Written Answers of 9 May 1994

HEALTH

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

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department's press releases issued electronically through the Central Office of Information are accessible to users of the Internet via Data-Star Dialog (Europe) or Mead/Lexis/Nexis. They are also available to subscribers to FT Profile, Reuters Textline and to POLIS.

  The Department's press releases are also available through the COI's fax retrieval service, details of which can be provided by their news distribution service.

  There are no further plans to use Internet.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued relating to charges for eye tests and visual field tests; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No guidance has been issued about charges for eye sight tests and visual field tests. Under the general ophthalmic services certain groups of people are entitled to a free sight test on the national health service.

  Vacant Hospital Consultant Posts by Specialty Group England—30 September 1988–1992

  Specialty Group

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  General Medicine Group

  133·4

  119·7

  129·2

  86·3

  82·8

  Accident and Emergency

  17·0

  15·0

  18·4

  12·6

  15·6

  Surgical Group

  110·5

  88·2

  135·3

  77·7

  63·8

  Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  25·0

  17·9

  23·4

  12·6

  15·0

  Anaesthetics

  100·2

  70·3

  87·9

  44·8

  66·7

  Radiology Group

  38·3

  34·6

  33·9

  16·8

  15·0

  Radiotherapy

  6·7

  4·2

  7·2

  2·0

  4·0

  Pathology Group

  70·3

  39·0

  49·9

  31·5

  16·6

  Psychiatry Group

  268·9

  193·4

  217·3

  137·9

  131·6

  Dental Specialties

  20·1

  10·0

  10·5

  12·3

  9·0

  ALL SPECIALTIES

  790·4

  592·3

  713·0

  434·5

  420·1

  Note: The table shows whole time equivalent.

  Junior Doctors
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she expects to meet the target of 72-hour maximum contracts for junior doctors by 31 December.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Returns from regional task forces for the six months to 31 March 1994 are currently being analysed. We will make an announcement in due course.

  Dental Services
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps she will take to introduce the licensing and registration of denturists and dental technicians following the Nuffield report;

  (2) if she will take steps to establish a separate profession of clinical dental technicians covered by legislation.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Under the terms of the Dentists Act 1984 it is for the General Dental Council to make regulations to establish classes of dental auxiliaries who may undertake dental work.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates she has made of the number of dentures fitted by denturists and dental technicians; and what percentage this represents of the total number of dentures fitted.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Dentists Act 1984 does not permit dental technicians to fit dentures.

  Hospital Consultant Posts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 28 April,Official Report, column 307, how many hospital consultant posts have been vacant, by specialty, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table.

  This indicates trends in consultant vacancies notified to the Department as at 30 September of each year. As a snapshot of vacancies on a single date they may not fairly reflect the trend for the number of vacancies over the year as a whole.

  Ministerial Visits
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the hospitals that each of her Ministers and she has visited in the last three months where journalists have not been present; and for what percentage of the total number of their hospital visits journalists have not been present.

  Mr. Sackville
  Ministerial visits to hospitals are not planned on the basis of whether journalists will or will not be present. The Department does not keep records of their attendance on such visits.

  Mr. George Henry Dance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require a report from the director of Berkshire county council social services department on the circumstances of the case of Mr. George Henry Dance.

  Mr. Bowis
  We have received a report on this case from the Berkshire social services department.

  Registered Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use is made of the annual reports of local authority registration and inspection units.

  Mr. Bowis
  The purpose of inspection unit annual reports is set out in chapter 5 of "Caring for People—Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 26 April,Official Report, column 160, how many entries there were in the national list of cancelled registrations for each year since the Registered Homes Act 1984 came into force.

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of names reported to the Department for inclusion in the national list of cancelled and refused registrations since 1985 when the Registered Homes Act 1984 came into operation is shown in the table.

  Residential care homes

  Nursing homes

  Dually registered homes

  1985

  2

  3

  —

  1986

  16

  5

  —

  1987

  28

  4

  —

  1988

  54

  15

  2

  1989

  44

  1

  2

  1990

  54

  21

  2

  1991

  74

  16

  —

  1992

  38

  3

  —

  1993

  34

  10

  —

  Notes:

  1. The figures may include some cases where the registration of more than one person was cancelled in respect of the same home.

  2. Since 1990 the list has included those cases where an initial request for registration has been refused.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will reduce the charge for prescription charges to the same amount in current prices as in May 1979.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Guy's Hospital
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give a full reply to the April letter from the chair of the Southwark community health council on the subject of her statement of 10 February as it affects Guy's hospital by 9 May.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Yes.

  Community Care (Local Government Reorganisation)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that the new authorities established following the review of local government are 4
  of appropriate geographical size and population and have sufficient human and financial resources to work effectively with health authorities in the commissioning of community services, provide specialist services within a soundly based, multi-disciplinary framework and secure the cost-effective provision of a wide range of care services within a mixed economy of care.

  Mr. Curry
  I have been asked to reply.

  We will not implement changes to local government structure unless we are satisfied that effective provision can be made for all local authority functions, including personal social services. That provision may include shared arrangements in some cases. The resources available to new authorities will be decided in the same way as for existing authorities.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Rhinoceros Horn and Ivory
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will engage in discussions with representatives from Hong Kong, Japan and China for the purpose of eliminating the demand for rhinoceros horn and ivory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom works actively through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species—CITES—and bilateral contacts to persuade consumer states to stamp out the illegal trade in rhino horn and ivory. The CITES standing committee in March called for further progress in enforcement before its conference in November. The committee particularly commended Hong Kong for its recent efforts.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received concerning the slaughter of rhinoceros and elephants for rhinoceros horn and ivory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We receive a great many representations and share public concern about trade in endangered species. We are actively involved in international efforts, through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species—CITES—to stamp out this activity.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations has made to the Security Council members about upgrading the United Nations involvement in Rwanda; and what was his response.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Nations Secretary-General has made no requests to the Security Council about upgrading United Nations involvement in Rwanda. He did present a series of options to the Security Council in his report of 20 April, on the basis of which it adopted Security Council resolution 912.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact he has had with the Organisation of African Unity over Rwanda; and what material, financial and diplomatic support he is offering to the OAU for the peace process.
  5
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have welcomed the involvement of the Organisation of African Unity and countries of the region in attempts to bring about a ceasefire and advance the peace process. The United Nations Secretary-General is in touch with OAU states about their possible involvement in further international operations in Rwanda. We await the Secretary-General's recommendations in the light of these discussions.

  Belize
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 26 April,Official Report, column 123, what steps he is taking to secure the recognition by Guatemala of Belize as a sovereign and independent state.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Guatemala recognised Belize as a sovereign and independent state in September 1991. This was reaffirmed by the new Guatemalan Government in August 1993. We will continue to encourage both countries to work for a full settlement of their territorial dispute.

  Conventional Arms Register
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General a return from the United Kingdom to the United Nations register of conventional arms; and if he will place a copy of the return in the Library.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We submitted our return to the UN register covering the calendar year 1993 to the UN Secretary-General on 29 April. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  King Charles Street Building
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reconcile the figures of the estimated total cost of refurbishment of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office building in King Charles street, as given in his answers to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) of 12 April,Official Report, column 14, and to the hon. Member for South Hams on 25 April.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The figures given in my answer of 25 April were restricted to expenditure totalling £86 million by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Prior to 1988 the Property Services Agency—PSA—was responsible for major works. It would be possible to quantify PSA expenditure only at disproportionate cost. The balance of £14 million represents an assessment of works costs based on such evidence as is readily available. It covers essential maintenance works when the Home Office vacated part of the building in 1978 and refurbishment of one part of the former India Office between 1984 and 1986.

  Angola
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the Angola peace talks in Lusaka.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  At the Lusaka talks, the Government of Angola and UNITA have reached agreement on military issues, the formation and 6
  composition of the police and the general principles of the electoral process. They are still discussing national reconciliation, including the issue of UNITA participation in government, upon which they have yet to agree.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  E-mail
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will consider introducing a system enabling hon. Members to table written questions by E-mail.

  Mr. Newton
  Such a change would need to be considered by the appropriate Committees of the House.

  Private Members' Bills
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what facilities the Office of Parliamentary Counsel offer to hon. Members representing Opposition parties in the drafting of amendments to public Bills which were not originally drafted for the Government.

  Mr. Newton
  The Office of Parliamentary Counsel does not offer facilities to hon. Members except at the request of Ministers.

  Deregulation Orders (Scrutiny)
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when the Government will reply to the fourth report of the Select Committee on Procedure on the parliamentary scrutiny of deregulation orders, and publish their response.

  Mr. Newton
  Copies of the Government response are now available from the Vote Office.

TREASURY

  G10 General Agreement to Borrow
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions the G10 general agreement to borrow power has been used in the last 10 years; and what was the United Kingdom contribution on each occasion.

  Mr. Nelson
  The general arrangements to borrow have not been used in the last 10 years.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. Nelson
  The Treasury is planning to use the Internet for the exchange of electronic mail.

  Press releases issued by the Treasury are distributed by the Central Office of Information through its news distribution service—NDS. The NDS advises that:

  (i) Most Government press releases issued electronically via NDS are accessible to users of the Internet via Data-Star Dialog (Europe) or Mead/Lexis/Nexis.

  (ii) It is up to the "hosts", i.e. the organisations who hold databases of Government press releases, to negotiate

  7
  access via the Internet. Neither the COI nor its Government clients can insist on this, as there are commercial and security implications that only the "hosts" can decide upon.

  The use of the Internet is one of a number of options being examined for increasing openness.

  Tropical Rainforests
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received asking that pension and other institutional funds be required to make available to their investors details regarding the identity and work of companies involved in timber exploitation in tropical rainforests.

  Mr. Nelson
  None. It is for institutions, their auditors and regulators to settle the contents of their annual reports and other information provided to investors, with due regard to legal requirements.

  Self-assessment
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to consult on the role of employers in self-assessment as announced in his November 1993 Budget.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Inland Revenue is today publishing a consultative document entitled "Self-assessment: what it will mean for employers and employees." The document considers where changes may be necessary or desirable for self-assessment. It makes proposals for employers to give their employees information they will need to complete a self-assessment tax return after the new system has come in.

  In designing the proposals the Inland Revenue has aimed to keep any burden on employers to the minimum necessary to enable those employees who receive tax returns after 6 April 1997 to self-assess. The proposals have been discussed with employers' representatives and they are now being set out in the document for wider consultation and comment.

  Copies of the consultative document will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 12 April,Official Report, column 46, if he will list the firms of consultants employed by his Department and the number of contracts they have undertaken.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 19 April 1994]: Firms of consultants employed by my Department, including in privatisation contracts, for the period August 1991 to March 1994 are listed. The remaining consultancies were carried out by individuals, academics and academic institutes.

  Consultancy firm

  Number

  Price Waterhouse

  12

  TPF & C

  2

  BDO Binder Hamlyn

  3

  Mouchel Management Ltd.

  1

  Inenco Group

  2

  Demograft Recruitment Consultants

  3

  Wyatt Company (UK) Ltd.

  3

  Touche Ross & Co.

  3

  8

  Consultancy firm

  Number

  Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte

  2

  Arthur Walton & Partners

  1

  KPMG

  5

  Ernst & Young

  8

  KPG Computer Support

  7

  PMMS Consulting Group Ltd.

  1

  Dunnett Shaw and Partners

  3

  DW Diamond Management Consultants Ltd.

  1

  Hay Management Consultants

  1

  Grosvenor Consultancy Services

  1

  William M. Mercer

  2

  Montrose

  2

  Kingsley Lord Ltd.

  1

  Achilles Consultancy

  1

  Solid Solutions Associates

  3

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Lake Windermere
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the public inquiry shortly to be held into the proposed byelaws and objections concerning Lake Windermere in the Lake District national park;

  (2) what steps his Department is taking to safeguard the position of sport and recreation on Lake Windermere, without recourse to a public inquiry, following the proposal of byelaws seeking to introduce a 10 mph speed limit on Lake Windermere.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We consider that the terms of reference of the public inquiry which my right hon. and learned Friend has ordered to be held into the proposed byelaws should be sufficiently broad to encompass matters such as the practicality of alternative approaches to the management of Lake Windermere advocated by the Sports Council and others. I understand that the council and a number of other sports bodies are due to give oral evidence at the inquiry. It is not possible to estimate the cost of the inquiry at this stage.

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes there are in operation in(a) each country in Wales, (b) Wales as a whole and (c) England as a whole.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on the number of neighbourhood watch schemes is recorded at police level and so it is not possible to attribute schemes to individual Welsh counties. The number of schemes recorded by the police at the end of December 1993 for England and Wales is as follows:

  Police Force Area

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes

  Dyfed—Powys

  1,257

  Gwent

  210

  North Wales

  2,989

  South Wales

  1,292

  Total Wales

  5,748

  Total England

  124,856

  Juvenile Offenders
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he will put in place to assist financially the families of juvenile offenders in secure training centres when visiting their children in the centres.

  Mr. Howard
  I intend to put in place a scheme which will enable a juvenile offender, on one occasion each week, to receive a visit from immediate family members, foster parents or guardians with the visitor able to claim reimbursement of the cost of that visit. I hope that this will encourage more frequent contacts between families and offenders, thus helping to maintain ties and promoting the involvement of families in offenders' training plans and in their progress in the centre prior to returning to the community.

  Police, Peterlee
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police constables were deployed in the Peterlee sub-division in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many women police officers were deployed in the Peterlee sub-division in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The deployment of police resources within a force area is a matter for the chief constable. I understand from the chief constable that the Peterlee sub-division was merged with the Seaham sub-division on 1 January 1989 to form the Easington sub-division. The information provided relates to that part of the division made up of the Peterlee area.

  Year As at 31 December

  Strength Constables (male and female)

  Strength Women Officers

  1989

  91

  10

  1990

  92

  11

  1991

  98

  12

  1992

  103

  13

  1993

  110

  21

  Mobile Telephones and Pagers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Howard
  About 1,250 mobile telephones are in use in my Department, including executive agencies. About a dozen are installed in official vehicles. There are about 2,100 pagers. Mobile telephones and pagers are used mainly by staff in Her Majesty's Prison Service and Her Majesty's Immigration Service, who for operational reasons need to maintain immediate contact with their offices or other officials. Annual expenditure is estimated to be about £745,000, excluding capital costs which are variable.

  Asylum Seekers and Refugees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 31 March,Official Report, column 943–45, what were the numbers in each local education authority of (a) asylum seekers and refugees, (b) children of asylum seekers and refugees, (c) unaccompanied children admitted as asylum seekers or refugees and (d) children admitted for family reunion reasons, admitted to the United Kingdom for the years (i) 1990–91, (ii) 1991–92, (iii) 1992–93 and (iv) 1993–94, derived from addresses notified to the Immigration and Nationality Department.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Howard
  Limited use of the Internet is made by research and development scientists in my Department for communicating with universities and other research organisations. My Department's press notices are passed electronically to the Central Office of Information, through which they are made available to users of the Internet. We have no further plans to use the Internet.

  Immigration
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the carrying companies that have failed to pay expenses incurred in respect of persons detained, or liable to be detained, under the Immigration Acts, the amounts owing, and which amounts are still being pursued.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  It is not normal practice to disclose information on the amounts owed in detention expenses by individual carrying companies, nor their payment record. The total amount currently owed to the Immigration Department is £2·7 million. Similar information about the amount due by carriers to police forces and the Prison Service for immigration detention costs is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom have been granted in each of the last five years on the basis of a common-law relationship with a British citizen.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The available information is given in the table. Information on cases where the partner was a British citizen is not separately identifiable in these statistics.

