Written Answers of 24 October 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Law Students
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the numbers of law students embarking on the final year legal practice course in order to qualify for the profession of solicitors; how many he estimates were unable to obtain discretionary grant funding; and what assessment he has made of the effect that the availability of discretionary grant has had on the number of people entering the legal profession.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The award of discretionary grants is a matter for individual local authorities, and policy on postgraduate grant funding is a matter for the Secretary of State for Education. The Lord Chancellor's Department has therefore made no assessment of the numbers of law students embarking on the legal practice course, of those unable to obtain discretionary funding, or of the effect this may have had on numbers of entrants to the legal profession. However, I understand from the Law Society that numbers embarking on the course have risen steadily in recent years. There will be about 6,500 students commencing the 1994–95 course, compared with about 6,000 for 1993–94.

  Contract Law
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to the answer of 31 March 1993 to the hon. Member of High Peak (Mr. Hendry),Official Report, columns 195–96 what representations he has received concerning the date when reforms of privity of contract should take effect.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Since 31 March 1993, representations have been received from the British Retail Consortium and from several members of the public.

  Mr. Ernest Saunders
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much legal aid was given to Mr. Ernest Saunders, formerly of Guinness plc.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Lawyers representing Ernest Saunders in the first Guiness trial received legal aid payments totalling £1,342,465. This figure includes VAT and covers all legal representation at the Crown court and the Court of Appeal.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications there were for legal aid in 1993–94; how many staff are employed in total to check the financial 394
  data presented with each claim; how many staff on average check the financial data presented with such claims; and how many prosecutions there were for fraudulent claims in 1993–94.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In 1993–94, there were 413,728 applications for civil legal aid. Civil legal aid means assessments are carried out by trained specialist staff of the Benefits' Agency legal aid assessment office. The office has 134 assessment officers whose duties are to check and assess legal aid applications. In 1993, there were 606,041 applications for criminal legal aid. Applications are dealt with by magistrates court or Crown court centre staff. Prosecutions for fraudulent claims by applicants for legal aid are matters for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. In 1993–94, the Legal Aid Assessment Office referred 15 cases to them.

  Sheriffs
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department to whom high sheriffs and under-sheriffs are accountable; and what are the procedures for an individual citizen to pursue a claim against an under-sheriff whom he believes to have acted in an oppressive manner.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  A complaint about a sheriff s officer should, in the first instance, be made to the under-sheriff. If the matter is to be taken further, a complaint should go to the high sheriff. High sheriffs are appointed annually by Her Majesty the Queen and are independent of Government.

  In addition, complaints can be made to the Under-Sheriffs Association. and the Sheriffs Officers Association. Although the associations have no statutory authority to act on their findings or to punish an offending member, together the two associations are able to investigate and resolve justified grievances. There is no professional requirement for appointment as an under-sheriff, but in practice all are solicitors and a complaint can also be addressed to the Law Society.

  The final recourse for a person who wishes to pursue a grievance is to issue legal proceedings against the high sheriff. The high sheriff would be in a position to issue a third party notice to the sheriffs officer.

  Magistrates Bench
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what efforts he is making to ensure that the magistrates bench throughout England and Wales is politically balanced.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster seek, through their local advisory committees, to encourage applications from suitable people of all walks of life and political affiliations by means of press notice and articles, posters and leaflets, court open days and contact with local organisations and employers. Appointments are made from those considered to be suitable having proper regard to the various balancing factors, including political affiliation, so that each bench broadly reflects the community it serves.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the political balance of the magistrates bench in(a) the London borough of Brent and (b) England and Wales, broken down into petty sessional areas.
  395
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  (a) The political affiliation of magistrates in the London borough of Brent, based on the latest information available, is as follows:

  Conservative

  79

  Labour

  43

  Liberal/Democrat

  18

  Green

  8

  Independent/Not Known

  18

  (b) The individual political balance of each of the 406 petty sessional divisions in England and Wales could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Should the hon. Member require this information for a particular bench or benches it could be supplied to him.

  Lord Chancellor
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of meetings of the Cabinet the Lord Chancellor has attended for each year since 1970.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is not Government policy to release details concerning meetings of the Cabinet. The Lord Chancellor is, however, guided, as are all Cabinet Ministers, by paragraph 20 of Questions of Procedure for Ministers, which states:"Cabinet meetings take precedence over all other business except meetings of the Privy Council."

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what figures he has concerning the percentage of working time spent by(a) the current Lord Chancellor and (b) Lord Chancellors since 1964 on their three respective roles as head of the judiciary, Speaker of the House of Lords and head of the administration of the civil justice system; what figures he has on the number of hours each has spent sitting as a judge and as Speaker of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information is not available in the form requested and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Information is available on the number of days which Lord Chancellors since 1964 have spent sitting judicially in the House of Lords and in the Privy Council, and is set out in the table. The Lord Chancellor spends a significant proportion of his time carrying out his duties as Speaker of the House of Lords, for which 14 per cent. of his official salary is paid by the House of Lords. The great majority of the Lord Chancellor's time is spent on his combined duties as head of the judiciary and as a Cabinet Minister with a wide range of responsibilities for the administration of justice.

  Lord Chancellor

  Period of Office

  Number of days* House of Lords

  Number of days* Privy Council

  Lord Gardiner

  1964–70

  4

  9

  Lord Hailsham of St. Marylebone

  1970–74

  28

  10

  Lord Elwyn-Jones

  1974–79

  8

  —

  Lord Hailsham of St. Marylebone

  1979–87

  53

  15

  Lord Havers

  1987

  —

  —

  Lord Mackay of Clashfern

  1987–94

  60

  7

  * ie 4·5 hours.

TRANSPORT

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by his Department to promote the smoky vehicle hotline; what assessment he has made of how many individual members of the public are aware of its existence; and what additional steps he is prepared to take to publicise its existence.

  Mr. Norris
  The procedure under which members of the public can report excessively smoky heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles to the Vehicle Inspectorate is explained in detail in a leaflet published in August 1993. I have placed copies in the library.

  Copies of the leaflet were sent to local authorities, libraries, citizens advice bureaux, motoring organisations, environmental groups and other interested bodies. The leaflet is currently available on request from both the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment. The reporting procedure is also explained in a leaflet which has been sent out with all vehicle excise licence renewal notices since February 1994.

  The Vehicle Inspectorate received almost 3,000 hotline calls between April 1993 and March 1994. We are committed to continuing to run the hotline and to encouraging people to make good use of it.

  Public Transport (Fares)
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to take into account the surveys carried out by the Association of London Authorities and the London Research Council in reviewing public transport fares; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  I am aware of the results of these surveys. In reviewing operators' proposals for public transport fares, we take all relevant factors into account.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage above inflation increases in fares represent for the period 1984–85 to 1993–94 in respect of(a) London Buses, (b) London Underground and (c) Network SouthEast.

  Mr. Norris
  The following is the information:

  (a) 33 per cent., (b) 34 per cent., (c) 25 per cent.

  Night Blindness
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has a record of the number of accidents caused through motorists not being able to identify other vehicle headlamps at night.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not available.

  SS Richard Montgomery
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the survey in 1993 of the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery.

  Mr. Norris
  A very thorough survey of this dangerous wreck was completed in September 1993 and delivered to the Coastguard Agency, which has responsibility for the wreck. The wreck is surveyed on a biennial basis to monitor its condition. A hydrographic survey of seabed area surrounding the wreck was also completed by the
  397
  Port of Sheerness Ltd. The port authority is under contract to the Coastguard Agency to guard the wreck.

  The survey revealed that there was no evidence of any major change to the wreck since the previous survey in 1991, although it continues to deteriorate slowly and may be expected to begin to break up within the next few years. No dangerous material was found during the survey, although a substantial quantity of munitions remain on board. The silt surrounding the site was shown to be mobile with a deep scour under the wreck itself which is expected to accelerate the deterioration of the hull and eventually lead to the disappearance of that part of the wreck still visible above the surface.

  In the light of the survey findings, I have decided that the site of the wreck should remain a prohibited area under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 and that no attempt be made to clear it or its cargo. The wreck will continue to be monitored and another survey undertaken in due course.

