Written Answers of 2 November 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of public appointments made by his Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The percentage figure for such public appointments made by the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Northern Ireland court service was 27 per cent. as at 1 September 1993. This answer does not include judicial appointments.

  The figures for 1994 are still being collated and will be announced in due course.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average cost to his Department of answering(a) a written and (b) an oral parliamentary question.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Dorrell), gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) on 30 November 1993,Official Report, column 387.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No central records are kept of previous employment of persons appointed by the Lord Chancellor to non-departmental public bodies. It would therefore not be possible to give the detailed and comprehensive information sought by the question without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Clock Adjustment
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many man hours were taken up by adjusting the clocks throughout his Department.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is not available. The Lord Chancellor's Department has 497 buildings on its estate and therefore the information could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

  London Rail Connections
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for restoring the rail route facilities that permitted through services of trains from the former Great Western main line, at its junction with the Heathrow branch, with(a) King's Cross, (b) Liverpool Street and (c) Stratford, as part of his studies consequent on the report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution.

  Mr. Watts
  Any restoration of these rail routes is a commercial matter for Railtrack. The recommendations in the report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution will be considered carefully.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimates he has made of(a) the passenger demand for an international station at Stratford and (b) the number of jobs likely to be created by such a development;

  (2) what estimates he has made of the likely level of demand for travel between Ebbsfleet and Paris/Brussels, and of the approximate number of passengers expected to join each train calling at Ebbsfleet;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact of the construction of Ebbsfleet on nearby stations owned by Railtrack, and the effect of reduction in passengers using them on future levels of train services on the North Kent and Chatham lines;

  (4) what analysis was carried out of the costs arid benefits to passengers of constructing stations on the proposed high-speed rail link at (a) Stratford, (b) Rainham and (c) Ebbsfleet.

  Mr. Watts
  The assessment of each of the intermediate station options was based on studies undertaken by Union Railways and its consultants. Union Railways worked closely with the principal local authorities concerned and each of the promoter groups. The approach was to evaluate and compare outline designs, passenger demands, road traffic and highway impacts, associated developments, socio-economic impacts, environmental appraisals, cost/benefit analysis, contributions by third parties and safety considerations. Account was also taken of estimates of the impact of intermediate stations on nearby domestic stations and estimates of future levels of domestic services.

  Some of the information in the assessment is commercially confidential. However, much is provided in Union Railways' October 1993 report to the Government, which was placed in the Library on 24 January 1994, together with a supporting report by the consultants Pied a plc, entitled "Intermediate Station Options: Socio-Economic and Development Impacts".

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations were received from the right hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Dame A. Rumbold) concerning the location of an intermediate station on the proposed high-speed rail link between London and the channel tunnel.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No meetings were arranged by the Department of Transport between Ministers and the right hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Dame A. Rumbold).

  Scotch Whisky (Transportation)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received in connection with the proposed EC directive on the approximation of the laws of the member states with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road, and by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 1994, as they may affect the transportation of Scotch whisky; what discussions he has held with his European counterparts on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department has had representations from the Scotch Whisky Association about the effect of the draft directive and the regulations on the carriage of whisky in casks over 250 litres capacity within Great Britain. My hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) has also made representations on behalf of the association. The Transport Council agreed a common position on the draft directive in June, and will discuss it again only if the European Parliament proposes further amendments. My officials have explained to the association how they propose, within the derogations permitted by the directive, to exempt the carriage of whisky within Britain in traditional-sized casks from the unintended requirements for design-type testing of the casks, so that existing practice can continue.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what strategic planning considerations he took into account when determining that there should be an international station at Ebbsfleet, together with associated urban development.

  Mr. Watts
  Strategic planning objectives for the south-east Region are set out in the Government's regional planning guidance published in March 1994—draft March 1993. The location of intermediate stations on the new channel tunnel rail link at Stratford, Rainham or Ebbsfleet would be consistent with the policy of encouraging future development in the east Thames corridor or Thames gateway. The scope for development, in terms of land availability close to the projected an additional station site, is greatest at Ebbsfleet. Ebbsfleet has been selected, but the opportunity for an additional station at Stratford remains open. The potential contribution which stations and associated developments at these locations could make to the future development of Thames gateway is set out in the more detailed guidance contained in the consultation draft of the Thames gateway planning framework published by the Department of the Environment on 7 September.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the company to be granted the concession to operate passenger trains on the channel tunnel rail link will also be given a concession to operate international passenger trains on the existing lines through the channel prior to the channel tunnel rail link coming into use.

  Mr. J. Watts
  The channel tunnel rail link promoter will be granted the ownership of European Passenger Services Ltd. which will be the operator of international passenger trains through the channel tunnel on the existing lines, as well as on the channel tunnel rail link when it comes into use.

  Statistics
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current annual capital spending on(a) overground and underground railways and (b) national roads; what is (i) the number of passenger and vehicle occupant journeys and (ii) the distance travelled on (a) overground and underground railways and (b) national roads; and how much was spent on (a) overground and underground railways and (b) national roads (A) per passenger and vehicle occupant and (B) per mile travelled.

  Mr. Watts
  Information on journeys and passenger mileage is not available separately for national roads. The other information requested is given in the table.

  Capital expenditure on and use of national roads and railways 1993–94

  National roads

  Overground railways1

  Underground railways2

  Capital expenditure, £ million

  2,316

  824

  627

  Passenger journeys, millions

  na

  713

  735

  Passenger miles, billions

  na

  18·9

  3·6

  Expenditure (£) per journey

  na

  1·2

  0·9

  Expenditure (£) per 1,000 passenger miles

  na

  44

  174

  1British Rail

  2London Underground

  na not available

  For comparability, only infrastructure expenditure (including renewals) is included—expenditure on rolling stock is excluded.

  European Passenger Services Ltd.
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current capitalisation of European Passenger Services Ltd.

  Mr. Watts
  At 31 March 1994, the date of the latest audited accounts, the company had a capital value in terms of fixed assets of £928 million.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the valuation of assets transferred from the British Railways Board to European Passenger Services Ltd.; and what is the value of the liabilities attributable to British Rail's former European passenger services operating divisions that remain on the British Railways Board's balance sheet.

  Mr. Watts
  The net value of assets transferred from the BR Board to European Passenger Services were valued at approximately £818 million. The board retains certain contingent liabilities in respect of guarantees and indemnities which it had entered into when EPS was its subsidiary.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what communications he has had with the safety commission of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission concerning use of the new
  1123
  Austrian tunnelling method in the channel tunnel's cross-over chambers.

  Mr. Watts
  The Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission supervises all matters concerning the construction and operation of the tunnel on behalf of the United Kingdom and French Governments. It is advised by the independent channel tunnel safety authority. The safety authority carried out very careful checks of the tunnelling and support systems used in the channel tunnel, including the new Austrian tunnelling method, before advising the intergovernmental commission that it had no objection to their use.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what detailed arrangements have been made covering the Secretary of State's freehold interest Ai the channel tunnel, in the event of the formal liquidation, or insolvency of the concessionaires; and what equivalent arrangements have been made in respect of assets within the public domain in the Republic of France.

  Mr. John Watts
  In Britain the Government hold the freehold of the land on which the fixed link has been built. This land is leased to the concessionaires under the terms of the concession agreement. In the event of formal liquidation of the concessionaires the concession agreement states that the terms of those leases shall end. Similar arrangements in France are also covered by the concession agreement.

  M25
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the proposed widening of the M25.

  Mr. John Watts
  This an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms. Tessa Jowell, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what representations he has received about the proposed widening of the M25.
  A total of some 14,000 representations have been received in respect of the proposed widening of the M25 between junctions 5–7, 12–15, 15–16, 16–19 and 23–26 for which draft proposals have been published.

  Marine Safety Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ship inspectors are employed by the Marine Safety Agency; and what are his projections for the number employed in the financial years 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  Mr. Norris
  The Marine Safety Agency currently employs 125 staff based in the marine offices, which deal mainly with the survey and certification of United Kingdom ships and the inspection of United Kingdom and foreign ships. Under current plans to meet the Department's efficiency gains proposals it is expected that by April 1996 there will be 117 such staff based in the marine offices.

  Stockport Bypass
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the side orders on the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass.
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  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Thomas Arnold, dated 2 November 1994:
  Mr Watts, the Minister for Roads and Railways, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State regarding the A6(M) Stockport North-South bypass, as this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.
  We expect to publish fresh Orders early in 1995 with a view to holding a public inquiry in the Autumn.

  Railways
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the areas of rail transport policy about which Ministers in his Department answered parliamentary questions prior to the passage of the Railways Act 1993 but which are now regarded as either(a) matters of commercial confidentiality or (b) other matters about which answers will no longer be given.

  Mr. Watts
  There has been no change, since the passing of the Railways Act 1993, in the way in which matters of commercial confidentiality are defined. Ministers will not answer questions on issues now properly, the statutory responsibility of the regulator.

  London Underground Ltd.
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much capital spending London Underground Ltd. made in each of the past six years, excluding the fire-risk reduction cost following the King's Cross fire.

  Mr. Norris
  London Underground Ltd.'s capital investment expenditure on the core network, excluding fire safety works, over the last six years, was as follows:

  £million outturn prices

  1993–94

  445

  1992–93

  590

  1991–92

  265

  1990–91

  310

  1989–90

  245

  1988–89

  200

  Highways Agency
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the final date for consultation on the proposed restructuring of the Highways Agency; and when he expects to announce the results.

  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Faber, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Minister for Roads and Railways has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary Question about the proposed restructuring of the Highways Agency.
  Consultations with staff and trade unions on the restructuring are continuing and I expect to announce the Agency's future organisation later this month.

  Plutonium Transport Review
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 20 October,Official Report, column 325, when he received the executive summary of the plutonium transport review; how the review report has been distributed; and if he will place copies of both the review and its executive summary in the Library.

  Mr. Norris
  The plutonium nitrate transport assessment done in 1984 was reviewed by the Atomic Energy Authority in 1993 in the light of updated criteria. The exercise was an internal one within the AEA for a specific purpose and a copy of the summary of the review was received by my Department, on request, on 19 October 1994. I am awaiting a copy of the full review. Copies of the summary and the review will be placed in the Library.

  PowerGen Building, Shirley
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what conclusion is reached by the Property Holdings report on the PowerGen building in Shirley, west midlands, on whether the agency should take up the lease; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library;

  (2) when the Highways Agency leased the PowerGen building in Shirley, west midlands; and if he will make a statement on the cost.

  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Minister for Roads and Railways has asked me to respond to your two Parliamentary Questions about the Powergen building in Shirley.
  I am exploring a number of property options in relation to the Agency's restructuring proposals. No new leases have yet been signed. Reports on properties received from Property Holdings have to be treated as commercially confidential.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the costs(a) incurred by the Exchequer to date in respect of the proposed Birmingham northern relief road, (b) of his Department's involvement in the public inquiry into the road, (c) for the use of Mans Hal management centre for the public inquiry into the proposed road; and if he will recover this sum from the concessionaire, Midland Expressway Ltd.

  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Joan Walley, dated 2 November 1994:
  You asked the Secretary of State for details of expenditure on the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road. As this is an
  1126
  operational matter for the Highways Agency I have been asked to reply.
  In response to those detailed points I would answer, using your paragraph letter, as follows:

  (a) The Exchequer has so far spent around £6·7 million on the proposed BNRR.

  (b) The setting up of the public inquiry currently in progress has cost the Department about £250,000 and there are running costs (including fees, hire charges etc.) of around £20,000 per week.

  (c) It is no longer intended to take the inquiry to Hams Hall. Alternative arrangements have been made.

  You also asked about the recovery of costs from Midland Expressway Limited. The detail of the cost sharing between MEL and the Department is commercially confidential.

  Transatlantic Air Services
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his response to the third report of the Transport Committee on the future of air services between the United Kingdom and the United States of America, HC 47; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will estimate the cost of an(a) single-line and (b) double-line tunnel to extend the route of the docklands light railway under the Thames from Beckton to the north Kent railway at Thamesmead as part of his studies consequent on the report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution;

  (2) if he will obtain an estimate of the approximate additional percentage of paid passenger miles which would need to be travelled in order to reduce the general level of fares by (a) 10 per cent. (b) 20 per cent. and (c) 30 per cent., as part of his studies consequent on the report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution;

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 17 October, Official Report, column 97, if he will request Railtrack and the potential operators of the route from north Woolwich to Woolwich Arsenal to estimate the marginal cost of movement alone of three-car multiple-unit trains, subsequent to its re-electrification from Willesden junction to North Pole junction, as part of his studies consequent on the report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution;

  (4) if he will estimate the marginal cost of movement by rail within the approximate area of Greater London per passenger mile, or other convenient unit, at weekends and public holidays, assuming no charge for standing charges, infrastructure costs, or any cost other than that of the direct movement costs of trains currently time-tabled on (a) the rail services of London Underground Ltd. and (b) the inner-London services operated over routes for which Railtrack is responsible, as part of his studies consequent on the report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport, for Health and for the Environment welcomed the Royal Commission's comprehensive report and will be studying carefully the recommendations, including their potential benefits and costs. I have no plans at present to ask for the specific information referred to by the hon. Gentleman.

EMPLOYMENT

  Objective 3 Funding
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount received in European Union objective 3 funding for 1993 and 1994 for(a) each county in Wales, (b) each training area in Wales, (c) Wales, (d) England, (e) Scotland and (f) the United Kingdom, indicating the percentage change in each case; if he will conduct a review of the methods used by his Department in allocating such moneys; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The amounts in the following tables have been claimed for 1993:

  Objective 3 and 4 in 1993

  Country

  ESF £ millions

  Wales

  41.08

  Scotland

  89.13

  England

  257.99

  Total

  388.20

  Objective 3 and 4 Spend in 1993 by Welsh Counties

  County

  ESF £ millions

  Clwyd

  3·63

  Dyfed

  5·45

  Gwent

  5·84

  Gwynned

  5·06

  Mid Glamorgan

  8·50

  Powys

  0·78

  South Glamorgan

  6·31

  West Glamorgan

  5·51

  Total

  41·08

  European social fund grants for objective 3 are managed at Great Britain level through sector managers, with Northern Ireland managing ESF separately. Information is not collected below county level.

  An amount of £344 million for objective 3 is available in 1994. The process of approving applications has not yet been completed and it is not yet possible to give figures for the overall levels of assistance which will go to projects in Wales or Scotland as a whole in 1994.

  The monitoring committee for objective 3 will be considering proposals for allocating money to the non-Government sectors for 1995 and beyond later this month.

  Job Interview Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the credibility and effectiveness of the job interview guarantee scheme; and what plans he has to review it.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  1128
  Letter from M.E.G Fogden to Mr. Peter Hardy, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the credibility and effectiveness of the Job Interview Guarantee (JIG) Scheme.
  The Scheme was first piloted in 20 inner city offices from September 1989. The pilots were reviewed during 1990 and found to be effective in helping long term unemployed and other disadvantaged clients into jobs. As a result JIG became a national programme from April 1991.
  Since the original pilots, a survey was carried out in 1991–1992 by an independent organisation on behalf of the Employment Services (ES) of both JIG participants and employers who had used JIG. The findings showed that 92 per cent. of employers were positive about the service they had received from the jobcentre, 89 per cent. were satisfied with the people they had recruited and that some 40 per cent. had taken on a long term unemployed person for the first time.
  For clients who had been found a job through the scheme, evidence showed that JIG had considerably increased their chance of being successful at interview and 60 per cent. were still in work.
  So far this year, 46 per cent. of the people helped through JIG were placed into jobs.
  A major evaluation of ES programmes and services which lead to jobs, including JIG, is currently in progress.
  December marks the fifth anniversary of JIG. I am taking the opportunity to remind the people who deliver JIG in my local offices about the key features of what is one of our most effective programmes. The anniversary has been supported by re-designed publicity material and updated guidance for people in Jobcentres to help long term unemployed people and others at a disadvantage in the labour market to get back into work. Copies entitled "Job Interview Guarantee, Extra Help in filling your vacancies" and "Job Interview Guarantee, Extra Help to get you a job", have been placed in the Library. I hope this is helpful.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to(a) pilot test contracting out of the work of the Insolvency Service and (b) evaluate the pilot scheme prior to deciding whether to accept the recommendations of the Stoy Hayward report.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have asked my officials to begin work on devising a specification which could be the subject of an invitation to tender to private sector contractors. They will be advised in this work by consultants. Only when that work is nearer completion would it be possible to decide whether there should be a pilot scheme and on the detail of evaluation criteria.

  Any decision to contract out work of official receivers or to invite private sector contractors to bid for such work would be subject to the passage of the Deregulation arid Contracting Out Bill currently before Parliament and the procedures applicable to contracting out which are set out in it including the requirement to consult with official receivers as statutory office holders.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the companies currently running bus services in Worthing; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and fairness of competition in this area with particular reference to Stagecoach and Cedar Buses.
  1129
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Adur Valley Swift Line, Sussex Bus, Sussex Coastline Buses Ltd., and S H Martin trading as Access Cars have services registered to operate in Worthing. Under the competition legislation it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to keep under review the effectiveness of competition and take action if appropriate.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the companies currently running bus services in Hastings; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and fairness of competition in this area; and if he will make a statement on the findings of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Bexhill Buses, Eastbourne Buses, Maidstone and District Motor Services Ltd., Rambler Coaches, and South Coast Buses Ltd. have services registered to operate in Hastings. Under the competition legislation it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to keep under review the effectiveness of competition and take action if appropriate. The acquisition by Stagecoach (Holdings) Ltd.—owners of South Coast Buses—of Formia Ltd. was referred in 1990 to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, which found that acquisition could be expected to lead to removal of competition, reductions in choice, service quality and frequency and higher fares. Stagecoach has since given undertakings on lines recommended by the MMC to remedy these adverse effects.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many times Stagecoach South has been investigated by the Office of Fair Trading and by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; if he will give details of the results of the investigations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: The Director General of Fair Trading has conducted one Competition Act investigation involving what is now known as Stagecoach South—"An investigation under Section 3 of the Competition Act 1980 by the DGFT: Southdown Motor Service Ltd.—the registration and operation of services 242 and 262 in Bognor Regis". The Monopolies and Mergers Commission has also reported on this matter—"Southdown Motor Services Ltd.—a report on the conduct of Southdown Motor Services Ltd. in respect of its operations of local bus services on route 262 and 242 in Bognor Regis". The MMC has also reported on two mergers: Stagecoach/Portsmouth Citybus and Stagecoach/Formia Ltd.

  Full details of the findings are given in the reports. Copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will conduct an investigation into alleged predatory pricing practices of Stagecoach, with particular reference to similar routes at different prices.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: It is for the Director General of Fair Trading to consider allegations of anti-competitive practices including predatory pricing.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the Office of Fair Trading in halting anti-competitive practices by bus companies; and if he will make a statement.
  1130
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: There is scope for increasing the effectiveness of UK competition law in general and the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill will do so. But my assessment is that action taken by the competition authorities to limit anti-competitive behaviour under existing law has been broadly effective.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the companies currently running bus services in Bognor; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of competition in this area; if he is satisfied that competition is working effectively; and if he will make a statement on the findings of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: B. Hand and Sussex Coastline Buses Ltd. have services registered to operate in Bognor Regis. Under the competition legislation it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to keep under review the effectiveness of competition and take action if appropriate. The conduct of Southdown Motor Services Ltd.—now Sussex Coastline Buses Ltd.—in operating certain routes in Bognor Regis was referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in 1992. The MMC found that the anti-competitive conduct of Southdown on one route was the main cause of the withdrawal of a competitor. Sussex Coastline Buses has since given undertakings relating to the operation of this and adjoining routes.

  Cuba
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 26 October,Official Report, column 647, regarding the visit to Cuba of the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Technology, if he will place in the Library a copy of the bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  On 14 September 1994 I initialled the English text of a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement with Cuba. The agreement is not yet signed. We are only awaiting a precisely matched Spanish text from the Cubans before proceeding to full signature and publication.

  After signature of the text, the agreement will be presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the normal way.

  Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the former Minister for Corporate Affairs was party to the ministerial decision in respect of action on the report by DTI inspectors on alleged insider dealing by Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare.

  Mr. Heseltine
  As Minister for Corporate Affairs, my hon. Friend was fully aware of all the issues involved. Reponsibility for the decision in this case was mine.

  Hydrocarbons
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects British standard 4434 and the relevant European standards to be finalised for hydrocarbon refrigerants; and if he will make a statement on progress so far.
  1131
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  A meeting of a BSI committee to discuss an amendment to BS4434 to permit the use of hydrocarbons in refrigeration systems was held on 13 October. A proposed amendment to EN60335–2–24, which is the safety standard for domestic electrical refrigerators, to permit the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants will be debated in CENELEC, the European electrical standards body, in December.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he considers refrigeration systems that avoid the use of hydrocarbons to be best practice and therefore eligible for inclusion in his Department's best practice programme or demos programme.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  DEMOS—DTI's environmental management options scheme—is no longer open to applications for grant assistance.

  The joint DTI/DOE environmental technology best practice programme, ETBPP, aims to promote better environmental performance and to increase the competitiveness of United Kingdom industry and commerce. Emphasis will be on waste minimisation and reducing pollution at source in the manufacturing process. In the selection of projects for inclusion in the programme, preference is given to those lying within the areas to which the programme is currently giving special attention. These areas are currently foundries, metal finishing/surface engineering and releases of volatile organic compounds. However, any project encompassing the use of cleaner technology can be considered for inclusion in the programme if it has sufficient merit and satisfies the announced selection criteria, including those relating to potential for stimulating national cost savings.

  Those wishing to propose technologies and techniques to the programme should in the first instance contact the environmental helpline on 0800 585794.

  Regional Challenge
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made on regional challenge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Further to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade's announcement of 21 July,Official Report, column 538, I shall be launching a round of consultation with a range of bodies in each of the eligible areas. A copy of the draft guidelines for regional challenge has been placed in the Library of the House. It is my intention that this special competition should encourage greater partnership between the public, private and voluntary sectors and take full advantage of the talents and expertise of the local community in addressing the problems of the eligible areas. I look forward to receiving a wide range of views as a part of this consultation process.

  As a result of currency movements and adjustments to the financial tables of the single programming documents during their negotiatin with the European Commission, the £160 million announce by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 21 July now represents 12 per cent. of the money available from the European regional development fund in each eligible area, plus 10 per cent. of that sum from the European social fund.

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations his Department has received 1132
  from individual members of the public concerning the 16th round of offshore oil and gas licensing.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have received more than 2,300 postcards and more than 500 letters from members of the public making representations about future offshore licensing rounds. The 16th round was mentioned specifically in only a few of these cases.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to visit China; and if he will make a statement about the effect of the issue of Hong Kong on Sino-British commercial relations and prospects.

  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is hoping to visit China next year to promote our trade and commercial relations. We have no firm evidence that political differences with China over Hong Kong are having an effect on British commercial interests. Our exports to China rose by 72 per cent. in 1993, and by a further 21 per cent. in the first nine months of 1994; and the level of intended direct investment by British firms in China rose from £1 billion to £3 billion in 1993, which will make Britain one of the largest overseas investors there.

  Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies with deficiencies of £500,000 or more were not investigated after receipt of an initial report highlighting misconduct under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 due to lack of resources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many initial unfit conduct reports, pursuant to the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 have been received from(a) insolvency practitioners and (b) official receivers during each of the last three years; what was the source of each report; how many initial reports were rejected; and if he will give the reasons for rejection.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The number of unfit conduct returns/reports pursuant to the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 received and rejected during each of the three calendar years and the current year (to 31 October 1994) are as follows:

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11994

  Insolvency practitioners

  Received

  3,479

  4,144

  4,093

  2,726

  Rejected

  2—

  2,888

  3,322

  1,864

  Official receivers

  Unfitted returns received

  2,057

  2,317

  3,318

  2,308

  Unfitted reports

  208

  169

  78

  150

  Rejected reports

  26

  29

  19

  12

  1To date.

  2Not known.

  The main reasons for rejection were where the unfitted conduct alleged was not considered to be sufficiently serious or evidentially strong enough to justify disqualification proceedings in the public interest. Other reasons include cases where there was clear mitigation or

  1133
  where the case was linked to other proceedings which could result in disqualification or where the whereabouts of the directors were not known.

  Contracting Out
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce primary legislation to facilitate the contracting out of parts of the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The coming into force of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill, when enacted, will enable parliamentary approval to be sought for an order which will permit official receivers to contract out their functions.

  I have no plans to introduce any further primary legislation in this regard.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effects of the proposals of Stoy Hayward on contracting out part of the functions and duties of the official receiver on the official receiver's statutory duty to investigate the affairs of bankrupts and companies in compulsory liquidation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Stoy Hayward Consulting reported that the contracting out of official receivers' case administration work would enable official receivers to concentrate more on their investigative role. I am satisfied that this would be so.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions in the past year the spouse of a Minister in his Department has travelled abroad at public expense to accompany a Minister on public duties, and what has been the total cost to public funds; and on how many occasions such travel has been undertaken at own cost.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 26 October 1994]: In the past year, spouses of Ministers have travelled abroad at public expense six times. The total cost to public funds was £22,998.67. On three occasions in the past year spouses have travelled abroad at their own expense.

