

  Down

  2,659

  Fermanagh

  608

  Londonderry

  2,154

  Tyrone

  2,761

  All applications are unpaid. The first advance of premium cannot be paid until authorised by the EC Commission.

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

  Mr. Ancram
  Payments under the 1994 sheep annual scheme are expected to be completed by June 1995.

  The Commission normally authorises two advance payments which are expected to be made in September-October 1994 and December 1994-January 1995.

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The total cost of official entertainment in the years since 1990–91 is included in the running cost expenditure for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments which is published every year in the departmental annual report, a copy of which is held in the Library. The entertainment budget is used for a variety of functions including receptions. Separate figures are not kept for individual functions.
  959

  Area Health Boards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when each of the four area health boards last advertised job vacancies in(a) southern Irish newspapers and (b) Scottish newspapers; and if he will make a statement on their advertising policies.

  Sir John Wheeler
  All four area health boards advertised in some southern Irish newspapers in March 1994. None of the boards uses Scottish newspapers for recruitment purposes.

  Health and personal social services employing authorities apply standard selection and appointments procedures which were developed by the management executive of the Department of Health and Social Services. These procedures place responsibility for advertising job vacancies on individual employing authorities.

  Decisions on how best to bring a vacancy to the notice of prospective applicants are based on personal judgment.

  Cross-border Co-operation
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds exist to encourage(a) cross-border co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and (b) co-operation between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Under the EC structural funds, the Interreg initiative is especially designed to encourage cross-border co-operation and to develop border areas. Northern Ireland submitted a programme jointly with the Republic of Ireland for 1991 to 1993 and it is proposed to submit a follow-on programme. Approximately £60 million has been made available under the joint Interreg programme for Northern Ireland and Ireland for 1991–93. In addition, in preparing new development plans for 1994–99, both the British and Irish Governments have paid close attention to the opportunities for expanding economic collaboration in the context of the next round of assistance from the structural funds.

  Since 1990 the Department of Education has made available funding of £2,000 per annum to facilitate short-term teacher exchanges between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; in addition some £150,000 per annum is made available for the promotion of international networks, mainly European, including schools in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.

  Funding is also available from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for ad hoc projects where cross-border co-operation would be mutually beneficial.

  In addition the Department of Economic Development in collaboration with Republic of Ireland has organised two energy efficiency conferences at a cost of £6,200 and a cross-border trade conference at a cost of £10,000

  Finally, the International Fund for Ireland, which was established jointly by the United Kingdom and Irish Governments in 1986, operates under an independent board with the objectives of

  (a) promoting economic and social advance;

  (b) encouraging contact, dialogue and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists throughout Ireland.

  Geographical Data
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the shortest distance between Belfast and(a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland.
  960
  Mr. Tim Smith
  From City hall, Belfast to Portpatrick lighthouse in Scotland is 58·2 km and to the middle of Newry river west of Narrow Water castle in the Republic of Ireland is 58·8 km. The accuracy of the measurements is assessed to be to the nearest 200 m.

  Security Co-operation
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary met(a) the head of the Southern Irish police and (b) chief constables in Scotland to discuss security co-operation; and if he will make a statement on the level of co-operation between the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the police forces in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary meets the Commissioner of An Garda Siochana on a regular basis and the level of security co-operation between the two forces is extremely high.

  In relation to chief police officers in Great Britain, the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, dependent upon subject matter, liaises personally or through officers of appropriate rank with the requisite expertise. These arrangements have proved satisfactory in maintaining full security co-operation within the United Kingdom.

  Business and Industry Promotion
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last promoted Northern Ireland business and industry in(a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  The Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland assisted 40 local companies to take part in a Europartenariat business-to-business event at the Scottish exhibition and conference centre in Glasgow on 13 and 14 December 1993.

  The most recent business promotion event in the Republic of Ireland was a joint IDB—Irish Trade Board sub-contract exhibition aimed at promoting products sourced in Ireland, north and south; this was held on 17 November 1993 in Dublin.

  Energy
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met Ministers from(a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland to discuss co-operation in the provision and distribution of energy; and if he will make a statement about energy co-operation between Northern Ireland and both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Regular discussions take place with Scottish Ministers on a wide range of issues including energy. Energy matters, particularly electricity, have been discussed with Ministers from the Republic of Ireland from time to time. I continue to support any co-operation in energy matters that may bring benefit to Northern Ireland.

  Tourism Promotion
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last promoted the Northern Ireland tourist industry in(a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland.
  961
  Mr. Tim Smith
  A television advertising campaign promoting Northern Ireland is currently under way in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. I also attended the opening on 15 March 1994 of the Northern Ireland tourist board's Scottish office in Glasgow.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland tourist board last discussed co-operation with(a) the Scottish tourist board and (b) Bord Failte in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on co-operation in the promotion of tourism by the Northern Ireland tourist board with both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Both the Northern Ireland tourist board and the Scottish tourist board are represented at regular meetings with United Kingdom tourist board counterparts. The last meeting was held on 6 January 1994.

  There is frequent contact between the Northern Ireland tourist board and Bord Failte in the Republic of Ireland. The chief executives last met on 8 October 1993.

  I fully support the Northern Ireland tourist board in seeking to promote tourism in Northern Ireland through co-operation with other tourist boards.

  Culture (Financial Support)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the extent of financial support for(a) Irish culture and (b) Scottish culture in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement about the
  development of both these cultures in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  In 1993–94 Government funds have contributed nearly £1·5 million, and EC structural funds £711,000, specifically towards activities promoting the appreciation of, and respect for, the diverse traditions which make up the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland. The complexity of Northern Ireland's cultural heritage makes it difficult to disaggregate this expenditure between those aspects which are of Irish, Scottish or other origin. More generally, education, arts and other departmental expenditure will contribute to the cultural life of Northern Ireland on many levels. Government aims to promote wider understanding and respect for all aspects of Northern Ireland's cultural heritage and to show that differences do not have to lead to division.

  Industrial Development
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Industrial Development Board last participated in a joint venture with(a) the Scottish Development Agency and (b) the Southern Irish Development Authority; and if he will make a statement about co-operation by the Industrial Development Board with equivalent organisations in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Since 1992 the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland and the Irish Trade Board have participated in a series of joint programmes aimed at stimulating cross-border trade. The programmes have included a series of joint exhibitions to promote sub-contracting opportunities for local companies and joint product promotions outside the island of Ireland. The most recent event was a joint sub-contract exhibition organised in Londonderry in March 1994.
  962
  No joint ventures have been entered into with the Irish Development Authority or the Scottish Development Agency.

  Student Benefits
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what benefits students who are incapacitated due to accident or ill health and are thereby unable to attend their studies are entitled; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  In general, financial support for students is given through the educational programme and not the social security system. However, the following benefits may be available to students during periods of incapacity:

  Sickness Benefit may e paid to a student who is incapable of work whilst undergoing a course of study subject to the satisfaction of certain National Insurance contribution conditions.

  Invalidity Benefit will become payable where the incapacity continues and sickness benefit has been in payment for 28 weeks.

  Disability Living Allowance is a non-contributory benefit which is payable where the "care" and "mobility" requirements and other enabling conditions are met.

  Severe Disablement Allowance is a non-contributory benefit available to students (aged 19 or over) who are unable to work for at least 28 weeks because of sickness or disablement. If they first become incapable after their 20th birthday, they must also be assessed as, at least, 80 per cent disabled.

  Income Support is available to disabled students who:

  —are receiving Disability Living Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance, or

  —who have an invalid vehicle, or

  —who are registered blind, or

  —who qualify for an Education and Library Board disabled student's allowance because of deafness, or

  —whose illness continues beyond 28 weeks

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to increase awareness about the housing benefit system and to ensure that eligible tenants are fully appraised; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Poster and leaflets on housing benefit are displayed at all Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Rate Collection Agency and social security offices. In addition, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in conjunction with the Rate Collection Agency has recently launched a Province-wide advertising campaign. The campaign includes three weeks of advertising on television and in the national and local press.

  Income Support
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent attending a lecture tour or conference abroad disqualifies an unemployed person from claiming income support.

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  963
  Letter from A. Wylie to Mr. Ken Maginnis, dated 30 March 1994:

  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the extent to which attending a lecture tour or conference abroad disqualifies an unemployed person from claiming Income Support.

  Unemployed people claiming Income Support, who are required to be available for employment, do not qualify for Income Support for periods of absences abroad.

  I hope this explains the position to you.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial amounts were approved and have been allocated from European structural funds to the fishing industry in each year from 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1994; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The following amounts have been allocated in each year:

  £

  1990–91

  88,404

  1991–92

  1,095,785

  1992–93

  302,133

  1993–94

  1,290,9961

  1 To 30 March.

  964

  Lumpy Skin Disease
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of lumpy skin disease occurred in each year since 1985.

  Sir John Wheeler
  No instance of lumpy skin disease has ever been recorded in Northern Ireland.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial amounts will be allocated from European structural funds to the fishing industry from 1 April to 31 March 1997; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Two million ecu will be allocated to the fishing industry in each year, which, at the current exchange rate of 1·25 ecu to the pound sterling, equates to £1·6 million per year.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Northern Ireland social fund discretionary budget will be for 1994–95.

  Mr. Ancram
  I am glad to be able to announce that the social fund discretionary budget for 1994–95 will be £29·8 million. This is an increase of £1·3 million over the amount allocated to districts for 1993–94.

  Details of the allocations will be placed in the Library together with a note explaining the basis on which they have been made.
  965

  Recorded Offences
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide tables giving the total number of recorded offences, the number for each category of offence and the number scheduled for hearing under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts in Northern Ireland in each year since 1983; and how many and what percentage in each case were(a) recorded by police as having been cleared up and (b) recorded as results in a conviction.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 29 March]: The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Table A gives details of the total number of recorded offences, the number for each category of offence, the number cleared and the clearance rate. It is not possible to link directly recorded offences to persons proceeded against in court and subsequent convictions.

  Table B gives the total number of persons proceeded against for scheduled offences under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts. Classification of offences into scheduled and non-scheduled offences under emergency legislation takes place at the prosecution stage and is therefore not available for recorded offences, where there is no prosecution. The table does not include scheduled offences tried at magistrates courts. These are subject to the approval of the Director of Public Prosecutions and figures could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Crimes known, and detected, by class—Northern Ireland total 1983–87 Table A

  1983

  Known

  1Detected

  Per cent.

  1. Offences against the person

  2,934

  1,647

  56

  2. Sexual offences

  396

  292

  74

  3. Burglary

  21,327

  5,105

  24

  4. Robbery

  1,870

  561

  30

  5. Theft and TADA

  27,750

  6,647

  24

  6. Fraud and forgery

  2,855

  1,728

  61

  7. Criminal damage

  4,577

  767

  17

  8. Offences against the state

  1,680

  525

  31

  9. Other offences

  595

  503

  85

  Total

  63,984

  17,775

  28

  1 (Cleared).

  1984

  Known

  1Detected

  Per cent.

  1. Offences Against the Person

  3,389

  1,929

  57

  2. Sexual Offences

  496

  334

  67

  3. Burglary

  22,364

  5,484

  25

  4. Robbery

  2,009

  530

  26

  5. Theft and TADA

  28,746

  8,139

  28

  6. Fraud and Forgery

  3,117

  2,101

  67

  7. Criminal Damage

  4,419

  955

  22

  8. Offences Against the State

  1,566

  492

  31

  9. Other Offences

  673

  527

  78

  Total

  66,779

  20,491

  31

  1 (Cleared).

  1985

  Known

  1Detected

  Per cent.

  1. Offences Against the Person

  3,458

  2,012

  58

  2. Sexual Offences

  653

  506

  77

  3. Burglary

  20,275

  5,110

  25

  966

  1985

  Known

  1Detected

  Per cent.

  4. Robbery

  1,800

  419

  23

  5. Theft and TADA

  29,490

  10,145

  34

  6. Fraud and Forgery

  3,697

  2,681

  73

  7. Criminal Damage

  3,194

  870

  27

  8. Offences Against the State

  1,410

  341

  24

  9. Other Offences

  607

  497

  82

  Total

  64,584

  22,581

  35

  1 (Cleared).

  1986

  Known

  1Detected

  Per cent.

  1. Offences Against the Person

  4,205

  2,411

  57

  2. Sexual Offences

  834

  659

  79

  3. Burglary

  19,973

  5,196

  26

  4. Robbery

  2,204

  409

  19

  5. Theft and TDA

  30,819

  11,585

  38

  6. Fraud and Forgery

  4,209

  2,968

  71

  7. Criminal Damage

  4,055

  1,259

  31

  8. Offences Against the State

  1,537

  486

  32

  9. Other Offences

  419

  363

  87

  Total

  68,255

  25,336

  37

  1(Cleared).

  1987

  Known

  1Detected

  Per cent.

  1. Offences against the person

  4,198

  2,976

  71

  2. Sexual offences

  817

  746

  91

  3. Burglary

  17,294

  5,238

  30

  4. Robbery

  2,504

  464

  19

  5. Theft and TADA

  30,136

  12,990

  43

  6. Fraud and forgery

  4,150

  3,296

  79

  7. Criminal damage

  2,592

  1,125

  43

  8. Offences against the state

  1,780

  616

  35

  9. Other offences

  389

  292

  75

  Total

  63,860

  27,743

  43

  1 (Cleared).

  Crimes known, and detected, by class—NI total 1988–1992

  19881

  Known

  2Detected

  Per cent.

  1. Offences against the person

  3,469

  2,366

  68

  2. Sexual offences

  779

  657

  84

  3. Burglary

  14,353

  4,106

  29

  4. Robbery

  2,130

  488

  23

  5. Theft and TADA

  27,994

  12,539

  45

  6. Fraud and forgery

  3,881

  3,276

  84

  7. Criminal damage

  2,254

  927

  41

  8. Offences against the state

  644

  557

  86

  9. Other offences

  386

  310

  80

  Total

  55,890

  25,226

  45

  1 In 1988 two offences ('assault on police' and 'communicating false information regarding a bomb hoax' ceased to be recorded.

  2 Cleared.

  1989

  Known

  1Detected

  Per cent.

  1. Offences Against the Person

  3,338

  1,938

  58

  2. Sexual Offences

  935

  799

  85

  3. Burglary

  14,680

  4,011

  27

  4. Robbery

  1,738

  391

  22

  5. Theft and TADA

  27,057

  11,716

  43

  967

  1989

  Known

  1Detected

  Per cent.

  6. Fraud and Forgery

  4,395

  3,483

  79

  7. Criminal Damage

  2,013

  687

  34

  8. Offences Against the State

  626

  507

  81

  9. Other Offences

  365

  276

  76

  Total

  55,147

  23,808

  43

  1 (Cleared).

  1990

  Known

  1Detected

  Per cent.

  1. Offences Against the Person

  3,374

  2,088

  62

  2. Sexual Offences

  790

  725

  92

  3. Burglary

  14,817

  3,330

  22

  4. Robbery

  1,630

  289

  18

  5. Theft and TADA

  29,267

  10,420

  36

  6. Fraud and Forgery

  4,177

  3,082

  74

  7. Criminal Damage

  2,191

  789

  36

  8. Offences Against the State

  585

  489

  84

  9. Other Offences

  367

  263

  72

  Total

  57,198

  21,475

  38

  1 (Cleared).

  1991

  Known

  Detected1

  Per cent.

  1. Offences Against the Person

  3,955

  2,450

  62

  2. Sexual Offences

  877

  762

  87

  3. Burglary

  16,563

  3,620

  22

  4. Robbery

  1,848

  308

  17

  5. Theft and TADA

  32,033

  10,751

  34

  6. Fraud and Forgery

  4,811

  3,220

  67

  7. Criminal Damage

  2,394

  765

  32

  8. Offences Against the State

  592

  454

  77

  9. Other Offences

  419

  345

  82

  Total

  63,492

  22,675

  36

  1 Cleared.

  1992

  Known

  1Detected

  1Per cent.

  1. Offences against the person

  4,102

  2,630

  64

  2. Sexual offences

  973

  781

  80

  3. Burglary

  17,117

  3,270

  19

  4. Robbery

  1,851

  349

  19

  5. Theft and TADA

  34,256

  11,008

  32

  6. Fraud and forgery

  5,486

  3,342

  61

  7. Criminal damage

  2,502

  837

  33

  8. Offences against the state

  478

  383

  80

  9. Other offences

  767

  653

  85

  Total

  67,532

  23,253

  34

  1 (Cleared).

  Table B

  Scheduled Offences: Persons proceeded against1

  Year

  Total

  Found Guilty

  per cent.

  1983

  638

  577

  90

  1984

  507

  464

  92

  1985

  698

  625

  90

  1986

  596

  567

  95

  1987

  713

  680

  95

  1988

  515

  487

  95

  1989

  456

  414

  91

  1990

  470

  440

  94

  1991

  423

  388

  92

  1992

  413

  354

  86

  1 At Crown Court only.

  968

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (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. Sproat
  In making appointments to the public bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible a number of factors are carefully considered. Information about public appointments made is available in "Public Bodies 1993".

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (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;

  (3) 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. Sproat
  Information about appointments made to public bodies which are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for National Heritage is available in "Public Bodies 1993". I also refer to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on the following dates,Official Report, written answers:

  Columns

  924–926

  4 March

  101–104

  22 February

  23–24

  21 February

  1049–1050

  18 February

  916

  17 February

  790

  16 February

  673–674

  15 February

  575–576

  14 February

  514–515

  11 February

  349–351

  9 February

  125–126

  8 February

  136–137

  25 January

  969

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total cost of official entertaining in his Department in each year since April 1992; if he will list the receptions held in each year at his Department's expense; and what was the cost of each reception.

  Mr. Sproat
  The total cost of official entertainment in the year from 1 April 1992 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.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many Proton cars have been purchased by his Department in the years for which information is available; and at what cost.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department has not purchased any Proton cars.

  Cross-media Ownership
  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the full terms of reference for the review of cross-media ownership.

  Mr. Sproat
  My right hon. Friend announced on 3 January that the review will examine the rules which restrict ownership between newspapers, television companies and radio stations, in the context of fundamental changes taking place in the media industries throughout the world. The review will see whether those rules strike a satisfactory balance. In doing so they will be looking at the need for diversity and choice for audiences, while encouraging United Kingdom interests to play an active part in national and international markets.

  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what studies his Department has made of the differing cross-media ownership regulations within the EU; and what conclusions those studies have reached.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department has made no formal studies, but closely follows cross-media ownership issues elsewhere. It is taking part in discussions within the EU on the Commission's Green Paper on "Pluralism and Media Concentration in the Internal Market", a copy of which is available in the Library. This contains detailed information about the regulations which apply in all member states.

  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 4 March to the hon. Member for Wansdyke (Mr. Aspinwall),Official Report, column 924, if he will place the representations made to the cross-media ownership review team in the Library.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have no plans to do so, as this raises issues of commercial confidentiality. It remains open to the originators to make their representations public if they choose.

  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will complete his review of cross-media ownership by the end of July; and when he will make an announcement on the way forward.
  970
  Mr. Sproat
  I would like to see this review concluded as rapidly as possible. An interdepartmental group of officials is due to make recommendations to Ministers in the summer. The timing of an announcement will, however, depend on many factors, including the nature of those recommendations and any legislative implications.

  Royal Opera House
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what provisions have been made for Government funding for the Royal Opera house if its application to the millennium fund is not successful; and what assessment he has made of the ability in this event of the Royal Opera house to refund the money it has borrowed.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have made no such provision or assessment. However, borrowings by the Royal Opera House Development Land Trust in connection with the Royal Opera house development are subject to my right hon. Friend's consent. Such borrowings cannot exceed a specified proportion of the value of the marketable assets available to the trust.

  Commercial Broadcasting
  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what limits the Independent Television Commission and Radio Authority already impose on the programme content operated by the relevant commercial franchisees.

  Mr. Sproat
  All licensed programme services have to comply with the programme codes of the Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority. Copies of the codes have been placed in the Library.