  I have placed in the Library a report by the Coastguard Agency summarising the result of the 1993 survey, and the steps taken over the years to contain the danger from the munitions on board.

  I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

  Marine Accidents
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will name those flag states which, according to the 1993 annual report of the marine accident investigation branch, leave the investigation of accidents involving vessels bearing their flag to other administrations; and what representations he has made to those countries.

  Mr. Norris
  A definitive list is not available. No direct representations have been made, but the United Kingdom is working through IMO to encourage those flag states to fulfil their obligations under the various conventions.

  Sleeper Services
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement outlining Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to the provision of rail sleeper services between London and Scotland; and if he will make it his policy that existing services will be guaranteed for the foreseeable future.

  Mr. Watts
  The provision of sleeper services between London and Scotland is at present a matter for British Rail. In future it will be for the operator to decide on the level of such services in the light of the minimum service specification set by the franchising director. The objectives, instructions and guidance given to him by the Secretary of State made it clear that for the initial letting of franchises minimum service specifications should be based on the level of services being provided by British Rail immediately prior to franchising, taking into account the existence of and justification for seasonal variations in service schedules.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to promote the inclusion of the west coast main line route in the proposed trans-European railway network currently under consideration by the European Union; and if he will make a statement.
  398
  Mr. Watts
  The west coast main line is already included in the draft trans-European railway network. We have proposed adding the modernisation of the line to the list of priority projects which is being developed by the Christophersen group, and have provided the Commission with full briefings on its scale and significance. We are optimistic that the group will recognise the importance of this project to the trans-European railway network in the report which it is due to present to the European Council in December.

  Gatwick Airport
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cubic metres of soil are being removed to make the cutting for the M3 at Twyford Down; and how much would need to be removed if an additional runway were to be constructed at Gatwick as suggested by the RUCATSE working group.

  Mr. Norris
  I understand that some 1·8 million cubic metres of soil were removed to make the cutting for the M3 at Twyford Down. The RUCATSE working group estimated that, at Gatwick, some 18 million cubic metres of soil would need to be removed in constructing the northern runway option that was subject to detailed study.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has undertaken the further study, referred to in the report of the RUCATSE working group, into the possibility that the construction of a runway at Gatwick in a deep cutting would create turbulence.

  Mr. Norris
  No.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the non-departmental public bodies to which his Department makes appointments in the Greater London area, together with the total annual budget for each body and the number of appointments made or renewed for each body in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is shown in the chart.

  Name of Body

  Gross Expenditure (£million*)

  Number of New Appointments and Appointments Renewed

  EXECUTIVE BODIES

  Arts Council of England

  17A

  1989–91

  155·5

  4N 1R

  1990–91

  175·792

  1N 2R

  1991–92

  206·365

  2N 2R

  1992–93

  206·365

  5N 1R

  1993–94

  225·6

  2N

  British Film Institute

  20A

  1989–90

  22·98

  5N 3R

  1990–91

  24·14

  3N 4R

  1991–92

  26·82

  2N 4R

  1992–93

  30·369

  7N 2R

  1993–94

  27·178

  3N 2R

  399

  Name of Body

  Gross Expenditure (£million*)

  Number of New Appointments and Appointments Renewed

  British Library

  14A (includes 3 ex-officio appointments)

  1989–90

  77·05

  2N 2R

  1990–91

  80·49

  1N 1R

  1991–92

  80·49

  3N

  1992–93

  96·71

  1N 2R

  1993–94

  105·123

  2N 2R

  British Museum

  25A

  1989–90

  31·120

  4N 2R

  1990–91

  34·531

  1N 3R

  1991–92

  38·351

  2N 3R

  1992–93

  42·68

  1N

  1993–94

  44·32

  2N 4R

  British Tourist Authority

  6A

  1989–90

  37·9

  1N 5R

  1990–91

  39·8

  1N 1R

  1991–92

  43·51

  1N 4R

  1992–93

  45·08

  1993–94

  48·0

  3N 3R

  Broadcasting Complaints Commission

  5A

  1989–90

  0·259

  1N

  1990–91

  0·340

  1N

  1991–92

  0·482

  1N 1R

  1992–93

  0·417

  2N

  1993–94

  0·537

  2N

  Broadcasting Standards Council

  8A

  1989–90

  1·080

  1990–91

  1·243

  1991–92

  1·343

  1N

  1992–93

  1·263

  1N 1R

  1993–94

  1·465

  4N 1R

  Crafts Council

  14A

  1989–90

  3·26

  2N 3R

  1990–91

  3·49

  5N

  1991–92

  3·83

  2N 3R

  1992–93

  4·11

  3N 1R

  1993–94

  4·6

  2R

  English Tourist Board

  7A

  1989–90

  19·15

  2N 5R

  1990–91

  24·5

  1N IR

  1991–92

  18·95

  1N 4R

  1992–93

  20·8

  1N 1R

  1993–94

  18·9

  2N 4R

  Football Licensing Authority

  9A

  1989–90

  —

  1990–91

  0·110

  6N

  1991–92

  0·766

  1992–93

  0·8

  1993–94

  0·9

  3N 5R

  Geffrye Museum1

  12A

  1992–93

  0·971

  1N

  1993–94

  1·195

  4R

  Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (English Heritage)

  14A

  1989–90

  87·0

  4N 2R

  1990–91

  90·2

  3N

  1991–92

  102·857

  5N 1R

  1992–93

  114·257

  3N 3R

  400

  Name of Body

  Gross Expenditure (£ million*)

  Number of New Appointments and Appointments Renewed

  1993–94

  114·264

  2R

  Horniman Museum1

  10A

  1992–93

  2·895

  4R

  1993–94

  2·477

  1R

  Imperial War Museum

  15A (+6 Commonwealth Commissioners)

  1989–90

  16·464

  1990–91

  14·588

  3N 2R

  1991–92

  17·262

  1N 2R

  1992–93

  17·415

  2N 1R

  1993–94

  17·975

  1N

  Millennium Commission2

  9A

  1993–94

  0·082

  9N

  Museum of London

  18A

  1989–90

  6·233

  3R

  1990–91

  7·233

  4R

  1991–92

  8·258

  1N 4R

  1992–93

  12·989

  5R

  1993–94

  13·631

  3N

  Museums and Galleries Commission

  15A

  1989–90

  6·95

  1R

  1990–91

  10·439

  1R

  1991–92

  11·676

  3N 2R

  1992–93

  9·123

  3R

  1993–94

  9·364

  3N 3R

  National Film Development Fund

  3A

  1989–90

  0·35

  1990–91

  0·24

  1N 1R

  1991–92

  —

  1N

  1992–93

  —

  1993–94

  —

  2R

  National Gallery

  12A

  1989–90

  17·328

  2N 1R

  1990–91

  22·953

  3N

  1991–92

  21·976

  —

  1992–93

  22·871

  1N 1R

  1993–94

  26·1

  3N 1R

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  13A

  1989–90

  17·6

  1R

  1990–91

  17·9

  1N 1R

  1991–92

  15·811

  3N 2R

  1992–93

  12·292

  3N 1R

  1993–94

  10·558

  2R

  National Maritime Museum

  12A

  1989–90

  11·109

  2N

  1990–91

  12·461

  1N 1R

  1991–92

  12·468

  1R

  1992–93

  12·468

  3N

  1993–94

  11·608

  2N

  National Portrait Gallery

  14A (+2 ex officio appointments)

  1989–90

  4·93

  1R

  1990–91

  5·97

  1R

  1991–92

  6·691

  2N 2R

  1992–93

  11·031

  3N

  1993–94

  11·402

  1R

  401

  Name of Body

  Gross Expenditure (£million*

  Number of New Appointments and Appointments Renewed

  Natural History Museum

  12A

  1989–90

  29·1

  2N

  1990–91

  32·552

  1N 2R

  1991–92

  38·115

  2N

  1992–93

  39·509

  1N

  1993–94

  41·208

  1N 4R

  Royal Armouries

  11A

  1989–90

  4·0

  2N

  1990–91

  4·2

  1N

  1991–92

  4·35

  1N 1R

  1992–93

  6·031

  2R

  1993–94

  6·641

  1N 2R

  Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts

  17A

  1989–90

  0·62

  3N

  1990–91

  0·79

  3N

  1991–92

  0·81

  1N

  1992–93

  0·81

  2N

  1993–94

  0·947

  2R

  Science Museum (National

  Museum of Science and

  15A

  Industry)