  Spouses accompanied Ministers on the six occasions in order to take an active part in the official programme. Spouses' activities included attending official functions, as well as, for example, visits to education and welfare establishments.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Allowance
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the numbers of children who would receive the (a) higher rate and (b) the lower rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance if the age limit of five years was (i) removed altogether, (ii) reduced to age two and (iii) reduced to age three; and what is the estimate of the costs in each category;

  (2) how many awards of the care component of the disability living allowance are currently payable in respect
  1134
  of children aged under five years at (a) the higher rate, (b) the middle rate and (c) the lower rate, by main disabling condition;

  (3) how many claims for disability living allowance care component have been made in respect of children aged under five years since 1992; and how many were refused, giving figures for each reason for refusal.

  Mr. Hague
  The tables set out the best available estimates of the caseload and expenditure implications of changes to the lower age limit for claiming the mobility component of disability living allowance; and information on current awards of the care component of disability living allowance to children aged under five years. No information is available on the number of claims made in respect of the care component of disability living allowance, the number refused or the reasons for refusal.

  Changes to age limit for DLA mobility component: estimated numbers of gainers 1994–95

  Mobility component

  Total abolition of age limit

  Age limit reduced to age 2

  Age limit reduced to age 3

  Higher rate

  9,000

  8,000

  6,000

  Lower rate

  10,000

  8,000

  6,000

  Total

  19,000

  16,000

  12,000

  Note: These estimates are highly uncertain and subject to significant margins of error, therefore should be treated with extreme caution.

  Changes to age limit for DLA mobility component: estimated additional costs 1994–95 (1994 prices)

  Mobility component

  Total abolition of age limit £ million

  Age limit reduced to age 2 £ million

  Age limit reduced to age 3 £ million

  Higher rate

  16

  13

  9

  Lower rate

  6

  5

  4

  Total

  22

  18

  13

  Notes: These estimates are highly uncertain and subject to significant margins of error, therefore should be treated with extreme caution.

  DLA care component: number of awards to children under five by main disabling condition (thousands)

  Rate of care component

  Higher

  Middle

  Lower

  Total

  Muscle/bone/joint disease

  1

  2

  —

  3

  Blindness

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Stroke related

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Learning difficulties

  2

  4

  1

  7

  Epilepsy

  1

  1

  —

  1

  Deafness

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Chest disease

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Heart disease

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Asthma

  2

  2

  2

  6

  Neurological Diseases

  2

  1

  —

  3

  Skin Diseases

  —

  1

  —

  2

  Other causes

  3

  3

  —

  6

  All causes

  14

  16

  4

  34

  Notes:

  As at 31 August 1994.

  Source:

  DSS analytical Services Division—based on a 5 per cent. sample. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand, so component parts may not sum to totals.

  Job Seeker's Allowance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give his best estimate of the number of claimants who will be worse off at any one time as a result of the introduction of the job seeker's allowance and the reduction in the contributory benefit from 12 months to six months

  Mr. Roger Evans
  It is estimated that at any one time 250,000 unemployed claimants would no longer be entitled to an adult dependency increase, or would receive the lower personal allowance for claimants under 25, or would receive no or less benefit after six months. However, claimants in those groups may benefit from other measures outlined in the White Paper. A further group of claimants could either gain or lose a small amount depending on whether the personal rate of unemployment benefit would have been higher or lower than the personal allowance of income support in 1996–97 for claimants aged 25 or over. Since the uprating factors will depend on the increase in the Rossi and RPI indices in the year to September 1995, it is not possible to provide firm estimates of the effects at this stage.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates rounded to nearest 10,000 cases.

  2. Estimates assume:

  a) 2·55 million unemployed claimants;

  b) 600,000 Unemployment benefit claimants.

  3. Losers are estimated using the Policy simulation Model with 1990/91/92 Family Expenditure Survey data and 1994 Unemployment Benefit Statistics.

  Income Support
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the definition of the term, "habitually resident", as stated in the new income support regulations.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The term "habitually resident" is not defined in the regulations. When deciding whether a claimant is habitually resident, among the factors that the adjudication authorities may take into account are the length and continuity of his residence in another country; his employment record; his reasons and intentions for coming to the United Kingdom and factors which show where his centre of interest is situated. The concept of habitual residence is well established in United Kingdom and European Union law.

  Children in Hospital
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what conditions must be met by families who face serious financial difficulties as a result of visiting their sick child in hospital to qualify for any financial assistance towards these costs from the social fund.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Community care grants from the Social Fund can assist people in receipt of income support to meet the cost of visiting a hospital patient. Social fund officers have to take account of all the circumstances of each application to the fund, but the Secretary of State's guidance provides that help with costs to visit a child in hospital should normally be given high priority. Those payments are designed to ensure that help is focused on those with the lowest income who are least able to meet the cost.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit penalties for non-co-operation with the Child Support Agency have now been imposed by Benefits Agency branch office.

  Mr. Burt
  From April 1993 to the end of August 1994, 4,850 cases have been considered for the implementation of a reduced benefit direction. Details of the number of cases in which benefit was reduced is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers are possessed by Child Support Agency officials to elicit financial information from those being pursued for payment; whether the agency is empowered to obtain copies of bank statements and other confidential financial information without permission; arid if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The Child Support Information, Evidence and Disclosure Regulations place parties to an assessment, and other specified persons, under a duty to furnish information or evidence required by the Secretary of State for one or more of the purposes listed in the regulations. That duty does not extend to banks or other financial institutions and a child support officer cannot therefore request information from them.

  The Secretary of State may, however, appoint inspectors for the purpose of acquiring information under the Child Support Act 1991. Those inspectors are not bound by the Information, Evidence and Disclosure Regulations and may ask banks or other financial institutions for information.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of public appointments made by his Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Hague
  This information is contained in "Public Bodies 1993", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment, and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Hague
  None to those bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1993".

  National Insurance
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the effect on Treasury revenue in 1995–96, and in a full year, of(a) raising the national insurance ceiling to the same level as the higher-rate tax band and (b) abolishing the ceiling for national insurance contributions.
  1137
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is in the table:

  1995–96 Additional Yield (£ million)

  Employees

  Self-employed

  Total

  (a) In Year

  1,000

  50

  1,050

  Full Year

  1,150

  100

  1,250

  (b) In Year

  3,000

  200

  3,200

  Full Year

  3,350

  500

  3,850

  Note:

  (1) The reply assumes that the upper earnings limit would remain in place at current levels for the purpose of calculating contracted-out rebates.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate for 1994–95 or give the most recently available estimate of the number of(a) employees who pay national insurance contributions, (b) employees with earned income above the national contributions ceiling, (c) employees with earnings less than the income tax threshold who pay national insurance insurance contributions, (d) self-employed who pay class 4 national insurance contributions, (e) self-employed who pay class 2 national insurance contributions, (f) self-employed who pay class 3 national insurance contributions, (g) all self-employed paying national insurance contributions and (h) self-employed with profits above the upper profits limit for national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is in the table:

  (a) 18·1 million

  (b) 3·2 million

  (c) 0·5 million

  (d) 1·6 million

  (e) 2·4 million

  (f) Reliable estimates are not available.

  (g) In addition to those at (e) a number of self-employed earners pay Class 3 National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to make-up their contribution record or Class 1 NICs from concurrent employment as an employment earner. Reliable estimates of the numbers involved are not available.

  (h) 0.35 million

  Note:

  Figures in the table (a-e) have been rounded to nearest 0.1 million.

  Benefits
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants were deprived of benefit as a sanction for breaking benefit rules(a) in the latest year for which figures are available and (b) in each of the preceding three years; and what in each case this total represented as a percentage of the total number receiving benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

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

  Letter from M.E.G. Fogden to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of claimants deprived of benefit and the percentage this represents of the total number receiving benefit. I have assumed that the claimants to which you refer are those in receipt of benefits being paid to unemployed people.
  Unfortunately the statistics you asked for are not available in the form you have requested. Information on the number of adjudication
  1138
  officers' decisions and disallowance rates (in respect of unemployment benefit (UB) and opinions (in respect of Income Support (IS) is contained in a published document entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions". This provides information on all the main entitlement questions arising on claims, including those which might be regarded as sanctions. Copies of this document are held in the Library of the House. The latest available information relates to the quarter ending June.
  I am also unable to provide information on the total number of claimants receiving UB or IS during any particular period. The number of people receiving benefit during a period is constantly changing, and a simple count would include those who received benefit for only one day as well as those who received it for the whole period. It is possible therefore that a person would be included in such a count more than once. For these reasons statistics relating to the number of people who are claiming benefit at a given time are more meaningful. These are, as you know, regularly compiled and placed in the Library on a monthly basis.

WALES

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the management and administrative costs of running each of the training and enterprise councils in Wales in 1993.

  Mr. Richards
  The figures requested are given in the following table.

  TEC administration costs for Wales 1993–94

  TEC

  £'000

  Gwent

  1,796

  Mid Glamorgan

  2,665

  North East Wales

  1,340

  North West Wales

  911

  Powys

  539

  South Glamorgan

  1,467

  West Wales

  2,552

  Total

  11,270

  Source:

  Published accounts.

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many drug addicts were notified in Wales in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is given in table A3 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics of Drug Addicts notified to the Home Office, United Kingdom 1993"—area tables.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total amounts of money spent over the last five years by his Department on the prevention of drug abuse.

  Mr. Richards
  The following table gives the information requested as far as it is available. The figures shown are totals for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse: it is not possible to disaggregate the amount spent on prevention of drug abuse.

  Year

  A £

  B £

  1989–90

  1—

  —

  1990–91

  1—

  —

  1139

  Year

  A £

  B £

  1991–92

  246,712

  —

  1992–93

  298,129

  43,275

  1993–94

  354,193

  19,500

  1Not available.

  In addition to the sums in column A, the Department has made available the additional moneys shown in column B for specific prevention projects such as European drug prevention week and the Wales sixth form conference.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many drug addicts were newly notified in Wales in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is given in table A 1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics of Drug Addicts notified to the Home Office, United Kingdom 1993"—area tables.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action his Department has taken to promote and mark European drug prevention week this year.

  Mr. Richards
  The Department undertook a range of actions to promote and mark European drug prevention week this year.

  A comprehensive programme of events in Wales for European drug prevention week has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Planning Inquiry, Oystermouth
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now publish his decision on the planning inquiry into the proposals at Oystermouth, Swansea.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Secretary of State has not yet issued his decision on the planning application of the development of the Oystermouth bus station site, Mumbles, Swansea. The decision is expected to issue very shortly.

  National Curriculum
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to announce his decisions on recommendations for the revised national curriculum submitted to him by the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales.

  Mr. Richards
  My right hon. Friend and I are grateful for the extensive work that the authority has undertaken on the shape of its proposals. The result is a slimmer curriculum which meets Welsh needs, offers teachers more time to use at their discretion and gives schools an excellent platform from which to continue the work of raising educational standards. Accordingly, my right hon. Friend has accepted the authority's recommendations for the new subject orders. Proof copies will be issued in November and will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Health Authorities
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has concluded his consideration of the future configuration of health authorities in Wales; and when a decision is likely to be released to the service.

  Mr. Redwood
  The extensive consultation exercise conducted by my Department revealed a broad consensus 1140
  on the advantages of amalgamating district health authorities and family health services authorities. Opinion was much more divided on the geographical areas which merged authorities should cover.

  In the light of the consultation responses, I believe that the health service in Wales will best be served by a reduction of DHAs and FHSAs from 17 to five. Subject to legislation, this will involve the merger of DHAs and FHSAs and the geographical amalgamation of certain areas also. My preferred option—based on option C in the consultation document—will involve the creation by 1 April 1996 of:

  a North Wales Health Authority (Gwynedd and Clwyd);

  a Mid and West Wales Health Authority (Powys and Dyfed);

  an enlarged Gwent Health Authority (including Caerphilly Unitary Authority area);

  an enlarged West Glamorgan Health Authority (including Bridgend Unitary Authority area); and

  a Mid and South Glamorgan Health Authority (comprising all of South Glamorgan and the remaining parts of the present Mid Glamorgan)

  Recognising the strides already made by Pembrokeshire and East Dyfed health authorities to establish a West Wales Commission, those DHAs could be amalgamated formally in advance of the main reorganisation. I therefore propose to issue very shortly draft regulations for their amalgamation to form a single Dyfed health authority as from 1 April 1995.

  My aim is:

  to reduce expenditure on management and administrative costs in favour of spending on direct patient care;

  to ensure that Health Authorities are in a position to perform all their roles and functions effectively; and

  to ensure that Health Authority boundaries are compatible with those of the new Unitary Authority boundaries.

  The reorganisation should result in significant savings, which I believe should exceed £3 million per year in the longer term, allowing more patients to be treated sooner. As it is envisaged that fewer staff will be required than at present, I expect health authorities to use natural wastage to run down their numbers. There will be full consideration and consultation.

  I believe that the new health authorities should aim to pursue greater patient choice. Their task is to improve standards of care and treatment and provide effective stewardship of public resources.

  I am writing today to the chairmen of the existing health authorities and family health service authorities informing them of the outcome of my deliberations. Having decided upon the future health authority structure in Wales, I hope to shortly announce my decision on the structure of community health councils in Wales.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to extend the official status of the Welsh language in European Union proceedings.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 20 October 1994]: Under article 217 of the treaty, the Council has to agree unanimously to approve a new official language. It has recently agreed that Finnish, Swedish, and Norwegian will

  1141
  be added as official languages subject to their entry. The Council has no plans to add any other languages.

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many public appointments(a) he is responsible for making and (b) require his approval, including those not listed in "Public Bodies"; and if he will give this figure in terms of (i) appointments to executive bodies, (ii) appointments to advisory bodies and (iii) other appointments.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 27 October 1994]: The details of the public appointments I make are given in "Appointments by the Secretary of State of Wales, 1 September 1994", copies are in the Library of the House. The figures are as follows:

  Number

  Appointments to Executive Bodies

  235

  Advisory Bodies

  170

  Other Appointments

  1403

  1 Of which 320 are to NHS bodies

  I am also consulted on a number of appointments made by Ministers in charge of other Government Departments, but this information is not held centrally by the Welsh Office.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Foreign Legislatures
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what are the salaries, expenses and associated benefits paid to the elected members of the legislatures of(a) each EU member state, (b) the United States of America, (c) Canada and (d) Japan.

  Mr. Newton
  This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Parliamentary Salaries (Europe)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, what are the basic salaries paid to elected Members of Parliament in each of the European Union countries.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Privy Council Office
  Ms. Maddock
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what percentage of public appointments made by his Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures were available.

  Mr. Newton
  The percentage in 1993 was 36 per cent.

  Norman Shaw Buildings
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee (1) what compensation has been received by the House from the company responsible for the non-availability of lifts in the Norman Shaw North building;
  1142
  (2) if he will list the companies, the cost and the length of the contracts to undertake structural alterations at the riverside entrance to the Norman Shaw buildings;

  (3) what has been the total cost to date of the work in Norman Shaw North and South on (a) the structure and (b) the lifts.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  These are matters for the Director of Works and I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member.

  Clock Adjustment
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how many man hours were taken up by adjusting the clocks throughout the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  This is a matter for the Director of Works.

  Administration Committee
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee when it is proposed to introduce improved large envelopes for hon. Members' mail.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  Approval for the inclusion of large pre-paid plastic envelopes for bulk mail in the range of stationery available to Members has been given by the Administration Committee. These envelopes are now available from the Serjeant at Arms Stores.

  Palace of Westminster
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what proportion of the floor area of the Palace of Westminster is occupied by(a) the House of Commons and (b) the House of Lords.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  Of the usable floor space in the Palace of Westminster 58·3 per cent. is the responsibility of the House of Commons and 38·7 per cent. the responsibility of the House of Lords. Three per cent. of the Palace is under the joint control of the Speaker, the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Great Chamberlain.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of public appointments made by his Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jack
  The percentage of women appointments made by the Minister to those bodies listed in "Public Bodies" is 18 per cent. Figures for 1994 are still being collated and will be announced in due course.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment, and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.
  1143
  Mr. Jack
  I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Gentleman of 6 July 1993,Official Report, column 110.

  Animal Transportation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms animals have been shipped by ferry from(a) France, (b) Holland and (c) Belgium into the United Kingdom, in each of the past three months; and if he will make a statement.

  July

  August

  September

  1994

  France

  Holland

  Belgium

  France

  Holland

  Belgium

  France

  Holland

  Belgium

  Cattle

  493

  1,190

  —

  401

  1,019

  —

  132

  265

  7

  Pigs

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sheep

  1

  7

  115

  25

  —

  20

  3

  3

  —

  Poultry

  56,330

  6,720

  25

  70,250

  24,999

  —

  63,064

  8,552

  31

  Note:

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  Pigs
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to assist pig producers in the United Kingdom between now and 1 January 1999 when new unilateral rule changes on sow stall and tether regulations take effect.

  Mrs. Browning
  This Department has contributed to the work of the pig welfare advisory group and financed the publication of a series of nine booklets on alternative systems of pig husbandry. These have been used at associated workshops run by ADAS. The Government also fund a programme of research into alternative systems.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the additional financial cost to United Kingdom pig producers of the unilateral rule changes on sow stall and tether regulations to be introduced on 1 January 1999; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Browning
  The total cost to producers in Great Britain of complying with the phasing out of tethers and close confinement systems for sows has been estimated at £9 million. Further details are given in the compliance cost assessment, prepared for the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. The total cost to producers in Northern Ireland is estimated at £0·5 million.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to make the proposed United Kingdom changes in rules on sow stall and tether regulations applicable throughout the European Union.

  Mrs. Browning
  EC Directive 91/630 requires the European Commission to report, by 1 October 1997, on the welfare of pigs in different types of intensive system and to submit appropriate proposals to the Council. The United Kingdom will be pressing for this review to be undertaken at the earliest opportunity and for our own high standards to be adopted throughout the European Union.

  Oyster Farms
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many of the oyster farming
  1144
  Mrs. Browning
  The information requested is not available. However, when consignments of animals are despatched from other member states notifications are sent via the Animo computer messaging system from the veterinary authorities of the countries of despatch. These notifications indicate that the following numbers of farm animals have been sent by all routes to Great Britain from the member states in question in the period July to September 1994:

  sites in England and Wales monitored for faecal coliforms achieved (a) classification A, (b) classification B or (c) classification C; how many were prohibited; what percentage of the total number of sites each represents; how many oyster farming sites in Holland and France are also monitored for faecal coliforms; what classification each site achieved; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many oyster farming sites in England and Wales are monitored for faecal coliforms under the shellfish hygiene regulations.

  Mr. Jack
  In England and Wales a total of 41 oyster production areas are monitored for faecal coliforrns— E.Coli—under the Food Safety—Live Bivalve Molluscs and Other Shellfish—Regulations 1992. In these areas there are 63 groupings of beds, of which 12–49 per cent.—fall into class A, 39–62 per cent.—into class B, nine–14 per cent.—into class C, and three–5 per cent.—are prohibited.

  All production areas in Holland and France are required by directive 91/492/EEC to be monitored. Information on the number of oyster farms classified in other EU member states is not generally available to us.

  Whitland and Longridge Creameries
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he was informed that Dairy Crest intended to close its Whitland and Longridge creameries.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: The closures were a matter for the commercial judgement of Dairy Crest.

  It is not my practice to reveal details concerning the receipt of commercially sensitive information.

  Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether the members of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee are required to declare their commercial and non-commercial interests;

  (2) if he will publish the commercial and non-commercial interests of the members of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee.
  1145
  Mr. Hinchcliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 446, for what reason members of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee are not required to provide details of consultancies held; and how this practice differs from that applied to other advisory committees for which he is responsible.

  Mrs. Browning
  Further to my written answer on 18 October about the commercial and non-commercial interests of members of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, the following information is now available from member, Dr. W. A. Watson:

  Commercial interests

  Name of company

  Nature of interest

  Sheep farmer

  Food and Agriculture organisation of the United Nations

  Occasional consultancy work

  Biotechnology and biological sciences research council

  Occasional consultancy work

ENVIRONMENT

  Toxic Waste
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of toxic waste was imported into Britain from abroad for disposal or reprocessing in 1991, 1992 and 1993; and what is the projected level for 1994.

  Mr. Atkins
  Imports of hazardous waste into Great Britain, notified under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988, were as set out in the table. In order that comparison may be made with previous years, the totals are expressed by financial year–1 April to 31 March.

  Year

  Tonnes

  1990–91

  44,542

  1991–92

  46,714

  1992–93

  45,942

  Figures for imports notified in 1993–94 have not yet been published.

  For further information, I refer the hon. Member to table 7.6 and paragraphs 7.9 to 7.12 of the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics No. 16, 1994 (HMSO)", copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the draft list of hazardous wastes set out in the European Commission's proposal for a Council decision establishing a list of hazardous waste, pursuant to article 1(4) of Council directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, Com (94)156 final, dated 21 September 1994.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to my Department's explanatory memorandum on this document, which was deposited in the House Libraries on 27 October.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce additional planning controls to protect the green belt in the centre of England in the areas affected by the expansion of the national exhibition centre, the expansion of the airport runway, the widening of the M42 and the development of housing under the unitary development plan; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Stringent controls already exist to protect green belts from inappropriate development. Such development is only allowed in very special circumstances, while green belt boundaries can be altered only in exceptional circumstances. The revised version of planning policy guidance note 2 will maintain our commitment to green belts when it is published.

  In the recently published draft regional planning guidance for the west midlands we confirm that there is no case for fundamental review of the green belts, which have served their purpose well and which will continue to do so.

  Pollution
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he was first given a copy of the draft text of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution's 18th report, "Transport and the Environment", Cm 2674.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend was sent a copy of the report the day before publication. My Department's officials received early drafts of parts of the report for factual comment earlier in the year.

  Stockton Shopping Centre
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the proposed redevelopment of Stockton's shopping centre by the city challenge team is expected to commence.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This is a matter for the Stockton city challenge partnership.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Such information is not available centrally.

  Development Corporations
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was(a) the total amount of urban block expenditure by his Department, (b) the total amount and percentage allocated to all urban development corporations and (c) the total amount and percentage allocated to the London Docklands development corporation for each year from 1987–88 to 1993–94.
  1147
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is detailed in the table:

  £ million

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Urban expenditure

  514·4

  597·6

  815·0

  964·5

  979·4

  984·4

  936·3

  UDCs and Docklands light Railway

  160·2

  254·7

  476·8

  607·5

  601·4

  515·0

  371·2

  UDCs as a percentage of Urban expenditure

  31

  43

  59

  63

  61

  52

  40

  LDDC

  82·8

  116·4

  255·8

  333·0

  248·7

  156·5

  105·4

  LDDC as a percentage of Urban experience

  16

  19

  31

  35

  25

  16

  11

  Figures exclude UDC borrowing and receipts.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many successful prosecutions have been undertaken by local waste authorities over the past three years.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  Statistics relating to prosecutions undertaken by waste regulation authorities cannot be identified centrally.

  The table shows the number of non-police prosecutions and convictions under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989

  Number of non-police prosecutions for certain sections under
  the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and the
  Control of Pollution Act 1974,1991–1993 England and Wales

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Act/Section

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section:

  33(8)

  —

  —

  13

  8

  45

  36

  33(9)

  3

  3

  1

  —

  1l

  10

  34

  —

  —

  14

  9

  57

  43

  38(10)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  38(11)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  44

  —

  —

  6

  4

  —

  —

  57

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  59

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  2

  69(a) (b)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  69(c)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  70

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  71

  1

  1

  5

  2

  2

  1

  Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 Section:

  1

  4

  3

  —

  —

  23

  18

  5(4) (a)

  —

  —

  2

  1

  36

  35

  5(4) (b)

  1

  1

  —

  —

  13

  11

  6(9)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  7(3) (a)

  —

  —

  1

  1

  4

  4

  7(3) (b)

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  Control of Pollution Act 1974 Section:

  3

  7

  4

  4

  2

  50

  30

  16

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  1

  93

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Source:

  Home Office—Court Proceedings data.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of public appointments made by his Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.
  1148
  and the Control of Pollution Act 1974 for certain waste-related offences in England and Wales in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  It should, however, be noted that the statistics of court proceedings are based on returns made by the police to the Home Office and although these include offences where there has been no police involvement, such as those prosecutions instigated by Government Departments, local authorities—in this case probably waste regulation authorities—and private organisations and individuals, the reporting of these types of offence is known to be incomplete.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Information on public appointments to non-departmental public bodies and nationalised industries for which the Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible is contained in"Public Bodies 1993", published by HMSO, a copy of which is

  1149
  available in the House of Commons Library. This gives the percentage of all such appointments, for which this Department is responsible, held by women, as 22 per cent., at 1 September 1993. Similar information for 1994, to be published in "Public Bodies 1994", is currently being collected.

  The information in "Public Bodies" includes the Commons Commissioners and valuation tribunals, for which the Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible but to which appointments are made by the Lord Chancellor and local authorities, respectively.

  CFCs and Hydrofluorocarbons
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will support proposals circulated by the Dutch Government at the September meeting of the international negotiating committee—INC 10—to restrict the use of HFCs to applications where there are no viable alternatives to those HFCs with low global warming potential and to where leaks can be avoided.

  Mr. Atkins
  The document circulated at INC 10 was a report on the likely global warming effects of various HFC emissions control scenarios and, as such, was not a proposal by the Dutch Government. United Kingdom policy on HFCs is set out in sections 6.37 to 6.39 of the United Kingdom climate change programme, a copy of which is in the House Library.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress green Ministers have made in eliminating CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs from the Government estate.

  Mr. Atkins
  Green Ministers have encouraged the elimination of ozone-depleting substances and Departments have prepared action plans showing how they will reduce use and emissions of these substances,

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given to waste regulation authorities to ensure that they uphold the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 relating to the deliberate release of CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs; and what action he will take if this guidance is not acted upon.

