Written Answers of 19 May 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps he has taken to implement the proposals for developing judicial appointments procedures which were announced by the Lord Chancellor in his speech to Her Majesty's judges on 7 July 1993.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has today published a consultation paper, "Developments in Judicial Appointments Procedures". The paper outlines the proposed arrangements for openly advertised competitions which he intends to hold later this year to fill vacancies arising in 1995–96 for circuit and district judges. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The Lord Chancellor invites comments on the proposals which he has put forward in the consultation paper, further copies of which may be obtained from his Department.

  The closing date for responses is 30 June 1994.

TREASURY

  Multilateral Debt
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy towards the creation of special drawing rights at the international financial institutions as a means of lessening the multilateral debt problems of the world's poorest countries.

  Sir John Cope
  The articles of the IMF prescribe that allocations of special drawing rights should be made to address global liquidity shortages. No such shortages exist at present and, in the Government's view, the case for a general allocation has not therefore been made.

  The world's poorest countries are eligible for and receive financial assistance on concessional terms from the international financial institutions, particularly through the IMF's enhanced structural adjustment facility and the World Bank's International Development Agency's credits. The agency's fifth dimension facility also assists the poorest countries with loan repayments. Net financial flows from the institutions to the poorest countries remain substantially positive.

  International Monetary Fund
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals in regard to the cost of environmental protection he put to the interim committee of the International Monetary Fund during its discussions on the new World Trade Organisation at its meeting in 528
  Washington DC on 25 April; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the United Kingdom submission to the interim committee.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  A number of different issues, including the World Trade Organisation, were covered by those who spoke at the interim committee on 25 April. In my speech to the committee I warned against protectionist trading practices establishing themselves under the guise of legitimate environmental concerns.

  Full texts of my speeches to the interim committee and development committee have been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals received tax relief on private medical insurance premiums paid by employers on behalf of employees whose earned income including benefit is less than £8,500 a year for each of the past five years in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; and what was the value of tax relief on private medical insurance premiums paid by employers on behalf of employees whose earned income, including the value of benefits is less than £8,500 a year for each of the past five years in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 8 March 1994,Official Report, column 99, this information is not available.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) of 15 March,Official Report, columns 571–72, what was the expected revenue yield from premium tax in 1994–95 and 1995–96 on private medical insurance.

  Sir John Cope
  The expected revenue yield from insurance premium tax on private medical insurance is estimated to be approximately £10 million in 1994–95 and £50 million in 1995–96. This includes both insurance paid for by households, included in "Medical and other" in the answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling), and insurance paid for by companies, included in "Other business" in that answer.

  Consultants
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the expenditure on management and financial consultants by his Department in 1992–93.

  Sir John Cope
  The Treasury's computer systems do not distinguish between management and financial consultants.

  The Treasury's expenditure on consultants for 1992–93 was £2,430,405 exclusive of VAT.

  VAT (Education) Order
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the individuals and bodies consulted(a) before the drafting and (b) during the drafting of the VAT (Education) Order 1994; and what response was received.

  Sir John Cope
  The VAT (Education) Order was initiated by an internal review of the current VAT
  529
  exemption by Customs and Excise. At that stage consultation was limited mainly to officials within that Department and the Department for Education. The first draft of the order was published as part of the public consultation document issued by Customs last December and publicised by a press release. About 500 copies of the consultation document were issued to a variety of bodies with interests in the educational sector including local authorities, trade and professional associations, accountancy firms, charities and individual education and training providers.

  Most of the responses supported the need for change, but many expressed concerns and made proposals for extending the new exemption better to preserve the status quo. The final draft of the order was modified to reflect a great many of these useful comments.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to monitor the time being taken to(a) inspect properties where householders have submitted council tax appeals and (b) schedule appeals for hearings.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 9 May 1994]: Together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, I am keeping under close review the progress being made by the Valuation Office Agency and the valuation tribunals in the settlement of council tax appeals and we expect 80 per cent. of cases to be cleared by the end of 1994.

  Monthly returns of clearance are received in order to monitor progress, but there are no plans to monitor the time taken to inspect properties and to schedule appeals for hearings during the clearance process.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total rent income received by registered housing associations and the proportion of total rental income of registered housing associations which is met by payments of full and partial housing benefit, for the year to 31 March 1993 and for any subsequent period for which figures are available.

  Sir George Young
  The total rental income, including service charges, for housing associations registered with the Housing Corporation for 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 was £1.621 billion.

  £ million

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Barking and Dagenham

  60.194

  36.828

  15.376

  12.592

  14.672

  11.886

  Barnet

  41.812

  38.854

  11.535

  20.390

  17.384

  24.249

  Bexley

  16.847

  22.223

  10.490

  7.362

  8.663

  15.130

  Brent

  34.148

  36.392

  25.553

  11.045

  8.084

  17.250

  Bromley

  103.656

  34.676

  12.288

  15.147

  137.915

  9.652

  Camden

  35.690

  75.147

  32.586

  14.425

  33.384

  45.417

  City of London

  21.167

  19.776

  8.729

  10.232

  5.159

  9.612

  Croydon

  72.064

  57.690

  36.207

  26.470

  15.469

  11.877

  Ealing

  n/a

  38.978

  19.860

  24.652

  13.873

  19.887

  Enfield

  40.122

  49.042

  20.970

  22.521

  18.774

  11.300

  Greenwich

  27.178

  34.805

  19.549

  13.656

  13.446

  19.096

  Hackney

  18.544

  36.292

  25.421

  16.532

  9.119

  20.511

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  n/a

  10.719

  15.899

  9.605

  7.046

  6.579

  530
  Information on the proportion of total rental income met by housing benefit is not available.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the cost to local authorities of collecting the council tax in each London borough;

  (2) what is the cost of collection of council tax in each local authority;

  (3) what was the amount collected in 1993 by each London borough and local authority through the council tax.

  Mr. Curry
  I have arranged for this information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Sewerage
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy regarding the use of twin-wall plastic piping products for sewerage use.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the sewerage undertakers.

  Fire Safety, Harrogate
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many premises were inspected for compliance with fire safety regulations by staff of the Harrogate borough council in each of the last three years.

  (2) how many inspectors are employed by Harrogate borough council to check on fire standards.

  Mr. Baldry
  The responsibility for compliance with the provisions of the fire safety regulations made under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 rests with fire authorities, in this case North Yorkshire county fire authority. Building control and environmental health officers employed by Harrogate borough council will, however, be involved in inspections with regard to fire safety matters under other legislation. the number of such officers is a matter for the council, and figures are not collected centrally. Likewise the number of premises inspected by these officers is not collected centrally.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the revenue from capital receipts, by London borough, for each financial year from 1988–89 to 1993–94.

  Mr. Curry
  Total capital receipts were as follows:
  531

  £ million

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Haringey

  n/a

  19.664

  20.947

  17.643

  15.896

  16.300

  Harrow

  19.558

  30.452

  21.986

  9.459

  5.403

  10.597

  Havering

  26.293

  22.610

  14.207

  12.452

  8.863

  41.003

  Hillingdon

  42.414

  33.447

  21.355

  23.785

  47.303

  35.733

  Hounslow

  46.689

  31.103

  20.906

  13.876

  12.230

  26.667

  Islington

  28.214

  40.803

  30.725

  19.945

  12.651

  16.044

  Kensington and Chelsea

  11.702

  13.272

  10.251

  6.233

  7.056

  5.317

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  11.667

  29.313

  4.726

  4.741

  3.420

  9.940

  Lambeth

  n/a

  n/a

  36.882

  23.091

  12.280

  9.912

  Lewisham

  14.395

  64.482

  33.596

  21.956

  15.409

  29.100

  Merton

  24.099

  20.294

  23.384

  10.038

  17.806

  23.396

  Newham

  26.943

  39.117

  21.726

  13.221

  9.105

  12.863

  Redbridge

  30.281

  25.313

  13.048

  10.052

  13.862

  13.650

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  22.499

  14.432

  10.541

  9.663

  6.462

  12.500

  Southwark

  n/a

  n/a

  38.573

  16.526

  17.524

  30.976

  Sutton

  15.407

  18.459

  12.871

  6.618

  8.599

  25.920

  Tower Hamlets

  45.560

  94.112

  45.111

  20.039

  14.879

  23.834

  Waltham Forest

  28.211

  28.352

  15.668

  7.076

  6.841

  20.100

  Wandsworth

  77.210

  81.101

  46.763

  35.052

  27.824

  32.308

  Westminster

  54.225

  77.459

  28.682

  17.183

  18.395

  29.000

  Source:

  Local authority capital outturn returns. 1993–94 figures from local authority third quarter forecasts.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amount of gross capital expenditure by all local authorities in each year since 1980–81 at(a) cash prices and (b) constant prices.

  Mr. Baldry
  The available information is shown in the table:

  Local authority gross capital expenditure: England

  £ million

  At current prices

  At 1992–93 prices

  1981–82

  5,417

  8,286

  1982–83

  5,692

  9,747

  1983–84

  6,014

  9,842

  1984–85

  6,188

  9,643

  1985–86

  5,740

  8,474

  1986–87

  5,991

  8,593

  1987–88

  6,472

  8,814

  1988–89

  7,518

  9,594

  1989–90

  10,083

  12,031

  1990–91

  6,922

  7,643

  1991–92

  6,593

  6,846

  1992–93

  6,460

  16,460

  1993–94

  7,300

  27,070

  1Provisional

  Estimate

  Notes: Figures before 1985–86 are not strictly comparable due to changes in the definition of gross capital expenditure; figures shown are an indication of trend only. Comparable figures for 1980–81 are not readily available.

  Gross capital expenditure includes mortgage lending to former tenants in respect of dwelling sales which reached a peak of £750 million in 1982–83.

  1992–93 prices calculated using GDP deflator.

  Local Government, Cleveland
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 11 May,Official Report, column 170, what are the particular circumstances in Cleveland which permit a change in the structure of local government to precede local elections.

  Mr. Curry
  In announcing his decisions on the future structure of local government in Cleveland on 18 January my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the 532
  Environment made clear his intention to consult the majority and minority groups on each of the four district councils and the county council about whether or not elections should be held in May 1994 with the intention of establishing the four new unitary authorities in April 1995. However, because of the judicial review case brought by Cleveland county council, it proved impossible for us to lay an order providing, inter alia, for elections to be held in May this year.

  Therefore we again sought the views of the majority and minority groups on the relevant local authorities and, in the light of their comments, we decided that the most practicable arrangement would be for the new unitary authorities to be established in April 1995 followed by elections in May 1995.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the Environment Commissioner concerning the effect of the exclusion of the Lappel Bank mud flats from the Medway estuary special protection area on the negotiations with him in relation to the Cardiff bay barrage proposal and its legal status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  None.

  Ivory
  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning any resumption of trade in ivory.

  Mr. Atkinas
  My right hon. Friend has received a large number of letters on this issue. The present ban on trade in ivory was introduced following the seventh conference of the parties of the convention on international trade in endangered species in Lausanne in 1989. We have made it clear that the United Kingdom would not be prepared to consider supporting any relaxation of the ban without first being satisfied that this could be done without undermining the conservation status of the African elephant.