  1N

  1989–90

  29·099

  2N 1R

  1990–91

  22·186

  1N 3R

  1991–92

  22·722

  2N 2R

  1992–93

  25·148

  2R

  1993–94

  26·233

  —

  Sir John Soane's Museum

  9A

  1989–90

  0·33

  —

  1990–91

  0·73

  —

  1991–92

  1·029

  1N 1R

  1992–93

  0·892

  2N 1R

  1993–94

  0·994

  1N 2R

  South Bank Theatre Board

  3A

  1989–90

  0·017

  2N

  1990–91

  0·017

  1991–92

  0·004

  1N

  1992–93

  0·001

  1N

  1993–94

  0·003

  Sports Council

  14A

  1989–90

  49·7

  3N 2R

  1990–91

  55·9

  2N 1R

  1991–92

  51·7

  1N 6R

  1992–93

  51·7

  2N 8R

  1993–94

  53·955

  5N 20R

  Tate Gallery

  12A

  1989–90

  12·973

  2N 1R

  1990–91

  15·067

  1991–92

  21·709

  3N

  1992–93

  21·709

  1R

  1993–94

  21·829

  4N 1R

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  17A

  1989–90

  17·392

  2N

  1990–91

  31·939

  3N 3R

  1991–92

  32·082

  5R

  1992–93

  35·6

  1993–94

  32·938

  2N 4R

  Wallace Collection

  7A

  1989–90

  1·26

  1N

  1990–91

  2·104

  1N 2R

  1991–92

  2·181

  1R

  402

  Name of Body

  Gross Expenditure (£million*

  Number of New Appointments and Appointments Renewed

  1992–93

  2·319

  1993–94

  2·164

  ADVISORY BODIES

  Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites

  9A

  1989–90

  0·091

  1990–91

  0·165

  1991–92

  0·001

  1992–93

  0·001

  1993–94

  0·001

  Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection

  7A (4 ex-officio)

  1989–90

  0·001

  1990–91

  0·001

  1N

  1991–92

  0·001

  1N

  1992–93

  —

  1993–94

  —

  1N 1R

  Library and Information Services Council

  20A

  1989–90

  0·034

  5N 1R

  1990–91

  0·037

  4N

  1991–92

  0·023

  4N 6R

  1992–93

  0·023

  3N 3R

  1993–94

  —

  4R

  Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art

  8A

  1989–90

  0·014

  1N 1R

  1990–91

  0·093

  1N 2R

  1991–92

  0·012

  2R

  1992–93

  0·012

  2N 1R

  1993–94

  0·014

  1N 3R

  Royal Fine art Commission

  18A

  1989–90

  0·395

  2R

  1990–91

  0·513

  2R

  1991–92

  0·61

  1992–93

  0·655

  1N 8R

  1993–94

  0·69

  1N 1R

  Theatres Trust

  15A

  1989–90

  0·015

  3N 2R

  1990–91

  0·016

  1N 3R

  1991–92

  0·063

  2N 2R

  1992–93

  0·059

  2N 3R

  1993–94

  0·052

  5R

  REGIONAL COUNCILS FOR SPORT AND RECREATION

  London Council

  7A

  1989–90

  —

  2N 1R

  1990–91

  —

  1N

  1991–92

  —

  2R

  1992–93

  —

  3N 1R

  1993–94

  —

  1R

  Notes

  * Gross expenditure as published annually in 'Public Bodies'

  1 Sponsorship commenced in the 1992–93 financial year

  2 New body established in 1994

  Key

  A = total number of current appointees

  N = new appointments

  R = reappointments

  Chess
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received from the British Chess Federation concerning the recognition of chess as a sport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sproat
  We have received several representations from the British Chess Federation concerning the recognition of chess as a sport. However, my Department's responsibility is for physical sport and recreation. The Government's interest in intellectual

  Department of National Heritage

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency

  Royal Parks Agency

  1992–93

  £22,037

  £17,690

  £1,032

  1993–94

  £18,278

  £16,374

  £8,541

  The figures for the years prior to the establishment of my department, in April 1992, are not available.

  Channel 3
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what arrangements he intends to introduce to ensure that all persons licensed to provide Channel 3 services will continue to share transmission and distribution costs in such a manner as to maintain the viability of regional services beyond the end of 1996.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As required under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1990, I have given my approval to the arrangements proposed by the Independent Television Association for sharing the transmission costs for Channel 3 for the period 1994–1998. These arrangements have the unanimous approval of all the Channel 3 licensees.

ENVIRONMENT

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total amount spent on official hospitality by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Gummer
  Expenditure on official hospitality by my Department—including Property Holdings—was approximately £67,000 in 1990–91, £63,000 in 1991–92, £98,000 in 1992–93 and £75,000 in 1993–94.

  Expenditure on hospitality by the Department's agencies was £15,000 in 1990–91, £29,200 in 1991–92, £41,000 in 1992–93 and £32,000 in 1993–94.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans the Government have to introduce transitional relief for authorities which will be adversely affected by the new rating list coming into effect on 1 April 1995.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My Department issued a consultation paper on 3 October setting out proposals for transitional arrangements to phase in the effects of the 1995 revaluation. Copies have been placed in the Library. We expect to announce our decisions by the end of November. The arrangements would apply to local authorities, in respect of rate bills on the properties they occupy, in the same way as to other ratepayers.
  404
  pursuits rests with the Department for Education, from which the British Chess Federation receives some financial assistance.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the total amount spent on official hospitality by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Sproat
  The information requested is as follows:

  Conference Speeches
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of his speeches to(a) the Conservative and Unionist party conference and (b) the Tory green initiative fringe meeting on matters for which he has departmental responsibility at Bournemouth on 13 October.

  Mr. Gummer
  In responding to the environment and planning debate I did not use a pre-prepared text. However in the course of my speech I confirmed that the Government had begun work on a major White Paper on the countryside; I announced that the Government intended to legislate to secure a dramatic increase in recycling of packaging waste; I announced the publication of draft legislation for the creation of the new environment agency in order to maintain this country's lead in developing methods of integrated pollution control; and I emphasised the importance of raising the quality of new development and the quality of the built environment generally.

  At the fringe meeting of the Tory Green Initiative I discussed the outstanding record of the Conservative party in government in taking practical and specific action to deal with environmental issues and I emphasised the responsibility which falls to a party of government not to pretend that high environmental standards can be achieved without anyone anywhere having to meet the bill. I pointed to the fundamental inconsistency of the Opposition, who demand higher environmental standards while attacking the necessary means of delivery, in particular VAT on fuel, the sensible extension of water metering and additional taxation in petrol.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be making an announcement on the method it is proposed to use to ensure that the National Rivers Authority new main and new second fund will be fully able to meet all its liabilities.

  Mr. Atkins
  Section 173 of the Water Act 1989 puts beyond any doubt my right hon. Friend's obligation to meet any deficit. The method and timing of any action necessary under the section will ensure that pension liabilities are met in full, while minimising the burden on the taxpayer.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the public appointments for which he is responsible(a) in the west midlands region and (b) in Shropshire, indicating in each case the duration of the appointment, the date when a new appointment is due, and the salary.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) West Midlands Region

  Appointment

  New Appointment Due

  Salary

  Birmingham Heartlands Development Corporation

  Chairman

  8 March 1995

  £26,700

  Deputy Chairman

  8 March 1995

  *£9,060

  Up to 11 other

  22 June 1995(9)

  Board members

  31 October 1995(1) One vacancy

  £5,300

  Black Country Development Corporation

  Chairman

  14 May 1997

  £26,700

  Deputy Chairman

  15 April 1996

  **£18,120

  Up to 11 other

  4 April 1995

  Board members

  21 June 1995

  31 December 1995

  31 January 1996

  21 June 1996

  31 July 1996(3)

  31 August 1996

  Two vacancies

  £5,300

  Castle Vale Housing Action Trust

  Chairman

  30 June 1996

  £26,700

  Deputy Chairman

  30 June 1996

  £9,060

  Up to 10 other

  30 June 1996 (10)

  Board members

  £5,300

  Black Country Limestone Advisory Panel

  Chairman

  Open - ended appointments

  Fee based on attendance at meetings

  5 other members

  * based on one day per week

  ** based on two days per week

  (b) Shropshire None

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria will be used in the appointment of the head of the environment agency.