  Acceptances for settlement' on the basis of a common-law relationship with a partner who is settled in the United Kingdom or who is a British citizen.
  11

  Year

  Number

  1989

  110

  1990

  170

  1991

  310

  1992

  290

  1993

  400

  1 On a discretionary basis.

  Integrated National Criminal Intelligence Systems
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in each financial year the amount spent on the development of the integrated national criminal intelligence systems computer project; which private sector firms participated in this project; and what amounts have been paid to them.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The figures, including the amounts paid to private sector firms, are given in the table. The private sector firms participating were Computer Sciences Co. Ltd., Grafton Database Associates Ltd., Hoskyns', PA Consultants, Software AG and World Quality Systems. Individual contract costs are commercially confidential, but the total amount paid to private sector firms was £1·008 million.

  Year

  £ Thousands

  1989–90

  173

  1990–91

  357

  1991–92

  699

  1992–93

  218

  TOTAL

  1,447

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects the crime statistics to be broadly the same as in May 1979.

  Mr. Maclean
  I will not make predictions on long-term crime statistics. In the meantime, the Government will continue to take vigorous action to tackle crime and protect the public.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new appointments have been made to the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Howard
  Ann Kelly, who served on the British Railways Board up to 1992 with responsibility for promoting equal opportunities, has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Police Complaints Authority. She took up her appointment on 18 April.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Fire Precautions Legislation
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding the six bedspace rule in respect of fire precautions legislation.
  12
  Mr. Sproat
  My Department has received a number of representations on this subject, particularly from tourist accommodation operators with more than six bedspaces. The effect of fire precautions legislation and its enforcement featured strongly in responses to my Department's inquiry into regulatory burdens on the tourism industry. These matters are currently being considered both by the Home Office and by the interdepartmental fire safety scrutiny team, announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade —to whom I have made the tourism industry's concerns known—on 17 January.

  Tourism
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment his Department has made of the effect of local government reorganisation on the English regional tourist board structure.

  Mr. Sproat
  Each of the regional tourist boards—RTBs —is an independent organisation, and their boundaries will not be directly affected by the outcome of the local government review. Local authorities have always been active supporters of the work of the RTBs, and I am sure the RTBs will be keen to co-operate with any new authorities which emerge from the review.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are the objectives of the Government's tourism policy.

  Mr. Sproat
  The objectives of the Government's tourism policy are, as set out in my Department's annual report, to create the conditions which will encourage inward and domestic tourism so that the industry can make its full contribution to the economy and increase opportunities for access to our culture and heritage.

  In pursuit of this overall aim my Department seeks to:
  —facilitate the work of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board in developing the tourism product to its full potential and in marketing it to the consumer both overseas and at home; and
  —ensure that all parts of Government take full account of the implications of their policies for the tourism industry and that unnecessary barriers to its development are removed.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects the review of the crown classification system in respect of tourism in England to be completed.

  Mr. Sproat
  The consultants commissioned by the English tourist board to review the crown classification scheme are due to report to the board at the end of May. My Department will then discuss with the English tourist board its proposals for taking forward the recommendations of the report.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the future of the United Kingdom tourism survey.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the impact on non-EC tourist traffic and expenditure in the United Kingdom as a result of implementing EC Commission proposal Com (94) 58 to amend directive 77/388/EEC.

  Mr. Sproat
  The proposed amendment to directive 77/388/EEC imposes a minimum threshold of 175 ecus
  13
  before non-EU visitors can claim a VAT refund. There is some concern within the retail sector that this would have an adverse effect on tourist expenditure. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is well aware of these concerns and the Government have made clear their objections to this proposal.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have asked the English tourist board to review its research activities, including the United Kingdom tourism survey. The aim of this review is to assess whether information is being provided for the industry and for Government in a form that meets their needs. This review is due to be completed in the near future.

  Public Library Service
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the effect of local government reorganisation on the public library service; and what account he has taken of the views of the chairman of Library and Information Services, Council for England.

  Mr. Sproat
  In his annual report to Parliament on library matters, published last month in conjunction with that of the Library and Information Services Council, my right hon. Friend responded to the council's concern about the likely effect of local government reorganisation upon existing county library services in the following terms:"I am well aware of the deep feelings which have been aroused by proposals for change in the structure of local government and have, myself, taken every opportunity to register within Government the importance of ensuring effective future arrangements for the delivery of the public library service, whatever the final outcome of the re-organisation".

  Administration Expenditure
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much of his Department's estimated outturn expenditure on administration for the year 1994–95 will be spent on(a) premises, (b) publicity and (c) salaries.

  Mr. Sproat
  Estimated expenditure in the three areas is:

  £ Million

  Premises

  3·5

  Publicity

  0·1

  Salaries

  9·1

  National Lottery
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how much of the cost for 1994–95 of the Office of the National Lottery will be spent on(a) salaries, (b) publicity and (c) administration;

  (2) how many staff are at present employed at the Office of the National Lottery; and how many are likely to be employed once the lottery has begun its operation;

  (3) what services of the Office of the National Lottery have been contracted out; to whom and for what purpose.

  Mr. Brooke
  These are matters for the Director General of the Office of the National Lottery. I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member and place copies of his reply in the Library of the House.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. Sproat
  My Department's press releases, issued electronically through the Central Office of Information, are accessible to users of the Internet via Data-Star Dialog (Europe) or Mead/Lexis/Nexis. They are also available to subscribers to FT Profile, Reuters Textline and to POLIS.

  My Department's press releases are also made available through the COI's fax retrieval service, details of which can be provided by its news distribution service.

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

  Mr. Sproat
  Since formation in April 1992, my Department and its agencies have not employed any private detective agencies.

  Private security firms have been employed and I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 21 April 1994, Official Report, column
  613.

  British Library
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretry of State for National Heritage what plans he has for the completion of the British library building at St. Pancras.

  Mr. Brooke
  Following a competitive tendering exercise, I have agreed to place a contract for the cladding and fitting-out of the final phase of construction with a joint venture consortium comprising Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd. and Haden Young Ltd.

  Privatisation (Consultants)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with privatisation programmes in which his Department has been engaged.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 4 May 1994]: Nil.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Single Market
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions advice from the single market compliance unit has led to a United Kingdom company successfully challenging a contract originally awarded to a company based in another member state of the European Union.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The single market compliance unit and other parts of Government have provided guidance to
  15
  many companies on EC public purchasing procedures. Companies do not usually report back to us unless they face subsequent difficulty. We therefore do not know to what extent Government advice has enabled United Kingdom firms successfully to challenge public sector contracts originally awarded to companies from other member states.

  Mobile Telephones and Pagers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. Eggar
  Records are no longer kept centrally of all uses of mobile telephones, pagers and electronic bleepers. However it is estimated that excluding "next steps" agencies there are some 700 mobile telephones and 480 pagers/bleepers in use in my Department at costs of around £280,000 and £65,000 per annum respectively.

  This equipment is in use where the costs can be shown to be justified by improvements in efficiency and effectiveness. This covers a wide range of personnel.

  Easington (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will pay a visit to the Easington constituency; and when was the last time he was in that area.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have no plans at present to visit the hon. Gentleman's constituency. My last visit to Durham was on 18 September 1992 when I opened the new joint office of the Northern chambers of commerce and I attended the annual dinners of the Teeside and Tyne and Wear chambers in April and October of last year.

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current capacity of the electricity interconnector with France; what percentage of this capacity is utilised; and what proposals there are for constructing additional capacity to transmit electricity between Britain and continental Europe.

  Mr. Eggar
  The interconnector with France has a capacity of 2,000 MW. Since it was commissioned in 1986 it has generally been fully utilised. Proposals to construct additional capacity between Britain and continental Europe are a matter for the industry.

  Research Establishments
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 14 April,Official Report, columns 251–53, on research establishments, when he expects to make a further announcement on his plans for contracting out.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I will make further announcements as and when I am ready to do so.

  Exports
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of British exports at constant prices in each of the last five years; and what proportion consisted exports of military equipment.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The value of United Kingdom exports, in constant 1990 prices, is given in the table. Information on exports of military equipment is not available in constant prices. The proportion of total visible exports accounted for by military equipment, in current prices, is given in the table.

  Year

  United Kingdom visible exports (£ billion, 1990 prices)

  Military Equipment1 as a percentage of total (in current price terms)

  1989

  95·8

  3·4

  1990

  101·7

  2·8

  1991

  102·9

  2·2

  1992

  105·2

  2·7

  1993

  108·3

  2·1

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Note:

  1 Military equipment is defined, in terms of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 3), as aircraft and associated equipment (all tariff headings in division 79 other than those identified as "civil"; and excluding spacecraft and launch vehicles); warships (tariff heading 890600 100) and arms and ammunition (for military purposes) (division 98).

  Departmental Sponsorship
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list each current grant, incentive, advice, consultancy, award or other scheme involving either direct or indirect expenditure his Department sponsors together with the date of commencement, and the authority for each such scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  The supply estimates for 1994–95 and the DTI's annual report for 1994—both published in March —copies of which are available in the Library of the House, describe in some detail the Department's current schemes involving programme expenditure. The information requested regarding dates of commencement and authority for individual schemes could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Arms and Ammunition Exports
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the controls or licence requirements in respect of the export of arms and ammunition to the counties of central and south America; and how many licences were(a) issued and (b) applied for and rejected for such countries in the last three years.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Exports of arms and ammunition to all destinations are controlled under the relevant Export of Goods (Control) Order. Arms and ammunition as defined in the International Munitions List are prefixed "ML" in the orders. Details of the numbers of licences in respect of destinations in south and central America in the last three complete calendar years are as follows.
  17

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Issued

  Refused

  Issued

  Refused

  Issued

  Refused

  Mexico

  16

  0

  23

  0

  9

  0

  Belize

  5

  0

  1

  0

  7

  0

  Guatemala

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Honduras

  2

  0

  16

  0

  11

  0

  E1 Salvador

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Nicaragua

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Costa Rica

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Panama

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Colo"mbia

  12

  0

  19

  0

  10

  0

  Venezuela

  18

  0

  20

  0

  21

  0

  Guyana

  1

  0

  2

  0

  4

  0

  Surinam

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ecuador

  22

  0

  20

  0

  17

  0

  Peru

  14

  1

  15

  0

  23

  0

  Brazil

  148

  0

  261

  0

  595

  0

  Bolivia

  0

  0

  2

  0

  6

  0

  Chile

  264

  0

  303

  0

  83

  0

  Paraguay

  2

  0

  2

  0

  5

  0

  Argentina

  1

  3

  2

  4

  0

  5

  Uruguay

  3

  0

  8

  0

  4

  0

  Gas Industry
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to publish the consultative document on opening up the domestic gas market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the consultation document on the future of the United Kingdom gas market.

  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the consultation paper on regulation of the competitive gas market will be published.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Director General of Gas Supply and I have today published our joint consultative document, "Competition and Choice in the Gas Market". This outlines an approach to bringing the benefits of competition to the domestic gas supply market, and describes the regulatory arrangements which could be put in place. This is a consultation document, and no decisions have been taken.

  Comments are requested on certain issues by the end of June, and on the remainder by the end of July. Copies of the document have been placed in the Library of the House. Further copies are available from the Library at the Office of Gas Supply.

  The proposals envisage the separation of the business of gas supply, which is increasingly subject to competition, from gas transportation, which will continue to be substantially a monopoly.

  The proposed new licensing framework will allow independent suppliers, as well as the British Gas supply business, to have their gas transported through the pipeline system and supply customers. Regulation on the supply business will gradually be relaxed as the benefits of competition flow, although a number of important conditions, such as debt and disconnection, will be retained indefinitely.

  Because of the complexity of the issues and the need to feed back experience as it is gained, the introduction of competition will be phased in carefully. For the first two years, the extent of competition will be limited to 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. of the volume of gas sold.
  18
  A new British Gas network code, to be agreed by OFGAS, will ensure that all approved suppliers—including the British Gas supply business—can use the transportation system on a fair and responsible basis. The document envisages that prices charged by the British Gas transportation network will be controlled by a formula.

  The document makes it clear that safety will remain paramount. Broadly, the present system for handling gas emergencies will continue, with the British Gas transportation and storage business responsible for providing the emergency service, including making safe any leak on the customer's side of the meter and the first half hour of any repair work associated with a leak. The transportation business would also handle connections to the network. The Health and Safety Commission will make a thorough study of the safety implications of the proposals in the document.

  Special considerations apply to the domestic market they include.

  Assurance of Supply
  Customers of British Gas at present have a high assurance of supply. We see no reason why the competitive market should not provide a similarly high level of assurance—and the consumer will benefit from the choice provided by competition.

  Standards of Service
  The document recognises the importance of meeting high standards of service, especially in areas such as debt and disconnection, and services for the elderly and disabled. The document proposes that the same regulatory standards should apply in these areas both to British Gas and its competitors.

  Pricing
  The principal effect of competition is likely to be overall downward pressure on costs and prices. Competition is a spur to efficiency, innovation and higher standards of service. Within this overall pattern, small price differentials are likely to emerge gradually as relative prices move to reflect costs.

  However it will be important to avoid abrupt price movements and a number of proposals are put forward in this area. The document makes clear that:
  the present RPI-4 price formula will continue to apply until at least 1997;
  the maximum level of standing charge, will continue to be capped at 1986 levels in real terms—at least until 1997;
  —OFGAS's proposals on transportation standing charges should help reduce any pressures to raise prices for the average small consumer;
  —during the transitional period between 1996 and 1998, it is expected that no British Gas published tariff will increase by more than the rate of inflation, taking one year with another and apart from factors outside the control of the gas supply industry.
  19
  Energy Efficiency
  The document considers whether it might be reasonable to broaden the director's powers in this area. It also suggests that suppliers should be enabled to sell total energy packages, including both gas and energy saving measures, so that least cost planning can be undertaken by consumers at the level of the individual kitchen.

  Comments are requested on the points raised in the document. On certain issues of direct relevance to the preparation of draft legislation—which are marked at the end of each chapter—comments should be received by the end of June 1994. For other issues, comments can be received up to the end of July.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given of the impact on low-income gas consumers of a 2 per cent. premium on gas bills to achieve the Government's energy conservation targets.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government are committed to achieving the Rio target and look to energy efficiency programmes devised by the Energy Saving Trust to make a sizeable contribution to meeting the target. Consideration is being given to the means of financing these programmes, including their costs to gas consumers. No decisions have been taken.

  Oil Industry
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out his powers in respect of cancelling or refusing licences if an oil company takes over another.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 6 May 1994]: If an oil company takes over another which has a petroleum licence, this would constitute a change of control of that licensee. A change of control of a licensee might, in certain circumstances, trigger the Secretary of State's power to revoke the licence. If an oil company takes over another company which has applied for a licence, such an application would be treated on its merits. Under the relevant legislation the Secretary of State has power to grant licences to such persons as he thinks fit.

  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultation has taken place with Her Majesty's Government with regard to the continuation of licences when an oil company takes over another.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Such consultations take place from time to time in relation to developments in the market. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today, which sets out the Secretary of State's powers in the event of a change of control of a licensee.

