Written Answers of 6 May 1994

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what purchasing contracts for health and social services boards were finalised by the Eastern health and social services board for the financial year 1994–95; what are the amounts involved; and with whom the contracts were made.

  Mr. Ancram
  The amounts involved in Eastern health and social services boards purchasing contracts for 1994–95 are shown below:

  Provider

  Finalised amount

  Eastern board area

  Belfast City Hospital Trust

  £38.975 M

  Royal Group of Hospitals Trust

  £47.197 M

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital Trust

  £11.740 M

  Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals Trust

  £38.147 M

  Green Park Trust

  £19.890 M

  Down Lisburn Trust

  £56.504 M

  South and East Belfast Community Trust

  £57.873 M

  North and West Belfast Community Trust

  £47.757 M

  North Down and Ards Community Trust

  £24.583 M

  Eastern Ambulance Service Trust

  £4.885 M

  CROSS BOUNDARY FLOW CONTRACTS

  Southern board area

  Craigavon Area Hospital Group Trust

  £405,727

  Extra contractual

  Craigavon and Banbridge Community Trust

  referral

  Armagh and Dungannon

  £21,494

  Newry and Mourne Trust

  £223,125

  Western board area

  Altnagelvin

  Not finalised

  Extra contractual

  Omagh and Fermanagh

  referral

  Northern board area

  United Hospitals

  Not finalised

  Causeway

  £102,000

EDUCATION

  Teachers (Suspensions)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will institute an inquiry into the number of head teachers and other teachers suspended from schools in Cheshire in the last 12 months, and the schools involved.

  Mr. Forth
  As a result of concerns expressed recently about allegations against teachers, the Department is currently preparing a survey of all local education authorities to find out the number of teachers who have been suspended as a result of allegations involving pupils.

  Women Teachers
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review the information published in Statistical Bulletin 24/93 regarding teachers' responsibilities and pay scales, tables 9 to 12 and paragraphs 16 to 24, in order to identify whether women teachers in secondary schools which were grant maintained at the time of the survey appear to have had promotion prospects better than, the same as, or worse than women teachers in otherwise comparable local authority schools; what factors other than differences in experience and career break patterns account for any observed differences in pay scales between men and women teachers in grant-maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There are only relatively few self-governing grant-maintained schools in this survey, and they may not necessarily be representative of self-governing schools as a whole in this respect. However, the survey data show that women had a somewhat higher proportion of senior posts in these schools than in secondary schools as a whole.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his policy towards the promotion of equal opportunities for teachers employed in grant-maintained schools; and what arrangements he has made for monitoring known or possible inequalities between men and women teachers regarding their responsibilities and pay.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The governing bodies of self-governing grant-maintained schools must comply with the provisions of equal opportunities legislation which apply to them as employers. There are no specific arrangements for monitoring inequalities between men and women teachers: however, the Department collects and publishes statistical data on teachers' pay scales and positions of responsibility from time to time, and the School Teachers Review Body may examine such aspects of teachers' conditions of employment if it sees fit.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what goals he has set for the employment of women teachers in posts of responsibility in grant-maintained schools; what relevant advice or guidance he has given to the governing bodies of grant-maintained schools; and what progress is being made towards his goals.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is not for my right hon. Friend to set such goals; appointments of teachers to posts of responsibility are a matter for the governing body of the school. The Department's guide on education law for governors of self-governing grant-maintained schools refers to the requirements of equal opportunities legislation.

  Mobile Telephones and Pagers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department currently has in use 100 portable telephones, at a total annual rental of £27,000 plus
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  call charges, and 66 pagers, at a total annual running cost of £26,300. The portable telephones may be used in cars if a hands-free mount is fitted. It is not feasible to quote a separate figure for car telephones. Portable telephones and pagers are issued to key personnel in the Department who may need to be contacted urgently.

  Sex Education
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish his Department's circular of guidance on sex education in schools.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend is publishing the circular today. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what have been the costs to his Department in(a) providing legal advice to witnesses appearing before the Scott inquiry, (b) drawing up evidence to be submitted to the Scott inquiry, (c) officials and legal advisers attending the Scott inquiry and (d) other related costs.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Office of Public Service and Science has not incurred any legal costs in respect of evidence submitted to the Scott inquiry. Legal costs relating to my own evidence have been borne by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I attended three sessions of the inquiry and was accompanied by my grade 5 private secretary. Records have not, however, been kept of the total amount of time spent by officials in preparing for, and attending, the inquiry and the cost of staff time is not therefore quantifiable. I prepared my witness statement myself during the recess.

  Charterline
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has completed an evaluation of the charterline pilot scheme.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have completed an evaluation of the charterline pilot scheme which ended on 31 March 1994. The pilot study has shown that people need more information about how to contact their public services. A number of proposals to meet this need have been identified during the charterline pilot. We are using the charterline database to work with the Royal Mail to produce a series of directories which will help people to contact their public services. We are also working similarly with BT and Thomson Directories. I do not propose therefore to continue the charterline service. In addition, we are working with organisations providing local services to produce information posters which will display helpline numbers and local information. We will continue to give priority to assisting others, such as the BBC, to develop their own helplines.

  In line with the provisions of the code of practice on access to Government information, copies of the evaluation report and the research conducted before and during the pilot study have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. A copy of the evaluation report has been sent to each public service organisation participating in the pilot study.

ENVIRONMENT

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was written off in the Property Services Agency accounts in 1992–93; broken down by(a) customer name and (b) amount; and which sums are still being pursued.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 29 April,Official Report, column 354 for the details of the write-offs in the PSA services 1992–93 appropriation accounts. Of the total customer debt of £76.6 million outstanding at the end of the 1992–93, £6.9 million is still being pursued.

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to ensure that, when advice on fire safety and fire precautions is no longer provided to Departments by the Department of the Environment, all Government Departments will continue to obtain professional advice on these matters.

  Mr. Baldry
  Individual Departments remain responsible for protecting against fire hazards the buildings that they occupy. It is for them to decide on the extent and the source of professional advice for particular buildings. My Department will, however, continue to provide central guidance on fire safety protection standards for Government buildings and on procedures for the management of fire safety.

  Mobile Telephones and Pagers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department currently uses 139 portable telephones, costing £44,000 per annum for line rental; 428 pagers and electronic bleepers, which cost £20,000 per annum to rent; and 15 car telephones, costing £5,000 per annum for line rental.

  My Department is also responsible for 34 car telephones and two pagers and electronic bleepers which are fitted in the pool cars and associated maintenance vehicles operated by the Government car service. The annual rental for this equipment is £11,000.

  The equipment is allocated to business units and not specifically to individual officers.

  Urban Regeneration
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if an urban development corporation, arm's-length city challenge company, a housing action trust or the Urban Regeneration Agency may bid for the uncommitted non ring-fenced proportion of the single regeneration budget for 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  Mr. Baldry
  Paragraph 44 of the bidding guidance for the single regeneration budget for 1995–96, copies of
  647
  which are in the Library of the House, explains that English Partnerships—the Urban Regeneration Agency—urban development corporations and housing action trusts may join with other partners in promoting a bid for uncommitted resources from the single regeneration budget. Similarly, city challenge companies may take part in bids and, as paragraph 29 of the guidance makes clear, existing city challenge partnerships might in some cases form the basis for initiatives supported by the budget. Arrangements for the budget for 1996–97, including those relating to any uncommitted proportion of the budget, will be finalised in the light of the public expenditure settlement later in the year.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  E-Mail
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee (1) if he will institute an experiment directed to enabling hon. Members to receive E-mail from constituents similar to that currently being undertaken by the United States House of Representatives;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the feasibility of connecting the Parliamentary Data and Video Network to the Internet.

  Mr. Gary Waller
  The Information Committee has reported on the Parliamentary Video and Data Network —PDVN—pilot project in its first report, "The Provision of a Parliamentary Data and Video Network", HC237 of the present Session. If the House approves the establishment of a permanent Parliamentary Data and Video Network as proposed in the report, the Information Committee intends to undertake an inquiry into future additional services which might be made available to Members on the PDVN.

  Parliamentary Counsel Office
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many amendments for consideration at the Committee stage of the Sale and Supply of Goods Bill were drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

  Mr. Newton
  None.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many amendments for consideration at the Report stage of the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill have been drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

  Mr. Newton
  Those amendments tabled on Tuesday 3 May 1994 were drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Those tabled on Wednesday 4 May 1994 were not.

TRANSPORT

  West Cost Main Line
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the amount of maintenance and track renewal work to be carried out in the financial year 1994–95 on the west coast main line.

  Mr. Freeman
  The funds available to Railtrack this year for maintenance and track renewal are similar to 648
  1993–94 levels. Railtrack is committed to maintaining the west coast main line in the steady state until work on upgrading starts in mid-1995. The amount of work to be carried out this year should therefore be broadly similar to that in 1993–94.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will implement the plan for investment in the west coast railway as set out by the west midlands regional rail forum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The feasibility study on the modernisation of the west coast main line currently being undertaken jointly by Railtrack and WCML Development Co. Ltd. will examine a range of investment options. The contract for the work on the line will be let in early 1995 and the work itself is expected to commence in mid-1995.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the west coast main line will be modernised; by whom; and at what cost.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend announced on 1 December that, following a feasibility study by a private sector consortium working with Railtrack, a competition will be held early next year for the contract to design, build and maintain the improvements to the line. That remains the timetable. The feasibility study is under way. Work is expected to start in mid-1995 and to take eight to 10 years. The cost has been estimated at between £400 million and £600 million.

  Rail Privatisation
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the criteria for allocating rolling stock by the three proposed leasing companies.

  Mr. Freeman
  There will be a number of criteria. The most important are the suitability of rolling stock to the route and to meet the service specified by the Franchising Director. The final allocation of stock will be a matter for negotiation between the rolling stock company and the passenger train operator.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much investment he estimates will be required to prepare the rail network for privatisation.

  Mr. Freeman
  Investment in the rail network has been geared to the maintenance and improvement of service standards and has been running at historically high levels in recent. years. Investment levels of around £3 billion announced last November for the three years from 1994–95 continue to support these objectives.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when assistant chief driving examiners in the Driving Standards Agency were made equivalent in grade to senior executive officers; when the agency made this decision; when the appropriate trade unions were consulted; what powers within the agency's framework document were invoked to make this decision; and if senior executive officers will be eligible for assistant chief driving examiner posts.

  Mr. Key
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief executive, Dr. John Ford. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
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  Letter from John Ford to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 4 May 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about Assistant Chief Driving Examiners and Senior Executive Officers having equivalent status.
  The Assistant Driving Examiner grade was established many years ago, and has always been on a comparable pay scale to that for the Senior Executive Officers, and is therefore classed as an equivalent grade. The pay scales were set at national not at Agency level and the relevant trade unions were consulted during negotiations. The Agency has followed the Departmental line on this issue and has not therefore had to invoke any powers within its framework document.
  Lateral transfers of staff between jobs in different disciplines, of roughly equivalent levels are provided for in Civil Service terms and conditions as set out in the Staff Handbook. Therefore Senior Executive Officers would be eligible to be considered for Assistant Chief Driving Examiner posts, although training in the specialist aspects of the driving test would be required.

  Night Flights
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he has reached a decision on the night flying restrictions to apply at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted from 23 October 1994; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The proposals that I published on 10 November 1993 for revised night flying restrictions

  Winter

  Movements Limit

  Quota

  Summer

  Movements Limit

  Quota

  Heathrow

  1994–95

  2,550

  5,000

  1995

  3,250

  7,000

  1995–96

  2,550

  5,000

  1996

  3,250

  7,000

  1996–97

  2,550

  5,000

  1997

  3,250

  7,000

  1997–98

  2,550

  5,000

  1998

  3,250

  7,000

  Gatwick

  1994–95

  3,000

  6,820

  1995

  8,050

  9,550

  1995–96

  3,750

  6,820

  1996

  9,100

  9,550

  1996–97

  4,500

  6,820

  1997

  10,150

  9,550

  1997–98

  5,250

  6,820

  1998

  11,200

  9,550

  Stansted

  1994–95

  4,640

  3,000

  1995

  6,750

  4,200

  1995–96

  4,820

  3,000

  1996

  7,000

  4,200

  1996–97

  5,000

  3,000

  1997

  7,000

  4,200

  1997–98

  5,000

  3,000

  1998

  7,000

  4,200

  The quotas for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted remain as I announced on 6 July 1993. The movements limits for Heathrow and Gatwick are as proposed in the November 1993 consultation. The Stansted movements limits that I am announcing for the first three seasons are slightly lower than those proposed, as was the movement limit for this summer announced on 1 February. I also confirm that the movements limits and quotas for Stansted have been set in the light of the present limit of 78,000 passenger air transport movements—ATM. I will review both the movements limits and the quotas if Parliament should approve an increase in the Stansted ATM limit before summer 1998.