  Mr. Atkins
  In appointing the chairman and other members of the environment agency, my right hon. Friend will have regard to the desirability of appointing persons who have experience of, and have shown capacity in, some matter relevant to the functions of the agency.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the time frame he intends to adopt in directing existing waste regulation authorities to submit schemes for the transfer of property, rights and liabilities to the environment agency, as required under paragraph 3(3)(a) and (b) of the Environment Agencies Bill.
  406
  Mr. Atkins
  Timing will depend upon passage of the necessary legislation. If this is enacted by the summer of 1995, it is the Government's intention to invite authorities shortly thereafter to submit transfer schemes and for the Secretary of State to complete the approval of schemes in time for the agency to be vested on 1 April 1996.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contracts have been awarded by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution for the monitoring of releases from sectors controlled by integrated pollution control.

  Mr. Atkins
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP—has awarded the following contracts for the routine monitoring of releases from processes regulated by Integrated Pollution Control—IPC:

  Contract

  Contractor

  1. Emissions to Atmosphere—National Power Sites

  BCRA Scientific and Technical Services Ltd.

  2. Emissions to Atmosphere—Powergen Sites

  TBV Science

  3. Releases to Water—National Power Sites

  National Rivers Authority

  4. Releases to Water—Powergen Sites

  Yorkshire Environmental Ltd.

  5. Releases to both Atmosphere and Water from Chemical Waste Incinerators

  Fugro Environmental Ltd.

  6. Releases to Atmosphere in the Midlands and South West of England

  EA Technology

  In addition, ad-hoc/reactive monitoring of IPC controlled processes is carried out under the following contracts:

  Contract

  Contractor

  7. Releases to Water and Effluent Streams

  National Rivers Authority

  8. Releases to Atmosphere in the NW and NE Regions of HMIP

  Entec Cremer and Warner Ltd.

  9. Releases to Atmosphere in Wales, the Midlands and South West Regions of HMIP

  CRE Group Ltd.

  10. Releases to Atmosphere in the Anglian and Southern Regions of HMIP

  AEA Technology

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many enforcement notices have been served on British Nuclear Fuels plc under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 since it came into force; and what actions have been taken by British Nuclear Fuels plc to comply.
  407
  Mr. Atkins
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has served one enforcement notice on British Nuclear Fuels plc under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. This was served on 20 June 1994 and related to its Sellafield site.

  British Nuclear Fuels plc confirmed compliance with the requirements of this notice within the specified time in a report submitted to HMIP on 1 September 1994.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff are employed by his Department; and what proportion of them are employed in each of the standard regions.

  Mr. Gummer
  As at 1 October 1994, there were 6,340 non-industrial staff in my Department, excluding PSA Services. These staff were employed in each of the regions as follows:

  Region

  Staff employed as percentage of total

  Eastern

  1·1

  East Midlands

  1·6

  London

  61·9

  North West

  7·9

  Northern

  2·0

  South East

  4·0

  South West

  13·1

  West Midlands

  3·0

  Yorkshire & Humberside

  3·4

  Scotland

  1·1

  Wales

  0·9

  Direct Labour Organisations
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the rules governing profit-related pay in relation to local authority direct labour organisations; and what changes he proposes to make.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Subject to the statutory requirement for local authority direct services organisations —DSOs—to meet the prescribed financial objective for the service in question, and to the normal rules of financial propriety and regularity, local authorities have discretion to structure DSO pay in whatever way they think appropriate, including linking it to financial surpluses achieved. My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce rules on this matter.

  Odour Pollution
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received on the two odour pollution incidents at the Global Environmental plant in Leeds in August; and what steps have been taken to avoid future discharge from wet air oxidation waste processing plants.

  Mr. Atkins
  The global environmental waste disposal site in Leeds is subject to waste management licensing under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Enforcement of environmental regulations at the site is therefore a matter for the West Yorkshire waste regulation authority. The authority is investigating the incidents referred to and will decide what action, if any, should be taken.
  408
  On the general question of the control of discharges from wet oxidation plants, a waste regulation authority can, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, impose such conditions as it considers appropriate in a waste management licence in order to minimise the risk of pollution of the environment or harm to human health, including conditions relating to the control of odour release.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to introduce primary legislation to amend the homeless persons legislation contained in part III of the Housing Act 1985; and what administrative action he will be taking to further the proposals contained in the consultation document "Access to Local Authority and Housing Association Tenancies" pending the introduction of such legislation.

  Mr. Curry
  We will introduce legislation when parliamentary time permits. Meanwhile we will be encouraging local authorities to pursue such proposals as developing advice services, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of their allocation systems, working in partnership with the private rented sector, and examining the potential to develop common housing registers with housing associations.

  Enterprise Zone (Easington)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the granting of enterprise zone status to areas within the district of Easington.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The designation of the proposed East Durham—Easington—enterprise zones is contingent on satisfactory arrangements being in place to ensure that EC sectoral restrictions on aids to industry can be enforced. As soon as these arrangements have been finalised, the United Kingdom statutory procedures will be initiated and these normally take about six months.

  Broads Authority (Planning)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what sections of which planning legislation planning enforcement action may be taken against individuals in the area now covered by the Broads Authority.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  As the local planning authority, the Broads Authority has the following discretionary enforcement powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991:

  (1) to issue an enforcement notice (section 172);

  (2) to serve a stop notice (section 183);

  (3) to serve a breach of condition notice (section 187A);

  (4) to apply to the Court for an injunction to restrain a breach of planning control (section 187B); and

  (5) the right of entry on to land for enforcement purposes (section 196A)

  Guidance to planning authorities on the use of these powers is given in DOE circulars 21/91 and 17/92, copies of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

  Special Conservation Areas
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish a list of proposed special areas of conservation.

  Mr. Atkins
  I expect to be able to publish a list of candidate special areas of conservation for consultation by Christmas.

  Power Stations
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has the authority to require power stations fitted with flue gas desulphurisation plant, electrostatic precipitators or low oxides of nitrogen burners to use that plant across the whole range of power output.

  Mr. Atkins
  Yes, if it is not excessively costly to run the abatement equipment.

  A condition may be included in an authorisation granted under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to require an operator to run an abatement plant when the authorised process is being operated, provided that it is not excessively costly to do so and provided that there is not some other preferable technique, having regard to cost and efficacy.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases the European Commission has started against the United Kingdom for non-compliance with directive 76/464/EEC; and what sites are involved.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There have been a number of exchanges with the Commission about directive 76/464/EEC in recent years. Details of proceedings under article 169 of the treaty are kept in confidence between the Commission and the member state Government.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Lord Archer
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what correspondence he has received on the withholding from publication of his Department's report on the allegations of insider dealing by Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

  Mr. Heseltine
  There is no provision in the Financial Services Act 1986 for inspectors reports to be published and it follows that it would be inappropriate to place a copy in the Library of the House. I have received several letters from Members of the House and others on the subject.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the dates on which his Department communicated with the inspectors who conducted the inquiry into allegations of insider dealing involving Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare, showing the purpose of each communication.

  Mr. Heseltine
  It is normal practice for officials of my Department to keep in regular contact with inspectors 410
  during the course of their inquiries. Details of those contacts are confidential.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the(a) budgeted and (b) total cost of the inquiry into the allegations of insider trading involving Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The total cost, including inspectors' fees, disbursements and VAT, of the investigation into alleged insider dealing in the shares of Anglia Television Group plc was £213,767. Individual inquiries are not subject to separate budgets.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken to obtain the consent of Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare to releasing the report on alleged insider dealing in relation to the MAI purchase of Anglia Television.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have taken no such action.