  Year

  Total Applications

  Independent Consultants

  Firm of Consultants

  Others

  Referred to Advisory Committee

  Department of Trade and Industy

  1986

  48

  5

  5

  38

  3

  1987

  83

  4

  15

  64

  5

  1988

  107

  23

  13

  71

  3

  1989

  138

  7

  13

  118

  5

  1990

  168

  29

  7

  132

  1

  1991

  46

  6

  7

  33

  2

  1992

  72

  14

  25

  33

  2

  1993

  51

  17

  7

  27

  1

  Coal Industry Privatisation
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 April,Official Report, column 708, if he will now announce a new redundancy scheme for mineworkers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The operation of British Coal's redundancy arrangements is a matter for the corporation. I understand it is currently discussing with the unions the redundancy arrangements for industrial employees to apply after 30 April.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce a statutory requirement to ensure that the new coal authority must ensure appropriate environmental safeguards and levels of public accountability for the privatised coal industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 6 May 1994]: It will be for the successor companies to discharge their obligations to protect the environment, and for the relevant regulators to enforce these obligations.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the balance of trade in manufacturing goods in May 1979; and what it is currently.

  Mr. Needham
  Information on the balance of trade in manufacturing is no longer readily available on a monthly basis for 1979. In the second quarter of 1979, the United Kingdom had a trade surplus in manufactures worth £1·1 billion. In the last three months to January 1994, the United Kingdom had a deficit of £2·5 billion.

  Civil Servants (Business Appointments)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many civil servants in his Department and the Department of Energy 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.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: The table sets out the information requested. Under the business appointment rules Departments may not withhold approval but they may impose conditions on applicants. They may, for example, impose waiting periods of up to two years before outside employment is taken up.
  21

  Year

  Total Applications

  Independent Consultants

  Firm of Consultants

  Others

  Referred to Advisory Committee

  1994 (Q1)

  34

  4

  11

  19

  0

  Department of Energy

  1986

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1987

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1988

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1989

  2

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1990

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1991

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1992

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the costs incurred by his office 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) any other related costs.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 6 May 1994]: The cost to the DTI of providing legal advice to witnesses giving evidence to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry is currently £165,976. Officials and Ministers, whether serving or former, have provided evidence to the inquiry on a personal basis and have not been supervised by the Department. It is not possible, therefore, to estimate the time spent or cost incurred in the provision of such evidence. Serving officials are required to submit evidence and attend the inquiry as invited by Lord Justice Scott as part of their official duties.

  The direct central cost of the provision of evidence and information from the DTI to the inquiry is estimated to be £311,219, which represents the cost of the inquiry liaison unit within the DTI and the costs of the attendant registry. The direct costs of the Scott inquiry to date, falling to my department, have been £1,028,000.

WALES

  European Regional Fund
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the moneys received by local authorities in the county of Clwyd from the regional fund of the EU since its inception.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The total European regional development fund grant aid received by local authorities in Clwyd since 1975 is £48,424,961.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the regional challenge basis for ERDF funding allocation in England being used as a suitable basis for allocating funds in Wales; and what plans he has to top-slice objective 5b funds in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have decided that a proportion of the ERDF allocations in both the objective 2 and 5b areas of Wales will be used to fund projects selected through regional challenge competitions, which I believe will enhance the quality and value for money of grant allocations by stimulating the submission of imaginative regeneration and development proposals from local partnerships.

  Meat Hygiene
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to establish a meat hygiene service office in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Detailed arrangements for the meat hygiene service's organisation are still under consideration.

  Farm Workers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the numbers of(a) part-time and (b) full-time employee workers on Welsh farms for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is given in the following table. The number of seasonal and casual workers is not recorded as either part-time or full-time and is shown separately.

  Employees on Farm Holdings in Wales1

  Year

  Part-time2

  Full-time2

  Seasonal or Casual

  1989

  3,674

  6,112

  8,252

  1990

  3,983

  5,881

  8,196

  1991

  3,912

  5,730

  8,504

  1992

  4,021

  5,382

  8,286

  1993

  4,052

  5,405

  7,918

  Source: June Agricultural and Horticultural Census

  1At June each year. Includes estimate for minor holdings. All figures include trainees employed under an official scheme at Agricultural Wages Board rates or above.

  2 Includes all family and hired workers, excluding spouses of farmers, partners and directors.

  Students
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each county and for Wales as a whole how many students receiving further education receive repayments from the further education access fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Access funds are allocated to individual further and higher education institutions. Returns from institutions show that the number of students on further education courses who received payments from the access funds in 1992–93 were:

  Institution

  Number of students

  North East Wales Institute of Higher Education

  168

  Llandrillo Technical College

  178

  Welsh College of Horticulture

  11

  23

  Institution

  Number of students

  Llysfasi College

  8

  Carmarthen College of Technology and Art

  30

  Pembrokeshire College

  41

  Coleg Ceredigion

  27

  Welsh Agriculture College

  1

  Trinity College

  —

  Gwent Tertiary College

  320

  Gwent College of Higher Education

  16

  Gwynedd Technical College

  79

  Coleg Pencraig

  31

  Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor

  16

  Coleg Normal Bangor

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil College

  58

  Aberdare College

  63

  Bridgend College

  22

  Rhondda College

  10

  Ystrad Mynach College

  104

  Pontypridd College

  117

  Pencoed College

  8

  University of Glamorgan

  —

  Coleg Powys

  49

  Welsh College of Music and Drama

  —

  Cardiff Institute of Higher Education

  11

  Coleg Glan Hafren

  67

  Barry College of FE

  67

  Swansea Institute of Higher Education

  5

  Swansea College

  15

  Gorseinon College

  4

  Neath College

  11

  Afan College

  11

  Coleg Harlech

  53

  Arable Farming
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest total paid to farmers in(a) arable aid scheme set-aside payments and (b) total arable area scheme payments in Wales following the 1993–94 harvest.

  Mr. Redwood
  Payments made under(a) arable aid scheme set aside payments amount to £617,480 and (b) arable area total payments of £5,526,385, in the 1992–93 harvest year.

  No payments have yet been made in respect of the 1993–94 harvest year.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farms in Wales had arable aid scheme set-aside areas greater than(a) 100 hectares and (b) 50 hectares in the last available year.

  Mr. Redwood
  No farms in Wales had arable aid scheme set-aside areas greater than 50 hectares.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers in Wales received arable area payments greater than(a) £100,000, (b) £250,000, (c) £500,000 and (d) £1,000,000 in the last available year.

  Mr. Redwood
  No farmers in Wales received payments greater than £100,000.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farms in Wales had hectarages of land under cereals greater than(a) 1,000 hectares, (b) 500 hectares and (c) 250 hectares in the last available year.

  Mr. Redwood
  Because of the risk of disclosing confidential information it is not possible to answer the question using the size groups given. The information 24
  available is for those farms growing over 175 hectares of cereals—excluding maize. There were, according to the June 1993 agricultural census, four of these holdings in Wales.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Consultants
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the Information Technology Services Agency's current major software developments are undertaken or managed by private consultants.

  Mr. Hague
  ITSA currently has 59 major software development projects. The use and combination of consultants, contractors and civil servants vary on each of the projects. In 1993–94, 62.3 per cent. of ITSA's total personnel costs for software development was spent on consultancy/contractors.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. Hague
  The Department's press releases issued electronically through the Central Office of Information are accessible to users of the Internet via Data-Star Dialog (Europe) or Mead/Lexis/Nexis. They are also available to subscribers to FT Profile, Reuters Textline and to POLIS.

  The Department's press releases are also made available through the COI's fax retrieval service, details of which can be provided by their news distribution service.

  There are no immediate plans to use the Internet. However, this Department is currently undertaking a review of its telecommunications requirements. This includes an evaluation of the services which are available, including Internet, to decide on the most suitable networks to meet its future requirements.

  Income Support
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to what extent a person with no housing costs, who is on income support, and who moves out of the matrimonial home, is entitled to help with the costs of a new mortgage.

  Mr. Burt
  From May 1994, persons in receipt of income support with no housing costs who move out of the matrimonial home will not receive help with the interest on a new mortgage for a new home unless it relates to the special needs of a disabled person, the need to provide separate sleeping accommodation for children of different sexes over the age of 10 years, or it is for essential repairs and improvements.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support claimants had deductions from their benefit amounting to(a) over 15 per cent. and (b) over 20 per cent. of (i) their benefit income and (ii) their total income.
  25
  Mr. Burt
  The latest available information is in the table.

  Number of cases

  Benefit income

  Deductions over 15 per cent. of benefit income

  260,000

  Deductions over 20 per cent. of benefit income

  156,000

  Total income

  Deductions over 15 per cent. of total income

  244,000

  Deductions over 20 per cent. of total income

  146,000

  Source: Income Support Statistical Enquiry, May 1992.

  Notes:

  1. The deductions are for direct payments to third parties, Social Fund loan repayments, and overpayment recoveries. The third party deductions include direct payments to lenders of the mortgage

  Income Support Recipients Cases with Deductions

  Cases with one or more deductions Number of Cases

  Average Total Income

  Cases with more than one deduction Number of Cases

  Average Total Income

  Higher Pensioner Premium

  23,000

  98·07

  4,000

  99·18

  Enhanced Pensioner Premium

  4,000

  69·01

  1,000

  60·16

  Pensioner Premium

  38,000

  74·76

  10,000

  72·12

  Severe Disability Premium (Higher Rate)

  —

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  Severe Disability Premium (Lower Rate)

  5,000

  144·81

  2,000

  159·76

  Disability Premium

  97,000

  98·33

  35,000

  104·57

  Lone Parent Premium

  422,000

  94·69

  176,000

  96·47

  Disabled Child Premium

  11,000

  183·26

  5,000

  176·99

  Family Premium

  605,000

  105·78

  245,000

  106·28

  Carer Premium

  14,000

  147·75

  5,000

  151·14

  No Premium

  274,000

  48·57

  54,000

  48·44

  Source: Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry May 1992.

  Notes:

  1. The deductions are for direct payments to third parties, social fund repayments, and overpayment recoveries.

  2. Income does not include housing benefit or council tax benefit because this information is not available.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Know-how Fund
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many management training projects are currently being supported by the know-how fund in Russia; and if he will place a list of all current know-how fund projects in Russia in the Library.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Management training is not in itself a priority area for the know-how fund in Russia. But many of the projects we undertake in energy, small business development, food production and distribution and financial services involve training in applied management. A list of all know-how fund projects is placed in the Library every six months.

  Russia
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made as to the amount of international aid to Russia subsequently transferred to Swiss banks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Because the majority of the United Kingdom's support for Russia is closely targeted on
  26
  interest allowance for which specific amounts are then added to claimants' Income Support.

  2. Income does not include Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit, because this information is not available.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures on the same basis as series 10 of the income support statistics annual inquiry showing the average total income for each premium group broken down by(a) all cases with one or more deductions and (b) all cases with more than one deduction.

  Mr. Burt
  The available figures are in the table. We have no plans to publish them in tables at series 10 in the income support statistical annual inquiry.

  specific projects, we are able to ensure that the money is spent as intended. It is not for us to comment on the aid programmes of other countries.

  World Bank Programmes, Africa
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of World bank structural adjustment programmes in Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The recent World bank report "Adjustment in Africa" examined the performance of 29 African countries which drew up adjustment programmes in the 1980s. We endorse its two basic conclusions.

  Those countries which consistently implemented comprehensive adjustment policies had achieved better economic performance than those which did not. Economic reform is only part of the effort to secure sustainable growth and poverty reduction in Africa; parallel efforts are also needed to improve governance; basic social services; and infrastructure.

  Somalia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanism the ODA has whereby Somalis in the United Kingdom with specialist skills could be assisted to return to Somalia to assist in their country's redevelopment; and if he will explore this possibility with the Somali community.
  27
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Aid funds are available to support rehabilitation programmes in Somalia carried out by non-governmental organisations and UN agencies. Expatriate Somalis can be employed on these programmes.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much help, broken down by categories including humanitarian and development aid and other specific categories, has been given in each of the past five years to(a) Somalia as a whole and (b) Somaliland by (i) the British Government, (ii) the European Union countries, (iii) the European Union, (iv)

  Net Official Development Assistance to Somalia 1988–1992

  £ millions

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  (i) European Union Countries

  Belguim

  0·15

  0·18

  4·51

  0·80

  4·33

  Denmark

  4·70

  3·96

  1·19

  0·02

  0·06

  France

  3·76

  1·67

  1·72

  1·26

  8·43

  Germany

  17·76

  15·03

  11·69

  5·84

  15·72

  Ireland

  0·22

  —

  —

  0·22

  0·00

  Italy

  110·72

  100·32

  62·64

  30·96

  13·73

  Luxembourg

  —

  —

  0·05

  0·03

  0·97

  Netherlands

  0·07

  0·16

  0·13

  1·38

  29·05

  Portugal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Spain

  —

  0·01

  5·46

  0·01

  0·46

  (ii) European Commission

  8·38

  21·50

  22·91

  20·14

  24·50

  (iii) United States

  12·35

  17·08

  40·54

  3·40

  174·33

  (iv) Other Multilateral Organisations

  African Development Fund/Bank

  2·02

  8·16

  10·77

  2·79

  0·06

  IDA

  12·35

  27·45

  18·02

  —

  0·00

  International Fund for Agricultural Development

  0·95

  1-0·07

  0·86

  0·09

  0·11

  International Monetary Fund

  —

  1-0·8

  —

  —

  —

  UN Childrens Fund

  1·76

  1·40

  2·05

  2·78

  16·18

  UN Development Programme

  5·44

  6·01

  4·96

  2·13

  1·54

  UN Fund for Population Activities

  0·47

  0·54

  0·46

  —

  n·a·

  UN High Commission for Refugees

  19·27

  12·08

  6·30

  3·89

  4·67

  UN Technical Assistance

  1·03

  1·38

  0·72

  0·81

  0·85

  World Food Programme

  13·15

  12·25

  12·12

  6·68

  36·40

  UN Other

  0·92

  5·64

  1·21

  0·37

  n·a·

  Arab Funds/Banks

  0·43

  0·74

  0·03

  0·12

  1-1·08

  1Repayments of official development assistance loan disbursement from previous years are shown as negative figures.

  In 1993–94 the United Kingdom committed £5·39 million of bilateral humanitarian assistance to Somalia of which £1·72 million has been committed to the north-west region. We expect to spend about £3 million in assistance to Somalia in 1994–95. In addition we are currently considering a number of proposals to support rehabilitation in the north west.

  Since January 1993 the European Commission has funded activities in Somalia equivalent to £44·27 million of which the United Kingdom share is £7·25 million. A breakdown of EC expenditure is as follows:

  Tonnes

  United Kingdom equivalent (£ million)

  Food aid

  20,476

  4·20

  Humanitarian

  —

  8·05

  Rehabilitation

  —

  32·02

  Planning figures for the United Kingdom and other donors beyond the current year are not available.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions have been made(a) by Britain and (b) other EU countries to the United Nations' humanitarian appeal for Rwanda.
  28
  the United States and (v) other international organisations; and what figures are planned for the current financial year and in each of the next five years in each case.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 27 April 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24 February at columns 399–400 on British aid to Somalia over the five financial years to 1992–93.

  Details of other donors' assistance from 1988–1992 are as follows. A breakdown by type of aid and region is not available.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs launched an appeal for Rwanda on 25 April. Since the start of the current emergency, Britain has provided over £1·1 million of humanitarian assistance and last week my noble friend the Minister for Overseas Development made available a further £2 million for British non-governmental organisations working in the region. Other EU countries and the European Commission have announced nearly £2 million of assistance so far.

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the number of people killed in the civil war in Rwanda.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are estimates that more than 200,000 people may have perished in the recent fighting in Rwanda. It is a horrific and tragic civil war where we will probably never know the true figure of those killed and injured.