  The 10 per cent. end-of-season flexibility, with penalty for excess thereafter, will apply, as proposed, to the movements limits as well as to the quotas. The arrangements for dispensation also continue to apply. Experience of operating under the guidelines published on 6 July 1993 has shown the need for some minor amendments. These do not change the circumstances in
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  covered the arrangements for the 1994 summer season and those to apply from winter 1994–95 until the end of the summer 1998 season. We acknowledged the need for an early decision on the 1994 summer season by separating the proposals in the consultation paper and our conclusions for that season were announced by my hon. Friend, and my noble Friend on 1 February. The summer season commenced on 27 March and continues until 23 October. The conclusions that I am announcing today apply to the following four years.

  Our November consultation paper proposed that there should be a movements limit for each airport with the quota system based on the noise certification of aircraft also applying as a supplementary control. An alternative approach was also set out which would dispense with the need for quotas but impose subsidiary limits on movements by the noisier types of aircraft. As in respect of summer 1994, the responses for the following four years showed very little support for this alternative approach. I have therefore concluded that the night restrictions should continue to be in the form of movements limits supplemented by quotas. The classification of aircraft according to the quota count system, the hours of the night restrictions and the night quota period will remain as I announced on 6 July 1993.

  The night-time movements limits and quotas for each airport for each season will be:—

  which a dispensation might be considered but provide some further clarification for operators. I have placed a copy of the revised guidelines in the Library.

  I have given careful consideration to the responses from people living around the three airports, the local authorities, environmental groups and local organisations and other representative bodies. I have also given careful consideration to the responses from airlines, aviation bodies and other user organisations. In general, the responses were more polarised than hitherto, reflecting not just the particular interests of those putting them forward but also, I am sure, the length of time for which we have been debating the issues. My aim is still to strike a fair balance between the different interests: to protect local people from excessive aircraft noise at night without unnecessarily impeding the airline industry. The movements limits and quotas that I have announced today for the three airports should achieve this. However, as explained in the November 1993 consultation paper, there are difficulties in setting appropriate movements limits several years ahead. I therefore confirm that, as proposed, the

  651
  Government will be prepared to consider adjustments to the movements limits prior to 1998 in the light of advice from the airport consultative committees.

  I fully acknowledge that aircraft noise at night may disturb the sleep of some people near airports and that it is a matter of concern to many others who fear that they might be disturbed. However, a complete ban on night flights could not be justified. For many years, it has been the Government's policy to allow night operations to continue while seeking to ensure that eventually all such operations would be carried out by quiet types of aircraft. In my announcement on 6 July last year I drew attention to the great strides that had been made by the industry in phasing out older, noisier aircraft and to the regulations to ensure the phasing out between 1995 and 2002 of what are now described as the noisier chapter 2 jets. Those are aircraft once regarded as quiet.

  The arrangements that I have confirmed today continue the policy of encouraging the use of the most modern and quietest types of aircraft. This will permit some increase in movements provided that the quietest types of aircraft are used but the noise quotas will keep overall night noise levels well below those for summer 1988 at Heathrow and Gatwick. The movements limits provide overall control on the number of movements at night. I understand the worries expressed by local people that substantial growth of the number of movements, irrespective of the noise performance of the aircraft concerned, might bring additional disturbance from the ground operations associated with those aircraft. I therefore indicated in the November 1993 consultation paper that we were considering whether to initiate a new study into ground noise at airports at night to see whether further measures of amelioration or control might be appropriate. This has been generally welcomed. I therefore confirm that I have asked my officials to consider further with BAA plc, which is responsible for measures to control ground noise at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, the scope and form that such a study might take, arid to present proposals to me by the end of this year.

  I also confirm that the monitoring and reporting arrangements announced on 6 July 1993 and 1 February 1994 are under way. These are being overseen by the Department's aircraft noise monitoring advisory committee and comprise

  (a) a review of the longstanding departure noise levels of 102 PNdB (night) and 110 PNdB (day), 89 and 97 dBA respectively;

  (b) the monitoring of noise performance of aircraft covered by the QC classification;

  (c) reports by each airport to their consultative committee on all night movements, whether covered by quota, or by exempt types of aircraft, or granted exemptions or dispensations;

  (d) suitable confirmation that the reporting arrangements cover the full audit trail;

  (e) an initial report by ANMAC on the performance of the new night restrictions system after the first year of operation.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of(a) northbound and (b) southbound traffic on the A34–A5 corridor parallel to the proposed Birmingham northern relief road is long distance; and what is the total amount of traffic on the Birmingham northern relief road that is expected to be long distance in 1996 and 2011.
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  Mr. Key
  The question relates to matters which are the responsibility of the Highways Agency; the chief executive will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Dr. Tony Wright, dated 5 May 1994:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of (a) northbound and (b) southbound traffic on the A34-A5 corridor parallel to the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road is long distance; and what is the total amount of traffic on the Birmingham Northern Relief Road that is expected to be long distance in 1996 and 2011. As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I have been asked to reply.
  The Traffic Model used by Midland Expressway Limited indicates that there are negligible numbers of vehicles using the A34 from Walsall to Churchbridge which then pass along the A5 to either Gailey (M6 J12) or Weeford. This model provides the basis for the traffic figures included in the Statement of Reasons for this scheme, a copy of which was sent to you recently. Full documentation of the model was published in February and is available to the public. I can arrange for a summary to be sent if you require one.
  But the A34/A5 route is not a close parallel to BNRR and you may be interested in traffic flows on the A38/A5 route which does more closely parallel the Birmingham Northern Relief Road.
  Current daily traffic flows in the A38-A5 corridor vary between 25,000 and 50,000 vehicles a day depending on which sector is looked at. Only a small proportion, some 2,750 vehicles, travelling over the entire length between Bassetts Pole and Churchbridge have an origin and a destination beyond the corridor. Of this traffic approximately 1,250 vehicles are southbound, 1,500 northbound.
  Long distance traffic which uses other trunk routes into this corridor, and which could use BNRR for part of its journey, is also present; for instance vehicles travelling from north of Fazeley to Churchbridge and beyond.
  Should BNRR be built, two way flows of through trips (that is traffic between with an origin and destination outside the conurbation) are estimated at 19,500 vehicles per day in 1996 rising to some 33,000 per day in 2011. More details of traffic flows are given in the Statement of Reasons.
  There are no known material differences in flows between northbound and southbound traffic although at peak hours there will be considerable differences in the local flows and hence in the proportions of traffic represented by these long-range vehicles.

  Motorways
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of motorway in England and Wales were coned off in(a) October 1992 and (b) March 1994.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. The chief executive has written to the hon. Gentleman.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. George Howarth, dated 5 May 1994:
  You recently put down a Parliamentary Question asking how many miles of motorway in England and Wales were coned off in October 1992 and March 1994. As this is a matter for the Highways Agency, I have been asked to reply.
  On 1 October 1992, 106 miles of motorway in England were coned off. On 1 March 1994 the figure was 139 miles. I do not have any figures for Wales since the Agency is not responsible for these roads.
  The closure figures represent about 6% and 8% respectively of the total motorway network. But the nature of maintenance works is such that the figures can fluctuate from month to month throughout the year.

TREASURY

  Security
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the use of private detective agencies and security companies by his Department.

  Mr. Nelson
  No private detective agencies are used by the Treasury. Information relating to the use of security companies was included in the answer that my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 21 April 1994,Official Report, columns 596–97.

  Coinage System
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he is considering to the coinage system.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have asked the Royal Mint to undertake a public consultation exercise on the possible introduction of a £2 coin for general circulation and also on whether the 50p coin should be replaced with a smaller coin.

  The Royal Mint will consult as widely as possible and will seek the views of the general public as well as those of special interest groups and major coin users.

  Mobile Telephones and Pagers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury currently uses 23 mobile telephones, 71 pagers and electronic bleepers and seven car telephones. The total annual operating cost of this equipment is £20,300 excluding VAT and telephone call costs.

  The mobile telephones are mainly used in the offices of Ministers and senior officials. The pagers and bleepers are provided to some staff whose jobs regularly take them out of their offices but who need to be contactable, for example, computer support personnel or office services staff.

  Tax Relief
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the total cost in 1994–95 of relief from capital gains tax for(a) retirement relief, (b) holdover relief for gifts, (c) relief for trading losses against capital gains, (d) indexation allowance and rebasing to March 1982, (e) exemption of first £5,800 of gains of individuals and first £2,900 of gains of trustees and (f) gains accrued but unrealised at death.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 28 April 1994]: Provisional estimates for the costs of the reliefs, allowances and exemptions for 1994–95 are given in the table.

  Cost for 1994–95 (£ million)

  a. Retirement relief

  65

  b. Holdover relief for gifts

  50

  c. Relief for trading losses against capital gains

  85

  654

  Cost for 1994–95 (£ million)

  d. Indexation allowance and rebasing to March 1982 (individuals and trusts only)1

  1,100

  e. Exemption of first £5,800 of gains on individuals and first £2,900 of gains on trustees

  450

  f. Gains accrued but unrealised at death

  500

  1 Company figures are not available.

  These estimates are the costs of the present reliefs and do not represent the yield from abolition of the relief: consequential behavioural effects could substantially alter the yield. These figures are all tentative and subject to a wide margin of error. All figures relate to individuals and trusts only and exclude gains made by companies who pay corporation tax on their gains.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was(a) the total value and (b) the number of estates, notified for probate in the latest available year where the net estate was valued at £1 million or over and no inheritance tax was paid.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 29 April 1994]: Exemption from inheritance tax applies to certain transfers, for example between husband and wife and to charities. Relief is also allowed in respect of certain agricultural property and business assets in order that family farms and businesses can be passed on.

  Provisional estimates for estates applying for grants of representation where death occurred in the financial year 1990–91, and where the net estate was valued at £1 million or over are given below. Figures for more recent years are not available.

  Number

  Number of estates applying for grants of representation

  743

  Number of estates not taxed

  226

  Total net estate value of estates not taxed (£ million)

  490

  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown),Official Report, 15 March 1991, columns 700–1, on capital transfer tax and inheritance tax.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 29 April 1994]: Latest available estimates for capital transfer and inheritance tax for 1993–94 and 1994–95 are as follows:

  Estimate

  Reduction, compared with indexed 1978–79 regime is:

  Total liability (£ million)

  1993–94

  770

  1994–95

  820

  Average liability1 (£)

  1993–94

  11,400

  1994–95

  11,800

  Taxpayer numbers (thousands)

  Indexed regime

  1993–94

  68

  1994–95

  69

  655

  Estimate

  Present regime

  1993–94

  20

  1994–95

  21

  1 The reduction in the average liability is calculated using estimated numbers of taxpayers under the indexed 1978–79 regime.

  These estimates are based on the estimated number and value of taxable estates passing on death in 1993–94 and 1994–95 under existing rules and make no allowance for any impact which the indexed 1978–79 tax rate schedule would have on the level of taxable estates.

WALES

  Deer (Tuberculosis)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by region the number of cases of tuberculosis in deer in each year since 1985.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There has been one notified outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in deer in Wales since 1985. It occurred in Dyfed in 1988.

  Examinations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a comparable table of the standards of each GCSE examining board covering pupils in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not available.

  Concessionary Travel
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning concessionary travel for pensioners in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No.

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the building of sheltered housing in Alyn and Deeside.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I expect Housing for Wales and the local authority to ensure that an adequate supply of sheltered housing is available. Housing for Wales plans, to complete six category 1 units for elderly people during 1994–95; the local authorities' plans are set out in their "Housing Strategy Operational Plan", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Housing Defects
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet community and town councils and tenants' associations in Alyn and Deeside to discuss investment to combat damp and cold conditions and defective doors and windows.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Such investment is a matter for the district council which determines local priorities within the resources that it has available.

  Hospital Beds, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with health trusts in Clwyd concerning acute beds in hospitals.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Welsh Office health department officials have met the Wrexham Maelor NHS trust about its proposals for estate rationalisation on the Wrexham Maelor hospital site.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans his Department has(a) to utilise the Internet, (b) to make available on the Internet press releases and other departmental information which the public may wish to have access to and (c) to use the Internet as a means of increasing the openness of his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department is considering the use of the Internet and other electronic services initially for the transmission to non-media outlets of press notices. The possibility of including other departmental information would be considered after this first stage.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has had regarding wind farms in Wales; what is the nature of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Since 1991, I have received 91 representations in favour of wind farm developments, two of which included petitions with 10 and 60 signatures respectively, and 291 representations against developments, one of which included a petition with 879 signatures.