  Los Angeles Times (Interview)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the interview he gave to the Los Angeles Times in the summer.

  Mr. Heseltine
  No.

  Oil and Gas Fields
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what environmental protection conditions cover the loan by the European Investment bank to BHP Hamilton Oil for its development of oil and gas fields off the Welsh Coast.

  Mr. Eggar
  Before the loan was granted environmental impact assessments—EIAs—were carried out in accordance with directive EEC/85/337 on all on-shore and off-shore elements of the project. The project has also met all the environmental requirements of the United Kingdom authorities, following their separate EIA on the off-shore installations. A 500m shipping exclusion zone and a 1,000m development zone will operate around each offshore structure; radar coverage from Liverpool will be extended to include these structures.

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the circumstances in which, as a matter of policy, persons other than departmental staff are engaged to investigate allegations of insider dealing under the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Heseltine
  There is no laid down policy: decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

  Credit Reference Agencies
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the use of postal codes or addresses by credit reference agencies and other institutions in assessing credit worthiness.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The matter was assessed in 1992 by the then Director General of Fair Trading. He concluded that the use of such information was legitimate provided that it was not capable of outweighing all other factors. I have no plans to initiate a further assessment.

  Jaguar Cars
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from Ford or Jaguar cars about investment by his Department for the development of a new model to be built in Coventry by Jaguar.

  Mr. Eggar
  Ford and Jaguar have discussed with my Department the scope for possible selective financial

  Public Body

  Title of Appointment

  Duration

  Date appointment expires

  Salary

  Public appointments in the West Midlands Region

  Office of Electricity Regulation

  Director General of Electricity Supply

  5 years

  31 August 1999

  £100,000 pa

  West Midlands

  Chairman

  2 years

  31 December 1995

  None

  Industrial

  Member x 5

  2 years

  31 December 1994

  None

  Development Board

  Member x 5

  2 years

  31 December 1995

  None

  Persons Hearing

  Panel

  No fixed period for appointments

  None

  Consumer Credit

  Member x 3

  Licensing Appeals

  Persons Hearing

  Panel

  No fixed period for appointments

  None

  Estate Agents

  Member x 3

  Appeals

  Public appointments in Shropshire

  Persons Hearing

  Panel

  No fixed period for appointment

  None

  Credit Licensing Appeals

  Member

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many inquiries into alleged insider dealing his Department has undertaken under the Financial Services Act 1986 in the past three years; what period of time elapsed between the decision to commence an inquiry and its completion in each case; and on how many occasions persons other than departmental staff have been used as investigators.

  Mr. Heseltine
  In the last three years inspectors have been appointed to investigate alleged insider dealing under section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 on 10 occasions as follows:

  Case

  Date of appointment

  Date of report

  Inspectors

  A

  19 December 1991

  31 July 1992

  Internal

  B

  21 February 1992

  Not yet reported

  Internal

  C

  6 July 1992

  31 December 1992

  Internal

  D

  13 May 1993

  30 September 1993

  Internal

  E

  8 September 1993

  26 August 1994

  Internal

  F

  1 November 1993

  Not yet reported

  External

  G

  28 January 1994

  26 April 1994

  Internal

  H

  8 February 1994

  19 July 1994

  External

  I

  20 April 1994

  Not yet reported

  Internal

  J

  4 May 1994

  Not yet reported

  Internal

  Droit de Suite Levy
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions the Government have taken part in with the European Union on the imposition of a412
  assistance for a new Jaguar model, codenamed the X200. No application has yet been made.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the public appointments for which he is responsible(a) in the west midlands region and (b) in Shropshire, indicating in each case the duration of the appointment, the date when a new appointment is due, and the salary.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information is as follows:

  droit de suite levy on works of art; what position it has taken; and whether he proposes to introduce such a tax.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government decided against the introduction of droit de suite, or "resale right", in the United Kingdom when this was considered during the process of review leading up to the present copyright legislation, the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, since it was not convinced that this right, which entitles artists to a share in the proceeds of the second and subsequent sales of their work, is either justified or satisfactorily workable in practice. There are no plans to reverse this decision, but the Commission is studying droit de suite as part of its working programme in the copyright field announced in 1991, since several other EC states already provide a right of this kind in their copyright laws. So far as the Government are aware, however, the Commission has not yet decided whether to bring forward any proposals for harmonisation in this area. It has not sought the views of member states on the matter, but has nevertheless been made aware of the United Kingdom's general reservations on the principle of droit de suite.

  Post Office
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the current salaries of the chairman and chief executive of the Post Office; and what has been the average increase over a three-year period in the salaries of chairmen and chief executives of newly privatised companies.

  Mr. Eggar
  The chairman's basic salary is £101,500 per annum and the chief executive's £182,700. The figure of the average increase over a three-year period in the
  413
  salaries of chairmen and chief executives of newly privatised companies is not available as no information on these salaries is held centrally.

  Departmental Transport
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the engagements of the Minister for Energy and Industry for 10 September 1993; what means of transport was used to attend these engagements; and who provided or paid for it.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 21 October 1994]: I had a number of engagements in my office on 10 September 1993 and travelled by ministerial car to Heathrow airport to commence an overseas visit on behalf of the Government.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions he or his ministerial colleagues have used transport provided by Mr. R. Budge or R.J.B. Ltd.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 21 October 1994]: I am not aware of any occasion on which any Minister whilst serving in this Department used transport provided by Mr R. Budge or RJB Ltd.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines exist about the offers or use by transport provided by companies with which his Department has dealings.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 21 October 1994]: The relevant guidelines are contained in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

EDUCATION

  Students
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the estimated cost of extending mandatory fee support to part-time first degree students.

  Mr. Boswell
  The cost would depend upon the decisions taken about eligible courses, future student numbers, the maximum fee entitlement and the account to be taken of the personal circumstances of potentially eligible students.

  Pupil Exclusions
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were excluded from school in the last academic year.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Failing Schools
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the quality of the inspectors' reports on failing schools.

  Mr. Forth
  This is a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, who heads the independent office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

  Grant-Maintained Schools
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what evidence there is to suggest that staff at grant-maintained schools wish to return to local education authority control.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There is none of which the Department is aware. Recent suggestions that some grant-maintained schools in Hillingdon wish to return to LEA control are completely unfounded.

  Chinese Students
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding she(a) has made and (b) intends to make available for Chinese students, with particular reference to translators, to study English.

  Mr. Boswell
  None. However, Chinese students will receive nearly £1·4 million of Government funding in the 1994–95 financial year from FCO, ODA and the British Council scholarship schemes for overseas students. It is not possible to identify how much of this funding will benefit students who wish to study English with the aim of becoming translators.

  Further Education
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what evidence exists to suggest that there has been a substantial change in the numbers of further education students in the last 12 months;

  (2) what has been the change in the numbers of further education students in the last 12 months; and what subjects and what geographical areas are most affected.

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of students on further education courses at institutions of further or higher education, including sixth form colleges, increased by about 3 per cent. between the 1992–93 and 1993–94 academic years. In terms of full-time equivalents the increase was about 6 per cent.

  All regions showed an increase of some magnitude, but that in Greater London was particularly pronounced. Most main subject group1s also showed an increase. The largest increases were for subjects allied to medicine, education and mathematical and computing sciences.

  Korean Students
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Korean nationals are currently studying at United Kingdom institutions of higher education.

  Mr. Boswell
  In the academic year 1992–93 there were 596 students from Korea studying at institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom–572 students from South Korea and 24 students from North Korea. Data for the academic year 1993–94 is not yet available.

  Teachers Pay
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the annual costs of implementing the school teachers' pay and conditions document 1993 in relation to teacher salary re-assessments; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department estimated that the overall cost of implementing the school teachers' pay and
  415
  conditions document 1993 would be 1·5 per cent. across the profession as a whole. Costs will have varied from teacher to teacher for a number of reasons when salaries were re-assessed on 1 September 1993.

  Village Primary Schools
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she proposes to take to safeguard the future of village primary schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend will always consider very carefully, and on their individual merits, any statutory proposals involving village schools which come to her for decision.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff are employed by his Department; and what proportion of them are employed in each of the standard regions.