  Mr. Atkins
  Guidance on the application of waste law to ozone-depleting substances is contained in paragraphs 4.95 to 4.103 of DOE circular November 94. I fully expect waste regulation authorities to act upon this guidance.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has produced to help refrigeration engineers and technicians to assist in his policy of phasing out CFCs and HCFCs and limiting the use of HFCs.

  Mr. Atkins
  Guidance for the refrigeration industry is contained in the DTI publication,"Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. CFC Phaseout: Advice on Alternatives and Guidelines for Users." A second edition should be published by the end of November.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has held on the strategies for phasing out CFCs and HCFCs in refrigeration and limiting the use of HFCs with(a) ICI, (b) Calor Gas, (c) Sainsburys, (d) Tesco and (e) Iceland.

  Mr. Atkins
  My officials hold regular meetings with the refrigeration industry at which retailers and producers 1150
  are represented. Discussions have also taken place with Calor Gas concerning hydrocarbon refrigerants. In addition, representatives of the refrigeration industry met my predecessor last year, and I shall be meeting them later this month.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to deposit in the Library all the submissions received on his Department's nuclear waste policy review.

  Mr. Atkins
  A list of submissions will be placed in the Library in due course.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring is undertaken of sites where low-level nuclear waste is deposited.

  Mr. Atkins
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution regularly samples leachate or other local waters at sites authorised to receive low-level radioactive waste for controlled burial.

  Details and results of the programme are given in HMIP's annual monitoring reports, copies of which are lodged in the Library.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the suitability, in terms of lining, soil conditions and proximity of water sources of Beddingham landfill site near Lewes for possible disposal of low-level nuclear waste.

  Mr. Atkins
  The suitability of the Beddingham landfill site to receive low-level radioactive waste, small quantities of which are sent only from Sussex university, was carefully assessed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution before an authorisation for disposal was granted.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what precautions are taken to ensure that low-level nuclear waste is not dispersed or misused.

  Mr. Atkins
  The accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste are regulated under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and, as appropriate, under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will agree to the request by Lewes district council for a representative of his Department to attend a public meeting in Lewes to explain the proposals to allow the disposal of low-level nuclear waste on council landfill sites.

  Mr. Atkins
  Yes.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of disconnections in water supply in the Rotherham metropolitan borough council area for each year since 1990 and so far in 1994.

  Mr. Atkins
  Data on disconnections by local authority district are not available centrally. The Director General of Water Services publishes data on disconnections twice a year, by water company area.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he supports the comprehensive
  1151
  approach interpretation of the framework convention on climate change article 4 commitments.

  Mr. Atkins
  The United Kingdom's response to the commitments in the framework convention on climate change is set out in our national programme under the convention, published in January. The programme sets out measures aimed at returning emissions of each of the main commitments contained in article 4.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in securing the voluntary controls on the release of HFCs described in section 6.38 of the Government's report "Climate Change: the United Kingdom Programme".

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has held preliminary discussions with HFC producers and representatives of the aerosol, refrigeration, fire protection, solvents and foam manufacturing industries, to explore the scope for voluntary agreements to minimise emissions of HFCs.

  Government Offices
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 38-40, what is the total cost of the refurbishment to properties at (a) Montrose house, Glasgow, (b) Station road, Kettering, (c) Lambert house, Talbot street, Nottingham, (d) Crown Building, 55 Norfolk street, Boston, (e) Crown Buildings, 1 Queen street, Wellingborough and (f) Ladywood house, 45-46 Stephenson street, Birmingham.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  (a) Montrose house, Glasgow—planning on this project has not yet started and, consequently, no figures are available;

  (b) Station road, Kettering—this refurbishment and fit out for government occupation, including the provision of full disabled access, cost Government just under £40,000 plus VAT;

  (c) Lambert house, Talbot street, Nottingham—refurbishment did not take place;

  (d) Crown building, 55 Norfolk street, Boston—this scheme, which did not proceed, was designed to accommodate a Government Department expansion which, in the event, did not materialise;

  (e) Crown building, 1 Queen street, Wellingborough—Employment Service, the occupant of this building, is dealing with the refurbishment and improvements, however, planning is at a very early stage and no costs are yet available;

  (f) Ladywood house, Birmingham—the Department's landlords, at their own cost, paid about £2·75 million to refurbish Ladywood house.

  Local Government
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Local Government Commission's proposals for Cleveland would require joint arrangements between authorities and contracting of functions to maintain services;

  (2) if he will make it his policy that any new authorities created as a result of local government reorganisation should be capable of directly providing the full range of public and support services within their own resources;
  1152
  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect of the non—directly elected joint bodies requiring under the proposed local government reorganisation for Cleveland on local democracy.

  Mr. Curry
  Every local authority, existing or new, should be capable of securing the provision of the full range of services for which it is responsible. Except for the fire service, we do not consider that statutory joint authorities will be necessary for any local government functions in Cleveland following reorganisation. It is for the local authorities themselves to consider the most suitable means of service delivery, including whether voluntary joint arrangements or contracting out are desirable for particular functions. In any event, the elected local authorities will remain democratically accountable.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that all the proposed orders for new local government structures should be laid before the House(a) at the same time and (b) the conclusion of the entire review process.

  Mr. Curry
  No.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated number of jobs which the Local Government Commission has calculated would be lost if its proposals for the Cleveland area were implemented.

  Mr. Curry
  The Commission's financial estimates of costs and savings associated with reorganisation in Cleveland, which were made publicly available in November 1993, incorporated the assumption that 336 staff would become surplus if the present local government structure were replaced with four unitary authorities. The staffing levels of the authorities are, however, ultimately a matter for them.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that there should be fresh all-out elections to shadow authorities to supervise the changes in local government structures; and what consideration he has given to the creation of shadow authorities for the Cleveland area.

  Mr. Curry
  Our policy is that wherever possible there will be all-out elections to shadow unitary in the May preceding the April start-up date. In Cleveland all-out elections to the four district councils will take place in May 1995. The councillors who are elected then will plan for the transfer of functions from the county council to the districts and will continue at reorganisation in April 1996 as councillors of the unitary authorities.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will ensure that, in the current local government reorganisation exercise, a package of staff protection and compensation measure will be available which will be at least as comprehensive and beneficial to staff as the arrangements made available during the last two previous reorganisations;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to create a mandatory national framework to maintain continuity of employment for those affected by changes in local government as a result of the local government review, together with full protection of pay and conditions of service; and if he will provide sufficient resources in addition to those required for the maintenance of services, to ensure that such protection is available for all of the affected employees

  Mr. Curry
  Protection of rights of employees upon transfer is already afforded by employment law and will
  1153
  not be affected by reorganisation. The Government will ensure a suitable package of staff protection and compensation measures for employees in local government affected by the current reorganisation. We have consulted on proposals for redundancy compensation and hope to make an announcement on other elements of the package in due course. Since local authorities will benefit from the savings arising from reorganisation, it is right that they should manage the transitional costs without additional resources from central Government.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy not to implement changes in local government structures which are likely to put jobs at risk.

  Mr. Curry
  No. Local government reorganisation is intended, among other things, to achieve greater efficiency and long-term savings in the cost of providing services. There will inevitably be some effect on staffing structures. The changing role of local government is bound to have implication for the skills and numbers in the local authority work force whether there is structural change or not.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Local Government Commission's proposals for Cleveland have been demonstrated to have the clear support of an absolute majority of the residents of that area.

  Mr. Curry
  The commission's final report on Cleveland, published in November 1993, included the results of opinion research which showed that a clear majority of local residents want change, and that the structure proposed by the commission is the most popular option for change.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what importance he attaches to public opinion as expressed in responses to the Local Government Commission's consultation period.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Local Government Act 1992 requires the Local Government Commission to have regard to the need to reflect the identities and interests of local communities, and to secure effective and convenient local government. Public opinion is one important test of this.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes were provided through the Housing Corporation in 1993–94; and how many he expects will be provided in 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  In 1993–94 the Housing Corporation provided 56,500 new lettings through its approved development programme. In estimates published in December 1993, the Housing Corporation indicates that on current plans it will be able to provide over 58,000 new lettings in 1994–95 and some 52,000 in 1995–96 through its ADP. Plans for 1995–96 and beyond are, of course, under consideration as part of the current public expenditure round.

  In addition, 8,334 new lettings were provided in 1993–94 through the Housing Corporation funded by local authority housing association grant. The level of output from this programme in future years will depend on decisions taken by individual local authorities.

  Cites
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of, State for the Environment if he has consulted fully with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food over resolutions to be considered at the forthcoming conference of parties to the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species which may affect the convention's listing of marine mammals and fishes.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Yes. We have consulted all other Departments with an interest in proposals and resolutions to be considered at the CITES conference, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Overseas Development Administration, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Forestry Commission.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects decisions to be announced on bids made to the single regeneration budget, with particular reference to those applications relating to education projects; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We expect to announce decisions on bids for funding from the single regeneration budget, including bids involving education projects, in January 1995.

  International Station, Ebbsfleet
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a map of the area covered by the approved urban development around the planned international station at Ebbsfleet showing ownership of principal areas of leasehold and freehold interests.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Information on planning permissions and land ownership are not held centrally. Details of planning permissions which exist for development in the area around the site of the proposed international station at Ebbsfleet will be available from the planning registers of Dartford and Gravesham district councils. Records of land ownership are held by the Land Registry.

  Planning Application, Whitechapel Moor
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will decide whether to call in the planning application in respect of the leisure development at Whitechapel moor, South Molton, Devon.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's policy to deal expeditiously with requests that he call in planning applications for his own determination. He expects to issue a decision shortly after North Devon district council has reached its conclusions on it.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes in circumstances occurred between 16 September and 21 October to cause the Secretary of State to require the local planning authority to resolve the planning application in respect of the leisure development at Whitechapel moor, South Molton, Devon.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  On 16 September my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State exercised his powers under
  1155
  article 14 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 and directed North Devon district council not to grant planning permission for a golf and leisure development at Whitechapel moor, South Molton, Devon. The direction was issued because the application would not otherwise be referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State as a departure from the development plan. In effect, the direction provides an opportunity to consider whether the application raises the type of issues which would justify call-in.

  On 20 September the North Devon district council planning committee deferred making a decision on the application pending the outcome of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's decision on call-in. On 21 October the Government office for the south-west requested the council to resolve the planning application which remains before it and explained that it was important to know what the council's decision would he. If the application were refused, the substantial additional expense associated with a public inquiry would he avoided.

  Move-to-buy Grant
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations are made to ensure that a housing association tenant who proposes to apply for the move-to-buy grant is able to meet his mortgage commitments; how much is the move-to-buy grant; whether a recipient of the move-to-buy grant whose property is subsequently repossessed is regarded as intentionally homeless; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The tenants incentive scheme is available to housing association tenants seeking to buy a home on the open market. Grants of between £8,001) and £16,000 are available, depending upon the geographical location of the property.

  In applying for a TIS grant, tenants are required to declare details of their income and savings as part of their application, and housing associations are entitled to take this information into consideration as part of their assessment of the application.

  In responding to an application under the homelessness legislation from a former HA tenant who is subsequently repossessed, a local authority will take account of all factors relevant to a particular case.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites which are currently used for the disposal of low-level nuclear waste.

  Mr. Atkins
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what account will be taken of public opinion when the decision is made about the level of nuclear waste at the Milton tip;

  (2) what plans he has to introduce further sites for the disposal of low-level nuclear waste in East Anglia;

  (3) on what date he expects to publish the findings of his review of waste management disposal;

  (4) when he will take a decision about the level of nuclear waste disposed of at the Milton landfill pit near Cambridge;

  (5) what representations he has received on his plans to allow the dumping of low-level nuclear waste on council landfill sites;
  1156
  (6) what further consultation he intends to carry out with the councils and the residents in the Lewes area before deciding whether Beddingham landfill site is to be approved as a site for the disposal of low-level nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  One of the proposals in the Department's consultation paper, "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Preliminary Conclusions", published in August, was that waste producers should be encouraged to make greater use of the controlled burial of low-level radioactive waste in landfill sites. The Department has received a large number of responses to the review, which are being given full consideration. A statement of future policy will be made in due course.

  There are no proposals in relation to specific sites. However, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution consults the relevant waste regulatory authority, local councils and water undertakers, before issuing authorisations for controlled burial.

  Waste Water
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has had with the European Commission under its urban waste water treatment directive for the classification of all waters south of the Humber bridge as coastline;

  (2) what part the National Rivers Authority plays in classifying rivers and coastline for the purposes of the urban waste water treatment directive;

  (3) what discussion he has had with Yorkshire Water Services Ltd. concerning the designation of the city of Hull as a coastal city for the purposes of the EC directive on urban waste water treatment;

  (4) with whom he had discussions before the classification of all waters south of the Humber bridge as coastline;

  (5) what estimates has his Department made of the savings in capital costs arising from the classification of Hull as a seaside resort for the purposes of the directive on urban waste water treatment.

  Mr. Atkins
  The EC's urban waste water treatment directive provides for waters to be identified according to their sensitivity to inter alia eutrophication—sensitive areas—or according to their natural dispersion characteristics—high dispersion areas. It also requires that the seaward limits of estuaries should be identified for the directive's purposes.

  After public consultation on the criteria for the identification of sensitive areas and HNDAs, the NRA proposed that, for the purposes of this directive, the seaward limit of the Humber estuary be drawn at the Humber bridge and that the coastal area to the east of that be identified as an HNDA. The NRA advised the Department that no further environmental benefit will accrue from the provision of levels of sewage treatment in addition to the minimum requirements for HNDAs in the directive at the locations so identified.

  Following discussions with English Nature and the water companies I announced on 18 May 1994 the identification of 33 sensitive areas and 58 HNDAs. These decisions were communicated to the European Commission.

  The Director General of Water Services published on 28 July 1994 his estimate of £6 billion for the cost of

  1157
  implementation of the UWWTD in England and Wales. This estimate took account of the decisions taken on sensitive areas and HNDAs.

  Water Prices
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage change in the price of water in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  The most complete available historical data on water charges from 1979 are contained in"Waterfacts" published annually by the Water Services Association, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Bolton Council
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive a reply from Bolton council to his letter of 9 September, reference PNW/5080/147168.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Bolton borough council has advised that if hopes to reply to that letter within a week.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether there is a connection between respiratory diseases and vehicle emissions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department takes advice from the Department of Health on the effects of pollutants on human health. The Government take very seriously evidence that high levels of some traffic-related pollutants can have adverse effects on those suffering from respiratory disorders. On 3 October 1994 my Department, the Department of Health and the Medical Research Council announced a £5 million research programme into links between air pollution and respiratory disease. I and my colleagues will further consider issues of air quality and public health when we discuss the terms of our response to the consultation paper on improving air quality. We intend to publish our proposals later this year.

  Building Regulations
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from public and private representative bodies to amend the building regulations to reduce the danger of accidents from the collapse of freestanding masonry walls; and what proposals he has in response to amend or to institute some form of regulatory control.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Apart from a request from the hon. Member's own local authority at Swansea and from HM coroner for north Buckinghamshire, following an

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Avon

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Cheshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cornwall

  5

  5

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Derbyshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Devon

  3

  3

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Dorset

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Essex

  3

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1158
  inquest into a tragic accident involving a young boy, the Government have received few representations calling for freestanding masonry walls to be brought under building regulation control.

  Following its review earlier this year, the Government accepted the Building Regulations Advisory Committee recommendation that such walls should not be brought under statutory control. It was the committee's view that despite the tragic fatality cases reported, the health and safety risks associated with such walls are far less than for other hazards, such as those present in the home. The burden of control on enforcement authorities, industry and the public could not therefore be reconciled against such low risk of injury.

  The Government are, however, committed to improving the safety of freestanding walls through their continued sponsorship of the development and dissemination of technical guidance on wall construction and maintenance. NHBC registered builders already have an obligation to observe such guidance.

  In addition, the Government are encouraging local authorities to be vigilant in exercising their powers under sections 77 and 78 of the Building Act 1984 to remedy any dangerous walls.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against banding remain outstanding in the London borough of Lambeth; and when he expects the appeals to be disposed of.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  As at 30 September, 1,788 initial period banding appeals were outstanding in respect of dwellings in the London borough of Lambeth.

  We expect four out of five initial appeal period appeals to be settled nationally before the end of this year. The remainder will be settled as soon as possible in 1995. I cannot estimate a date by which all such appeals will have been settled since a few may be affected by special factors, such as an appeal on a point of law to the High Court.

  Zoos
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many exemptions have been granted in each county to establishments keeping animals from provisions of the Zoo Licensing Act in each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement about the reasons for these exemptions in respect of the last year for which figures are available.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 October 1994, c. 292]: Between 1984 and 1991 the following exemptions from the provisions of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 have been granted.
  1159

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Herefordshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Humberside

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Isle of Wight

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London

  5

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Middlesex

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Northumberland

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Oxfordshire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Sussex

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tyne and Wear

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Warwickshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  2

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Worcestershire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Yorkshire

  —

  3

  1

  3

  1

  1

  —

  —

  No exemptions have been granted in 1992 to 1994. Exemptions from the Act are granted to collections which consist entirely of animals which are normally domesticated in Great Britain. Establishments which have been granted exemptions are not considered to meet the definition of zoo within the meaning of the Act by virtue of the fact that wild animals are not being exhibited to the public.

EDUCATION

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on how many occasions in the past year the spouse of a Minister in her Department has travelled abroad at public expense to accompany a Minister on public duties, and what has been the total cost to public funds; and on how many occasions such travel has been undertaken at own cost.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [pursuant to her reply, Official Report, 27 October 1994, c. 626]: There have been no occasions in the last year when the spouse of a Minister in the Department for Education has travelled abroad to accompany a Minister on public duties at public cost. On four occasions, a Minister was accompanied, but in no case was this at public cost.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action she is taking to maintain in schools the teaching of English to ethnic minority children currently funded under section 11; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In addition to existing mainstream provision for them, initiatives to benefit minority ethnic pupils for whom English is not their first language are eligible for support from the single regeneration budget. Bids for that support in 1995–96 are currently under consideration. Support will also be available from the 1160
  rersidual element of section 11 grant, for which my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has invited bids for next year.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what changes she has to announce to cash limits and running cost limits on votes within her responsibility for 1994–95.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limits for class X, vote 1, schools, research and miscellaneous services and vote 4, administration will be amended. The cash limit changes are as follows:

  Class and vote Current Cash limit £

  Change £

  Revised Cash limit £

  X.1

  800,269,000

  + 3,527,000

  803,796,000

  X.4

  93,032,000

  + 5,911,000

  98,943,000

  The increase on class X, vote 1 is in respect of the take up of the capital end-year flexibility entitlement of £3,538,000 announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 14 July 1994, Official Report, columns 729–34, offset by a contribution of £11,000 from the Welsh Office Education Department towards the funding of the special educational needs tribunal.

  The increase on class X, vote 4 is in respect of the take-up of the end-year flexibility entitlements of £1,886,000 for capital and £4,021,000 for running costs as announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 14 July 1994, Official Report, columns 729–34, and a transfer of £32,000 from the Public Services Agency, offset by a contribution of £28,000 from the Welsh Office.

  Education Department towards the running costs of the special educational needs tribunal.
  1161
  The running costs limit for the Department for Education will be increased by £4,053,000 from £90,347,000 to £94,400,000. This reflects take-up of the end-year flexibility entitlement and the transfer from the Public Services Agency.

  The increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what educational effect she expects increased levels of nursery education to have over the next two years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Progress will be made in the lifetime of this Parliament towards implementation of the Government's firm commitment to make a pre-school place available for all four-year-olds whose parents wish to take it up. Good quality nursery education should lead to improved performance at key stage 1, and the beneficial effects should last well beyond that.

  Travellers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the educational effect on gipsy and travellers' children of evictions under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The increased powers of eviction provided under the Bill are intended primarily to tackle the serious nuisance of mass trespass, raves and illegal camping. The draft circular of guidance recently issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has drawn attention to the need for local authorities to take particularly careful account of the effects of any evictions on the education of children. The guidance also draws attention to the need for alternative

  Name of member

  NDPB and Post held

  Salary £ Per annum

  Duration of appointment

  Political Party

  Mr. N. Bennett

  Futher Education Funding Council (England) Member of the Council

  4,000 honorarium

  3 Years

  Conservative

  Mr. M. Fallon

  Higher Education Funding Council (England) member of the Council

  4,000 honorarium

  2·5 Years

  Conservative

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Clock Adjustment
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Attorney-General how many man hours were taken up by adjusting the clocks throughout his Department.

  The Attorney-General
  Adjusting clocks forms part of the normal day-to-day maintenance of my Department's buildings. No separate records are kept of the time spent on this.

  Children (Legal Guardianship)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement regarding legal guardianship and adoption of 1162
  educational arrangements to be made in such circumstances, appropriate to the children's ages, abilities and aptitudes.

  Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 25 October, what was the funding to the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute by the Further Education Funding Council in 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Mr. Boswell
  Funding of the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute by the Further Education Funding Council was £20,974 in respect of the period April 1993 to July 1994, and £140,767 in respect of the period August 1994 to July 1995. This reflects the re-classification of some courses for English as a foreign language.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of public appointments made by her Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Forth
  In 1993, 27 per cent. of public appointments made by this Department were held by women. The 1994 figures are still being finalised and will be made available in due course.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by her Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if she will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment, and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Boswell
  The information requested is given as follows:

  children when one or both parents are deceased or not able to look after the child and when friends of the parent or parents act to adopt he child against the wishes of other blood relatives of the child who may he surviving.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  Each case will be decided within the legal framework and according to its individual circumstances.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to review the law regarding legal guardianship of children by persons who are not related to the child when grandparents willing to act as legal guardian and bring up the child are still alive; and if he will make a statement.
  1163
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no plans to review the law.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will review the law regarding access rights of grandparents with particular reference to cases where the child is the legal ward of people who are not related by blood or birth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Children Act 1989 contains provisions under which grandparents can apply to the court for contact with their grandchild. These apply whether or not the child is living with its natural parents or with others. There are no plans to review these provisions.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many of those people currently holding public appointments hold more than one appointment; and if he will list those people and the appointments they hold;

  (2) how many members of public bodies have been dismissed from office since 1979.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  This information is not held centrally.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many names on the public appointments unit list currently hold public appointments.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the Government accepted the recommendations of the 1989 review of public appointments procedures that all Departments should set a target for the percentage of women in public appointments by the end of 1994; and if he will give details of targets for each Department and of current performance against it.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Departmental plans and goals for the increased representation of women on public bodies were published on 16 November 1992. A summary of these is in the Library of the House. Details of progress toward these goals can be found in "Public Bodies 1993", a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the public appointments which are made by Ministers are(a) full-time, (b) part-time, (c) paid, (d) unpaid, (e) full-time and paid, (f) part-time and paid, (g) full-time and unpaid and (h) part-time and unpaid.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  This information is given in the Cabinet Office publication"Public Bodies 1993" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the public appointments made in 1993–94 were public appointments unit nominees; and if he will list these appointments.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  During 1993–94, the public appointments unit learned of 134 appointments which 1164
  were made following nomination by the unit. A list of these appointments is as follows:

  Nationalised industries and public corporations:

  Bank of England–1 appointment

  British Railways Board–2 appointments

  London Transport Board–1 appointment

  Executive bodies:

  Brent Housing Action Trust–1 appointment

  Broadcasting Standards Council–1 appointment

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work–1 appointment

  Horticultural Development Council–1 appointment

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission–1 appointment

  Museum of London–1 appointment

  Occupational Pensions Board–1 appointment

  Regional Flood Defence Committees–2 appointments

  Remploy Ltd.–2 appointments

  Royal Armouries–1 appointment

  Urban Development Corporations—3 appointments

  Water Customer Service Committees–2 appointments

  Advisory Bodies:

  Advisory Committee on Business Appointments–1 appointment

  Advisory Committee on Telecommunications—3 appointments

  Citizens' Charter Complaints Task Force–1 appointment

  Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body–1 appointment

  Electricity Consumer Committees–5 appointments

  Farm Animal Welfare Council–1 appointment

  London Regional Passengers Committee–2 appointments

  MAFF Regional Panels–4 appointments

  National Consumer Council–2 appointments

  Post Office Users' Council for Scotland–1 appointment

  Royal Commission for Environmental Pollution–1 appointment

  Schoolteachers' Review Body–1 appointment

  Scottish Consumer Council–1 appointment

  Social Security Advisory Committee–2 appointments

  Transport Users' Consultative Committees–8 appointments

  Tribunals:

  Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal–2 appointments

  Copyright Tribunal—3 appointments

  Meat Hygiene Appeals Tribunal–1 appointment

  VAT Tribunal–1 appointment

  National Health Service Bodies:

  Regional and Special Health Authorities–2 appointments

  District Health Authorities—3 appointments

  Family Health Service Authorities–4 appointments

  National Health Service Trusts–27 appointments

  Executive Agency and other Management Boards:

  Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research–1 appointment

  Employment Services External Advisory Board–4 appointments

  Insolvency Service Steering Board–1 appointment

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Advisory Board–1 appointment

  Royal Mint–1 appointment

  Other Appointments:

  British Waterways Board–1 appointment

  CAPAM–1 appointment

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority Committee of Enquiry–1 appointment

  Final Selection Board–1 appointment

  General Medical Council–1 appointment

  General Optical Council–2 appointments

  Home Office Inspectors of Constabulary Selection Panel–1 appointment

  Independent Living Fund—3 appointments

  Institute of Cancer Research Audit Committee–1 appointment

  International Development Research Centre (South African Workshop)–1 appointment

  National Board for Crime Prevention–2 appointments

  National Support Force for Children's Residential Care–1 appointment

  Registry of Friendly Societies–1 appointment

  Restrictive Practices Court—3 appointments

  Review of Government Administration in Lithuania–1 appointment

  Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons–1 appointment

  Royal Commonwealth Society of the Blind–1 appointment

  1165

  Soil Association Organic Marketing Company Ltd–1 appointment

  South African Advanced Education Project–1 appointment

  US/UK Education Commission–1 appointment

  Women's Issues Working Group–2 appointments

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will bring forward proposals for a Freedom of Information Act.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  No. Current open government initiatives plus the further commitments set out in the White Paper on Open Government, Cm 2290, will provide a more practical alternative to freedom of information legislation.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Badgers
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 to allow police officers powers of entry on to private land.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  We have no plans to do so.