  For Channel 3 licence holders and Channel 4, there are other programme requirements, set out in their licenses. National and local radio licence holders have to adhere to promises of performance, which are based on the proposals in the applications for licences.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what activities his Department has undertaken or is about to undertake in the context of UNESCO's convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department has reviewed possible candidates for inclusion in the world heritage list and is currently considering revised criteria published by UNESCO on the nomination of cultural landscapes. My Department is also funding a three-year programme by the International Council on Monuments and Sites United Kingdom to produce monitoring reports for the English world heritage sites and to encourage the production of comprehensive management plans for these sites. Guidance on the world heritage convention was included in draft "Planning Policy Guidance Note 15", which was issued for consultation last year and will be published in final form later this year.

  Protected Wrecks
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what practical issues relating to the transfer of responsibility for protected wrecks in English
  971
  waters remain to be resolved; in what way these differ from those already resolved by Scottish and Welsh Offices in relation to the transfer of their responsibilities to Historic Scotland and CADW respectively; and when he now expects the transfer to English Heritage to proceed.

  Mr. Brooke
  The issues which remain to be resolved relate to the legal and resource implications of transferring to English Heritage the functions currently undertaken by my Department. Assuming early resolution of these issues, I expect a transfer to take place later this year.

  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps his Department has taken to ensure the publication of information derived from the fieldwork undertaken by licensees on protected wreck sites, over and above what is listed in his Department's booklet "Guide to Historic Wreck Sites" designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.

  Mr. Brooke
  Licensees are encouraged to publish fieldwork information in appropriate archaeological journals and depost copies of their reports with the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. Applicants' intentions as regards publication are taken into account by the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites when assessing applications for licences to carry out investigations of designated sites.

  World Heritage Committee
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage why no United Kingdom representative stood as a candidate for the World Heritage Committee last year.

  Mr. Sproat
  While the Government fully support the world heritage convention, and have played an active part in nominating sites for inclusion in the world heritage list —there are 10 English world heritage sites—we do not at present consider it necessary to seek election to the World Heritage Committee.

  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many World Heritage Committee meetings have been(a) held and (b) attended by his Department in the past 10 years.

  Mr. Sproat
  The World Heritage Committee meets annually. My Department, and the Department of the Environment before April 1992, has not attended any of the Committee's meetings in the past five years. The Department of the Environment may have attended earlier meetings, but neither my Department nor the DoE has a record of attendances prior to 1989.

  Bletchley Park
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received concerning Bletchley park and the future of a national intelligence museum.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage has received a number of letters about the proposal to create a museum at Bletchley park associated with intelligence work once carried out there. The future of the site at Bletchley part in a matter for the Secretary of State for the Environment and British Telecom plc, the joint owners of the site. Both have given their support for establishing a lasting reminder of the work carried out by Bletchley park during the second world war.

  National Lottery
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which of the bids for the licence to operate the national lottery received by the Director-General of Oflot undertake to pay off the start-up costs within the first few months.

  Mr. Sproat
  It is not appropriate for me to comment on any of the details contained in the applications for the licence to operate the national lottery.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what restrictions can be placed on the sale of national lottery tickets by(a) hospital shops where the sale of tickets might detract from the hospital's own charities and (b) landlords on whose premises ticket outlets are sited where the landlord disagrees with such sales.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 30 March 1994]: Restrictions can be placed on the place of sale of national lottery tickets by regulations under section 12 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The National Lottery Regulations 1994 (SI 1994 No. 189) were laid before Parliament on 9 February and will come into force on 1 April 1994. Sales by (a) and (b) are not prohibited under the regulations.

  Longford Hall
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on English Heritage's decision not to attend the public inquiry on the future status of Longford hall, Stretford as a listed building.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 30 March 1994]: Any decision whether or not to attend a public inquiry is one for English Heritage to take in the light of the circumstances, including whether the case for preservation is likely to be made effectively by other parties. In this case, English Heritage has undertaken to submit a written statement to the inquiry.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what work was defined as in need of urgent attention by English Heritage when their officers visited Longford hall, Stretford on 12 May 1993; what was the value of that work; when the work was completed; and what discussions have taken place since that time between English Heritage and Trafford council.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 30 March 1994]: English Heritage's report included a schedule of repairs to the whole building totalling £62,500. Some £5,000 of this related to the most urgent works to the original part of the hall, and those works were completed by Trafford metropolitan borough council in January this year. English Heritage has had no discussions with the council since it inspected the works on 21 January, and advised that certain further minor works' were necessary. All the works carried out were designed to ensure that there would be no further deterioration pending a decision by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on the future of the hall.

  Tourism
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the effects of the electricity at work regulations on the tourism industry.
  973
  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 11 March 1994]: In my inquiry, begun last summer, into which regulations were most damaging to the tourism industry, the damage caused by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, in the opinion of the tourism industry itself, ranked high. In fact, it was one of the seven most worrying regulatory problems identified by the industry. The core of the problem was perceived to be requirements for every movable piece of electrical equipment—for example, in hotel bedrooms—to be inspected, at three-month, six-month or 12-month intervals, tested by a qualified electrician, at a cost of some £3·50 per item, and for a sticker to be put on the movable electrical items, saying it had passed inspection on the date in question. One hotel chain had spent £350,000 on paying for such inspections in 1992.

  I therefore asked the Department of Employment, which has responsibility for the Electricity at Work Regulations to look into the problem. This it did. It is now clear that the relevant requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations are vastly different from what the tourism industry, through no fault of its own, had understood those requirements to be. The most relevant requirement is simply that electricial equipment used at work must be maintained in a safe condition, so far as is reasonably practicable. There is no requirement whatsoever to have every movable electrical item checked by a qualified electrician every three or six months. There is no requirement for such equipment to have stickers on it giving details of the inspection. There is therefore no requirement for a fee to be paid for every movable piece of electrical equipment so inspected. Much of what is required can be achieved by a simple visual inspection

  Item

  Tax satisfied (£)

  Conditions or wishes

  Date of MGC recommendation

  Painting by Agar

  7,000·00

  Unconditional

  9 November 1992

  Brogyntyn manuscript

  50,505·00

  Conditional

  11 June 1993

  Collection of glass

  172,150·00

  Conditional

  21 July 1992

  Gomm library furniture

  152,257·64

  Wish

  11 October 1993

  Haydn manuscripts

  66,656·00

  Conditional

  30 March 1993

  Painting by Herring

  10,500·00

  Unconditional

  21 July 1993

  Miniature portrait by Hilliard

  140,000·00

  Unconditional

  1 July 1993

  Wrest Park Papers and two albums

  266,000·00

  Wish

  3 June 1993

  Richmond Race Cup

  15,400·00

  Conditional

  14 July 1993

  Portrait by Romney

  105,000·00

  Unconditional

  16 November 1992

  Schudi Harpsichord

  10,500·00

  Conditional

  30 March 1993

  Two hats by Agar

  3,500·00

  Conditional

  16 September 1992

  Two paintings by Vuillard

  280,000·00

  Unconditional

  22 April 1993

  Sketchbooks by Ardizzonne

  51,046·00

  Unconditional

  8 April 1993

  Painting by Constable

  196,000·00

  Conditional

  11 November 1993

  Portrait by Lawrence

  96,320·00

  Unconditional

  22 October 1993

  Land at Sheringham

  97,560·00

  Conditional

  n/a

  Portrait by Gainsborough

  1,114,600·00

  Conditional

  5 February 1992

  The total expenditure for the 1993–94 financial year was £3,114,600. This includes a further payment of £316,605·36 for a painting "Weeping Woman" by Picasso which was accepted in 1986–87. Acceptance of the Gainsborough portrait was made possible by a call on the reserve of £1,114,600, being the total amount from the reserve this financial year.

  A press notice has been issued today announcing the most recent acceptances of the Ardizzonne sketchbooks, the paintings by Constable and Lawrence, the land at Sheringham and the additional Picasso payment.
  974
  carried out from time to time by a responsible person such as a proprietor. In higher-risk areas such as kitchens or workshops it is likely that there will also be a need for some limited testing. However, the frequency of this would be far less than for a visual examination.

  The Health and Safety Executive has recently produced a clearly written booklet, specially designed for accommodation providers, setting out the facts. I am glad to say also that the HSE is currently consulting members of the tourism industry about the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, as part of a wider review of health and safety at work legislation, prompted by the deregulation initiative.

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

  Mr. Sproat
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 March 1994, Official Report, c. 622–23]: The information requested is as follows:

DEFENCE

  Appointments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (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 each appointment for which a Minister has to approve the appointment or shortlist for the appointment, showing for each appointment (a) which

  975
  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;

  (3) 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;

  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)

  Name of body

  Appointment

  Names of current board incumbents

  The RAF Museum

  Chairman and Trustees

  Sir Michael Beetham, GCB, CBE, DFC, AFC, FRAeS (Chairman)

  Sir Thomas N. Risk

  Mr. Barry Pinson, QC

  Gp. Capt. Sir Gordon Pirie, CVO, CBE, JP, DL, (Retd.)

  Dr. Basil Greenhill, CB, CMG, FRHists, FSA

  Sir John Cuckney

  Sir Ralph Robins, FENG, FRAeS

  Sir Colin Marshall

  Sir Hector Monro, AE, JP, DL, MP

  Sir Colin Chandler

  Sir John Blelloch, KCB

  Oil and Pipelines Agency

  Chairman and Board Members

  Geoffrey Richards (Chairman) Christopher Finch

  Advisory Council for the RN Engineering College Manadon

  Chairman

  Anglo/Scottish/Welsh-American Community Relations Committees

  Chairman

  Defence Scientific Advisory Council and Committees

  Chairman

  National Employer Liaison Committee

  Chairman

  Nuclear Powered Warships Safety Committee

  Chairman

  Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee

  Chairman

  Meteorological Committees

  Chairman and Board Members

  Professor R. L. Bell Mr. D. A. Davies

  Mr. D. Filkin

  Ms A. Gammidge

  Professor B. J. Hoskins

  Dr. H. Hughes

  Baroness Jay

  Professor M. H. Pesaran

  Baroness Platt

  Mr. C. M. Stuart

  Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer

  Independent Board of Visitors for the Corrective Training Centre and RN Detention Quarters

  Chairman and Board Members

  United Kingdom Polar Medal Assessment Committee

  Chairman and Board Members

  In general, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is responsible for these appointments, but this may be delegated in practice to other Ministers on an ad hoc basis. Remuneration is
  976
  extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons;

  (5) 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. Hanley
  The appointments to public bodies for which MOD Ministers are responsible are as follows. Where appointees have already given their agreements to their names being publicised these are shown below. I will write to the hon. Member once all other appointees have indicated whether or not they are content also to give such agreement.

  detailed in "Public Bodies", a copy of which is held in the Library of the House. Appointments are generally for a three-year term.

  My Department consults widely in seeking the most appropriate candidates for public appointments. We find

  977
  the views of current chairmen of the organisations concerned particularly valuable and also consult the lists of willing potential appointees held by the public appointments unit when appropriate.

  My Department also takes full account of background and experience when considering individuals for public appointments, and consults as widely as is considered necessary. We seek to appoint the most suitable available candidates in each case.

  AIDS
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving to amending the existing Government policy on no compulsory HIV/AIDS testing of service personnel; what factors have led him to maintain the current position; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department has no plans to change the policy of voluntary HIV/AIDS testing of service personnel.

  Drug Testing
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects a decision to be made on whether random drug tests will be made compulsory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department is currently working on plans for the introduction of compulsory random drug tests in the armed forces. There is still detailed work to be carried out and it is therefore too early to say when further announcements will be made.

  Service Personnel
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are employed on the(a) Eurofighter 2000, (b) Trident, (c) Rapier, (d) Field Standard C and (e) Warrior projects.

  Mr. Aitken
  The number of service personnel in the Procurement Executive employed directly in the management of these projects is as follows:

  Project

  Service personnel

  Eurofighter 2000

  103

  Trident

  39

  Rapier Field Standard C

  3

  Warrior

  1

  It is not possible without disproportionate cost to identify all service personnel involved in supporting these projects throughout the Department.

  Hawk Trainer Aircraft
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an agreement with India for the purchase of the Hawk trainer aircraft has now been finalised; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Indian air force has a requirement for an advanced jet trainer for which the British Aerospace Hawk is one of the competitors. We are not aware that the Indian Government have yet decided which aircraft to purchase to meet the requirement.
  978

  Reserve Forces
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of state for Defence what is the established strength of the Territorial Army, the Royal Naval Reserve including the Royal Marine Reserve and the Royal Air Force Reserve; and what are their actual strengths.

  Mr. Hanley
  As at 1 January 1994, the established and actual strengths of the volunteer reserve forces were as follows:

  Established

  Actual

  Royal Naval Reserve1

  4,700

  4,103

  Royal Marines Reserve

  1,220

  1,049

  Royal Naval Auxiliary Service2

  2,199

  2,200

  Territorial Army3

  63,950

  63,819

  Royal Air Force Reserve4

  2,209

  1,768

  1 Excludes University Royal Naval Units.

  2 Due to disband on 31 March 1994.

  3 Includes the Officer Training Corps. Excludes the Home Service Part Time element of the Royal Irish Regiment and Non Regular Permanent Staff.

  4 Excludes the University Air Squadrons.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost, and likely future costs of(a) the Territorial Army, (b) the Royal Naval Reserve, (c) the Royal Marine Reserve, (d) the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and (e) the Territorial and Volunteer Reserve Association.

  Mr. Hanley
  The full cost of maintaining the reserve forces—including such things as equipment development, fuel, ammunition, accommodation and utilities, food or transport—could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The figures for pay, allowances, earnings-related national insurance contributions and training bounties are as follows:

  1992–93 actual £ million

  1993–94 forecast £ million

  1994–95 estimate £ million

  Territorial Army1

  134·2

  128·0

  114·2

  Royal Naval Reserve2

  9·5

  8·7

  9·0

  Royal Marine Reserve

  2·4

  2·2

  2·2

  Royal Auxiliary Air Force and RAF Volunteer Reserve

  4·6

  4·2

  4·4

  TAVRA3

  15·8

  15·6

  15·3

  1 Excludes the Home Service Part Time element of the Royal Irish Regiment, and Non Regular Permanent Staff.

  2 Excludes the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, which is due to disband on 31 March 1994.

  3 The Territorial Auxiliary Volunteer Reserve Associations (TARVAs) costs include salaries, heating, lighting and consumables, and vehicles.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the command structure, and who is in charge, of the regular reserve.

  Mr. Hanley
  The services do not have command structures dealing solely with members of the regular reserve forces. In peacetime, all personal documentation is held by the appropriate service personnel authority. On mobilisation, a reservist would become subject to the command structure of the unit to which he was assigned.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of S4State for Defence what Territorial Army units are under two thirds recruited; and what proposals exist to improve their recruitment or disband the units.
  979
  Mr. Hanley
  The following Territorial Army units are under two thirds recruited:

  202 Field Hospital

  203 Field Hospital

  204 Field Hospital

  When the future of the TA is announced later this year, and the prospects for the above units are known, appropriate action will be taken.

  Additional funding may be made to units two thirds below strength for national and regional recruiting campaigns. There are no current plans to disband units which are two thirds below strength.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of(a) the Regular Army Reserve, (b) the Royal Naval Reserve and (c) the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Reserve.

  Mr. Hanley
  On 1 January 1994, the strengths of the regular reserve forces1 of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force were as follows:

  Strength

  Royal Fleet Reserve

  3,476

  Army Reserve

  44,882

  Air Force Reserve2

  15,560

  1 The regular reserve forces do not include service pensioners with a recall liability, who are governed separately. The Army's long-term reserve is also separate. Neither category is included in the figures given in the answer.

  2 The Royal Air Force Reserve includes ex-regular officers; Royal Fleet Reserve and Regular Army Reserve do not.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of those reservists of the regular reserve receiving a call-out over the past five years have reported to their operational base.

  Mr. Hanley
  The only time in the past five years that members of the regular reserve have been called out was during the Gulf conflict. On that occasion my Department sent letters to appropriate ex-regulars seeking volunteers for service. Following this, some 770 individuals were taken into service. Additionally, a limited compulsory call-out resulted in a further 133 individuals being taken into service. Only two of those individuals to whom call-out papers were sent failed to respond without an immediately acceptable reason. It is not possible to break down any of these figures between regular reserves and other former regular personnel.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role of the eight Territorial Army battalions in the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and their likely deployment times.
  980
  Mr. Hanley
  The role of the eight Territorial Army battalions in the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps is to conduct security tasks in the rear area of the battle zone as required by ARRC headquarters. These will include such tasks as the defending key logistic installations and supply routes. The likely deployment time is 90 days from mobilisation.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the operational role of the Territorial Army battalions other than those in the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

  Mr. Hanley
  The 28 Territorial Army battalions which do not have an operational role in the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps have a national defence role. In terms of the three defence roles, this can be considered as:

  (a) Defence Role 1. To carry out a wide range of tasks including Military Alliance operations and Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) in peace, tension and war. To provide the framework for the reconsitution, regeneration and expansion of forces.

  (b) Defence Roles 2 and 3. To be prepared to augment or reinforce national, United Nations or Alliance operations.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the conditions of call-up and service of the regular reserves.

  Mr. Hanley
  The principal conditions of call-out of those former members of the regular services who have a reserve liability as a consequence of their service in the regular forces, including service pensioners who are liable to recall, are laid down in the different authorities according to service and rank as follows:

  (i) For former officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, in two Orders in Council made in 1962 and 1982;

  (ii) For former officers of the Army, in the Pay Warrant 1964;

  (iii) For former officers of the Royal Air Force, in the Reserve Forces Act 1980.

  (iv) For former other ranks of all three Services, in the Reserve Forces Act 1980.

  These provisions are summarised in the tables below. The first column lists the category of personnel; the second records the authority for the call-out; the third describes the circumstances in which call-out is permitted; and the fourth indicates the maximum duration of service once called out.