  Mr. Jack
  The information covers all permanent staff employed by the Department, including agencies, at 1 October 1994. Part-time staff are counted as one.

  Total staff in Department 10,307

  Percentage of staff by MAFF Region

  Per cent.

  Headquarters staff

  55·8

  Anglia

  6·6

  East Midlands

  3·2

  North Eastern

  3·8

  Northern

  5·1

  North Mercia

  5·3

  South Eastern

  6·0

  South Mercia

  3·6

  South Western

  5·4

  Wessex

  2·6

  Wales

  2·6

  Total

  100·0

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now publish figures for how much the United Kingdom contribution to the common agricultural policy costs the average British family per week.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 15 March,Official Report column 601–2.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current estimate of the cost of the common agricultural policy in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995; and what was the cost in (i) 1992 and (ii) 1993.

  Mr. Jack
  The Commission has proposed a supplementary and amending budget for 1994 which would reduce the common agricultural policy budget from 36,465 mecu—£28,143 million— to 34,787 mecu—£26,848 million. The 1995 draft budget has been set at the level of the agricultural guideline of 36,994 mecu—£29,056 million. Expenditure in 1992 and 1993 was 416
  32,109 mecu—£22,722 million—and 35,095 mecu—£27,571 million—respectively.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the public appointments for which he is responsible(a) in the west midlands region and (b) in Shropshire, indicating in each case the duration of the appointment, the date when a new appointment is due and the salary.

  Mr. Jack
  The south mercia and north mercia regional panels cover the west midlands region and Shropshire respectively. The regional panels are advisory non-statutory bodies consisting of between eight and 10 members. The members are appointed for an initial period of up to three years, normally from 1 April, and can serve for a maximum of six years. The panel chairman and members receive no salary, but can claim travel and subsistence expenses.

  Agricultural wages committees for each of the regions have two independent members appointed by the Minister, whose terms of appointment end on 31 December 1994, together with additional members appointed by other organisations. Members are appointed for a period of up to two years and receive a daily fee for attending meetings of £68. If elected chairman of the agricultural wages committee, they are entitled to a fee of £86 per day.

  The Minister appoints the chairmen of the agricultural dwelling house advisory committees for the two areas for up to three years. Most of these appointments are due for renewal on 31 December 1994. The chairman receives a daily fee of £86.

  The Severn-Trent regional flood defence committee of the National Rivers Authority covers most of the specified area. The Minister is responsible for the appointment of a chairman and seven members; these appointments are for three years and new ministerial appointments will be made on 1 July 1997. Other members are appointed by local authorities and the National Rivers Authority. The chairman receives a salary of £11,200 per annum; members receive expenses.

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of the last five years for which figures are available, and broken down into the constituent counties within the United Kingdom, the number of cases of application for sheep annual premium which have been rejected because the application date was missed by the applicant; and what percentage that number constitutes of the total number of SAP applications made in that county for that year.

  Mr. Jack
  The number and percentage of sheep premium claims rejected because they arrived after the last date for receipt, in respect of each agriculture department for each of the last five years, are set out in the table. I will write to the hon. Member to provide the breakdown by county.
  417

  Claims for Sheep Annual Premium rejected after late submission

  1990

  Percentage of claims received

  1991

  Percentage of claims received

  1992

  Percentage of claims received

  1993

  Percentage of claims received

  1994

  Percentage of claims received

  England

  *

  *

  *

  *

  40

  0·09

  190

  0·44

  61

  0·15

  Scotland

  14

  0·08

  15

  0·09

  9

  0·05

  38

  0·22

  12

  0·07

  Wales

  1

  0·01

  7

  0·04

  3

  0·02

  10

  0·05

  18

  0·01

  Northern Ireland

  34

  0·26

  26

  0·02

  18

  0·13

  24

  0·18

  31

  0·25

  * No figures are available for 1991 and 1992

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider making a case to the European Commission to allow national discretion in a limited number of circumstances to enable sheep annual premium applications to be deemed to be received by the due application date where sheep producers have a bona fide reason for not lodging the necessary application forms on time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Member states have discretion under the sheep annual premium scheme to accept claims lodged after the final date for receipt where the reasons for late lodgement constitute force majeure, which covers the most exceptional of circumstances. Wider discretion to accept late claims would carry the risk that the retention period, which is a fundamental requirement of the scheme, could not be effectively enforced.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his predecessor's answer of 20 April,Official Report, column 562, if he is now able to provide the information requested for 1994 concerning changes in hill livestock compensatory allowance payments.

  Mr. Waldgrave
  There remains a small number of payments to be made under the 1994 hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme. The information requested is therefore not yet complete. I will write to the hon. Member in January 1995 when the information will be available.

  Nephrops
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ask the Council of Ministers to increase current precautionary nephrops total allowable catches in the North sea to take into account increased catches from Fladden bank;

  (2) what proposals he has to introduce separate precautionary total allowable catches for nephrops on the Fladden bank in the North sea;

  (3) what steps he is taking to prevent current nephrops quota being reduced before the end of the current year.

  Mr. Jack
  Following representations from the fishing and processing industries, my Department is approaching the European Commission with a request for an increase in the current precautionary total allowable catch for North sea nephrops. I shall be considering the case for treating the Fladden ground separately. In the meantime, strict controls are being maintained in order to keep this year's fishery open as long as possible.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ban twin prawn trawls.
  418
  Mr. Jack
  EC technical conservation rules permit fishing for nephrops with a minimum mesh size of 70 mm in the North sea and allow fishing for cod and other white fish with a minimum mesh size of 100 mm. Since August 1993, with the agreement of the United Kingdom industry, it has not been possible for United Kingdom fishing vessels to use twin or multirig fishing gear in the North sea, except on the Fladen ground, unless the minimum mesh size has been 100 mm. There are no current plans to change this.

  Animal Health and Veterinary Group
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes he proposes to make in his Department's functions and organisation following the management review of the animal health and veterinary group.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  On 16 March 1993, my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer), announced a review of the Ministry's Animal Health and Veterinary Group with a view to improving the use of the Ministry's resources in this area. The review team reported earlier this year and a consultation document is now being sent out to interested organisations and placed in the Library of the House which sets out the initial conclusions which I have reached in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, who share with me policy responsibilities in this area.

  Agricultural Development Advisory Service
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of ADAS.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are anxious to press ahead with the privatisation of ADAS as soon as possible. However, it is necessary to have regard to financial aspects, competition policy and the need for any privatised body to avoid unacceptable conflicts of interests. Accordingly, we have now instructed officials to look into the possibility of privatising part of the organisation while avoiding these potential problems. The expectation is that the privatised body will include the whole of the commercial consultancy and commercial research and development arms and some other work. Some functions presently located within ADAS would probably remain within the departments after privatisation. I will make a further statement in due course.

WALES

  Public Information
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department in each of the last three years to(a) produce public information in alternative formats for visually impaired people and (b) publicise the availability of accessible information amongst visually impaired people.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department has spent a total of £6,000 in the last three years producing and publicising public information material in Braille, large print and on audio tape.

  Public Information
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate which Departmental publications are currently available(a) in Braille, (b) in large print and (c) on tape; and if he will indicate what efforts have been made by his Department to inform visually impaired people about the availability of publications in alternative formats to normal print.

  Mr. Redwood
  The following Welsh Office publications are currently available in formats other than normal print:Council Tax - A guide to the New Tax for Local Government in Wales (available in Braille, large print and on tape)
  Council Tax - Valuation and Banding (Braille, large print and tape)
  Council Tax - How to Appeal (Braille, large print and tape)
  Council Tax - Liability, Discounts and Exemptions (Braille, large print and tape.
  An Inspection of Services for the Visually Impaired in Gwynedd (large print and tape)
  Published Information for Users and Carers and General Public—
  A Guide to Good Practice (large print)
  Keep Warm, Keep Well (tape)

  Details of material produced in alternative formats is publicised through information releases to the media and through direct contact with relevant organisations.

  Health Service Pay
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what specific analysis his Department has conducted on the cost and efficiency of introducing performance-related pay to clinical grades in the national health service.