  We are aware of a South African Government proposal to seek agreement to the resumption of a limited trade in meat and hides only, in relation to the elephant population

  533
  in their country, with the possibility of extending this to ivory at some point in the future. Before any such a proposal can be considered by the CITES conference of the parties it will have to be examined by a CITES panel of experts whose conclusions we would also take into account, together with the views of African elephant range states and other parties. We understand that the relevant CITES procedures are being put in hand. We shall certainly wish to examine the proposal and its implications with great care.

  Water Bills
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he expects prospects for water bills to be after the announcement by the Director General of Water Services on water pricing policy.

  Mr. Gummer
  At present average annual charges for water are around £200 per household—about 55p a day to provide high quality drinking water in unlimited amounts and to treat our sewage. The Director General of Water Services is currently reaching a view on new limits on the extent to which the companies may increase their prices over the next 10 years. He is to announce these on 28 July. He has said that he hopes that nationally it may be possible to limit overall price increases on average to between 0 and 2 per cent. above the rate of inflation. This will supersede the current average ceiling of 4 per cent. above the rate of inflation. In setting price limits he intend to assume that improvements in service are generally financed from efficiency gains, that companies will be able to deliver existing services at lower prices and that companies can both increase the efficiency of their capital programmes and finance them at a lower return on capital. This will have a significant impact on the increases in bills required to finance new obligations. In this way my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have sought to secure best protection of the environment in a cost-effective way.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if radioactive waste management policy will be considered as part of the nuclear review.

  Mr. Gummer
  In parallel with the nuclear review, details of which were announced today by my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy, my Department will be heading a separate but complementary review of radioactive waste management policy.

  The radioactive waste management review will examine current policy in the light of changes which have taken place since the Department published its national strategy in 1984. It will range wider than the nuclear industry—covering radioactive waste management as a whole. It will not address the suitability of specific sites, this being a matter for the planning and regulatory process, or the merits of the operation of existing nuclear power stations or those in the pipeline.

  The Department proposes to publish its preliminary conclusions later in the summer, as a basis for consultation.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will also be issuing for consultation a revision of the Department's 1994 publication "Disposal facilities on land for low and intermediate level Radioactive Wastes: principles for the protection of the human environment".
  534
  In parallell with this latter exercise, the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, together with the Advisory Committee on Safety at Nuclear Installations, will be asked to consider the approach to site selection for disposal facilities and the criteria for ensuring the protection of human health. Further details will be announced later.

  Security Facilities Executive Agency
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what targets he has set the Security Facilities executive agency for 1994–95.

  Sir George Young
  For 1994–95, the following targets have been set for the agency. All of them require the agency to make further improvements in its performance.

  Category

  Measure

  Target

  Financial

  Outturn on the Vote

  A surplus of £1.86 million

  Outturn on Net Running Costs

  Break even

  Cost Recovery in Accruals Terms

  100 per cent. cost recovery including 6 per cent, return on capital

  Sales

  Sales Turnover

  A sales turnover of £42 million

  Efficiency

  Unit Costs

  0.5 per cent reduction in real terms

  Quality of Service

  Regular Customer Surveys

  80 per cent. rating of customer responses in good or higher categories

  Environment

  Vehicle Fuel Efficiency

  Annual average of 24.5 mpg for the GCS and IDS fleets

  Traffic Growth
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the implications for traffic growth of location of(a) companies and (b) retail outlets on sites adjacent to the M25; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department has made no detailed assessment in the form suggested.

  Planning policy guidance notes 4—Industrial and Commercial Development—6—Town Centres and Retail Developments—and 13—Transport—are all relevant. They seek to encourage new development in locations which minimuse the length and number of trips by vehicles, and protect and enhance the viability and vitality of existing centres—in both urban and rural areas—by offering a range of everyday community, shopping and employment opportunities.

  PPG13 also asks local planning authorities to ensure that trunk roads and other through routes, including bypasses, serve their purpose as corridors of movement and do not have their national and strategic role undermined by development which encourages their use for short local trips. The Secretary of State for Transport has the power to direct local planning authorities to refuse applications for planning permission, or to apply specified conditions, and takes the policy in PPG13 into account in deciding whether to do so.

WALES

  Water Pricing
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what agreements his office made during 1989 on the pricing structure of(a) Welsh Water plc and (b) Severn Trent Water plc in relation to an accrual of money for infrastructure purposes; what accrual is estimated to have occurred since then; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The agreements reached at privatisation between the Government and all water companies are published in the pathfinder prospectus—a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.

  This matter has since become the responsibility of the Director General of Water Services.

  Tuberculosis
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total number of notifications of tuberculosis in each year between 1987 and 1993.

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

  Notification of Tuberculosis in Wales

  Year

  Number

  1987

  232

  1988

  201

  1989

  209

  1990

  194

  1991

  166

  1992

  201

  11993

  202

  1 Provisional.

  Source:

  Communicable disease statistics (Series MB2) Registrar General's Weekly Return (Series WR) Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the number of deaths from tuberculosis in each year between 1988 and 1993.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of deaths of Welsh residents from tuberculosis in each year are shown in the table:

  Tuberculosis (all forms) excluding late effects (ICD 010-018)

  Late effects of tuberculosis (ICD137)

  1988

  35

  19

  1989

  26

  16

  1990

  30

  14

  1991

  29

  12

  1992

  36

  13

  1993

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a=Not available

  Source: International Classification of Diseases.

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Junior Hospital Doctors
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the cost of measures taken to reduce the hours worked by junior hospital doctors in each year since 1991–92.
  536
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Central funds provided for the reduction in junior doctors' hours in Wales have amounted to the following:

  £ million

  1991–92

  0.250

  1992–93

  0.600

  1993–94

  1.000

  Details of the costs which health authorities and trusts have incurred in addition to the above are not available.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he gave to using the recommendations of the Curriculum Council for Wales as the basis for the new National Curriculum for English Order; for what reason the recommendations of the National Curriculum Council for England were selected; what representations he has received regarding the order; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  On 31 March the Curriculum Council for Wales submitted revised proposals for English and suggested two amendments to reflect, firstly, the distinctive literary heritage of Wales and, secondly, the diverse linguistic backgrounds of pupils in Wales. My right hon. Friend considered the recommendations carefully and responded on 14 April, asking the new Curriculum and Assessment Authority—ACAC, which replaced the Curriculum Council for Wales on 1 April—to proceed to consultations. A copy of the correspondence is contained in the proposals for English issued for consultation by the authority: this is available in the Library of the House. My right hon. Friend has asked the authority to report to him on the outcome of the consultation in Wales and to make final recommendations in the light of that consultation by 30 September. My right hon. Friend will consider carefully the authority's further report and recommendations in the autumn with a view to making a new order for English jointly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education.

  Health Service Administration
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of total health expenditure in Wales was spent on(a) managerial, (b) administrative and (c) clerical costs in each year since 1991–92.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The percentages of total health expenditure in Wales spent on managerial, administrative and clerical costs in 1991–92 and 1992–93 were as follows:

  Per cent.

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Managerial

  1.0

  1.0

  Administrative and Clerical

  4.8

  4.6

  Source: Health Authorities Annual Accounts/Financial Returns. Pembrokeshire NHS Trust Financial Returns.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proposals he has to make disability living allowance more accessible for those with learning difficulties;

  (2) what proposals he has to make access to disability living allowance more equitable for those with a mental illness.

  Mr. Scott
  None. Entitlement to disability living allowance depends on the care and mobility needs arising from a particular condition, rather than on the condition itself. Access to DLA is available to all disabled people through the claiming process. The Benefits Agency provides support services to assist people in making a claim.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the length of time that those seeking review of refusal of disability living allowance have to wait before a hearing at a tribunal.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the form requested. Reviews of entitlement to disability living allowance are not dealt with at a tribunal hearing.

  People who are dissatisfied with the decision given on their claim for benefit may ask for it to be reviewed by an independent adjudication officer. Following this review, if they remain dissatisfied, they can then appeal to an independent appeal tribunal.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Television Licences
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will meet members of the Retired Members Association of the Transport and General Workers Union to discuss the cost of television licences; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I do not think a meeting would serve any useful purpose. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has written to the hon. Gentleman to explain why the Government are not prepared to introduce free or concessionary television licences for retirement pensioners, as called for by the association at its recent conference.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many parliamentary questions, in the period November 1992 to March 1993, were answered with the response that the information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost; how many were referred on to an agency chief executive; and, in each case, what percentage of the total number of questions asked this constituted.

  Mr. Brooke
  In the period November 1992 to March 1993 411 questions were tabled to my Department. Of these, two questions were answered that the information was not held centrally and four were referred to agency chief executives.
  538
  Each of these figures represent less than 1 per cent. of replies given in the same period.

  Royal Parks
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give a breakdown of his Department's estimated £23.8 million expenditure for 1994–95 on the Royal Parks Agency.

  Mr. Sproat
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from David Welch to Ms Marjorie Mowlam, dated 13 May 1994:
  The Secretary of State for National Heritage has asked me to reply to your Question about estimated expenditure of the Agency in 1994–95. Details of the Department's Voted provision are published in the Supply Estimates 1994–95, Class XI, and may be obtained from the Library of the House. The breakdown of the provision for the Royal Parks Agency is shown on Vote 6, Section C of Class XI (pages 34 and 35).

  Identification Cards
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding the use of identification cards at sporting events.

  Mr. Brooke
  None.

  Tourism
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what was the outcome of the informal EU Council of Ministers tourism meeting on 13 April:

  (2) who represented the United Kingdom at the informal EU Council of Ministers tourism meeting on 13 April:

  Mr. Sproat
  The United Kingdom was represented by the head of my Department's tourism division and the United Kingdom tourism representative from Brussels. Meetings of this kind offer an opportunity for a purely informal exchange of views on matters of common interest. They have no powers to make decisions and the Council guidelines stipulate that such meetings should not reach formal conclusions. There were wide-ranging and useful discussions on subjects which included the future direction of European Union tourism policy, the tourism action plan and tourism statistics.

  Library Services
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the names and terms of reference of the consultancies he has commissioned to inquire into the operation of library services.

  Mr. Sproat
  Set out is a list of consultancies currently in progress, together with their respective terms of reference:

  The Aslib Consultancy.
  Review of public library service in England and Wales.
  To assess the scope and value of public library services currently provided by local authorities in England and Wales; to draw up guidelines and a framework for local choice for what should constitute a "comprehensive and efficient service" provided by a modern public library service; to consider the desirability of any

  539
  changes in the requirements of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964; and to identify key developments requiring national attention.

  Broadvision Communications Limited.
  Evaluation of Library and Information Plans (LIPs).
  To provide an independent evaluation of the concept and process of Library and Information Plans, their planning, funding, development, implementation and impact on the library and information sector.

  Coopers and Lybrand.
  Review of schools library services.
  To carry out a review of the schools library service in the light of the growing trend towards the delegation of the funding for the service to schools. The review will examine three sets of issues: resource allocation and delegation; the marketing of the services; and structural and internal management.