  Asylum Seekers
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those who applied for asylum(a) since 26 July 1993 and (b) since 1 January 1994, and are liable to detention under paragraph 16(1) and 16(2) of schedule 2 and paragraph 2 of schedule 3 to the Immigration Act 1971 have been detained under these provisions.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  On 28 October 1994 a total of 702 people who had sought asylum were detained. This figure includes people awaiting the setting of directions for removal following refusal of the application, as well as those whose application was under consideration or subject to appeal. Of this figure, 332 were detained under paragraph 16(1) of schedule 2, 306 under paragraph 16(2) of schedule 2 and 64 under paragraph 2 of schedule 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. Information on the percentage of those applying for asylum since 26 July 1993 and 1 January 1994, who were detailed, is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been detained under the provisions of section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993(a) since 26 July 1993 and (b) since 1 January 1994; and how many asylum seekers are currently detained under those provisions.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 refers to appeals from the immigration appeals tribunal. It has no provisions for the detection of asylum seekers, but at 31 October 1994 there was one case in detention awaiting the outcome of such an appeal.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently detained under the Immigration Act 1971; and how long, on average, those detainees have been held.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  On 28 October 1994 a total of 702 people who had sought asylum were detained. This 1166
  figure includes people awaiting the setting of directions for removal following refusal of the application, as well as those whose application was under consideration or subject to appeal. Of this figure, 216 had been in detention less than one month, 118 between one and two months, 262 between two and six months and 106 had spent longer than six months in detention.

  Police
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department what the actual establishment for the police was for each year since 1978 in(a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) the west midlands and (e) H division, Walsall.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information for England and Wales and the West Midlands police is set out in the table. The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The setting of divisional establishments within the West Midlands police is for the chief constable to decide.

  Establishment of police service in England and Wales1 as at 31 December

  Year

  England and Wales

  West Midlands Police

  H Division (Walsall)

  1978

  118,967

  6,509

  423

  1979

  119,765

  6,509

  423

  1980

  120,261

  6,509

  423

  1981

  121,353

  6,684

  421

  1982

  121,480

  6,684

  419

  1983

  121,802

  6,684

  419

  1984

  122,233

  6,684

  419

  1985

  122,457

  6,684

  417

  1986

  123,514

  6,684

  424

  1987

  124,370

  6,684

  427

  1988

  125,390

  6,754

  451

  1989

  126,592

  6,830

  450

  1990

  127,588

  6,893

  459

  1991

  128,265

  6,958

  461

  1992

  128,972

  6,977

  460

  1993

  128,859

  6,977

  470

  19942

  128,954

  6,991

  470

  1 Includes central service, regional crime squads and inter-force units.

  2 Establishment as at 31 August 1994.

  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police officers have been released to operational duties as a result of civilianisation in the past five years in each of the following areas:(a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) the west midlands and (e) H division Walsall.

  Mr. Maclean
  Over the last five years–1989 to 1993—the following number of police officer posts have been civilianised thereby releasing those police officers for redeployment to other tasks. It is a matter for individual chief officers to decide how these additional resources should be used.

  England and Wales - 3,327 posts

  West Midlands police - 61 posts

  Progress on civilianisation within Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Information on H division Walsall is not readily available.
  1167
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations consulted on the issues covered by the Home Office review of core police functions.

  Mr. Maclean
  Consultation is currently under way with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Superintendents Association, the Police Federation, the Association of County Councils and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities. My right hon. and learned Friend will decide on the appropriate level and type of wider consultation in the light of recommendations made by the review in its final report at the turn of the year.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the nature, length of time and extent of the consultation exercise he intends to carry out in response to the recommendation of the Home Office review of core police functions.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 July, columns 493–94.

  Drinking Ban, Yarm
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards imposing a ban on drinking in public places in Yarm, Cleveland.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Home Office gave provisional approval on 31 October to the making of byelaws by Stockton-on-Tees borough council prohibiting the consumption of intoxicating liquor in designated parts of Yarm and Thornaby; and to the making of similar byelaws by Yarm town council in respect of two areas under its control.

  Prisons
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be announcing the findings of his review into prison day release and home leave procedure.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have reviewed the arrangements for home leave and temporary release and expect to be able to announce our detailed conclusions shortly.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average cost per prisoner place, at the latest available date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on the average cost per prisoner place.
  The average cost per prisoner place in 1993–94 was £22,712 This figure excludes exceptional items consisting of the costs of holding prisoners in police cells and compensation for abandonment of plans to relocate the Prison Service headquarters to Derby.

  Dorset Police Authority
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which police authorities police officers were seconded to Dorset police authority to police the annual Conservative party conference in 1168
  Bournemouth; and how many officers were seconded from each of those authorities.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is not the practice to provide details of security arrangements.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Howard
  The following former Members have been appointed to Home Office non-departmental public bodies since 1988.

  David Bellotti

  Trustee of the Community Development Foundation

  Expenses only

  Appointed January 1992 for 3 years

  Liberal Democrat

  Right Hon. Lord Carlisle of Bucklow, QC

  Chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

  Salary £31,350

  Appointed 1 March 1989 until 31 March 1995

  Conservative

  John Cartwright

  Deputy Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority

  Salary £44,750

  Appointed for 3 years from 1 August 1993

  SDP

  Sheila Faith

  Former Member of the Parole Board

  Fee Paid; £139 per attendance

  Appointed 1 June 1991 for 3 years

  Conservative

  Ben Ford

  Member of the Firearms Consultative Committee

  Expenses only

  Appointed 1989 for 2 years

  Labour

  Cecil Franks

  Member of the Parole Board

  Fee Paid; £149 per attendance

  Appointed 1 August 1994 for 2 years

  Conservative

  Lord Kimball

  Chairman of the Firearms Consultative Committee

  Expenses only

  Appointed for 5 years from 1989

  Conservative

  Anna McCurley

  Member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board

  Salary £11,640

  Appointed 1988 for 3 years extended until 1994

  Conservative

  Michael Meadowcroft

  Trustee of the Community Development Foundation

  Expenses only

  Appointed 1986, extended until 1994

  Liberal

  Norman Miscampbell, QC

  Member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

  Fee £246 per day

  Appointed 22 March 1993 until 31 March 1995

  Conservative

  1169

  Lord Wyatt of Weeford

  Chairman of the Horserace Totalisator Board

  Salary £90,918

  Appointed 1976; reappointed 1993 for 2 years

  Labour

  Information in respect of the parole local review committee is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The committees ceased to exist from October 1994.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost to his Department of answering(a) a written and (b) an oral parliamentary question.

  Mr. Howard
  I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the member for Loughborough (Mr. Dorrell), to my hon. Friend the member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) on 30 November 1993, column 391.

  Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from Cleveland on the measures against crime in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill.

  Mr. Maclean
  My hon. Friend has himself informed us of a number of representations which he has received about the Bill, and we have also received a small number—in similar terms—direct from members of the public in Cleveland.

  I am confident that the people of Cleveland generally will appreciate that fears expressed about the Bill are misplaced and that it has a valuable part to play in fighting crime and protecting the public.

  Film Censorship
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to require that if the British Board of Film Classification finds it necessary to edit a section of a film under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill the board should state in full the reasons for the editing of the film.

  Mr. Maclean
  The British Board of Film Classification already provides the owner to the rights of a video in which it requires cuts with an explanation of those cuts. Owners who consider the decision by the board to be overly strict have a right of appeal to the video appeals committee, which has the power to vary the decision made by the board.

  If in future the board reviews a work already classified before the introduction of the new statutory criteria, the owner of the work will similarly have the right of appeal against any fresh decision by the Board.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to review or change the membership of the British Board of Film Classification following the increase in the board's powers as a result of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill;

  (2) if he will ensure that any proposals for changing the membership of the British Board of Film Classification
  1170
  will ensure that the membership reflects an accurate cross-section of society.

  Mr. Maclean
  The British Board of Film Classification is an independent body and my right hon. and learned Friend has no authority to determine its membership.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary for the Home Department what guidelines will be issued to the British Board of Film Classification concerning the editing and classification of films; and if they will include advice that before a scene is cut it will be viewed in the context of the entire film.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to issue any guidelines on the editing and classification of a video work. The British Board of Film Classification is an independent body and it alone is responsible for determining the classification given to any individual video work. If owners of the rights of works consider decisions by the board to be overly strict, they may appeal to the video appeals committee, itself a separate and independent body.

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail hostel places exist in London for(a) men and (b) women.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  In the Greater London area, comprising the inner London, south-east London, south-west London, north-east London and Middlesex probation areas, there are currently a total of 349 approved hostel places. Of these, 273 are designated for men, 28 for women, and a further 48 are available for men or women as required.

  Wheel Clamping
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish his findings arising from the consultations he received on wheel clamping following the issue of the consultation paper on this subject in February 1993, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 26 October,Official Report, column 642.

  Bail
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the most recent available statistics on the number of offences and the number of persons involved who have over the last number of years committed crimes while on bail; and what steps he is taking to deal with this problem.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the numbers offending while on bail is not collected centrally. A Home Office research report,"RPU Report 65, Offending While on Bail; A Survey of Recent Studies", gives information on recent studies relating to offences while on bail. A copy of this report is available in the Library. The survey concludes that, on average, between 10 and 12 per cent. of defendants are subsequently convicted of an offence committed while on bail and nowhere was the figure more than 17 per cent. The inference from this and other studies is that more than 50,000 offences per year are committed by persons who are on bail.
  1171
  The Government are committed to preventing offending on bail, through legislation, and by improving the information available to bail decision makers.

  The Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill contains seven measures to do with bail. In particular, defendants charged with offences which appear to the court to have been committed while on bail will lose the "right" to bail, and the police have been given powers, to detain to prevent offending, and to arrest without warrant where police bail is breached. The Bail (Amendment) Act 1993, which came into force in the summer, gives the prosecution a right, in certain circumstances, to appeal against the grant of bail. Additionally, the Criminal Justice Act 1993 requires the courts to consider that an offence committed on bail should be treated more seriously when sentencing.

  Serious Offences
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportions of successive male cohorts have been convicted of serious offences by the age of 15, 21 and 30 years of age.

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is drawn from the offenders index and is shown in the following table.

  Males born in 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968 or 1973: the cumulative percentage convicted1 at the given age2.

  Born in

  Age

  1953

  1958

  1963

  1968

  1973

  15

  12·2

  13·5

  12·8

  10·7

  5·2

  21

  24·2

  26·4

  26·9

  3n/a

  3n/a

  30

  32·5

  34·0

  3n/a

  3n/a

  3n/a

  1 For a "standard list" offence by the end of 1989.

  2 Percentage convicted at that age or younger.

  3 Not yet available.

  Humberside Police Authority
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation processes he proposes to undertake with representatives of the Police Federation, and other trade unions representing employees of the Humberside police authority, during his deliberations on the future of police structures in the Humberside area.

  Mr. Maclean
  Organisations representing the police service and trades unions which represent staff working in support of the police have been invited to comment on the future arrangements for policing in Humberside.

  Fire Service, Humberside
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he proposes to have with the Fire Brigades Union on the future arrangements of the fire service in the Humberside area following the abolition of Humberside county council.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  As he has indicated in his reply to a question yesterday from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Sir I. Lawrence) my right hon. and learned Friend proposes to establish a combined fire authority for Humberside. Before reaching this decision, he received advice from a sub-committee of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council on which the Fire Brigades Union is represented. He will also be considering advice from the sub-committee about the 1172
  detailed arrangements for the establishment of the combined fire authority.

  Holloway Prison
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of a week in(a) Her Majesty's prison Holloway and (b) a bail hostel.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The net operating cost per place per week at Her Majesty's prison Holloway in the financial year 1993–94 was £554. The average cost of a place in a bail hostel in that year was £221 per week.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) convicted and (b) remand prisoners there were in Her Majesty's prison Holloway in each of the past 24 months.

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

  Letter From Derek Lewis to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many (a) convicted and (b) remand prisoners there were in HMP Holloway in each of the past 24 months.
  The information requested is given in the attached table.

  Population on last day of each month at Her Majesty's Prison Holloway, August 1992—august 19941

  Last Day of Each Month

  Untried

  Convicted2

  Total

  1992

  August

  160

  333

  493

  September

  156

  322

  478

  October

  145

  288

  433

  November

  134

  327

  461

  December

  111

  302

  413

  1993

  January

  120

  271

  391

  February

  124

  287

  411

  March

  126

  291

  417

  April

  127

  287

  414

  May

  134

  301

  435

  June

  150

  296

  446

  July

  160

  297

  457

  August

  161

  292

  453

  September

  167

  283

  450

  October

  186

  270

  456

  November

  183

  265

  448

  December

  155

  260

  415

  1994

  January

  167

  279

  446

  February

  192

  262

  454

  March

  188

  304

  492

  April

  163

  272

  435

  May

  153

  310

  463

  June

  183

  280

  463

  July

  197

  286

  483

  August

  193

  297

  490

  1 Excludes non-criminal prisoners.

  2 Includes remand convicted unsentenced and sentenced prisoners.

  Jamaican Visitors
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the visitors who came into the United Kingdom on charter flights KT310 and ULE966 have returned to Jamaica after the period for which they were admitted expired; what steps are being taken to ensure that those who have overstayed in tote United Kingdom beyond the date permitted for this visit are being traced with a view to deportation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Since departures from the United Kingdom are not comprehensively recorded, the information requested in the first part of the question is not available. The Immigration Service works with the police and other agencies to detect and deal with overstayers, using deportation powers where necessary. Efforts are being made to apprehend a number of passengers who arrived on the flights mentioned by my hon. Friend and are believed to have overstayed.

  CND Demonstration
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Metropolitan police concerning the arrangements for the CND demonstration on 29 October.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department received a brief report on the demonstration after the event.

  Prison Service
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Wallasey will receive a substantive reply to her letter to him dated 26 May, which was forwarded to the Prison Service, reference PO 13447/94, for reply.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have asked the Director General to ensure that the hon. Member receives a reply today.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Angela Eagle, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking when you will receive a substantive reply to your letter of 26 May.
  I sent you a substantive reply on 2 November.

  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement of the performance of the Prison Service and its Director General in dealing with matters raised by hon. Members on behalf of their constituents.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have asked the Director General to ensure that all Members of Parliament raising constituency cases after 17 October receive a reply within 21 days of receipt and have asked officials to introduce a new computerised monitoring system.

  Special Branch
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to revise the existing guidelines on the work of a special branch.

  Mr. Howard
  Revised "Guidelines on Special Branch Work in Great Britain" have been sent to all chief officers of police in Great Britain. I am placing a copy of the guidelines in the Library of the House.

  Code of Practice on Financial Management
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he intends to issue the code of practice on financial management under section 28(c) of the Police Act 1964, as inserted by section 15 of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today laid before Parliament a copy of the code of practice on financial management which I have issued under section 28C of the 1964 Act. A copy of the code has been place in the Library of the House.

  Amusement Arcades
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the law governing amusement arcades to give more power to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: I have received some representations on this matter which I am considering.

  The law is set out in section 34 and schedule 9 to the Gaming Act 1968. The grant of a permit for an amusement arcade is at the discretion of the local authority, but a permit cannot be refused without giving the applicant the opportunity of a hearing. There is no power to attach conditions to the grant of a permit. There is a right to appeal to the Crown court against refusal to grant a permit.

  Renewal of permits may be refused only on certain limited grounds, such as that the authority has been denied access to inspect the premises.

  Strangeways Prison
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of incidents, giving in each case the date, type of incident with brief details, and the outcome, at Strangeways prison, Manchester since April 1994 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for a list of incidents, giving in each case the date, type of incident with brief details, and the outcome, at Wolds prison, from 6 April 1992 to the latest available date.
  Incidents reported by establishments to Prison Service Headquarters fall into the two categories of "major" or "minor", as defined in Prison Service Circular Instruction 18/1988. I attach details of incidents reported by The Wold during the period in question, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those convicted of(a) possessing cannabis and (b) trafficking in cannabis were fined the maximum sum in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer on 31 October 1994]: The information is not available in the form requested.

  Prisoners, East Midlands
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) remand arid (b) convicted prisoner were held in police cells in (i) Nottinghamshire and (ii) the east midlands in each month of 1994 to date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Paddy Tipping, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the numbers of remand and convicted prisoners held in police cells in Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands in each month of 1994 to date.
  To date there have been no prisoners held in police cells in Nottinghamshire or the East Midlands in any month in 1994.

  Anabolic Steroids
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to bring anabolic steroids within the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

  Mr. Michael Howard
  [holding answer 26 October 1994]: The misuse of anabolic steroids is a matter for concern and in view of the harmful effects surrounding their misuse, including a number of serious health problems, the Government have decided to impose further controls on them, in line with a recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

  We propose to change the law to make it an offence, without authority, to produce, supply, or possess or import or export with intent to supply, anabolic steroids and other similar drugs. In accordance with the recommendation of ACMD it would not, however, be an offence simply to possess these drugs in the United Kingdom. The necessary draft order under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and amending regulations to effect these changes will be brought before Parliament in due course.

  The proposals deliberately target illicit suppliers and traffickers. The maximum penalties will be three months imprisonment and a £2,500 fine, or both, on summary conviction and five years or an unlimited fine, or both, on indictment.

  We intend to keep under review the effectiveness of the new controls in tackling the supply and trafficking of anabolic steroids and, if it proves necessary, we shall consider even tougher measures.

SCOTLAND

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish an up-to-date list of all the chairs and non-executive directors of each national health service trust board indicating the gender and occupation of each individual.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am arranging for a copy of the lists to be sent to the hon. Member and placed in the Libraries of the House.

  National Parks
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of establishing national parks in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The question of establishing national parks in Scotland has been examined many times. In 1988, Ministers invited the Countryside Commission for Scotland to investigate the management of Scotland's mountain areas. In reporting, the Commission recommended the creation of four national parks and the setting up of land management forums for the management of other, upland, areas. However, public consultation found no consensus in favour of national parks and the Government concluded that they were not satisfied that a need for national parks had been demonstrated.

  In 1991, the Government established two working parties to examine the management of the Cairngorms area and of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. These reported in 1992 and 1993 respectively and neither recommended that the national park model be followed. They each recommended management structures tailored to the areas, in particular addressing the different pressures and needs found in each. Both were put to public consultation and the Government expect shortly to indicate how they intend to proceed in relation to the reports.

  Fishing Industry
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many decommissioning applications have been received from Scottish registered fishing vessels during 1994; how many were successful; if he will give a breakdown according to ports of registration; and if he will list the individual moneys made available per vessel.

  Sir Hector Monro
  One hundred and forty-nine applications for decommissioning grant were lodged with the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department before the closing date of 15 August; 49 of these have been successful in the tendering process and the owners of the vessels have been informed.

  The following table shows the distribution of these successful bids between licence ports:

  Number

  Arbroath

  1

  Ayr

  9

  Buckie

  9

  Campbeltown

  7

  Eyemouth

  1

  Fraserburgh

  2

  Lossiemouth

  4

  Macduff

  2

  Mallaig

  4

  Oban

  1

  Orkney

  1

  Pittenweem

  1

  Portree

  1

  Stornoway

  2

  Ullapool

  1

  Wick

  3

  These offers of decommissioning grant have not yet been accepted by vessel owners. Until the vessels have

  1177
  been scrapped and the licence entitlements surrendered, individual grant offers must remain confidential between the Department and the applicant.

  Asthma
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his estimate of the number of individuals suffering from asthma in each of the past five years for each Scottish health board area;

  (2) what is the estimate for the number of individuals under the age of 18 years suffering from asthama in each of the past five years in each Scottish health board area.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information required to answer these questions is not centrally available.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of deaths from asthma for each year since 1990 in each Scottish health board area.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Deaths from asthma, Scotland, 1990–93

  Health Board Area

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Scotland

  148

  161

  115

  129

  Argyll & Clyde

  9

  11

  4

  9

  Ayrshire & Arran

  19

  24

  15

  12

  Borders

  8

  3

  5

  6

  Dumfries & Galloway

  4

  3

  3

  3

  Fife

  9

  11

  5

  9

  Forth Valley

  8

  9

  10

  5

  Grampian

  19

  19

  16

  7

  Greater Glasgow

  24

  20

  16

  24

  Highland

  3

  10

  4

  8

  Lanarkshire

  10

  9

  9

  8

  Lothian

  18

  24

  17

  26

  Orkney

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Shetland

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Tayside

  13

  15

  10

  10

  Western Isles

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Common Services Agency (Computers)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those companies which have indicated an interest in the supply of £35 million worth of personal computers to the Common Services Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is not the practice to name companies which have indicated interest since this is usually on the basis of commercial confidentiality.

  Tenders have been invited by the supplies division of the Common Services Agency of the NHS in Scotland for central contracts for the supply of personal computers over the next two years. The value of business is expected to be over £5 million per year. Tendering procedures followed EC regulations and 20 companies were invited to tender. Sixteen companies have submitted tenders and these are being evaluated. The successful tenderer will be announced in due course.

  Local Government
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his most recent assessment of the number of jobs which will be lost following the implementation 1178
  of his proposals for local government reform; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  Our estimate of the reduction in posts resulting from reform of local government in Scotland ranges from 220 to 1,800, well under 1 per cent. of the total of local government employees. The eventual outcome is of course dependent on the organisational and staffing decisions taken by the new authorities, during the shadow year and beyond.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy that any new authorities created as a result of local government reorganisation should be capable of directly providing the full range of public and support services within their own resources.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Government's policy, as set out in the White Paper"Shaping the Future—The New Councils" Cm 2267, is that the proposed new councils should have available a range of service delivery options, including direct provision, joint arrangements of various kinds with other councils and contracting with external suppliers. It will be for each new council to decide how best it can fulfil its statutory obligations with the maximum effectiveness and efficiency.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy not to implement changes to local government structures which are likely to place jobs at risk.

  Mr. Stewart
  It has never been a policy of this Government to place jobs at risk. The reform of local government in Scotland is intended to make councils more responsive to the wishes of their citizens, and more effective in the delivery of services. With the removal of unnecessary duplication, it seems likely that fewer staff will be required in the new structure. But we estimate that the reduction in posts will be significantly less than 1 per cent. and with sensible planning by authorities most of this could be found by natural wastage and early retirement measures. Large job losses would imply that local government is currently overmanned.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which his proposals for local government reform would require joint arrangements between local authorities and the contracting of functions in order to maintain both services and facilities at their current levels.

  Mr. Stewart
  Under the proposed new local government structure, councils will, as now, have a range of options available to them in terms of how they carry out their functions. These will include entering into joint arrangements of various kinds with other councils and contracting with external suppliers. It will he for each new council to decide how best it can fulfil its statutory obligations with the maximum effectiveness and efficiency.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his intention to ensure that, following the implementation of his proposals for local government reform, a package of staff protection and compensation measures will be available which will be at least as beneficial to staff as those arrangements which were put into practice after the last reorganisation of local government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill provides that staff who transfer by order will do so
  1179
  on existing terms and conditions of service. In addition, there exists an extensive framework of employment protection legislation, much of which was not available at the time of the last reorganisation of local government in Scotland. The Secretary of State is currently considering what compensation arrangements should apply in the light of the advice he has received from the Staff Advisory Committee, now the shadow Staff Commission, the views expressed by local authorities in response to consultation and the proposals for England and Wales. Draft regulations are expected to be published by the end of the year.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to establish a mandatory national framework to maintain continuity of employment for those affected by changes in local government as a result of his proposals, together with full protection of terms and conditions of employment and service; if he will provide sufficient resources, in addition to those required for the maintenance of services at their present levels, to ensure that such protection is available to all of the affected employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  In addition to the protection afforded by existing employment law, the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill provides specifically that staff who transfer by order will do so with their existing terms and conditions intact. The Bill also includes safeguards with regard to continuity of service of local government employees. The protection which will be afforded by the Act, following Royal Assent, and by existing employment legislation will place legal requirements and obligations on new authorities which will be taken into account in the local government finance settlements for 1995–96 and subsequent years.

  Super-quarry, Lingarabay
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the likely costs to the Government of the public inquiry into the proposed super-quarry at Lingarabay in the Hebrides; and if he will consider contributing to the costs which will be incurred by the Western Isles island council in making representations to that inquiry.

  Mr. Stewart
  The latest estimate of the likely costs to the Government of the public local inquiry into the proposed super-quarry at Lingarabay is £120,000.