  Mr. Redwood
  Local managers are in the best position to devise local pay schemes for clinicians linked to the needs of the hospital. The assessment of the cost and efficiency of any such schemes would also be for local determination.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total amount spent on official hospitality by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Redwood
  The amounts spent by the Welsh Office and its agencies on official hospitality were:420

  Welsh Office

  Cadw

  Year

  £

  £

  1990–91

  45,419

  632

  1991–92

  35,982

  481

  1992–93

  38,382

  1,955

  1993–94

  26,818

  2,248

  1994–95 (to 30 September 1994)

  12,938

  244

  Student Maintenance Grant
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average maintenance grant paid by Welsh local education authorities to students for the 1994–95 academic year; and what the figure was for(a) the 1993–94 academic year and (b) the 1979–80 academic year.

  Mr. Redwood
  The average net maintenance grant paid as part of a mandatory award by local education authorities in Wales was £1,540 in the academic year 1989–90, £1,620 in 1991–92 and £1,690 in 1992–93. This is fully reimbursed by central Government.

  Discretionary student awards are funded entirely from LEAs' own resources. The average net maintenance grant paid as part of a discretionary award by LEAs in Wales was £620 in the academic year 1989–90, £670 in 1991–92 and £440 in the academic year 1992–93.

  1992–93 is the latest academic year for which information on LEAs' expenditure on either mandatory or discretionary awards is available. Similar information for the years prior to 1989–90 is not readily available.

  Tourist Boards
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Wales tourist board has exclusive responsibility for tourism in Wales. The current board comprises:-

  Chairman: Mr. A.R. Lewis—Broadcaster and journalist

  Members: Mrs T. Bevan—Retired former head of programmes with BBC Wales

  Mr. S. Wanhill—Professor of Tourism, University of Wales College of Cardiff

  Mr. J. Dunscombe—Managing Director of Washington Travel

  Mr. C. Jackson—Administrative Director of Zoological Society
  of Wales also involved with running Welsh Mountain Zoo.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Mozambique
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he plans to provide for rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes following the elections in Mozambique.

  Mr. Baldry
  We plan to maintain a substantial bilateral development programme, focusing on support for economic reform, promotion of rural development in Zambezia province and English language teaching. We shall also continue to provide emergency assistance where appropriate, channelling it through non-governmental organisations mainly for seeds, tools and de-mining.
  421
  Mozambique will also benefit under the EC's southern African reconstruction and rehabilitation programme, the United Kingdom share of which is over £12 million.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many humanitarian flights have landed in Tuzla, in the former Yugoslavia, since the airport was officially opened in March; and what are now the principal obstacles to further humanitarian flights.

  Mr. Baldry
  It has not been possible to use Tuzla airport for humanitarian aid flights because the parties have not provided a security guarantee.

PRIME MINISTER

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each public opinion survey commissioned by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies since 1 October 1992, showing for each the subject, objectives, total cost, the period in which it was conducted and the organisation from which it was commissioned.

  The Prime Minister
  No such surveys have been commissioned by my office.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he made during his recent visit to Saudia Arabia about the Arab embargo on Israeli goods; and what was the reaction of the Government of Saudi Arabia.

  The Prime Minister
  During my visit to Saudi Arabia I made clear the importance we attach to a just and lasting settlement on all aspects of the peace process. The Gulf co-operation states have since announced that, for all practical purposes, the secondary and tertiary elements of the Arab boycott will no longer be applied. I welcome any moves towards the full lifting of the boycott.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a statistical analysis of the number of known members of each political party represented in the House who are listed by the Cabinet Office as(a) current and (b) potential appointees to public bodies.

  The Prime Minister
  Appointments to public bodies are made on the basis of merit, aptitude and suitability to meet the demands of the post.

  Nominees on the public appointments unit's register are not required to give any details of their political affiliation. From the information made available by individuals, only 12·5 per cent. are known to have been members of a political party.

  Constitutional Discussions
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what machinery exists for the Queen to receive the collective advice of the Heads of Government of all the Commonwealth countries of which she is head of state 422
  when matters arise which relate to the common constitutional link of the monarchy.

  The Prime Minister
  Her Majesty the Queen consults her Ministers in the United Kingdom, and in those countries of which she is sovereign, in matters relating to her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth.

  Her Majesty also has contact with heads of state and Government of Commonwealth countries at the biennial Commonwealth heads of government meetings and on other occasions.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications he, or the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has had with Heads of Government of other Commonwealth countries of which the Queen is sovereign on matters relating to the succession.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications he, or the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has had with heads of Government of other Commonwealth countries of which the Queen is sovereign on matters relating to the common constitutional link of the Crown since his answer of 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 352.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Insider Trading
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 18 October,Official Report, columns 142–43, if he will set out on which occasions statements were made by Ministers requiring that DTI inspectors' reports on matters relating to insider trading inquiries be not published; and if he will give the Official Report column references to which he is referring.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 October 1994]: The question was debated during the passage of the Financial Services Bill. I refer the hon. Member to the Official Report of the House of Lords, 29 July 1986, columns 737–44.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  War Crimes Act
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on progress under the War Crimes Act 1991.

  The Attorney-General
  Seven cases have now been investigated by the police to a stage where it has become possible for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider the question of whether or not to prosecute. Inquiries continue into these and other cases.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  European Community Legislation
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will review the arrangements for the consideration of EC legislation.

  Mr. Newton
  The arrangements are kept under constant review.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Emphysema
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received concerning entitlement to awards for emphysema contracted through pit face working.

  Mr. Hague
  I have received a number of representations about the qualifying criteria recommended by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, in respect of payment of benefit for chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

  Poverty
  Mr Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will constitute an inquiry into the current levels and extent of poverty in Britain.

  Great Britain

  Housing Benefit only

  Housing Benefit plus an estimate for the number of people on Supplementary Benefit who get help with housing costs

  Spending £ (millions)

  Caseload (thousands)

  Spending £ (millions)

  Caseload (thousands)

  1982–831

  Rent Rebate

  929

  3,050

  1,777

  3,580

  Rent Allowance

  74

  260

  351

  851

  1994–952

  Rent Rebate

  5,659

  1,432

  n/a

  n/a

  Rent Allowance

  4,320

  3,186

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a = not applicable

  Note:

  1982–83 caseload and expendtiure figures include estimates for people whose Supplementary Benefit payments included help with their rent.

  1 Information taken from Public Expenditure papers.

  2 "Government's Expenditure Plans 1994–95 to 1996–97". Closeload information extrapolated from figures in same report.

  Child Support Agency
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many letters he has received concerning the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  Between April 1993 and the end of September 1994, approximately 18,000 letters have been received at DSS headquarters covering a range of views about child support.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors led to the delay in assessing child maintenance by the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement on what proportion of assessments for lone mothers take more than six months.

  Mr. Burt
  A variety of factors were involved, including early operating difficulties and clients' response to the new arrangements.

  The agency acknowledge that an unacceptable proportion of cases take more than six months to clear and is already taking action to improve processing times.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the operations of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  Despite acknowledged early difficulties, the performance of the agency has improved significantly during the first part of this year. I will be monitoring its performance very closely to ensure that such improvements continue.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the recommendation made by the Social Security Select
  424
  Mr. Burt
  Research is now regularly conducted into the role of social security and its impact on those in low-income households. A list of research projects sponsored by the Department is published in the Social Security yearbooks, formerly the "DSS Handbook of Research and Development", copies of which are in the Library.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the total cost and number of recipients of housing benefit in the current year; and what were the equivalent figures for 1982.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is in the table.

  Committee in its first report on the operation of the Child Support Act that if the appeal is decided in favour of the applicant, a reimbursement of the excess paid should be made within five working days and that this should also be part of the citizens charter for the agency; and what plans he has to implement that recommendation.

  Mr. Burt
  The Government did not accept this recommendation. The reasons are set out in the Government's response to the report—CM 2469, published February 1994.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the detection of social security fraud.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The fight against fraud remains a top priority. In 1993–94 Benefits Agency investigators caught 312,000 cheats and a record £654 million of fraud was identified and stopped.