  The Ministry of Defence is preparing legislation on the reserve forces, which we hope to be able to introduce in the 1994–95 session. This will include measures to simplify the present arrangements for the call-out or recall of former regular service personnel.
  981

  Former members of the Royal Air Force, other than officers

  Force

  Authority for call-out

  Description of call-out

  Duration of Service once called-out

  1. Men of the Air Force Reserve

  RFA 80, s10(1) RFA 80, s.10(4)

  If it appears to Her Majesty that National Danger is imminent or a great emergency has arisen

  Up to the earlier of: "Until Her Majesty no longer requires his services" (RFA 80, (s.21(l) or

  "The remainder unexpired of his term of service in the Air Force Reserve" (RFA 80, s.21(2))

  RFA 80, s.11(1)

  When warlike operations are in preparation or in progress

  Up to twelve months in aggregate (RFA 80, s.13(1))—

  "but not more than the remainder unexpired of his term of service in the Air Force Reserve" (RFA 80, s.21(2))

  RFA 80, s.20(1)

  For home defence service, (i.e. service in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man in the event of an actual or apprehended attack on the United Kingdom—RFA 80 s.156(1))

  Up to the earlier of the following: "Until Her Majesty no longer requires his services", (RFA 80, s.21(1)); or "the remainder unexpired of his term in the Air Force Reserve" (RFA 80, s.21(2))

  RFA 80, s.23(1)

  To aid the civil power in the preservation of the public peace

  Until no longer required

  RFA 80, s.38

  For training

  "For one period not exceeding 15 days" (RFA 80, s.38(b)); and

  "For such other periods as may be prescribed, none of which shall exceed 36 hours without the consent of the person in question" (RFA 80, s.38(6))

  2. Air Force Pensioners

  RFA 80, ss.31;32; 33

  Whenever men of the Air Force Reserve have been called-out for permanent service under s.10 or s.20(1)

  Until "such date which Her Majesty may by Order in Council declare to be the end of the emergency which was the occasion of the calling-out permanent service of persons of the reserve in question." (RFA 80, s.32(4)(b))

  Former officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines

  Force

  Authority for call-out

  Description of call-out

  Duration of Service once called-out

  1. Royal Navy officers— Emergency and retired lists

  Order in Council of 27 June 1962 (NL(R)838.61)

  "In the event of actual or apprehended attack on the United Kingdom"

  As for ratings (i.e. up to three years, which can be extended to up to five years)

  Order in Council of 18 May 1982 (D/NMT/133/1/33)

  "Whenever warlike operations are in preparation or in progress"

  For such period as the Admiralty Board sees fit

  2. Royal Marines officers— Emergency and retired lists

  Order in Council of 27 June 1962 (NL(R)838.61)

  "In the event of actual or apprehended attack on the United Kingdom"

  As for ratings (i.e. up to three years, which can be extended to up to five years)

  Order in Council of 18 May 1982 (D/NMT/133/1/33)

  "Whenever warlike operations are in preparation or in progress"

  For such period as the Admiralty Board sees fit

  Former members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, other than officers

  Force

  Authority for call-out

  Description of call-out

  Duration of Service once called-out

  1. Royal Fleet Reserve (Special Class)

  RFA 80, s.10(1) RFA 80, s.10(4)

  If it appears to Her Majesty that national danger is imminent or a great emergency has arisen

  Up to three years (RFA 80, s.17(1)); extendable to up to five years (RFA 80, s.17(2))

  RFA 80, s.11(1)

  When warlike operations are in preparation or in progress

  Up to twelve months in aggregate (RFA 80, s.13(3))

  RFA 80, s.37

  For training

  Up to 92 days in any one year. (RFA 80, s.37(3))

  2. Royal Fleet Reserve (Ordinary class)

  RFA 80, s.10(1) RFA 80, s.10(4)

  If it appears to Her Majesty that national danger is imminent or a great emergency has arisen

  Up to three years (RFA 80, s.17(1)); extendable to up to five years (RFA 80, s.17(2))

  982

  983

  Force

  Authority for call-out

  Description of call-out

  Duration of Service once called-out

  RFA 80, s.16(1)

  In the event of actual or apprehended attack on the United Kingdom

  Up to three years (RFA 80, s.17(1)); extendable to up to five years (RFA 80, s.17(2))

  RFA 80, s.37

  For training

  Up to 92 days in any one year. (RFA 80, s.37(3))

  3. Naval Pensioners

  RFA 80, s.30

  In any emergency

  The duration of the emergency which occasions the call-out

  Former members of the Regular Army, other than officers

  Force

  Authority for call-out

  Description of call-out

  Duration of Service once called-out

  1. Men of the Army Reserve

  RFA 80, s.10(1) RFA 80, s.10(4)

  If it appears to Her Majesty that national danger is imminent or a great emergency has arisen

  Up to the earlier of: "Until Her Majesty no longer requires his services" (RFA 80, s.19(1)) or Remainder of time due in Reserves (RFA 80, s.19(2))

  RFA 80, s.11(1)

  "Whenever warlike operations are in preparation or in progress"

  Up to twelve months in aggregate (RFA 80, s.13(3))—

  but not more than "the remainder unexpired of his term in the Army Reserve". (RFA 80, s. 19(2))

  RFA 80, s.18(1)

  For home defence service (i.e. service in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man in the event of an actual or apprehended attack on the United Kingdom—RFA 80, s.156(1))

  Up to the earlier of the following: "Until Her Majesty no longer requires his services", (RFA 80, s.19(1)); or "the remainder unexpired of his term in the Army Reserve" (RFA 80, s.19(2))

  RFA 80, s.23(1)

  To aid the civil power in the preservation of the public peace

  Until no longer required

  RFA 80, s.38

  For training

  "For one period not exceeding 15 days" (RFA 80, s.38(a)); and

  "For such other periods as may be prescribed, none of which shall exceed 36 hours without the consent of the person in question" (RFA 80, s.38(b))

  2. Army Pensioners

  RFA 80, ss.31;32; 33

  Whenever men of the Army Reserve are called out for permanent service under s.10 or s.18(1)

  Until "such date which Her Majesty may by Order in Council declare to be the end of the emergency which was the occasion of the calling-out for permanent service of persons of the reserve in question." (RFA 80, s.32(4)(b))

  3. Army Long Term Reserve

  RFA 80, s.34

  Whenever men of the Army Reserve are called out for permanent service under s.10 or s.18(1)

  Unless previously discharged, until "such date which Her Majesty may by Order in Council declare to be the end of the emergency which was the occasion of the calling-out of the Army Reserve." (RFA 80, s.34(3)(b))

  Former Army officers

  Force

  Authority for call-out

  Description of call-out

  Duration of Service once called-out

  1. Class I of Regular Army Reserve of officers (Most ex-Regular officers)

  Pay Warrant 1964, AC 14173, Amendment 60 Article 285a

  (i) For service in any part of the world when warlike operations are in preparation or in progress

  Until no longer required

  (ii) For service in any part of the world if the Queen orders the call-out of Army Reservists when it appears to Her that national danger is imminent or that a great emergency has arisen

  Until no longer required

  (iii) For service in the United Kingdom in defence of the United Kingdom in the event of an actual or apprehended attack

  Until no longer required

  984

  985

  Former officers of the Royal Air Force

  Force

  Authority for call-out

  Description of call-out

  Duration of Service once called-out

  1. RAF Reserve of Officers (RAFRO)

  RFA 80, s.10(1) RFA 80, s.10(4)

  If it appears to Her Majesty that national danger is imminent or a great emergency has arisen

  Until no longer required

  RFA 80, s.11(1)

  When warlike operations are in preparation or in progress

  Until no longer required

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information is held about the location, availability and suitability for military service of the regular reserve.

  Mr. Hanley
  Information on the location, availability and suitability for military service of the regular reserves is held centrally by each service on computer. The information is regularly updated and includes details of home address, contact number, current employment, service history, medical history and specialist qualifications.

  Yugoslavia
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are currently deployed(a) offshore and (b) on shore in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are currently some 3,000 British armed forces personnel deployed offshore and some 3,300 onshore in the former Yugoslavia. The first figure includes some 600 RAF personnel, based in Italy, in support of operations in theatre.

  Indonesia (Military Advisers)
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military advisers are currently stationed in Indonesia; and how many serving officers are attached to the British embassy there.

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Kingdom has no military advisers in Indonesia. A colonel is attached to the British Embassy in Jakarta as defence attaché, and has one warrant officer in support.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the director of the Atomic Weapons Establishment sought permission to present evidence to the Atomic Weapons Establishment community inquiry held by Reading borough council on Aldermaston on 23 and 24 March; and if he will arrange for a copy of the Atomic Weapons Establishment evidence to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Aitken
  Hunting-BRAE, the contractor operating the AWE Aldermaston site on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, was invited to take part in the community inquiry held by Reading borough council on 23 and 24 March 1994; MOD agreed that the company should participate.

  I shall arrange for a copy of the Hunting-BRAE submission to the inquiry to be placed in the Library shortly.

  Trident
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reply he has made to the representations on the safety of Trident by Scottish CND; and if he will commission an evaluation of them.

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend has been sent copies of CND's document dated February 1994 entitled "The Safety of Trident". The document contains no new information of real significance, but includes many speculative assumptions and presents a misleading picture of the safety of the United Kingdom Trident programme.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration his Department has given to reducing the number of crews planned for the Trident submarines.

  Mr. Hanley
  Consideration is being given to the consequences of establishing a crewing level for the Trident force below the two crews per boat allocated to the Polaris force. No final decisions have yet been taken.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the differences between the Polaris and Trident systems in terms of their operational nature.

  Mr. Hanley
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on the operational or technical capabilities of our nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional contribution to the United Kingdom's deterrent posture air-delivered bombs provide over and above that provided by Trident ballistic missiles.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the sub-strategic warhead intended for the Trident submarines is the same as its planned strategic warhead.

  Mr. Aitken
  It is not in the interest of national security to disclose details of the configuration of nuclear weapons.

  Eurofighter 2000
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made regarding Eurofighter 2000.

  Mr. Aitken
  The first Eurofighter 2000 development aircraft, DA1, made a successful first flight from the Deutsche Aerospace flight test centre in Manching, Germany, on 27 March 1994. The flight of approximately 40 minutes duration incorporated system handling checks; and the sophisticated quadruplex digital fly-by-wire control system, necessary for this unstable configured aircraft, performed exactly as expected. This achievement represents a significant milestone in the development programme.

  The second development aircraft, DA2, is expected to fly very soon at British Aerospace, Warton.
  987
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the costs of the Eurofighter 2000 are within budget.

  Mr. Aitken
  I can confirm that there is sufficient provision within the Ministry of Defence's forward programme for the currently estimated cost of EF2000.

  Missile Systems
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest position is regarding Trident, Rapier, Field Standard C and the Warrior.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Trident programme continues to progress to time and within budget, with the first submarine due to enter service around the turn of the year. The development of Rapier Field Standard C is substantially complete and deliveries of production equipments are under way. Deliveries of Warrior vehicles are due to be completed by the end of the year.

  Joint Projects, Europe
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new joint defence projects are being developed with the United Kingdom's allies in Europe.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1993" table 12. This lists collaborative projects in which the United Kingdom is involved with our allies. This list will be updated in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1994", which will be published shortly.

  Residential Properties
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current average weekly rent for his Department's residential properties, how many of them are empty; how many empty properties are awaiting sale; and what is the average period for which those empty properties awaiting sale have lain empty.

  Mr. Hanley
  Married quarter charges vary according to the type and grade of the property and level of furnishing, while rent for Ministry of Defence civilian houses depends on the size of the property and the terms of occupation. The current overall average weekly rent for my Department's residential properties could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, I can give the following information on the various married quarter charges which are effective from 1 April 1994:

  Daily Rates £

  MQ Type

  Grade 1

  2

  3

  4

  I

  (Officers)

  8·83

  8·02

  5·61

  3·54

  II

  7·97

  7·24

  5·07

  3·23

  III

  6·99

  6·37

  4·48

  2·87

  IV

  6·14

  5·59

  4·07

  2·59

  V

  5·38

  4·92

  3·53

  2·33

  D

  (Other Ranks)

  4·28

  3·92

  2·86

  1·85

  C

  3·95

  3·60

  2·63

  1·72

  B

  3·63

  3·32

  2·42

  1·60

  A

  2·78

  2·54

  1·89

  1·29

  These figures are for fully furnished quarters and therefore represent the highest level of charges. Quarters are also avaialble on an unfurnished or part furnished basis.
  988
  As at 31 December 1993 there were 10,108 vacant married quarters and 151 vacant MOD civilian houses. Of the married quarters, 2,450 were uninhabitable because they were undergoing or awaiting major works, 1,466 were held against future deployments, 1,973 were already allocated to service families who were due to move in shortly and the remainder were available for allocation or under consideration for disposal. In addition, 1,468 vacant married quarters and 25 vacant civilian houses were in the process of being sold. The calculation of the average time for which those empty properties awaiting sale have lain empty could only be carried out at disproportionate cost due to the frequency of service moves and the number of individual records involved.

  War Museums
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-service men are employed in each war museum.

  Mr. Hanley
  Because of the large number of military museums, many of which independently manage and recruit their own staff, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The number of curatorial officers employed directly by my Department in military museums is 30, nine of whom are ex-service men.

  Field Marshall Sir Richard Vincent
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the NATO post being taken up by Field Marshal Sir Richard Vincent was last held by a British officer; what is the cost of the accommodation in Belgium purchased for his use while holding this post; what is the scale of the accommodation and what is its intended use; what alternative accommodation was considered; and what is the normal period of occupancy of this post.

  Mr. Hanley
  Prior to Field Marshal Sir Richard Vincent the last British officer to hold the post of CMC NATO was Admiral of the Fleet Sir Peter Hill-Norton from 1974 to 1977. The fully furnished house for Field Marshal Vincent was purchased for BFr 120,000,000—approximately £2,200,000 at the then rate of exchange. It was not available for leasing unless accompanied by an obligation to purchase at a later date. There is no fixed scale of accommodation for this post which is considered to be an ambassadorial equivalent. The house was selected against the requirement to meet the high profile representational and social duties associated with the post and the security necessary for the most senior NATO and British officer in Brussels. In the process of finding suitable accommodation, 200 houses, either for rent or purchase, were identified and considered, of which 80 were inspected. An investment appraisal conducted at the time demonstrated that purchase of this property represented best value for money. The normal period of occupancy of the post is three years after which the property will be sold.

  Kentigern House
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much it will cost to decant all the staff from Kentigern house, Glasgow, while refurbishment takes place in order to accommodate the Army Personnel Centre in 1996.
  989
  Mr. Hanley
  The cost of decanting staff out of Kentigern house will depend on the cost of the alternative accommodation, the options for which are under construction.

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Aitken
  Information is available readily only from 1991 onwards. The following purchases of Proton cars have been made:

  1991—Quantity three at an approximate cost of 20,000.

  1992—Quantity five at an approximate cost of £40,000.

  1993—Quantity five at an approximate cost of £35,000.

  1994—None to date.

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Hanley
  The total cost of official entertainment for the years in question is included within the running cost expenditure for my Department which is published every year in the departmental 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.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations pertain to the employment of 16-year-old naval ratings on removing asbestos from the boilers of ships; and when they were introduced.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1969 referred specifically to young persons under the age of 18 and stated that they should not be employed in work connected with asbestos. These were

  TCHD Mk 2—unscheduled stops since entering service Faults and rectification

  Cause

  Service Number

  Date

  Location

  Fault

  Quality

  Design

  Rectification

  Delay time

  1

  8 November 1992

  A68 south of Consett

  Overheating brakes

  —

  X

  Modify valve design to balance brake pressure Modification completed on all vehicles (warranty)

  1 hour 51 minules

  2

  2 December 1992

  A602 north of Tonwell

  Fumes in cab

  —

  —

  Cold start fluid overfill (Operator error)

  25 minutes

  3

  11 December 1992

  A1 Diddington

  Alternator light suppressor

  —

  —

  Alternator replaced but no fault found

  25 minutes

  4

  17 December 1992

  Honington

  False reading in electrical system

  —

  —

  No fault found

  46 minutes

  5

  12 February 1993

  A404 south of J4 M4

  ABS warning light

  X

  —

  ABS module replaced (warranty)

  27 minutes

  6

  18 February 1993

  Wittering

  Air leak cab filter

  X

  —

  Filter replaced

  10 minutes

  7

  18 February 1993

  Near Burghfield

  Electrical system fault

  —

  —

  No fault found

  20 minutes

  8

  16 March 1993

  A1(M)—18

  Engine stop spring broken

  X

  —

  Spring replaced

  20 minutes

  9

  18 March 1993

  B6318 north east of Corbridge

  Temporary warning light fuse blown

  —

  —

  No fault found, fuse replaced

  28 minutes

  10

  5 April 1993

  A1 near Stilton

  ABS warning light fuse blown

  —

  —

  No fault found, fuse replaced

  28 minutes

  11

  18 May 1993

  M6—south of J18

  Fuel pump shaft sheared

  X

  —

  Fuel pumps replaced all vehicles (warranty)

  3 hours 20 minutes

  12

  18 May 1993

  A898(T) just north of Erskuie Bridge

  Exhaust brake sticking

  X

  —

  Foot switch replaced. Stripped and cleaned by Foden

  2 hours 1 minute

  13

  25 June 1993

  A43 near Stamford

  Exhaust brake sticking

  X

  —

  Foot switch replaced. Stripped and cleaned by Foden

  4 hours 14 minutes

  14

  14 August 1993

  A74 near Moffat

  Compressor oil pipe leaking

  —

  X

  Improved design fitted to all vehicles

  1 hour 30 minules

  15

  9 September 1993

  A45 east of Cambridge

  Wiper arm loose

  X

  —

  Are re-tightened

  10 minutes

  16

  6 October 1993

  M1 north of J28

  Throttle spring broken

  X

  —

  Spring replaced

  20 minutes

  17

  15 October 1993

  Near Burghfield

  Brakes pulling left

  —

  —

  Due to driving through water, operator error

  20 minutes

  18

  25 November 1993

  A1(M) south of Durham

  Fuel pump drive failure

  X

  —

  Fuel pump replaced

  1 hour 32 minutes

  19

  9 December 1993

  M25 south of J18

  Secondary alternator failure

  —

  —

  Tractor unit replaced. Alternator replaced. Failure under investigation

  2 hours 13 minutes

  990
  revised in 1987. In the revision, young persons were no longer treated as a special case but the provision of specialist training was required and the use of specialist, licensed contractors recommended. It is my Department's practice to use such contractors, and the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 apply.

  Defence Staff
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 February,Official Report, column 517, if he will place in the Library a list of the further service attaché and dedicated support staff posts cut since February; what plans he has to make further reductions in the Attaché Corps; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  A table showing the number, location, service and rank of service attachés, defence advisers and support staff cut since 1 February 1994 is being placed in the Library of the House. The size and shape of the Attaché Corps is kept under review by my Department and further reductions will be made should it be necessary to do so.

  Truck Cargo Vehicles
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the mechanical problems with, and alterations made to, the truck cargo heavy duty mark 2 vehicles over the last two years;

  (2) how many unscheduled stops there have been involving truck cargo heavy duty mark 2 vehicles over the last two years; and if he will provide a breakdown of the circumstances which resulted in these unscheduled stops.

  Mr. Hanley
  Since they entered service and up to 30 March 1994, there were 20 occasions on which the truck cargo heavy duty mark 2 vehicles were obliged to make unscheduled stops to deal with technical problems. This resulted in some delays in the completion of a few journeys, the circumstances of which are described in the table. Modifications have been fitted, or will be fitted shortly, to rectify a small number of recurring faults on the vehicles. We are confident that the work in hand will improve in-service reliability.
  991

  Cause

  Service Number

  Date

  Location

  Fault

  Quality

  Design

  Rectification

  Delay time

  20

  29 January 1994

  M1 north of J23

  Fan belt shredded due to two detached alternator cooling fan blades Pressurisation failures: (Replacement tractor unit)

  —

  —

  Tractor unit replaced. Failure under investigation

  1 hour

  1. Damaged plastic stub pipe in umbilical connector

  1. Umbilical connector replaced. Improved design to be fitted to all vehicles

  42 minutes

  2. Air leak from valve in cab

  2, Leak sealed

  Nuclear Warheads (Transportation)
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to investigate the possibility of transport nuclear warheads currently transported by road convoys by(a) sea and (b) other forms of transport.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 December 1993,Official Report, column 633, to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan).

  Air Training Corps
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been(a) the total spending on the Air Training Corps and (b) spending on the Air Training Corps as a percentage of the overall defence budget in each of the: last five years, at constant prices.

  Mr. Hanley
  Total expenditure by my Department on the Air Training Corps is available only for the last three financial years. The figures, at financial year 1993–94 prices, are as follows:

  Financial year

  £ million

  1991–92

  29·2

  1992–93

  30·0

  1993–94

  29·1

  As a percentage of the overall defence budget this represents the following percentages:

  Financial year

  Per cent.

  1991–92

  0·117

  1992–93

  0·123

  1993–94

  0·124

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Acts of Parliament and consolidation Acts that affect local government which have been introduced by his Department since 1990.

  Mr. Aitken
  Since 1990 my Department has sponsored the following Acts, none of which have a direct effect on local government:

  Atomic Weapons Establishment Act 1991

  Armed Forces Act 1991

  Army Act 1992

  Representation of the People Act 1993

  Swan Hunter
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding the relationship of the French company, Constructions 992
  Mechaniques de Normandie bidding for Swan Hunter, and the Triacorp International Company and the financial property of the latter's owners and action taken in respect of them by the Bank of France; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  As a company new to United Kingdom defence contracting, the owners of CMN have been asked to provide my Department with details of the proposed company structure, lines of finance, company background and other information on their financial and other status in respect of their prospective bid for Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd., in administrative receivership. I await their response.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of the assurances his Department has been asked to give in the context of Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie's prospective bid for Swan Hunter.

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of all the assurances his Department has given in the context of Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie's prospective bid for Swan Hunter.