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what specific proposals he has to reduce the incidence of sheep scab in Welsh flocks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  A number of representations have been made calling for the Government to impose statutory controls in respect of sheep scab. However, this is a disease which can be controlled readily by individual farmers, who are well aware of the preventive measures and procedures needed to deal with it. The Agriculture Departments have produced a guidance leaflet on how to safeguard against sheep scab and what to do if the disease is suspected. Veterinary field staff will also continue to watch for welfare problems at markets and on-farm and will be alert for cases of distress caused by sheep scab. We shall not hesitate to press for suitable action to be taken under animal welfare legislation against those who cause serious welfare problems by not dealing promptly and satisfactorily with outbreaks of sheep scab in their flocks.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the guidance to the Health and Safety Commission on the exercise of its responsibilities for co-ordinating certain nuclear safety research programmes will be revised.
  657
  Mr. Eggar
  I wrote to the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission recently agreeing a revision to the guidelines issued originally by the Secretary of State for Energy in 1989. The guidelines have been expanded to include research relevant to any activity or process associated with operation or decommissioning of nuclear power systems on a United Kingdom licensed site. Other changes take account of the changes in the status of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, European Union procurement rules and departmental responsibilities.

  A copy of the revised guidelines has been placed in the Library of the House. Copies have also been sent to Her Majesty's chief inspector of nuclear installations, and the chairmen of Nuclear Electric plc, British Nuclear Fuels plc, and Scottish Nuclear Ltd.

  Strategic Technology Acquisition
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress made to date in creating a national strategic technology acquisition plan.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: The Government adopted the technology priorities of the aviation committee's national strategic technology acquisition plan for civil aeronautics in July 1993. This plan is important in helping to identify and prioritise the research effort that may need to be taken in industry and through publicly funded programmes—and to bring about better complementarity and relevance of the latter including DTI, defence, science base and Community programmes. DTI has just completed a number of pilot exercises which are being evaluated.

  Trade Associations
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to protect the consumer against the setting up of unrepresentative or bogus trade associations.

  All specialties

  Acute sector

  Surgical acute

  Year

  Average length of stay

  Percentage day cases

  Average length of stay

  Percentage day cases

  Average length of stay

  Percentage day cases

  1989–90

  18.5

  13.5

  6.2

  16.6

  5.4

  21.1

  1990–911

  15.6

  14.4

  6.0

  17.7

  4.8

  22.7

  1991–922

  13.0

  16.6

  5.7

  20.4

  5.0

  25.8

  1 Provisional.

  2 Preliminary estimate.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the NHS trusts that came into effect from April 1993 which have held no meetings of the board in public.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that the Under-Secretary of State my right hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) gave him on 25 April at columns 65–66. No public meeting is required for such trusts before 30 September 1994.

  Health Trusts, South Yorkshire
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the names and full-time occupations of all the non-executive directors appointed to health trusts in South Yorkshire.
  658
  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 4 May 1994]: No, the consumer is already protected by a wide range of legislation such as the Trade Description Act 1968, the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which, among other things, provide remedy against misleading or false representation in the supply of goods and services.

  Urban Policy Initiatives
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list every urban policy initiative that has been instituted or operated since 1979, the date that each scheme began operating, where appropriate the date that the scheme ceased operating and the funds available on an annual basis under each scheme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 5 May, Official Report, column 608.

HEALTH

  Patient Statistics
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average length of stay in hospital for(a) all patients and (b) patients in surgical specialties in each year since 1988–89.

  Mr. Sackville
  The average length of stay figure relates to in-patients who use a hospital bed for at least one night. They exclude day cases, although procedures previously requiring a short stay in hospital are increasingly undertaken on a day basis. The proportion of finished consultant episodes which were day cases is also shown in the table.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 17 January at column 385. The following amendments apply.

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary & Montagu Hospital NHS Trust

  Chairman

  Formerly: Mr. C. Bryant

  Now: vacant

  Non-executive directors

  Formerly two vacancies

  Now: Mr. J. Pickup—Chartered surveyor

  Mrs. E. Sparrow—Business services consultant

  Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Trust

  Non-executive director

  Formerly: vacancy

  Now: Mrs. B. Wright—Former Matron

  Out-Patient Appointments (Cost)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost of an out-patient appointment in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Sackville
  The average cost of an out-patient appointment in 1991–92 was £54.18. The figure is derived from the annual financial returns completed by health authorities and national health service trusts. It includes overheads and capital charges. Information for earlier years was not collected on a comparable basis.

  Ritual Abuse
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what communication she had with the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill regarding the publication of Professor La Fontaine's report on ritual abuse; when this communication took place; when the report was made available to the Press; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what is her timetable for the publication of Professor Jean La Fontaine's report on ritual abuse; and if she will make a statement;

  (3) what considerations led to the selection of an anthropologist to produce a report on ritual abuse; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  A report of the main findings of Professor La Fontaine's survey into the extent and nature of organised and ritual abuse will be published shortly. Publication of her full academic book is expected in the autumn.

  Professor La Fontaine's application was one of a number received. It was selected on the basis of scientific merit in the normal way, through independent anonymised peer review and consideration by the Department of Health child care research liaison group, which includes a number of independent academic and social service advisers.

  Professor La Fontaine's report has not been made available to the press. Communication on this issue was by parliamentary question and answer, and I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 29 March at column 690.

  Patient De-registration
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for changing the regulations in respect of the explanation provided to patients who are de-registered by general practitioners.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Health Care (Purchase)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the total expenditure by(a) NHS mists, (b) regional health authorities, (c) district health authorities and (d) family health services authorities on purchase of health care from non-NHS service providers in 1992–93 and 1993–94;

  (2) what was the total expenditure by NHS trusts, regional and district health authorities and family health services authorities on purchase of health care from non-NHS providers in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  The total expenditure by national health service trusts, regional health authorities, district health 660
  authorities and family health services authorities on purchase of health care from non-NHS providers in 1992–93 is shown in the table. Provisional figures for expenditure in the year 1993–94 will be available in December 1994.

  Purchaser

  £000

  NHS trusts

  45,436

  Regional health authorities

  21,421

  District health authorities

  187,335

  Family health services authorities

  13,127

  Note: The figures are provisional: the summarised accounts for 1992–93 are subject to audit by the National Audit Office.

  Sources:

  Annual accounts (1992–93) of FHSAs; regional and district health authorities.

  Financial returns (1992–93) of NHS trusts.

  Specialist Medical Training
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that the medical colleges implement her recommendations on changes to specialist medical training.

  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". The work needed by medical royal colleges, postgraduate deans, the General Medical Council and national health service managers to ensure successful implementation of the report's recommendations is under way. All medical royal colleges have made substantial progress in their commitment to develop curricula for structured training programmes by July this year. Copies of the report are available in the Library.

  Mobile Telephones and Pagers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by her Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are 500 portable telephones, some of which are car telephones, and 460 pagers in use in the Department. The annual operating cost of this equipment is approximately £412,000. Authorised users, who are mainly medical, scientific, professional and managerial staff, represent fewer than one in five of the departmental total. These facilities are required to enable them to maintain necessary contact with the Department and the national health service when travelling or while out of normal working hours.

  Pacemaker Leads
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which regional health authorities have completed the checks on patients implanted with Siemens pacemaker leads 1010T, 1050T and Prototype 93.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has not sought information from regional health authorities. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of individual RHAs for details.

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hackney
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to close Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hackney.

  Mr. Sackville
  East London and the City health authority is at present undertaking public consultation on proposals for the future of hospital services for children in east London. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. Frances Heidensohn, chairman of the authority, for details.

  Ministerial Visits
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether journalists were present at the visit to the ambulance service on 28 April by the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville).

  Mr. Sackville
  No, the press was not informed of the visit.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each hospital, general practitioner practice or other where health workers are employed, visited by her and members of her Ministerial team since 1 April; and which such sites it is intended to visit before 9 June.

  Mr. Sackville
  Health Ministers have visited the following establishments since 1 April:

  Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, Enfield, Middlesex

  Dulwich Medical Centre, East Dulwich

  Dr. Grey's Hospital, Elgin

  East Grinstead Health Clinic, East Grinstead

  Enfield Community Care NHS Trust, Enfield, Middlesex

  Farnham Road Hospital, Guildford, Surrey

  General Practitioner's Surgery, Kingston Upon Thames

  General Practitioner's Surgery, Nottingham

  Hayward House Hospice, City Hospital, Nottingham

  Heathlands Project, Guildford, Surrey

  Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust, Uxbridge, Middlesex

  Hurst Health Centre, Walthamstow, London

  London Ambulance Service, Waterloo

  MeathHome Mental Illness Project, Godalming, Surrey

  MENCAP, Stallington Hospital, Stafford

  Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath

  Skene Nursing Home, Elgin

  Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, London

  General Practitioner's Surgery, Peterborough

  Peterborough Hospitals, NHS Trust

  Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust

  Guy's and St. Thomas's NHS Trust

  Ministers will continue to make regular visits to national health service establishments in performing their official duties. A number of these visits are arranged at short notice and it is not possible to provide a comprehensive list of future visits.

  Youth Treatment Service
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the report of the 1993 social services inspectorate inspection of the youth treatment service and the second annual report of the youth treatment service group; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Copies of these reports have been placed in the Library today. I have accepted the recommendations in both reports and have asked the chief executive of the youth treatment service to implement them as soon as possible. This requirement is included in the "1994–95 Service Annual Plan for the YTS", a copy of which has also been placed in the Library today.

  Psychotherapists
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has any proposals to establish a national register for psychotherapists; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  We support self-regulation by the profession and have welcomed the initiatives taken by the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy and the British Confederation of Psychotherapists to establish their own registers.

  Lumpectomies
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will seek from her United States counterpart the information he holds about the dangers of lumpectomies; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Decisions on treatment protocols for breast disease are matters for the professions.

  Hospital Appointments, Dewsbury and Huddersfield
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her estimate of the number of general practitioner referrals for hospital treatment who are waiting to get on the waiting list for first appointments in the Dewsbury and Huddersfield area;

  (2) how many people are waiting for their first out-patient appointment with a consultant in (a) the Dewsbury area and (b) the Huddersfield area.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There are no waiting lists for first out-patient appointments and no information is held centrally on the time taken between a general practitioner referral and first appointment. The hon. Member may wish to contact the local hospitals for details.

  Community Care
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the minimum recommended frequency of visits by home helps/care assistants to people having been assessed as needing social care support in their own homes.

  Mr. Bowis
  The amount of support will depend on the assessed need of each individual.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether contracts with National Health Service trusts constitute contracts with the independent sector for the purpose of community care special transitional grant.

  Mr. Bowis
  Yes. The conditions attached to the special transitional grant define the independent sector as a body which is not owned, controlled or managed by a local authority.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Attorney-General what have been the costs to his Departments of(a) providing legal advice to witnesses appearing before the Scott inquiry, (b) drawing up evidence to be submitted to the Scott inquiry, (c) officials and legal advisers attending the Scott inquiry and (d) other related costs.
  663
  The Attorney-General
  The following costs have been identified:

  £

  (a) and (b)

  18,700

  (c)

  143

  (d)

  1,240

  1 It has proved impractical to allocate costs to (a) and (b) separately.

  The amounts in (a), (b) and (c) do not include the costs of staff in the Treasury Solicitor's Department which have been charged to client departments or the costs of staff who have provided legal advice within my departments in the normal course of their duties.

PRIME MINISTER

  Friendly Governments
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister when. Her Majesty's Government introduced the practice of not commenting on the policies of other friendly Governments; and if he will list those Governments Her Majesty's Government regard as friendly.

  Year

  Number of applicants

  Independent consultants

  Firm of consultants

  Other

  Referred to committee

  Granted unconditionally

  Granted subject to conditions

  1986

  2

  —

  —

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1987

  3

  —

  —

  3

  3

  3

  —

  1988

  6

  —

  —

  6

  6

  —

  6

  1989

  3

  1

  —

  2

  1

  3

  —

  1990

  5

  —

  1

  4

  3

  4

  1

  1991

  7

  —

  1

  6

  5

  7

  —

  11992

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1993

  5

  2

  2

  1

  —

  5

  —

  1 In 1992 the Cabinet Office took on responsibility for the science functions of the former DES and the Treasury businesses (Her Majesty's Stationery Office; Central Office of Information; Chessington Computer Centre; and the CCTA.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet the Prime Minister of Pakistan to discuss matters of interest to Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 May 1994]: I hope to meet the Prime Minister of Pakistan again later this year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Tuberculosis (Prisons)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England and Wales have been diagnosed in each of the past five years as having tuberculosis; in how many cases the disease was judged to be in its infectious stage; in how many cases it is judged that infection took place in custody; and if he will make a statement about the Prison Service's policy in this regard.
  664
  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 31 March,Official Report, column 908.

  Health Service Visits
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each hospital, general practitioner practice or other national health service site(a) he has visited since 1 April and (b) which he plans to visit before 9 June.

  The Prime Minister
  I have made one visit, to Basildon hospital on Tuesday 5 April. No other visits are planned before 9 June.