  Brenda White Associates Limited.
  Provision of secretariat and support services for the Libraries and Information Services Council (England) working party on library services for children and young people.
  The Council has established the working party to:

  (i) examine the library needs of children and young people and the extent to which they are being met by existing services and levels of staffing;

  (ii) examine the way in which library services for children and young people are provided through the public library service, school and further education libraries, and the school library service;

  (iii) review recent research and development work into library services for children and young people, and assess its effectiveness and impact on services;

  (iv) examine the effect of external change on the library needs of children and young people and on library services for them;

  (v) recommend improvements, and how to bring them about, in library services for children and young people.

  KPMG Peat Marwick in association with Capital Planning Information Limited.
  Investigation into the scope for contracting out in public libraries. The Department of National Heritage, in conjunction with five pilot projects established by library authorities in England, is examining the scope for contracting out the direct delivery of all or some elements of the public library service. The consultants are assisting by developing the overall framework of the investigation and evaluating the lessons to be learnt from the pilot projects, which remain under the direction of the authorities concerned. After consulting widely on the lessons that emerge from the pilot projects and ensuring that all public library authorities are kept in touch with the exercise, the consultants will prepare a report showing whether all or parts of the public library service can be contracted out; and the advantages and disadvantages of so doing, including best options, costings and potential savings.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Royal Mail, Barnsley
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many full-time and part-time employees Royal Mail intends to employ at the Barnsley depot in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The intended number of employees at Royal Mail depots is an operational matter for the Post Office.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of full-time and part-time employees at the Barnsley Royal Mail depot in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93 and (c) 1993–94.
  540
  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand from the Post Office that the numbers of full-time and part-time employees at the Barnsley Royal Mail depot were:

  Year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1991–92

  137

  62

  199

  1992–93

  126

  71

  197

  1993–94

  119

  80

  199

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if Royal Mail intends to continue with two foot deliveries of mail per day in the Barnsley area for the foreseeable future.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand from the Post Office that it has no plans to change the mail service specification in the Barnsley area for the foreseeable future.

  Appropriation Accounts
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the 14 companies which went into receivership or liquidation in 1992–93 and caused £5,096,000 to be written off in the appropriation accounts 1992–93, class IV, vote 1.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In the 1992–93 appropriation accounts class IV, vote 1, the losses of £5,096,000 under regional development grants and regional selective assistance schemes involved 14 cases and 12 companies. A list of the 12 companies follows:

  Winchmore Knitting Factory Ltd.

  Blue Ridge Care Ltd.

  Northern Power Electronics Ltd.

  Thermostar (UK) Ltd.

  Great Northern Knitwear

  Tolag Products and Company Ltd.

  Swilynn Magnetic Industries Ltd.

  City Vehicle Engineering

  CBS Batteries Ltd.

  Danum Windows Ltd.

  Briquette Technology Ltd.

  Unibit (Holdings) plc

  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will break down the miscellaneous expenditure listed under section I, international trade in class IV, vote 2, of the appropriation accounts 1992–93.

  Mr. Needham
  A breakdown of the miscellaneous international trade expenditure listed under class IV, vote 2, section I of the 1992–93 appropriation accounts follows:

  £000

  Overseas project fund expenditure to assist companies with the costs of pursuing major projects overseas

  4,990

  Assistance to overseas marketing research

  1,181

  The single European market campaign 2,918 International exhibitions: British participation at the Universal Exposition held in 1992 in Seville and the exposition in 1993 in Taejon, South Korea

  7,131

  Publicity and promotions for the British Overseas Trade Board's (BOTB) range of overseas trade services and other export promotion activities

  3,598

  Assistance to BOTB area-advisory groups and other non-official trade associations.

  2,563

  Other expenditure

  2,773

  Class IV, vote 2, section I total

  25,154

  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will name the company included in the losses
  541
  statement in class IV, vote 2, of the 1992–93 appropriation accounts where his Department paid off the debit incurred by the Expo '92 concessionaire.

  Mr. Needham
  The company is Lionheart Catering Ltd., which was struck off the register by the Registrar of Companies on 5 January 1993 and dissolved by notice in the London Gazette dated 12 January 1993.

  Spirit Measures
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to introduce regulations permitting the use of a 35 ml spirit measure; if he will explain the reason for the delay in the introduction of the regulation; and to what extent such a delay is reconcilable with the Government's deregulation drive.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) on 10 May 1994,Official Report, columns 76–77.

  Underwater Pipelines
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by the interconnector working party; when it is likely to report; what are the expected volumes; and to what extent the Government remain committed to open access and published tariffs as the basis of the interconnector project.

  Mr. Eggar
  The United Kingdom-continent gas interconnector is a private sector project being developed by a group of seven oil and gas companies to build a pipeline linking the United Kingdom and Belgian gas grids. The Government welcome the widespread interest from potential users in participating in this strategic link and the progress being made towards a commitment this year to go ahead. The development of the commercial arrangements for the interconnector is a matter for the companies involved.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to seek a resolution of the issue of jurisdiction before agreeing any new treaty relating to a cross-median sub-sea pipeline; what effect he expects the pending ratification of the law of the sea convention to have on these matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government believe it is important to resolve the application of jurisdiction to submarine pipelines crossing the continental shelf boundary between the United Kingdom and Norway if such projects are to be considered. The Government have taken no decision about accession to the United Nations law of the sea convention.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is considering seeking arbitration at the International Court of Justice to clarify the position with regard to jurisdiction over sub-sea pipelines crossing the United Kingdom-Norwegian line.

  Mr. Eggar
  I can confirm that we are considering the option of seeking arbitration to clarify the application of jurisdiction to submarine pipelines crossing the continental shelf boundary between the United Kingdom and Norway.

  Frigg Treaty
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made towards re-negotiation of the Frigg treaty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Progress has been made in a number of the areas under discussion with the Norwegian Government. The negotiations to revise the Frigg treaty are complex, however, and raise difficult issues for both Governments which it will not be easy to resolve.

  I do not as a result envisage that it will be possible to complete negotiations with the Norwegian Government within the foreseeable future.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of responses and entries to the 1994 SMART—small firms merit award for research and technology—competition.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The 1994 small firms merit award for research and technology competition generated 6,360 responses and a record 1,494 entries.

  General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish a White Paper on the conclusions of the GATT Uruguay round; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Government have today published a White Paper "The Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations 1986–94". Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and will be available in the Vote Office.

  The Government warmly welcome the successful conclusion of the Uruguay round. It is something for which we have worked tirelessly over many years.

  Liberalisation of international trade has always been one of the most effective means of boosting world growth. An OECD/World bank study has cautiously estimated that world annual output will be boosted by over US$270 billion after 10 years as a result of the agreement.

  The results should offer great benefits to British business and consumers. As the fifth largest exporter in the world of goods and commercial services, the United Kingdom stands to be one of the biggest gainers from cuts in trade barriers world wide.

  Major reductions in tariffs will provide substantial benefits to exporters through improved access to overseas markets. For example, in the sectors where tariff barriers are to be eliminated by the EC, Japan, the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom is well placed to make gains in those markets.

  Cuts in the EC's own tariffs should lead to lower prices and wider choice for consumers. Consumers and taxpayers will also benefit from the reductions in farm subsidies and agricultural trade barriers which the round will bring. These represent an important basis for further liberalisation in future.

  Inclusion of services and trade related intellectual property rights for the first time within the multilateral trade rules is particularly important. The Government pressed for these subjects to be included in the preparations for the round in the mid 1980s. Services already account

  543
  for 23 per cent. of United Kingdom trade, and trade in services is growing faster than trade in goods. The general agreement on trade in services will provide a more secure basis for the future growth of this trade to the benefit of United Kingdom service providers and the economy more widely.

  The agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights—TRIPS—is also a major achievement which will provide better international protection for innovative products from the United Kingdom and help to reduce tensions over trade in counterfeit goods. Stronger trade rules in areas such as subsidies, safeguards and anti-dumping will increase the stability and effectiveness of the multilateral trade system.

  Creation of the World Trade Organisation itself puts the system on a permanent institutional basis. The new dispute settlement system should help ease trade tensions and reduce the scope for unilateral trade sanctions.

  Trade liberalisation is a continuous process and no trade agreement can settle every trade dispute. But the completion of the Uruguay round represents an enormous achievement in which the world has chosen trade liberalisation rather than protectionism. The conclusions of the round provide a secure basis for future expansion of world trade and the growth and prosperity which go with it.

  Nuclear Review
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the terms of reference for the nuclear review.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am now in a position to announce the terms of reference, timing and format of the nuclear review. This answer has been agreed with my right lion. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, who has responsibility for the nuclear power generating industry in Scotland.

  The Government believe that the future role of nuclear power in the United Kingdom's electricity supply will depend on it proving itself competitive while maintaining rigorous standards of safety and environmental protection.

  The coal review established that there is a sound economic basis for continuing to operate existing nuclear stations. The nuclear review will not consider whether Sizewell B should be brought on stream. Sizewell B is on course to start operating this year, subject to the receipt by Nuclear Electric of such consents as are required by law. Decisions on these consents are matters for the appropriate Ministers and authorities and are not matters for the review. The review will, however, take into account the decisions made on Sizewell B, whether the consents are granted or refused.

  The nuclear review will focus on the future prospects for nuclear power. It will examine the economic and commercial viability of new nuclear stations in the United Kingdom, against the background of the Government's energy policy as set out in the White Paper "The Prospects for Coal", Cm. 2235.

  The Government have asked the nuclear generating industry to make the commercial case for new nuclear generating capacity and to make that case publicly available. Whether any new nuclear station could be built with private sector finance will be a key test of that case. The Government would welcome comments on the industry's case, which will be published shortly.
  544
  The Government also invite submissions from interested parties on whether new nuclear power stations offer particular diversity, security of supply and environmental benefits or disadvantages.

  The review will examine possible options for introducing private sector finance into the nuclear industry. As part of this, the Government are prepared to consider without commitment representations on whether privatesation would in principle be feasible, and what a practical timescale might be. The review will address the question of how best to manage the substantial nuclear waste and decommissioning liabilities which are currently the responsibility of the public sector, so as to secure value for money for the taxpayer while ensuring necessary safety and environmental standards are met.

  The review will also assess the existing arrangements to enable the full costs of nuclear power in the United Kingdom to be met, taking account of the Trade and Industry Committee's recommendations on the fossil fuel levy in its report, "British Energy Policy and the Market for Coal," HC 236.

  Submissions on these issues should be made in writing both to my Department and the Scottish Office, to be received by 30 September. All substantive submissions received by the Government will be made publicly available. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of this House and of the House of Lords. Commercially confidential information in submissions received by the Government, internal papers and advice and reports internal to Government, and advice from external advisers will not be made publicly available in this way.

  The review will be undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Scottish Office Industry Department, in consultation with other Government Departments as appropriate. The Government may appoint consultants to advise it on matters relevant to the review as the need arises.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is announcing today a separate review of radioactive waste management policy, to be conducted in parallel with the nuclear review.

  Wind Turbine, Orkney
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals have been put forward for the decommissioning of the 3MW wind turbine at Burgar hill, Orkney; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 18 May 1994]: No arrangements have been made for decommissioning as the future of the turbine is still being considered.