  Narmada Dam
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the reasons for the recent sit-in protest in India over the Narmada dam project; what assessment he has made of the implications for local people if the sluice
  29
  gates are opened during the coming monsoon; and what action his representative at the World bank is taking in this matter.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have received no reports of a recent sit-in protest over the Narmada dam project. Responsibility for the project rests with the Indian authorities, who have re-affirmed their commitment to the satisfactory linkage between implementation of resettlement and rehabilitation and construction work on the dam. World bank funding of the project ceased when the Indian authorities asked it to cancel the balance of the loan in March 1993.

  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his timetable for legislation concerning the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 3 May at columns 420–21. The Government's legislative programme for 1994–95 will be announced in the Queen's Speech.

  Soft Loans
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions since 1986 a soft loan has been paid to a body other than a Government; to whom payments were made; when and for what sum; why the payment was not made to the appropriate Government; and which British companies were the major parties to the contract.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 21 April 1994]: Soft loans, made by commercial banks and involving Her Majesty's Government paying interest make-up to support the concessional rates offered, have been made direct to a body other than the recipient Government on four occasions since 1986. In all these cases the soft loans were made direct at the request of the recipient Government. Details are given in the table.

  COLOMBIA

  Title:

  System X Project.

  Borrower:

  Empresa Nacional de Telecominicaciones de Colombia.

  Loan amount:

  £8·6 million with effect from June 1988.

  Lead contractor:

  Plessey UK Limited.

  JORDAN

  Title:

  Walking Draglines.

  Borrower:

  Jordan Phosphate Mining Company Ltd.

  Loan amount:

  £9 million with effect from April 1987.

  Lead contractor:

  Ransomes and Rapier plc.

  MALAYSIA

  Title:

  Pergau hydroelectric project.

  Borrower:

  Tenaga Nasional Berhad

  Loan amount:

  £305·443 million with effect from July 1991.

  Lead contractor:

  Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd. and Cementation International Limited.

  TURKEY

  Title:

  Ankara Natural Gas Conversion.

  Borrower:

  Electricity, Gas and Omnibus Authority of Ankara.

  Loan amount:

  £68 million with effect from May 1988.

  Lead contractor:

  British Gas plc.

  China
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects in China which received technical co-operation assistance from Her Majesty's Government in 1992–93 together with the amount allocated to each project and the organisations receiving the funds.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: Listed are those projects in China which received more than £20,000 of technical co-operation assistance with the expenditure per project in 1992–93 and the organisations involved:

  Project Title

  Figures in £s millions

  English Language Teaching Programme (British Council)

  1·28

  Sino-British Friendship Scholarship Scheme (British Council)

  1·37

  Technical Co-operation Training Programme (British Council)

  2·76

  Royal Fellowships Scheme (Royal Society)

  0·10

  Forestry Project (various)

  0·13

  Support for projects under the Agricultural Memorandum of Understanding (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)

  0·06

  Transport Planning Study for Peking (The MVA Consultancy)

  0·09

  Energy Conservation in Buildings for Peking (Building Research Establishment)

  0·10

  Water Quality Monitoring study for Chongqing (Binnie and Partners)

  0·02

  Control of Air Pollution Study for Chongqing (Environmental Resource Management)

  0·06

  Investment Techniques for Project Appraisal (Crown Agents)

  0·18

  Shanghai Water Management Study (Mott MacDonald)

  0·05

  Shanghai Environment Project (Mott MacDonald)

  0·95

  Computer Management Training for Coal (British Coal)

  0·03

  Energy Efficiency and Demonstration Project for Taiyuan (Coal Research Establishment)

  0·51

  Solid Waste Disposal Study for Tianjin (Binnie and Partners)

  0·07

  Pollution Control Study of the Grand Canal at Wuxi (Watson Hawksley Ltd·)

  0·19

  Resettlement Studies (The World Bank)

  0·06

  China Council for International Co-operation on Environment and Development Pricing Policy Working Group (Simon Fraser University, Vancouver)

  0·03

  Training for Xinhua News Agency (Thomson Foundation)

  0·02

  Remote Sensing Data Acquisition (Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick)

  0·03

  Support for projects under Heads of Mission Small Projects Scheme (British Embassy, Peking)

  0·04

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects and organisations in China which received aid and trade assistance from Her Majesty's Government together with the amount allocated in each case.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: Listed are those projects in China which received aid and trade assistance in 1992–93 with the organisations involved and the expenditure per project in 1992–93:
  31

  Project Title

  Figures in £s millions

  Urban Traffic Control System for Peking (Plessey Controls Ltd)

  0·01

  Chongqing Tyre Factory (Dunlop International Projects Ltd)

  0·12

  Modernisation of Peking Subway (Balfour Beatty Ltd)

  1·70

  Danyang Aluminium Plant (Davy McKee (Poole) Ltd)

  1·82

  Cotton Textile Mills (Platt Saco Lowell (UK) Ltd)

  0·22

  Shanghai Telecommunications (GEC Plessey Telecommunications Ltd)

  0·45

  Duck Processing Plants (APV Baker Ltd)

  1·11

  Flour and Feed Mills (Robinson Milling Systems Ltd)

  1·00

  Pre-stressed Concrete Wire (Marshall Richards Barcro Ltd)

  0·68

  Dalian Power Station (Gibson Wells Engineering Ltd)

  1·40

  Fushun Power Station (Gibson Wells Engineering Ltd)

  5·11

  Training of operators for Yue Yang Power Station (GEC Alsthom)

  0·45

  Container ships for COSCO (British Shipbuilders)

  1·11

  Yue Yang Power Station (GEC Turbine Generators Ltd)

  7·38

  Bohai Aluminium Plant (Davy McKee (Poole) Ltd)

  0·99

  Dushanzi Ethylene Complex (Snamprogetti Ltd)

  1·45

  Urumqi Pure Terephthalic Acid Plant (Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd)

  0·48

  Urumqi Para-xylene Plant (Babcock contractors Ltd)

  0·16

  Traffic Study for Peking (The MVA Consultancy)

  0·06

  Training and advisory Services for Peking Subway (Balfour Beatty Ltd)

  0·62

EDUCATION

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish his estimate for the reduction in Government funding of grant-maintained schools for 1994–95 and 1995–96 as a result of new funding rules introduced by the DFE.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government's expenditure plans provide for the Exchequer funding of grant-maintained schools to increase from £244 million to £446 32
  million net between 1994–95 and 1995–96 reflecting the increase in their number. These plans take account of the announced revisions to the detailed grant regime for GM school in 1994–95. The plans for 1995–96 and later years will be subject to review in the normal way.

  Further Education
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish for each county and for England as a whole for the last available year(a) the number of students aged 19 years and over receiving further education and (b) the estimated proportion of those students aged 19 years and over in further education who are not receiving grants.

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of students in each LEA in England aged 19 and over who are undertaking further education and the estimated proportion of those students who do not receive an award under section 2 of the Education Act 1962 are shown in the table.

  Number of FE students aged 19 and over by Home LEA showing number of students not receiving grants under section 2 of the 1962 Education Act 1991–92

  Local education authority

  Number of Students aged 19 and over

  students aged 19 and over not receiving grants

  Number

  Percentage

  Corporation of London

  243

  99

  Camden

  2,988

  100

  Greenwich

  2,927

  96

  Hackney

  4,659

  97

  Hammersmith

  4,051

  98

  Islington

  3,592

  97

  Kensington

  6,952

  98

  Lambeth

  7,069

  98

  Lewisham

  4,553

  96

  Southwark

  4,344

  98

  Tower Hamlets

  3,145

  97

  Wandsworth

  6,199

  n/a

  Westminster

  4,016

  100

  Barking

  1,686

  91

  Barnet

  12,122

  96

  Bexley

  2,235

  88

  Brent

  7,280

  96

  Bromley

  2,791

  95

  Croydon

  4,562

  99

  Ealing

  6,501

  94

  Enfield

  9,725

  98

  Haringey

  7,456

  100

  Harrow

  9,495

  100

  Havering

  3,560

  92

  Hillingdon

  3,794

  100

  Hounslow

  3,153

  100

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,527

  96

  Merton

  3,223

  92

  Newham

  7,778

  95

  Redbridge

  4,240

  100

  Richmond upon Thames

  15,847

  99

  Sutton

  9,443

  98

  Waltham Forest

  4,629

  98

  Birmingham

  22,722

  88

  Coventry

  8,188

  95

  Dudley

  12,291

  98

  Sandwell

  7,058

  91

  Solihull

  4,818

  96

  Walsall

  5,336

  71

  Wolverhampton

  7,316

  100

  33

  Numbers of FE students aged 19 and over by Home LEA showing number of students not receiving grants 1991–92

  Local Education Authority

  Number of Students aged 19 and over

  Percentage of students aged 19 and over not receiving grants

  Number

  Percentage

  Knowsley

  3,783

  86

  Liverpool

  14,498

  93

  St. Helens

  5,356

  95

  Sefton

  8,383

  99

  Wirral

  16,215

  97

  Bolton

  4,546

  88

  Bury

  3,080

  83

  Manchester

  9,595

  88

  Oldham

  2,354

  90

  Rochdale

  5,103

  83

  Salford

  8,151

  97

  Stockport

  4,221

  90

  Tameside

  6,539

  96

  Trafford

  8,025

  98

  Wigan

  8,710

  97

  Barnsley

  4,635

  93

  Doncaster

  11,560

  96

  Rotherham

  10,915

  95

  Sheffield

  22,053

  95

  Bradford

  22,984

  96

  Calderdale

  3,946

  97

  Kirklees

  10,942

  90

  Leeds

  18,059

  96

  Wakefield

  10,476

  97

  Gateshead

  4,725

  97

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  4,492

  92

  North Tyneside

  3,664

  82

  South Tyneside

  4,006

  94

  Sunderland

  7,071

  93

  Avon

  30,177

  91

  Bedfordshire

  13,396

  93

  Berkshire

  24,613

  100

  Buckinghamshire

  9,925

  99

  Cambridgeshire

  11,746

  99

  Cheshire

  27,988

  95

  Cleveland

  16,716

  99

  Cornwall (including I.o.Scilly)

  4,579

  82

  Cumbria

  7,596

  84

  Derbyshire

  21,594

  94

  Devon

  16,008

  90

  Dorset

  9,331

  85

  Numbers of FE students aged 19 and over by Home LEA showing number of students not receiving grants, 1991–92

  Local Education Authority

  Number of Students aged 19 and over

  Percentage of students aged 19+ not receiving grants

  Durham

  16,533

  95

  East Sussex

  22,461

  99

  Essex

  23,986

  93

  Gloucestershire

  21,649

  97

  Hampshire

  29,696

  95

  Hereford and Worcester

  21,806

  99

  Hertfordshire

  44,767

  99

  Humberside

  19,333

  86

  Isle of Wight

  4,492

  95

  Kent

  14,591

  80

  Lancashire

  61,824

  89

  Leicestershire

  17,012

  83

  Lincolnshire

  8,780

  85

  Norfolk

  9,234

  89

  North Yorkshire

  21,913

  92

  Northamptonshire

  16,492

  98

  Northumberland

  4,030

  95

  Nottinghamshire

  48,840

  99

  Oxfordshire

  14,081

  98

  34

  Local Education Authority

  Number of Students aged 19 and over

  Percentage of students aged 19+ not receiving grants

  Shropshire

  18,487

  96

  Somerset

  14,067

  95

  Staffordshire

  27,396

  95

  Suffolk

  20,403

  96

  Surrey

  9,965

  94

  Warwickshire

  14,372

  100

  West Sussex

  7,762

  100

  Wiltshire

  27,764

  98

  England

  1,247,006

  95

  Note: These tables do not include data for sixth form college students. Sixth form colleges transferred to the new FE sector on 1 April 1993.

  History
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority's draft views on the history curriculum.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend will be publishing his proposals for a revised history curriculum very shortly. Publication will be followed by a period of public consultation which will last until the end of July.

  School Curriculum and Assessment Authority
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what resources are provided for the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority by his Department; and if he will announce his plans for its future.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The authority was established in October 1993, and has a substantial programme of work, focused on the current review of the national curriculum, the national tests, and the scrutiny of public examinations. Its total grant from the Department for 1994–95 is likely to be around £30 million.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in each local education authority were assessed for statements of special educational needs in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these children received statements.

  Mr. Forth
  Figures for the years 1988 to 1992 for each local education authority in England have been placed in the Library.

  Teachers (Suspensions)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to require local education authorities or schools to inform him when teachers are suspended.

  Mr. Forth
  No. It is for the head teacher or governing body of a school to decide whether suspension is appropriate in the circumstances of each particular case, and my right hon. Friend has no power to intervene in such decisions. A requirement to report all cases in which a teacher is suspended would impose an additional and unnecessary burden on schools. Special schools, and
  35
  independent schools approved by my right hon. Friend to cater for pupils with special educational needs, are asked to inform the Department if a member of the school staff is suspended as a result of allegations of child abuse involving pupils at the school because of my right hon. Friend's responsibility for the approval of such schools.

DEFENCE

  Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will consult the ex-service organisations before triggering any reduction in the United Kingdom's contribution to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission;

  (2) what representations he has had from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the light of the proposed reduction in the United Kingdom's contribution to its resources.

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Kingdom's contribution to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is agreed annually between my. Department and the commission. Over the past five years, my Department has increased the funding in cash terms to the commission by some 50 per cent. and this year's reduction in the size of the grant from my Department takes full account of the size of the commission's operating surplus which is carried forward from year to year.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence met representatives of the commission in February. This was one of several occasions on which it was confirmed that there were no plans to cut any projects or commitments as a result of the level of funding agreed for 1994–95. There are no current plans to consult the ex-service organisations in respect of this subject.

  Defence Estimates
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors account for the differences in the incremental grand totals listed in table 3 of the 1993 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" and the incremental grand total listed in table 4 of the 1994 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" for(a) engineer regiments (regular), (b) engineer regiments (TA), (c) infantry battalions (TA and Royal Irish Home Service), (d) transport, tanker and search and rescue aircraft, (e) Harrier, (f) Nimrod reconnaissance and maritime reconnaissance and (g) Tornado F3.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: The differences reflect, for the most part, changes in presentation following SDE 93. In detail, the changes arise from:

  (a) and (b) exclusion of MT 1.24 (Hydrographic and geographic services) from tables 1 to 4, leading to the deliberate omission of 1 Regular and 1 TA Engineer Squadron for survey work (no change in actual force levels);

  (c) change in arithmetic rounding conventions used in SDE94 (no change in actual force levels);

  (d) exclusion of Hercules, BAe 125 and Tristar In-Use Reserves (IUR) to reflect the conventions used for other RAF aircraft in SDE tables; revised assumptions for Puma Aircraft Establishment following withdrawal from Belize; revised Sea King Wessex mix as the latter is replaced in the search and rescue role; and revised aggregation of Chinook numbers (IUR remain included in the figures, however, as these are declared to NATO);

  (e) revised plans for declaration to NATO of new Harrier T10;

  36

  (f) exclusion of MT 1.11 (Intelligence Collection) from Tables 1 to 4 of SDE 94;

  (g) revised declaration of OCU aircraft to NATO Main Defence Forces.