  The matter of contributing to the costs which will he incurred by the Western Isles island council in participating in the inquiry has been the subject of correspondence between, among others, my right hon. Friend and the convener. He has considered the request carefully but has made it clear that he is unable to make an exception to the statutory requirement for such costs to be met by the council.

  Historic Scotland Agency
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has completed the review of the Historic Scotland executive egency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have reviewed Historic Scotland at the end of its first three years as an executive agency and have concluded that agency status should continue.1180
  Historic Scotland's performance has been evaluated, and it has taken significant steps forward, in particular:

  it has consistently achieved almost all of its targets

  it has made significant improvements in the delivery of services to all its customers.

  Historic Scotland's framework document has been revised and I have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Tourist Boards
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish an up-to-date list of all the(a) chairs and (b) non-executive directors of each tourist board, indicating the gender and occupation of each individual.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]: Area tourist boards in Scotland are established by local authorities under discretionary powers. They are generally either associations or companies. Members of their committees are mainly either appointed as representatives of local authorities or are elected from within the tourism industry membership. I am arranging for a copy of the current lists to be sent to the hon. Member and placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Land Ownership and Use
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much land, in hectares, is owned by the Crown Commission in Scotland; and if he will publish a breakdown in terms of(a) forestry, (b) agricultural land in productive use, (c) agricultural land in set-aside, (d) sporting land, (e) inland waters, (f) coastal waters, (g) urban land and property and (h) crofting land.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 October 1994]: Each year the Crown Estate Commissioners publish an annual report which contains a schedule of all Crown Estate properties including a breakdown by Scottish regions and individual estates.

  At 31 March 1994 the total acreage of agriculture and forestry lands held by the Crown Estate in Scotland amounted to 34,947 hectares. This comprised predominantly, land let through agricultural tenancies and included areas also used for sporting purposes. Principal forestry areas amounted to around 4,290 hectares.

  The Crown Estate owns approximately half of the foreshore and almost all of the seabed around the coast of Scotland although ownership does not extend to fresh water lochs.

  The urban holdings in the ownership of the Crown Estate amounts to some 10 hectares with a further 97,500 sq ft of office space. No land is held under crofting tenure.

  Rent-to-mortgage Scheme
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total cost for(a) publicity and (b) administration of the rent-to-mortgage scheme since the date when this policy was first implemented; and how many tenants in each sector of public housing have (i) applied to take part in the scheme and (ii) signed an agreement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: Advertising of the pilot rent-to-mortgage

  1181
  scheme in spring 1991 and spring 1992 cost £381,000 and some 21,000 responses requesting further information were received. The right to buy and the statutory rent-to-mortgage—introduced in September 1993—were promoted together in campaigns in autumn 1993 and spring 1994, at a cost of £512,000, and over 12,400 responses were received.

  The administration of the rent-to-mortgage scheme is a matter for local authorities, Scottish Homes and the new town development corporations; information on administration costs is not held centrally.

  The number of applications to purchase and complete sales under the rent-to-mortgage scheme up to July 1994 by each sector is shown in the table:

  Rent-to-mortgage in Scotland

  Applications

  Sales

  Local authorities

  1,467

  457

  Scottish Homes

  1737

  346

  New towns

  38

  61

  2,242

  864

  1 The Scottish Homes application total includes some in respect of New Town houses.

  Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what conditions in relation to private finance have been attached to the granting of capital consent for building the new royal infirmary of Edinburgh;

  (2) what are the general implications of the involvement of private finance in the building of the new royal infirmary of Edinburgh for (a) the public sector borrowing requirement and (b) future current expenditure;

  (3) what are the implications for private beds of the involvement of private finance in the building of the new royal infirmary of Edinburgh;

  (4) what are the implications for ownership of the involvement of private finance in the building of the new royal infirmary of Edinburgh.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: Ministers are currently considering Lothian health board's proposals for acute services including the building of a new royal infirmary and an announcement will be made shortly. The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary NHS trust is currently exploring the scope for the private financing of a new hospital, should approval to this development be given. Meanwhile, no decisions on private finance has been taken.

  Children (Legislation)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the difficulties he has identified with introducing a children's Bill for Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: Work is in hand to prepare the necessary legislation and my right hon. Friend has in mind to introduce it when parliamentary time is available.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has come to a decision on the scope of legislation for children.
  1182
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The legislation on children, which is in preparation, will be based on the proposals set out in the White Paper "Scotland's Children", Cm 2286, and will also draw on those proposals in the Scottish Law Commission's report on "Family Law", Scot Law Com No 135, 1992, relating to children.

  Health Care International
  Mr. Worthington
  to ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that Health Care International in Clydebank is using national health service pay and conditions for its staff.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: Since the authorisation of the building of the Health Care international hospital at Clydebank was granted in 1987, NHS trusts have been introduced with the freedom to determine the terms and conditions of service for the majority of their staff. HCI is aware of the principles which underlie the authorisation.

  Dentists
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the effect of the current national health service terms on whether dentists in Scotland are withdrawing from national health service work or seeking to increase their private practice.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: Since the current dental contract was introduced on 1 October 1990, the number of dentists on health board lists have increased from 1,626 to 1,757. General dental practitioners are independent contractors who are free to choose whether they wish to join a health board dental list to provide NHS services, and to decide whether to give NHS treatment to each individual patient. No information is available on dentists' private practices.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Liberia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what projects Britain's contribution to the Liberian trust fund has been spent.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have contributed $1 million to the UN voluntary trust fund for Liberia, including

  $251,000 on a public information campaign to encourage national reconciliation and to facilitate disarmament: and

  $65,000 on generators for the University of Liberia and JFK hospital.

  The balance has been earmarked for emergency assistance to persons affected by the fighting, a demobilisation programme, trauma counselling and further support to the public information campaign.

  Conference on Women
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the leader of the British delegation to the UN conference on women in Beijing in 1995, the hon. Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe), will support and promote in Beijing the
  1183
  declaration of the UN conference on population and development in Cairo.

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Kingdom delegation to the fourth UN world conference on women in Peking will follow Government policy in relation to the programme of action adopted at Cairo. Its composition has yet to be determined.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Overseas Development Administration's policy document"Children by Choice not Chance", will be supported and promoted by the British delegation at the UN conference on women in Beijing in 1995.

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Kingdom delegation to the fourth UN world conference on women in Peking in 1995 will support Government policy, including those in the booklet"Children by Choice, not Chance—Meeting the Challenge".

  Scholarships
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the number of nationalities of students on Chevening scholarships in each year since 1985; and if he will list the number and nationalities of students funded by the Commonwealth scholarship and fellowship plan in each year since 1985;

  (2) what was the number and nationality of students on Overseas Development Administration shared scholarships in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information currently available has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  International (Atomic Energy Agency)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what uses Overseas Development Administration funding of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1992–93 was put.

  Mr. Baldry
  In 1992–93 the Overseas Development Administration contributed towards 23 separate research projects aimed at encouraging the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in developing countries who are signatories of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Bilateral Technical Co-operation
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the consultants, (b) the tasks for which they were employed and (c) the payments made to them from the Overseas Development Administration budget for bilateral technical co-operation in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1993–94.

  Mr. Baldry
  A list of the consultants, the projects on which they were engaged with the value of the contracts, has been placed in the Library of the House. Details of the actual payments made to each consultant could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Nepal (Dam)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the estimated risks to the success of the Arun III hydro-power project in Nepal from(a) glacier lake outburst flow, (b) earthquakes and (c) possible future irrigation or hydro-electric developments upstream in Tiber; and what efforts are
  1184
  being made by the projects planners to ensure that any such risks to the success of the dam and the prosperity of Nepal are fully researched and minimised.

  Mr. Baldry
  The geological risks and impact on upstream developments have been studied and taken into account in the design of the project. An independent panel of experts has been involved with the design, and in advising on safety aspects as well as geological, hydraulic, seismic, structural and environmental aspects.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has that the Arun III project in Nepal will contribute to the development of technical and managerial capacity in the Nepali private sector.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Nepalese authorities have drawn on local private sector expertise in preparing the project; and local staff will be responsible for a substantial proportion of the supervision contract. In addition, the Government of Nepal are committed to facilitating private sector investment in the power sector. The proposed project includes a facility to strengthen the capacity of the private sector to undertake feasibility studies and to provide partial financing in selected cases.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made as to whether the rate of return, quoted in the World bank's staff appraisal report, as expected for the Arun III hydro-power project in Nepal, is a sufficient economic return to justify a World bank decision to fund the project.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are currently assessing the bank's appraisal of this project, including the economic analysis and justification.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what grounds the World hank has not established an inventory of the species at risk from the planned Arun III hydro-power project.

  Mr. Baldry
  One of the volumes in the environmental impact study, which was an important element in the bank's appraisal and was carried out by the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, is devoted to a survey and catalogue of biodiversity in the Arun basin.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the World bank will make a final decision on funding for the Arun III dam project in Nepal.

  Mr. Baldry
  A date has not yet been fixed for consideration of this project proposal by the bank's board of directors.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis the Overseas Development Administration and the United Kingdom executive director to the World bank decide what constitutes a least-cost approach to meeting energy needs when evaluating projects; and if he will place in the Library the cost benefit analysis and least-cost study on the Arun III hydro-power project in Nepal.

  Mr. Baldry
  The least-cost approach to generation expansion and cost benefit analysis are standard project appraisal techniques employed by the bank. A copy of the least-cost generation expansion plan, excluding the detailed technical annexes, is being placed in the Libraries of the House. Under existing rules of procedure, the bank's appraisal report remains confidential for the time being; but a copy will be placed in the Libraries after board approval of the project.
  1185
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis a comparative assessment of alternatives to the Arun III project in Nepal was performed; and what conclusions were reached regarding the suitability of small-scale and mini-hydro options for tapping the power potential of Nepal.

  Mr. Baldry
  The bank's appraisal report considers the option of smaller hydro-power schemes as an alternative investment strategy and concludes that the overall balance points in favour of the Arun project.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the World bank to ensure that the Nepal electricity authority has the institutional capacity to manage and recover revenue from a completed Arun III hydro-power project.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Nepal Electricity Authority has engaged consultants to help it adopt measures to strengthen its financial management and cost recovery, including reducing system losses and improved revenue collection performance. The Asian development bank intends to provide technical assistance to the NEA to strengthen its environmental unit.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the proposed Arun III dam project in Nepal is consistent with the country assistance strategy developed for Nepal by the world bank.

  Mr. Baldry
  This is among the issues covered in the
  staff appraisal report and is being taken into account in our assessment of the proposal.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of Nepali citizens are expected to benefit from access to the power generated by the Arun III hydro-power project, if completed.

  Mr. Baldry
  The project is designed to help meet the growth in demand for power in Nepal as a whole, for industrial users and domestic consumers alike. The World bank estimates that currently only 9 per cent. of Nepal's population of 20 million has access to electricity, and that this share is expected to double by the end of the project period.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guarantees have been provided to the World bank as to whether India will buy the excess energy to be generated by the Arun III hydro-power project planned in Nepal, and to ensure prompt payment for any electricity India undertakes to buy from Nepal.

  Mr. Baldry
  The project is not designed as a power export project, but to meet Nepal's domestic energy needs.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank has taken regarding the development of the World bank's cost-accounting system for the World bank; and what input he has made to that development.

  Mr. Baldry
  The task force on portfolio management identified weaknesses in the bank's consideration of risk and sensitivity analysis in its loan appraisals. As a response to that report bank management are producing new guidelines on the use of risk/sensitivity analysis. The United Kingdom executive director has been active in 1186
  pressing the bank to undertake full and thorough follow-up to the task force recommendations.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the early retirement of Martin Karcher, division chief for the south Asia region in the World bank.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are not in a position to comment on Mr. Karcher's early retirement.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the type of cost accounting methodology now applied by the World bank to the loans in its portfolio.

  Mr. Baldry
  The World bank applies well-established techniques of economic and financial analysis on all its loans, including cost benefit and cost effectiveness analysis where appropriate.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the total British contribution to the funds of the World bank was invested in the Sardar Sarova dam before the World bank withdrew finance from the project.

  Mr. Baldry
  The bank's board of directors approved an IBRD loan and two IDA credits for the Sardar Sarovar dam project and associated canal in March 1985. IBRD shareholder capital is not used to finance bank loans directly, but as a guarantee for the bank's borrowings on the international capital markets. In 1985, the United Kingdom held 6 per cent. of the IBRD's subscribed capital. At the end of June 1994, the share was 4·92 per cent. The IDA credits were committed under the seventh replenishment of IDA, the United Kingdom share of which was 6·70 per cent.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Monopolies and Mergers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what referrals to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission within his remit Her Majesty's Government have made since the creation of his Department.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None. All referrals to the MMC are a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

  Departmental Finances
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes he proposes to make to his Department's cash limits and running costs limits for 1994–95.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates for class XI, the following changes will be made:

  i) The cash limit for vote 1 (museums and galleries) will be increased by £100,000 from £223,022,000 to £223,122,000 to cover the costs of the transitional funding of the Yorkshire mining museum.

  ii) The cash limit for vote 2 (arts) will be increased by £605,000 from £194,974,000 to £195,579,000. The increase provides for an additional £70,000 for research, surveys and other services and an increase of £535,000 in respect of the capital end-year flexibility scheme to meet residual Government contributions towards the costs for theatre restoration. This increase will be partly offset by savings on class XI, vote 3 (libraries), where the cash limit will be reduced by £70,000 from £139,373,000

  1187
  to £139,303,000 in respect of a saving of expenditure on the public library development incentive scheme.

  iii) The cash limit for vote 6 (Royal Palaces, Historic Royal Palaces Agency, Royal Parks Agency, historic buildings, ancient monuments and the national heritage) will be reduced by £100,000 from £195,062,000 to £194,962,000 to reflect a transfer to the Scottish Office to cover costs arising from a state visit to Edinburgh.

  iv) The net increase in provision will be charged to the reserve, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Satellite Broadcasting
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his Department's policy towards monopoly provision of satellite broadcasting in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Any operator is free to establish a satellite service provided it meets the conditions laid out in the Broadcasting Act 1990. At present 87 non-domestic satellite broadcast services are licensed by the Independent Television Commission.

  "Multimedia in the Home"
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will obtain a copy of the Inteco report "Multimedia in the Home"; and if he will make a statement on its implications for his Department.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department is aware of the report's findings. Reports of this type are considered on a regular basis in order to monitor developments within the broadcasting and media industries.

  British Broadcasting Corporation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will bring forward proposals to establish the BBC in statute law and to end its status as the creation of executive power; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No. Our White Paper on the future of the BBC concluded that the BBC should continue to be established by royal charter, in line with the recommendation of the National Heritage Select Committee.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes to the BBC are currently under consideration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We published our proposals for the future of the BBC in a White Paper on 6 July.

  Cross-media Ownership
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Nationl Heritage if he will list those rules relating to cross-media ownership between television companies and newspapers which do not apply to non-domestic satellites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Restrictions on the proprietors of newspapers owning licensed broadcast services are set out in part IV of schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990. There are no restrictions relating to cross-holdings between newspaper proprietors and non-d0mestic satellite Stations beyond the general provisions set out in chapter 1 of part 1 of the Act.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National 1188
  Heritage when he expects to publish the White Paper on cross-media ownership; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government are considering the way ahead on media ownership and will make an announcement when these deliberations are concluded.

  Broadcasting and Media
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what encouragement his Department is giving to develop digital services.

  Mr. Dorrell
  On 14 July, the Government announced plans for the introduction of digital terrestrial television. Together with the Department of Trade and Industry, my Department is continuing to look at how best to take advantage of the opportunities digital television offers.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when his Department expects to bring forward proposals arising from the BBC White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Comments on the White Paper were invited by 31 October. I will consider the comments received before preparing the new royal charter and agreement which will govern the BBC's activities in the future. I expect to prepare these documents during the course of 1995.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the latest information on his Department's exploration with the BBC of the privatisation of transmission services.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have appointed consultants to consider the options for the future of the BBC's transmission service, and to make recommendations.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, what percentage of public appointments made by his Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest published figures for the Department of National Heritage—that is, those given in "Public Bodies 1993"—are: out of a total of 651 public appointees 142 or 22 per cent. are held by women. The 1994 figures are still being collected and will be announced in due course.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what are his Department's responsibilities on behalf of Her Majesty's Government in respect of freedom of information; and if he will make a statement on the current policy;

  (2) if he will list the developments in freedom of information introduced by his Department since its creation.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In common with other Government Departments the DNH is implementing the code of practice on access to Government information introduced in April 1994. In response to this the Department has drawn up its own procedural note on the operation of the code and I am placing a copy in the Library of the House.

  Audio-visual Media
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what response his Department has made to the European Community Green Paper on audio-visual media; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The United Kingdom's response to the European Commission's Green Paper on EU Audio-visual Media policy was sent to the Commission on 10 August. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list all those organisations for which his Department has oversight other than the BBC and not established in statute by royal charter or other executive powers.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Most of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department were set up under statute or royal charter. The exceptions are;

  The Geffrye Museum, the Horniman Museum, the Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry and the National Film and Television School, all of which are companies limited by guarantee,

  The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, set up by Royal Warrant in 1869 (reissued in 1959),

  The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, set up by Royal Warrant in 1908 (reissued in 1963 and 1992),

  The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, set up by Royal Warrant in 1908 (reissued in 1963 and 1992),

  The Wallace Collection, established by Treasury Minute in 1987, and

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, established under the Merseyside Museums and Galleries Order 1986.

  The following advisory bodies were set up by the Department under its administrative powers;

  The Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection

  The Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck sites

  The Advisory Committee on the Public Lending Right

  The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art

  The Regional Councils for Sport and Recreation

  The Royal Parks Advisory Group

  The Historic Royal Palaces Advisory Group

  The Treasure Trove Reviewing Committee

  The Public Library Development Incentive Scheme Advisory Committee.

  Information Super-highways
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consideration his Department has given to the report by Vice-President Gore on governmental involvement in the development of super-highways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government are aware of Vice-President Gore's views, and aim to help the United Kingdom industries to be well placed to take advantage of the new technologies.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the average cost to his Department of 1190
  answering (a) a written and (b) an oral parliamentary question.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave as Financial Secretary to the Treasury to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) on 30 November 1993,Official Report column 387.

  Archaeological Services
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action he intends to take as a result of the review by Capita Consultants into the provision of archaeological services on London.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department commissioned the report, in partnership with the Museum of London, English Heritage and the Corporation of London, following a request from the museum to help the parties concerned to examine the problem. Those parties now have a copy of the consultant's report and it is for them to take what action they think appropriate. In this respect, responsibility for policy on archaeology in London rests with English Heritage, while the Museum of London has responsibility for the Museum of London archaeology service.

  Clock Adjustment
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many man hours were taken up by adjusting the clocks throughout his Department.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department does not keep records of such estimates.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to meet representatives of the British film industry to discuss development of the sector.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: I met the chairman and vice—chairman of the Producers' Alliance for Cinema and Television on 27 September and the chairman and director of the British Film Institute on 18 October. I have no plans to meet other representatives of the industry in the near future.

  Channel 5
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if companies wishing to bid for the Channel 5 licence are allowed to do so on the basis of a digital transmission system; and if such bids will receive full consideration by the Independent Television Commission.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: The award of the Channel 5 licence is a matter for the Independent Television Commission. Procedures for awarding licences are set out in the Broadcasting Act 1990. The invitation to apply for Channel 5 issued by the ITC does not preclude an applicant from proposing the use of digital transmission. I am sure that any application made on this basis will receive due consideration.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many public appointments(a) he is

  1191
  responsible for making and (b) require his approval including those not listed in "Public Bodies"; and if will give this figure in terms of (i) appointments to executive bodies, (ii) appointments to advisory bodies and (iii) other appointments.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 27 October 1994]: I am responsible for making 375 appointments. In addition, a further 49 appointments require my approval.

  Of the appointments which I am responsible for making, 178 are to executive bodies, 144 to advisory bodies and 53 are other appointments. Of those which require my approval all are "other appointments" by the definition used in the question.

PRIME MINISTER

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 October,Official Report, column 423, if he will provide a statistical analysis showing the (i) number of people and (ii) proportion of the total register who have volunteered information that they are members of (a) the Conservative party, (b) the Liberal Democrats, (c) the Labour party, (d) the Ulster Unionist party, (e) the Social Democratic and Labour party, (f) Plaid Cymru, (g) the Scottish National party, (h) the Democratic Unionist party, (i) the Popular Unionist party and (j) the Green party.

  The Prime Minister
  Nominees on the public appointments unit's register are not required to give any details of their political affiliation, but can volunteer it if they wish. Some 87.5 per cent. of nominees do not volunteer any information, and therefore no information about their affiliation is held.

  The analysis of those who have volunteered to the public appointments unit the nature of their political affiliation is as follows:

  Political party

  Number

  Percentage

  Conservative

  409

  8·0

  Labour

  132

  2·6

  Liberal Democrats

  50

  1·0

  Social Democratic Party

  46

  0·9

  Green Party

  1

  0·02

  Welsh Nationalist

  1

  0·02

  Total

  639

  12·5

  Total number on register

  5,095

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 October,Official Report, column 423, if his Office (a) adds information concerning the political affiliation of nominees on the public appointments unit's register, when it is known but not volunteered or (b) have access to other lists that provide such information.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  "Questions of Procedure for Ministers"
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to revise "Questions of Procedure for Ministers".

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so at present. If the Committee on Standards in Public Life 1192
  makes recommendations in respect of the conduct of Ministers I will, of course, consider whether "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" should be revised in the light of the recommendations.

  Mr. Ghazanfer Ali
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the current position in the case of Mr. Ghazanfer Ali detained in prison in Azad Kashmir.

  The Prime Minister
  We continue to raise this case with the Pakistani authorities and await their response. Officials discussed it informally with Sardar Qayyum Khan of Azad Kashmir on 31 October.

  Engagements
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for the evening of 28 May 1993.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: I attended a function in my constituency.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Haiti
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Haiti.

  Mr. Baldry
  We welcome the return of President Aristide, and congratulate the UN Secretary-General and the Organisation of American States on their efforts to restore the democratically elected Government.

  The situation in Haiti remains calm. We hope that conditions will continue to improve, promoting regional stability, and that the return of President Aristide will bring about an end to human rights abuses in Haiti, and engender an atmosphere of reconciliation, allowing the return home to a secure environment of the thousands of migrants who fled Haiti during the years since the coup.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Rwanda.

  Mr. Baldry
  The situation in Rwanda is relatively stable, although still tense. The new Government have declared their intention of encouraging refugees and displaced persons to return home. We are doing what we can to assist this process.

  Palestine
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to assist the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian people.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We fully support the continuing negotiations and will provide £75 million to the Palestinians over the next three years.

  Russia
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to
  1193
  promote the cause of democratic reform in Russia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We shall continue to give our full support to the process of democratic and economic reform in Russia through the know-how fund and other means. The know-how fund, through its programme for democracy, has funded a number of projects this year including a symposium for newly elected Duma deputies.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters in regard to nuclear terrorism, nuclear safeguards and nuclear materials control were raised with the Russian Government on his recent visit to Russia.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 October 1994]: Nuclear matters were not discussed during my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's visit to Russia.

  These issues were last discussed bilaterally with the Russians in the ambit of President Yeltsin's recent visit to the United Kingdom. Since then there has been a meeting of the Group of Eight informal consultation on non-proliferation at which the question of the smuggling of nuclear material was discussed.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has recently made to, or received from, the main political parties in Mozambique in respect of the peace process and general election in that country.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have made continuous ministerial and other diplomatic contacts to promote the peace process. On 27 October my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker wrote to Mr. Dhlakama, the President of RENAMO to urge him to withdraw his boycott of the elections. I am pleased to say that he did so, following this and wider international pressure.

  Eastern Europe
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions this year he has visited countries in eastern Europe to discuss democratic development there.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This year my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has paid visits to Poland and the Czech Republic. He has visited Russia three times, and has also been to Ukraine, Latvia and Estonia.

  South Africa
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and South Africa.

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Kingdom's relations with the new South Africa are excellent. They are built on long-standing historical, personal, economic and cultural ties. The Government are committed to supporting the revival of South Africa's economy, which is essential for its reconstruction and development, and promoting bilateral trade and investment.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's visit to South Africa in September included the announcement of a "fellowship for the future". We have established a practical framework for co-operation across a wide range
  1194
  of activities. My right hon. Friend and President Mandela signed agreements on aid, investment protection and military assistance. Our opportunity South Africa campaign aims at expanding our strong trade and investment base. We have also proposed practical support for health care, education, community policing, small business development, agriculture, sport, science and technology, and public administration. Parliamentary and ministerial links are being established in all these areas.

  The Government are delighted that South Africa has joined the family of democratic nations and returned to the Commonwealth. The next task is to promote the stability and growth which will be essential for fulfilling the legitimate aspirations of all South Africa's people. All of Africa will benefit from that process.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on British relations with Pakistan.

  Mr. Baldry
  Our relations with Pakistan are in excellent shape. We look forward to Ms Bhutto's visit next month.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives Her Majesty's Government are taking to meet the threat from Sadam Hussein towards Kuwait.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We responded rapidly to the threat from Saddam Hussein by deploying HMS Cornwall and HMS Cardiff, six additional Tornado GRI aircraft and the Spearhead battalion group to the region.

  The UN Security Council unanimously passed SCR 949 on 15 October which demanded the complete withdrawal of all Iraqi military units. Iraq should not redeploy troops or enhance its military capacity in southern Iraq. Iraq should be in no doubt of our resolve.

  European Union
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he considers it appropriate at this stage to rule out the use of a referendum to determine future questions affecting the terms of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union.