EDUCATION

  Disabled People
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provisions have been included in the national curriculum to enable pupils with disabilities to participate in team games on an equal basis with their able-bodied counterparts; what representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The current national curriculum for physical education, which includes games, was drafted so that specific interpretation or modification is required for
  545
  as few pupils with special educational needs as possible. The aim was to ensure that all children should have the opportunity to take part in national curriculum physical education.

  When reviewing the national curriculum, the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority appointed a special needs advisory group specifically to ensure that the requirements of pupils with special educational needs were taken fully into account. The revised proposals for physical education, published for consultation earlier this month, include elements of the programmes of study which can be taught to all pupils in ways appropriate to their abilities. Where necessary, pupils with special educational needs will be able to gain experience of team games through activities such as wheelchair basketball, rounders and table tennis.

  Educational Psychology Services
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what considerations underlay his decision to revise guidelines for staffing levels in special schools and not for educational psychology services;

  (2) what plans he has to introduce guidelines for the staffing levels for educational psychology services following the increase in their statutory role and functions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has not revised the guidance on staffing levels for pupils with special educational needs. This remains as set out in circular 11/90, "Staffing for Pupils with Special Educational Needs". There are no plans to revise it or to introduce guidelines for the staffing levels of educational psychology services. It is for each local education authority to determine such staffing levels based on local needs and priorities.

  Students' Meals
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what element of funding for the Further Education Funding Council is designed to cover the cost of students' meals.

  Mr. Boswell
  Further education funding is not separately earmarked for students' meals. Colleges have discretion if they wish to use part of their FEFC recurrent funding to support catering services for students.

  Teachers
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the figures for January 1994 for teacher numbers and vacancies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department's annual survey of teacher numbers and vacancies in maintained schools including grant-maintained schools shows that full-time equivalent teacher numbers in England rose by nearly 1,900 between January 1993 and January 1994. The vacancy rate of 0.4 per cent. equals last year's lowest-ever recorded rate. The numbers involved equate to one vacancy for every 16 schools, a four-fold improvement on the position in 1990.

  Provisional teacher numbers in LEA-maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools and self-governing
  546
  state schools rose by 0.5 per cent. from 389,100 full-time equivalent teachers in January 1993 to nearly 391,000. The estimated overall pupil to teacher ratio was 18.04:1.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  African Development Bank
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what shareholding he has in the African development bank; how Britain's influence is exercised in the policymaking of the bank; and what are the size of other countries' financial contributions to the bank.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As at 31 December 1993 Britain had a 1.478 per cent. shareholding in the African development bank. Our pledge to the sixth replenishment of the African development fund, which covered commitments for the period 1991–93, was 4 per cent. of the total.

  We exercise influence over bank policies through our director in the bank, shared with Germany, Holland and Portugal; through bilateral contacts; and in negotiations to replenish the resources of the bank group.

  Details of shareholdings of other members of the bank and of contributions to the fund are contained in the bank's annual report, copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attitude he has taken to the replenishment of the African development bank's funding.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have taken an active part in negotiations for the seventh replenishment of the African development fund, which lends on concessional terms to the poorest countries in the region. Progress was made in Nairobi, in the margins of the annual meeting of the African development bank, but a number of issues remain to be agreed relating to the way the bank's resources as a whole should be allocated. We hope the negotiations can be concluded soon.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Knox report on the operations of the African development bank.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We consider the report of the task force on project Quality headed by Mr. David Knox, a former vice-president of the World bank, to be a sound analysis of the operational and organisational weaknesses of the African development bank.

  We have urged management to prepare an action plan and to implement the recommendations in the report as a matter of urgency.

TRANSPORT

  A64
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received in relation to the viability of the A64 upgrading.

  Mr. Key
  The recent review of the national roads programme assessed all schemes against economic,
  547
  strategy and environmental criteria. Because of their lower priority compared with other schemes nationally, the A64 York to Malton and Malton to Seamer schemes have been categorised "longer term". They will be placed temporarily in abeyance until schemes with a higher priority have been delivered.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the air traffic control separation monitoring function at(a) Leeds-Bradford and (b) Humberside air traffic control centres can respond to aircraft final approach separation applied by controllers at the Leeds-Bradford and Humberside approach radar facility; what plans there are to re-programme the separation monitoring function; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The air traffic control separation monitoring function is a facility developed and operated by the national air traffic services for use at locations where they provide the air traffic services. It is used to detect and investigate any occurrence which involves loss of aircraft separation. As Leeds-Bradford and Humberside air traffic services are provided by the airports, the NATS SMF is not available at those locations. The hon. Member may therefore wish to contact Leeds-Bradford and Humberside airports direct about their arrangements for monitoring aircraft separations.

  Night Flying, Coventry
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place restrictions on night flying at Coventry airport;

  (2) if he will investigate night flying operations at Coventry airport.

  Mr. Norris
  No. Coventry airport is not designated under section 80 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 in respect of noise control, nor have we received any requests for the airport to be so designated. Currently, only Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports are so designated.

  Private Detection Agencies
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the names of the private detective agencies employed by his Department since April 1991.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  A40/M50 Road Scheme
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to date of preparation of plans for the A40/M50 road scheme from Longford to Gorsley, now abandoned, since the proposals were first introduced in 1989.

  Mr. Key
  The question is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. The chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, has written to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Chris Smith, dated 16 May 1994:
  You have asked the Secretary of State for Transport, for the
  548
  cost to date of preparation of plans for the A40/M50 road scheme from Longford to Gorsley, now withdrawn, since the proposals were first introduced in 1989. I have been asked to reply.
  The total cost has been approximately £51/2 million which includes consultants fees, detailed surveying and hydraulic modelling and VAT.

  Cenargo
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the European Commission with regard to the case of the ferry company Cenargo following the most recent meeting of the Maritime Council working group.

  Mr. Norris
  I understand that the Commission has decided to open infraction proceedings against Spain under article 169 of the treaty of Rome in this case.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 25 April, Official Report, column 42, if he will make it his policy to employ only those private detective agencies which are members of the Association of British Investigators.

  Mr. Key
  It is the Secretary of State's policy to financially approve and technically assess all suppliers and contractors employed by the Department. The membership of professional associations would be a factor for consideration in such evaluation, but non-membership would not rule them out.

  Transport Research Laboratory
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he received from the trade unions regarding the future structure of the Transport Research Laboratory; when he met them prior to his announcement on 30 March regarding privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory; and what consideration he has given to the proposals received.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend and I met the trade unions on 22 March having previously received representations from them about the plans for privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory. The representations included a proposal that the Laboratory should remain in the public sector, but with its non-Government work separately accounted for in a commercial subsidiary. We gave careful consideration to the proposal before concluding that it was not practicable or in the best interests of the laboratory's future.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the representations his Department has received on the subject of privatising the Transport Research Laboratory(a) in the three years before the announcement in May 1992 of his wish to privatise the Transport Research Laboratory and (b) since that date; and if he will give the number in categories (a) and (b) which (i) oppose privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory, (ii) express worries about privatisation and (iii) support privatisation.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend and I have, since the announcement in May 1993 that the Transport Research Laboratory could, in principle, be privatised, received 28 representations on this subject from organisations and individuals representing the motor transport industry,
  549
  academic institutions, staff and other groups. We have also received correspondence from 50 right hon. and hon. Members. No representations were received on this subject prior to the announcement in May 1993.

  The representations received do not lend themselves to the categorisation requested by the hon. Member. A variety of views were expressed for and against privatisation. The majority of representations came from those who have concerns about aspects of the proposed sale of the laboratory.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what written communication from his Department was sent to the departmental trade union side during the three months prior to the setting up of the Transport Research Laboratory Agency regarding the drafting of the framework document; what reference was made to decisions by Ministers regarding the privatisation of the laboratory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  My Department wrote to the trade unions about various aspects of the Transport Research Laboratory framework document, including consultation arrangements with the trade unions, equal opportunites, health and safety and procurement. The Department also reported on my right hon. Friend's consideration of the option of privatisation and the conclusion then reached that the laboratory should be retained as an agency subject to the future re-examination of all options.

  Consultants
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the expenditure on management and financial consultants by his Department in 1992–93.

  Mr. Norris
  The amount spent by the Department of Transport and its agencies in 1992–93 on management and financial consultants was £19.65 million.

  North Wales Coast Line
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure that undertakings made by him and his fellow Ministers, at the time of the passage of legislation to privatise British Rail, will be fulfilled with regard to maintaining the quality of services along the north Wales coast.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State issued objectives, instructions and guidance to the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising on 22 March. Delivery of those objectives should secure an overall improvement in the quality of railway passenger services on the north Wales coast, and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

  Channel Tunnel
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure the security of the channel tunnel and its users; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Secretary of State for Transport has, under the terms of the Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994, directed the concessionaires—Eurotunnel—and other channel tunnel users to take appropriate security measures to protect the tunnel system, the trains and associated facilities, people and property against acts of violence.
  550
  The Secretary of State has also authorised officials from the Department of Transport's transport security division to inspect the security arrangements in place to ensure that the required security standards are, and continue to be, met.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what authorisations for commercial operations have been given to Eurotunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  The United Kingdom/French Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission has, on the advice of the United Kingdom/French Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and the maitre d'oeuvre for the project, authorised Eurotunnel to bring the channel tunnel into operation for through freight trains and heavy goods vehicle shuttles. I am placing copies of Eurotunnel's application and the authorisation in the Library.

  Traffic Signs
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider relaxing his Department's policy that traffic signs should not normally be provided to direct vehicles to named commercial premises.

  Mr. Key
  I am seeking views from the local authority associations and other interested organisations on proposals that highway authorities should have greater flexibility to provide signs appropriate to local needs. Any relaxation of the existing policy would be accompanied by Department of Transport guidance on the management of signing to ensure safety, clarity and continuity of signing and to prevent sign clutter.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Inheritance Tax
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average age of purchaser-operators of working farms in the year preceding and each year since the passing of the Finance Act 1992 giving qualification to inheritance tax relief at 100 per cent. on agricultural land.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Forestry
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what day the Government will publish their preferred options on the future of forestry in England; what form the subsequent consultations will take and over what time scale; and which organisations will be invited to take part in the consultation process.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland plans to make an announcement during the summer about our conclusions from the forestry review, and to publish a document which will form the basis of consultation on our preferred options. The form and timing of the consultation will depend on the conclusions that Ministers reach.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of day visits made to the Thetford forest park last year.
  551
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In the year to 31 March 1994, an estimated 1.5 million people made day visits to Thetford forest park.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what account the Government will take, in selecting their preferred options for the future of forestry in England, of the submissions received by the forestry review group from commentators opposing privatisation.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The representations made to the forestry review group are being taken into account as we consider options following the review.

  Cereal Production
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is her most recent estimate of the yield factor per hectare for cereal production.

  Mr. Jack
  My Department's most recent estimate of the average yields per hectare for the 1993 United Kingdom cereals harvest is as follows:

  Tonnes per hectare (standardised to 14.5 per cent. moisture content

  Tonnes

  Wheat

  7.25

  Barley

  5.16

  Oats

  5.19

  Other cereals

  4.70

  Overgrazing
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response she has received to paragraph 3.57 of the Government's paper Cm. 2428, "Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan" concerning overgrazing; and if she will now consider introducing new measures to reduce the effect on moorland and upland habitats of over grazing of sheep.