EMPLOYMENT

  Earnings
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) male and (b) female workers earned below the national insurance threshold for each year over the past 30 years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 5 May 1994]: The available information showing the difference between the total work force and numbers of employed people who paid a national insurance contribution is provided in the tables:

  Year

  Workforce in Employment in June

  Number who paid at least one NI contribution

  Difference

  (Thousands)

  1962

  8,225

  8,180

  45

  1963

  8,265

  8,190

  75

  1964

  8,444

  8,350

  94

  1965

  8,610

  8,460

  150

  1966

  8,798

  8,530

  268

  1967

  8,688

  8,400

  288

  1968

  8,721

  8,410

  311

  1969

  8,804

  8,430

  374

  1970

  8,839

  8,270

  569

  1971

  8,855

  8,200

  655

  1972

  8,949

  8,250

  699

  1973

  9,320

  8,350

  970

  1974

  9,548

  8,500

  1,048

  1975

  9,607

  N/A

  N/A

  1976

  9,575

  9,226

  349

  1977

  9,676

  9,159

  517

  1978

  9,780

  9,245

  535

  1979

  10,059

  9,254

  805

  1980

  10,090

  9,509

  581

  1981

  9,775

  9,129

  646

  1982

  9,699

  8,774

  925

  1983

  9,675

  8,687

  988

  1984

  10,061

  8,667

  1,394

  1985

  10,275

  8,839

  1,436

  1986

  10,418

  9,135

  1,283

  1987

  10,787

  9,275

  1,512

  1988

  11,222

  9,604

  1,618

  1989

  11,671

  10,070

  1,601

  1990

  11,873

  10,361

  1,512

  1991

  11,663

  10,473

  1,190

  1992

  11,577

  10,215

  1,362

  Source:

  Employment Department and Department of Social Security

  Notes:

  Information is not available for 1975

  Worforce in employment includes members of Her Majesty's forces, self employed people, and people on government training schemes

  Males

  (Thousands)

  Year

  Workforce in Employment in June

  Number who paid at least one National Insurance contribution

  Difference

  1962

  16,395

  16,600

  -205

  1963

  16,379

  16,650

  -271

  1964

  16,488

  16,710

  -222

  1965

  16,579

  16,760

  -181

  37

  Year

  Workforce in Employment in June

  Number who paid at least one National Insurance contribution

  Difference

  1966

  16,546

  16,720

  -174

  1967

  16,297

  16,630

  -333

  1968

  16,108

  16,560

  -452

  1969

  16,040

  16,500

  -460

  1970

  15,900

  16,380

  -480

  1971

  15,806

  16,240

  -434

  1972

  15,688

  16,200

  -512

  1973

  15,890

  16,120

  -230

  1974

  15,731

  16,020

  -289

  1975

  15,576

  n/a

  n/a

  1976

  15,372

  15,768

  -396

  1977

  15,294

  15,666

  -372

  1978

  15,322

  15,659

  -337

  1979

  15,420

  15,597

  -177

  1980

  15,343

  15,711

  -368

  1981

  14,682

  15,196

  -514

  1982

  14,322

  14,410

  -88

  1983

  14,068

  14,363

  -295

  1984

  14,338

  14,241

  97

  1985

  14,408

  14,178

  230

  1986

  14,290

  14,295

  -5

  workforce in employment: Great Britain

  Seasonally adjusted

  (Thousands)

  Total

  Male all

  Male F/T

  Male P/T

  Female all

  Female F/T

  Female P/T

  1963

  24,113

  16,015

  —

  —

  8,098

  —

  —

  1964

  24,397

  16,121

  —

  —

  8,276

  —

  —

  1965

  24,643

  16,208

  —

  —

  8,435

  —

  —

  1966

  24,801

  16,181

  —

  —

  8,620

  —

  —

  1967

  24,445

  15,931

  —

  —

  8,513

  —

  —

  1968

  24,288

  15,744

  —

  —

  8,545

  —

  —

  1969

  24,298

  15,675

  —

  —

  8,623

  —

  —

  1970

  24,183

  15,532

  —

  —

  8,651

  —

  —

  1971

  24,097

  15,441

  —

  —

  8,656

  —

  —

  1972

  24,079

  15,326

  —

  —

  8,753

  —

  —

  1973

  24,646

  15,525

  —

  —

  9,121

  —

  —

  1974

  24,707

  15,368

  —

  —

  9,339

  —

  —

  1975

  24,608

  15,215

  —

  —

  9,394

  —

  —

  1976

  24,382

  15,016

  —

  —

  9,366

  —

  —

  1977

  24,401

  14,941

  —

  —

  9,459

  —

  —

  1978

  24,523

  14,969

  —

  —

  9,554

  —

  —

  1979

  24,881

  15,061

  —

  —

  9,820

  —

  —

  1980

  24,838

  14,987

  —

  —

  9,850

  —

  —

  1981

  23,887

  14,345

  —

  —

  9,543

  —

  —

  1982

  23,461

  13,995

  —

  —

  9,467

  —

  —

  1983

  23,178

  13,742

  —

  —

  9,436

  —

  —

  1984

  23,833

  14,012

  12,994

  1,018

  9,822

  5,557

  4,264

  1985

  24,107

  14,077

  13,037

  1,040

  10,030

  5,666

  4,364

  1986

  24,131

  13,961

  12,873

  1,088

  10,170

  5,692

  4,478

  1987

  24,688

  14,152

  12,946

  1,206

  10,536

  5,888

  4,647

  1988

  25,529

  14,569

  13,298

  1,271

  10,960

  6,184

  4,776

  1989

  26,317

  14,915

  13,538

  1,377

  11,402

  6,385

  5,017

  1990

  26,528

  14,933

  13,494

  1,438

  11,595

  6,392

  5,203

  1991

  25,613

  14,236

  12,837

  1,399

  11,377

  6,221

  5,156

  1992

  25,023

  13,734

  12,310

  1,424

  11,289

  6,114

  5,174

  1993

  24,603

  13,372

  11,921

  1,451

  11,232

  6,026

  5,206

  Notes:

  1. Information relates to June of each year.

  2. Part-time information is not available prior to 1984.

  3. There is a discontinuity in the series between 1970 and 1971 due to change of source for the self-employed data.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Suffragan Bishops
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what was the total sum of money paid out in(a) 1992–93 and (b)
  38

  Year

  Workforce in Employment in June

  Number who paid at least one National Insurance contribution

  Difference

  1987

  14,484

  14,302

  182

  1988

  14,907

  14,402

  505

  1989

  15,255

  14,613

  642

  1990

  15,282

  14,656

  626

  1991

  14,591

  14,435

  156

  1992

  14,084

  13,883

  201

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will present in tabular form the size of the working population for each of the last 30 years; and if he will divide this data into male and female workers and further sub-divide the total as to whether these people work full or part time.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 5 May 1994]: The information requested is provided in the table:

  1993–94 in (i) the salaries and other employment costs, (ii) housing, (iii) transport and (iv) office and on other incidental expenses for suffragan bishops.

  Mr. Alison
  On a calendar year basis, the total sums provided by the commissioners were as follows:
  39

  1992

  1993

  Stipends, staff salaries and other employment costs

  1,715,911

  1,778,383

  Housing

  101,992

  175,883

  Transport (including provision of car)

  311,376

  333,474

  Office and other incidental expenses

  452,447

  498,740

  Total

  2,581,726

  2,786,480

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners for how many suffragan bishops financial responsibility was accepted in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94.

  Mr. Alison
  On a calendar year basis the commissioners contributed towards the salaries, official expenses and housing costs of 65 suffragan bishops in both the calendar years 1992 and 1993.

PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 18 April,Official Report, column 365, for what reason no records of correspondence received by his office prior to April 1989 any longer exist.

  The Prime Minister
  It is not cost-effective to retain full records of all correspondence received by my office. However, from April 1989 onwards brief records of selected correspondence—and from 1992 brief records of all correspondence—have been entered on a computer database.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Prime Minister 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.

  The Prime Minister
  My office's press releases are accessible, through the Central Office of Information, to users of the Internet via Data-Star Dialog (Europe) or Mead/Lexis/Nexis. They are also available to subscribers to FT Profile, Reuters Textline, POLIS and through the Central Office of Information's fax retrieval service.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Flood Defence Committees
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will select the chairman of the regional flood defence committees.

  Mr. Jack
  The following have been reappointed as chairmen of regional flood defence committees of the National Rivers Authority in England for three years from 1 July 1994:
  40
  Mr. G. C. Manning, OBE (South West); Mr. J. S. Martin, CBE (Anglian); Mr. W. M. Wannop, OBE (North West); and Mr. T. D. Collier (Yorkshire).

  The following new appointments have been made:

  Mr. J. Dainty, OBE (Severn-Trent); Mrs. J. Venables (Thames); Mr. D. G. L. Monnington (Southern) and Mr. J. P. Hackney (Northumbria).

  Consideration is still being given to the chairmanship of the Wessex regional flood defence committee.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will ensure that farming and landowning interests are adequately represented on the regional flood defence committees.

  Mr. Jack
  As indicated in the reply to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 8 March,Official Report, columns 195–96, in making ministerial appointments to these committees, the objective is to reflect a range of interests. Nominations of farmers and landowners will be considered alongside those for other candidates with expertise relevant to the work of the committees.

  Drift Nets
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions her Department is taking to ensure compliance with the European Union ban on drift nets longer than 2·5 km.

  Mr. Jack
  At the Fisheries Council on 12 April the Commission tabled a report on the ecological impact of drift netting, together with a proposal. The Council had a first discussion on the issues raised, including a suggestion that a derogation for use of drift nets longer than 2·5 km should be reintroduced. I made clear my firm opposition to this and the importance I attach to taking environmental implications fully into account. The derogation was not renewed. These matters are now being considered by experts.

  Fisheries
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the detailed arrangements for Spanish accession were settled at the same time as she approved the principle of the agreement.

  Mr. Jack
  No.

  Arable Farming
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is her latest estimate of(a) the total area of cereals grown in the United Kingdom in 1993 and (b) the area of land which was set aside under the arable area payments scheme in 1993.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The June 1993 agricultural census estimated that a total area of 3,030,900 hectares of cereals—excluding maize—was grown in the United Kingdom in 1993. The total area of land which qualified for set-aside payments under the arable area payments scheme, including land used to grow crops for non-food purposes, was 567,000 hectares.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in England received arable area payments greater than(a) £100,000, (b) £250,000, (c) £500,000 and (d) £1,000,000 in the last available year.
  41
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms in England had arable aid scheme set-aside areas greater than(a) 100 hectares and (b) 50 hectares in the last available year.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In 1993, 204 holdings in England had more than 100 hectares of land set aside under the arable area payments scheme and 1,151 holdings had between 50 and 100 hectares.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the rates of set-aside payment under the arable area payments scheme for each region of the United Kingdom for(a) the current year and (b)

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The payment rates per hectare for setting aside land under the arable area payments scheme are as follows. The actual rates paid in 1994 may be reduced if base areas are exceeded and set-aside land which is used to grow sugar beet for industrial purposes does not qualify for any payment.

  Region

  1992–93 Actual £

  1993–94 2Projected £

  11993–94 2Projected £

  England

  253

  314

  220

  Wales: LFA

  198

  175

  123

  Wales: Non-LFA

  198

  273

  192

  Scotland: LFA

  205

  254

  178

  Scotland: Non-LFA

  236

  295

  207

  Northern Ireland

  201

  249

  175

  1 Voluntary set-aside for which there is no corresponding area of eligible cropped land.

  2 Payment rates are set in european currency units and converted to sterling at the green rate prevailing on 1 July for the year in question. The projected payment rates for 1993–94 have been converted using an exchange rate of 1 ecu/£0·929299 but the actual green rate on 1 July may be higher or lower than this.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest total paid to farmers

  Date of arrival at slaughterhouse

  Country of registration of the haulier

  Nationality of driver

  Number of animals deemed unfit at the slaughterhouse for further transport

  Number of animals dead on arrival at the slaughterhouse

  Number of recumbent animals at the slaughterhouse

  17 February 1994

  Germany

  German

  0

  0

  0

  8 March 1994

  Netherlands

  Dutch

  0

  1

  0

  9 March 1994

  Republic of Ireland

  Republic of Ireland

  1

  1

  0

  17 March 1994

  United Kingdom

  British

  6

  2

  6

  28 January 1994

  Republic of Ireland

  Not recorded

  1

  0

  1

  15 February 1994

  Netherlands

  Dutch

  2

  1

  2

  8 March 1994

  United Kingdom

  British

  1

  0

  1

  23 March 1994

  Republic of Ireland

  Not recorded

  0

  0

  0

  Cheese Industry
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support she is giving to the promotion of the British cheese industry.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 29 April 1994]: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food supports the promotion of the British cheese industry in several ways. It seeks to
  42
  in (a) arable aid scheme set-aside payments and (b) total arable area scheme payments in England following the 1993–94 harvest.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The total amount paid to date in Engalnd under the arable area payments scheme in respect of the 1992–93 scheme year is just over £681 million, including set-aside payments of £125 million. No payments have yet been made in respect of the 1993–94 scheme year.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms in England had hectarages of land under cereals greater than(a) 1,000 hectares, (b) 500 hectares and (c) 250 hectares in the last available year.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The number of holdings in England with more than 1,000 hectares of land under cereals—excluding maize—estimated from the June 1993 agricultural census, was four. The number with more than 500 hectares and the number with more than 250 hectares of cereals was 96 and 916 respectively.

  Animal Transportation
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Dulwich of 13 April,Official Report, column 180, regarding animals unfit for transit if she will list for each consignment (a) the country of registration of the haulier and (b) the nationality of the driver;

  (2) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Dulwich of 13 April, Official Report, column 180, regarding animals unfit for transit what was the place of slaughter for each consignment and how many animals were (a) deemed unfit for transit, (b) recumbent and (c) dead, on arrival at the place of slaughter.

  Mr. Soames
  The place of slaughter was a slaughterhouse in Birmingham. The other information requested is as follows.

  ensure that EC legislation does not disadvantage the industry in any way and that the regulatory burden is minimised. It liaises closely with the various cheese associations, which act as a central contact point for cheese makers, wholesalers and retailers. In addition, it ensures that the National Dairy Council, the co-ordinating body for the dairy industry's generic information and promotion activities in England and Wales, is kept fully informed of the availability of EC funds for promotional work.
  43
  The Ministry also assists the export of all British food, including cheese, through its support of Food From Britain —FFB—and initiatives such as the continental challenge. Specialist cheese makers can benefit from the FFB speciality food programme which helps small producers to promote and market their products both nationally and internationally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

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

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is not readily available in the form requested in all NI Departments and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the information that is available has been placed in the Library.

  Tree Planting
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce legislation or regulations to require(a) neighbour notification and (b) consultation with the planning and road service departments of the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, prior to approval by the Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland, in respect of extensive grant-aided tree-planting schemes which will be adjacent to public roads or residential property.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  I do not consider that legislation or regulations of the type suggested are either necessary or desirable. The Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland forest service pays particular attention to landscape, conservation and amenity issues both in planning its own planting activities and also in approving grant aid for new private sector planting.

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

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have market-tested a range of services which includes security guarding. Eighteen security guarding companies were employed in Northern Ireland on contracts at a cost of £1,947,000 in 1993–94.

  There are currently no contracts for private detective agencies.

  Junior Doctors' Hours
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in reducing junior doctors' hours in Northern Ireland over the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  Very significant progress has been made towards reducing junior doctors' hours since 1991. Of the 44
  1,013 junior doctors and dentists identified at that time in Northern Ireland, about 500–52 per cent.—were contracted for more than 83 hours a week. Only 19 such posts, less than 2 per cent. of the total, remained at September 1993 when the last survey was completed. It is expected that these will be eliminated very shortly.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people over the age of 60 years receive(a) the higher rate and (b) the lower rate mobility component of the disability living allowance; and what is the latest estimate of the number of people aged over 60 years entitled to claim the mobility component of disability living allowance who do not do so.

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. Wylie to Mr. Eddie McCrady, dated 6 May 1994:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the mobility components of Disability Living Allowance.
  The numbers of people over the age of 60 years who receive the higher and lower rate mobility components of Disability Living Allowance are 14,743 and 1,911 respectively.
  There is no information available on which to estimate the number of people aged over 60 who are entitled to but do not claim the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.
  I hope you will find this reply helpful.