  Mr. Aitken
  In respect of the owners of CMN's constructive bid for Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd., in administrative receivership, I have been asked for assurances and have given the following response:We have no objection, in principle, to foreign ownership of Swan Hunter and that, in the event that CMN should purchase Swan Hunters, we would require CMN to guarantee that all MOD designated build, outfit and refit work would have to be carried out in the United Kingdom; that we would expect CMN to form a properly constituted and adequately managed United Kingdom subsidiary to operate the business: that this company should be adequately funded and provided with acceptable parental company or bank guarantees of performance to match the level of work bid for and that the company would need to satisfy our national security procedures and MOD quality assurance requirements and provide information on their financial status.
  Subject to the above, the new company would be eligible to bid on equal terms with other United Kingdom companies for future MOD warshipbuilding and refit work but that MOD could only place orders with Swan Hunter if the company is on a sound financial footing and is able to offer acceptable terms and conditions and guarantees of performance. MOD orders will only be placed on the basis of competition and that they therefore need to make competitive, fully compliant bids if they are to win orders.
  We are prepared, in principle, to novate the Type 23 frigate contract subject to our company ownership conditions being satisfied and the agreement of satisfactory contractual terms and conditions.
  We will continue to support Swan Hunter's efforts to win export orders for warships of United Kingdom origin.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made as to whether Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie can meet each of the conditions required of companies seeking to be allowed to compete for his Department's contracts.
  993
  Mr. Aitken
  The prospective purchasers of Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd., in administrative receivership, have been asked to provide the information which we would normally seek from a company wishing to contract with my Department for the first time. I await their response.

  RAF Benson
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to his Department, including value added tax, of refurbishing McKee house at RAF Benson.

  Mr. Hanley
  The total cost, including value added tax, of refurbishing and extending McKee house at RAF Benson was £265,739.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the costs incurred by his Department during the refurbishment of McKee house at RAF Benson, including value added tax, were allocated to(a) the construction of an extension, (b) soft furnishings, (c) light fittings, (d) alterations to bathrooms and (e) alterations to the kitchen.

  Mr. Hanley
  The proportion of costs, including value added tax, incurred during the refurbishment of McKee house at RAF Benson for each criteria is as follows:

  £

  per cent.

  Construction of extension

  66,593

  25·6

  Soft Furnishings

  21,519

  8·1

  Light Fittings

  2,536

  1·0

  Alterations to Bathrooms and Kitchens (including rewiring, replacement of Central heating and new boilers)

  150,414

  56·6

  The remaining expenditure was as follows:

  Contractor Fees

  20,959

  7·9

  External Works

  3,718

  1·4

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the size of the original budget approved by his Department for the refurbishment of McKee house at RAF Benson.

  Mr. Hanley
  As there was no existing official service residence at RAF Benson, it was necessary to convert and extend married quarters for the purpose. There was no specific budget for this work but the original estimate of costs in March 1993, including value added tax and fees, was £117,800. The project was financed from the property management allocation for RAF Benson, which included funds to cover the additional property management costs, including the refurbishment of McKee house, incurred as a result of the move of Headquarters 1 Group RAF to RAF Benson.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the conditions which industrial companies must satisfy before they are allowed to compete for his Department's contracts.

  Mr. Aitken
  Officials in my Department would aim to invite tenders only from companies considered competent to carry out the resulting contract. The criteria that they 994
  would use would vary depending on the nature and value of the work to be performed but would usually include the need for a proper quality management system—for example BS5750—and, for larger-value contracts, some check on the company's financial standing.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what period his Department requires between the closing date for the submission of tenders for his Department's contracts and the notification to all competing contractors of the outcome of the competition.

  Mr. Aitken
  There is no standard period: it is dependent on the circumstances of individual procurements.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department takes to establish that, in cases where a non-United Kingdom-owned company is bidding for his Department's contracts, national security is adequately protected.

  Mr. Aitken
  A foreign-owned company based in the United Kingdom which is interested in bidding for an MOD clasified contract will be subject to specific security checks prior to the release of any classified information. It will also be required to comply with or implement such additional security procedures as may be required by my Department. This ensures that the classified information is protected from access by foreign nationals.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances his Department will place a contract on a basis other than for its normal value-for-money criteria.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department places virtually all its contracts in accordance with our assessment of value for money in the broad sense. Possible exceptions to this would include the need to meet an urgent operational requirement and national security considerations.

  Trident
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration his Department has given to maintaining the fourth Trident submarine in a state of extended readiness; and what would be the likely cost implications.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government remain committed to operating a four-boat Trident force. Estimates of the cost implications of placing a boat at extended readiness are therefore not available.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what strategic rationale exists, during peacetime, to maintain more than (i) one Trident submarine at sea at any one time or (ii) two Trident submarines at sea at any one time.

  Mr. Hanley
  It has been the policy of successive Governments to maintain at least one ballistic missile submarine on deterrent patrol at all times while not commenting on actual numbers at sea.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will retain the capability to deploy more than its currently planned number of warheads on Trident should future circumstances require it.
  995
  Mr. Aitken
  Our announcement of a revised ceiling on the maximum number of warheads to be deployed on our Trident submarines does not affect the technical capabilities of the system.

  Sir Bedivere
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to announce the outcome of the competition to carry out the ship life extension programme for the landing ship Sir Bedivere.

  Mr. Aitken
  I hope to be able to make an announcement during the summer.

  Polaris
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the decommissioning of HMS Revenge involved the removal of Polaris missiles or nuclear warheads from operational service;

  (2) what work his Department has undertaken to dismantle Polaris missiles and warheads that have been withdrawn from operational service.

  Mr. Aitken
  No Polaris missiles or nuclear warheads have yet been withdrawn from operational service, although work on the disposal of surplus components has commenced. Preparatory work on the withdrawal of missiles and warheads is progressing.

  WE177 Warheads
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department expects to complete the dismantlement of those WE177 warheads that have been withdrawn from operational service; what is the cost incurred to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The dismantlement of those WE177 warheads that have been withdrawn from operational service is due to be completed by the end of next year. It is not our practice to disclose costs of nuclear warhead programmes.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the continuing strategic rationale for maintaining the WE177 alongside the Trident submarines until 2007.

  Mr. Aitken
  Trident will have the capacity to contribute to the sub-strategic role on entering service, but we judge that in current circumstances WE177 will continue to make a worthwhile contribution to our overall deterrent posture for a number of years.

  Nuclear Warheads
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the transfer of the United Kingdom's sub-strategic nuclear capability from air-delivered bombs to ballistic missiles will allow a reduction in the overall number of nuclear warheads deployed operationally by the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Aitken
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on the number of nuclear warheads deployed by the United Kingdom.

  Defence Accounts Agency
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has begun his review of the Defence Accounts Agency.
  996
  Mr. Aitken
  A review of the agency status of the Defence Accounts Agency—DAA is now under way. As a "next steps" agency the performance of DAA will be elevated and DAA activities will be subjected to the normal "prior options" tests set out in the 1993 "next steps review, Cm 2430.

  Comments and contributions from those with an interest in DAA and its work would be welcome and should be sent by 3 June 1994 to Mr. Pat Fitzgibbon, DAA Review Project, Ministry of Defence, Northumberland House, Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BP.

  Tornado Aircraft
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 473, if he will make a statement on the leasing of the Tornado F3 aircraft to Italy.

  Mr. Aitken
  I am pleased to inform the House that the Government have signed a memorandum of understanding with Italy providing for the lease of 24 RAF Tornado F3 air defence aircraft to the Italian air force for a period of up to 10 years. These aircraft will enable the Italian air force to supplement its existing air defence assets with two squadrons of this highly capable air defence aircraft in the period pending the planned introduction into service of Eurofighter 2000. At the same time, it will enhance the collective security of the Atlantic Alliance by ensuring that these aircraft, for which there is currently no United Kingdom requirement, continue to be used operationally. The memorandum of understanding also represents a vivid demonstration of the extent of our bilateral defence relationships with Italy.

  RAF Training Group
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the Royal Air Force training group.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Royal Air Force Training Group is to be established as a defence agency of the Ministry of Defence on 1 April 1994. The training group is at present part of Royal Air Force Support Command but will become an integral part of Royal Air Force Personnel and Training Command with effect from 1 April 1994. It comprises a headquarters element at Royal Air Force Innsworth and various flying and ground training stations throughout the country. Together they employ some 6,000 service men and 2,500 civilians.

  The primary role of the training group is to provide trained service men and civilians to meet the requirements of the Royal Air Force in peace, crisis and war.

  As the first chief executive, Air Vice-Marshal C. C. C. Colville will be offered new opportunities to build on the current organisation's professional expertise and high performance standards. Through a more commercial approach, the chief executive will actively seek to improve the efficiency and value for money of his organisation and thereby fulfil the agency's aim of providing its customers with an efficient service which offers the best value for money possible.

  The chief executive has been set the following targets for financial year 1994–95:
  Key Target 1: By 31 March 1995 to evaluate quality control mechanisms across all areas of training, including systems of measurement and targeting, and make recommendations for implementation during Financial Year 1995–96.

  997
  Key Target 2: By 31 March 1995 to have achieved the planned Training Group elements of the rationalisation programme and to have identified, and set in hand plans to meet the Training Group capacity requirements called for in 2nd Order Assumptions.
  Key Target 3: By 31 March 1995 to deliver a 2·5 per cent. reduction in Training Group running costs by delivering the Lincolnshire Financial Year 1994–95 programme of efficiency measures.
  Key Target 4: By 31 March 1995 to undertake, the initial work required, for each measure, to market test £45,000,000 of business by 31 March 1996, as the Training Group's planned contribution to the Defence Market Testing Initiative.
  Key Target 5: By 31 March 1995 to identify and value the Training Group's fixed assets base and introduce an interim asset recording system as a first step towards an asset management system.
  Key Target 6: By 31 March 1995 to install, develop and test the Training Group Financial and Management Accounting Norfolk System at 2 pilot sites: Headquarters Training Group and Royal Air Force Finningley.
  Key Target 7: By 31 March 1995 to implement an interim accounting system at all Training Group units to produce Agency Accounts for mock audit by the National Audit Office at the end of Financial Year 1994–95.

  I have arranged for copies of the agency's framework document to be placed in the Library of the House

  Departmental Properties
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the number and location of(a) dwellings and (b) vacant dwellings owned by his Department in each county council area in England and Wales, and in each regional council area in Scotland;

  (2) what is the number and location of (a) dwellings and (b) vacant dwellings owned by his Department in (i) Manchester, (ii) Liverpool, (iii) Leeds, (iv) Newcastle upon Tyne, (v) Southampton, (vi) Glasgow, (vii) Edinburgh and (viii) Bristol.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 22 March]: Statistics are not maintained in a form which enables properties in particular cities or county council areas to be readily identified. I can, however, give the information requested on the numbers of dwellings and vacant dwellings owned by my Department in each county of England and Wales and regional council area in Scotland as at 31 December 1993. This is as follows:

  Total stock

  Vacant

  MARRIED QQARTERS

  England

  Avon

  369

  76

  Bedfordshire

  539

  77

  Berkshire

  1,245

  71

  Buckinghamshire

  1,365

  113

  Cambridgeshire

  2,216

  199

  Cheshire

  398

  87

  Cleveland

  35

  8

  Cornwall

  968

  247

  Cumbria

  140

  27

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  Devon

  3,199

  371

  Dorset

  1,875

  417

  Durham

  17

  1

  East Sussex

  108

  24

  Essex

  1,932

  434

  Gloucestershire

  561

  54

  Greater London

  3,697

  567

  Greater Manchester

  89

  16

  Hampshire

  8,248

  1,042

  Hereford and Worcester

  503

  84

  Hertfordshire

  1,172

  296

  Humberside

  572

  56

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  998

  Total stock

  Vacant

  Kent

  2,360

  414

  Lancashire

  425

  46

  Leicestershire

  925

  95

  Lincolnshire

  2,255

  488

  Merseyside

  54

  11

  Norfolk

  1,922

  272

  Northamptonshire

  51

  41

  Northumberland

  401

  80

  North Yorkshire

  4,364

  324

  Nottinghamshire

  420

  67

  Oxfordshire

  3,452

  325

  Salop

  736

  127

  Somerset

  538

  70

  South Yorkshire

  402

  57

  Staffordshire

  496

  73

  Suffolk

  1,355

  549

  Surrey

  1,798

  258

  Tyne and Wear

  116

  3

  Warwickshire

  546

  96

  West Midlands

  441

  68

  West Sussex

  88

  17

  West Yorkshire

  58

  6

  Wiltshire

  7,100

  865

  59,551

  8,619

  Wales

  Clwyd

  294

  80

  Dyfed

  440

  224

  Gwent

  175

  41

  Gwynedd

  391

  14

  Mid Glamorgan

  6

  1

  Powys

  193

  18

  South Glamorgan

  967

  92

  West Glamorgan

  16

  2

  2,482

  472

  Scotland

  Borders

  3

  0

  Central

  44

  14

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4

  1

  Fife

  1,273

  93

  Grampian

  1,862

  46

  Highlands

  323

  76

  Lothian

  876

  186

  Orkney

  1

  0

  Shetland

  96

  6

  Strathclyde

  1,563

  201

  Tayside

  221

  52

  Western Isles

  207

  46

  6,473

  721

  Total Married Quarters

  68,506

  9,812

  CIVILIAN HOUSES

  England

  Berkshire

  219

  44

  Cumbria

  1

  0

  Devon

  11

  5

  Gloucestershire

  8

  7

  Hampshire

  40

  10

  Kent

  43

  5

  Wiltshire

  85

  9

  407

  80

  Wales

  Dyfed

  25

  6

  Scotland

  Fife

  8

  6

  Highlands

  3

  1

  Strathclyde

  227

  58

  999

  Total stock

  Vacant

  238

  65

  Total Civilian Houses

  670

  151

  Total MOD Dwellings

  69,176

  9,963

  Many of the vacant married quarters were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work, held for future developments or already allocated to service families who were due to move in shortly.

  In addition 2,142 surplus married quarters were in the process of being sold, of which 1,398 were vacant. These were broken down by county as follows:

  Surplus married quarters

  Total disposals

  Vacant

  England

  Bedfordshire

  2

  2

  Cheshire

  1

  1

  Devon

  74

  48

  Dorset

  48

  48

  Essex

  48

  48

  Greater London

  156

  156

  Greater Manchester

  7

  7

  Hampshire

  859

  141

  Kent

  79

  79

  Lincolnshire

  159

  159

  Merseyside

  33

  33

  North Yorkshire

  54

  54

  Salop

  24

  24

  South Yorkshire

  184

  184

  Staffordshire

  3

  3

  Suffolk

  243

  243

  Surrey

  2

  2

  Sussex

  2

  2

  Warwickshire

  1

  1

  Wiltshire

  9

  9

  1,988

  1,244

  Wales

  Dyfed

  38

  38

  Gwent

  4

  4

  42

  42

  Scotland

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  1

  Fife

  42

  42

  Highlands

  26

  26

  Lothian

  2

  2

  Shetland

  2

  2

  Tayside

  22

  22

  Western Isles

  17

  17

  112

  112

  Surplus civilian houses England

  Bedfordshire

  1

  0

  Berkshire

  206

  0

  Cumbria

  19

  9

  £ million

  1989–90 Current Prices

  1991–92 Prices

  1991–92 Current Prices

  1991–92 Prices

  1992–93 Current Prices

  1991–92 Prices

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  —

  48·3

  46·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13·7

  13·2

  East Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·2

  1·2

  South West

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8·2

  7·9

  1000

  Surplus married quarters

  Total disposals

  Vacant

  Devon

  2

  0

  Dorset

  1

  0

  Essex

  1

  0

  Greater London

  2

  1

  Hampshire

  131

  7

  Hereford and Worcester

  2

  1

  Kent

  4

  3

  Staffordshire

  2

  0

  Wiltshire

  43

  4

  414

  25

  Wales

  Dyfed

  1

  0

  Scotland

  Highland

  16

  3

  Strathclyde

  25

  16

  41

  19

  Note: This represents 456 civilian houses, 412 of which were tenanted, in the process of being sold, broken down by county.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  APEC Forum
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what decisions were taken at the meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum in Honolulu on 18 March that will affect United Kingdom trade with the APEC Forum nations.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The meeting in Honolulu was a gathering, for the first time, of Finance Ministers from the 17 APEC member countries. Neither the United Kingdom nor the EU has observer status. We understand that discussions focused on closer economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region but that no specific decisions were taken.

  Regional Preferential Assistance
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the amounts of regional preferential
  assistance of each type invested in each region in each year since 1978–79 in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Details of regional preferential assistance from 1978–79 to 1991–92 at current prices and at 1991–92 prices can be found in my reply to the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Hill),Official Report, 21 October 1992, columns 325–28.

  A regional breakdown of regional preferential assistance at cash and constant prices for 1992–93 is given in the table below together with revised figures for Scotland and Great Britain for 1989–90 and 1991–92.

  More detailed analysis of regional preferential assistance could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  1001

  1989–90 Current Prices

  1991–92 Prices

  1991–92 Current Prices

  1991–92 Prices

  1992–93 Current Prices

  1991–92 Prices

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10·8

  10·4

  North West

  —

  —

  —

  —

  36·8

  35·5

  England

  —

  —

  —

  —

  119·0

  114·9

  Wales

  —

  —

  —

  —

  104·4

  100·9

  Scotland

  143·8

  166·4

  122·8

  122·8

  140·6

  135·8

  Great Britain

  539·3

  624·1

  427·8

  427·8

  364·0

  351·6

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. Heseltine
  The total cost of official entertainment in the years from 1 April 1990 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. To list the receptions held in each year at my Department's expense and to provide an accurate costing for each one would entail disproportionate cost.

  (a)

  (b)1

  (c)2

  Women

  Ethnic Minorities

  Registered Disabled

  Grade Level

  Number

  Per cent. staff

  Number respondents

  Per cent. staff

  Number

  Per cent. staff

  Grade 1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 3

  6

  11·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 4

  2

  14·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 5

  38

  13·2

  3

  1·0

  —

  —

  Grade 6

  47

  12·2

  9

  2·3

  2

  0·5

  Grade 7

  171

  14·8

  22

  1·9

  2

  0·2

  All Staff excluding industrials and casuals

  5,548

  43·9

  1,195

  9·4

  117

  0·9

  1Ethnic minority figures are based on 90·5 per cent, positive response rate to the ethnic origin survey.

  2The Department also employs a number of disabled staff who are not registered.

  Rover
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the current ability of Rover to design and produce a car, including engine and gearbox, with no outside help and the effect on this ability of its transfer to German ownership.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Rover is now profitably designing and producing cars. The Government expect that this will continue, with a very high proportion of the value being added in the United Kingdom. The extent to which Rover draws on outside help to achieve this is a commercial matter for the company. But BMW has confirmed that Rover will retain and strengthen its own design and engineering facilities. The acquisition by BMW enhances rather than impairs Rover's technical capability.

  Consultants
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what access to financial records is afforded to consultants appointed by his Department to evaluate the
  1002
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when work will commence on the reclamation of the Thurnton spoil heap; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the spoil heaps at Murton colliery. This is a matter for British Coal.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. Eggar
  The figures for the Department, including its executive agencies, as at 4 January 1994 are:

  financial soundness of companies chosen to fulfil contracts, pursuant to aid and trade financial support (a) before the final award of the contract, (b) during the fulfilment of the contract and (c) on completion of the contract.

  Mr. Heseltine
  If the DTI has concerns about the financial standing of an applicant for aid and trade provision support a check is carried out on the company's financial capability to undertake the project. This check would normally be carried out by DTI accountants when the application is still being considered, although a check could in principle be undertaken at any stage in the life of a contract if concerns arose.

  Most ATP projects involve export credit support. ECGD carries out separate checks into the financial standing of companies.
  1003

  Japan and United States (Inward Investment)
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of total(a) Japanese and (b) United States inward investment in the European Community has come to the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Inward investment capital flows i n any one year can be erratic because of the varying treatment of profits and dividends.

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Japan

  Capital flows ($ millions)

  3,956

  5,239

  6,806

  3,588

  2,948

  Percentage of EC

  46·5

  37·4

  51·2

  40·1

  44·4

  Book value of assets held in the United Kingdom ($ millions)

  10,554

  15,793

  22,599

  26,186

  29,134

  Percentage of EC

  38

  37·7

  40·5

  40·9

  41·2

  United States

  Capital flows ($ millions)

  4,170

  10,427

  -606

  1,723

  n/a

  Percentage of EC

  49

  60

  1—

  12·2

  —

  Book value of assets held in the United Kingdom ($ millions)

  49,459

  61,159

  68,224

  78,072

  277,842

  Percentage of EC

  38

  40·9

  38·4

  39·5

  38·8

  1 Negative.

  2 Provisional.

  Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any plans for a further round of offshore oil and gas licensing on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am currently considering this matter and will make an announcement in due course.