  Mr. Jack
  We have not received any response to paragraph 3.57 as such. However, we have already introduced upland environmentally sensitive areas and environmental restrictions under the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme, both of which contribute in different ways to discouraging the overgrazing of moorland and upland habitats. We have also carried out consultations on proposals to introduce a moorland scheme and to attach environmental protection conditions to payments unde the sheep annual premium scheme.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Human Rights
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rights of citizens are specified in the treaties of the European Communities and the European Union; and what measures have been adopted to give effect to these rights.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The treaty of Rome, as amended by the treaty on European Union, confers a number of rights on citizens of the European Union. These, and the measures adopted to give them effect, include:552
  —the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the member states, subject to the limitations and conditions laid down in the Treaty (essentially governed by Articles 48, 52 and 59 of the Treaty of Rome and a number of Regulations and Directives, including Council Regulation 1612–68 and Council Directives 90/364 EEC, 90/365 EEC and 93/96 EEC);
  —the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament in the Member State in which the citizen resides (measures were adopted in Council Directive 93/109 EC. These were implemented in the United Kingdom by the European Parliamentary Elections (changes to the Franchise and Qualifications and Representatives) Regulations 1994);
  —the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections in the Member State in which the citizen resides (implementation of these rights is still under discussion);
  —the right to protection by the diplomatic and consular authorities and another Member State in foreign countries where the Member State of which the citizen is a national is not represented (subject to the Guidelines for the Protection of Unrepresented EC Nationals by EC Missions in Third Countries, which took effect on 1 July 1993);
  —the right to petition the European Parliament (as set out in Article 138d of the Treaty. This right has long been accepted by the Parliament and was reflected in the Parliament's rules of procedure long before the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union);
  —the right to apply to the European Ombudsman to investigate allegations of maladministration by the Community institutions (as set out in Article 138e of the Treaty and the Decision adopted by the European Parliament in September 1993 on the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman's duties, subsequently approved by the Council in its decision on February 1994).

  Azerbaijan and Armenia
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to use the United Kingdom's membership of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe to encourage the Minsk group to assume the leading role in seeking a resolution of the conflict which respects the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to support the CSCE's plans to convene a conference in Minsk to achieve a political settlement of the dispute. We keep in close contact with the Swedish chairman of the Minsk group and have offered a Russian-speaking British diplomat to assist his team.

  Council of Ministers (Documents)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in regard to the decision of the European Parliament on 26 April in respect of the release by the Council of Ministers of documents discussed at meetings of the Council.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have noted the recommendation by the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament that the Parliament should support the Dutch Government's legal challenge of the treaty base under which the code of conduct on access to information was adopted. We consider that the code was adopted under the correct treaty base, and fully support its objective of greater openness and transparency.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to raise the issue of Rwanda in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We supported the proposal for a special session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to discuss Rwanda. The session will take place on 24 and 25 May.

  United Nations (Military Equipment)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent proposals he has considered relating to improving the cost-effectiveness of the United Nations military procurement system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Current measures being pursued by the United Nations to improve the cost-effectiveness of United Nations procurement procedures include the development of appropriate standards and specifications for incorporation into contracts, and establishing standby contracts for the supply of common user items, material and services. An improved system for handling air transport contracts is also being introduced. These measures are based on the need to achieve a timely response while ensuring cost-effectiveness and compliance with United Nations financial regulations.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the quantity and quality of military equipment that has been stockpiled by the United Nations at its depot in Pisa, Italy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations maintains a depot at Pisa, which comprises serviceable items from completed missions. As part of its efforts to improve its ability to mount new peacekeeping missions the United Nations is planning to use the depot as a logistics base where "start-up kits" will be held and maintained at readiness for deployment. The current plans call for up to five such kits which might be deployed either singly or in combination.

  United Nations
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consideration his Department has given to policy relating to the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations; what discussions he has had with his United Nations counterparts on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The costs of United Nations peackeeping operations are shared among member states according to the United Nations peacekeeping scale of assessments. The United Kingdom pays 6.373 per cent. of costs on the scale. The United Nations peacekeeping scale of assessment is in need of reform, as the 1992 report by the high level expert group—Volcker/Ogata—made clear. Some limited changes were agreed at last year's general assembly. We are now working with other like-minded states to try and identify a more general solution to the problems of the scale.
  554
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the United Nations study on a proposed International Satellite Monitoring Agency contained in United Nations document A/AC. 206.14.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations study on a proposed international satellite monitoring agency was considered by the 38th general assembly in 1983. The proposal was not adopted.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consideration he has given to article 24 of the United Nations charter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The changed situation of the world following the ending of the cold war has enabled the Security Council to carry out its duties more effectively than before. The council has already made arrangements to make its annual report to the general assembly more timely and readable.

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

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 4 May 1994]: Estimated expenditure on studies carried out since 1987 for the Overseas Development Administration on the future status of the Crown agents for overseas Governments and administrations, and future ownership options for the Natural Resources Institute, is £208,000, net of VAT. Figures for any expenditure in earlier years are not available. The British aid programme has also paid for consultancy studies related to the privatisation programmers being pursued by overseas governments. An estimate of expenditure on these could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Octav Botnar
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further efforts his Department will make to secure the return to the United Kingdom of Octav Botnar.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  The offences for which Mr. Botnar is wanted in the United Kingdom are offences against tax legislation. Because of that, they are not extraditable from Switzerland, where Mr. Botnar now is. Switzerland is one of several countries which will not extradite for such "fiscal" offences. Mr. Botnar has on several occasions indicated that he will return to this country voluntarily and I hope that he will do so.

HEALTH

  Mental Health
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are her plans for major awards for health districts which are remodelling their mental health services; and if she will make a statement.
  555
  Mr. Bowis
  The Department, in conjunction with the mental health task force, is contributing £319,000 over three years to an initiative organised and administered by the Sainsbury centre for mental health. The centre will award grants of between £100,000 and £250,000 to between five and eight district health authorities to help them develop their mental health services. Initial awards will be announced this autumn. The selected projects will be evaluated and the results widely disseminated.

  Drugs
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the savings to the NHS budget if NHS doctors were under an obligation to prescribe, and pharmacists to dispense, the cheaper available forms of the compound they considered most clinically appropriate for their patients.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No such estimate has been made by the Department. General practitioners are encouraged to prescribe cost-effectively and to be discriminating about the use of more expensive preparations where there is no significant clinical benefit.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many youngsters aged under 18 years have attended hospitals in the north Yorkshire area for treatment for drug abuse over the last five years.

  Mr. Bowis
  Monitoring substance misuse by young people in the North Yorkshire area is a matter for the North Yorkshire district health authority, to which I refer my hon. Friend.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the progress of the negotiations with the medical profession on general practitioners' out-of-hours services.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am announcing today—after nine months of negotiation—agreement between the British Medical Association and the Government on changes to general practitioners' terms of service.

  The patients charter confirmed the 24-hour nature of the GP service and both the BMA and I confirmed that again today. Patients will continue to receive emergency treatment when and where they need it—including a home visit if necessary—at any hour of the day or night.

  What we have agreed is a sensible clarification and modernisation of the GPs' terms of service which:
  make clear that all patients will continue to be able to speak directly to a doctor out of hours and that they will still receive promptly the emergency care they need;
  make it possible for GPs and practices to work on a more co-operative basis, spending less time on call, but working more intensively when they are on call;
  clarify the GP's responsibility for deciding whether an individual needs to be seen immediately at home and, if not, when and where treatment can most appropriately be given;
  support the development of an additional new way for family doctors to provide out of hours emergency care—the primary care centre.

  A press release, including comments from Dr. Ian Bogle, chairman of the General Medical Services Committee of the BMA, will be issued and copies placed in the Library and the Vote Office.

  Harlow Wood Hospital
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters she has received concerning the proposed closure of Harlow Wood hospital, Nottinghamshire; what proportion of these letters were for and against closure; if she will place copies of the correspondence in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Changes in the provision of orthopaedic services and the proposed closure of Harlow Wood orthopaedic hospital were the subject of public consultation between 1 December 1993 and 2 March 1994. Letters about this consultation were for the district health authority to take into account when considering the way ahead. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Alan Tolhurst, chairman of North Nottinghamshire health authority, for details.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost of the employment of chairmen and directors of NHS trusts in 1993–94.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Audited accounts containing this information for 1993–94 will not be available until the end of 1994. The codes of conduct and accountability which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State issued on 28 April require national health service boards to establish remuneration and terms of service committees and to publish details of board members' remuneration in an annual report.

  Foetuses (Research)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has had from the Research Defence Society about research involving the human foetus.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. Research involving the use of foetuses and foetal material is covered by the code of practice drawn up by the Polkinghorne committee and published in 1989 in its report entitled "Review of the Guidance on the Research Use of Fetuses and Fetal Material". Copies are available in the Library.

  Social Workers
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social workers in the employment of the health service have been(a) assaulted and (b) murdered in the course, or in consequence, of their work in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington (Mr. Boyes) on 27 January at column 373.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many work-related(a) assaults and (b) murders of social workers occurred in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Children's Hospital Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 11 May,Official Report, column 160, how much time has been set aside for the validation, aggregation and analysis of the survey results; and if she will estimate a date for the publication of those results.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Analysis of the returns is under way. An announcement will be made when it is complete.

  Heart Bypass Surgery
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evidence her Department has concerning the number of people dying while waiting for heart bypass surgery;

  (2) how many people died while waiting for heart bypass surgery in each region in each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information is collected on removals from waiting lists but does not differentiate between the various reasons, which include death. Patients may die from a wide range of causes, in common with the rest of the population, while waiting for treatment. Emergencies are always treated immediately and patients who need urgent treatment are given priority.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average length of time a person waits for a heart bypass operation in each region;

  (2) how many patients, according to latest figures, have waited for heart bypass surgery for more than 12 months, in each region.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Such information as is available is given in "Hospital Episode Statistics, Volume 2". The latest year for which information has so far been published is 1990–91. Copies are available in the Library.

  NHS (Private Capital)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schemes using private sector capital in the NHS were refused approval by her Department and the Treasury(a) before April 1993 and (b) since April 1993.

  Mr. Sackville
  Since April 1993 two schemes using private sector capital in the national health service have been formally refused approval. These were:a proposal from North Tyne Health Alliance (Newcastle and North Tyneside Health Authorities and Newcastle and North Tyneside Family Health Services Authorities) to lease office accommodation.
  a proposal from South Western Regional Health Authority to provide residential accommodation at Glenside for students attending Avon and Gloucestershire College of Health.
  The Department issued guidance on "Use of private sector capital in the NHS" (EL(89)MB142) in 1989. Between then and April 1993 no schemes that were formally submitted were refused approval. Information is not available on schemes abandoned at a draft stage as a result of advice received from the Department in response to informal inquiries. Copies of the guidance will be placed in the Library.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by her Department to ensure that a strategic approach is secured across Government 558
  Departments on issues related to HIV and AIDS; and what plans she has to introduce a formal national strategy in respect of HIV and AIDS.