  Mr. David Davis
  We have not ruled out a referendum, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made it clear that he is not in general in favour of referendums in our parliamentary democracy.

  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards enlargement of the European Community.

  Mr. David Davis
  The European Union signed a treaty of accession with four EFTA states on 24 June this year. The people of Austria and Finland have voted in favour of joining: provided that the referendums in Sweden on 13 November and in Norway on 28 November are also positive, and that remaining parliamentary procedures in those countries are satisfactorily completed, all four will accede on 1 January 1995. On further European Union enlargement, the Copenhagen European Council in June
  1195
  1993 agreed that the associated countries of central and eastern Europe that so wish will join as soon as they are able to assume the obligations of membership by satisfying the economic and political conditions required. The Corfu European Council in June 1994 agreed that the next phase of enlargement would involve Cyprus and Malta.

  Former Soviet Union Countries
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with former Soviet Union countries.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom enjoys good bilateral relations with all the countries which gained independence following the break-up of the Soviet Union. The United Kingdom continues to support political and economic reform in those countries as the best way to achieve stability and prosperity in the region.

  UK Foreign Policy (Far East)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit the far east to discuss the implications of United Kingdom foreign policy.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam in September. He has no immediate plans to visit the region again.

  Kashmir
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet with groups in the United Kingdom campaigning for a resolution to the problems of Indian-held Kashmir.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to meet such groups.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of Kashmir.

  Mr. Baldry
  We believe that the best way forward on Kashmir should involve simultaneous progress on dialogue between India and Pakistan as provided for under the 1972 Simla agreement; an improvement in human rights in Kashmir and a genuine political process there; and a clear cessation of external support for violence in Kashmir.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he has promoted to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in advance of its 1995 review and renewal conference.

  Mr. David Davis
  We are working hard for the indefinite and unconditional extension in unamended form of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1995. We believe such an extension will send a clear message to would-be proliferators of the international community's resolve to prevent any proliferation of nuclear weapons. We are actively seeking with our European Union partners the universality of the treaty, which, with 165 members, is the most widely adhered to arms control agreement in history.1196
  We support work underway in the International Atomic Energy Agency to strengthen the agency's safeguards system which is key to the successful implementation of the treaty.

  Taiwan
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Her Majesty Government's relationship with Taiwan.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Although the United Kingdom has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, we attach great importance to our commercial, cultural and educational links. United Kingdom exports for the period January to August 1994 were £448 million, an increase of over 13 per cent. compared with the same period in 1993. The British trade and cultural office in Taipei is being reinforced with additional staff to develop these links.

  Middle East
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the middle east peace process.

  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace process in the middle east.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We fully support the middle east peace process and welcome the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, recent signs of progress on the Syrian track and continuing negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the likely impact of the closure of the Gaza strip and the west bank on the middle east peace process; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Closure of the Gaza strip and west bank has a serious effect on the economy of the occupied territories. It is estimated that more than 60,000 Palestinians go to work in Israel from the occupied territories, and that about one third of the gross product of the territories comes from the wages of Palestinians working in Israel. We are pleased to hear that the closure was being lifted gradually from 1 November.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Denis MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to bring trade union law in Hong Kong into line with International Labour Office conventions.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Trade union law in Hong Kong is already broadly in line with the standards specified in international labour conventions. For example, the five ILCs relevant to trade unions which have been ratified by the United Kingdom have been applied to, and implemented in, Hong Kong, mostly without modification. The Hong Kong Government review trade union law regularly to keep it in line with international standards.

  China
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to hold discussions with the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Chinese Foreign Minister in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly last month. He has no plans to do so again in the immediate future.

  Ganges and Bramaputra Rivers
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with India and Bangladesh about their dispute about the water from the Ganges and Bramaputra rivers.

  Mr. Baldry
  None. This situation can be resolved only through bilateral negotiations between the Indian and Bangladeshi Governments. I hope that both sides can work towards an agreement soon.

  Angola
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in the Angolan peace talks.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Angolan Government and Unita initialled a peace agreement in Lusaka on 31 October. The next step is for the two sides to hold talks on military issues, including a ceasefire. After these have been concluded, the parties are then expected to sign the agreement.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average cost to his Department of answering(a) a written and (b) an oral parliamentary question.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 30 November 1993,Official Report, column 391.

  Bombing (Tel Aviv)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government concerning their decision to seal off the Gaza strip and west bank in response to the Tel Aviv bombing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We raised with the Israeli Government the closure of the west bank and Gaza strip. We are pleased to hear that the closure is being lifted gradually from 1 November.

  North Korea
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations or communications he had from the United States Secretary of State prior to the agreement with North Korea over its nuclear programme; and what assistance or opportunities are available to Her Majesty's Government or British companies to meet the aims of the agreement.

  Mr. David Davis
  We have been in frequent contact with the United States at both ministerial and official level 1198
  throughout the crisis over North Korea's nuclear programme. We have welcomed the framework agreement signed by the United States and North Korea on 21 October. As part of that agreement, the United States has undertaken to put together an international consortium, the Korean Energy Development Organisation, to provide North Korea with two light water reactors and to help it meet its energy needs while those reactors are under construction. We have told the Americans that we are prepared to offer technical advice to KEDO, but that no United Kingdom funds will be available. We shall, of course, facilitate the involvement of any United Kingdom companies that wish to bid for any part of the reactor project business. We understand that South Korea and Japan will play a central role in the financing and construction of the reactors.

  School Fees
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs how many members of his Department are entitled to have school fees paid from public funds; what is the total current cost; and which schools receive the payments.

  Mr. Goodlad
  All Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff serving overseas, or expecting to serve overseas again after no more than five years in the United Kingdom, are entitled to boarding school allowance. A total of 726 diplomatic service and Overseas Development Administration staff currently receive the allowance, at a total cost of £8,690,277 in 1993–94. A list of the schools receiving payments is given below.

  Officers whose children accompany them overseas are entitled to educate them at public expense where no suitable free schooling is available. Details of the number of officers receiving this local allowance or of the schools involved are not available. The total cost in respect of diplomatic service officers in 1993–94 is £2,310,477. There are not comparable figures for the ODA.

  Abbotsholme School

  Aberlour House

  Ackworth School

  Aldenham School

  Aldro School

  All Hallows School

  Ampleforth College (Giling CS)

  Ardingly College

  Ashdown House School

  Ashford School

  Ashley Moor College

  Ashville College

  Atlantic College

  Badminton School

  Barrow Hills School

  Battle Abbey School

  Beaconhurst Grange

  Bearwood College

  Beaudesert Park

  Bedales School

  Bedford High School

  Bedford School

  Bedgebury School

  Bembridge School

  Benenden School

  Bentham Grammer School

  Berkhamsted School

  Berkhamsted School for Girls

  Bethany School

  Bishop's Stortford College

  Bloxham School

  Blundell's School

  Bootham School

  1199

  Box Hill School

  Bradfield College

  Brambletye School

  Bramcote School

  Brandeston Hall

  Brentwood School

  Brighton College

  Brockhurst

  Bromsgrove School

  Brooke House 6th Form

  Bryanston School

  Burgess Hill School

  Bushey Place School

  Caldicott

  Cambridge Arts Tutors

  Cambridge Centre

  Canford School

  Cannock School

  Cargilfield

  Carmel College

  Caterham School

  Catteral Hall

  Charmandean School

  Charterhouse School

  Charters-Ancaster College

  Cheadle Hulme

  Cheltenham College Junior School

  Cheltenham Ladies College

  Chichester College of Tech

  Christ College, Brecon

  Christs College, London

  Claremont Fan Court School

  Clarendon School

  Clayesmore School

  Clifton College

  Cobham Hall

  Cokethorpe School

  College of the Sacred Hearts

  Combe Bank School

  Cottesmore School

  Cranbrook School

  Cranleigh School

  Croftdown School

  Croftinloan School

  Crown Woods Lodge

  Cumnor House

  d'Overbroeck's

  Daniel Stewart's and Melville

  Dauntseys School

  Dean Close School

  Dollar Academy

  Dorset House School

  Douai School

  Dover College

  Dover College Prep School

  Downe House School

  Downside School

  Dragon School

  Duff Millar 6 Form College

  Duke of York's

  Dulwich College

  Dulwich College Prep School

  Durham School

  East Court

  Eastbourne College

  Edgarley Hall

  Edgeborough

  Edgehill College

  Edinburgh Academy

  Edinburgh House School

  Ellerslie School

  Ellesmere College

  Elmhurst Ballet School

  Elstree College

  Embley Park School

  Epsom College

  Eton College

  Farleigh School

  Farlington School

  Farringtons School

  1200

  Felixstowe College

  Felsted School

  Feltonfleet School

  Fernden School

  Fernhill Manor

  Ferrington Hall Prep School

  Fettes College

  Forest School

  Forres School

  Framlingham College

  Freefolk House

  Frensham Heights School

  Friars School

  Friends School

  Fulneck Girls School

  Giggleswick School

  Glenalmond College

  Godstowe School

  Gordons School

  Gordonstoun School

  Grace Dieu Manor School

  Grange House School

  Great Walstead School

  Greenacre School

  Grenville College

  Greshams School

  Grove School

  Guildford College of Technology

  Haileybury Junior School

  Handcross Park School

  Hanford School

  Harptpurey College

  Harrow School

  Harrowgate College

  Hawtreys (Prep School)

  Headfort School

  Headington School

  Heathfield School

  Hetherset Old Hall School

  Highfield School

  Highgate School

  Holly House

  Holmewood House School

  Holy Family (Convent of the)

  Hordle House

  Howell's School

  Hunmanby Hall

  Hurst Lodge

  Hurstpierpoint

  Hurtwood House

  Indefatigable

  Ipswich School

  James Allen's Girls School

  Kelly College

  Kent College, Canterbury

  Kent College, Tunbridge Wells

  Keswick School

  Kilgraston School

  Kimbolton School

  King Edward's School

  King's College, Taunton

  King's School (The), Canterbury

  King's School, Bruton

  King's School, Ely

  Kingham Hill

  Kings School

  Kingswood School

  Knighton House

  Lambrook School

  Lancing College

  Landsdowne

  Lavant House School

  Lawnside School

  Leighton Park School

  Leys School

  Licen Victs School

  Lindisfarne College

  Lockers Park

  Lomond School

  Longridge Towers School

  1201

  Loretto School

  Luckley - Oakfield School

  Maltman's Green

  Malvern College Junior School

  Malvern Girl's College

  Mander Portman Woodward Ltd.

  Marlborough College

  Marlborough House School

  Marshcourt

  Mary Erskine School

  Mayfield College

  Merchant Taylor's School

  Merchiston Castle School

  Methodist College

  Michael Hall School

  Micklefield School

  Mill Hill School

  Millfield School

  Moira House School

  Monkton Combe Junior School

  Monkton Combe School

  Monmouth School

  Moor Park School

  More House School

  Morrison's Academy

  New Hall School

  Newlands Manor School

  North Foreland Lodge School

  Northaw School

  Notre Dame Convent School

  Oakdene School

  Oakham School

  Oratory Prep School (The)

  Oratory School (The)

  Oswestry School

  Oundle School

  Oxford Tutorial College

  Padworth College

  Pangbourne College

  Papplewick

  Parkside School

  Parsons Mead School

  Pennthorpe School

  Philpots Manor School

  Pierrepont School

  Pilgrims' School

  Pipers Corner School

  Plymouth College

  Pocklington School

  Polam Hall

  Port Regis

  Princess Helena School

  Prior Park College

  Prior Park Prep School

  Prior's Field School Priors Court

  Quantock School

  Queen Anne's School

  Queen Margarets School

  Queens College

  Queenswood

  Radley College

  Rannoch School

  Read School

  Reading Blue Coat School

  Reed's School

  Repton Preparatory School

  Rickmansworth Masonic School

  Ripley Court

  Rishworth School

  Roedean School

  Rosemead School

  Rossall School

  Royal Alex. & Albert School

  Royal Hospital School

  Royal Naval School

  Royal Russel School

  Rugby School

  Rydal School

  Rye St. Antony School

  Sacred Hearts School

  1202

  Sandroyd School

  Scraborough College

  School of St Clare

  Seaford College

  Sedbergh School

  Sevenoaks School

  Shapwick School

  Sherborne Sch Int Study Centre

  Sherborne School

  Sherborne School for Girls

  Shiplake College

  Shoreham Grammar School

  Shrewsbury School

  Sibford School

  Sidcott School

  Sir Roger Manwood School

  Skegness Grammar School

  Slindon College

  Southgate Technical College

  St Andrew's School, Eastbourne

  St Andrew's School, Pangbourne

  St Andrew's School, Woking

  St Antony's-Leweston School

  St Augustine's College

  St Bede's School, Eastbourne

  St Bede's School, Wolseley Bridge

  St Bees School

  St Benedict's Convent

  St Catherine's School

  St Christopher School, Letchworth

  St Christopher's School, Bernham on Sea

  St Clare's Oxford

  St Denis School

  St Edmund's College, Ware

  St Edmund's School, Canterbury

  St Edmund's School, Hindhead

  St Edwards School

  St Felix School

  St George's College

  St George's School for Girls

  St George's School, Ascot

  St George's School, Windsor

  St Helen's School

  St John on the Hill

  St John's School

  St Joseph's College

  St Lawrence College

  St Leonards-Mayfield School

  St Margaret's School

  St Mary and St. Annes

  St Mary's Convent, Shaftesbury

  St Mary's Gate, Southbourne

  St Mary's Hall School, Brighton

  St Mary's Hall, Stoneyhurst

  St Mary's School, Ascot

  St Mary's School, Calne

  St Mary's School, Cambridge

  St Mary's Wastage

  St Michael's

  St Neot's School

  St Paul's School

  St Peter's School

  St Stephens College

  St Swithuns School

  Stanbridge Earls School

  Stoke College

  Stonar School

  Stonyhurst College

  Stover School

  Stowe School

  Strathallan School

  Streete Court School

  Summer Fields School

  Sunningdale School

  Sutton Valence School

  Swanbourne House School

  Taunton School

  Temple Grove School

  Terrington Hall School

  The Blue Coat School

  1203

  The Mount School

  The Nak Centre

  The Old Malthouse

  The Red Maid's School

  The School of St Clare

  Tockington Manor School

  Tonbridge School

  Towers School

  Truro School

  Tudor Hall School

  Twyford School

  United College of the Atlantic

  Upper Chine School

  Uppingham School

  Ursline Covent School

  Vinehall School

  Wadhurst College

  Walthampton School

  Walthamstow Hall School

  Warminster School

  Wellesley House

  Wellingborough School

  Wellington College

  Wentworth Milton Mount

  West Buckland School

  West Heath School

  Westbourne House School

  Westminster School

  Westonbrit School

  Winchester College

  Windlesham House School

  Wispers School

  Wolborough Hill School

  Woldingham School

  Woodcote House

  Worth Abbey School

  Wrekin College

  Wychwood School

  Wycliffe College

  Wycombe Abbey School

  Yardley Court

  Indonesia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions he places on the type of arms that could be sold to Indonesia; and if he will join the embargo on small arms sales to Indonesia.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The export to any destination of arms and other goods listed in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 is prohibited without a licence issued by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. All applications for export licences for defence equipment are considered carefully on a case by case basis in the light of established criteria. In the case of Indonesia, we would not, for example, licence for export equipment likely to be used for internal repression. There is no United Nations or European Union embargo on arms sales to Indonesia.

  British Embassies
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total annual running cost of the British embassy(a) in Paris, (b) in Cairo and (c) in Luanda.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The total annual running costs of the British embassies(a) in Paris, (b) in Cairo and, (c) in Luanda are £16·7 million, £3·3 million, and £1·5 million respectively.

  International Atomic Energy Agency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 October,Official Report, column 382, if he will reconsider his refusal to release the names of the British suppliers of technology to the Iraqi nuclear programme listed in the International Atomic Energy Agency report; and what is his response to the statement by the director-general of the IAEA before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on 26 October regarding the release of such information.

  Mr. David Davis
  No. I have nothing to add to my reply of 21 October 1994,Official Report,column 382.

  Secret Intelligence Service
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many compulsory redundancies have been made in the Secret Intelligence Service during the past 12 months.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 14 July 1994,Official Report, column 711-12. We do not intend to give detailed information on the staffing of the individual security and intelligence agencies.

  Mr. Ib Riis
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what emergency support has been given to Mr. Ib Riis.

  Mr. Hurd
  Mr. Ib Riis wrote to me on 10 June. He wrote to my hon. Friend and others at the same time. In late June he was told that officials were looking at his case. In late September he was asked to submit a claim for financial assistance. He responded in October and his claim is now being considered.

  EU Directives
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many directives of the European Union have not in whole or part yet been incorporated into law in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. David Davis
  The European Commission's Eleventh Annual Report on Monitoring the Application of Community Law (1993) document reference 6697/94, COM (94) 500 Final, records that the UK had by 31 December 1993 notified the Commission of implementing measures in respect of 1,060 directives out of a total of 1,148 directives applicable on that date. This record was bettered only by the Netherlands and Denmark. The Commission report is available in the Library.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what timetable exists setting out dates for the incorporation into United Kingdom law of European Union directives which remain outstanding.

  Mr. David Davis
  Separate deadlines for implementation are specified in each directive which is required to be transposed into national law. In some cases a directive will specify a number of deadlines, each of which is applicable to different provisions within the directive.

  European Defence
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his speech to the Franco-British Council on Monday 24 October represents Government policy.

  Mr. Hurd
  It does. Because of misleading press reports, I have placed a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, following his speech of 24 October, what is Government policy on earmarking forces for a nascent European army; what options he is considering for an independent European defence structure outside NATO; and what consideration he has given to making the Western European Union a formal fourth pillar of the EU.

  Mr. David Davis
  There is no question of a European army. As agreed at Maastricht, the Western European Union is being developed as the defence component of the European Union and as the means to strengthen the European pillar of the Atlantic alliance. WEU has no standing forces of its own, but relies on NATO and other national forces, which can be made available on an ad hoc basis for WEU operations.

  Hospitality Fund
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 October,Official Report, column 440, how much of the wine purchased on the advice of the Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine comes from any of the committee members' companies.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Members of the Government advisory committee for the purchase of wine recommend wines as being suitable for use as a consequence of "blind" tastings when they are unaware of the provenance of the wine being assessed. Nor are members involved in decisions on purchasing which are the responsibility of officials of the fund.

  One member of the committee has consultancy status with one company from which 6 per cent. of wines purchased in 1993–1994 were supplied.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 October,Official Report column 440, how the wine purchased by the Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine is used.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The wines purchased on the recommendation of the Government hospitality advisory committee for the purchase of wine are used only at functions which GHF provides for Ministers when giving official hospitality on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 October,Official Report, column 440, what has been the annual cost of wine purchases undertaken by the Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine has purchased no wine; it is involved only in recommending suitable wines for use by the fund.
  1206
  Decisions on quantities needed and actual purchases are the responsibility of officials of the fund itself.

  Purchases of wine by officials of the Government hospitality fund for the past five years are as follows;

  1989–1990 — £131,641

  1990–1991 — £132,926

  1991–1992 — £101,124

  1992–1993 — £ 97,622

  1993–1994 — £110,553

  Bananas
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the United Kingdom has given the Windward Islands over the export of bananas to the EC.

  Mr. David Davis
  The United Kingdom strongly supports the European Community banana regulation, which offers Windward Islands producers preferential access to the single market. We have support a special Community aid scheme for African, Caribbean and Pacific banana-producing states. We have also given bilateral and regional assistance to the Windward Islands banana industry. We provided emergency assistance in the wake of tropical storm Debbie and are supporting special EC measures to protect the Windwards' marketing structure.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will clarify Her Majesty's governments's policy over the 1985 Moran proposals on the future of Gibraltar following recent Spanish statements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  We told the Spanish Government at the last Brussels process meeting in March 1993 that we could not accept the proposals put to Sir Geoffrey Howe by Mr. Moran in 1985,—the "Moran Proposals"—as a basis for talks because of their precondition that sovereignty would be transferred. That position has not changed.

  Our commitment to the people of Gibraltar is clearly set out in the preamble to the 1969 constitution. We will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the past year the spouse of a Minister in his Department has travelled abroad at public expense to accompany a Minister on public duties,and what has been the total cost to public funds; and on how many occasions such travel has been undertaken at own cost.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 26 October 1994]: Between October 1993 and October 1994 Ministers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travelled abroad accompanied by their spouses at public expense on 13 occasions. The cost to public funds was £27,338. On each occasion the guidelines in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" were followed and accord with departmental practice which has existed since at least 1955.

  There have been no occasions when such travel was undertaken at own cost.

TREASURY

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the tax treatment of small self-administered pension schemes which breach the conditions on which they receive approval for tax purposes.

  Sir George Young
  The tax approval system gives pension schemes very favourable tax treatment if certain conditions are met concerning the amount, timing and form of the benefits to be paid. The purpose of the tax reliefs is to encourage the provision of pensions to employees during their retirement.

  Arrangements are now being encountered under which the trustees of some small self-administered occupational pension schemes have exploited the tax approval system. These arrangements involve initially taking advantage of the tax reliefs but then engineering loss of tax approval when access to the accumulated funds, in circumstances not allowed by the tax approval conditions, is desired by the scheme members or the sponsoring employer. An example is where the scheme wishes to lend all or a large part of its funds to the sponsoring employer.

  The tax approval system is not intended to be used in this way. Arrangements of this kind undermine the pensions purpose for which the tax reliefs are given. Where a pension scheme wishes to take advantage of those reliefs it must accept all the conditions on which approval is granted.

  In order to discourage the misuse of the tax approval system in this way a special 40 per cent. tax charge will be levied on the value of funds held by these schemes at the time tax approval is withdrawn. The new tax charge will apply where tax approval ceases on or after today. Further details are given in an Inland Revenue press release published today.

  Family Incomes
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) of 3 November 1993,Official Report, column 257, on the number of families with children with taxable incomes below the income tax threshold.

  Sir George Young
  It is estimated that in 1994–95,1·9 million single parents and married couples with children have no income tax liability.

  Number of capital gains taxpayers

  Highest rate of tax charged on individuals

  Lower rate

  Basic rate

  Higher rate

  Trusts

  All

  1988–89

  —

  51,500

  86,500

  17,000

  155,000

  1989–90

  —

  48,000

  88,000

  19,000

  155,000

  1990–91

  —

  44,000

  57,500

  13,500

  115,000

  1991–92

  —

  34,500

  44,500

  11,000

  90,000

  1992–931

  1,000

  19,500

  27,000

  7,500

  55,000

  1993–941

  2,500

  30,500

  42,000

  15,000

  90,000

  1 provisional

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1979(a) the total income,

  Tax Statistics
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1979 the total tax yield from individual taxpayers liable for capital transfer tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax; and if he will give for each year since 1989–90 the number of individual taxpayers liable for capital gains tax by their highest marginal rate of tax.

  Sir George Young
  The available information on net receipts each year since 1979–80 from capital gains tax, capital transfer tax and inheritance tax is given in the table. Separate figures on capital gains tax receipts for individuals and trusts are not available but, in terms of tax liabilities, individuals account for between 83 per cent. and 90 per cent. of the total.

  Inheritance Tax/Capital Transfer Tax1

  £ million Capital Gains Tax2

  Total

  of which charge on individuals3

  Total

  1979–80

  401

  376

  431

  1980–814

  425

  401

  508

  1981–824

  480

  457

  526

  1982–83

  499

  475

  632

  1983–84

  599

  580

  671

  1984–85

  658

  621

  730

  1985–86

  881

  857

  908

  1986–87

  988

  963

  1,064

  1987–88

  1,073

  1,052

  1,379

  1988–89

  1,067

  1,042

  2,323

  1989–90

  1,227

  1,207

  1,854

  1990–91

  1,259

  1,233

  1,852

  1991–92

  1,295

  1,261

  1,140

  1992–93

  1,201

  1,170

  982

  1993–94

  1,328

  1,307

  710

  Notes:

  1 Excludes small residual receipts from estate duty which was replaced by capital transfer tax in 1975.

  2 Excludes tax on capital gains made by companies which is included under corporation tax.

  3 Includes charges on settled property where the individual has an interest in possession.

  4 The breakdown of receipts between 1980–81 and 1981–82 was estimated as they were affected by industrial action between March 1981 and July 1981.

  The breakdown of capital gains taxpayers given in the table includes a separate column for trusts in order to reconcile with published figures on taxpayer numbers.

  both earned and unearned, (b) total national insurance contributions paid and (c) total income tax paid by (i) the
  1209
  top 1 per cent., (ii) the top 5 per cent., (iii) the top 10 per cent., (iv) the bottom 50 per cent. and (v) all taxpayers.

  Sir George Young
  Readily available estimates based on the survey of personal incomes are in the tables. For 1978–79 and 1989–90, married couples are counted as one taxpayer and their incomes are combined. Following the introduction of independent taxation, for 1990–91 onwards, husbands and wives are counted separately. The estimates of total income relate to income subject to income tax and exclude non-taxable income such as certain social security benefits.

  Quantile group of taxpayers1 Per cent.