  Civil Servants (Business Appointments)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants in his Department applied in each year since 1986 through the business appointments system to take up an outside appointment(a) as an independent consultant, (b) in a firm of consultants and (c) in other employment; how many were referred to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments; and how many were granted.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: The information for the areas covered by the Cabinet Office and the Office of Public Service and Science votes is set out in the table.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 6 May 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to respond to your recent Question on tuberculosis in prisons.
  Records of the number of prisoners in England and Wales who have required "treatment or special precautions" for active tuberculosis are recorded by prison medical officers and are reported to Prison Service Headquarters on an annual basis. The figures for the last four years are as follows:

  Numbers

  1988–89

  22

  1989–90

  11

  1990–91

  13

  1991–92

  13

  1992–93

  28

  In all of the cases the disease was judged to be in its infectious stage. Because of the capacity of this infection to become active after years of dormancy and because of the very variable

  665
  incubation period prior to manifest illness, it is not possible to determine how many of these cases of infection have taken place in custody.

  The Prison Service recognise tuberculosis as a re-emerging problem. The Director of Health Care for prisoners has issued guidance to prison doctors reminding them of the need to undertake careful screening and examination of prisoners on first reception with tuberculosis and other infectious diseases in mind. Further detailed guidance specific to tuberculosis has been prepared in consultation with the Department of Health and the Tuberculosis Sub-Committee of the British Thoracic Society, and has been issued to prison doctors together with separate advice to prison staff relating to occupational health.

  Executive Release Powers
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of prisoners currently in prison who would qualify for release should the Home Secretary choose to exercise the powers of executive release granted to him by the Criminal Justice Act 1992.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Secretary of State for the Home Department has powers under section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 to order that persons who are serving a sentence of imprisonment, other than imprisonment for life or an offence detailed in schedule 1 to the Act, may be released earlier, but not more than six months earlier, than they would otherwise be so released.

  Provisional information on the population at the end of December 1993 shows that if the Home Secretary were to invoke such powers up to about 9,000 prisoners would be eligible for release.

  Stasic Chrenowski
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Stasic Chrenowski, also known as Stanislaw Chrzanowski, a resident in the United Kingdom, is being investigated by the police for wartime Nazi crimes against humanity; what is the current state of the investigation; and if the information which has come into the public domain has been referred to the appropriate unit of the police who are investigating these wartime crimes.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The investigation of allegations against possible war criminals living in England and Wales is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police war crime unit. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on any case which may be the subject of an on-going police investigation.

  Prisoners (Assaults)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults by prisoners on other prisoners have occurred in each of the past five years.

  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. Doug Hoyle, dated 6 May 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 assaults by prisoners on other prisoners have occurred in each of the past five years.
  666
  The information you have requested is published in the Prison Service Corporate Plan for 1994–97. For ease of reference the information requested, including the updated provisional figures for 1993–94, is given in the table below.

  Assaults1 on prisoners 1989–90 to 1993–94

  Year

  Number

  1989–90

  1,932

  1990–91

  1,912

  1991–92

  2,007

  1992–93

  2,062

  21993–94

  2,437

  Proved at adjudication, including any attempted assaults and inciting and assisting other prisoners in an assault.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Pregnant Prisoners
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice is given on security to staff escorting pregnant prisoners to and from court and to and from hospital facilities;

  (2) if he will now review security procedures applicable to women giving birth while in prison custody; and if he will make a statement;

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 4 May 1994]: Responsibility for these matters 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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 6 May 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the Prison Service's security policy for women under escort who are in labour or pregnant.
  The general guidance on security applies equally to both sexes. The principal means of ensuring security on escorts is through the use of handcuffs or the closeting chain. The guidance gives discretion to governors to handcuff a woman when escorting her outside the prison is there are reasonable grounds for believing that she is likely to pose security or control problems.
  When any prisoner is escorted to hospital under restraint, the guidelines allow the handcuffs to be removed with the authorisation of a governor or Principal Officer and require them to be removed at the point where treatment begins if the doctor so requests. In such cases the escorting officers are expected to try to maintain security by other means, such as blocking potential escape routes.
  We have reviewed the guidance in the light of the recent case where a prisoner's handcuffs were not removed while she gave birth, but believe it remains appropriate. The guidance enables senior staff at the prison to consider each case in the light of the circumstances. It also makes it clear that the handcuffs must be removed in any case if the doctor treating the patient so requests.
  It is clear that the local arrangements in this particular case did not work satisfactorily. The procedures at the establishment have been reviewed and more detailed instructions will be given to escorting staff in future. I have apologised to Mrs. Edwards.
  Advice on the procedures for escorting prisoners is given in the Manual on Security, copies of which are in the Library.

  Prison Statistics
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prison auxiliaries and civilian grades have been employed at each prison establishment in each of the last five years;

  (2) what is the proportion of (a) male and (b) female prison officers who are aged (i) 18 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 40 years, (iii) 41 to 55 years and (iv) over 55 years;
  667
  (3) if he will list the number of assaults on prison officers, and the rate of assaults on prison officers per 100 prisoners, at each prison establishment in England and Wales;

  (4) how many working days in each of the last 10 years have been lost to the prison service because of assaults on staff;

  (5) at what prison establishments creche facilities are provided for staff; and what are his plans to provide such facilities in the future;

  (6) how many prison officers work in the prison service of England and Wales; in what establishments they work; and at what grade;

  (7) how many people from the ethnic minorities work as (a) prison officers, (b) prison auxiliaries, and (c) civilian works staff; and at what grade and at what establishments they work;

  (8) how many women prison officers currently work in the prison service; at what establishments; and at what grade;

  (9) how many assaults on prison officers in each of the past five years involved weapons;

  (10) how many prison officers in each of the last 10 years have been medically retired following an assault:

  (11) how many women prison officers have been physically or sexually assaulted in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Responsibility for these matters 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 Brian Landers to Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated May 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions asking for a breakdown of Prison Service staff by age, sex, grade and ethnic origin, and about assaults. The information you requested is set out in tables which have been laid in the library of the House.

  Physical and sexual assault on women prison officers
  Our recording of assaults does not distinguish between those on male and female staff, or between sexual and other types of assault.

  Working days lost due to assault
  Our information on the impact of assaults on staff is not as detailed as it might be, and we are considering the extent to which it can be improved. We do not record separately the amount of sick leave taken as a consequence of assault. Available figures for total sick leave taken per uniformed officer, for whatever cause, are 13.47 days in 1991–92, 12.75 days in 1992–93 and 13.05 days (provisional figure) in 1993–94.

  Medical retirement due to assault
  We do not have separate figures for members of staff who have been granted medical retirement as a result of assault, but the total numbers of Prison Officers who have been medically retired from the Prison Service since 1992 (reliable information for earlier years is not available) are 240 in 1992, 251 in 1993 and 95 in 1994 (as at 29 April).
  As we have explained in our recent correspondence, we do take assaults on members of staff very seriously, and the numbers of all assaults, of whatever kind, is one of the Service's key performance indicators. Reducing violence in prisons is one of the top priorities identified in our Corporate Plan.
  We endeavour to help any member of staff on long term sick leave, for whatever reason, by counselling and advice from line management or from our staff care and welfare service.

  Creches in prisons
  668
  The Prison Service has one workplace nursery at Holloway prison, which is used by staff at Holloway and Pentonville prisons. It will shortly be expanding, to offer a total of 44 places.
  To enable other governors to consider the need for childcare facilities for their staff, the Prison Service Guide to Setting Up a Nursery was published in 1993. This guide drew on the Service's experience in setting up the nursery at Holloway and on more general guidance issued by the Cabinet Office in 1992 on childcare in the Civil Service. A number of establishments are now surveying local demand for and feasibility of childcare facilities.
  Prison Service staff in London and Croydon have access to nurseries run by the Home Office and other government departments and the Service has very recently bought five places in the British Rail network of nurseries around the country.

DEFENCE

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the costs to his Department of providing(a) legal advice to witnesses appearing before the Scott inquiry, (b) drawing up evidence to be submitted to the Scott inquiry, (c) officials and legal advisers attending the Scott inquiry and (d) other related costs.

  Mr. Aitken
  The cost to MOD of providing legal advice to witnesses giving evidence to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry has still largely to be determined. Some bills have yet to be submitted and others are still receiving consideration within my Department. The known cost of legal advisers attending the inquiry on behalf of the MOD witnesses currently stands at £12,000. Sixty-six current and former MOD officials and Ministers have been asked to give written or oral evidence to the inquiry. They have given this evidence on a personal basis and have not been supervised by the Department in its preparation. There is therefore no central record of the time spent or cost incurred in the provision of such evidence; serving MOD officials prepared and gave their evidence as part of their official duties. The direct central cost of the provision of evidence and information from MOD to the inquiry is estimated to be £128,000, which represents the cost of the inquiry liaison unit within MOD and the costs of photocopying and general presentation of the information.

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what consideration he has given to employing ex-service personnel to replace Ministry of Defence police and civilian guards; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what consideration he has given to the future financing of the Ministry of Defence police;

  (3) what plans he has to introduce performance-related pay for Ministry of Defence police;

  (4) what assessment he has made of the current performance of the Ministry of Defence police;

  (5) what plans he has to change the arrangements for control of Ministry of Defence police operations; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) what plans he has to reduce the capability of the Ministry of Defence police to deploy armed officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  As indicated in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, West (Sir J. Spicer) on 15 December 1993,Official Report, columns 738–39, a wide-ranging review is being carried out into the future

  669
  role, aims, objectives, structure and pay of the Ministry of Defence police. This review, which is continuing, has been closely co-ordinated with the defence costs study. Formal recommendations have yet to be put to Ministers.

  The MDP fulfils its current duties with a very high level of professionalism and my Department has no plans to change the arrangements for control of MOD police operations. MDP will continue to be funded by my Department at levels consistent with the requirements for its services.

  Training Colleges
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total number of courses run at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich, over the past two years; how many people have participated; and from which(a) services and (b) countries they came.

  Mr. Hanley
  Over the past two years, 120 courses have been run at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich. There have been 2,183 participants on these courses, including 61 representatives from 30 foreign and Commonwealth countries. United Kingdom participants were from all three services, together with civilians and contractors.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his estimate of the costs involved in closing the Royal Naval college at Greenwich and relocating the staff college to Camberley, including the costs of redundancy and relocation expenses, and of meeting the delapidation obligations at the premises currently occupied by the Royal Naval college;

  (2) what is the estimate of the potential savings to his Department which could be achieved by closing the Royal Naval college at Greenwich, taking into account the redundancy and relocation expenses (a) on the assumption that alternative uses for the current premises can be found and (b) on the assumption that no such alternative use can be found and that the costs of on-going maintenance and upkeep of the buildings will continue to be met from central funds;

  (3) what estimate he has made of the feasibility and cost of maintaining two service staff colleges at Camberley and Greenwich, as against the maintenance of all three current establishments;

  (4) what consideration he has given to the future uses of the buildings currently occupied by the Royal Naval college at Greenwich, and the costs involved in the upkeep and maintenance of these buildings;

  (5) what estimate he has made of the feasibility and cost of locating all three service staff colleges at Greenwich in the premises currently occupied by and adjacent to the Royal Naval college.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have given no formal consideration to these issues. Staff training in all three services has, however, been looked at as part of the defence costs study, but no decisions have yet been made by Ministers.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by his Department at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich(a) in the supervision and management of the college, (b) in teaching, study and related research activities and (c) in the provision of ancillary and support services.

  Mr. Hanley
  The figures requested are as follows:670

  Number

  Supervision and Management

  30

  Teaching, Study and related Research

  99

  Ancillary/Support Services

  1118

  1 Departmental staff plus approximately 150 civilian contract support staff.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the(a) direct and (b) indirect benefit to the United Kingdom of the attendance of overseas service personnel at courses run at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich.

  Mr. Hanley
  The direct benefit of overseas personnel attending courses at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich is the generation of valuable receipts; around £500,000 being generated during financial year 1993–94. The presence of international officers on courses run by the college also broadens the experience and understanding of all United Kingdom course members. The indirect benefits include the fostering and strengthening of our defence relations with friendly and allied countries through the useful exchanges of ideas and views with officers from other countries' armed forces.

  Landing Platform Docks
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy in respect of the provision of ships for the British amphibious capability; and when it is expected that orders will be placed for one or more new landing platform docks.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government have made it clear in the past, including in the recently published "Statement on the Defence Estimates", that they recognise the importance of an effective amphibious capabililty, and are currently making a sizeable investment in this area as a result. Progress continues on the design and construction of the landing platform helicopter, which we ordered last May. Responses to the invitation to tender for the ship life extension programme for the first of the three older landing ships logistics, RFA Sir Bedivere, are currently being evaluated. The project definition studies for the landing platform dock replacement—LPD(R)—have now been completed, and the results are being examined. We hope to be in a position to make a decision on the issue of an invitation to tender for the design and build of the first of class—LPD(R)01—later this year. Subject to the successful outcome of the competition, we would expect an order to follow during the course of next year.

  Security
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of private detective agencies and security companies by his Department.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones), on 3 May,Official Report, column 474, about private detective agencies.