  Ferrous Scrap Imports
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on state aids available to Turkish companies for the import of ferrous scrap from the European Union.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Government recognise the problems caused by high scrap prices and have been closely monitoring developments in consultation with the United Kingdom steel and foundry industries. Through this we became aware of concerns regarding the existence of subsidies available in Turkey for the import of scrap from the EC and elsewhere. The matter was discussed between the European Commission and EU member states and a mandate was agreed whereby the Commission would raise the issue in bilateral contacts with Turkey. As a result, an undertaking has been secured from the Turkish Government to eliminate state aids, in the form of transport subsidies, for the import of ferrous scrap from the European Union. These aids currently stand at $15 for every tonne of this material imported from the Community.

  The Turkish authorities will phase out the subsidy in three stages, commencing with a cut of one third as from 1 April 1994. A further reduction of one third will follow on 1 June leading up to final abolition on 1 October this year. We look forward to seeing formal written confirmation of this undertaking and will continue to watch developments closely.
  1004
  In addition, much investment is financed in, the country in which it takes place. The tables below show the annual capital flow for each year and also the book value of the assets, the stock of investment, which gives a more reliable indication of the amount of actual investment. Stock increases will not always match annual flows for the reason given above.

  The figures are those issued by the investing country.

  The Government welcome these steps as significant progress towards eliminating those practices which interfere with the proper operation of market forces in determining the level of world scrap prices.

  Energy Policy
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now publish his strategy on new and renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have today published a report outlining the future strategy for new and renewable energy in the United Kingdom, and placed a copy in the Libraries of both Houses. The report, energy paper 62, entitled "New and Renewable Energy; Future Prospects in the UK", is in response to the findings of the renewable energy advisory group, which were published in December 1992.

  Government policy is to stimulate the development of new and renewable energy sources wherever they have prospects of being economically attractive and environmentally acceptable in order to contribute to:

  —diverse, secure and sustainable energy supplies;

  —reduction in the emission of pollutants;

  —encouragement of internationally competitive industries.

  In doing this, it will take account of what influences business competitiveness; and it will work towards 1,500 MW declared net capacity of new electricity generating capacity from renewable sources for the United Kingdom by 2000.

  Energy paper 62 sets out a market enablement strategy where, following assessment and technical development, the promising electricity generating technologies are included in an initial protected market via the non-fossil fuel obligation, NFFO, and the Scottish renewables obligation, SRO, to help them become competitive and establish an industry. Those which become viable can then compete equitably within the open market for electricity supply. That initial market under NFFO arrangements is crucial to the development of some of the key technologies, and NFFO is becoming the prime

  1005
  mechanism for support of those technologies. However, a purpose of NFFO is to stimulate a commercial market for renewable technologies, and it is anticipated that the resultant investment by industry could rise to £3 billion within the time frame being considered.

  An outline of the 10-year forward research, development, demonstration and dissemination programme is also presented. This work will assess and develop technologies, remove inappropriate market barriers, ensure the market is fully informed and encourage internationally competive industries to develop.

  Funding for RDD and D, as provided by Government, industry and other sources is significant both in its size and in enabling technologies to enter the market. Resources will be concentrated on key technologies with good prospects of commercial application in the coming decades —such as solar, energy from coppice and waste, wind and fuel cells. Existing work on passive solar design will be completed over the next few years and DTI involvement then reduced as the technology matures. The Government's geothermal research and development and tidal programmes will be closed when current commitments end. The existing work on wave energy will be completed, but no further commitments undertaken, as this technology has limited potential to contribute commercially to energy supplies in the next few decades. The emphasis on technology transfer will be maintained, in line with the White Paper on Science, Engineering and Technology. The programme will also be closely integrated with complementary work supported by the European Community. The programme budget for new and renewable energy for financial year 1994–95 is £19·78 million.

  Also published today is "An Assessment of Renewable Energy for the UK". This report, ETSU-R-82, which has been prepared by the energy technology support unit, provides a technical basis for the future strategy and summarises information gathered by the Government's programme since its inception. Copies of this report have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  New Product Development
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support is available for small and medium-sized firms to develop new products.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am pleased to announce that the successful support for products under research programme, which was due to close at the end of March 1994, has been extended for a further 12 months. A budget of £10 million is available for the financial year 1994–95.

  SPUR provides help to small and medium-sized companies for the development of new products or processes that can demonstrate a significant technological advance. The scheme provides a fixed grant of 30 per cent. of eligible costs where the need for Government support is established, up to a maximum of £150,000.

  In my address to the House on 26 May last year covering my Department's re-focused innovation policy I proposed to limit SPUR to companies with up to 250 employees in order to concentrate on the smaller firms which have the greatest difficulty in raising research and development capital. This will come into effect in the new extension to SPUR.

  Yorkshire Rider (Takeover)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received advice from the Director General of Fair Trading recommending the proposed takeover of the Yorkshire Rider bus company by Badgerline be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  The proposed acquisition by Badgerline of Yorkshire Rider is being considered by the Director General of Fair Trading. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade may, in due course, need to take a decision on whether to refer the acquisition to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, taking account of advice from the Director General.

  Patent Office
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what primary legislation is required for the privatisation of the Patent Office; and which Government Department is preparing it.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 30 March 1994]: No decision has yet been taken on the future of the Patent Office. In the event that a decision was taken to privatise primary legislation would be required for which my Department has a lead responsibility.

  Ferranti International
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by the administrative receivers to Ferranti International toward the choice of a preferred bidder; when he expects the choice to be announced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 28 March 1994]: The administrative receivers to Ferranti International announced yesterday that they had reached an agreement in principle with the General Electric Company plc for the acquisition of Ferranti's defence, simulation and training businesses. Separate negotiations covering the remaining businesses are continuing with other interested parties.

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

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 16 March 1994]: One: the Securities and Investments Board Ltd., a private-sector body, had regulatory functions transferred to it under the provisions of the Financial Services Act 1986 and in consequence is a self-financing regulatory body. Responsibility for this legislation passed to the Treasury in 1992. The SIB makes an annual report to the Treasury, which places a copy of it in the Library of the House.

  Newspaper Publishing plc
  Mr. Benn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what inquiries his Department conducted into the financial position of Newspaper Publishing plc, owner of
  1007
  The Independent and The Independent on Sunday; what representations were received during the consultation phase, and from whom, which led him to conclude that the newspapers were not economic as going concerns; and if he will place in the Library copies of the documentation considered;

  (2) what inquiries his Department conducted into the financial position of Newspaper Publishing plc, owner of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday; what representations were received during the consultation phase, and from whom, which led him to conclude that, if the papers were to continue, the case was one of urgency; and if he will place in the Library copies of the documentation considered;

  (3) if he will list and place in the Library the documentation considered in relation to inquiries made and representations received by him and his Department which led him to conclude that the public interest did not require him to stipulate conditions, including in relation to editorial independence, on his consent to the MGN-led consortium's bid for a controlling interest in Newspaper Publishing plc.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answers 30 March 1994]: In assessing whether The Independent and The Independent on Sunday were not economic as going concerns, the case for urgency, and the public interest issues which were raised by the applications for my consent, I sought views from all interested parties. As part of that process my Department received representations from, held meetings with, or sought information from the following:

  Newspaper Publishing plc;

  Lloyds Bank plc;

  The founders of Newspaper Publishing, Mr. Whittam Smith, Mr. Symonds, Mr. O'Neill;

  Espresso International Holding SA;

  Promotora de Informaciones SA;

  Mirror Group Newspaper plc;

  Independent Newspapers plc;

  The Department of National Heritage;

  The National Union of Journalists;

  The National Union of Journalists, Independent Newspapers Chapel;

  The International Federation of Journalists;

  Newspaper Publishing Employee Council;

  The Editorial Council of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday;

  United Newspapers;

  The Today Newspaper;

  Nine advertising companies; and

  54 individual, including Members of Parliament.

  Representations and information were given to the Department in confidence and I shall not therefore be placing copies of the documentation considered in the Library of the House.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many public interest immunity certificates he has signed in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 15 March 1994]: No central record is held of public interest immunity certificates signed by the DTI.

  Since I became President of the Board of Trade, I have signed three PII certificates, two in 1992 and one in 1993.

  Clean Technology
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the 10 countries which rank highest in terms of their share of the world-wide market in clean technologies;

  (2) what is his estimate of the United Kingdom's share of the world-wide market for clean technology; and what is the lowest OECD figure for the total value of this market.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answers 30 March 1994]: There is no world-wide agreement on the definition of cleaner technology. Reliable statistics of this type are not therefore available.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Research Reports
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the answer of 2 March,Official Report, columns 767–68, if he will place in the Library copies of each research report referred to.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Copies of the report on attitudes to the 1993 charter mark scheme will be placed in the Library of the House shortly. We are evaluating the pilot charterline service which ends on 31 March. Market research and tracking research will be made available when the evaluation is complete and decisions are announced. I have no plans to publish HMSO's market research report, which is commercially confidential.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what decisions have been taken by the European Commission recently on the new initiatives under the fourth research and development framework programme; and how these affect the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  On 21 March the conciliation committee consisting of members of the Research Council of Ministers and of the European Parliament reached political agreement on a joint text for the fourth framework programme on European Community research and development—FP4. This now awaits formal adoption by both institutions. The European Commission will shortly bring forward the specific programmes of FP4 which implement the framework programme decision and these will be negotiated during the remainder of 1994.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish an annual directory of all those appointed to public bodies as listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1993", to include the names, addresses, remuneration, period of office and political and pecuniary interests of all those so appointed.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. Information on the 42,606 public appointments listed in "Public Bodies" is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many copies of his "Citizen's Charter Second Report: 1994" have been published; at what cost;
  1009
  to whom it has been distributed; what criteria were used in the choice of persons or organisations to which the report was distributed; and what is the equivalent information in respect of the first report.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Some 8,000 copies of the "Citizen's Charter Second Report: 1994" were printed and published by HMSO. The costs of printing and publishing were borne by HMSO which aims to recover these from sales revenue. Some 14,000 copies of the first report were printed and published by HMSO on the same basis.

  Some 300 copies of the second report were sent to Ministers and their permanent secretaries, departmental citizens charter liaison staff, agency chief executives, the citizens charter advisory panel and complaints task force, and a variety of others, including the Parliamentary and Local Government Ombudsmen, the secretaries of the local authority associations and the heads of the regulatory bodies. We have not kept records of those to whom the first report was distributed.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many magistrates have been appointed in the Duchy for each year since 1989; how many expressed a political affiliation; and if he will break down the figure by party.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The answer is:

  Number

  1989

  276

  1990

  303

  1991

  330

  Table A

  Women

  Grade 1

  Grade 2

  Grade 3

  Grade 4

  Grade 5

  Grade 6

  Grade 7

  Overall

  Cabinet Office1

  Women

  0

  2

  2

  0

  16

  8

  37

  642

  Total

  3

  18

  21

  1

  50

  40

  173

  1,386

  Per cent of women

  0

  11

  10

  0

  32

  20

  21

  46

  CS College

  Women

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  6

  19

  157

  Total

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  20

  70

  275

  Per cent, of women

  0

  0

  0

  0

  33

  30

  27

  57

  OHS

  Women

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  4

  3

  105

  Total

  0

  0

  1

  1

  8

  8

  4

  127

  Per cent, of women

  0

  0

  100

  0

  25

  50

  75

  83

  RAS

  Women

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  5

  100

  Total

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  3

  17

  150

  Per cent of women

  0

  0

  50

  0

  0

  33

  29

  67

  Chessington

  Women

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  240

  Total

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  6

  449

  Per cent, of women

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  17

  53

  COI

  Women

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  222

  Total

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  10

  33

  507

  Per cent, of women

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  24

  44

  HMSO

  Women

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  835

  Total

  0

  1

  0

  2

  8

  15

  54

  1,965

  Per cent, of women

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  42

  1010

  Number

  1992

  293

  1993

  281

  To provide details of political affiliation of appointees for the past five years would involve disproportionate cost. However, figures for 1993 are as follows:

  Number

  Labour

  76

  Conservative

  120

  Liberal/Democrat

  46

  Not declared/Independent

  39

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. David Davis
  In respect of the departments and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, and other areas which fall to the Cabinet Office vote, the information is set out in the tables below.

  Ethnic monitoring in the civil service is carried out on a voluntary basis. The figures in table B below relate to those people who have chosen to register as non-white.

  The figures at table C relate to registered disabled people. The departments and agencies employ other staff with disabilities who have chosen not to register.
  1011

  Grade 1

  Grade 2

  Grade 3

  Grade 4

  Grade 5

  Grade 6

  Grade 7

  Overall

  Total

  Women

  0

  2

  4

  0

  19

  19

  77

  2,301

  Total

  3

  19

  25

  4

  73

  96

  357

  4,859

  Per cent. of women

  0

  10

  16

  0

  26

  20

  22

  47

  1 Including OPSS.

  Table B

  Ethnic minorities

  Grade 1

  Grade 2

  Grade 3

  Grade 4

  Grade 5

  Grade 6

  Grade 7

  Overall

  Cabinet Office1

  Ethnic minorities

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  96

  Total

  3

  18

  21

  1

  50

  40

  173

  1,386

  Percentage of ethnic minorities

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  3·0

  0·5

  7·0

  CS College

  Ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  0

  2

  9

  Total

  nil

  nil

  1

  nil

  3

  20

  70

  275

  Percentage of ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  0

  3

  3

  OHS

  Ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  Total

  nil

  nil

  1

  1

  8

  8

  4

  127

  Percentage of ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  RAS

  Ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  0

  1

  5

  Total

  nil

  nil

  2

  nil

  1

  3

  17

  150

  Percentage of ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  0

  6

  3

  Chessington

  Ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  16

  Total

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1

  nil

  6

  449

  Percentage of ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  4

  COI

  Ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  0

  0

  22

  Total

  nil

  nil

  1

  nil

  2

  10

  33

  507

  Percentage of ethnic minorities

  nil

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  0

  0

  4

  HMSO

  Ethnic minorities

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  0

  0

  0

  32

  Total

  nil

  1

  nil

  2

  8

  15

  54

  1,965

  Percentage of ethnic minorities

  nil

  0

  nil

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Total

  Ethnic minorities

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  185

  Total

  3

  19

  25

  4

  73

  96

  357

  4,859

  Percentage of ethnic minorities

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  4

  1Including OPSS.

  Table C

  Registered disabled people March 1994

  Registered disabled people

  Total

  Per cent, of registered disabled people

  Overall

  Cabinet Office1

  16

  1,386

  1

  CS College

  0

  275

  0

  OHS

  1

  127

  1

  RHS

  4

  150

  3

  Chessington

  3

  449

  1

  COI

  5

  507

  1

  HMSO

  52

  1,965

  3

  Total

  81

  4,859

  2

  1 Including OPSS.

  One grade 7 in HMSO is registered disabled.
  1012

  Proton Cars
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. David Davis
  None.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps are currently taken by his Department to encourage and recruit disabled people into the civil service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The civil service is an equal opportunities employer, with recruitment to the service through selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. My Department, the Office of Public Service and Science, takes the lead in developing, monitoring and
  1013
  reviewing implementation of this policy throughout the service, but each department and agency is responsible for implementing policy within its own organisation.

  A civil service code of practice on employment of people with disabilities has been in use since 1985. This lays down advice and examples of best practice on all aspects of the employment of disabled people from recruitment to retention and career development. In line with steps already taken in respect of women and people of ethnic minority origin, this code of practice is shortly to be upgraded to a programme for action. In addition to general guidance, this will contain action checklists which will enable departments and agencies to address specific areas of disability policy and to draw up their own action plans.

  While there is no room for complacency, the civil service position on the employment of registered disabled people—1·5 per cent.—compares well with that of other employers in both the public sector more generally and the private sector—both 0·8 per cent. In common with other employers, the civil service also employs many more disabled people who choose not to register.

  I am confident that the upgrading of the code of practice to a programme for action will represent a significant step forward.

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

  Mr. David Davis
  The cost of contracts let by the Cabinet Office, its agencies, COI and HMSO is not held centrally in the form requested. The full information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The costs of consultancy contracts let by the Cabinet Office and its agencies in 1992–93 and 1993–94 to date are as follows:

  £

  1992–93

  4,054,273

  1993–94

  7,472,097

  The cost of consultancy contracts awarded by COI and HMSO in 1992–93 and 1993–94 to date are as follows:

  £

  COI

  1992–93

  136,460

  11993–94

  55,189

  HMSO1

  1992

  410,075

  1993

  1,061,025

  1 To date.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all non-departmental public bodies set up since the most recent publication of "Public Bodies".

  Mr Waldegrave
  "Public Bodies 1993", published in December 1993, lists non-departmental public bodies in existence at 1 April 1993.
  1014
  The following non-departmental public bodies have been established since then:

  Executive bodies

  Birmingham Castle Vale Housing Action Trust

  Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action

  English Partnerships (Urban Regeneration Agency)

  Investors in People (UK) Ltd.

  Millennium Commission

  School Curriculum and Assessment Authority

  Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust

  Advisory bodies

  Advisory Committee on Coal Research

  Complaints Task Force

  Council for Science and Technology

  Energy Advisory Panel

  Joint Environmental Markets Unit Advisory Committee Local Government Staff Commission

  Local Government Reorganisation Staff Advisory Committee (Wales)

  National Board on Crime Prevention

  Technology Foresight Steering Group

  Welsh Economic Council

  Tribunals

  Child Support Appeal Tribunals (Northern Ireland)

  Meat Hygiene Appeals Tribunals

  Since 1 April 1993, 38 executive bodies and 10 advisory bodies have been abolished or declassified.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of official entertainment 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. Goodlad
  The following has been spent on official entertainment by the FCO—incorporating both the diplomatic wing and the ODA:

  Year

  Amount £

  1990–91

  5,178,849

  1991–92

  5,700,606

  1992–93

  6,946,298

  11993–94

  6,641,945

  1To date.

  This is included in the running cost expenditure for my Department which is published every year in the annual report. The vast majority of this is spent overseas, at numerous official functions of various types. There is no central record of these.

  East Timor
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring of human rights the British Government carry out in East Timor; how many political prisoners are currently held in East Timor; and how many people have been killed in East Timor since the start of the Indonesian occupation.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Her Majesty's embassy staff in Jakarta visit East Timor. So, too, do numerous non-governmental organisations, human rights groups and other western
  1015
  diplomats with whom we keep in close touch. There is no agreed definition of a "political prisoner". Nor is there any reliable source of information about the number of people killed in East Timor.

  Luxembourg Compromise
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the application of the Luxembourg compromise to the introduction of a maximum working week.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have no plans to introduce legislation to implement a maximum working week. The Government secured significant improvements to the working time directive which met Britain's main concerns. It is challenging the legal base on which the directive was adopted. The Government reserve the right to invoke the Luxembourg compromise where it considers that very important national issues are at stake.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the scope of the Luxembourg compromise following ratification of the Maastricht treaty.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Luxembourg compromise was not affected by the Maastricht treaty.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letters dated 13 December 1993, 24 January 1994 and 24 February 1994 sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Lin Qi Qun, wife of Mr. Chiu Hung Ing of 1 Princess parade, Manchester.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not received the hon. Member's letters of the dates quoted. If he will re-send them, he will reply as soon as possible.

  Peacekeeping
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the international peacekeeping operations carried out under United Nations or other international auspices in which British forces have taken part since May 1979.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  United Kingdom forces have taken part in the following peacekeeping operations:

  UN Advance Mission in Cambodia.

  UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia

  UN Transitional Assistance Group—Namibia

  UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

  UN Iraq/Kuwait Observer Mission

  UN Force in Cyprus

  UN Protection Force—former Yugoslavia

  Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon

  Military Observer Force in Sinai

  Operation Safe Haven—Iraq

  European Union Council
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement on the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union.
  1016
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is as follows:

  MONTHLY FORECAST OF BUSINESS FOR APRIL 1994

  The following meetings are planned:

  12 April—Fisheries Council

  18 April—Transport Council

  18 and 19 April—Foreign Affairs Council

  19 April—Social Affairs Council

  21 April—Civil Protection Council

  21 April—Interior Council

  22 April—Industry Council

  25 and 26 April—Agriculturale Council

  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  A. 12 April—Fisheries Council

  Spain and Portugal

  Direct landings from third countries

  Blue fin tuna certification

  Mediterranean technical measures

  Community expenditure on pilot projects

  15th amendment to technical conservation measures regulations—possible

  Tariff quotas—possible

  Any Other Business:

  Compensation for fishermen affected by bad weather—possible

  B. 18 April—Transport Council

  Aviation "crisis"

  Transport infrastructure—TENS

  Road transport external relations mandate

  Switzerland

  Railways—licensing and access—(possible)

  Dangerous goods—ADR—(possible)

  Air accident investigation (possible)

  Negiotations with third countries on inland waterways

  Any Other Business:

  —Presidency presentation on Crete transport conference

  —Commission information on contacts with the United States on transport

  —Report on Community road safety

  C. 18 and 19 April—Foreign Affairs Council

  White Paper: follow-up

  Cohesion Funds

  CFSP Financing

  Relations with Cyprus: position for Association Council

  Ukraine

  EEA: Fish quotas

  South Africa

  Ex-Yugoslavia

  Dual use Goods (possible)

  Stability Pact: preparation of inaugrural conference

  Classified Documents (possible) EC/Russia (possible)

  Right to vote and stand in municipal elections (possible)

  OECD: Shipyards (possible)

  In the margins:

  18 April—Association Council and dinner with Cyprus

  D. 19 April—Social Affairs Council
  —agenda unavailable

  E. 21 April—Civil Protection Council
  —agenda unavailable

  F. 21 April—Possible Interior Council
  —agenda unavailable

  G. 22 April—Industry Council

  EC Commission White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment

  Small and medium-sized enterprises

  Council resolution on automotives

  Council resolution on competitiveness in the EC textile and clothing sector

  Steel—including state aid and the ECSC treaty

  Commission communiction on the maritime industries

  H. 25 and 26 April—Agriculture Council

  Plant Variety Rights (possible)

  Animal Welfare—Transport (possible)

  Price Fixing

  Milk Quotas

  Potatoes (possible)

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Incapacity Benefit
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the likely level of administrative costs for the planned incapacity benefit as a proportion for all such benefit paid.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he makes of the proportion of recipients of incapacity benefit who are likely to be receiving occupational pension payments(a) between the 29th and 52nd week of incapacity and (b) after the 52nd week; and what is its basis for these estimates.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security at what intervals new claimants for incapacity benefit who pass the test of incapacity for work after 28 weeks will be re-tested.

  Mr. Scott
  Claimants who are terminally ill or in receipt of the highest rate care component of disability living allowance or suffering from one of the prescribed severe incapacitating disabilities will not be retested. In other cases, the adjudication officer will decide on the intervals between reviews of the case, based on advice from a doctor from the Benefits Agency medical service. The intervals will depend on the type of medical condition involved and the particular circumstances of each case.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those who are expected to fail to satisfy the test for incapacity benefit are protected tenants for the purposes of regulation 11 of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987; and whether he will consider extending transitional protection for two years to protected tenants on the date when the Act comes into force.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available. We have no plans to introduce rules allowing people found capable of work to remain on incapacity benefit.

  Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for chronic bronchitis and emphysema have been examined by special medical boards and by medical appeal tribunal since the scheme was introduced; and in how many and what percentage of cases medical appeal tribunals have upheld the appeal.

  Mr. Scott
  This information is not available in the format requested. As at 20 March 1994, about 20,000 claims have been considered under the medical criteria by a specially qualified adjudicating medical practitioner. Some 2,960 appeals have been referred to a further adjudicating medical authority and 385 subsequent appeals have been referred to medical appeal tribunals. Of the nine 1018
  cases where the MAT result is known, three, 33 per cent, have been upheld. The information is based on a 100 per cent. Count and is subject to amendment.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people entitled to claim invalidity benefit in each region.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the form requested. The available information is in the table:

  Invalidity Benefit recipients on 4 April 1992 by Region

  Region

  Invalidity benefit recipients

  Northern England

  137,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  137,000

  East Midlands

  80,000

  East Anglia

  31,000

  South East England—Greater London

  109,000

  South East England—excluding Greater London

  134,000

  South Western

  78,000

  West Midlands

  120,000

  North Western England

  247,000

  Scotland

  200,000

  Wales

  159,000

  Overseas

  8,000

  Total—Great Britain

  1,439,000

  Note: Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain at 4 April 1992, the latest date information available, rounded to the nearest thousand. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in receipt of invalidity benefit have occupational pensions; and what is his source of information on this.

  Mr. Scott
  About 40 per cent. of invalidity benefit recipients were in receipt of occupational pensions in 1990 and 1991.

  The information is drawn from the 1990 and 1992 family expenditure surveys and is subject to significant margins of error.

  Community Care Grant
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what categories of persons constitute(a) high and (b) medium property for community care grant purposes.

  Mr. Scott
  The guidance that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State issues on priorities for social fund community care grants is set out in the social fund guide —a copy of which is in the Library. The priority groups included in that list are in no particular order.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have asked the Child Support Agency for a review of their assessments; and how many such applications have been refused.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
  1019
  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 30 March 1994:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of review requests received by the Child Support Agency.

  To 31 January 1994, the Agency has received 16,600 requests for second tier reviews. Information is not available on the number of cases where a review has been refused because a client has failed to show adequate grounds for the request.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many section 18 and section 17 reviews of child support officers' decisions had been requested by the end of January 1994; how many of each of these had been resolved by that date; in how many of each of those the decision had been revised; and what is the average number of weeks that the outstanding reviews have been awaiting decisions in each Child Support Agency centre.

  Mr. Burt
  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. Adam Ingram, dated 30 March 1994:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about child support reviews.

  Between 5 April 1993 and 1 January 1994, there were 16,600 requests for a second tier review under Section 18 of the Child Support Act 1991, of which 5,800 were cleared. Information on the number of these in which the decision was revised is not currently available.

  In the same period, the Agency processed 10,800 section 17 reviews, prompted by changes to either party's circumstances. The assessment was revised in 10,700 cases.

  You also asked for the time taken to carry out a review and the length of time that outstanding reviews have been awaiting decisions. Information on clearance times is being collected, but reliable information is not yet available.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the maintenance application forms issued by the end of January, have been issued to(a) non-benefit claimants, (b) family credit claimants, (c) new income support claimants and (d) existing income support claimants; how many existing income support claimants remain to be issued with a maintenance application form; and what is the expected rate at which these cases will be taken-on before April 1996.

  Mr. Burt
  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. Adam Ingram, dated 31 March 1994:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the issuing of maintenance application forms to benefit claimants.

  Of the 755,000 maintenance application forms issued to parents with care by the Child Support Agency in the period up to 31 January 1994; 26,100 were issued to non-benefit clients; 279,000 to clients already in receipt of Income Support, 257,400 to clients making new claims for Income Support; and 193,400 to clients making claims for Family Credit.

  It is estimated that approximately 380,000 existing cases where income support was in payment prior to 5 April 1993 remained to be taken on at the end of January. It is planned to complete the take on of these cases by April 1996, in line with the original schedule. The actual rate of take on will vary in relation to factors such as the volume of other cases received in the period.
  1020
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many absent parents whose cases have already been taken on by the Child Support Agency are on income support; of these how many were(a) exempt from the £2·20 deductions made from income support in lieu of child maintenance and (b) subject to the £2·20 deductions; and how many of the maintenance assessments calculated using the child support formula issued by the end of January 1994 were (i) nil assessments, other than those for absent parents on income support or (ii) minimum assessments of £2·20 a week, as opposed to deductions from income support.

  Mr. Burt
  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. Adam Ingram, dated 31 March 1994:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about absent parents claiming income support and the numbers subject to the £2·20 deduction from their benefit as a contribution to child maintenance.

  During the period April 1993 to 31 January 1994, there were almost 36,500 cases where the maintenance assessment was zero. The figure includes over 32,000 cases where the absent parent was in receipt of income support. The deduction (currently £2·20) is made from income support unless the absent parent is exempt. Information on the number subject to the statutory deduction is not available. However, it has been estimated that around 50 per cent. of 32,000 are liable to pay £2·20.

  You asked how many absent parents other than those on income support were paying the minimum amount of £2·20. This information is not currently available.

  I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many section 6 child support applicants to date have argued that they are at risk of harm or undue distress; in how many of these cases the reasons were accepted by the Child Support Agency; how many parents with care subsequently gave the authorisation or information; how many reduced benefit directions have been issued in the first 11 months of the Child Support Agency's activity; how many of these directions have been appealed against; and how many applicants who have given authorisation have subsequently sought to withdraw it and in how many of these cases the reasons for the withdrawal have been accepted.

  Mr. Burt
  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. Adam Ingram, dated 31 March 1994:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about clients of the Child Support Agency where the requirement to co-operate is an issue.

  During the period from 5 April 1993 to 31 January 1994, the requirement to co-operate was considered in 44,600 cases. It is not known in how many cases the parent with care argued that they were at risk of harm or undue distress. However, of the 25,000 cases in which good cause not to co-operate was accepted, risk of harm or undue distress was accepted as the reason in 11,300 cases. There were 11,600 cases where further to the investigation the absent parent was identified.
  1021
  You asked about reduced benefit directions. In the period up to 31 January, 320 were referred to the Benefits Agency for implementation. No information is available on the number of appeals against the reduction in benefit.

  You also asked about cases where having initially agreed to name the absent parent, the parent with care subsequently withdrew authorisation. There is currently no information available on the numbers of cases where this occurs.

  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the table of 18 February,Official Report, column 1023, giving clearance times for Child Support Agency applications; and if he will give an indication of the usual time taken between, (a) the issue of the maintenance application form and its return, (b) the return of the maintenance application form and issue of the maintenance inquiry form and (c) issue of the maintenance inquiry form and its return.

  Mr. Burt
  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. Adam Ingram, dated 31 March 1994:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking for an update to the table showing clearance times for the maintenance application process by each Child Support Agency Centre, and a breakdown of the times between the issue and return of the application and enquiry forms.

  For the period from 5 April 1993 to 31 January 1994, information is available on the percentage of cases cleared by individual Agency centres within given time bands; under 40 days, between 40 and 100 days, and in over 100 days. This information is tabulated as annex A.

  A more detailed break-down in the form you requested is not available.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when information will be available on the numbers of child support accounts with arrears, the numbers of deductions of earnings orders issued by the Child Support Agency, the numbers of liability orders applied for by the agency; and what is the extent of the information on the collection and enforcement service that will be readily available at that stage.

  Mr. Burt
  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. Adam Ingram, dated 31 March 1994:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the availability of information from the Child Support Agency on arrears, deduction from earnings orders and enforcement.

  Information on deductions from earnings orders has been obtained by means of a clerical sampling exercise. This shows that to the end of February 1994, the Agency had issued deductions from earnings orders in an estimated 1,400 cases.

  The Child Support Computer System is currently being upgraded to provide more information. We anticipate that further data relating to each stage of the collection and enforcement process will be progressively available during the financial year 1994–95 as a result of this upgrading process.

  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases dealt with by the Child 1022
  Support Agency the alleged absent parent has disputed paternity; how many of these cases have been resolved without reference to court; how many of these have been referred to court by the agency; how many have been heard by the court; and how many are unresolved to date.

  Mr. Burt
  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. Adam Ingram, dated 31 March 1994:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of cases dealt with by Child Support Agency in which disputed paternity was an issue.

  Between 5 April 1993 and 31 January 1994, 2,270 cases were referred for further inquiries to be made because the alleged absent parent had disputed paternity. Of these cases, 457 were resolved without reference to the courts. The Agency referred 22 cases to the courts, 13 being heard. Of these, paternity was established in 2 cases, and not established in 11. At 31 January 1994, 1,800 cases remained to be resolved.

  I hope that this reply is helpful.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current target for the amount of child maintenance to be collected by the Child Support Agency in 1993–94.

  Mr. Burt
  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. Adam Ingram, dated 31 March 1994:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the money recovered by the Agency.

  The Agency was set a target to recover £530 million in benefit savings in the financial year 1993–94. To 31 January 1994, £250 million had been recorded as recovered. This does not represent the total amount of savings during the period as some will be scored retrospectively.

  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many maintenance applications had been terminated without a maintenance assessment by the end of January; what efforts are being made to ascertain the reasons for these cleared cases; and on what evidence he based his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 502, that some were due to collusive desertions.

  Mr. Burt
  Between April 1993 and January 1994, there were 95,400 cases cleared without a maintenance assessment. This includes cases where the parent with care is ineligible for maintenance; where she withdraws her application to benefit before the Child Support Agency has assessed her case; and where it has been accepted that the parent with care has "good cause" for not providing details of the absent parent.

  There are many reasons why a parent with care might withdraw an application before a maintenance assessment. These include being reconciled with the absent parent or starting a job. A number of these will have been withdrawn due to collusive desertion, but, by the very nature of these cases, detailed reasons for the withdrawal of applications are not known.
  1023
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals have been made to child support appeal tribunals by the end of February; in how many of these cases the Child Support Agency has met its target of responding to the independent tribunal service within 18 days; how many of these appeals have been heard to date; and in how many of those the child support officer's decision has been overturned.

  Mr. Burt
  I am informed that the number of appeals received by the independent tribunal service to the end of 25 February is 1,134. On these appeals, the Child Support Agency has forwarded a total of 361 submissions; 164 within the 18-day target. By 25 March, 165 appeals had been heard, of which 147 had been finally decided. In 56 of the decided appeals the child support officer's decision was overturned.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will outline the compensation available to clients of the Child Support Agency who lose out financially as a result of the agency's operations; and whether compensation is avaialble for those section 6 applicants who were refused a maintenance application form before the change of policy announced on 1 November 1993.

  Mr. Burt
  The Department of Social Security operates non-statutory special payments arrangements under which compensation may be considered where, as a result of clear and unambiguous departmental error or unreasonable delay, actual financial loss has been suffered. Under section 6 of the Act, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may require a parent with care to make an application to the Child Support Agency, but is not required to. There is no question of departmental error, and therefore compensation, in cases where he did not choose to exercise this power.

  Accommodation Benefit
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the length of time that records of claims for part III accommodation benefit payments, completed application and claim forms are kept(a) in their original form, (b) on microfiche or (c) in any other form in either the DSS Benefits Agency local office concerned, or in a central registry; and if he will make a statement.

  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. Rhodri Morgan, dated 30 March 1994:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the length of time that records of Part III benefit payments, completed application and claim forms are retained by the Benefits Agency (BA).

  Claim forms from customers in Residential Accommodation (Part HI) are treated in the same way as Income Support (IS) claim forms from other customers. Payments to customers in these circumstances are not recorded separately.

  The BA policy on the destruction of documents requires all IS cases to be examined at certain times and unnecessary documents to be destroyed. This policy represents an attempt to balance the needs of customers against the administrative expense
  1024
  of keeping all documents indefinitely. Instructions are in place advising staff not to destroy claim forms while active enquiries into the case are ongoing. Clerical records are normally kept for a minimum of 18 months after a claim goes dormant and then destroyed.

  Part III benefit payments are recorded in the same way as IS payments. Order book records are held for 3 years and girocheque copy sheets are held centrally for 12 months and then destroyed.

  This procedure is relevant to all BA offices including Benefit Centres who have Remote Storage facilities. Details on IS claims are not retained on microfiche.

  Child Support
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many former(a) income support claimants and (b) family credit claimants have left benefit as a result of receiving child support maintenance; and what efforts are being made to monitor this issue.

  Mr. Burt
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, information will be collected as part of the long-term evaluation of child support policy.

  Ministerial Replies
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his further letter of 28 February to the Under-Secretary of State concerning a constituent, reference 6/3644/70.

  Mr. Scott
  I replied to the hon. Member's letter yesterday.

  Social Security Advisory Committee (Advice to Ministers)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what statutory requirement or other obligation is placed upon the Social Security Advisory Committee to advise Ministers of the possible legal implications of proposals referred to it by Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Under section 174 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, the Social Security Advisory Committee is required to consider any proposals to make regulations referred to it by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and to make a report to him containing recommendations with regard to the subject matter of the proposals as the committee thinks appropriate. Legal advice of proposed regulations is provided by the Department's lawyers.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures similar to those in his Department's tax model table, including the various component figures, (1) showing net weekly spending power of a lone parent with a child aged three years where(a) the parent is on income support, (b) the parent takes employment for 15 hours a week at £4 an hour and (c) the parent works from 16 hours a week with gross earnings of (i) £40, (ii) £50, (iii) £60, (iv) £70, (v) £80, (vi) £90, (vii) £100, (viii) £110 and (ix) £120 where travel-to-work costs are £10 a week and child care costs are (1) £25 per week, (2) £40 per week and (3) £60 per week, assuming that the new child care allowance for lone parents is in operation;
  1025
  (2) showing net weekly spending power of a lone parent with children aged one and three years where the parent works more than 16 hours a week and has gross earnings of (a) £40, (b) £50, (c) £60, (d) £70, (e) £80, (f) £90, (g) £100, (h) £110 and (i) £120, where travel-to-work costs are £10 per week, and where child care costs are (i) £25, (ii) £40 and (iii) £60 per week, assuming the new child care allowance for lone parents is in operation.

  Mr. Burt
  [holding answer 30 March 1994]: The information requested is in the tables. The level of child care costs specified in some of the questions is significantly higher than those typically encountered at the level of earnings specified. Recent research1 shows that the average weekly child care costs of working lone parents are £24·60 per week.

  1"Families, work, and Benefit" (Policy Studies Institute, June 1993).