  Environmental Protection Agency
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made towards the establishment of an environmental protection agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  In Northern Ireland most of the functions of the proposed agency in England and Wales are already carried out by the environment service of the Department of the Environment. I will decide whether or not any proposals for change in Northern Ireland should be made when final details of the proposed agency in England and Wales are known and when I have received the results of the prior options study of the environmental service which was announced by the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler), on 18 January 1994.

  Training
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the cost of funding the job training programme in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the cost of funding the youth training programme in Northern Ireland;

  (3) how many people participated in the youth training programme between 1 April 1984 and 31 March 1994; and how many of these have obtained a full-time position.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Responsibility for the subject matter in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  45
  Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 9 May 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your questions about the cost of funding the Job Training Programme (JTP) and Youth Training Programme (YTP) and how many people participated in YTP, and entered full time employment.
  The cost of funding JTP and YTP in the year ended 31 March 1994 was £21·2 million (estimated) and £47·6 million

  Average Occupancy

  Total Number of Leavers (For whom destination is known)

  Leavers to Employment

  Percentage

  Leavers to F.E.

  Percentage

  Total Percentage to Employment or F.E.

  1984–85

  7,347

  9,117

  5,017

  55

  274

  3

  58

  1985–86

  8,081

  9,620

  5,500

  57

  289

  3

  60

  1986–87

  8,659

  10,271

  5,686

  55

  411

  4

  59

  1987–88

  8,778

  10,509

  5,787

  55

  525

  5

  60

  1988–89

  8,881

  10,232

  6,428

  63

  512

  5

  67

  1989–90

  9,818

  10,914

  6,767

  62

  655

  6

  68

  1990–91

  12,914

  8,768

  4,223

  48

  1,228

  14

  62

  1991–92

  15,688

  12,675

  5,754

  45

  2,662

  21

  66

  1992–93

  13,725

  12,090

  6,672

  55

  1,334

  11

  66

  1993–94

  '12,510

  10,565

  5,911

  55

  1,260

  11

  66

  1 Includes jobskills pilots.

  In addition, during the years 1985 to 1990, YTP workscheme was a major element of second year provision in the Youth Training Programme. Workscheme offered employers financial and other assistance to encourage the employment and training of 17 year olds. Surveys indicated that the majority of young people in YTP Workscheme continued in employment beyond the grant aided year. The average numbers in employment with training under Workscheme was:

  Average occupancy

  Number

  1984–85

  1,428

  1985–86

  1,713

  1986–87

  3,951

  1987–88

  2,641

  1988–89

  4,447

  1989–90

  2,411

  1990–91

  911

  1991–92

  4

  The Training and Employment Agency has been reviewing its training programme and you may be aware that since September 1992 we have been piloting a completely new programme which if approved by Ministers would replace both YTP and JTP. It is designed to enhance quality and outcomes for participants partly through better performance in the achievement of qualifications.
  I hope that you find this helpful.

  Community Care
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advice the Department of Health and Social Services has given to health boards on consultation with users and carers in producing local purchasing plans for community care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  The need to involve users and their carers in the planning and delivery of community services is a continuous theme in a broad range of advice and guidance issued since March 1990 by the Department of Health and Social Services to health and social services boards.

  In March 1991 the Department issued guidance on commissioning and purchasing and asked boards to seek to involve service users, carers and other relevant bodies in
  46
  respectively. The JTP expenditure has been estimated because all of the expenditure in respect of Training Allowances has not yet been charged to vote.
  Whilst we have figures showing the numbers of trainees entering employment we cannot say for certain that this was invariably full time employment, although that is likely to have been the position in most cases. In addition a proportion enter further education.
  The number of young people engaged in the Youth Training Programme in each of the years since 1984–85 then entering employment or further education is as follows:

  determining service specifications, and to set out the terms and conditions of service users' involvement. The guidance also required boards to consult individual clients and their carers when planning to purchase services to meet their assessed needs.

  In October 1993 the chief executive of the HPSS management executive issued further guidance to boards requiring them to consult widely with their residents, their health and social services councils and other interested parties in developing their plans for purchasing community care.

  In addition the Department's social services inspectorate has brought to boards' attention official and other relevant publications and reports covering good practice in community care including the participation of users and carers. In February 1994 the social services inspectorate informed boards of a further publication in the Department of Health study series "Implementing Community Care" entitled "Informing Users and Carers" about empowering users and carers through disseminating information.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many invalidity benefit awards for people in the constituency of South Down have been(a) reviewed, (b) disallowed and (c) reinstated on appeal in each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. Wylie to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 6 May 1994:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the number of Invalidity Benefit awards that have been reviewed, disallowed and reinstated on appeal in each of the last 12 months within your constituency.
  I am sorry that the information you have requested cannot be provided for your constituency as Invalidity Benefit is

  47
  administered centrally for the whole of Northern Ireland and separate statistics are not maintained for specific areas. However,I have provided in the table below details of the total number of Invalidity Benefit claims in Northern Ireland which have been reviewed, disallowed and reinstated on appeal during the 1993–94 financial year, which I hope you will find helpful.

  Month

  Reviewed

  Disallowed

  Re-instated on appeal

  April 1993

  109

  406

  59

  May 1993

  122

  483

  60

  June 1993

  150

  657

  93

  July 1993

  122

  692

  74

  August 1993

  123

  844

  74

  September 1993

  108

  840

  103

  October 1993

  151

  970

  125

  November 1993

  103

  395

  127

  December 1993

  169

  316

  127

  January 1994

  274

  374

  138

  February 1994

  247

  312

  Not yet available

  March 1994

  280

  386

  Not yet available

  Cattle Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps he plans to take to ensure that United Kingdom cattle are not exported illegally to the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what evidence he has that cattle are being exported illegally from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  There is no firm evidence of large-scale illegal movement of cattle from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland. Where evidence is produced, this is thoroughly investigated. In a number of instances action has been taken by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland authorities in respect of cattle which were suspected of having or had been illegally exported. There is continuing co-operation and exchange of information between the relevant authorities on both sides of the border.

  Anglo-Irish Secretariat
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) complaints and (b) contacts have been made to the Anglo-Irish Secretariat in each of the last three years and the current year until the latest available date; and if he will list the sources, by name of organisation, of the complaints and show how such complaints are categorised and the number in each category, and the areas of Northern Ireland from which complaints originated by district council or other convenient administrative area or by parliamentary constituency.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Under the Anglo-Irish Agreement the Irish Government have the right to put forward views and proposals on matters relating to Northern Ireland within the field of activity of the intergovernmental conference. These views and proposals are conveyed to the British Government through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat in its role of servicing the conference. The details of these exchanges remain confidential between the two Governments.

  Whincroft Way (Fire Safety)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the extent of fire bomb damage last week at Whincroft way, the Braniel in the borough of Castlereagh; what provision there is for fire escapes from all floors above ground level at Whincroft way; and if he will make a statement about fire safety at Whincroft way.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that 17 Whincroft way, a ground floor flat, was extensively damaged and that two upper floor maisonettes received superficial damage. All floors above ground level are accessed by a staircase and walkway, both constructed in concrete, which also provide a means of escape.

  Arable Farming
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers in Northern Ireland had arable aid scheme set-aside areas greater than(a) 100 hectares and (b) 50 hectares in the last available year.

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest total paid to farmers in(a) arable aid scheme set-aside payments and (b) total arable area scheme payments in Northern Ireland following the 1993–94 harvest.

  Mr. Ancram
  The latest total paid to farmers in Northern Ireland following the 1993 harvest for arable aid scheme set-aside payments is £243,086 and for arable area scheme payments, including crops and set-aside, is £4,007,244.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers in Northern Ireland had hectarages of land under cereals greater than(a) 1,000 hectares, (b) 500 hectares and (c) 250 hectares in the last available year.

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers in Northern Ireland received arable area payments greater than(a) £100,000, (b) £250,000, (c) £500,000 and (d) £1,000,000 in the last available year.

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

SCOTLAND

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Government have to publish(a) recommendations made by the forestry review group and (b) a Government decision as regards the future of the Forestry Commission before 9 June.

  Sir Hector Monro
  My right hon. Friend plans to make an announcement during the summer about our conclusions from the review and to publish a document which would form the basis of consultation on our preferred options. There are no plans to publish any further material arising from the forestry review group.
  49
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on measures currently being undertaken by the Forestry Commission for the preservation of butterflies.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 6 May 1994]: The Forestry Commission undertakes a wide range of practical forest management work to protect and enhance the value of its woodlands for wildlife; this includes widening forest rides, creating glades and open spaces, and managing coppice to make suitable butterfly habitats. Examples of specific projects include work to encourage the re-introduction of the Chequered Skipper into England, creation of a butterfly garden in Chambers wood in Lincolnshire and a butterfly reserve in Coed Allt Fedw in Ceredigion, ride management in Sandlings forest in Suffolk to provide a habitat for Silver-studded Blue butterflies, protection of mire habitat in Kielder forest in Northumberland to encourage the large Heath butterfly and the removal of conifers in South Scotland to protect the Green Hairstreak and Scotch Argus. In addition, the commission manages several sites of special scientific interest which are particularly important for butterflies.

  The commission also encourages private owners to establish and manage woodlands in a way which will benefit all types of wildlife, including butterflies. The commission has published guidance to woodland managers on how to enhance forest rides for the benefit of butterflies and the plants which support them.

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines he has laid down for Scottish Enterprise about when local enterprise companies may take steps to provide serviced sites.

  Mr. Stewart
  The strategic and policy guidance which my right hon. Friend has set for Scottish Enterprise makes it clear that the objective should be to ensure that the formation and expansion of business in its area is not artificially constrained by a lack of suitable sites and premises.

  In pursuing this objective, Scottish Enterprise is required to concentrate on facilitating private development and encouraging the private sector.to take an increasingly active part in the provision and management of industrial property, thus promoting a normal and self-sustaining industrial property market.

  Within that broad strategic and policy framework, Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies have discretion to operate subject to certain detailed scheme rules and delegated authorities.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to encourage Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies to take a more proactive role on industrial site development to prepare for any increasing demand.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has already made clear, in his strategic and policy guidance to Scottish Enterprise, the need to ensure that the formation and expansion of business is not constrained by a lack of suitable sites or premises. In particular, in setting out strategic guidance for the operation of the network in 1994–95, he acknowledged that, with the essential elements of economic recovery now in place, the Scottish 50
  Enterprise network would be keen to translate the opportunities which the recovery will bring into sustainable growth, jobs and competitiveness in Scotland.

  Scottish Enterprise and its local enterprise companies have also been given substantial budgets, and broad-ranging and flexible powers, to allow them to respond to market demands and opportunities. They are well placed to do so, although they are not, of course, alone in having a contribution to make in this area.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the information he receives about the operation of local enterprise companies; and what plans he has to increase the information available to him.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 22 April 1994]: The operation of local enterprise companies is a matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The enterprise bodies are required to agree with local enterprise companies the monitoring information to be collected in order to ensure that activities and services in the network as a whole are delivered satisfactorily.

  I am satisfied that these information requirements are subject to regular review and that periodic reports are provided showing progress towards the enterprise bodies' objectives and priorities.

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to conduct a survey in respect of otters and winter low vegetation levels on the lines of that recommended by the Skye bridge environmental impact assessment and the public local inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Surveys of the otter habitat have been carried out by the Vincent Wildlife Trust both during winter, when vegetation levels are at their lowest, and after the line of the construction corridor was set out on the ground. The results of these surveys were incorporated in the booklet "Skye Bridge Crossing, Additional Information" which contains supplementary information on various matters in connection with the bridge. This information was made available to the regional district and community councils earlier this year.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further steps he has taken since publishing his response to the recommendations of the public local inquiry into the Skye bridge to consult Scottish Natural Heritage and the National Trust for Scotland over otter protection, with particular reference to the subsequent monitoring of measures by the Vincent Wildlife Trust; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Consultation has been ongoing with both Scottish Natural Heritage—SNH and the Vincent Wildlife Trust—VWT—on the details of the measures for the protection of otters. These measures include the construction of barriers, tunnels, replacement otter holts and fresh water grooming pools. The National Trust for Scotland, through its local representative, has also visited the site and is aware of these measures. Arrangements are in place for further visits. Consultations will continue with SNH, the statutory body responsible for the protection of the environment, and VWT to ensure the
  51
  measures incorporated are to their satisfaction. Thereafter, it is SNH's and the VWT's intention to monitor their effectiveness once the bridge is open to traffic.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the compliance with regulation 16 of the Environmental Assessments (Scotland) Regulations 1988 of his original advertisements in respect of 23 October 1991 compulsory purchase orders and road orders relating to the Skye bridge; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A representation was made at the public local inquiry held into the bridge that regulation 16 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1988 was applicable and had not been complied with. This was considered by the reporter who in her report reached the view that there was no basis in the relevant legislation to support the representation. The Secretary of State agreed with those views and rejected the representation.

  Arable Farming
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest total paid to farmers in(a) arable aid scheme set-aside payments and (b) total arable area scheme payments in Scotland following the 1993–94 harvest.

  Sir Hector Monro
  To date, about £15·5 million of aid has been paid in Scotland in respect of the set-aside element of the 1993 arable area payments scheme—AAPS —claims. Total AAPS aid payments, to date, amount to £90·6 million.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms in Scotland had arable aid scheme set-aside areas greater than(a) 100 hectares and (b) 50 hectares in the last available year.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Under the 1993 arable area payments scheme, 17 farms in Scotland had set-aside areas greater than 100 hectares, and a further 128 farms had set-aside areas of between 50 and 100 hectares.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers in Scotland received arable area payments greater than(a) £100,000, (b) £250,000, (c) £500,000 and (d) £1,000,000 in the last available year.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Under the 1993 arable area payments scheme, 45 payments of more than £100,000 have been made to Scottish farmers, with a further two payments of between £250,000 and £500,000. No payments in excess of £500,000 have been made.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms in Scotland had hectarages of land under cereals greater than(a) 1,000 hectares, (b) 500 hectares and (c) 250 hectares in the last available year.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The numbers of farms recorded in the June 1993 agricultural census of main holdings with cereals area greater than 500 hectares, or greater than 250 hectares were five and 50, respectively. There were fewer than five farms with greater than 1,000 hectares of cereals; to avoid disclosure, the number is not published.

  Eastwood District Council
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all appointments within his Department's responsibility which are currently held by 52
  Councillor Ian Hutchison of Eastwood district council and any changes in this list within the past year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 29 April 1994]: Of the bodies listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1993" as being sponsored by the Scottish Office, Councillor Hutchison is a member of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland. He was first appointed on 1 December 1983 and was last reappointed from 1 December 1992 until 30 November 1995. A copy of "Public Bodies 1993" is available in the Library of the House.

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

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 6 May 1994]: The information requested is set out in the table.

  Year

  Number of cases

  Region

  1985–88

  0

  —

  1989

  2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1990

  0

  —

  1991

  0

  —

  1992

  1

  Strathclyde

  1993

  0

  —

  1994

  1

  Strathclyde

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the allocation of capital resources to each regional or islands council by service; what percentage of the Scottish population is represented by each council's population; and what has been that council's share of the capital allocation as a percentage of the regional council allocation of capital for each service for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 6 May 1994]: The information requested is too lengthy to print in the Official Report. I shall therefore arrange for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member and for copies to be placed in the House Libraries. The allocations listed are net allocations as announced prior to the start of each year in question. These allocations are, however, not the only source of funding available to local authorities. They can be enhanced by the use of capital receipts, which now include grants from the European regional development fund, the use of revenue for capital purposes and by private sector contributions. The ability of authorities to fund capital expenditure from these other sources is central to the approach that the Secretary of State takes in the distribution of resources among authorities. His controls are over all local authority expenditure and not just over the element he distributes by way of capital allocations.