  It is my Department's practice to employ private security companies to guard establishments where it is considered to be appropriate and cost-effective to do so.

  Technology Centres
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds have been allocated within the Defence Research Agency to the setting up of dual-use technology centres; and what is now the programme of inauguration of such centres, and their location.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter delegated to the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 6 May 1994:
  In today's written answer the Minister of State for Defence Procurement said I would be replying direct to your question on dual use technology centres.
  Dual-use Technology Centres (DUTCs) are one of a number of initiatives being taken by the Defence Research Agency to increase the contribution from defence research to wealth creation in the UK, in response to the 1993 White Paper on Science and Technology.
  The idea behind DUTCs is to enable industry to exploit the facilities, technology, know how and teams which exist for defence research. No funds have been specifically allocated to setting up DUTCs by MOD although the research work in the centres is sponsored by the MOD and, occasionally, the Department of Trade & Industry. This provides the revenue that makes DUTCs possible. But it is left to industry to decide how to participate and how to fund its involvement.
  The first DUTC covering the area of Structural Materials was established in April 1994. It aims to enable UK industry to gain more benefit from the very large expenditure by MOD on research in advanced structual materials and the combination and processing of such materials in advanced products. The Structural Materials Centre is currently spread around 11 sites but we plan to rationalise primarily into a new laboratory at Farnborough. The construction of this laboratory is funded by MOD as part of the programme of cost cutting and site closures that flowed from Options for Change and 'forms a key part of the DRA's rationalisation programme.
  A second DUTC, the Software Engineering Centre, will be launched in May. This will aim to exploit MOD expenditure on engineering research software in order to encourage closer working between the UK software companies. This Centre will be managed from DRA Malvern but will involve many projects with multi-company teams located at DRA and industry sites.
  A third DUTC is planned for the summer in the area of supercomputing. This will be a partnership between a number of UK organisations, both military and civil, aimed at providing world scale computing facilities to the DRA, its partners and other civil users.
  Other DUTC opportunities are being considered in hydrodynamics and oceanography, using DRA's facilities at Haslar near Portsmouth, and in information systems and technology and electronics and opto-electronics.

  Medals (Former Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules exist regarding the wearing of medals by members of Her Majesty's armed forces which were awarded for participation in(a) UN missions in the former Yugoslavia and (b) EC missions in the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Hanley
  Members of the British armed forces who meet the qualifying criteria for the United Nations medal or the European Community monitoring mission medal for service in the former Yugoslavia, may accept and wear these awards. The medals should be worn after all official British awards and medals approved by the sovereign.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Occupied Territories
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the terms of the agreement between Turkey and Israel about the supply of water from Turkey to the Gaza strip for the needs of Palestinians; and if he will send congratulations to both parties on this contribution to the peace process.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We understand that when the Israeli Foreign Minister visited Turkey in April, water was one of the main topics of discussion. It was agreed that Israel should join the Manavgat water project. However, we are not aware of any agreement between Israel and Turkey to supply water from Turkey to the Gaza strip.

  Mobile Telephones and Pagers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The number of portable telephones, pagers, electronic bleepers and car telephones presently used by the diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and associated annual operating costs are as follows:

  FCO (Diplomatic and Aid Wings)

  FY 1993–94 £

  (a) 174 portable telephones

  58,663

  (b) 260 pagers and electronic bleepers

  44,842

  (c) 3 fixed car telephones

  1,032

  Total

  104,537

  Mobile telephones and pagers are issued to Ministers, the permanent under-secretary, assistant under-secretary of state and private offices on demand; heads of department for use by duty officers; information and emergency aid department; and any officer who can justify an official need.

  India
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has had from the Indian Government about their attempts to reduce the number of child workers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have not recently discussed this issue bilaterally with the Indian Government. We have urged all United Nations member states to abide by the programme of action for the elimination of the exploitation of child labour, which was agreed in 1993 by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, of which India is a member.

  Sanctions (Iraq)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposal has been put forward for Lloyd's Register of London to verify the enforcement of sanctions against Iraq through Aqaba; and how this relates to the lifting of the siege on Aqaba.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We welcome the Jordanian proposal to replace the multinational interception force —MIF—in the Gulf of Aqaba with land-based personnel from Lloyd's Register. The task of the onshore inspection regime will be the same as that of the MIF: to prevent breaches of the sanctions regime imposed on Iraq by the United Nations. Until Iraq satisfies the terms of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, we will continue to lend full support to efforts to enforce sanctions against that country.

  Kosovo (Visit)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reasons were given by the Serbian Government in Belgrade for forbidding a British delegation, including representatives from his Department, from visiting Kosovo; and what was the purpose of the visit.

  Mr. Goodlad
  No British delegation containing representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been forbidden to visit Kosovo. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office was in Kosovo yesterday during his visit to the Balkans.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has(a) to utilise the Internet, (b) to make available on the Internet press releases and other departmental information which the public may wish to have access to and (c) to use the Internet as a means of increasing the openness of his Department.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Internet is being considered as both a communications and publishing mechanism for the dissemination of material originating from the FCO. A number of different links to the Internet, both in the diplomatic and aid wings, have already been installed.

  North Korea
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the International Atomic Energy Agency has yet received full co-operation from North Korea in its request to sample and analyse fuel at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor.

  Mr. Goodlad
  North Korea has yet to agree to the IAEA' s request to be allowed to inspect the refuelling of its reactor at Yongbyon and to ensure that the fuel rods are put under seal pending future analysis.

  Middle East
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the agreement between Hamas and Fatah Hawks in the Gaza strip; and what are its implications for the middle east peace process.
  674
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  According to reports from the occupied territories, leaders of the military wings of Fatah and Hamas have agreed to cease settling disputes by violent means. I hope that this will lead to a reduction of violence in the occupied territories and to improve the prospects for Palestinian self-rule in Gaza.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the reservations the United Kingdom has entered in respect of the European convention on human rights and the associated protocols and additions, since 1964.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The United Kingdom has entered the following reservations in respect of the application of protocol 1 to the European convention on human rights to certain territories for whose international relations the Government is responsible:

  1. In view of certain provisions of the Education (Guernsey) Laws and of the Education Ordinance of Gibraltar, the principle affirmed in the second sentence of Article 2 is accepted by the United Kingdom only so far as it is compatible with the provision of efficient instruction and training, and the avoidance of unreasonable public expenditure in Guernsey and Gibraltar.

  2. The principle affirmed in the second sentence of Article 2 is accepted by the United Kingdom only insofar as it does not affect the application of the following legal provisions:

  (i) the common law of Anguilla which permits the imposition by teachers of moderate and reasonable corporal punishment;

  (ii) Section 26 of the Education Act 1977 of the British Virgin Islands (which permits the administration of corporal punishment to a pupil only where no other punishment is considered suitable or effective and only by the principal or any teacher appointed in writing by him for that purpose);

  (iii) Section 30 of the Education Law 1983 of the Cayman Islands (which permits the administration of corporal punishment to a pupil only where no other punishment is considered suitable or effective and only by the principal or any teacher appointed in writing by him for that purpose);

  (iv) the common law of Montserrat which permits the imposition by teachers of moderate and reasonable corporal punishment;

  (v) the law of St. Helena, which permits the administration by teachers of reasonable corporal punishment; and Section 6 of the Children and Young Persons Ordinance 1965 of St. Helena (which states that the right of a teacher to administer such punishment is not affected by the provisions of that section which relate to the offence of cruelty to children);

  (vi) the law of St. Helena Dependencies, which permits the administration by teachers of reasonable corporal punishment; and Section 6 of the Children and Young Persons Ordinance 1965 of St. Helena (which states that the right of a teacher to administer such punishment is not affected by the provisions of that section which relate to the offence of cruelty to children);

  (vii) the common law of the Turks and Caicos Islands which permits the administration by teachers of reasonable corporal punishment; and Section 5 of the Juveniles Ordinance (Chapter 28) of the Turks and Caicos Islands (which states that the right of a teacher to administer such punishment is not affected by the provisions of that section which relate to the offence of cruelty to juveniles).

  No other reservations have been entered by the United Kingdom in respect of the convention or its protocols since 1964.

  Rwanda
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what view was expressed by Her Majesty's Government at the meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations of 21 April where it was decided to reduce the United Nations peacekeeping presence in Rwanda.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Security Council was unanimous in adopting Security Council resolution 912 on the basis of recommendations put to the council by the United Nations Secretary-General.

  In view of the absence of any ceasefire and the casualties already inflicted on the United Nations Aid Mission in Rwanda, we supported the view that the United Nations forces in Rwanda were no longer able to fulfil their mandate and that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda should be scaled down, pending further recommendations from the Secretary-General.

  We also stressed the importance of retaining a United Nations presence in theatre to support the Force Commander and the Secretary-General's special representative in their efforts to secure a ceasefire and an end to hostilities.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received, directly or via the United Nations, of outside military forces, helping the rebel forces in Rwanda; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have had no such reports.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the costs to his Department of providing(a) legal advice to witnesses appearing before the Scott inquiry, (b) drawing up evidence to be submitted to the Scott inquiry, (c) officials and legal advisers attending the Scott inquiry and (d) other related costs.

  Mr. Goodlad
  To date, the direct costs of the Scott inquiry falling to my Department have been £160,759.

  It is not possible to break this figure down as set out in the question, which includes unquantifiable elements. For example, no record has been kept of the time spent by FCO officials, in London and overseas, in drawing up evidence to be submitted to the inquiry.

  The direct costs can be broken down as follows:

  £

  Legal advice, including attendance by lawyers at Inquiry public hearings

  33,400

  Copies of the daily transcripts of proceedings

  3,000

  Costs incurred by FCO witnesses (travel and subsistence)

  19,838

  Pay (FCO officials working full-time on Scott Inquiry business)

  96,649

  Running costs, eg office machinery, stationery

  7,872

  160,759

  Social Charter
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the reservations that the United Kingdom has entered in respect of the Council of Europe's social charter and its associated protocols and additions since 1964.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The United Kingdom has accepted 60 of the 72 provisions of the social charter. It has not accepted:

  Article 2.1

  Article 4.3

  Article 7.1, 7.4, 7.7 and 7.8

  Article 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4

  Article 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4

  The United Kingdom has not ratified the additional protocol of 1988, nor the amending protocol of 1991.

SCOTLAND

  Registers of Scotland Agency
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the level of fees charged by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland Agency; and what percentage increases there have been in the past 12 months.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Fees charged by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland are mainly specifically listed in SI 1991 No. 2093 and these have not changed since coming into force on 16 October 1991, and where they are not so listed the keeper is required to charge fees on a full cost recovery basis.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy for ensuring competition in the supply of land registry reports to solicitors as between those supplied by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland Agency and members of the Society of Scottish Searchers.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In principle, the policy is to encourage competition from the private sector. The Scottish Office Home and Health Department is chairing a working group involving a wider spectrum of those interested in extending access to the databases held by the keeper.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the level of charges made by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland Agency to members of the Society of Scottish Searchers for a form 12 or 13 report; whether the same charges are being made by the keeper to his report section for similar reports supplied to solicitors; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The fees for charges in the Registers of Scotland Agency are set out in SI 1991 No. 2093 and this provides for a fee of £16.50 for each form 12 and a fee of £10 for each form 13 irrespective of whether supplied to a member of the Society of Scottish Searchers or to a solicitor.

  Community Care
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to introduce a requirement that a set proportion of local authority expenditure on community care must be spent in the private sector.
  677
  Mr. Stewart
  Under powers proposed in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill it would be possible for my right hon. Friend to require a proportion of local authority expenditure on community care to be spent in the voluntary and private sectors should he consider this necessary to ensure the development of the mixed economy of care.

  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of implementing formal directions on purchasing in community care plans, for local authorities.

  Mr. Stewart
  The directions will require local authorities to include in the community care plans that they are already required to provide information which should assist more cost-effective purchasing of services.

  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his intentions for consultation with hon. Members on the draft circular on community care plans.

  Mr. Stewart
  In accordance with normal practice, my right hon. Friend has consulted widely among appropriate bodies on the draft circular on community care plans. It is not normal to consult hon. Members on draft circulars.

  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy for ensuring adequate funding for the development of good-quality public services by councils and the voluntary sector in the provision of care in the community.

  Mr. Stewart
  Substantial resources are being transferred from the Department of Social Security to Scottish local authorities to meet their new responsibilities. My right hon. Friend has also made available significant additional resources to enable them to develop community care services.

  Domestic Air Services
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation took place with his Department over the proposed arrangements involving British Airways and Loganair on Scottish domestic routes; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  These proposals are commercial matters for the parties concerned, although they provided advance notice of them to the Scottish Office. The Government welcome the commitment given by Loganair and British Airways to the continuation of air services in the highlands and island which are vital to the communities that they serve.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by route the subsidies currently paid by his Department in respect of domestic air services.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Under the provisions of the Highlands and Islands Air Services (Scotland) Act 1980, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State makes subsidy available for the operation of the lifeline air service 678
  between Glasgow and Tiree and Barra. Loganair operates the service under contract to the Secretary of State. Under the terms of the contract, which is for the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1998, subsidy of up to £115,000 per annum is provided to Loganair.

  Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Scottish Enterprise is required to produce a strategic plan on how it will meet the training needs of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  Scottish Enterprise has responsibilities for training as laid down in the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990. Scottish Enterprise is currently reviewing all aspects of its present strategy including training.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what publications Scottish Enterprise has produced on how it is meeting the training needs of Scotland; and what assessment he has made of these as a reflection of Scottish Enterprise's performance in this area.

  Mr. Stewart
  Scottish Enterprise produces an annual report which gives details of its network's activities including the provision of training programmes for young people and unemployed adults which contribute towards meeting the training needs of Scotland.

  Scottish Enterprise's performance is monitored regularly on the basis both of the performance measures in its annual report and of other management information returns to the Scottish Office.

  Bosnian War Casualties
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many casualties from the war in Bosnia have been treated in Scottish hospitals.

  Mr. Stewart
  None. However, and as indicated in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Health on 15 April 1994,Official Report, column 315, the Department of Health is continuing to liaise with my Department on the placement of individual casualties.

  Health Service Staff
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what staff were employed in all aspects of the health service except in general practice in each health board area as at 1 January in each year since 1992(a) on professional administration of the service, with no direct medical or nursing responsibilities, (b) as practising medical staff and (c) as practising nursing staff; and what was the cost of salaries and related expenses of each of the three categories in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: The latest information available is shown in the tables. Staff figures are as at 30 September whereas salary costs are only available at 31 March each year.
  679

  Selected NHS staff in post by health board: whole time equivalent: as at 30 September 1993

  Health board

  Administration and clerical

  Management1

  Grade 1–6

  Other2

  Medical3

  Nursing staff45

  Excluding nurses in training

  Scotland

  18,538.6

  2,063.0

  16,163.8

  311.8

  6,426.6

  58,454.9

  53,390.5

  Argyll and Clyde

  1,400.0

  123.0

  1,273.0

  4.0

  389.8

  4,548.8

  4,245.0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  956.9

  113.4

  842.5

  1.0

  339.1

  3,261.7

  3,055.6

  Borders

  271.7

  27.9

  243.8

  —

  90.0

  1,132.1

  1,010.3

  Dumfries and Galloway

  463.5

  51.5

  412.0

  —

  143.2

  1,858.9

  1,700.5

  Fife

  920.2

  107.5

  811.7

  1.0

  263.6

  3,318.8

  3,081.3

  Forth Valley

  757.6

  91.4

  665.2

  1.0

  235.7

  3,335.9

  3,112.3

  Grampian

  1,635.9

  200.9

  1,435.0

  —

  649.3

  5,686.2

  5,249.2

  Greater Glasgow

  3,799.9

  340.9

  3,459.0

  —

  1,745.8

  12,679.0

  11,597.0

  Highlands

  651.8

  85.0

  563.8

  3.0

  207.7

  2,212.7

  2,042.7

  Lanarkshire

  1,239.7

  114.7

  1,125.0

  —

  462.4

  4,963.6

  4,565.6

  Lothian

  2,634.8

  268.8

  2,366.0

  —

  1,194.8

  8,595.7

  7,432.4

  Orkney

  33.0

  6.0

  27.0

  —

  6.1

  232.9

  226.9

  Shetland

  59.2

  8.0

  51.2

  —

  12.1

  221.2

  210.2

  Tayside

  1,478.0

  147.0

  1,330.0

  1.0

  601.1

  5,572.7

  5,026.8

  Western Isles

  88.3

  18.6

  69.7

  —

  18.0

  342.8

  342.8

  CSA

  2,108.2

  349.4

  1,458.0

  300.8

  59.4

  186.4

  186.4

  State Hospital

  39.9

  9.0

  30.9

  —

  8.6

  305.4

  305.4

  Selected NHS staff in post by health board: whole time equivalent: as at 30 September 1992

  Health board

  Administration and clerical

  Management1

  Grade 1–6

  Other2

  Medical3

  Nursing staff45

  Excluding nurses in training

  Scotland

  17,640.6

  1,660.7

  15,681.9

  298.0

  6,339.8

  61,651.6

  53,678.2

  Argyll and Clyde

  1,370.5

  104.5

  1,262.0

  4.0

  370.6

  4,762.1

  4,286.1

  Ayrshire and Arran

  913.3

  89.1

  824.2

  —

  321.2

  3,405.6

  3,037.6

  Borders

  257.4

  23.9

  233.5

  —

  85.4

  1,152.5

  999.1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  441.8

  47.9

  393.9

  —

  137.1

  1,911.3

  1,659.3

  Fife

  800.0

  81.0

  718.0

  1.0

  263.6

  3,406.8

  3,022.8

  Forth Valley

  715.9

  68.4

  646.5

  1.0

  240.3

  3,557.7

  3,193.7

  Grampian

  1,581.7

  175.7

  1,406.0

  —

  635.7

  6,064.0

  5,428.5

  Greater Glasgow

  3,679.1

  271.1

  3,408.0

  —

  1,793.6

  13,665.0

  11,733.0

  Highland

  627.4

  70.0

  554.4

  3.0

  207.7

  2,346.5

  2,096.5

  Lanarkshire

  1,158.6

  79.6

  1,079.0

  —

  469.5

  5,172.6

  4,532.6

  Lothian

  2,417.1

  181.1

  2,236.0

  —

  1,143.6

  8,997.9

  7,312.5

  Orkney

  31.3

  6.0

  25.3

  —

  5.9

  225.1

  214.1

  Shetland

  54.5

  8.0

  46.5

  —

  8.5

  216.5

  205.5

  Tayside

  1,509.0

  138.0

  1,371.0

  —

  574.0

  5,942.2

  5,143.2

  Western Isles

  79.3

  12.0

  66.3

  1.0

  16.9

  300.5

  288.5

  CSA

  1,971.4

  297.4

  1,386.0

  288.0

  60.0

  197.5

  197.5

  State Hospital

  32.3

  7.0

  25.3

  —

  6.2

  327.8

  327.8

  Selected NHS staff in post by health board: whole time equivalent: as at 30 September 1991

  Health board

  Administration and clerical

  Management1

  Grade 1–6

  Other2

  Medical3

  Nursing staff45

  Excluding nurses in training

  Scotland

  16,584.5

  1,298.3

  15,000.2

  286.0

  6,202.9

  63,503.3

  53,521.7

  Argyll and Clyde

  1,231.0

  80.0

  1.149.0

  2.0

  359.5

  4,888.3

  4,216.3

  Ayrshire and Arran

  846.5

  58.0

  788.5

  —

  301.1

  3,567.2

  3,109.2

  Borders

  236.9

  19.0

  217.9

  —

  80.2

  1,156.5

  988.9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  412.4

  35.2

  376.2

  1.0

  128.2

  1,925.3

  1,643.7

  Fife

  768.9

  74.6

  694.3

  —

  252.7

  3,506.8

  3,001.8

  Forth Valley

  665.9

  60.0

  604.9

  1.0

  239.2

  3,571.0

  3,077.0

  Grampian

  1,488.7

  133.7

  1,355.0

  —

  632.0

  6,066.5

  5,312.5

  Greater Glasgow

  3,511.2

  218.2

  3,292.0

  1.0

  1,761.1

  14,436.0

  11,735.0

  Highland

  593.5

  50.0

  540.5

  3.0

  203.6

  2,443.4

  2,096.9

  Lanarkshire

  1,097.0

  63.0

  1,034.0

  —

  449.0

  5,499.1

  4,717.1

  Lothian

  2,355.0

  135.0

  2,220.0

  —

  1,128.3

  9,152.4

  7,380.4

  Orkney

  30.2

  6.0

  24.2

  —

  5.5

  223.5

  206.5

  Shetland

  49.6

  8.0

  41.6

  —

  9.5

  226.4

  216.4

  Tayside

  1,399.5

  111.5

  1,288.0

  —

  576.1

  6,045.8

  5,054.8

  Western Isles

  64.9

  11.0

  52.9

  1.0

  13.1

  306.4

  276.4

  CSA

  1,808.1

  233.1

  1,298.0

  277.0

  60.1

  193.5

  193.5

  State Hospital

  25.2

  2.0

  23.2

  —

  3.7

  295.3

  295.3

  1 Includes general managers, unit general managers, senior managers, staff on grades 7–10 and staff on protected grades.

  2 Includes ambulance officers, ambulance control assistants, management trainees and staff on non-Whitley grades.

  3 Excludes GPs and locums, 1993 data are provisional.

  4 With the introduction of the "1992" courses of preparation, new student nurses ceased to be employed by the NHS and instead receive a bursary.

  This has resulted in a rapid drop in the NHS-employed student numbers. There were 8,161.8 basic students and pupils directly employed in 1991, 6,278.9 in 1992 and 3,845.7 in 1993. There were 1,403 students receiving bursaries indexed on "1992" courses in 1992 and 3,617 in 1993.
  680 681

  Salaries and Wages (£000)

  Financial year

  Administration and Clerical1

  Medical Staff2

  Nursing Staff

  1991–92

  196,122

  259,616

  919,706

  1992–93

  225,711

  289,187

  974,228

  1 No figures are available for "Professional administration of the Service, with no direct medical or nursing responsibilities" as this is not separately identified in the Scottish Health Authorities annual accounts. The figures supplied are the total Salaries and Wages for Administration and include those senior nurses and clinicians who have transferred to general/senior manager pay scales.

  2 Includes Specialists.

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Board
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money Ayrshire and Arran health board spent launching, publishing, promoting and distributing its "Charter for Health"; and how much money Ayrshire and Arran health board is spending on the newly created post of consumer feedback manager.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1994]: The cost to Ayrshire and Arran health board of the relaunch of its "Charter for Health" was just over £7,000. The post of consumer feedback manager has been in existence for two years. The actual salary involved is a matter between the board and the individual concerned.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money Ayrshire and Arran health board is spending on promoting general practitioner fundholding within the local area; and what remuneration it is paying to the general practitioner appointed to promote general practitioner fundholding within its area.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1994]: The costs to Ayrshire and Arran health board, in line with other boards, of promoting general practitioner fundholding are largely indirect costs and are not separately identifiable within the overall health board expenditure.

  Number of proposals/appeals and their progress(i)

  Position at November 1993

  Position at March 1994

  Region

  Number of proposals/appeals lodged

  Number settled

  Number where list adjusted/appeal allowed

  Average time from date of lodgement to date of settlement (ii)

  Number of proposals/appeals lodged

  Number settled

  Number where list adjusted/appeal allowed

  Average time from date of lodgement to date of settlement (ii)

  Number

  Months

  Number

  Months

  Borders

  2,996

  254

  217

  4

  3,057

  685

  522

  8

  Central

  2,719

  422

  378

  4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Dumfries and Galloway

  3,048

  1,077

  803

  3

  3,136

  1,860

  1,251

  4

  Fife

  6,411

  3,136

  1,854

  5

  6,542

  4,606

  2,722

  5

  Grampian

  11,221

  3,956

  2,788

  5

  11,423

  6,282

  4,231

  6

  Highland

  5,991

  1,470

  931

  4

  6,093

  3,556

  2,327

  6

  Lothian

  11,739

  2,077

  1,422

  6

  12,866

  5,961

  3,956

  7

  Strathclyde

  39,463

  15,606

  12,498

  3

  40,252

  23,358

  17,828

  4

  Tayside

  11,171

  1,113

  986

  5

  11,364

  3,261

  2,693

  6

  Orkney

  211

  166

  101

  3

  215

  211

  120

  3

  Shetland

  159

  114

  95

  2

  174

  154

  108

  3

  Western Isles

  837

  227

  125

  5

  865

  513

  283

  7

  Scotland

  95,966

  29,618

  22,198

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Source: Information supplied by Assessors in regular statistical returns.
  682
  The general practitioner appointed by Ayrshire and Arran health board to promote general practitioner fundholding in its area is being remunerated for two sessions a month, until March 1995, at £86 per session. This is a standard rate for general practitioners employed on specific projects by the health board as agreed with the British Medical Association.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement indicating what assessment he has made of the general practitioner fundholding system operating throughout the Ayrshire and Arran health board area.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1994]: Currently there are four fundholding practices operating within the board area. These practices are using the scheme to improve the health care and range of services available to patients. Participation in the GP fundholding scheme by GP practices is voluntary.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals against valuations against council tax have been lodged; how many appeals have been considered; how many appeals have been successful; and what is the average amount of time taken to consider an appeal against valuation in each valuation area in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1994): The table provides the available information, which relates to all classes of proposals to change the valuation list made to assessors and subsequent appeals. The table, which is taken from information supplied by assessors, shows the position at November 1993 for all areas, and the position at March 1994 for those areas for which information is, at present, available.