  Notes:

  1. Assumptions are those used for the 1994 Tax-benefit Model.

  2. Tax allowances and National Insurance contributions are those in force from 1 April 1994.

  3. Childcare Allowance introduced from October 1994.

  4. Average rent and council Tax values are those used for the 1993 Tax-benefit Model.

  Lone parent with one child aged three (a) on income support £ per week

  £

  Income support

  60·15

  Welfare foods

  2·76

  Child benefit

  16·35

  (c) Working over 16 hours per week with childcare costs of £25 per week

  £ per week

  Gross earnings

  £40·00

  £50·00

  £60·00

  £70·00

  £80·00

  £90·00

  £100·00

  £110·00

  £120·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·13

  2·13

  4·13

  National insurance contributions

  0·00

  0·00

  1·44

  2·44

  3·44

  4·44

  5·44

  6·44

  7·44

  Take home pay

  40·00

  50·00

  58·56

  67·56

  76·56

  85·56

  94·43

  101·43

  108·43

  Family Credit

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  52·19

  47·29

  Child Benefit

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  Rent

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  Rent rebate

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  25·85

  20·00

  14·15

  8·38

  5·98

  4·62

  Council Tax

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  Council Tax benefit

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  5·50

  3·70

  1·90

  0·12

  0·00

  0·00

  Net income

  148·94

  158·94

  167·50

  170·76

  172·11

  173·46

  174·78

  175·95

  176·69

  Child care costs

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  Travel to Work costs

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  Net income after Rent, Council Tax, Child care and Travel to Work costs

  76·85

  88·85

  95·41

  98·67

  100·02

  101·37

  102·69

  103·86

  104·60

  (c) Working over 16 hours per week with childcare costs of £40 per week

  Gross earnings

  £40·00

  £50·00

  £60·00

  £70·00

  £80·00

  £90·00

  £100·00

  £110·00

  £120·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·13

  2·13

  4·13

  National insurance contributions

  0·00

  0·00

  1·44

  2·44

  3·44

  4·44

  5·44

  6·44

  7·44

  Take home pay

  40·00

  50·00

  58·56

  67·56

  76·56

  85·56

  94·43

  101·43

  108·43

  Family Credit

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  Child Benefit

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  Rent

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  Rent rebate

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·34

  29·75

  23·90

  18·13

  13·58

  9·03

  Council Tax

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  Council Tax benefit

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·70

  4·90

  3·12

  1·72

  0·32

  Total net income

  148·94

  158·94

  167·50

  176·50

  184·86

  186·21

  187·53

  188·58

  189·63

  Childcare costs

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  Travel costs

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  Income net of housing, childcare and travel costs

  61·85

  71·85

  80·41

  89·41

  97·77

  99·12

  100·44

  101·49

  102·54

  1026

  £

  Rent

  30·24

  Rent, rebate

  30·24

  Council tax

  6·85

  Council tax benefit

  6·85

  Net income

  116·35

  Net income after housing costs

  79·26

  (b) On income support with part time earnings £ per week

  £

  £

  £

  Part-time earnings

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  National insurance

  1·44

  1·44

  1·44

  Take home pay

  58·56

  58·56

  58·56

  Income support

  16·59

  16·59

  16·59

  Welfare foods

  2·76

  2·76

  2·76

  Child benefit

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  Rent

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  Rent rebate

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  Council tax

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  Council tax benefit

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  Net income

  131·35

  131·35

  131·35

  Childcare costs

  25·00

  40·00

  60·00

  Travel costs

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  Net income after housing, childcare and travel costs

  59·26

  44·26

  24·26

  1027

  (c) Working over 16 hours per week with child care costs of £60 per week

  Gross earnings

  £40·00

  £50·00

  £60·00

  £70·00

  £80·00

  £90·00

  £100·00

  £110·00

  £120·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·13

  2·13

  4·13

  National insurance contributions

  0·00

  0·00

  1·44

  2·44

  3·44

  4·44

  5·44

  6·44

  7·44

  Take home pay

  40·00

  50·00

  58·56

  67·56

  76·56

  85·56

  94·43

  101·43

  108·43

  Family Credit

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  55·50

  Child Benefit

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  16·35

  15·35

  16·35

  16·35

  Rent

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  Rent rebate

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  30·24

  29·75

  23·90

  18·13

  13·58

  9·03

  Council Tax

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  Council Tax benefit

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·85

  6·70

  4·90

  3·12

  1·72

  0·32

  Total net income

  148·94

  158·94

  167·50

  176·50

  184·86

  186·21

  187·53

  188·58

  189·63

  Child care costs

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  Travel costs

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  Income net of housing, child care and travel costs

  41·85

  51·85

  60·41

  69·41

  77·77

  79·12

  80·44

  81·49

  82·54

  Lone parent with two children aged 1 and 3 Earnings and benefit as at October 1994

  (i) Working over 16 hours per week with child care costs of £25 per week

  £ per week

  Gross earnings

  £40·00

  £50·00

  £60·00

  £70·00

  £80·00

  £90·00

  £100·00

  £110·00

  £120·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·13

  2·13

  4·13

  National insurance contributions

  0·00

  0·00

  1·44

  2·44

  3·44

  4·44

  5·44

  6·44

  7·44

  Take home pay

  40·00

  50·00

  58·56

  67·56

  76·56

  85·56

  94·43

  101·43

  108·43

  Family Credit

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  63·39

  58·49

  Child Benefit

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  Rent

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  Rent rebate

  32·54

  32·54

  31·53

  25·68

  19·83

  13·98

  8·21

  5·81

  4·45

  Council Tax

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  Council Tax benefit

  7·65

  7·65

  7·34

  5·54

  3·74

  1·94

  0·16

  0·00

  0·00

  Total net income

  171·49

  181·49

  188·73

  190·08

  191·43

  192·78

  194·10

  195·23

  195·97

  Child care costs

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  25·00

  Travel costs

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  Income net of housing, child care and travel costs

  96·30

  106·30

  113·54

  114·89

  116·24

  117·59

  118·91

  120·04

  120·78

  (ii) Working over 16 hours per week with child care costs of £40 per week

  Gross earnings

  £40·00

  £50·00

  £60·00

  £70·00

  £80·00

  £90·00

  £100·00

  £110·00

  £120·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·13

  2·13

  4·13

  National insurance contributions

  0·00

  0·00

  1·44

  2·44

  3·44

  4·44

  5·44

  6·44

  7·44

  Take home pay

  40·00

  50·00

  58·56

  67·56

  76·56

  85·56

  94·43

  101·43

  108·43

  Family Credit

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  Child Benefit

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  Rent

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  Rent rebate

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  29·58

  23·73

  17·96

  13·41

  8·86

  Council Tax

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  Council Tax benefit

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  6·74

  4·94

  3·16

  1·76

  0·36

  Total net income

  171·49

  181·49

  190·05

  199·05

  204·18

  205·53

  206·85

  207·90

  208·95

  Child care costs

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  40·00

  Travel costs

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  Income net of housing, child care and travel costs

  81·30

  91·30

  99·86

  108·86

  113·99

  115·34

  116·66

  117·71

  118·76

  (iii) Working over 16 hours per week with childcare costs of £60 per week

  £ per week

  Gross earnings

  £40·00

  £50·00

  £60·00

  £70·00

  £80·00

  £90·00

  £100·00

  £110·00

  £120·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·00

  0·13

  2·13

  4·13

  National insurance contributions

  0·00

  0·00

  1·44

  2·44

  3·44

  4·44

  5·44

  6·44

  7·44

  Take home pay

  40·00

  50·00

  58·56

  67·56

  76·56

  85·56

  94·43

  101·43

  108·43

  Family Credit

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  66·70

  Child Benefit

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  24·60

  Rent

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  Rent rebate

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  32·54

  29·58

  23·73

  17·96

  13·41

  8·86

  Council Tax

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  Council Tax benefit

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  7·65

  6·74

  4·94

  3·16

  1·76

  0·36

  1028

  1029

  Gross earnings

  £40·00

  £50·00

  £60·00

  £70·00

  £80·00

  £90·00

  £100·00

  £110·00

  £120·00

  Total net income

  171·49

  181·49

  190·05

  199·05

  204·18

  205·53

  206·85

  207·90

  208·95

  Childcare costs

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  60·00

  Travel costs

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  10·00

  Income net of housing, childcare and travel costs

  61·30

  71·30

  79·86

  88·86

  93·99

  95·34

  96·66

  97·71

  98·76

TRANSPORT

  Roads, South Yorkshire
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for the latest date for which figures are available, the number of vehicles in each different category counted by his Department using the A638 between Bawtry and Doncaster, South Yorkshire, at maximum, minimum and average flows; what was the average speed of vehicles on that road; and what were the comparable figures for (i) five years and (ii) 10 years ago;

  (2) if he will list for the latest date for which figures are available, the number of vehicles in each different category counted by his Department using the B6422 between its junction with the A638 and South Elmsall at maximum, minimum and average flows; what was the average speed of vehicles on that road; and what were the comparable figures for (i) five and (ii) 10 years ago;

  (3) if he will list for the latest date for which figures are available the number of vehicles in each different category counted by his Department using the A635 between Marr and Hickleton in South Yorkshire at maximum, minimum and average flows; what was the average speed of vehicles on that road; and what were the comparable figures for (i) five and (ii) 10 years ago.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is available only from the local authorities concerned.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what major building projects 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;

  (2) if he will list for the latest date for which figures are available, the number of vehicles in each different category counted by his Department using the A1(M) motorway in South Yorkshire at maximum, minimum and average flows; what was the average speed of vehicles on that road; and what were the comparable figures for (i) five and (ii) 10 years ago;

  (3) what was the total expenditure in (a) construction, (b) maintenance and (c) improvements in South Yorkshire in each year for the last 10 years, at both current and constant 1992–93 prices; and what is the planned expenditure in the years up to and including 1996–97;

  (4) if he will list each scheme in South Yorkshire in his Department's current roads and motorways programme with the total cost in each year since construction commenced up to estimated completion, at both current and constant 1992–93 prices, for (a) junction improvements, (b) other improvements, (c) maintenance and (d) new construction.

  Mr. Key
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1030

  British Transport Police
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he received from the British Transport Police Federation, prior to, or during, the progress of the Railways Act 1993 through Parliament relating to the effect of the Act on its powers of pursuit or arrest.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have met representatives from the British Transport Police Federation on several occasions. The federation also responded to the Department's consultation document "The Future Status of British Transport Police". During the passage of the Bill I received representations from the federation for British Transport police constables to have jurisdiction anywhere, including for matters unconnected with railway services, and anywhere in matters relating to new operators.

  British Rail (Redundancies)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff have left British Rail since January 1993 under redundancy or early retirement arrangements; and what has been the total cost of payments made to staff leaving the industry.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since January 1993, and up to 26 March 1994, 13,114 staff have either left, or are expected to leave British Rail at a cost of approximately £174 million in 1993 and £129 million in 1994. Over the same periods British Rail recruited 7,423 new staff.

  Channel Tunel Rail Link
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Hawkins) of 21 March,Official Report, column 2, what is the fastest practical time taken by freight wagons currently crossing the channel by train ferry, inclusive of marshalling at Dover and Calais and the total time now taken by such freight from Manchester or Liverpool to Marseille; and what percentage of that time is likely to be saved, inclusive of marshalling at Frethun and Dollands Moor, by use of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows:

  Fastest possible time: Manchester to Avignon

  Present ferry services

  Via the channel tunnel

  Conventional freight wagons

  36 hours

  32 hours

  Intermodal wagons

  4 to 5 days

  32 hours

  The Dover to Dunkerque trainferry is suitable only for conventional freight. Intermodal freight, which is expected to make up the majority of channel tunnel freight services, currently uses the Harwich to Zeebrugge lo-lo ferry.
  1031
  The nearest rail terminal to Marseille scheduled to handle channel tunnel freight is Avignon.

  Fatal Road Accidents
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents occurred during(a) 1991–92 and (b) 1992–93 involving drivers under 20 years of age; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  There were 637 fatal accidents in 1991 involving drivers under 20 years of age, and 519 in 1992. Information for 1993 is not available yet.

  Freight Traffic
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of freight traffic was carried by road transport and what proportion by rail transport, over

  Proportion of freight traffic

  Country

  1991

  1982

  1972

  Road

  Rail

  Road

  Rail

  Road

  Rail

  Great Britain1

  89

  11

  86

  14

  81

  19

  United States of America

  44

  56

  34

  66

  37

  63

  Germany2

  57

  43

  51

  49

  48

  52

  France

  68

  32

  61

  39

  51

  49

  Japan

  91

  9

  86

  14

  72

  28

  1All goods vehicles, including those up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight.

  2Former Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic Republic with estimates as necessary.

  Source: "Transport Statistics Great Britain" and "International Comparisons of Transport Statistics Part 1: Intermodal".

  M62 Relief Road
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many representations he has received opposing his proposals for the M62 relief road(a) from residents of Bury, South and (b) from residents living outside Bury, South;

  (2) how many representations he has received supporting his proposals for the M62 relief road (a)from residents of Bury, South and (b) from residents living outside Bury, South.

  Mr. Key
  Over 18,000 representations about the proposals have been received. It will be some while yet before we have recorded and analysed all of them. I shall write to my hon. Friend when this work is complete.

  Catalytic Converters
  Mr. Peter Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department is undertaking into how the effectiveness of catalytic converters can be improved to deal with the problem of cold-start emissions; and what plans he has to encourage the retrofitting of catalytic converters on cars.

  Mr. Key
  A new EC directive adopted on 25 March 1994—number yet to be advised—is the latest in a series amending directive 70/220/EEC on vehicle emissions, and sets more stringent emission standards for all new cars from 1 January 1997. The Department is already in discussions with the EU on even lower standards for 2000, which will be complemented by an additional low temperature emission test. The engineering solutions necessary to meet these standards are a matter for the vehicle manufacturers. On the encouragement of retrofitting catalysts, I refer the hon. Member to the answer 1032
  the latest year for which figures are available; what were the proportions 10, 20 and 30 years ago; and what are the proportions in (a) the United States of America, (b) Germany, (c) France and (d) Japan.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1992, the most recent year for which statistics are available for Great Britain, the percentage of road and rail freight carried by road was 89 per cent. For other countries, the most recent data available are shown in the following table which also gives the figures for the earlier years requested. Reliable comparisons are not available for years prior to 1970. Freight transport by inland waterway, coastal shipping and pipeline will affect the proportions carried by road and rail—these figures are published in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1993", tables 8.5 and 9.3, a copy of which is in the Library.

  I gave to the hon. Member for North Devon (Mr. Harvey), Official Report, column 144. Further measures requiring substantial engineering effort to develop costly retrofit packages for declining numbers of suitable vehicles would not be cost-effective.

  British Rail (Pensions)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he is making for the transfer of pension rights both to and within the proposed new joint industry scheme on the privatisation of British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  In order to facilitate efficient and effective pension arrangements, it is proposed that when BR staff first leave the BR pension scheme or the BR section of the new joint industry scheme, their accrued past service pension rights should be transferred to their new employer's "no less favourable section" of that scheme which will be, in all material respects, identical to the BR section.

  In response to concerns that the new pension arrangements will be less secure for staff moving around the railway industry in the future, the Government have agreed that the rules of the new scheme will provide that pensionable service will be treated as continuous even on voluntary transfers between the "no less favourable" sections of participating employers, subject however to certain Inland Revenue restrictions which we cannot override, and to there being no extraordinary circumstances. We have also now agreed that the "indefeasible right" for protected persons—those in service on 5 November 1993—to remain in "no less favourable" sections of the joint industry scheme for so long as their employer remains a part of the railway industry will not be lost where they change jobs voluntarily within the industry. This will provide valuable security for staff moving voluntarily around the industry in the future.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the letter written by Mrs. Sheena Stark, principal solicitor (Scotland) to Railtrack, dated 4 March, on the subject of Mr. Peter Rayner; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the future position of Mrs. Sheena Stark within Railtrack;

  (3) what guidance he has given to Railtrack on dealing with public criticism.

  Mr. Freeman
  These are matters for the British Railways Board and Railtrack.

  East Coast Main Line
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he proposes to announce the additional track charges to the east coast shadow franchise for running diesel-hauled trains north of Edinburgh and between the east coast main line and Hull and Harrogate;

  (2) what amount within the track charge to the east coast shadow franchise announced by Railtrack on 15 February is attributable to the cost of running diesel-hauled trains north of Edinburgh and between the east coast main line and Hull and Harrogate.

  Mr. Freeman
  These are matters for Railtrack.

HEALTH

  London Ambulance Service
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were employed by the ambulance service to work in stations in(a) London, (b) south-east London and (c) Lewisham in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1992 and (iv) 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  The deployment of staff to individual stations is an operational matter for the London ambulance service. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Martin Gorham, chief executive of the LAS, for details.

  Immunology
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure that doctors, and GPs in particular, are made aware of the importance of diagnosing antibody disorders from the earliest opportunity and making appropriate referrals to clinical immunologists.

  Mr. Sackville
  Postgraduate and continuing medical education for both hospital doctors and general practitioners is managed at regional level. Detailed information is therefore not available centrally on the precise educational measures in place to cover early diagnosis of antibodies disorders. However, throughout a doctor's training and education the importance of accurate diagnosis is stressed.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many redundant NHS hospitals in England have been disposed of in the last 12 months without the benefit of planning permission.
  1034
  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Some £1 billion has been realised from disposals over the last 10 years, which has been reinvested in modern health care provision.

  Hartley Hospital, Colne
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the response of the NHS management executive to the concerns expressed by Pendle borough council about the maintenance and security of the Hartley hospital in Colne.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service management executive has not received a letter from the borough of Pendle about the security and maintenance of the Hartley hospital.

  The borough of Pendle has confirmed that it wrote directly to the North Western regional health authority director of estates on 15 December 1993, and his reponse of 6 January gave information on the extent of security and maintenance provided at Hartley hospital.

  Prefessions Supplementary to Medicine (Amendment) Bill
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the Professions Supplementary to Medicine (Amendment) Bill; and what is her policy on protecting the title podiatrist.

  Mr. Sackville
  In considering any alteration of the present position it would be essential to have consensus about the need for change.

  Cornwall Healthcare Trust
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 723, what response has been given by the National Health Service Management Executive to the request for funds for legal action by the Cornwall Heathcare trust.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No response has been given yet.

  Specialists
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to implement her chief medical officer's report on the number of specialists.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In December 1993, I announced the Government's acceptance of the recommendations in the report of the working group on specialist medical training "Hospital Doctors: Training for the Future", copies of which are available in the Library. The work needed to ensure effective implementation of the report's recommendations is under way.

  Mental Health Budget
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the mental health budget for the current financial year; and what percentage of that budget is specifically allocated to dealing with children with mental health problems.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not available in the form requested. Expenditure on hospital and community units
  1035
  on mentally ill people in England in 1991–92, the latest year for which information is available, was £2,085 million. In the same year expenditure on local authority social services for mentally ill people was £ 179·7 million.

  Expenditure on mentally ill children is not available centrally.

  NHS Budget
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total national health service budget of each region and each health authority in London in each year since 1991–92.

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

  Nurse Training (Ethnic Minority Applicants)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics she has on the number of ethnic minority applicants applying for basic nurse training and the numbers accepted for that training plus the total number of applicants and the total number accepted.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department does not hold this type of data centrally. This information may be available from the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  Sterilisation
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many vasectomies were performed in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many female sterilisation procedures were carried out in each of the last five years;

  (3) if female sterilisation and vasectomy procedures are available in all areas in the country.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the number of national health service procedures performed is shown in the table:

  Year

  Vasectomies

  Female sterilisation procedures

  1988–89

  25,856

  27,384

  1989–90

  38,507

  42,023

  1990–91

  37,221

  40,210

  1991–92

  35.968

  42,596

  There is some doubt as to the quality of the data for the year 1988–89 due to this being the first year of operation of the health episode statistics computer system. No figures are available prior to 1988–89. Figures for years 1990–91 and 1991–92—the most recent year for which figures are available—are provisional.

  Circulars EL(91)63 and HSG(92)6 reminded the NHS of the need to provide a comprehensive family planning service, including male and female sterilisation.

  Copies of the guidance will be placed in the Library.

  Charging for Services
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the guidance and advice issued by her Department to local authorities on charging for services; in each case, what advice is given on taking attendance 1036
  allowance or the care component of the disability living allowance into account when assessing a person's ability to pay; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Guidance on charging for residential accommodation in England is contained in local authority circular—LAC(92)19, as amended by LACs(93)14, (94)1, and (94)15.

  An advice note on discretionary charges for nonresidential adult social services was sent to English local authorities in January 1994.

  Copies of the guidance and advice note are available in the Library.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis her Department has made of the administrative and operating cost for local authorities collecting charges for service provision.

  Mr. Bowis
  None. It depends on the efficiency of the local authority concerned.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory provision is made for individuals to appeal against a local authority decision to charge for services; what provision is made for local authorities to publicise the right to an appeal; what consultation local authorities have to carry out before introducing charges; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Charging arrangements for local authority residential care in England are prescribed in regulations. People who are dissatisfied with the way their charge has been assessed may use the complaints procedure local authorities are required to set up under section 50 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. Community care policy guidance issued in 1990 informs local authorities that they are required to publicise their complaints procedures, in accordance with section 7B(4) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and advises them how this might be done.

  Section 17 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 gives local authorities a discretionary power to charge adult recipients of non-residential services. If individual service users consider that they cannot afford to pay the charge that has been set, section 17(3) gives them the right to ask the authority for a review of that charge. It is also open to users of non-residential services to use the complaints procedure referred to above.

  Local authorities have been advised that when any change to the charging system for non-residential services is under consideration, it is good practice for existing users to be consulted.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is given to social service departments about charging for services that were provided by the health service free of charge prior to the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 but are now provided by local authority departments.

  Mr. Bowis
  The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 did not transfer responsibility for any services from the national health service to local authorities.

  Breast Cancer
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what preliminary reports she has received in respect of the areas of research into breast cancer being conducted by the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research; and when she expects the final results.

  Mr. Sackville
  The United Kingdom Health Departments, along with the Medical Research Council, which receives it grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the two major cancer research charities—Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Cancer Research Campaign—are currently funding four studies into breast cancer screening costing some £5 million over five years. These are examining:

  The effects of screening women annually from the age of 40;

  The effects of screening more frequently than every three years in women aged 50 and over;

  The effect of taking two, X-ray views of each breast of women screened instead of one view; and

  Alternative methods of treating some of the very small cancers detected on screening.

  The trials are being co-ordinated by the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research. The UKCCCR does not produce preliminary reports on the trials.

  Each of the studies will reach completion at different times, and it is expected that full results will be made available by the UKCCCR.

  Each study has been recruiting patients for some time and we expect results from at least two of the studies within the next two years.