  NHS Estate
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies he has commissioned regarding estate management and property maintenance in the NHS in Scotland.
  53
  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 6 May 1994]: Estate management and property maintenance in the NHS in Scotland is monitored on a continuous basis by the NHS management executive and studies relating to particular aspects are undertaken as required. This work is supported by a computerised data profile which assists the monitoring of performance targets, and informs consideration of the estate maintenance and investment requirements suggested by regular property condition surveys.

  Quarries
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy relating to the development of quarries within the urban area of the central Scotland conurbation.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 29 April 1994]: Planning policies for mineral working in Scotland are set out in the recently published "National Planning Policy Guideline on Land for Mineral Working". No specific mention is made of quarries in the urban areas of the central Scotland conurbation; they are therefore covered by the general policies established in the guidelines. It is for planning authorities now to reflect those policies in their specific structure and local plans.

TRANSPORT

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he expects to the time of completion of strategic routes as a result of his prioritisation of the roads programme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The recent roads review I announced to the House in March puts the programme in a realistic order of priority, and focuses resources on essential schemes on strategic routes and bypasses. Delivery of the strategic route schemes will be speeded up as a consequence of no longer taking forward all schemes with the same effort and at the same pace.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reaction he has received to his recent statement on prioritisation of the roads programme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The reaction to the review of the roads programme has shown the widespread support across the country for the prioritisation and more efficient management we have undertaken, and for the dropping of projects, such as the M12 and the A5 to Stansted section of the east-west route, which had serious environmental difficulties and for which alternative improved routes were available on existing corridors.

  Air Services (Liberalisation)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further progress he has made towards liberalisation of transatlantic air routes.

  Mr. McGregor
  The United States has still not returned to the negotiating table. I have continued to signal my willingness to continue talks, both on the liberalisation package as a whole and on more limited interim exchanges of new rights.
  54
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the policy of the United States Government in respect of United Kingdom based airlines bidding for contracts to fly(a) United States mail and (b) military personnel in and out of the United States; what negotiations he has held with the United States authorities on the subject; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  United Kingdom airlines are prevented from carrying the vast bulk of United States mail carried by air. They are also prevented from competing with United States airlines on an equal footing for the carriage of the remaining small percentage of United States mail. United Kingdom airlines are also prevented from carrying United States Government-financed passengers and property. These restrictions on United Kingdom airlines' ability to compete on equal terms with United States airlines are one of the issues the United Kingdom has raiseed in the current air services liberalisation negotiations between the United Kingdom and the United States. The United Kingdom is seeking the right for UK-designated airlines to compete without discrimination on ground of nationality for such business.

  Motorways
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement about the condition of United Kingdom motorways.

  Mr. Key
  I have just published the report on the 1993 national road maintenance condition survey, which indicates that the previously noted deterioration in the condition of motorways in England and Wales has been arrested.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to increase the use of public transport in urban areas.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are encouraging the use of public transport through our policies of deregulation, privatisation and competition. We are making resources available to local authorities for investment in public transport improvements: these range from the major light rail projects in Manchester and Sheffield to bus priority measures across the country. We have said that we will not build new roads to assist car commuting into town centres. We have introduced the package approach, which invites local authorities to develop balanced transport strategies for their areas and we have published planning policy guidance note 13, which encourages the location of new development where it can be served by public transport.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he proposes to promote public transport integration and reductions in cost to the passenger.

  Mr. Freeman
  Deregulating public transport and increasing opportunities for the private sector represent the best policies for improving services to the passenger. We are pursuing a range of measures along these lines.

  London Lorry Ban
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the cost of enforcing the permit system attached to the London lorry ban.
  55
  Mr. Norris
  Based on the projected budget of the London boroughs transport scheme for 1994–95, the estimated cost of enforcing the permit system is approximately £400,000. If permits are abolished, the savings made can be used to enhance enforcement of the ban.

  Midland Metro
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that the necessary public finances be made available for the Midland Metro line 1 project before March 1996.

  Mr. Freeman
  The case for grant will be given careful consideration when the necessary funds are available.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the design of traffic-calming measures.

  Mr. Key
  We consulted widely before making the traffic-calming regulations last year. The design of individual schemes is for local highway authorities, but my Department conducts research and gives advice.

  London Underground
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to meet the chairman of London Transport to discuss improvements to the London underground.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet the chairman of London Transport to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the London underground.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much is the current year's investment by his Department in the London underground.

  Mr. Norris
  The Government provides a block grant to London Transport (LT) as a whole; they do not allocate a specific amount to the underground. This year's grant to LT will be £373 million, to which LT will be able to add a substantial sum from sale of the London Bus companies. LT are currently budgeting to invest £423 million in London underground this year.

  Great West Rail Line
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to discuss the electrification of the Great West rail line with the chairman of the Railtrack authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with Mr. Robert Horton, the chairman of Railtrack, to discuss a wide range of issues. These include the opportunities for investment in response to the commercial requirements of Railtrack's customers.

  Investment (East London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the impact on east London of his public transport investment plans; and if he will make a statement.
  56
  Mr. Norris
  The Government's plans for substantial public transport investment in east London will improve travel and employment opportunities for local people and will support new development in the area.

  Rail Privatisation
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made over privatisation, with particular reference to the Fenchurch Street line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  On 21 April the director of Passenger Rail Franchising published the programme for the sale of the 25 franchises that will be created from the national British Rail passenger rail network. The London, Tilbury and Southend franchise, comprising the line from Fenchurch Street, is in the first group of franchises which will be sold in 1995. It has already started shadow running as a separate operating unit with British Rail.

  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the benefit to passengers from the privatisation of the railways.

  Mr. Freeman
  The involvement of the private sector in taking responsibility for provision of passenger services will bring additional capital into the railway industry above that provided by the taxpayer and will also introduce new management skills and innovation aimed at meeting more fully the demands of the passenger.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to maintain lightly used rail services.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government are committed to supporting socially necessary passenger services through subsidy. There is no reason why privatisation should cause any reduction of services.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether passengers holding discount tickets on a particular service will be able to use alternative services following privatisation in the event of a cancellation or termination of a train.

  Mr. Freeman
  The scope of interavailability for discount tickets is being considered by the Franchising Director. The question whether these would be valid on alternative services in the event of disruption is likely, as now, to depend on the circumstances of the case.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many micro-franchises he estimates will be created during rail privatisation; and what benefits this will bring.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Franchising Director is responsible for the sale of franchises. I understand that it is too early to estimate how many micro-franchises might be created. A micro-franchise may offer benefits through the provision of clearly focused services, targeted on a relatively discrete market, where the route involved is substantially self-contained.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the salaries and principal conditions from 1 April of(a) the chairman of British Rail, (b) the chairman of Railtrack, (c) the Rail Regulator and (d) the Franchising Director; and if he will list the percentage increase of their salaries over the 1993–94 rates.
  57
  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 15 April Official Report, column 333. The 1994–95 salary rates for (a) and (b) have yet to be determined but the salaries for (c) and (d) have been increased by 2·75 per cent. with effect from 1 April 1994. Accordingly the salary for Mr. John Swift QC is now £128,440 and that for Mr. Roger Salmon is £102,750.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Supersaver ticket will remain, after privatisation, interavailable on all trains.

  Mr. Freeman
  Supersaver is the brand name of a discount ticket offered by BR, and it will be for the train operators to decide whether this name is maintained. The Franchising Director is considering whether the scope of mandatory interavailability should be widened to include such tickets.

  Barking to Gospel Oak Line
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings he has had with Railtrack to discuss the Barking to Gospel Oak line.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport holds regular meetings with Railtrack to discuss a wide range of topics. They have not specifically discussed the Barking to Gospel Oak line.

  Bus Companies
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the sale by municipal authorities of their bus companies.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Very good progress has been made. Twenty-eight local authority bus companies have now been sold: and they include the seven largest.

  Ships' Officers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the timing of his announcement of changes to the officer nationality requirements for United Kingdom vessels in relation to the consultation period on these proposals; and what consideration he will give to submissions received since his announcement.

  Mr. Norris
  Consultation on the proposal to relax the officer nationality requirements for United Kingdom vessels will be completed by the end of May. Careful consideration will be given to the representations made. My right hon. Friend expects the new arrangements to be in place by the autumn of this year.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he has made to his requirements for efficiency savings by the Vehicle Inspectorate.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend announced on 29 April that the Vehicle Inspectorate is required to achieve an efficiency improvement of 5 per cent. this year as measured by the agency's aggregate cost efficiency index.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect efficiency savings imposed by his 58
  Department have had on recruitment by the Vehicle Inspectorate; and what assessment he has made on the effect on road safety.

  Mr. Key
  Recruitment to the Vehicle Inspectorate is a matter for the agency's chief executive, but I am advised that it was on a very limited scale in 1993–94 and that the position is likely to be similar this year. The targets set by my right hon. Friend for the agency last year and those he announced last month for 1994–95 imply, as well as efficiency gains, an improvement in the quality of service which can only contribute to road safety.

  Transport Research Laboratory
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the individuals and organisations consulted by the consultants who carried out the privatisation review of the Transport Research Laboratory.

  Mr. Key
  The consultants KPMG Peat Marwick consulted a wide range of organisations and individuals in studying the options for privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory and their feasibility. It is not my Department's normal practice to publish the names of those involved in such consultations.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. Norris
  My Department's press releases issued electronically through the Central Office of Information are accessible to users of the Internet via Data-Star Dialog (Europe) or Mead/Lexis/Nexis. They are also available to subscribers to FT Profile, Reuters Textline and POLIS.

  My Department's press releases are also made available through the COI's fax retrieval service, details of which can be provided by its news distribution service.

  I have no further plans to use the Internet.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his target for cuts in the running costs of his Department; when he will make an announcement on the details of such cuts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have set my Department a requirement to make a 20 per cent. improvement in efficiency with the target of achieving it over the two years beginning 1 April 1994. Agency chief executives and senior managers elsewhere in the Department will be preparing proposals on how they might secure such an improvement in efficiency in their areas of responsibility.

  Roundabout Safety
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department has taken as a result of the findings of Transport Research Laboratory report 1120; and what plans his Department has to carry out further studies into safety at roundabouts.
  59
  Mr. Key
  The question which is related to safety at roundabouts is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Douglas French, dated 6 May 1994:
  The Minister for Roads and Traffic, Mr. Robert Key, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary question regarding further studies into safety at roundabouts.
  The findings of the TRL study report LR1120 have been incorporated into the Departmental Standard for the geometric design of roundabouts TD16/84 and TA42/84 and in TRL's computer program for roundabout design ARCADY/3. A fundamental review of the geometric design of roundabouts was undertaken in 1990 and this led to the revised Standard TD16/93. Whilst continuing to embrace the findings of the earlier TRL study, Report LR1120, the new Standard has adopted additional measures to improve safety for all road users, like amended entry path curvature requirements to ensure adequate deflection on entry, and revised visibility requirements.
  Concerning further studies into safety, the Highways Agency closely monitors accidents occurring at all Trunk Road junctions, including roundabouts. The accident statistics show that roundabouts are still one of the safest forms of road junction, excluding those comprising flyovers or underpasses and have remained fairly constant over the last 15 years.
  The Highways Agency is, of course, committed to ensuring the safety of the whole of the Trunk Road network and contributing towards the Government's target for reductions in road traffic accidents. In order to maximise the benefits from the limited research resources that are available you will appreciate the need to target future safety studies towards those areas where the greatest contribution towards safety can be made. I therefore have no plans at present to undertake further studies into safety at roundabouts but of course will keep the issue under review.

  Dorchester West to Castle Cary Line
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future prospects for the Dorchester West to Castle Cary line, and on the current arrangements for its maintenance.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am not aware of any proposals to suggest the future of the line between Dorchester West and Castle Cary is in doubt. The line is inspected, maintained and renewed to meet both present and anticipated future traffic.

  European Passenger Services
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in transferring British Rail's subsidiary, European Passenger Services Ltd., into Government ownership; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  European Passenger Services has today transferred from British Rail into direct Government ownership. This will allow the company to prepare for privatisation while completing preparations to launch its international services this summer. Jim Butler, the new chairman of EPS, and his board will be working to ensure the success of these services in the months ahead. This marks another important milestone on route to the completion of the new channel tunnel rail link.

  A299
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when, following the submission of the inspector's report he expects to be able to make an announcement concerning the routeing of the centre section of the A299 Thanet Way dual carriageway.

  Mr. Key
  The inspector's report into the A299 Thanet Way dual carriageway was received by the Secretary of State for Transport on 27 April 1994. It is not possible at this time to predict when the decision will be announced but consideration of the report is currently under way and is being given the highest priority.

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to change the practical element of the driving test.

  Mr. Key
  There are no plans to change the practical element of the driving test, but a separate theory test will be introduced by July 1996.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the criteria for deciding on the closure of driving test centres; and what plans he has to restrict driving tests to larger towns.

  Mr. Key
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief executive, Dr. Ford. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from S. J. Ford to Mr. Don Foster, dated 6 May 1994.
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to the questions you have raised about the criteria used when deciding on the closure of driving test centres and whether there are plans to restrict driving tests to larger towns.
  The 1994–1995 Business Plan for the Driving Standards Agency explains that the review of the DSA test centre estate will continue with the aim of maintaining a list of possible centres for rationalisation. This might include a range of options from re-siting, merger with another centre or closure. Each test centre will be assessed against the following criteria:—

  (i) the number of satisfactory test routes, including an assessment of the proportion of routes which include higher speed roads;

  (ii) the quality of facilities for customers, including the provision of toilets and off-road parking;

  (iii) financial efficiency, including rent, maintenance and energy costs, compared to equivalent costs at an alternative centre; and

  (iv) demand for tests at the centre and its proximity to other test centres, including the capacity of neighbouring test centres to meet the existing level of transferred demand and cope with a possible increase.

  There are no proposals to restrict driving tests to larger towns.
  It is not practicable for DSA to provide a test centre in every town in Britain, and the Agency must review its network by applying its criteria as even-handedly as possible across the country as a whole.

  A26
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the economic importance of Newhaven to the local economy of east Sussex in formulating his trunk road improvement plans; and what plans he has to extend the A26 to Newhaven port by the construction of a new route from the southern terminal of the A26 to the quayside.
  61
  Mr. Key
  The economic importance of Newhaven is reflected in the Department's cost benefit analysis which is applied to all proposed schemes. The primary purpose of the recent review of the road programme was to establish priorities to concentrate effort and resources on the most urgently needed schemes, and produce a clear set of objectives and targets. Cost benefit was one of the three main criteria applied on a national basis.

  There are currently no plans to extend the A26 to Newhaven port.

  Minicabs
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) arrests and (b) convictions there have been for illegal plying for hire by minicab drivers for each of the last eight years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 6 May 1994]: Illegal plying for hire of itself is not an offence for which people are arrested. Information on the number of convictions for illegal plying for hire by minicab drivers is not available. The police do not keep information on crimes broken down by the alleged occupation of the criminal.

  The present law prohibiting plying for hire by cars not licensed as taxis dates back to the middle of the last century. In its present form it is not easy to enforce. Modernisation is clearly a priority.