  Total income £ million

  Income tax liability £ million

  Employees' and self-employed national insurance contribution liability £ million

  1989–90

  Top 1

  24,200

  7,800

  300

  Top 5

  61,700

  16,600

  1,400

  Top 10

  93,400

  22,600

  2,700

  Bottom 50

  86,600

  8,500

  3,900

  All taxpayers

  323,400

  53,400

  14,400

  1990–91

  Top 1

  28,300

  9,200

  300

  Top 5

  68,700

  18,900

  1,300

  Top 10

  102,800

  25,400

  2,700

  Bottom 50

  95,500

  9,000

  4,300

  All taxpayers

  358,300

  60,400

  15,500

  1991–92

  Top 1

  31,200

  10,400

  300

  Top 5

  73,900

  20,700

  1,500

  Top 10

  109,600

  27,500

  3,000

  Bottom 50

  98,200

  9,300

  4,200

  All taxpayers

  373,800

  63,500

  16,200

  1992–93

  Top 1

  29,300

  9,200

  300

  Top 5

  72,000

  19,800

  1,600

  Top 10

  108,100

  26,500

  3,100

  Bottom 50

  96,900

  8,000

  4,000

  All taxpayers

  373,700

  60,700

  16,300

  1993–94

  Top 1

  29,900

  9,800

  300

  Top 5

  73,900

  20,400

  1,700

  Top 10

  111,300

  27,500

  3,400

  Bottom 50

  96,800

  8,100

  3,900

  All taxpayers

  381,400

  62,800

  17,100

  1994–95

  Top 1

  32,000

  10,800

  400

  Top 5

  78,900

  22,800

  2,000

  Top 10

  118,700

  30,900

  3,900

  Bottom 50

  99,600

  9,000

  4,400

  All taxpayers

  401,000

  69,700

  20,000

  1 Tax units for years prior to 1990–91.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the effect on the number of taxpayers in the financial year 1995–96 and on the number of higher rate taxpayers of(a) indexation, (b) raising the main personal allowances by 5 per cent. more than indexation and (c) raising personal allowances by 10 per cent. more than indexation, giving figures separately for each main allowance and a total for main allowances.
  1210

  Quantile group of taxpayers1 Per cent.

  Total income £ million

  Income tax liability £ million

  1978–79

  Top 1

  5,000

  2,300

  Top 5

  14,900

  4,900

  Top 10

  24,200

  7,000

  Bottom 50

  30,300

  3,900

  All taxpayers

  102,800

  20,300

  1 Tax units years prior to 1990–91.

  Sir George Young
  Estimates based on statutory indexation of 2·2 per cent. in line with the September retail prices index and income levels projected to 1995–96 levels using the summer economic forecast are given in the table. The levels of the married couple's allowance and linked allowances in 1995–96 were set in the Finance Act 1994 and will therefore not be subject to the statutory indexation rules.
  1211

  Estimated number of income taxpayers 1995–96

  Total millions

  Of which higher rate taxpayers

  a) Indexation

  26·5

  2·6

  b) Increasing personal allowance for those aged under 65 by 5 per cent. more than indexation

  26·2

  2·5

  Increasing personal allowance for those aged 65 or over by 5 per cent. more than indexation.

  26·4

  2·6

  Increasing all personal allowances by 5 per cent. more than indexation

  26·1

  2·5

  c) Increasing personal allowance for those aged under 65 by 10 per cent. more than indexation

  26·0

  2·5

  Increasing personal allowance for those aged 65 or over by 10 per cent. more than indexation

  26·2

  2·6

  Increasing all personal allowances by 10 per cent more than indexation

  25·7

  2·5

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the direct revenue yield in a full year at 1994–95 levels of income from restricting(a) personal allowances, (b) relief from pension contributions arid (c) other reliefs to relief at 25p and (d) 20p giving in each case the numbers of people affected.

  Sir George Young
  Estimated full-year yields at 1994–95 income levels based on a projection of the 1992–93 survey of personal incomes and other survey data are given in the table. The figures do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of such changes, and show the yield from restructuring each allowance of relief separately. If two or more were restricted the total yield would be greater than the sum of individual figures.

  Restriction to

  Basic Rate

  20p

  Effect of restricting

  Yield £ million

  Numbers affected millions

  Yield £ million

  Numbers affected millions

  (a) Personal allowances

  1,490

  3·4

  5,650

  26·2

  (b) Relief for pension contributions

  700

  2·0

  1,350

  11·5

  (c) Other reliefs

  140

  0·7

  1n/a

  n/a

  1 Information on reliefs given at source is not available from the Survey of Personal Incomes so it is not possible to estimate the effect of restricting other reliefs to 20 per cent.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) of 5 November 1993,Official Report, column 549 on mortgage tax relief, giving estimates for 1995–96 and for a full year.

  Sir George Young
  Estimates for 1995–96 are given in the table. The figures are based on the conventional 1212
  assumption of no changes in interest rates from current levels and allow for tax relief 15 per cent. as set in the Finance Act 1994. They exclude any behavioural effects with might result.

  Cost (yield) from increasing (decreasing) in limit on mortgage interest relief

  Limit on size of loan £

  £ million

  40,000

  400

  35,000

  200

  32,000

  100

  31,000

  50

  29,000

  (50)

  28,000

  (l00)

  25,000

  (300)

  20,000

  (700)

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate for 1993–94 the number of self-employed who will pay no income tax, giving figures separately for those with gross incomes(a) under £5,000 a year, (b) between £5,000 and £10,000 a year, (c) between £10,000 and £15,000 a year, (d) between £15,000 and £20,000 a year and (e) over £20,000 a year.

  Sir George Young
  There are about 770,000 self-employed with no income tax liability in 1993–94. Of these, 670,000 have gross income of under £5,000 and 100,000 have gross income of over £5,000.

  The estimates are based on the projection of the latest annual survey of personal incomes and are provisional. The number with gross income above £5,000 is too small to allow any separate breakdown.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for 1995–96 or the latest year available an estimate of the yield and the number of taxpayers affected by restricting the capital gains tax allowance to relief at the(a) 25 pence rate and (b) 20 pence rate.

  Sir George Young
  Under current rules net chargeable gains below the capital gains tax annual exempt amount are totally exempt from tax. The effects of restricting this relief at the 25 per cent. and 20 per cent. rates are given in the table below based on forecast 1994–95 liabilities. The estimates assume the restriction would only affect individuals with gains above the annual exempt amount and do not allow for any consequential change in their behaviour.

  Number of taxpayers affected

  Capital gains tax yiels (£ million)

  Restricting the relief to:

  (a) 25 per cent rate

  45,000

  35

  (b) 20 per cent.

  75,000

  60

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was remitted or written off as irrecoverable in 1993; and how much of this was pay-as-you-earn contributions.

  Sir George Young
  In 1993, £1·58 billion was written off as irrecoverable by the Inland Revenue and £400 million of this was pay-as-you-earn contributions.

  Pig-producing Industry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will review the taxation and capital depreciation allowances available to the British pig producing industry between now and 1 January 1999 when the rules relating to stall and tether regulations change;

  (2) if he will consider allowing pig producers to carry back losses over a three-year period; if he will change the tax regulations relating to buildings used by pig producers with a design life of less than 10 years so that they are regarded as plant and machinery and attract annual depreciation rates of 25 per cent.; if he will allow pig producers to defer claiming allowances until the following year; and if he will set full-year capital allowances for pig producers at 100 per cent. before the rules relating to stall and tether regulations change in January 1999.

  Sir George Young
  The hon. Member would not expect me to make a statement on taxation matters at this time of year.

  Fraud
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to obtain an estimate of the percentage of fraud involving transactions between the United Kingdom and offshore tax havens.

  Sir George Young
  There are no steps that can be taken to obtain a reliable estimate.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions were brought in each of the last five years as the result of tax fraud; and how many of these related to false accounts and income tax returns.

  Sir George Young
  I refer the hon. Member to the annual report of the board of Inland Revenue for 1993–94—appendix, table 6—copies of which were laid before Parliament on 5 October 1994.

  Offshore Tax Havens
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the additional revenues obtained for the Treasury by the measures he has adopted to limit tax avoidance via trusts and offshore tax havens since 1992.

  Sir George Young
  The comprehensive system for the taxation of capital gains on those setting up, and receiving benefits from, offshore trusts which was introduced in 1992 prevented an estimated revenue loss of up to £100 million in a full year. In addition, changes introduced in 1993 and 1994 to the legislation for controlled foreign companies and to the treatment of interest payments within multinational groups were expected to increase Exchequer yield by 200 million in a full year.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Departments have produced rules of conduct for members of non-departmental public bodies sponsored by those Departments as instructed in "Non-Departmental Bodies: A Guide for Departments"; and if he will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Nelson
  This section of the guide has now been superseded. In June the Treasury circulated to sponsor 1214
  Departments a model code of best practice for board members of public bodies. Copies were placed in the Library of the House of Commons in early July. Sponsor departments are now discussing with executive NDPBs how they may adapt the Treasury code to suit their particular circumstances or whether they should adopt a different code such as the Cadbury code.

  European Expenditure
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been(a) in each year since 1979 and (b) over the whole period since 1979 the percentage increase in spending by the European Community; and what was the average percentage increase in inflation in the Community as a whole in each year since 1979 and over the whole period since 1979.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The percentage increase in spending by the European Community in each year since 1979 is as follows:

  Year

  Percentage increase in Community expenditure (Payments)

  1994

  4·7

  1993

  14·1

  1992

  8·9

  1991

  24·2

  1990

  5·3

  1989

  -0·4

  1988

  16·9

  1987

  3·3

  1986

  121·7

  1985

  2·1

  1984

  13·2

  1983

  19·0

  1982

  14·8

  1981

  29·2

  1980

  13·4

  1979

  20·0

  Source:

  Annual White Paper Statements on the Community Budget.

  Notes:

  1 Greece acceded on 1 January 1981.

  2 Spain and Portugal acceded on 1 January 1986.

  Spending by the European Community over the whole period since 1979, including additional member states from the date of their accession, has increased by 11·7 per cent. on average in nominal terms each year between 1979 and 1994.

  The average percentage increase in inflation in the Community as a whole in each year since 1979 was as follows:

  Year

  Percentage increase in inflation

  1994

  3·3

  1993

  3·3

  1992

  4·3

  1991

  5·1

  1990

  5·7

  1989

  5·3

  1988

  3·6

  1987

  3·3

  1986

  3·7

  1985

  6·1

  1984

  7·2

  1215

  Year

  Percentage increase in inflation

  1983

  8·6

  1982

  10·9

  1981

  12·4

  1980

  13·7

  1979

  10·9

  Source:

  OECD Economic Outlook.

  The average percentage increase in inflation in the Community as a whole over the whole period since 1979 was 6·6 per cent.

  EC Accounting Systems
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's progress in persuading the institutions of the EC to move to accruals and resource-based accounting systems.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government are convinced of the advantages of resource accounting and budgeting for the United Kingdom public sector, along the lines of the outline proposals published in the Green Paper on resource accounting and budgeting, Cm 2626. We believe that the principles of resource accounting might usefully be applied to the finances of other institutions outside the United Kingdom, such as those of the European Community. The Government will be considering this issue further when the United Kingdom proposals have been worked out in more detail.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to apply his policy on accounting standards for stand-alone operating units within the public sector to the introduction of similar standards for units of the Commission of the European Communities, including agencies operated by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The proposals in the Green Paper on resource accounting and budgeting, Cm 2626, will apply both to the centre of departments and to their agencies, although in many cases the latter are already putting the principles of resource accounting into practice.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken with his colleagues to assist borrowers from building societies to avoid repossessions.

  Mr. Nelson
  On 19 December 1991, the then Chancellor announced a number of measures designed to reduce substantially the level of mortgage repossessions. The Government agreed to make mortgage payments in income support direct to lenders, and raised the stamp duty threshold from £30,000 to £250,000 for eight months, to stimulate the housing market. The lenders confirmed that they would not seek to take possession where mortgage interest payments were covered by income support; or where a borrower had suffered a sharp fall in income but was continuing to make reasonable, regular payments. They also agreed to provide counselling for borrowers in difficulties and to examine the possibility of setting up formal mortgage rescue schemes.
  1216
  Together, these steps have contributed to a significant fall in repossessions. In the second half of 1991, 38,930 properties were repossessed. In the first half of 1994, the figure was down to 25,020, a reduction of 35·7 per cent.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he or his colleagues have had with building societies to explore ways to help borrowers and to reduce the number of defaults on mortgage repayments.

  Mr. Nelson
  Treasury Ministers meet representatives of building societies from time to time to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Commemorative Coins
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans Her Majesty's Government has to issue new commemorative coins.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve my recommendation that a £5 coin be issued featuring a special commemorative design to commemorate Her Majesty's 70th birthday. Her Majesty The Queen has also been pleased to approve a proposal that a £2 coin be issued to commemorate the European Football Championship which will be held in England during 1996. It is not intended that these coins should go into general circulation although the coins will be available at most banks and post offices at face value and special versions will be issued in precious and base metal.

  NHS Trusts
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the NHS trusts which deposit funds with him; and what changes there have been in the arrangements for the deposit of funds in each of the last two years.

  Mr. Aitken
  There are 25 NHS trusts that make use of the National Loans Fund temporary deposit facility, which requires a minimum deposit of £1 million. Previously deposits had to be in units of £1 million, but the arrangements were changed on 1 April 1993 to permit deposits above the minimum to be made in multiples of £1,000. All 507 NHS trusts hold bank accounts at the Paymaster Agency, on which interest is also payable. The 25 trusts that use the NLF temporary deposit facility are listed as follows:

  Allington Trust

  Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital Trust

  East Gloucestershire Trust

  East Hertfordshire Trust

  East and Midlothian Trust

  Guild Community Healthcare Trust

  Gloucestershire Royal Trust

  Hastings and Rother Trust

  King's Lynn and Wisbech Hospital Trust

  Milton Keynes Community Trust

  Northern Birmingham Mental Health Trust

  Northern Devon Healthcare

  Norwich Community Health Services Trust

  North Hampshire Hospitals Trust

  Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare Trust

  Pilgrim Health Trust

  Pinderfields Hospitals Trust

  Pontefract Hospitals Trust

  1217

  The Mental Health Service of Salford Trust

  South Buckinghamshire Trust

  Stoke Mandeville Hospital Trust

  Severn Trust

  Wakefield and Pontefract Community Health Trust

  Walsall Community Health Trust

  Walsall Hospitals Trust

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average cost to his Department of answering(a) a written and (b) an oral parliamentary question.

  Mr. Nelson
  The average cost, across all Departments, of preparing an answer was assessed as £97 for a written question and £225 for an oral question in November 1993. Up-to-date costings should be available shortly.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions in the past year the spouse of a Minister in his Department has travelled abroad at public expense to accompany a Minister on public duties, and what has been the total cost to public funds; and on how many occasions such travel has been undertaken at own cost.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 26 October 1994]: There have been eight occasions since September 1993 where a Minister's spouse has accompanied the Minister, of these three have been at public expense at a total cost of £1,544.

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public appointments(a) he is responsible for making and (b) require his approval including those not listed in "Public Bodies"; and if he will give this figure in terms of (i) appointments to executive bodies, (ii) appointments to advisory bodies and (iii) other appointments.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 27 October 1994]: My right hon. and learned Friend has some responsibility for making or approving the following appointments:

  Number of Appointments

  Executive Bodies

  Advisory bodies

  Other Appointments

  Listed in Public Bodies 1993 (including Royal Mint)

  —

  157

  40

  Not listed in Public Bodies2

  327

  456

  5146

  Total

  27

  113

  186

  Notes:

  1 Of these, the 44 Tay Review Body appointments require the Chancellor's approval but the Prime Minister is responsible for appointing members; the 13 appointments to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (listed separately in Public Bodies 1993) are Crown appointments made on the Chancellor's advice;

  2 These appointments relate to the bodies listed in the answer given response to on 3 March 1994 (official report, column 879);

  3 Of these, the 12 appointments to the Public Works Loan Board are Crown appointments on the recommendation of the Prime Minister who is in turn advised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer;

  4 Of these, the 16 appointments to the Treasury Academic Advisory Panel are made by the Chief Economic Advisor to the Treasury with oversight by the Chancellor of the Exchequer;
  1218
  5 Of these, the 7 appointments to the Crown Estate Commission are Crown appointments on the recommendation of the Prime Minister who in turn is advised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Reception
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the nature of the reception held on 28 June 1993 at 11 Downing street; and what was the cost.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 31 October 1994]: No reception was held at No. 11 on 28 June 1993.

DEFENCE

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment, and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Soames
  Former membership of the House of Commons is not a relevant qualification for appointment and is not centrally recorded. We are aware of only one example. Sir Antony Buck QC, the then Member for Colchester, North, served on the independent board of visitors for the military corrective training centre, Colchester from 1980 to 1992. At the date he stood down as a Member of Parliament and relinquished his appointment. Appointments are reviewed every three years and Sir Antony's last reappointment was in 1989. The post was as a member of the board and was not salaried.

  Eurocorps
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for Britain to join Eurocorps.

  Mr. Soames
  There are no plans for Britain to join the Eurocorps, although British forces are in principle available to the Western European Union.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for upgrading the defence-related activities of the Western European Union.

  Mr. Soames
  We remain committed to developing the Western European Union as the means to strengthen the European pillar of the NATO alliance and as the defence component of the European Union. We shall continue to contribute to the development of its operational planning, and to other aspects of its work. As agreed at the NATO summit last January, this process will include the development of separable but not separate capabilities which could respond to European requirements and contribute to alliance security.

  Puma
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, columns 173–74, when the royal naval aircraft yard Fleetlands bid for the Puma NVG contract; if the bid was the lowest; if

  1219
  other contenders were invited to resubmit their tenders; and if the final bid accepted was lower than that for Fleetlands.

  Mr. Freeman
  The royal naval aircraft yard Fleetlands submitted a budgetary estimate for the Puma NVG modification which contained a number of qualifications and exclusions particularly relating to the timeliness of delivery of modified aircraft to the concurrent firm price Puma navigation update programme. It was decided that placing the work with Fleetlands or with any organisation other than the PNU prime contractor would have exposed the Department to considerable financial risk arising from late delivery to the Puma aircraft. For this reason the NVG modification was not offered for open competition. The work, including acceptance of all risks arising from NVG modification delays, was awarded at higher cost to the PNU prime contractor under single tender arrangements and priced under the Departments stringent "no acceptable price no contract" procedure.

  Hunt Licences
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those areas designated as sites of special scientific interest where his Department has issued a licence to hunt in(a) 1993 and (b)

  Mr. Soames
  The designated sites of special scientific interest where my Department has issued a licence to hunt in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994 are as follows:

  Area

  Year

  Ramsey's Burn Wood, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Holystone Burn Wood, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Billsmoor Park, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Grasslees Wood, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Durtrees Burn Grassland, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Harbottle Moors, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Barrow Meadow, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Unbrigg, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Barrow Burn, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Cottonshape Head Quarry, Otterburn Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Appleby Fells, Warcop

  1993 only

  Spadeadam Mires, RAF Spadeadam

  1994 only

  Lower Swaledale Woods, Catterick

  1993 and 1994

  Foxlease and Ancell's Meadow, Minley

  1993 and 1994

  Thursley and Hankley Commons, Elstead

  1993 and 1994

  Woolmer Forest, Borden

  1993 and 1994

  Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heath, Surrey

  1993 and 1994

  Ash and Brookwood Heaths, Surrey

  1993 and 1994

  Salisbury Plain Training Area

  1993 and 1994

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which hunts were issued licences to hunt on Ministry of Defence land for the 1993–94 and 1994–95 hunting seasons.

  Mr. Soames
  The hunts which had licences during the 1993–94 season and have licences for the 1994–95 hunting season are:

  Year

  The North Shropshire Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The West Shropshire Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Tanatside Hunt

  1994–95 only

  The Border Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The West Percy Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Newcastle and District Beagles

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  1220

  Year

  The Tynedale Hunt

  1994–95 only

  The Ullswater Foxhounds

  1993–94 only

  The Lunesdale Foxhounds

  1993–94 only

  The Bedale Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The West of Yore Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Wensleydale Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Zetland Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Catterick Beagles

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Blankney Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Staff College and Royal Military Academy Drag Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Windsor Forest Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Surrey Union Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Brecon Farmer's Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Sennybridge Farmer's Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Irfon and Towey Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Glyn Celyn Beagles

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Avon Dale Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The Royal Artillery Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  The South and West Wiltshire Hunt

  1993–94 and 1994–95

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total income form licences to hunt on Ministry of Defence land in 1992, 1993 and to date for 1994; when the costs of such licences were reviewed; and whether such licences are open for public tender.

  Mr. Soames
  Total receipts from annual hunting licences were £729·85 for 1991–92, £292·80 for 1992–93 and £507·30 for 1993–94. The charge for individual licences are reviewed at different times so no specific date can be given for reviews of licence fees. The licences are granted on application and are not open to public tender.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many licences to hunt on Ministry of Defence land were issued in 1992, 1993 and to date in 1994 for which there was no charge; to which hunts or bodies the licences were issued; and which area of land were involved.

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of licences to hunt on MOE) land issued in 1992, 1993 and to date in 1994 for which there was no charge were 10, 10 and seven respectively. The hunts or bodies to which these licences were issued and the areas are as follows:

  The Bedale Hunt—Feldom

  The West of Yore Hunt—Feldom

  The Wensleydale Hunt—Feldom

  The Zetland Hunt—Feldom

  The Catterick Beagles—Feldom

  The Aldershot Staff College and Royal Military Academy Drag Hunt—MOD Training Areas in north east Hampshire and north west Surrey

  The Windsor Forest Hunt—MOD Training Areas in north east Hampshire and north west Surrey

  The Brecon Farmer's Hunt Sennybridge Training Area (not 1994)

  The Sennybridge Farmer's Hunt Sennybridge Training Area (Not 1994)

  The Irfon and Towey Hunt Sennybridge Training Area (Not 1994)

  Birds and Game
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total income from licences to shoot birds and game on Ministry of Defence land in 1992, 1993 and 1994; what are the annual charges for each licence; and if these are open for public tender.
  1221
  Mr. Soames
  The total income from licences to shoot birds and game on my Department's land in 1992, 1993 and 1994 was £12,012·61, £9,582·84 and£15,349·05 respectively. The annual fees for individual licences are commercial in confidence. Licences to shoot birds and game are not generally let by public tender.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hares have been captured on Ministry of Defence land at Foulness in each of the past three years; what methods of capture have been employed; to which locations the hares have been transported; which expert bodies have been utilised to supervise the capture, transportation and release of such hares and which organisations were consulted for advice; what were the

  The Belvoir Hunt

  The Quorn Hunt

  The Cottesmore Hunt

  Date

  Number

  Date

  Number

  Date

  Number

  6 March 1993

  4

  5 March 1993

  4

  11 November 1993

  4

  20 October 1993

  1

  8 March 1993

  2

  11 January 1994

  1

  23 October 1993

  2

  25 October 1993

  2

  27 January 1994

  1

  27 October 1993

  3

  29 October 1993

  4

  8 February 1994

  2

  30 October 1993

  2

  1 November 1993

  1

  1 November 1993

  1

  5 November 1993

  1

  3 November 1993

  4

  8 November 1993

  4

  8 November 1993

  4

  15 November 1993

  4

  10 November 1993

  2

  19 November 1993

  4

  13 November 1993

  3

  22 November 1993

  5

  17 November 1993

  4

  26 November 1993

  4

  24 November 1993

  3

  29 November 1993

  3

  27 November 1993

  3

  3 December 1993

  4

  1 December 1993

  4

  6 December 1993

  5

  4 December 1993

  7

  10 December 1993

  4

  8 December 1993

  2

  13 December 1993

  1

  11 December 1993

  4

  17 December 1993

  3

  15 December 1993

  4

  20 December 1993

  4

  18 December 1993

  4

  24 December 1993

  4

  22 December 1993

  4

  27 December 1993

  5

  5 January 1994

  4

  30 December 1993

  4

  8 January 1994

  3

  2 January 1994

  4

  12 January 1994

  3

  3 January 1994

  3

  15 January 1994

  2

  10 January 1994

  3

  19 January 1994

  4

  14 January 1994

  4

  22 January 1994

  4

  17 January 1994

  2

  26 January 1994

  4

  21 January 1994

  4

  29 January 1994

  2

  24 January 1994

  5

  2 February 1994

  2

  28 January 1994

  3

  5 February 1994

  4

  31 January 1994

  4

  9 February 1994

  3

  4 February 1994

  4

  12 February 1994

  4

  7 February 1994

  2

  2 March 1994

  2

  11 February 1994

  2

  5 March 1994

  4

  18 February 1994

  2

  9 March 1994

  2

  21 February 1994

  2

  28 February 1994

  4

  4 March 1994

  4

  7 March 1994

  1

  No additional costs to public funds were incurred as a result of this activity.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which mounted regiments have participated in fox hunting in 1993 and 1994.

  Mr. Soames
  Officers and soldiers of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery have taken part in fox hunts during 1993 and 1994. No additional costs to public funds were incurred as a result of this activity.
  1222
  costs of this exercise in 1993 and 1994 and who was responsible for the costs; and what costs were incurred by the Ministry of Defence.

  Mr. Soames
  Under the provisions of the Ground Game Act 1880, tenant farmers on Foulness Island have the absolute right to take ground game. This is a private matter and my Department does not maintain records relating to the capture of game.

  Fox Hunting
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list details and dates of when the Household Cavalry participated in fox hunting; with which hunts; and on how many occasions since February 1993.

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  UN Convention on Inhumane Weapons
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ratify the 1980–81 United Nations convention on inhumane weapons.

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 31 October,Official Report column 911.

  RAF Support Management Group
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in(a) mobile and (b) non-mobile grades employed at the RAF support management group in Harrogate have moved or have agreed to move to RAF Wyton.