  Departmental support, estimated to be some £400,000 in 1994–95, is currently planned until August 1998.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to ensure good uptake of breast screening invitations among ethnic minority groups.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is for health authorities to monitor uptake of breast cancer screening among specific groups, and to take action to improve uptake where it is shown to be needed.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether women who are concerned about breast cancer may self-refer to specialised units; and what research her Department has undertaken into the possible benefits of self-referral.

  Mr. Sackville
  Specialised cancer units receive referrals from general practitioners and from non-specialist units. It is most unlikely that they would accept a woman who refers herself. The Department has not undertaken any research into the possible benefits of self-referral.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialised breast cancer units there are, by region.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  It is for local health authorities in consultation with hospitals and trusts to determine the organisation of cancer services to meet the needs of the local population.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department is funding into(a) environmental and (b) social causes of breast cancer.
  1038
  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that the North West, North East and South West Thames and Mersey regions achieve the target for breast cancer screenings.

  Mr. Sackville
  The breast screening programme is achieving its national average uptake target rate of 70 per cent., including in Mersey and South West Thames regions. To address under-achieving in specific areas, health authorities are encouraged to set local targets for improvement in contracts.

  Dementia
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the impact on national health service drug costs of the increasing numbers of people with dementia.

  Mr. Bowis
  None at present.

  Ambulance Response Times
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes she proposes in the recommended ambulance response times in the patients charter.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the chairman of those ambulance authorities with the lowest attainment of achieving attendance of ambulances within the response times set by the patients charter; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  There have been no formal meetings to discuss response times, although from time to time I meet ambulance service chairmen to discuss perfomance generally. I am pleased to note that the majority of ambulance services are now meeting the charter standard.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of ambulance authorities are achieving(a) the patients charter standard and (b) the Orcon standard in respect of ambulance response times; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Orcon patients charter standard requires an ambulance to arrive at the scene of an incident within 19 minutes of an emergency call in 95 per cent. of cases in rural areas, and within 14 minutes in urban areas. In 1992–93, 28 of the 34 rural authorities met the former standard and three of the nine urban authorities the latter.

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government which have been introduced by her Department since 1990.

  Mr. Bowis
  Since 1990, the Department introduced the following Acts of Parliament that affected Local Government:

  —the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

  —the Community Care (Residential Accommodation) Act 1992.

  1039

  Cancer Specialists
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancer specialists worked in the national health service, by region, over each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information will be placed in the Library. Cancer is treated by doctors in a number of specialties. Consultants in the specialties of medical oncology, radiotherapy, haematology and general surgery all treat cancer patients. However, they are not all involved full time in the treatment of cancer, for example general surgeons and haematologists also work with other patients, while other specialties are also involved in the treatment of cancer.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the independent living fund transitional giant money has been spent in each local authority; how many people have received services under this money; what is the average cost of services to each individual; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Some £26·8 million was included in this year's special transitional grant to English local authorities as a consequence of changes to independent living fund arrangements. It will rise to £64·1 million next year. Authorities are free to use this money to provide such services as they consider best to meet local needs. They are not required to account for services provided from this money separately from services provided from other resources. The figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much research into the causes and treatment of Alzheimer's disease has been funded by(a) the Government, (b) the private sector and (c) the voluntary sector for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Bowis
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The table shows the level of research into Alzheimer's disease funded by the MRC between 1988–89 and 1992–93—the latest figures available. The level of research undertaken by the private and voluntary sectors is not available centrally.

  MRC expenditure on research into Alzheimer's disease

  Year

  (£ million)

  1988–89

  5·0

  1989–90

  4·0

  1990–91

  4·5

  1991–92

  4·7

  1992–93

  4·9

  National Continence Awareness Week
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation her Department is making of the effectiveness of national continence awareness week; arid if the event will be repeated in 1995.
  1040
  Mr. Bowis
  National continence week took place from 13–19 March 1994. The campaign generated a substantial amount of media coverage with articles in the national press as well as in women's and general interest magazines. Many radio and television programmes also carried times about the week. Demand for the Department's publicity material exceeded expectations. The posters, leaflets and stickers had to be reprinted three times and nearly 2 million copies have been sent out so far. Calls to the telephone helpline funded by the Department have increased from 15 to around 300 a day. In addition, the Continence Foundation is receiving an average of 200 written requests for information a day.

  The Department will continue to monitor the results of the campaign and a decision as to whether to repeat the event in 1995 will be made in the light of this.

  Medical Negligence Claims
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS body had(a) the highest and (b) the lowest number of medical negligence claims against it in each year since 1990.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information about the number of claims in each financial year is collected from district health authorities, in respect of their directly managed units collectively, and from national health service trusts as they became operational in 1991, 1992 and 1993. This shows national and regional trends. Because details are not supplied for individual directly managed units, most such units have progressively become trusts, and some district health authorities have merged, meaningful comparisons between NHS bodies are not possible.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the insurance and indemnity arrangements for NHS trusts in relation to medical negligence claims.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Claims for clinical negligence against health care professionals employed by national health service trusts, occurring after the operational date of the trust, are met by the trust and recouped through prices. Arrangements exist for NHS trusts to fund the cost of a substantial settlement through a loan from the Department which has to be repaid, with interest, over several years if necessary. The proposed creation of a central fund in England to help NHS trusts is the subject of a consultative document issued earlier this month, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Health Reforms
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in calculating changes in the numbers of patients treated before and after the health reforms, her Department counts individual patients treated or finished consultant episodes.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on in-patient activity has been collected on the basis of finished consultant episodes since 1988–89 following the recommendation of the KOrner steering group. This was considered to be the most effective way of measuring workload. There has been no change in the collection of data on activity in out-patients clinics and accident and emergency departments which are based on the number of new attendances and the total number of attendances.

  Death Certificates
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount paid to general practitioners for signing death certificates, and the number of death certificates signed, in each year since 1990, for each regional health authority area.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 requires general practitioners to sign death certificates. This duty does not attract a separate fee from the Department of Health.

  It is not possible to distinguish between death certificates signed by general practitioners and others, such as hospital doctors and coroners. The deaths recorded for each regional health authority from 1990 to 1992 are shown in the table. Figures for 1993 are not yet available.

  Persons

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Northern RHA

  37,480

  37,970

  37,072

  Yorkshire RHA

  41,955

  42,044

  40,481

  Trent RHA

  51,717

  52,827

  52,171

  East Anglian RHA

  22,296

  22,700

  22,207

  North West Thames RHA

  32,894

  33,076

  31,817

  North East Thames RHA

  38,574

  38,997

  38,006

  South East Thames RHA

  42,353

  42,589

  42,002

  South West Thames RHA

  32,630

  33,108

  32,149

  Wessex RHA

  34,497

  34,756

  34,195

  Oxford RHA

  22,323

  22,937

  22,806

  South Western RHA

  38,937

  39,234

  38,610

  West Midlands RHA

  56,762

  56,980

  56,092

  Mersey RHA

  27,906

  28,230

  27,460

  North Western RHA

  48,592

  48,524

  47,588

  The figures relate to deaths registered in each calendar year, the time: lag between the date of occurrence and the date of registration being usually only a day or two.

  Mental Health
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answers of 16 February,Official Report, column 860, and 17 March, Official Report, column 834, whether data collection monitoring mental illness hospitals on the lines of that compiled for the mental health task force is being undertaken to produce figures for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Bowis
  Data are currently being compiled for 1992–93 and should be available later this year. It is too early to start compiling data for 1993–94.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to the university of Liverpool school of dentistry representations regarding the timing of the response to the Bloomfield report and oral health strategy; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) wrote to my right hon. Friend the

  Average estimated weekly gross earnings of nursing and midwifery full-time staff in 1992–93 and 1993–94

  1992–951

  1993–942

  Grade

  Total

  Basic pay

  Allowances

  Total

  Basic pay

  Allowances

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Clinical Grade A

  186·0

  151·3

  34·7

  188·7

  153·4

  35·3

  Clinical Grade B

  203·8

  163·4

  40·4

  216·1

  174·1

  42·0

  Clinical Grade C3

  256·4

  220·1

  36·3

  249·2

  214·6

  34·6

  Clinical Grade D

  250·3

  215·0

  35·3

  258·6

  222·2

  36·4

  Clinical Grade E

  294·2

  250·7

  43·5

  302·0

  257·7

  44·3

  1042
  Secretary of State on 22 February enclosing a letter from a lecturer at the university of Liverpool school of dentistry. I replied on 19 March.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in(a) England and (b) each regional health authority area took on new NHS patients in each year since 1990.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 24 March 1994]: The information available is shown in the table.

  Number of dentists who had additions to their register, by regional health authority area and year, 1991–93 England

  Number of dentists who had additions to their register in the year

  Region

  1991

  1992

  1993

  England

  15,126

  15,295

  15,268

  Northern

  860

  883

  866

  Yorkshire

  1,133

  1,158

  1,146

  Trent

  1,268

  1,283

  1,309

  East Anglia

  620

  619

  625

  North West Thames

  1,509

  1,511

  1,515

  North East Thames

  1,296

  1,314

  1,335

  South East Thames

  1,406

  1,392

  1,394

  South West Thames

  1,294

  1,298

  1,331

  Wessex

  1,004

  1,005

  987

  Oxford

  859

  861

  851

  South Western

  1,223

  1,248

  1,237

  West Midlands

  1,400

  1,427

  1,412

  Mersey

  778

  773

  772

  North Western

  1,272

  1,289

  1,290

  Note:

  1. Additions to the register include instances of patients registering with a dentist after a break in attendance and instances of reinstatement of registrations that have been cancelled in error.

  2. Some dentists have contracts in more than one regional health authority area. These dentists have, where appropriate, been included in the count for each regional health authority area where they are under contract, but only once in the England total.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of dentists in each family health service authority took on new NHS patients for each year since 1990.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 24 March 1994]: The information will be placed in the Library.

  Nursing and Midwifery Staff
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the average gross weekly earnings and make-up of pay by type of pay or allowances for each of the clinical grades for nursing and midwifery staff in(a) 1992 and (b)

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.
  1043

  1992–931

  1993–942

  Grade

  Total

  Basic pay

  Allowances

  Total

  Basic pay

  Allowances

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Clinical Grade F

  340·8

  294·6

  46·2

  349·4

  302·1

  47·3

  Clinical Grade G

  381·3

  349·3

  32·0

  383·1

  351·6

  31·5

  Clinical Grade H

  397·9

  378·8

  19·1

  410·4

  389·4

  21·0

  Clinical Grade I

  459·9

  439·3

  20·6

  466·4

  443·2

  23·2

  1 Source: Earnings-related base of data March 1993 and non-medical manpower census September 1991.

  2 Source: Earnings-related base of data December 1993 and non-medical manpower census September 1992.

  3 Clinical grade C 1993–94 shows the average going down, this is due to a shift in enrolled nurses moving to grade D registered nurse, therefore leaving more nurses in grade C on medium to lower incremental point.

  Drugs Review
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the results of the Committee on Safety of Medicines review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are now available; and what advice to prescribers on the use, brands, or side-effects of such drugs has been given.

  Mr. Sackville
  The safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs—NSAIDs—remains under review by the Committee on Safety of Medicines. The findings and recommendations of the CSM will be made public, if appropriate, through relevant channels such as the bulletin "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance". Advice to prescribers on the use, brands and side-effects of NSAIDs is given in the product data sheets produced by manufacturers and authorised by the Licensing Authority, and in the British national formulary which the Department of Health sends free to all doctors. Articles from the CSM relating to the safety of NSAIDs have also been published in the bulletin "Current Problems", No. 16, issued in 1986 and in the British Medical Journal in March and May 1986. Copies of the bulletin are available in the Library.

  Free Prescriptions
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what grounds medical conditions are added to the list of conditions that entitle long-term sufferers to free prescriptions.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 21 March at column 68.

  NHS Expenditure
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure on the national health service in 1978–79; what it will be in 1994–95; and what percentage increase this represents in real terms.

  Mr. Sackville
  Government expenditure on the national health service will be a planned £30,669 million in 1994–95 compared with £6,273 million in 1978–79, an increase of 63·9 per cent. in real terms.

  Hospital Consultants
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had concerning the self-payment by maximum or part-time hospital consultants of in-service training costs; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None. The chief medical officer has convened a conference on continuing medical education to 1044
  be held on 13 June which will consider the question of the funding of the training and education of hospital consultants.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the guidelines limiting the proportion of their NHS income which full-time hospital consultants may earn from private practice apply to hospital consultants employed by trusts.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The limits on the earnings from private practice of full-time national health service consultants apply to those whose contracts retain national terms—whether they work in trusts or for health authorities. Trusts have freedom to negotiate new terms of employment with their staff.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's estimate of the average time spent by hospital consultants employed as maximum part-timers on private practice and on national health service patients.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No such estimate is made.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of their working hours maximum part-time hospital consultants are required to spend on national health service patients.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  National health service hospital consultants with maximum part-time contracts under national terms of service are contractually required to devote substantially the whole of their professional time to duties in the NHS. The actual allocation of time with NHS patients is determined as part of the consultant job plan drawn up in agreement with local management.

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the total annual budget, including all editorial, production and distribution costs, for "The Patient's Charter News", published by the NHS management executive;

  (2) what is the total annual budget for the patient's charter unit of the NHS management executive.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The 1993–94 production budget for "The Patient's Charter News" was £44,000. This excludes editorial and distribution costs since both were carried out in-house, and it is not possible to isolate these costs.

  The patients charter unit is part of a branch of the department concerned with quality and consumer issues in the national health service and which has an overall budget for several units. Since the breakdown of this budget is not unit based, it is not possible to provide an accurate annual figure for the patients charter unit alone.

  NHS Executives
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether regional health authorities will adopt the title "NHS Executive" before their geographical names from 1 April.

  Mr. Mawhinney
  No. Regional health authorities will use the names established by the National Health Service (Regional Health Authorities) Order 1994.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of the new corporate look for the NHS management executive in terms of(a) stationery, (b) publications, (c) signage, (d) livery, (e) logo design and (g) in total.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The new corporate identity for the NHS executive is based very closely on the design produced four years ago for the NHS management executive. No further costs have been incurred in logo design. There are no plans for expenditure on livery or new signage on the NHS executive headquarters buildings, but existing signs will be replaced as necessary over time.

  Application of the new design to NHS publications does not increase costs. The cost of designing and introducing new stationery which is being phased in as existing stocks are exhausted, will be £50,000. This will be more than offset by the very considerable savings expected from the proposals which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced on 21 October 1993 for streamlining central management of the NHS.

  Mental Health Act 1983
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require regional health authorities to review their recruitment of doctors for duties under section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 to ensure that the numbers are sufficient to respond promptly to requests for assessment under the Act.

  Mr. Bowis
  We carried out a survey in 1993 of regional health authorities' arrangements for approving doctors under section 12 of the Act. The results indicated that the Department's guidance was being properly implemented and the numbers of doctors approved were sufficient. The Department is also discussing with the Royal College of Psychiatrists the training given to approved doctors about their responsibilities under the Act.

  University College Hospital
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much additional money has been allocated to keep University College hospital open; to whom the money will be made available; and if the expenditure will continue in future years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In 1993–94 University College London Hospitals—UCLH—of which University College hospital is a part, were allocated transitional funding totalling some £10·6 million as part of a management plan for matching their capacity to current and foreseeable demand for services. This funding was made available to UCLH via its host commissioner, Camden and Islington district health authority. The amount of transition funding allocated to UCLH in 1994–95 is yet to be agreed.
  1046

  Hospitals (Accident and Emergency Departments)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what increase in patient activity at Unversity College hospital accident and emergency department she expects after St. Bartholomew's accident and emergency department shuts; and what increase in bed numbers will occur.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Based on studies carried out by the London ambulance service, we estimate that the closure of St. Batholomew's accident and emergency department will lead to a 16 per cent. increase in attendances—around 10,000 per year—at University College London Hospital's accident and emergency department. We anticipate that UCLH will be able to absorb this additional work load within the capacity of its existing facilities.

  Staff Guidance
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the consistency between paragraph 1 of the nurses', midwives and health visitors' code for professional conduct and paragraphs 8, 27 and 28 of the national health service management executive "Guidance for Staff on Relations with the Public and the Media"; which document takes precedence; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The national health service management executive's "Guidance for staff on relations with the public and the media", EL(93)51 makes plain—paragraph 2—that it complements the United Kingdom Central Council code of professional conduct.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters she has received criticising the NHS management executive document on "Guidance for Staff on Relations with the Public and the Media".

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have received five letters which, while supporting the aims of the guidance, have offered particular criticism on points of detail.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will renew the NHSME document on "Guidance for Staff on Relations with the Public and the Media" with particular reference to paragraphs 3, 8, 27 and 28.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Sir Duncon Nichol, the then chief executive of the national health service management executive, wrote to all NHS managers on 7 September 1993 to clarify paragraph 27 of the guidance. We have no immediate plans to review the guidance.

  Misconduct and Mismanagement
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances publicising misconduct or mismanagement in the NHS is a dismissible offence; and if she will make a statement on the considerations underlying the policy on the subject.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Decisions about disciplinary matters are entirely for national health service employers.

  The NHS management executive's "Guidance for Staff on Relations with the Public and the Media", EL(93)51, sets out the responsibilities of staff when raising issues of concern about health care matters and indicates how employers may ensure these rights and duties are met. A copy is available in the Library.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are not admitted within a month of their second cancelled operation..

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 28 march 1994]: In the quarter ending 31 December 1993, 150 patients failed to be admitted to hospital within one month of their second cancelled operation. The total number of general and acute elective operations performed in the same period was 1,062,000.

  Drugs
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of state for Health what plans she has to expand the list of drugs that cause dependency and to require prescriptions to be written in full by hand.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  Dangerous drugs are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The list of such drugs is kept constantly under review by the Home Office and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. The provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985 include a requirement that prescriptions for certain controlled drugs be written in full by hand. This requirement applies to drugs listed in schedules 2 and 3 to the regulations.

  The ACMD has made certain recommendations to tighten the controls on temazepam, including a requirement that prescriptions be written in full by hand. These are under consideration.

  Sea Pollution
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the progress of the Medical Research Council's study of the effects of sea pollution on health.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have been asked to reply.
  1048
  The Medical Research Council is not carrying out any studies into the effects of sea pollution on health. It is, however, always willing to consider soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications for research funding.

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

  Mr. Sackville
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 March 1994, c. 826–27]: I regret that the table showing life expectancy and infant mortality rate for the United Kingdom, 1982–1991 in my previous reply was inconsistent with the text. A revised table based on 100,000 livebirths is as follows:

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

  Life Expectancy1

  Year

  Males

  Females

  Infant Mortality Rate2

  1982

  71·1

  77·0

  1,098·1

  1983

  71·4

  77·2

  1,019·6

  1984

  71·5

  77·4

  952·4

  1985

  71·7

  77·5

  936·4

  1986

  71·9

  77·6

  951·0

  1987

  72·2

  77·9

  912·4

  1988

  72·4

  78·0

  896·6

  1989

  72·7

  78·3

  841·6

  1990

  73·0

  78·5

  785·4

  1991

  73·3

  78·8

  735·0

  1 At birth.

  2Per 100,000 births.

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

  World Health Organisation Statistics volume 1992, for 1991.

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  STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS: INSTRUCTIONS
  FENTHION REVIEW PAPER
  FENTHION REVIEW PAPER
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 28th–29th MARCH
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 28th–29th MARCH
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS: MEDICAL PANEL
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS: MEDICAL PANEL
  STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS: PUBLICATION
  STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS: PUBLICATION
  EC FINANCIAL PROJECTS: CURRENCY DENOMINATION
  EC FINANCIAL PROJECTS: CURRENCY DENOMINATION
  PRISONS: VISITS on GOOD FRIDAY and CHRISTMAS DAY
  PRISONS: VISITS on GOOD FRIDAY and CHRISTMAS DAY
  IMMIGRATION ACT DETAINEES
  IMMIGRATION ACT DETAINEES
  ASYLUM-SEEKERS: DETENTION
  ASYLUM-SEEKERS: DETENTION
  JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 23 MARCH
  JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 23 MARCH
  SARAJEVO: UK-US INITIATIVE
  SARAJEVO: UK-US INITIATIVE
  NORTHERN IRELAND DEATHS: STATISTICS
  NORTHERN IRELAND DEATHS: STATISTICS