  "Plying for hire" should not be confused with touting, although in practice taxi touts are normally associated with illegal plying for hire. I hope we can deal with the problem of touts through the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill, at present under consideration in another place.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Open Government
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he proposes to introduce legislation in this parliamentary Session to promote and increase open government.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government's new code of practice on access to Government information came into force at the beginning of April. We will introduce legislation on access to personal records and health and safety information as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

  Citizens Charter
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what research his Department has carried out to find out how many people know of their rights under the citizens charter.

  Mr. David Davis
  It is for each public service provider to consult its users in line with the principles of the citizens charter and to provide information to users about the standards of service that they are entitled to expect. Published surveys reveal that seven out of 10 people are aware of the citizens charter.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to republicise the contents of all charters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  The provision of information is an important principle of the citizens charter. To accompany 62
  "The Citizen's Charter Second Report" a free guide called "The Citizen's Charter Report Back 1994" was published which highlighted the good progress already made and set out future commitments, as well as full details about how to obtain further information on individual services and charters. The guide has been made widely available around the country and is also published in six other languages, on audio cassette in large print and braille. Copies of the second report and the free guide were placed in the Library of the House. In addition, individual Departments, agencies and other organisations are responsible for ensuring that the standards and other information set out in their charters are made widely available to their customers.

  Science and Technology
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to progress initiatives that will improve public understanding of science following the national week of science and technology.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  SET7 was a great success. Planning has begun for next year's national week of science, engineering and technology. At the same time the Office of Science and Technology is continuing to support a number of initiatives to encourage greater understanding and appreciation of science and engineering, especially in our schools but also among the general public.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress his Department has made in achieving the original objectives of the science White Paper.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have made an excellent progress. The first forward look of Government-funded science and technology was published last month; this provides a clear and up-to-date survey of the research and development scene, and sets out strategic objectives for the next five to 10 years. The new research council structure came into being on 1 April. The technology foresight programme is well under way; and the week of special events to promote public understanding was described by New Scientist as "a staggering success".

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many parliamentary questions to his Department have not been answered because of disproportionate costs or because the information requested was not held centrally over the last five years; how many could be answered now due to computerisation and/or more effective operational systems; and if he will list each such question along with the name and constituency of the hon. Member who tabled it.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Since my Department was established in May 1992 there have been 48 parliamentary questions where the answer given by my Department included a reference to part or all the information being available only at disproportionate cost or because the information requested was not held centrally. Details of these questions can be obtained from the POLIS database, access to which is available in the Library.

  The remainder of the question could itself be answered only at disproportionate cost.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. Waldegrave
  My Department's press releases issued electronically through the Central Office of Information are accessible to users of the Internet via Data-Staff Dialog (Europe) or Mead/Lexis/Nexis. They are also available to subscribers to FT Profile, Reuters Textline and to POLIS.

  My Department's press releases are also made available through the COI's fax retrieval service, details of which can be provided by its new distribution service.

  I have no further plans to use the Internet.

  Disablement Quotas
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Government Departments meet the quota requirements for the employment of people with disabilities and which do not.

  Mr. David Davis
  Information held centrally does not include some smaller Departments and agencies. Of those for which information is available, at 1 July 1993 there were five which met the 3 per cent. quota for the employment of people with disabilities. These are as follows: Department of Education; Employment Group; Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce; the Office of the Paymaster General and Registers of Scotland.

  Overall, 1.5 per cent. of civil service staff are registered disabled, compared with 0.8 per cent. in the public sector generally and 0.7 per cent. in the private sector. Like many other employers, civil service departments also employ many staff with disabilities who have chosen not to register.

ENVIRONMENT

  Eland House
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many British firms were included on the tender list for the cladding contract for Eland house.

  Sir George Young
  The redevelopment of Eland house is being undertaken by Land Securities plc. The Department has signed an agreement to take a 25–year lease with a 15–year break provision. The sourcing of the building's cladding is therefore a matter for the company and not for the Department.

  I understand, however, that Land Securities plc is anxious to maximise the United Kingdom content of the building within its commercial and legal constraints. The company is a founder member of the Construction Procurement Group established by leading specifiers in the industry and supported by my Department to work with suppliers of building products in enhancing their competitiveness. I am pleased to say that they have agreed to make Eland house one of the early case studies for the group.

  Recycling
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what civil service-wide co-ordination exists in the recycling of waste materials in order to maximise efficient use of resources and value for money.

  Mr. Atkins
  Government Departments now have environmental strategies in place and are preparing, or have prepared, action plans to implement them. These strategies set out the policy of each Department for the use of its own resources and are designed to ensure that full account is taken of the needs of the environment. They cover a wide variety of issues including recycling, and are co-ordinated by a committee of green Ministers drawn from the major Departments.

  London Docklands
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what areas of grassed space open to the public exists in the London Docklands development area.

  Sir George Young
  Some 382 acres of grassed area are open to the public in the London Docklands urban development area.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of land area in the London Docklands development area is public open space.

  Sir George Young
  Some 11·25 per cent. of land in the London Docklands urban development area is public open space.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure affordable housing in rural areas; what statistical information he has of rural housing need; if he will publish it; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  We provide funding through the Housing Corporation's annual approved development programme for new social housing in rural and non-rural areas. In rural areas—defined as settlements with a population of 3,000 or less—the ADP has approved funds through the corporation's rural programme for more than 6,000 new units between 1989–90 and 1992–93; and some 2,200 units in 1993–94—exceeding the Government's target by some 19 per cent. In 1994–95 the corporation aims to approve a further 1,850 new units.

  In addition, the Rural Development Commission provides support for the work of the Rural Housing Trust to assist the setting up and support of rural housing associations, and for other measures which facilitate the supply of social housing in rural areas.

  The resources for the ADP are distributed each year in accordance with my Department's housing needs index. The index is calculated for all local authority districts, and the individual scores are published annually by the Housing Corporation.

  My Department does not specifically compile information on rural housing need. However, we are currently carrying out research into the nature and causes of housing need in rural England with the aim of identifying possible solutions. We expect the results to be published in due course.

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

  Mr. Gummer
  In line with Government policy, my Department employs security companies in situations where this can be shown to provide best value for money. There has been no requirement so far to engage private detective agencies.

  Rio Agreement
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of financial aid provided in the implementation of agenda 21 of the Rio agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Chapter 33, paragraph 13 of agenda 21 said that, in general, financing for the implementation of agenda 21 should come from countries' own public and private sectors. In the case of developing countries, it was accepted that foreign aid would continue to be required. The United Kingdom has a substantial overseas aid programme.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority-owned properties have been sold by each of the London borough councils in each of the last five years.

  Sir George Young
  Tables showing the available information on total council house sales for each English local authority for every financial year since 1980 and a cumulative total to December 1993 are in the Library.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his most recent estimate of accumulated capital receipts from the sale of council houses for each district council in Nottinghamshire.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 3 May 1994]: The total discounted values of all council dwellings sold in Nottinghamshire between April 1980 and December 1993, as reported by local authorities, are in the table. No estimates have been made for those periods where data have not been supplied by a local authority or were incomplete. Actual cash receipts for the period will depend on the extent to which sales had been financed by loans from the authorities.

  Nottinghamshire

  Discounted value of all sales

  Local authority

  £ million

  Ashfield

  36·7

  Bassetlaw

  32·1

  Broxtowe

  29·6

  Gedling

  34·8

  Mansfield

  30·9

  Newark and Sherwood

  28·5

  Nottingham

  106·3

  Rushcliffe

  21·8

  Telecommunication Masts
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the planning constraints on the erection of telecomunication masts.

  Mr. Baldry
  A planning application is required for the erection of masts above 15 m and for all masts in protected areas such as conservation areas and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

  A general planning permission is granted for the erection of masts of up to 15 m in height, under the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988. However, local planning authorities do have powers to intervene in such cases to require the approval of the siting and appearance of a proposed mast if they consider it would seriously threaten amenity.

  Tenancies (Consultation Paper)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many additional staff his Department has taken on to deal with the responses to the consultation paper "Access to Local Authority and Housing Association Tenancies";

  (2) how many staff are dealing with responses to his Department's consultation paper "Access to Local Authority and Housing Association Tenancies";

  (3) how many of the responses to his Department's consultation paper "Access to Local Authority and Housing Association Tenancies" have been from hon. and right hon. Members.

  Sir George Young
  Of the 10 members of the Department's homelessness policy division whose work is associated with the responses to the consultation paper "Access to Local Authority and Housing Association Tenancies", four were taken on specifically to handle the volume of responses, which include over 500 communications from right hon. and hon. Members, most of which were forwarding letters from their constituents.

  Limehouse Link Tunnel
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons the Limehouse link tunnel is to be closed between 5 May and 10 May; what repairs are due to be undertaken; and what is the estimated cost of these repairs.

  Sir George Young
  The eastbound sliproad of the Limehouse link tunnel is to be closed to improve drainage. This remedial work is covered under the contractor's liability warranty. The cost is not known.

  The main route from The Highway to Aspen way and the royal docks will remain open.

  Dry Stone Walls
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the circumstances in which the demolition of dry stone walls requires planning permission.

  Mr. Baldry
  In general, planning permission is required for the demolition of any gate, fence, or wall, including dry stone walls. But in particular cases, it is for the local planning authority to decide whether demolition is sufficiently minor or immaterial to fall outside planning control.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Baldry
  Press releases from my Department are already available on the Internet via commercial database hosts used by the Central Office of Information. There are some technical features, however, which currently make wider use of Internet impractical, although we are planning various improvements in electronic information exchange.

  Reservoirs
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of additional staffing requirements of the National Rivers Authority if the responsibility for administration of the Reservoirs Act 1975 is transferred to the authority.

  Mr. Atkins
  This would depend on the arrangements that the National Rivers Authority chose to make and on the extent to which—like some of the local authorities currently responsible—it chose to employ consultants to do the work. Since there would be a merger of the two separate existing registers of large, raised reservoirs and of impounding licences, less staff effort overall should be needed.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to change the administration of the Reservoirs Act 1975; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  As described in "Deregulation: Cutting Red Tape", the Government have proposed to merge in England and Wales the two separate existing registers of large, raised reservoirs—the responsibility, under the Reservoirs Act 1975, of certain local authorities—and of impounding licences—the responsibility, under the Water Resources Act 1991, of the National Rivers Authority—in view of the substantial overlap between the two registers.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which he considers to have been neglectful in carrying out their duties under the Reservoirs Act 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have no reason to think that any local authority has been ineffective in carrying out its functions under the Reservoirs Act 1975: however, over 10 per cent. of the authorities concerned have still not sent to my Department the report on the previous two years statutorily required to be made by 1 April 1993.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost to local authorities of carrying out their duties under the Reservoirs Act 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  When the Reservoirs Act 1975 was implemented in 1985, the additional current expenditure by local authorities was described as insignificant. No subsequent estimate has been made.
  68
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of cases in each local authority where enforcement under the Reservoirs Act 1975 has been carried out in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  Reports are required every two years: the number of enforcement actions reported in England has been:

  Number

  1987–89

  14

  1989–91

  10

  1991–93

  13

  1 In the reports so far received.

  Public Works Tenders
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that when tenders for public work are invited by local authorities that they are in realistic commercial terms and without unnecessary contingent liabilities.

  Mr. Curry
  Local authority tendering procedures are governed by European rules and United Kingdom law as well as authorities' own standing orders. Authorities make their own decisions on the way in which they invite tenders, subject to the law and to financial propriety. They have a fiduciary duty to their taxpayers to operate effectively and efficiently and to secure the best value for money in the discharge of their functions. They must also justify their actions to the independent auditor appointed by the Audit Commission to check their accounts.

  In the case of work subject to compulsory competitive tendering, authorities are under a specific statutory duty not to act in any way which may restrict, distort or prevent competition. My Department has issued guidance on the fair conduct of CCT, and has statutory power to take action against authorities acting in an anti-competitive way.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the number of local authority housing starts for 1977–78 and the number of such starts so far in 1993–94.

  Sir George Young
  Housing associations are now the main providers of new social housing. Local authorities' primary housing tasks are the efficient management of their own stock of dwellings and enabling other organisations to provide new housing.

  Local authorities in England started 78,580 dwellings during the financial year 1977–78. Provisional figures show that they started some 570 dwellings during the first 11 months of the financial year 1993–94. Provisional figures for the full financial year 1993–94 will be published by my Department on 10 May 1994.

  Energy Saving Trust
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to improve funding for the Energy Saving Trust's conservation projects.

  Mr. Atkins
  Funding for schemes sponsored by the Energy Saving Trust comes from a variety of sources. The
  69
  Director General of Gas Supply has questioned the suitability of the trust's schemes for funding from one of these sources, the so-called E factor levy on gas consumers. In the light of these reservations and of future changes in the gas and electricity industries, an inter-departmental working group of officials is looking at alternative options for the longer term.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if a fiche d'impact was prepared on the proposal for a Council directive concerning the quality of bathing water 94C 112/03, COM (94) 36 final-94/0006 (SYN), submitted by the Commission on 29 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  In the financial statement attached to the proposal, the Commission states that, on balance, the burden on member states will be reduced. The Government will be making their own assessment of the cost implications for the United Kingdom of the proposal.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the outstanding council tax banding appeals have been scheduled for a hearing.

  Mr. Curry
  Around 45,000 appeals had been listed for hearing—but not yet heard—at valuation tribunals in England by the end of March. We expect, however, that the great majority of cases will be settled by agreement between the Valuation Office Agency and the taxpayer without the need for a formal tribunal hearing and decision.

  Privatisation (Consultants)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with privatisation programmes in which his Department has been engaged since 1980.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 4 May 1994]: The information requested is not held centrally by my Department and is obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

  DISABLED RAMP, ROYAL COURT: COST
  DISABLED RAMP, ROYAL COURT: COST
  BRITISH LIBRARY: FINAL PHASE CONTRACT
  BRITISH LIBRARY: FINAL PHASE CONTRACT
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS PESTICIDES: ABSORPTION TESTS
  ORGANOPHOSPHORUS PESTICIDES: ABSORPTION TESTS
  NANCEKUKE AND MAFF
  NANCEKUKE AND MAFF
  OFFENDERS IN SECURE TRAINING CENTRES: FAMILY VISITS
  OFFENDERS IN SECURE TRAINING CENTRES: FAMILY VISITS
  PRISONERS' RECORDS: COMPUTER LINKAGE
  PRISONERS' RECORDS: COMPUTER LINKAGE
  PRISONERS: POLICE ACCESS TO INFORMATION
  PRISONERS: POLICE ACCESS TO INFORMATION
  PRISONERS: NATIONAL INSURANCE INFORMATION
  PRISONERS: NATIONAL INSURANCE INFORMATION
  Ms JOSEFINA PEDERE
  Ms JOSEFINA PEDERE
  GUY'S AND ST. THOMAS' HOSPITALS: CATCHMENT AREAS
  GUY'S AND ST. THOMAS' HOSPITALS: CATCHMENT AREAS
  US FORCES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA
  US FORCES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA
  D-DAY COMMEMORATION
  D-DAY COMMEMORATION
  GULF TRUST FUND
  GULF TRUST FUND
  UN REGISTER OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS: UK RETURN
  UN REGISTER OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS: UK RETURN
  IRAN: MURDER OF BAHA'I
  IRAN: MURDER OF BAHA'I
  TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION: EFFECTS OF NEW ACCESSIONS
  TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION: EFFECTS OF NEW ACCESSIONS
  TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION: COMMON DEFENCE POLICY
  TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION: COMMON DEFENCE POLICY
  UN PEACEKEEPING: COST OF UK MILITARY PARTICIPATION
  UN PEACEKEEPING: COST OF UK MILITARY PARTICIPATION