  Mr. Sackville
  "The Health of the Nation" White Paper sets out the strategic direction for HIV/AIDS and sexual health to be followed by all relevant Departments. This is supported by a Government strategy paper issued in 1993 which reiterated the continuing commitment to HIV/AIDS in the light of recent research into prevalance of HIV infection in this country.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been undertaken by her Department of the efficacy of needle exchange schemes in reducing levels of transmission of the HIV virus among intravenous drug users; and what plans she has to introduce such a scheme on a nationwide basis.

  Mr. Bowis
  Monitoring and evaluation of needle and syringe exchange schemes since 1987 has shown that they contribute towards the adoption of safer injecting behaviour among those who continue to inject drugs. It is too soon to judge their success in reducing the levels of transmission of HIV among intravenous drug users.

  Specific funding has been given to health authorities towards the costs of expanding the range of drug misuse services available, including the development of needle exchange schemes. This funding totals £25–238 million in 1994–95 of which £2.778 million is available for the expansion of needle exchange schemes within pharmacies.

  It is the responsibility of health and local authorities to assess the needs of drug misusers for services, including needle exchange schemes, and to contract for services to meet those needs.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of ambulance staff in England employed by the NHS in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993, using whole-time equivalents.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information available is shown in the table.

  Ambulance staff in national health service employing authorities and trusts

  Number

  1990

  18,130

  1991

  17,630

  1992

  17,840

  Figures fell between 1990 and 1991 due largely to a number of ambulance officers taking up separate senior manager terms and a fall in the demand for Patient Transport Services in the London Ambulance Service.

  Sources:

  For 1990: Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  For 1991 and 1992: Department of Health form KM 49.

  Notes:

  1. All figures are at 30 September and are rounded to the nearest 10.

  2. All figures include ambulance men and women, ambulance officers and control assistants.

  3. The figure shown for 1992 is a corrected one from previously published figures.

  4. Figures for 1993 are not yet available.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of control assistants, using whole-time equivalents, for each ambulance service in each year since 1990.
  559
  Mr. Sackville
  The information available is shown in the table. Separate figures for control assistants are not centrally available.

  Control Assistants and Ambulance Officers at 30 September (Whole time equivalents by region)

  1990

  1991

  1992

  England total

  2,780

  2,340

  2,420

  Northern Region

  180

  170

  180

  Yorkshire Region

  240

  220

  220

  Trent Region

  290

  280

  270

  East Anglian Region

  130

  130

  120

  North West Thames Region

  80

  40

  80

  North East Thames Region

  70

  70

  70

  South East Thames Region

  80

  120

  120

  South West Thames Region

  100

  100

  100

  Wessex Region

  140

  140

  140

  Oxford Region

  130

  130

  130

  South Western Region

  220

  220

  220

  West Midlands Region

  340

  260

  320

  Mersey Region

  120

  90

  90

  North Western Region

  240

  200

  170

  London Ambulance Service

  410

  170

  210

  Notes:

  1. Figures for individual ambulance services are not available centrally.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  3. The England total and North West Thames Region figures shown for 1992 are corrected ones from previously published figures.

  Source:

  For 1990: the Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  For 1991 and 1992: the Department of Health form KM49.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of ambulances in each service in England responded within(a) eight minutes and (b) 14 to 20 minutes to emergency calls in 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on ambulance service response times in 1993–94 will be published shortly.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations have submitted proposals on the reform of the NHS whether written or orally in presentations to her or her ministerial colleagues in the last year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Ministers routinely have meetings on various subjects with many organisations. Detailed records are not kept of all the subjects discussed.

  GPs (Deprivation Payments)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was(a) the total number of general practitioners and the whole-time equivalent and (b) the total number of, and amounts paid to, general practitioners receiving deprivation payments in each of the low, medium and high categories for 1993–94; and what are the comparable figures in each case for fundholding general practitioners.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In April 1993, the total number of general practitioners in England was 26,116 amounting to a whole-time equivalent of 25,231.

  Of the 26,116 GPs, the following numbers received deprivation payments:

  Low level

  10,392

  Medium level

  6,430

  High level

  4,611

  560
  Note: A GP may receive deprivation payments at more than one level.

  The amounts of deprivation payments made to general practitioners in England, in 1992–93, the last year for which figures are available, were:

  Low level

  £14,846,862

  Medium level

  £9,764,321

  High level

  £8,496,343

  Financial data on deprivation payments specifically made to fundholding general practitioners are not available.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Private Members' Bills
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) of 6 May,Official Report, column 651, what was the cost to his Department of the drafting of the amendments to the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 12 May,Official Report, column 213.

  State Ceremonial Occasions
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Lord President of the Council which Government Departments or Offices other than the Department of National Heritage fund state ceremonial occasions.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have been asked to reply.

  In addition to my own Department the following Government Departments meet some of the costs of state ceremonial occasions:

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Ministry of Defence

  Home Office

  Department of Transport

  Scottish Office

  Welsh Office

  HM Treasury

  The Parliamentary Works Directorate meets the costs of certain ceremonial events in the Palace of Westminster.

SCOTLAND

  Entertainment Venues
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to strengthening the arrangements for the licensing and supervision of entertainment venues, with particular reference to the elimination of drug dealing; what consideration he has given to introducing legislation on the licensing of stewards at such venues; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  District and islands councils have powers to license places of public entertainment under section 41 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The maximum penalty for holding an unlicensed public entertainment in circumstances where a licence under this provision is required was increased to £20,000 and/or six months' imprisonment by the Entertainments (Increased Penalties) Act 1990.
  561
  Authorities take account of the views of the police and local authority departments such as environmental services and building control on such applications and may attach a wide range of conditions designed to improve control at entertainment venues. Such conditions may include a requirement that stewards be employed.

  Entertainment venues may also be licensed under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 where a licensing board considers that premises are suitable for the sale of alcoholic liquor. Again the board may attach conditions to such a licence and may require the presence of door stewards.

  Stewards may search persons who attend such functions with the person's consent. If consent is withheld, the person can be refused admission. In cases where suspect substances are found the person can be refused entry and police assistance summoned. There are no plans at present to introduce legislation on the licensing of stewards employed at entertainment venues. General guidelines on stewarding are contained in the "Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Pop Concerts and Similar Events" published by the Health and Safety Commission, the Home Office and the Scottish Office in October 1993.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of changes to the community charge register in Scotland in the latest available year; and what was the estimate of the level of under registration for the community charge.

  Mr. Stewart
  This information is not held centrally.

  Junior Doctors
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of measures designed to reduce the hours worked by junior hospital doctors in each year since 1991–92.

  Mr. Stewart
  A total of £1.88 million was allocated to health boards for additional posts to help reduce juniors' hours in 1991–92, and £1.87 million was allocated to health boards and trusts in 1992–93 and £4.25 million in 1993–94, making a total of £8 million. In addition £1.2 million is available for allocation in 1994–95.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that funds made available to training providers in the course of the youth training and employment training schemes are used solely for training purposes.

  Mr. Lang
  The chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are answerable for the way in which the public funds provided to their respective bodies are spent. I have asked the chairman of Scottish Enterprise and of Highlands and Islands Enterprise to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many training providers have ceased commercial activities in each local enterprise company; and how much public money had been given to those companies in the two years prior to them ceasing commercial activities.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not held centrally. This is primarily an operational matter best taken up direct with the local enterprise companies.

  Education Department (Promotional Material)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much expenditure has been incurred by the Scottish Office Education Department for the production and distribution of all promotional materials, including leaflets and video tapes, for each year since 1979 both in actual and real terms; and if he will set out in table form a list of each item of promotional material issued by the Scottish Education Office Department since June 1987 together with the total cost for each item.

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost to the Department.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about progress on construction of trunk road schemes during 1993–94, and those schemes the Government propose to start in Scotland in the next three financial years.

  Mr. Lang
  Excellent progress is being maintained in the development of a safe, high-quality trunk road network providing benefits to the whole of Scotland. The schemes I am announcing today continue our policy towards the upgrading of those key routes on our core network of major economic importance to Scotland's future. I am particularly pleased that we have been able to keep up the momentum of our plans to dual the Al. The emphasis of major projects is directed towards achieving progress on:

  (1) the upgrading of the A74 to motorway;

  (2) the completion of the Central Scotland motorway/near motorway network; and

  (3) the upgrading of the A l.

  Projects are currently being prepared to permit in the medium term:

  (1) completion of the M77/A77 motorway and near motorway link between Glasgow and Ayrshire;

  (2) completion of the M80 Glasgow—Stirling motorway;

  (3) completion of the M8 Edinburgh—Glasgow motorway;

  (4) completion of the M6 Carlisle—Glasgow motorway;

  (5) completion of the A 1 Edinburgh—Dunbar to near motorway standard and dualling schemes between Dunbar and the Border.

  Feasibility and other studies are also being conducted on an M6–M8 fastlink and on complementary roads and transport provision around the firth of Forth.

  This is an ambitious programme requiring substantial levels of investment. The Government see an increasing role for private sector finance and management skills and a number of projects are now at construction, being developed, or explored in line with the private finance initiative.

  Significant progress has already been made. Seven major schemes, with a total value in excess of £100 million, were completed in 1993–94. The opening of the Brechin bypass in March this year completed the dualling of the strategically important A30 Edinburgh-PerthAberdeen route. The M8 St. James interchange, completed in August 1993, is the largest single "design and build" project to be built to date within the United Kingdom.

  The schemes completed in 1993–94 were as follows:

  Cost £ million

  A74(M) Nether Abington and Elvanfoot

  41

  M8 St. James Interchange

  17

  A9 Broomhill to Logie Easter

  7

  563

  Cost £ million

  A90 Brechin Bypass

  12

  A90 Tarbrax to Forfar

  13

  A92 Bankhead Interchange

  4

  A96 Bucksburn Diversion

  7

  In the course of 1993–94, 17 schemes with a cost of more than £3 million were either under way or started. These schemes represent an investment in excess of £370 million. The projects include eight schemes valued at more than £240 million to upgrade the A74 to motorway. About two thirds of the A74 upgrading will be open to traffic by spring 1995. Construction of the M8 NewbridgeEdinburgh city bypass scheme has also started. This will provide important relief to the network west of Edinburgh once the scheme is completed in 1995. Progress continues on the construction of the privately financed Skye bridge, scheduled to open in 1995.

  I am now able to announce those major schemes with an estimated cost of over £3 million each which are expected to start between April 1994 and March 1997, as follows:

  Route

  1994–95

  A74(M)

  Paddy's Rickle Bridge to Beattock (advance works)

  A1

  Tranent to Haddington

  M77

  Ayr road route

  A74(M)

  Ecclefechan to Eaglesfield phase II

  1995–96 and 1996–97

  A74(M)

  Paddy's Rickle Bridge to Beattock (main works)

  A74(M)

  Beattock to Cleuchbrae

  M8

  Baillieston to Newhouse phase I

  M77

  Fenwick to B764 (Floak)

  A68

  Dalkeith advance works

  A1

  Haddington to Dunbar

  A96

  Kintore Bypass

  A9

  Logie Easter to Garrick Bridge

  A830

  Loch Nan Uamh to Polnish Bridge

  A828

  Creagan Bridge

  These schemes have a total value of more than £300 million.