  Mr. Freeman
  As at 1 November 1994, some 294 personnel in mobile grades and 80 personnel in non-mobile grades have moved or agreed to move to HQ RAF Logistics Command at RAF Wyton and RAF Brampton.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans are being drawn up for market testing in logistical support for each of the armed services.

  Mr. Freeman
  The defence cost study "Front Line First" has had a significant effect upon the size and shape of the Department's competing for quality initiative. The programme has been reviewed and we are currently finalising a much expanded version which will include a broad range of support activity. The 1994–95 programme is expected to cover activities valued at some £330 million. Details of individual market tests are published in the Cabinet Office's market testing bulletin.

  RAF Runways
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many airfields and how many runways are available to the Royal Air Force in each region of the United Kingdom; and how many of those runways will be lost to the service during the next five years.

  Mr. Soames
  Details of all airfields in the United Kingdom available to the RAF, including the number of runways at each location, can be found in the RAF flight information publication—En Route Supplement British Isles and North Atlantic—a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Over the next five years there is planned to be a reduction of eight in the number of runways operated by my Department.

  RAF Greenham Common
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has of nuclear contamination at the former airbase, RAF Greenham Common.

  Mr. Soames
  There is no evidence that RAF Greenham Common contains any nuclear contamination attributable to its former military use. The Defence Radiological Protection Service recently undertook an environmental radioactivity survey of the site. The levels of radioactivity present were similar to those prevailing throughout the United Kingdom.

  European Defence
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his policy to(a) pool and (b) merge the British Army with French and other European Union
  1224
  armies, leading to the eventual formation of a European army.

  Mr. Soames
  No.

  Landing Platform Helicopter
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for defence what changes there have been in the specification of the landing platform helicopter and in the contract price.

  Mr. Freeman
  In line with the assurances given to the Public Accounts Committee, my Department controls specification changes very carefully. Only a small number of essential changes to the specification have been agreed. These represent an additional cost of less than one half of 1 per cent. of the contract value.

  VSEL
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy in relation to the future ownership of VSEL, with particular reference to competition for future supply to the Navy.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department will, in the usual way, be giving its views to the regulatory authorities on the competition and any other relevant aspects of the possible takeover of VSEL. These views are confidential.

  Defence Contracts
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the outturn prices, (b) the estimated prices at the time of Ministry of Defence approval, (c) the actual time and (d) the estimated time to completion of defence projects valued at over £50 million undertaken for the Ministry of Defence since 1979 by GEC, where GEC was the prime contractor or was a member of a consortium with joint and several liability.

  Mr. Freeman
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Military Survey Defence Agency
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the director general of the Military Survey defence agency for the financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. Soames
  The Military Survey defence agency key targets for 1994–95 are:

  1. To meet 100 per cent. of operational requirements for geographic support to the required standard and on time.

  2. To achieve an operational evaluation (Opeval) status of "substantially effective" and to improve the Opeval concept by developing new Opeval criteria including two operational scenarios

  3. To meet the agreed production programme, to the extent to which operational requirements allow, which is quantified as:

  a. Originate or revise 275 maps and charts equating to 10,610 work units.

  b. Produce 763 digital products equating to 2,506 work units.
  Note: One work unit equates to five man days of effort.

  4. To achieve an efficiency target of at least 3.9 per cent.

  5. To operate within ±3 per cent. of the £53,708,000 budget, subject to in-year management direction.

  Although these targets are similar to those set last year, the way in which production targets have been set has been refined. The move to work units as the measure of performance recognises that no two products are the same with equal effort required.
  The agency performed well against last year's targets although the increase in support to operations lead to some production targets

  1225
  not being fully met. A copy of the agency's annual report will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State for Defence Procurement of 18 October,Official Report, column 240, when he expects AWE Aldermaston to obtain a safety licence.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: Experience in the civil sector suggests that preparations for licensing, including the production of prescribed documentation for assessment by the nuclear installations inspectorate, takes some time. The picture in respect of the AWE will become clearer during the discussions with the regulatory bodies to which I referred during the defence debate on 18 October 1994, Official Report, column 240, and which are now in progress. I expect to be able to give an indication of the likely timescale before Easter next year.

HEALTH

  Abortions
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if general practitioner fundholders can use their funds to purchase abortions for their patients.

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently announced that the fundholding scheme will be expanded from April 1996. Details are set out in an executive letter of 20 October 1994, a copy of which has been laid in the Library. In brief, there will be three new options: community fundholding, for those practices with a minimum list size of £3,000 patients; standard fundholding, an enlarged version of the current scheme, for which the list size requirement will be reduced to £5,000 patients; and total purchasing, where larger groups of practices will pilot the purchasing of all hospital and community health services. As part of this expansion, terminations of pregnancy will be included within standard fundholding from April 1996. Guidance will make it clear that, where a general practitioner has ethical objections to purchasing terminations of pregnancy, arrangements will be made for patients to have access to these services either through another GP fundholder or through services purchased by the district health authority.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were linked to rubella last year and 10 years ago.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1982 in England and Wales there were 226 legal abortions associated with rubella, compared with only 12 in 1992—a reduction of 95 per cent.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the risk of developing breast cancer for women who have had abortions; and what assessment her Department has made of Canadian research on the links between abortion and breast cancer.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no information on such risks. We await the full findings of the Canadian research with interest.

  Psychiatric Beds
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the national guidance to purchasers on levels for bed occupancy for acute beds and for psychiatric beds.

  Mr. Sackville
  We do not issue guidance on bed occupancy levels.

  Supervision Registers
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities had set up supervision registers as at 1 October.

  Mr. Bowis
  Early reports indicate that supervision registers were in place in the large majority of health districts by 1 October. They were well on the way to being in place in most of the remainder. The national health service executive is taking action to ensure that the guidance HSG(94)5, on supervision registers is fully implemented in all health districts as soon as possible. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

  Open House Hospice
  Miss. Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what grounds the funding commitment for the Open House hospice in Manchester, for people with HIV and AIDS, was reduced in October 1993 from the figure announced in March 1993; and on what grounds no money for the hospice has yet been released by the North Western region health authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  The initial sum was approved in principle on the assumption that a full independent assessment of the need for palliative care across the region had been carried out, and that the need for an HIV specific hospice had been established. As this was not the case, a sum of £750,000 has been allocated to North Western region to carry out a thorough assessment of palliative care for all client groups in the region and to implement the report's recommendations.

  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State will write in more detail to the hon. Member about this matter and a copy of her letter will be placed in the Library.

  Day Nurseries
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress she has made in reviewing the system of regulation for day nurseries.

  Mr. Bowis
  The. Department monitors the Children Act through the social services inspectorate. In January 1993 we issued a circular LAC(93)1 to clarify existing guidance on the registration of day care facilities, including nurseries. Copies of the circular are available in the Library.

  Special Transitional Grant
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to reflect the special needs of elderly people in respect of community care in the next year's special transitional grant for social service authorities.

  Mr. Bowis
  An announcement on next year's grant will be made in due course.

  Burnley NHS Healthcare Trust
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will investigate and make public the circumstances at Burnley NHS Healthcare trust in which the chief executive and chairman each called for the other's resignation.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 1 November. The chief executive resigned on 28 October.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what qualities she took into account in deciding to appoint Mr. James Rawson as chairman of Burnley NHS Healthcare trust.

  Mr. Sackville
  Mr. Rawson was re-appointed as chairman of Burnley NHS Healthcare trust from 1 December 1993 following his performance as chairman of the trust between 1 December 1991 and 31 November 1993.

  Growth Hormone
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the responsibilities of fundholding general practitioners for the payment of the cost of growth hormone treatment for their patients;

  (2) if she will make a statement on the division of responsibilities for the prescribing of growth hormone treatment between the prescribing hospital and the patient's general practitioner.

  Mr. Malone
  As for all drug therapies, the responsibility for prescribing for a particular patient rests with the doctor who has clinical responsibility for that aspect of the patient's care. This applies irrespective of whether the general practitioner is fundholding or not. This is clearly set out in guidance to the NHS, EL(91)127, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Hepatitis and Dysentery
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the percentage change in the number of cases of(a) hepatitis and (b) dysentery since the privatisation of the water authorities.

  Mr. Sackville
  The data provided are for notification—England and Wales—to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys of dysentery and hepatitis A, the form of viral hepatitis most likely to be transmitted by water, between 1988 and 1993. The data for 1993 are provisional. These notifications may be made before the diagnosis is firmly established. Notifications are therefore subject to withdrawal or amendment.

  Year

  Dysentery

  Per cent. change

  Hepatitis A

  Per cent. change

  1988

  3,692

  —

  3,190

  —

  1989

  3,278

  -11

  5,278

  +65

  1990

  2,756

  -16

  7,316

  +39

  1991

  9,935

  +260

  7,430

  +2

  1992

  16,960

  +71

  7,856

  +6

  1993

  6,837

  -60

  4,457

  -43

  Dysentery and viral hepatitis both show a periodicity in their incidence with natural peaks and troughs every eight to 10 years. The most recent peaks in the annual incidence of dysentery were seen in 1984 and 1992 and the most
  1228
  recent peaks in the annual incidence of hepatitis A were seen in 1982 and 1992.

  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what study she has commissioned regarding any correlation between the number of dysentery cases and the price of water;

  (2) what study she has commissioned into any correlation between the number of hepatitis cases and the price of water.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Road Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the income received from the Road Traffic Act 1988 charges for treatment of road traffic accident victims in each region in each of the last five years for which figures have been kept.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Asthma
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of asthma in children under five years were recorded in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  Numbers of hospital in-patient cases of children suffering from asthma are available from hospital episode statistics for the years shown in the table. Figures for earlier years are not available.

  0–4 age group, Finished consultant episodes—England

  Number

  1988–89

  38,759

  1989–90

  32,676

  1990–91

  32,343

  1991–92

  32,177

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Blood Transfusion Service
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration is being given to donor convenience and the views of doctors and hospitals in the current review of the blood transfusion service.

  Mr. Sackville
  Donors' interests are a key feature in the national blood authority's proposals. Under the proposals, blood collection would be readily accessible to donors. Mobile teams would go out to donors in all areas whether the centres are amalgamated or not.

  The national blood authority's proposals are the result of a strategic review which included the views of doctors and hospitals. The authority is consulting with hospitals locally and drawing up a detailed plan to cover all their requirements. Views have also been sought from various bodies representing the medical profession. The National Blood Authority is undertaking a national consultation on its proposals. The results will be carefully considered before decisions are made.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much blood is currently held at the blood transfusion centre, Liverpool; what capacity it has for the storage of blood; and what capacity for storing blood exists in the hospitals served by the centre.
  1229
  Mr. Sackville
  The blood stock held at the Liverpool blood transfusion centre varies from day to day. The centre can comfortably hold between 3,500 and 4,000 units. Figures are not available centrally for blood storage capacity in the hospitals served by the centre. The proposals to reorganise the national blood service include improved blood stockholding units so that all hospitals, including those in Liverpool, have easy access to supplies.

  Food Poisoning
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest figures available for the current year for the number of reported cases of human salmonellosis in England and Wales.

  Mr. Sackville
  Data on salmonella infections in humans are published in the "Communicable Disease Report", copies of which are available in the Library.

  There was a decrease of 2·8 per cent. in the figures recorded for January to September 1994 compared with the same period in 1993.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of food poisoning notifications to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for 1993 up the nearest available date to 7 October.

  Mr. Sackville
  Up to 7 October 1993 there were 56,428 notifications.

  Figures for 1993 are provisional. These notifications may be made before the diagnosis is firmly established and are therefore subject to withdrawal or amendment.

  Glaucoma
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new patients with glaucoma were referred to out-patient departments for each year from 1985 until the latest for which current figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected by medical condition.

  Camden and Islington Health Authority
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fundholding general practitioner practices there are in Camden and Islington health authority area; what proportion of the lists they cover; and for what proportions of hospital admissions they are responsible.

  Mr. Malone
  There are two general practitioner fundholding practices in Camden and Islington serving 6 per cent. of the population. The information requested on the proportion of hospital admissions is not currently available.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussion she has had with the Camden and Islington health authority concerning its level of financial resources in the current financial year.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is proposing to take to restore non-emergency health services to the people of Islington; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for the Camden and Islington health authority and the hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Mr. Roland Everington, for details.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the names of the members of chairs of(a) the NHS supplies authority and (b) the Bromley health authority on 1 April.

  Mr. Malone
  [pursuant to his reply 21 April 1994, c. 668]I regret that potentially misleading information was given in the previous reply concerning the membership of the National Health Service Supplies Authority. The reply stated that there is no statutory bar to the appointment of chairman and members of other health authorities to the NHS Supplies Authority. The reply omitted to state that the regulations governing NHS trusts do not allow individuals to be appointed to NHS trusts if they are members of the NHS Supplies Authority. One of those listed in the reply, Mr. Frederick Hoult, was chairman of the Freeman Group of Hospitals NHS trust, and has subsequently been found to have become technically disqualified from his trust appointment when he was appointed to the NHS Supplies Authority on 1 October 1991.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by name and position those chairs, members and non-executive directors of district health authorities, FHSA, NHS trusts, shadow NHS trusts and other NHS authorities which have dual appointments as chairs, members or non-executive directors of other district health authorities, FHSAs, NHS trusts, shadow NHS trusts and other NHS authorities.

  Mr. Malone
  [pursuant to his reply 25 April 1994, c. 68–69]: I regret that potentially misleading information was provided in the previous reply. The reply included a list of dual national health service appointments which included five cases which have subsequently been found to be invalid. The reply also stated that appointees to other NHS bodies are permitted to be appointed as members of the NHS Supplies Authority and the Mental Health Act Commission. This was accurate in relation to some NHS bodies but did not reflect the position for NHS trusts, whose chairmen and non-executive directors may not be appointed to special health authorities.

  Corrective action has been taken and 11 individuals whose appointments were invalid now hold only valid appointments. These individuals are listed as follows. The posts in which individuals continue are marked with an asterisk:
  Mr. Frederick Hoult: Chairman of the Freeman Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, and member of the NHS Supplies Authority*.
  Mrs. Phyllida Entwistle: Chairman of the Furness Hospitals NHS Trust*, and member of the Mental Health Act Commission.
  Miss Georgina Linton: Non-executive director of Guy's and Lewisham Mental Health NHS Trust*, and member of the Mental Health Act Commission (Miss Linton resumed as a non-executive director of the Trust after her term at the Mental Health Act Commission ended on 31 October 1994).
  Mrs. Lotte Mason: Non-executive director of Ravensbourne Priority Health NHS Trust, and member of the Mental Health Act Commission*.
  Professor Elaine Murphy: Non-executive director of North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, and member of the Mental Health Act Commission*. (Professor Murphy will resume as

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  non-executive director of the Trust after her present term at the Mental Health Act Commission ends on 30 November 1994).
  Ms Rosalie Szasz: Non-executive member of Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster FHSA*, and member of the Dental Vocational Training Authority.
  Mr. Brian Westbury: Non-executive member of Redbridge and Waltham Forest FHSA*, and member of the Dental Vocational Training Authority.
  Mr. John Mooney: Non-executive member of Bury FHSA*, and member of the Dental Vocational Training Authority.
  Mr. Julian Bedford: Non-executive member of North Yorkshire FHSA*, and member of the Dental Vocational Training Authority.
  Mr. John Renshaw: Non-executive member of North Yorkshire DHA*, and member of the Dental Vocational Training Authority.
  Professor Alasdair Geddes: Non-executive member of North Birmingham DHA, and member of the Health Education Authority*.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list, for each NHS trust within the North Nottinghamshire and Nottingham district health authority areas, those non-executive directors who live(a) within and (b) outside the boundaries of each district health authority.

  Mr. Malone
  [pursuant to his reply, 25 May 1994, c. 214–15]: I regret that there were errors in the previous reply.

  I have today placed in the Library a revised list of those chairmen and non-executive directors of national health service trusts who live outside the boundaries of the health authority in which their trust is situated.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list, for each NHS trust within the Sheffield district health authority area, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live(a) within and (b) outside the Sheffield district health authority boundary;

  (2) pursuant to her answer of 16 May, Official Report, column 324, if she will list, for each NHS trust in the Trent region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority area within which that trust is situated;

  (3) if she will list, for each NHS trust in the former Northern region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (4) if she will list, for each NHS trust in the former East Anglian region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (5) if she will list, for each NHS trust in the former Mersey region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (6) if she will list, for each NHS trust in the former Wessex region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (7) if she will list for each NHS trust, in the former North Western region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (8) if she will list for each NHS trust, in the former South Western region, those chairmen and non-executive
  1232
  directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (9) if she will list for each NHS trust in the West Midlands region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (10) if she will list for each NHS trust in the former Oxford region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (11) if she will list for each NHS trust in the former North West Thames region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (12) if she will list for each NHS trust in the former South West Thames region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (13) if she will list for each national health service trust in the former North East Thames region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (14) if she will list for each national health service trust in the former Yorkshire region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated;

  (15) if she will list, for each NHS trust in the former South East Thames region, those chairman and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated.

  Mr. Malone
  [pursuant to his replies, 16 May 1994, c. 324, 14 June 1994, c. 374–75, 1 July 1994, c. 741–44, 4 July 1994, c. 102–4, 5 July 1994, c. 193–96, 6 July 1994, c. 219–22, 7 July 1994, c. 313–17 and 8 July 1994, c. 371–74]: I regret that there were errors in the previous replies.

  I have today placed in the Library a revised list of those chairmen and non-executive directors of national health service trusts who live outside the boundaries of the health authority in which their trust is situated.

  Allitt Report
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress there has been in implementing the recommendations made in the report of the Allitt inquiry published in February 1994.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The following progress has been made:

  Recommendation 1.
  We recommended that, for all those seeking entry to the nursing profession, in addition to routine references the most recent employer or place of study should be asked to provide at leas: a record of time taken off on grounds of sickness.
  From April 1995, there will be consistent and agreed guidelines on seeking references from the most recent employer or place of study on a record of time taken off on grounds of sickness. The English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (ENB) has issued draft regulations and guidelines which will meet this recommendation. Additionally, the University and Colleges Admission Service has agreed to harmonise their arrangements with those of the ENB.
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  Recommendation 2.
  We recommend that in every case Coroners should send copies of post mortem reports to any consultant who has been involved in the patient's care prior to death whether or not demanded under Rule 57 of the Coroner's Rules 1984.
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary, in whose area of responsibility this recommendation falls, intends to commend the principles of the recommendation in a circular to be issued to all coroners in England and Wales later this month.

  Recommendation 3.
  We recommend that the provision of paediatric pathology services be reviewed with a view to ensuring that such services be engaged in every case in which the death of a child is unexpected or clinically unaccountable, whether the post mortem examination is ordered by a Coroner or in routine hospital practice.
  This recommendation has been considered by the Strategic Review of Pathology Services which advises that more work is required on a number of detailed operational issues. A Working Group to look at the issues involved will be set up.

  Recommendations 4,5,6,7,8 and 9

  Recommendation 4.
  We recommend that no candidate for nursing in whom there is evidence of major personality disorder should be employed in the profession.

  Recommendation 5.
  We recommend that nurses should undergo formal health screening when they obtain their first posts after qualifying. We acknowledge that in Allitt's case this was done.

  Recommendation 6.
  We recommend that the possibility be reviewed of making available to the Occupational Health Departments any records of absence through sickness from any institution which an applicant for a nursing post has attended or been employed by.

  Recommendation 7.
  We recommend that procedures for management referrals to Occupational Health should make clear the criteria which should trigger such referrals.

  Recommendation 8.
  We recommend that further consideration be given to how the suggestion of the Chairman of the Association of NHS Occupational Physicians could be applied in practice.
  The Chairman suggested that applicants who show one or more of (excessive absence through sickness, excessive use of counselling or medical facilities or self-harming behaviour) should not be accepted for training until they have shown the ability to live an
  1234
  independent life without professional support and be in employment for at least two years.

  Recommendation 9.
  We recommend that consideration be given to how GPs might, with the candidate's consent, be asked to certify that there is nothing in the medical history of a candidate for employment in the NHS which would make them unsuitable for their chosen occupation.
  Guidance on occupational health is to be issued shortly which will cover all these recommendations. Together with the English National Board's new guidelines, this guidance will establish better procedures for selection of student nurses for training, the selection of staff to work on children's wards and the follow up of staff who have a history of excessive absence through sickness.

  Recommendation 10.
  We recommend that the Department of Health should take steps to ensure that its guide "Welfare of Children and Young People in Hospital", is more closely followed.
  The guide referred to make clear that hospitals themselves should determine the number of staff they require to look after the children in their care. It also made a number of recommendations about staffing levels. We have surveyed the current staffing arrangements in paediatric nursing and identified a need for further improvement in some places. For daytime shifts nearly 50 per cent. of hospitals meet the recommendations and among those units not yet there some 40 per cent. have plans in place for increasing the numbers of trained childrens nurses. The results of the survey will be made available shortly and a copy will be made available in the Library. There has been a considerable growth in the number of nurses entering training for paediatric nursing in recent years: up from 183 in 1988 to 819 in 1992–93 for pre-registration training and from 628 to 811 for post registration training over the five year period. Training commissions for paediatric nurses rose by 36 per cent. between 1991–92 and 1994–95 (from 879 per year to 1198) reflecting increased employer demand.

  Recommendation 11.
  We recommend that in the event of a failure of an alarm on monitoring equipment, an untoward incident report should be completed and the equipment serviced before it is used again.
  This recommendation has been considered by the Expert Advisory Working Group appointed by the Medical Devices Agency who have responsibility for the safety and quality of medical devices. The draft recommendations of this Expert Group go further than those of recommendation 11. The Group is expected to present its final report later this month.

  Recommendation 12.
  We recommend that reports of serious untoward incidents to District and Regional Health Authorities should be made in writing and through a single channel which is known to all involved.
  We will shortly be writing to all Regional Directors requiring them to establish lines of reporting with Chief Executives of all NHS Trusts so that there can be swift and effective reporting of any such untoward incidents.

  UN SECURITY COUNCIL AND USE OF FORCE
  UN SECURITY COUNCIL AND USE OF FORCE
  INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
  INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
  STATE TERRORISM
  STATE TERRORISM
  IRAQ: UN RESOLUTIONS
  IRAQ: UN RESOLUTIONS
  BAGHDAD MISSILE ATTACK, 1993: JUSTIFICATION UNDER UN CHARTER
  BAGHDAD MISSILE ATTACK, 1993: JUSTIFICATION UNDER UN CHARTER
  HOUSE OF LORDS: DECLARATION OF MEMBERS' INTERESTS
  HOUSE OF LORDS: DECLARATION OF MEMBERS' INTERESTS
  POLICE: CODE OF PRACTICE ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
  POLICE: CODE OF PRACTICE ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
  CHANNEL FERRY PASSENGERS: FRENCH TAX
  CHANNEL FERRY PASSENGERS: FRENCH TAX
  A.92: IMPROVEMENT
  A.92: IMPROVEMENT
  HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES PENALTIES FOR MISUSE
  HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES PENALTIES FOR MISUSE
  SHIPYARD PRODUCTION AND DESIGN FACILITIES
  SHIPYARD PRODUCTION AND DESIGN FACILITIES
  PUBLIC UTILITIES: STANDING CHARGES
  PUBLIC UTILITIES: STANDING CHARGES
  MR. PHILIP PINK
  MR. PHILIP PINK
  CARAVAN PITCHES
  CARAVAN PITCHES
  STRUCTURE PLAN MODIFICATION
  STRUCTURE PLAN MODIFICATION
  PRIVATE GIPSY SITES
  PRIVATE GIPSY SITES
  LOCAL AUTHORITY GIPSY SITES
  LOCAL AUTHORITY GIPSY SITES
  DEFENCE SITES IN WILTSHIRE: CLOSURE
  DEFENCE SITES IN WILTSHIRE: CLOSURE
  IMMIGRATION OFFICERS: TRAINING
  IMMIGRATION OFFICERS: TRAINING
  CARDIFF BAY BARRAGE BILL
  CARDIFF BAY BARRAGE BILL
  MISS EMMA HUMPHREYS
  MISS EMMA HUMPHREYS
  NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD SCHEME
  NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD SCHEME
  IMMIGRATION OFFICERS: POWERS
  IMMIGRATION OFFICERS: POWERS
  CUSTOMS OFFICERS ACTING AS IMMIGRATION OFFICERS
  CUSTOMS OFFICERS ACTING AS IMMIGRATION OFFICERS
  IMMIGRATION: RESPONSIBILITY
  IMMIGRATION: RESPONSIBILITY
  IMMIGRATION OFFICERS: TRAINING
  IMMIGRATION OFFICERS: TRAINING
  MEDICAL RESEARCH AND HUMAN BEINGS: COUNCIL OF EUROPE RECOMMENDATIONS
  MEDICAL RESEARCH AND HUMAN BEINGS: COUNCIL OF EUROPE RECOMMENDATIONS
  PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL, WROUGHTON: CLOSURE
  PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL, WROUGHTON: CLOSURE
  DEFENCE RUNDOWN, WILTSHIRE
  DEFENCE RUNDOWN, WILTSHIRE
  PESTICIDE MISUSE: TIME LIMIT FOR INVESTIGATION OF REPORTED INCIDENTS
  PESTICIDE MISUSE: TIME LIMIT FOR INVESTIGATION OF REPORTED INCIDENTS
  JOBSEEKER'S ALLOWANCE AND AGREEMENT
  JOBSEEKER'S ALLOWANCE AND AGREEMENT