  Medical Treatment (Complaints)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statutory procedures currently exist for pursuing a complaint against medical treatment received under the national health service; and what plans he has to amend the current statutory status of local health councils.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 5 May 1994]: My right hon. Friend has issued directions under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 and the Hospital Complaints Procedure Act 1985 requiring health boards and NHS trusts to operate procedures for investigating complaints about treatment received in hospital. The National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) (Scotland) Regulations 1992 prescribe procedures to be followed in investigating complaints where it is alleged that a general medical practitioner has failed to comply with his terms of service. The Health Service Commissioners Act 1993 empowers the Health Service Commissioner for Scotland to investigate certain types of complaints made to him where it is alleged that a person has sustained injustice or hardship as a result of treatment provided under the national health service.

  There are no plans to amend the current statutory status of local health councils.

  School Transport
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the costs arising from his decision to allow Strathclyde council to end the dispensation allowing three children to share a two-seater seat in respect of school buses and coaches; and what were the costs of the other safety measures affecting school transport recently introduced by Strathclyde regional council.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The decision by Strathclyde regional council in March 1994 to end the three for two rule on vehicles used for the transportation of school children in their area and to introduce a number of other measures was entirely a matter for the regional council. In figures provided to the Scottish Office, the council has estimated that the cost arising from such measures in 1994–95 is £1.72 million.

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Health Trust
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what purpose David Fraser and Mervyn Gunn of the Ayrshire and Arran community health trust met Scottish Office officials on Thursday 14 April; what connection this meeting had with the subsequent resignation of Mervyn Gunn; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: No such meeting took place.

  Local Government
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what safeguards he is planning for the funding of welfare rights, money advice centres and voluntary organisations following the dismantling of regional councils and social work committees.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: The Government value highly the work of voluntary
  684
  organisations and wish to ensure a smooth handover from the existing to the new authorities. For this reason, the Scottish Office will issue guidance to the new authorities on the key role of voluntary organisations and the importance of avoiding disruption. In addition, the Scottish Office will direct existing authorities to inform shadow authorities of all funding which is given to voluntary organisations by means of grants, service agreements, contracts and so on. This direction will ensure that the shadow authorities are aware of the full extent of funding of voluntary organisations including annual grants being paid to voluntary organisations in 1994–95.

  Care Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has of local authorities failing to consider quality of care and value for money when purchasing or supplying care services.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: While local authorities clearly consider issues of quality and value for money, the cost of their directly provided residential care is significantly higher than similar provision available from the private sector which meets the quality standards of registration. Residential care is a major component of local authority community care expenditure.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the advantages and (b) the disadvantages to users of care services provided by (i) the private sector, (ii) the volunary sector and (iii) local authorities.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: Good qulaity community care services are available in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors. Authorities should seek to offer clients a choice of services from a range of providers which meet their needs and offer good value.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a list of the individuals and groups who have made representations to him about the purchase of care services from the private sector by local authorities.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: No. Many representations have been received and could not be listed individually without disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in the long run for the involvement of local authorities in the provision of care services.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: Local authorities will continue to have a role as providers of community care services, but, in order to maximise choice and value for money, they should both distinguish between their roles as purchasers and providers and make full use of the independent sector.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his intended circular and formal directions to local authorities on community care plans.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: Appropriate bodies have recently been consulted on draft guidance and directions which would require local authorities to include in their community care plans

  685
  statements showing (a) the planned volumes and types of care services to be purchased (b) the estimated costs of such purchases and (c) the proportion of their total proposed expenditure to be incurred on purchases from the independent sector. Responses are being considered.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportions of local authorities' expenditure on care services he expects to be devoted to purchases from the independent sector, the voluntary sector and to in-house provisions.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994:]These proportions should be determined locally in the light of availability of services and as a result of authorities purchasing good-quality services from whichever provider meets the needs and wishes of clients within a reasonable cost.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which care services he intends should be subject to formal tendering; and which would be accepted for spot purchasing.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: These are matters for local authorities to determine in the light of local needs and circumstances.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what experience and qualifications he will require from new providers of(a) residential care and (b) home helps.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: There are no statutory requirements for qualifications. However, all residential care homes have to be registered with the social work authorities and are regularly inspected by them.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what geographical area of Scotland he considers there is not a real choice of care services; and where he intends to promote the development of the independent sector.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: The extent of choice varies from area to area and service to service. It is the Government's policy to widen the range of choice by encouraging the independent sector throughout Scotland.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a list of the individuals and groups he has consulted on his draft paper advising local authorities of new requirements governing the content of their community care plans.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: My right hon. Friend is making arrangements to place the list in the Library.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what length of contract he deems appropriate for the provision of residential care.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: That is a matter for local determination. In the case of individual contracts the length of contract will reflect individual needs.

  Scottish Ambulance Service
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Scottish ambulance service has to pursue NHS trust status; and if he will make a statement.
  686
  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 4 May 1994]: The Scottish ambulance service has prepared an application for NHS trust status. I expect to make an announcement on the public consultation process shortly.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Act
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to undertake a fundamental review of the operation of the Child Support Act 1991.

  Mr. Burt
  We are keeping the operation of the Child Support Agency and policy under continuous review.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list the organisations responding to the consultation document on the medical test for incapacity benefit;

  (2) how many of the responses to the consultation document on the medical test for incapacity benefit (a) were in favour of the approach outlined in that document and (b) expressed criticisms; and when he will publish the responses.

  Mr. Scott
  The table lists the organisations that have responded to the consultation document. All the responses have been helpful and we have taken account of them in the further development of the new test of incapacity. A report will be published in August summarising all the stages in the development of the test.

  List of organisations responding to the consultation document

  Aberdeen Mental Health Services Customer Group

  Action on Disability

  ACT-UP Manchester (Aids Coalition to unleash power)

  ADSS Disabilities Committee

  Age Concern

  Alzheimer's Disease Society

  Alzheimer's Scotland

  Arthritis Care

  Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

  Association of Directors of Social Work

  Association of Disabled Professionals

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Backpain Network

  Bexley Association of Disabled People

  Birmingham City Council welfare rights

  Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

  Bradford Citizens Advice Bureau

  Brighton Association of Tenants With Disabilities

  Brighton, Hove and Lewes Mental Health Development Group

  British Association of Social Workers

  British Association of Social Workers Renal Special Interest Group

  British Diabetic Association

  British Epilepsy Association

  British Institute of Industrial Therapy

  British Migraine Association

  British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society

  British Society for Rehabilitation Medicine

  Bromsgrove and Redditch Patients and Carers Forum for Mental Health

  Camden Council Welfare Rights Unit

  Cancer Relief MacMillan Fund

  Carers National Association

  Caring Costs

  Chester Lodgings and Support Project

  Child Poverty Action Group

  Church Action on Poverty

  City of Bradford Metropolitan Council welfare rights

  687

  City University Department of Systems Science

  Cleveland County Council welfare rights

  Cleveland Mental Health Support Group

  Congleton Sector Planning Group for Mental Health

  Consultation and Advocacy Promotion Service

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Crewe Welfare Rights Forum

  Cystic Fibrosis Trust

  Derbyshire Branch of the National Federation of the Blind of the UK

  Derbyshire Centre for Integrated Living

  Derbyshire County Council welfare rights

  DIAL UK

  Disabled Advice Bureau

  Disabled Living Foundation

  Disabilities Coalition (Boothferry, Glanford, Scunthorpe) Outreach Project

  Disability Action Project

  Disability Alliance

  Disability Network

  Disability Scotland

  DISC Trinity Community Centre

  Drumchapel Law and Money Advice Centre

  Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Bureau benefits advice project

  Dundee Association for Mental Health

  Dunfermline Forum on Disability

  East Lothian Volunteer Bureau

  East Suffolk Advocacy Network

  East Suffolk MIND

  Edinburgh Volunteer Exchange

  Enfield Disability Information and Advice Project

  Epilepsy Association of Scotland

  First Steps to Freedom

  Flint and District Trades Union Council

  Friedrich's Ataxia Group

  General Medical Services Committee

  George House Trust

  Grampian Action for Psychiatirc Services

  Greater London Association of Disabled People

  Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People

  Great Yarmouth Borough Council welfare rights

  Greenwich Association of Disabled People's Centre for Independent Living

  Group for Improved Living for the Disabled.

  Headway National Head Injuries Association

  Hereford and Worcester County Council

  Herefordshire DIAL

  Herefordshire Lifestyles

  Hertfordshire County Council welfare benefits advice

  Humberside Coalition of People With Disabilities

  Humberside Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities

  Ileostomy Association of GB and Ireland

  Independent Living (1993)

  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council

  Island Disability Action Group

  Isle of Wight County Council services for disabled people

  Islington Community Aids Resources

  Islington Council Welfare Rights

  Joint Consultants Committee

  Kent County Council, Dartford and Gravesham Area Advice Forum

  Kent Turnaround Trading Ltd

  Kingston Association of Disabled People

  Kirkcaldy Forum on Disability

  Lambeth Accord

  Lancashire County Council Welfare Rights

  Leeds Citizens Advice Bureau

  Leeds City Council welfare benefits unit

  Leicester City Council welfare rights

  Lewes and District MIND

  Link—Glasgow Association for Mental Health

  Llanrumney Community Project

  London Borough of Barnet Disablement Association

  London Borough of Greenwich Anti Poverty Sub-Committee

  London Borough of Lambeth

  London Borough of Wandsworth welfare rights unit

  London East Aids Network

  Lucas Industries plc

  688

  Manchester and District Motor Neurone Disease Association

  Manchester MIND

  Manchester Royal Infirmary speech and language therapy unit

  Manic Depression Fellowship

  Manic Depression Fellowship (Scotland)

  MENCAP

  Mental Health Foundation

  Merseyside Welfare Rights Resource Centre

  MIND

  MIND in Haringey

  Mobility Trust

  Multiple Sclerosis Society of GB and NI

  Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire

  Muscle Power

  Myasthenia Gravis Association

  NACAB

  Nantwich and District Citizens Advice Bureau

  Narcolepsy Association (UK)

  National Advisory Council of Employers of People with Disabilities

  National Association for Colitis Care and Crohn's Disease

  National Asthma Campaign

  National Back Pain Association

  National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services

  National Federation of the Blind of the UK disability income committee

  National Kidney Federation

  National Deaf-Blind League

  National Union of Teachers

  National League of the Blind and Disabled

  National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  Network for the Handicapped

  Newcastle Mental Health Consumer Group

  Newcastle Upon Tyne Council for the Disabled

  Newham Anti Poverty and Welfare Rights Unit

  Northern Back Exchange

  North London ME Network

  North Tyne Council of Employers of People with Disabilities

  North Tyneside Council

  North Tyneside Disability Advice Centre

  North West London group of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  North Yorkshire Welfare Benefits Unit

  Norwich Branch of The National League of the Blind and Disabled

  Nottingham Repetitive Strain Injury Support Group

  Office of Population, Census and Surveys

  Oxford MIND

  Oxfordshire Welfare Rights

  Parentability

  Parkinson's Disease Society

  Patient Initiatives

  Pensioners and Disabled Alliance

  Pheonix Day Hospital, Bury St. Edmunds, Psychiatric Rehabilitiation Services

  Physically Impaired People of Pembrokeshire Association

  Pitsmoor Citizens Advice Bureau

  PLUS Self Help Association

  Policy Studies Institute

  Portsmouth Community Advice Centres

  Powys Health Care NHS Trust

  Professional Association of Teachers

  RADAR

  Renfrew District Disability Council

  Repetitive Strain Injury Association

  Richmond Fellowship Workschemes

  Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council advice service

  Rolls-Royce plc

  Rotherham Department of Social Services

  Royal College of General Practitioners

  Royal College of Nursing

  Royal College of Physicians

  Royal Liverpool University Hospital Trust

  Royal London Society for the Blind

  Royal National Institute of the Blind

  Scottish Association for Mental Health

  Scottish Churches Industrial Mission

  Scottish Council for Single Homeless

  689

  Scottish Users Network (of mental health services)

  Sheffield Visually Impaired Peoples Group

  Southampton Centre for Independent Living Ltd.