  Our plans are, of course, subject to schemes satisfying the usual value for money criteria together with satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the necessary preparatory work.

  In addition to the major starts, funding for route action plans, road safety and other schemes is being maintained throughout the trunk road network. This will enable work improvements to be taken forward on the A76 Kilmarnock-Dumfries route and the A9 Perth-Thurso route and further good progress on the route action plans for the Al between Edinburgh and Newcastle; the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness; the A90 between Perth and Dundee; and the A7 from Hawick southwards.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his oral answer to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) of 28 April,Official Report, column 372, by what means citizens of the United Kingdom benefit from educational and other activities in the Irish Republic; what are those other
  564
  activities; what sums were expended by his Department on United Kingdom citizens being educated in the Republic for the current and each of the last two years; what is his estimate of the sums of public money expended by the Republic on those students; and what were the sums expended on the other activities. referred to by (a) his Department and (b) the Irish Republic authorities.

  Sir John Wheeler
  United Kingdom citizens are free to choose to study in the Republic of Ireland or any other country of the European Community. In the current year 1,124 students from Northern Ireland are benefiting from higher education provision in the Republic of Ireland; the latest statistics available indicate that some 378 students from other parts of the United Kingdom attended full-time higher education courses there in 1991–92.

  A number of children with hearing impairments, from Northern Ireland, are receiving special education at a special school in the Republic of Ireland.

  Other educational activities include a range of collaborative ventures between the universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland which bring mutual benefits.

  Some patients are referred to hospitals in the Republic of Ireland specifically for treatments which are not available in Northern Ireland.

  The sums to be expended by the Northern Ireland Departments on Northern Ireland students and pupils educated in the Republic of Ireland are not yet available for the current financial year. However, the following figures are available for the last two years:

  Year

  £

  1992–93

  2,232,524

  1993–94

  3,486,347

  Figures for the sums expended on students from other parts of the United Kingdom are not the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Departments.

  Sums expended on the other educational activities are usually borne by the education institutions themselves but sometimes with the assistance of European funding. The Department of Health in Great Britain has responsibility for the financial aspects of referral of patients to hospitals in the Republic of Ireland.

  The sums expended by the Government of the Republic of Ireland on educational and other activities is a matter for the Irish authorities.

  University Students
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students from(a) Germany and (b) the Republic of Ireland are currently enrolled at each university in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  Available information relates to full-time undergraduate students and is as follows:

  1993–94

  Germany

  Queen's University, Belfast

  23

  University of Ulster

  113

  Republic of Ireland

  Queen's University, Belfast

  519

  University of Ulster

  1,556

  Mount Oriel Clinic, Belfast
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when planning permission was issued to the south and east Belfast unit of management of the Eastern area health board to develop a car park at Mount Oriel clinic, Saintfields road; if work commenced on site prior to planning permission being issued; if the planning application was supported by(a) Castlereagh borough council and (b) the roads service of the Department of the Environment; upon how many persons neighbour notices were served; how many objections were received; and if he will make a statement about traffic conditions on the roadway leading to this car park.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  Planning permission was granted on 29 March 1994 in relation to a retrospective application for development which had already commenced. Castlereagh borough council and the Department of the Environment's roads service raised no objections to the application. Eighteen neighbour notification notices were served. Subsequently 54 letters of objection were received from a total of 28 residences in the locality. As the road leading from the Saintfield road to the car park is not adopted into the public road network, it would not be appropriate for the Department to comment about the traffic conditions on it.

PRIME MINISTER

  European Union Anti-Discrimination Law
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the competence of the European Union in regard to the adoption of European law against discrimination whether on the basis of sex, race, age or disablement following the entry into force of the Maastricht treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  The entry into force of the treaty on European Union has not altered the European Community's competence to legislate in respect of the principles under article 119 of the treaty of Rome against discrimination on the basis of sex, or its lack of specific competence to legislate against discrimination on the basis of race, age or disablement.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 19 May.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 19 May.

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

  Civil Servants (Disability)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants are employed in his Department; and how many of them are registered disabled.

  The Prime Minister
  There are 107 civil servants employed in No. 10 Downing street, none of whom is 566
  registered disabled. For recruitment purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. There are 16 registered disabled civil servants employed in the Cabinet Office, out of a total of 1,386. The Cabinet Office is an equal opportunities employer.

  Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he received about the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill between 6 and 12 May; what replies he has sent or will be sending; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations, to which replies are being sent.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced the Government's plans for combating discrimination against disabled people during the debate on Report stage of the Bill on 6 May, Official Report, column 996, and gave further details in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton (Mrs. Browning) on 10 May, Official Report, column 136.

  My right hon. Friend is currently working on the detail of the consultation he announced on 6 May. The full proposals will be issued as soon as possible.

EMPLOYMENT

  Green Amanita
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the reasons for, and the costs and outcome of, the civil emergency exercise Green Amanita conducted recently.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Exercise Green Amanita was conducted to test the lead Department concept detailed in the Home Office guidance booklet "Dealing with Disaster".

  The costs of setting up, organising and carrying out the exercise totalled £35,728. This figure does not include the participants' travelling costs or the cost of their time while at the exercise.

  I understand that the exercise has resulted in a better understanding of how the lead Department concept works in practice and will make a significant contribution to the rewriting of the relevant section of the "Dealing with Disaster" booklet.

  Offshore Oil and Gas Industry
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to ensure that British workers compete on a level playing field for jobs in the offshore oil and gas industry.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Although both British and foreign workers have open access to jobs offshore, British workers succeed in securing over 90 per cent. of the jobs available.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what United Kingdom employee costs are not paid by offshore oil and gas companies if they employ foreign nationals.

  Mr. Hague
  I have been asked to reply.
  567
  For national insurance contribution purposes, employment of United Kingdom or foreign nationals in an area of the continental shelf outside United Kingdom territorial waters, which the United Kingdom has the right to explore and exploit, is treated as employment in Great Britain. In common with other employers who have a place of business in Great Britain, offshore oil and gas companies have to pay the employer's share of national insurance contributions in respect of United Kingdom and foreign employees, except in certain limited circumstances where the employer is liable to pay contributions to the Norwegian state insurance scheme instead. If the employer has no place of business in Great Britian, it is not liable to pay the employer's share of the contribution in respect of any employees, whether United Kingdom or foreign.

  Catering Industry
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the number of people employed in(a) the hotel industry and (b) the catering industry.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In December 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 285,000 employees in employment in the hotel industry and other tourist or short-stay accommodation industry—standard industrial classification 665 and 667—and 882,000 in the catering industry—standard industrial classification 661–664—in Great Britain.

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 4 May 1994]: Fees paid to date to legal and professional advisers necessary for the conduct of the privatisations, total £2,450,261.

  Hound Point Terminal
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Exexcutive over the investigation by the HSE into safety at the Hound Point terminal in the Linlithgow constituency.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 17 May 1994]: The Health and Safety Executive has kept me informed of the inspection arrangements at the new Hound Point marine 2 terminal. Particular concerns about the safety of the design and construction of the hydraulically operated, swivelling loading arms which are used to load crude oil into tankers and the possibility of spillage have been carefully considered. I gave the hon. Member details of this and HSE's continuing inspection plans in my response to his recent letter.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Terrorism
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the legislation dealing with terrorism.
  568
  Mr. Howard
  As my hon. Friend will be aware, Parliament recently renewed the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill contains new police stop and search powers, creates two new offences and improves the legislation relating to the investigation of terrorism.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives he has taken to maximise the use of new technology in crime prevention.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Recent initiatives by the Home Office in this area include a number of studies on CCTV as a crime control measure, and close co-operation with the vehicle manufacturers to promote the use of effective car immobiliser systems.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to establish a coherent national crime prevention strategy.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government have developed a comprehensive crime prevention strategy. The Police and Magistrates Courts Bill and the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill will strengthen the powers of the courts to deal with offenders and lay the foundations for a new partnership between the police, the Government and the public to fight crime. We have also set up the National Board for Crime Prevention to disseminate best practice and we are expanding our successful safer cities programme.

  Corporal Punishment
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the introduction of corporal punishment for crimes of violence.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. The reintroduction of corporal punishment would contravene the European convention on human rights.

  Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Bill has been widely welcomed inside and outside Parliament. It responds to a range of concerns which I know are deeply felt.

  Secure Training Centres
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in drawing up plans for the new secure training centres for persistent juvenile offenders.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Coe).

  Sentencing
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last had a meeting with the Attorney-General to discuss the policy of appealing against lenient sentences; and if he will make a statement.
  569
  Mr. Maclean
  I meet my right hon. and learned Friend frequently. We discuss a wide range of matters of common interest. We share the same view of the importance of the power contained in section 35 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

  Prison Statistics
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were in prison at the most recent count.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On Wednesday 18 May 1994, there were 48,447 prisoners in Prison Service accommodation and 146 prisoners in police cells, giving a total of 48,593 prisoners in custody.

  Obscene Publications Branch
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from right hon. and hon. Members concerning the future of the obscene publications branch of the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle under Lyme (Mrs. Golding) on 16 May at column 341.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he proposes to combat the spread of drug and alcohol abuse by teenagers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department will continue to work closely with other Government Departments to ensure that the law and the wide range of policies for tackling the misuse of drugs and alcohol, particularly by young people, are effective.

  HM Prison, Gartree
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to pay an official visit to HM Prison, Gartree.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  At the present time my right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to make an official visit to Gartree prison.

  Residence Arrangements
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to clarify the arrangements whereby persons of independent means are admitted to reside in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  We are planning to lay consolidated immigration rules before the House, which will create a new category of investor, designed to attract investment into the country without weakening immigration control. The category of persons of independent means will continue, but with a minimum age of 60.

  Asylum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirements the British Government have stipulated as conditions for their support for application to asylum policy of article K9 of the treaty on European Union.
  570
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Nothing has occurred to cause the Government to change their view that asylum policy issues are appropriately dealt with under title VI of the treaty on European Union.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers of the desirability and practicality of introducing either compulsory or voluntary identity cards.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In June 1993 the Association of Chief Police Officers sent us a copy of its report "National Identity Card Scheme" which favoured the introduction of a voluntary identity card scheme. My right hon. and learned Friend met Sir John Smith, president of ACPO, on 17 November 1993 to discuss the report.

  Custodial Sentences
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made as to the effect on crime levels of reducing the use of custodial sentences.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) on 3 March, columns 823–24.

  Operation Elgar
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who authorised Operation Elgar on Wednesday 27 April.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Operation Elgar was authorised by the director of enforcement in the Immigration Service, with the knowledge of my right hon. and learned Friend and myself.

  Immigration Detection Centres
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the lastest date for which figures are available by Her Majesty's detention centre and by Her Majesty's prison the number of persons held in respect of alleged immigration irregularities; and if he will show the port where each of the individuals was originally apprehended.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 4 May 1994]: The following is the information available as at 11 May 1994.