  South Glamorgan County Council mental health services

  South West Region of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  Spastics Society

  Speech and Language Therapy Research Unit

  St. Mungo Association

  Stafford Centre

  Stirling & District Association for Mental Health

  Strathclyde Forum on Disability

  Strathclyde Regional Council social work department

  Suffolk County Council social services

  Suffolk County Council, West Suffolk welfare rights group

  Sunderland Citizens Advice Bureau

  Terrence Higgins Trust

  The Action Group

  The Brighton and Hove Federation of the Disabled

  The British Network of Clubhouses

  The British Polio Fellowship

  The British Psychological Society

  The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

  The Churches Council for Health and Healing

  The Disablement Income Group

  The Dystonia Society

  The Enham Trust

  The Law Society

  The Leonard Cheshire Foundation

  The Mental After Care Association

  The National Association of Retired Police Officers

  The Neurofibromatosis Association

  The Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust

  The Pain Society

  The Royal College of Psychiatrists

  The Royal London Trust and London Hospital

  Medical College

  The Society of Occupational Medicine

  The Stroke Association

  Trades Union Congress

  United Biscuits UK Ltd

  University of Southampton, Rehabilitation Research Unit

  University of York, Social Policy Research Unit

  Wakerley Lodge Younger Disabled Unit

  Wales Council for the Blind

  Waltham Forest Consumer Protection Services

  Waltham Forest DIAL

  War Widows Association of Great Britain

  Wells and District Group of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  West Glamorgan County Council

  West Suffolk Hospital mental health services

  Whitchurch Hospital Rehabilitation Specialism

  Win Visible

  Worcester ME Support Group

  Work Recovery Europe Ltd

  Work Rehabilitation Consortium

  Yeovil and Sherborne Branch of Multiple Sclerosis Society of GB and NI

  Independent Tribunal Service
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action is being taken to speed up the review hearings for people awaiting the outstanding moneys due to them under the severely disabled premium awards.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the independent tribunal service is the responsibility of the president, His Honour Judge Thorpe. He will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  EU Statistics
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of gross domestic product is spent on social security benefits for people unable to work because of sickness or disability in each of the member states of the European Union.
  690
  Mr. Scott
  Comparable figures for expenditure on sickness benefits are not available in the form requested. The latest information available is in the Eurostat publication "Social Protection Expenditure and Receipts 1980–1991". This publication also shows expenditure on invalidity and disability for the same period.

  The latest information available on invalidity/disability expenditure, shown as a percentage of gross domestic product for each member state of the European Union, is contained in the Eurostat publication "Digest of Statistics on Social Protection in Europe, Volume 2: Invalidity/ Disability". This publication covers the years 1980–1988 and includes information about differences of definition which highlight the need for care in interpreting the statistics for comparative purposes.

  A copy of each publication has been placed in the Library.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of national average earnings is represented by the higher rate of statutory sick pay, at the latest available date.

  Mr. Scott
  As at April 1993, the latest date available, the higher rate of statutory sick pay was £52.50 per week, representing 16.6 per cent. of gross national average weekly earnings of £316.90.

  Notes:
  1. The earnings quoted are the average for all full-time adult employees and taken from the April 1993 New Earnings Survey (GB). The corresponding figure for April 1994 is not yet available.
  2. Most SSP recipients get occupational sick pay in addition to SSP when they are sick. In many cases this brings the total payment received up to full pay.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of national average earnings is represented by the current average payment of invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  The average amount of invalidity benefit in payment on 4 April 1992, the latest date for which information is available was £75–45(i). This represents 24.8 per cent. of the gross average national earnings figure, £304.60(ii), for April 1992.

  Notes:

  (i) Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  (ii) Figure obtained from "The New Earnings Survey (GB)", April 1992.

  (iii) Invalidity Benefit was uprated by 4.1 per cent. from 9 April 1992.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current level of a full war pension; how many and what percentage of (i) men and (ii) women are currently in receipt of(a) the full war pension and (b) a reduced war pension; how many reviews of war pensions took place in the past five years; and how many war pensions were upgraded and downgraded as a result.

  Mr. Hague
  The available information is as follows:From week commencing 11 April 1994 the weekly rate of War Disablement Pension payable to a person assessed as 100 per cent. disabled, is f98.90 per week.

  691
  The amount payable may be increased where there is entitlement to additional allowances or supplements, eg. in respect of age, mobility or attendance requirements.
  As of 31 March 1994, there were an estimated 245,445 War Disablement Pensions in payment; of these 13,648 (5.6 per cent.) were to 100 per cent. disabled pensioners, and 231,797 (94–4 per cent.) to pensioners with lesser disablement.
  295,166 reviews of War Disablement Pensions have taken place from April 1989 to March 1994 and, as a result, 59,065 of these were upgraded and 588 were downgraded.

  Polish Forces Pension Scheme
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications were made Ito his Department in 1993 for pensions under the Polish forces pensions scheme; and how many people are currently in receipt of payments under that scheme.

  Mr. Hague
  Some 673 applications were made in 1993. At 30 April 1994, 2,313 pensions were in payment.

  Social Fund
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the outstanding balance of loans and grants of the Lewisham and Brixton district social fund for the financial year 1993–94; how many applications for a grant were refused, giving the reasons for refusal; how many applications for a loan were refused, giving the reasons for refusal; how many applicants refused went on to appeal; and how many of these appeals were successful.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 5 May 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Social Fund (SF) in the Benefits Agency's (BA) Lewisham and Brixton District.
  The balance outstanding on the Social Fund budgets at Lewisham and Brixton District as at 31 March 1994 at the end of the financial year was £295.36 for grants and £19,267.36 for loans. This is an expenditure of 99.97 per cent. and 99.4 per cent. respectively.
  With regard to the number of grant and loan applications refused in the District, at the end of the financial year 1993–94 the numbers of grant and loan applications refused were 8,875 and 7,475 respectively.
  The Social Fund Computer System (SFCS), introduced to Lewisham and Brixton in July 1993, collects different statistics compared to the old system and are not directly comparable with previous years. The old system recorded reasons for refusal per application whereas the SFCS records reasons for refusal per item applied for, most applications being for more than one item. As such, in cases where a partial award is made, a reason for refusal will also be appropriate. Therefore, the sum of all reasons for refusal will not equal the number of application refusals. The reasons for item refusal are given at Annex A.
  There is no right of appeal against discretionary SF decisions. Applicants dissatisfied with a decision may seek a review of the decision and this is initially conducted within the District. If still dissatisfied, the applicant can ask for a review by the Independent Review Service (IRS) which is independent of the BA.
  For the period 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994, 4,006 review applications were received by Lewisham and Brixton District. These figures include those that requested a review by the IRS. Overall, 1,188 resulted in a changed decision.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.
  692

  Appendix A Details of grant and loan refusals for the Lewisham and Brixton District: 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 (latest available data).

  Reason far Refusal

  Grants

  Loans

  Not in receipt of Income Support (IS)

  2,362

  2,167

  In receipt of IS for less than 26 weeks

  —

  5,281

  Direction 4 not satisfied

  25,067

  —

  Applicant excluded by Directions

  —

  31

  No serious risk to health or safety

  —

  2,382

  Requested amount below minimum allowable

  14

  254

  Repeat application

  547

  1,545

  Item excluded by Directions

  316

  1,404

  Alternative item available

  57

  289

  Help available from another source

  83

  363

  Grant awarded on loan request

  —

  1,492

  Savings over £500 meet cost

  5

  7

  Savings over £1,000 meet cost (customer or partner over 60)

  7

  1

  Enough money available to meet crisis

  —

  17

  Total debt exceeds £1,000

  —

  68

  Inability to repay

  —

  1,738

  Insufficient priority

  390

  943

  Other reasons

  27

  135

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fruit
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations she has had urging her to support an EC orchard grubbing grant; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what representations she has made to EC authorities about the consequences for United Kingdom apple and pear growers of national aids to assist producers in other EC countries;

  (3) what representations she has received urging more action by the EC and GATT authorities to exclude dumped fruit from non-EC sources from the EC;

  (4) if she will make a statement on the representations received and action taken by her Department on the market in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom Cox apples.

  Mr. Jack
  I have received several representations about the United Kingdom apple industry from a variety of industry organisations, individual growers and hon. Members.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my noble Friend Earl Howe, during the debate on apple growing on Friday 29 April Official Report, House of Lords, columns 995–1002, which gives a clear statement of our position on the various points raised.

  Norway (Fishing Rights)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list each aspect of the Norwegian EU accession treaty relating to the management, control, catches and policing regime for fishing permitted to Norway in(a) southern and (b) northern waters under the transitional regime; and what are the comparable provisions for the United Kingdom at the present time.

  Mr. Jack
  In waters south of 62 deg north—the North sea, Skagerrak, Irish sea and west of Scotland and Ireland —fish stocks will be managed by the European Union from the date of Norwegian accession, but in the Norwegian
  693
  sector of the North sea for one year the current Norwegian technical measures and control system will apply and for three years the current discard ban will apply. Norwegian quotas are fixed as the average shares of each stock over the period 1989 to 1993.

  The United Kingdom quotas for joint EC-Norwegian stocks in waters south of 62 deg north are calculated on the same reference period as for Norway and thus consolidate the existing relative stability shares. The United Kingdom's control, management and technical conservation measures, applied within the framework of the common fisheries policy, are unaffected by the treaty of Norwegian accession.

  In waters north of 62 deg north, Norway will maintain her management responsibility for fish stocks, including negotiations with Russia, until July 1998, after which the European Union will assume management responsibility. The current Norwegian technical measures will apply for one year but for three years the current control system, discard ban, and system of opening and closing fisheries in biologically sensitive zones will apply.

  Norwegian and United Kingdom quotas are fixed as the average shares of each stock over the period 1989 to 1993 except for north-east arctic cod and mackerel where the quotas are fixed at the same percentages as in 1994. The United Kingdom's control, management and technical conservation measures in the area of United Kingdom waters north of 62 deg north are unaffected by the treaty of Norwegian accession.

  Warble Fly
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of warble fly there have been in each year since 1990; and from which countries the infected animals originated in each case.

  Mr. Soames
  The table shows the number of clinical cases in each year together with the number of animals which were positive in blood tests for the presence of warble fly larva.

  Clinical cases

  seropositive

  1990

  1

  0

  1991

  0

  0

  1992

  0

  4

  1993

  207

  298

  1994

  37

  0

  The cases in 1990 and 1992 were not linked to imports. In 1993, all cases were found in cattle imported from France, apart from one clinical case imported from Belgium.

  The 37 clinical cases of warble fly confirmed to date are in cattle imported from France all of which are being re-exported.

  Eastern

  Midlands and Western

  Northern

  South Eastern

  South Western

  1985

  nil

  nil

  nil

  2

  1

  1986

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1987

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1988

  2

  nil

  nil

  3

  nil

  Arable Farming (Wales)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when she next plans to visit Wales; and if she will make a statement concerning the recent losses to cereal growers in the less-favoured areas in Wales as compared with England;

  (2) if she will visit Wales in order to study the relative effect of arable aid payments to faemers in Wales as against those in England; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon. Friend has made no plans to visit Wales in the near future.

  Decisions on arable regionalisation for the United Kingdom under the arable area payments scheme are taken jointly by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. They decided that for 1994 it was in the best interests of the United Kingdom as a whole for each country to determine the yield regions within its own boundaries.

  The decision to divide Wales into less-favoured areas and non-LFA yield regions was taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales in order to bring levels of compensation for the majority of specialist cereal growers in Wales closer to those in England. I understand, however, that no Welsh cereal grower will receive less this year than last, subject to any changes in the green rate in force on 1 July 1994 which will be used to calculate payments.

  Animal Identification
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she plans to publish information concerning the new arrangements for the EC directive on animal identification; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Following the major consultation exercise with the industry last year on how to implement the EC directive on animal identification, EEC 92/102, we have been in close and regular contact with industry organisations on the detailed arrangements. Our aim is to achieve a smooth transition to the new arrangements and to that end we have decided to allow an extra three months between 1 July and 30 September 1994 during which calves may be marked with either the new or old-style ear tags. From 1 October only the new-style tags should be used. To publicise the new arrangements we shall be running a poster campaign at livestock markets and taking advertisements in the farming press and all livestock farmers will be sent a leaflet.

  Deer (Tuberculosis)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list by region, the number of cases of tuberculosis in deer in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Soames
  The number of cases of confirmed bovine tuberculosis in deer in England which were notified to my department between 1985 and 1993 were:
  695

  Eastern

  Midlands and Western

  Northern

  South Eastern

  South Western

  1989

  nil

  nil

  nil

  3

  2

  1990

  nil

  1

  nil

  2

  7

  1991

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1992

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1993

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1

  There were an additional seven cases of confirmed bovine tuberculosis in deer in Great Britain between 1984 and 1986 and two in 1988. Details on these are not readily available.

  Animal Transportation
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will outline the regulations covering those permitted to transport live animals for slaughter within(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the EC; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Article 5.2(a) of directive 91/628/EEC requires member states to ensure that the person in charge of an animal transport undertaking entrusts the transport to staff who possess the necessary knowledge to administer any appropriate care to the animals. This provision is implemented in this country by article 5(a) of the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1992.
  696
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep died during a crossing on the night of 25 April from Portsmouth to Le Havre; what was the cause of those deaths; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  A transport company has reported that 39 sheep died in this incident. An investigation is being conducted by Hampshire county council and the Ministry.

  Woodlands
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make it her policy to allow for woodland planting on set-aside land for the purpose of establishing new woodlands in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon. Friend the Minister has long been arguing for the EC rules to be changed to allow woodland planting on set-aside land. As a result, the European Commission is now looking into the possibility.