  Place of detention

  Illegal entrants and those subject to deportation action

  On entry port cases

  1 Port of arrival

  Belfast Prison

  1

  Belmarsh Prison

  1

  Birmingham Prison

  28

  7

  Heathrow 4

  Birmingham 2

  Portsmouth 1

  Blakenhurst Prison

  19

  Brinsford YOI

  5

  Bristol Prison

  4

  Brixton Prison

  8

  Camp Hill Prison

  1

  571

  Place of detention

  Illegal entrants and those subject to deportation action

  On entry port cases

  1 Port of arrival

  Campsfield House Immigration

  Detention Centre

  104

  94

  Heathrow 64

  Gatwick 17

  Manchester 3

  Harwich 3

  Newhaven 2

  Stansted 2

  Birmingham 1

  Dover 1

  Ramsgate 1

  Canterbury Prison

  7

  13

  Dover 9

  Ramsgate 3

  Folkestone 1

  Cardiff Prison

  3

  Chelmsford Prison

  1

  Stansted 1

  Cookham Wood Prison

  2

  Dorchester Prison

  2

  Dover YOI

  8

  16

  Dover 8

  Heathrow 4

  Ramsgate 2

  Gatwick 1

  Portsmouth 1

  Dover Harbour Police

  9

  Ramsgate 5

  Dover 3

  Folkestone 1

  Durham Prison

  2

  Edinburgh Prison

  1

  Elmley Prison

  3

  Ramsgate 2

  Dover 1

  Exeter Prison

  6

  Feltham YOI

  4

  1

  Heathrow 1

  Gatwick Airport

  2

  12

  Gatwick 11

  Heathrow 1

  Glenparva YOI

  2

  Gloucester Prison

  3

  Greenock Prison

  12

  1

  Glasgow 1

  Harmondsworth Immigration

  Detention Centre

  43

  55

  Heathrow 35

  Gatwick 14

  Dover 3

  Ramsgate 2

  Stansted 1

  Haslar Holding Centre

  56

  59

  Heathrow 42

  Gatwick 5

  Stansted 5

  Harwich 3

  Portsmouth 2

  Manchester 1

  Ramsgate 1

  Highdown Prison

  15

  3

  Heathrow 3

  Holloway Prison

  5

  3

  Gatwick 3

  Holme House Prison

  2

  Teesports 2

  Hull Prison

  3

  Hull 3

  Leeds Prison

  4

  Leicester Prison

  1

  Lewes Prison

  3

  Lincoln Prison

  1

  Liverpool Prison

  3

  Manchester Airport

  2

  Manchester Prison

  7

  Newhaven

  2

  Heathrow 1

  Gatwick 1

  Norwich Prison

  3

  2

  Felixstowe 2

  Pentonville Prison

  23

  Queens Building Heathrow

  19

  Heathrow 19

  Reading Remand Centre

  3

  Risley Prison

  1

  Leeds/Bradford Airport 1

  Shrewsbury Prison

  1

  Stansted Airport

  11

  Stansted 4

  Heathrow 7

  Stoke Heath Prison

  1

  Swansea Prison

  3

  1

  Swansea 1

  Wandsworth Prison

  6

  1

  Gatwick 1

  Wellingborough Prison

  1

  572

  Place of detention

  Illegal entrants and those subject to deportation action

  On entry port cases

  1 Port of arrival

  Winchester Prison

  3

  Wolds Remand Prison

  1

  Hull 1

  Wormwood Scrubs Prison

  3

  1

  Heathrow 1

  TOTAL

  411

  321

  1 Illegal entrants and those subject to deportation action are not normally apprehended at ports.

DEFENCE

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 850, whether the United Kingdom Polar Medal Assessment Committee deals with sensitive issues; on what date he first sought to establish whether the members of the committee would be content for their names to be published; from how many members of the committee he has heard; how many have not replied; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 18 May at columns 502–4.

  Dockyard Projects
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current cost of dockyard projects; when the estimated cost last increased; and when he made the decision to award this work to Devonport royal dockyard.

  Mr. Aitken
  My Department spends around £420 million per annum on ship refitting and works projects, most of which is undertaken at the royal dockyards. Individual projects are rigorously controlled and monitored.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced last year that we shall, subject to satisfactory contractual negotiations, proceed with the Devonport nuclear refitting facility proposals. The project is proceeding satisfactorily to time and cost.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will arrange a meeting with the mines advisory group to discuss the recent reports by the group and by Oxfam on the effects of land mines.

  Mr. Aitken
  I have no plans to arrange such a meeting but my Department welcomes initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness of this problem.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards exist to ensure that civil plutonium separated in THORP will not be diverted into a military programme.

  Mr. Aitken
  The measures which the Government apply to civil reprocessed plutonium to prevent its theft,
  573
  sabotage or diversion are set out in the statement of Government policy on reprocessing and the operation of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield, which was made public on 4 August 1993. A copy of the statement is available in the Library of the House.

  Recruitment
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the type of vetting his Department uses in respect of higher executive officers on the graduate recruitment scheme; and what account is taken of their party political and other high-profile activities prior to their employment in his Department.

  Mr. Aitken
  Higher executive officers on the graduate recruitment scheme are vetted to positive vetting (secret) level and will be subject to higher levels of vetting appropriate to the nature of work upon which they are employed. They are expected to perform their duties as civil servants with complete political impartiality, regardless of any previous political associations or activities.

  "Front Line First"
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of man-hours involved in the formulation and implementation of his "Front Line First" exercise in the case of(a) officials, (b) military personnel and (c) management consultations; and what is the respective cost to the Exchequer of the hours expended.

  Mr. Aitken
  No estimate has been made of the total number of man hours so far expended on the defence costs study or of its future implementations.

  Defence Sales
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when discussions began with the Government of South Africa about the possibility of agreeing a memorandum of understanding on defence sales; when he expects such a memorandum to be entered into; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  No such discussions have taken place.

  Arms Testing Centre, Pendine
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that the NATO small arms testing and proofing facility will remain in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Aitken
  This is a matter for collective decision by the NATO authorities.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that the NATO small arms testing and proofing facility will continue to be based at the Pendine regional test centre.

  Mr. Aitken
  The proof and experimental establishment at Pendine is, in common with all such test and evaluation facilities, subject to a review by the director general of test and evaluation. Options arising from this are still being considered, but I hope that an announcement can be made in the not too distant future. This will be followed by a period of consultation with interested parties.

  United Nations Operations
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what standard operating procedures are made available by United Nations staff to British military forces prior to their deployment on United Nations operations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Nations secretariat issues guidelines to troop contributing states for each United Nations operation. These cover the administrative and logistic procedures for the operation in question.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the United Nations military staff committee.

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Nations military staff committee played a useful role in the Gulf crisis as a forum for the exchange of information. We do not envisage its reactivation in current circumstances.

  Dr David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements currently exist to provide headquarters support for the deployment of British forces on United Nations operations.

  Mr. Hanley
  Depending on the scale and complexity of the British military contribution to a UN operation, appropriate support is provided either direct from the MOD headquarters or from a designated joint headquarters.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the establishment of a section within his Department to deal specifically with United Nations operations.

  Mr. Hanley
  MOD responsibility for the conduct of UN operations already lies with that part of the defence staff under the charge of the deputy chief of the defence staff (commitments).

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department's press office gives to the British United Nations information centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department's press office provides no assistance to the British United Nations information centre.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of British forces on United Nations duties to adjust to changing circumstances and demands in the course of an operation.

  Mr. Hanley
  British forces are highly adaptable and have a thorough professional grounding in military skills. Nevertheless, the Government monitor closely the changing circumstances of all UN operations to which British forces are committed to ensure that the British contingents' capabilities match the demands placed upon them.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what lessons he has learnt from the recent changes to the mission of United Nations forces in Sarajevo; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Following the Sarajevo ceasefire of February the role and responsibilities of UNPROFOR in
  575
  the Sarajevo area have expanded to include tasks such as monitoring and control of heavy weapons, the manning of observation posts and checkpoints and patrolling confrontation lines. UNPROFOR has also had to take on similar tasks in relation to the Bosnian-Croat ceasefire in central Bosnia. Experience in carrying out these tasks has confirmed lessons already learned during UNPROFOR's deployment in Bosnia, including the importance of having sufficient troops and suitable equipment for the job.

  Armed Forces (Operational Capability)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 May,Official Report, column 131, if he will make a statement on the senior levels of the chain of command that are involved in making central assessments of operational capability and to what extent those elements of the chain of command involved in making central assessments of operational capability include (a) civilians and (b) Ministers.

  Mr. Hanley
  Central assessments of operational capability in MOD are informed by reports rendered up the chain of command; including reports by senior officers who hold higher level and top level budgets—TLBs. Service TLB holders, including the front-line commanders in chief, sit on the predominantly military service executive committees whose own performance reports from the major contributions on operational capability, to the periodic central assessments reported to Ministers.

  Service Musicians
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent considerations he has given to altering the role of, service musicians as stretcher bearers during conflicts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  None. My Department has no plans to change the operational role of service musicians.
  576
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the current impact of service music and musicians on(a) operational capability, (b) service morale and (c) service recruitment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Service bands play an important part in service life and as such make an important contribution to morale and recruitment. Bands personnel also play an important operational role as medical orderlies and guards in times of conflict.

  Sanctions
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role British forces have played in the implementation of United Nations resolutions relating to economic sanctions against(a) Iraq and (b) Libya.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Armilla patrol has been operating to implement the United Nations arms and trade embargo against Iraq in the Gulf, and on occasions has also participated in the multinational interception force in the northern Red sea to relieve ships from other nations.

  British forces have played no active role in enforcing economic sanctions against Libya.

  Service Chaplains
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the current impact of service chaplains on(a) operational capability and (b) service morale; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  My Department fully recognises the significant contribution made by service chaplains to the operational effectiveness and morale of the armed forces through the spiritual and pastoral care they provide for service personnel and their dependants.

  JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS PROCEDURES: CONSULTATION PAPER
  JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS PROCEDURES: CONSULTATION PAPER
  FINES: INCOME
  FINES: INCOME
  CROSSRAIL BILL: PROCEDURE
  CROSSRAIL BILL: PROCEDURE
  THE NUCLEAR REVIEW
  THE NUCLEAR REVIEW
  MISSILES: PROCUREMENT OPTION
  MISSILES: PROCUREMENT OPTION
  US MISSILE TRACKING: DATA DISTRIBUTION
  US MISSILE TRACKING: DATA DISTRIBUTION
  MILSTAR SPACE SYSTEM
  MILSTAR SPACE SYSTEM
  MISSILE EARLY WARNING: SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
  MISSILE EARLY WARNING: SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
  ARMED FORCES: DISMISSAL COMPENSATION ENTITLEMENT
  ARMED FORCES: DISMISSAL COMPENSATION ENTITLEMENT
  GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS: DESIGN GUIDELINES
  GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS: DESIGN GUIDELINES
  BLETCHLEY PARK WARTIME HEADQUARTERS
  BLETCHLEY PARK WARTIME HEADQUARTERS
  IVORY: TRADE BAN
  IVORY: TRADE BAN
  WATER CHARGES
  WATER CHARGES
  RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW
  RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW
  SECURITIES FACILITIES AGENCY: TARGETS
  SECURITIES FACILITIES AGENCY: TARGETS