  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how he is planning to reduce fraud involving order books and giros.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr Luff).

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what incentives he is giving to Benefits Agency staff to reduce order book fraud.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Benefits Agency staff are expected to be alert to the possibility of fraud at all times. Last year
  425
  a record £105.5 million worth of fraudulent and counterfeit order books and girocheques were recovered, and new performance indicators have been set for this year to improve upon this performance.

  Automation
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy in respect of the automated payment of benefits.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Our preferred method of payment is by automated credit transfer directly into bank or building society accounts. However, we recognise that many people prefer to collect
  their benefit at post office's, and in May my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced our intention to automate the process by which benefits are delivered at post office counters. This is good news for customers, good news for taxpayers and good news for post offices.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he next intends to meet the Child Poverty Action Group to discuss initiatives to reduce the extent of child poverty in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Burt
  Ministers meet regularly with representatives of children's groups, including the Child Poverty Action Group, to discuss a variety of issues affecting children. I last met CPAG on 13 October.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans exist to incorporate the provisions of the War Pensioners (Equal Rights) Bill within the overall review of differentials between pensions; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of the differentials between pensions.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There are no plans for such a review.

  Pension Trusts
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what safeguards will exist under the new proposals to protect employee trustees from dismissal for whistleblowing on any illegitimate action taken by pension trusts.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Were an employee trustee to be dismissed from his employment for whistleblowing he would enjoy the protection afforded by the appropriate provisions contained in existing employment law.

  Pension Trusts
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the prospective complications posed by the proposed opt-out option for the requirement for compulsory employee trustee elections for pension schemes.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Department of Social Security received 178 replies to its consultation document on the selection and appointment of member-nominated trustees. A majority of respondents supported our proposals that members in all types of schemes should have the right to 426
  select one third of the trustees but many were concerned that the arrangements for opt-out, suggested in this document, could prove difficult to operate on a practical level. We are now considering the best way to implement our proposals in the light of these comments.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the public appointments for which he is responsible(a) in the west midlands region and (b) in Shropshire, indicating in each case the duration of the appointment, the date when a new appointment is due, and the salary.

  Mr. Hague
  Three of the war pensions committees for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible cover parts of the west midlands region, including Shropshire.

  Each committee consists of 30 members, appointed for a period of five years. New appointments are due on 1 January 1996. No salary is payable.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff are employed by his Department; and what proportion of them are employed in each of the standard regions.

  Mr. Hague
  On 1 October 1994, 88,173 full time equivalent staff were employed by the Department of Social Security. The proportions employed in each of the economic planning regions are shown in the table.

  Region

  Proportion per cent. of Total Staff Employed

  Scotland

  10

  Northern

  18

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  8

  North West

  21

  East Midlands

  4

  West Midlands

  7

  Wales

  4

  East Anglia

  2

  South East

  21

  South West

  5

  Northern Ireland and Overseas

  Less than 1

  State Pensions
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the latest figure for the number of(a) men aged 65 years and over and (b) women aged 60 years and over who are receiving a state pension.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  At March 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 3,561,390 men and 6,690,270 women were in receipt of a state retirement pension1.Note 1 "State Retirement Pension" means a contributory retirement pension, a non-contributory retirement pension or graduated retirement benefit.

  Child Allowance
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of claimants eligible for the new child allowance.
  427
  Mr. Burt
  We estimate that 150,000 families will benefit from the introduction of the new help with child-care charges in family credit, disability working allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit. This includes 50,000 taking up work as a direct result of the change.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total cost in the full year of widening the nil band of the class 1 employee NIC (contracted in) up to earnings of £100 per week.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The loss of income would be some £1·5 billion in a full year.

  Notes:
  Employee contributions—assumes that contributions are deducted at 2 per cent. on first £100 of earnings once they exceed the lower earnings limit.
  Employer contribution—assumes that the lower earnings limit becomes £100 and that the existing structure of rates and earnings brackets applies above it.
  Assumes that band earnings for the purpose of contracting out also begins at £100.

  Pensioner Income
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are estimated to have no income other than the statutory retirement pension; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Information is not available on the number of pensioners whose sole income is retirement pension. An estimated 92 per cent. of pensioner couples* and 81 per cent of single pensioners receive income on top of state benefits.
  * Pensioner couples are those where the husband is over 65. Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1992.

  Christmas Bonus
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish the current value of the elderly persons' Christmas bonus if increased to a sum equivalent to the value of £10 in 1977 using the September increase in the RPI to calculate the current value;

  (2) if he will publish the cost to the Exchequer of raising the elderly persons' Christmas bonus to 1994 prices and paying the bonus at the new value at Christmas 1994;

  (3) whether he will consider increasing the elderly persons' Christmas bonus to a sum equivalent to the value of £10 in 1977 and allowing the annual increases thereafter in line with the increase in the RPI.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Christmas bonus was first introduced in 1972 at the rate of £10 and is paid to about 13·1 million people. No Government have increased the bonus since. The equivalent value of £10 bonus in December 1977 at September 1994 prices is £30.36. The additional cost of raising the bonus from 1977 to 1994 prices would be approximately £267 million. We have no plans to increase the Christmas bonus.Note: Roundings to nearest 5 pence. Source: The Retail price Index (all items) as published by the Central Statistical Office.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would now be the level of the £10 428
  Christmas bonus paid to retirement pensioners adjusted in line with changes in the RPI since its introduction.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The lump sum £10 Christmas bonus was introduced in December 1972. If it had been increased in line with the movement in the RPI each year since its introduction the rate in December 1994 would be £65.70.

  Source: The retail price index (all items) as published by the Central Statistical Office

  Note:

  1: Calculations for each step rounded to the nearest 5p.

  2: December 1994 increase based on September 1992 to September 1993 RPI

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of retirement pensioners eligible for the £10 Christmas bonus when introduced in 1973 and its cost to public funds; and what were the comparable figures at December 1993.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  When it was first introduced in December 1972, the £10 bonus was paid to approximately 7.8 million retirement pensioners at a cost of £78 million. Comparable figures at December 1993 were 9.8 million retirement pensioners at a cost of £98 million.Source: DSS Statistics

  Cold Weather Allowance
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish the current value of the cold weather allowance if increased to a sum equivalent to the value of £5 in 1986 using the September increase in the RPI to calculate the current value;

  (2) if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the cold weather allowance to 1994 price levels and paying the allowance at the new level during financial year 1994–95;

  (3) whether he will consider increasing the level of payment of cold weather allowance to a sum equivalent to £5 in 1986 and raising the annual increases thereafter in line with the increase in the RPI;

  (4) what increases he proposes to the value of the cold weather allowance to compensate for the increases in VAT on fuel costs imposed in the 1993 Budget.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Cold weather payments towards the cost of domestic fuel bills will increase to £7 from 1 November 1994 and to £7£50 from 1 November 1995. If the previous payment of £5, originally introduced in December 1986, had been increased using the September value of the fuel and light component of the retail price index the amount would have increased to £6·70 from 1 November 1994–30p less than the actual new payment. Using this alternative payment, the Exchequer would have saved £619,256 this winter, if the same number of cold weather payments were made as last year. As cold weather payments are a contribution towards fuel costs designed to complement day-to-day living expenses met through income support, we have no plans to link these payments with the RPI.

  Fire Safety, Quarry House
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 20 June,Official Report, column 18–19, whether Quarry house, Leeds, has now been issued with a fire safety certificate; and if he will make a statement.
  429
  Mr. Roger Evans
  Following an inspection of Quarry house the Home Office fire inspectorate issued a notice in July 1994 confirming that a fire certificate would be issued a soon as a small number of remedial works had been satisfactorily completed. A limit of six months was set for the completion of the work. It is anticipated that the fire certificate will be issued in January 1995 when the Home Office fire inspector conducts a final inspection of the building.

  Lady Mary Hospitality Home
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the full amount of weekly benefit paid to a constituent of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, details of whom have been supplied to him, during the period 1989 to 1993 when he was registered as living at the Lady Mary hospitality home; if he will include a breakdown of how those payments were made up and how they changed over the period; what were the exact dates he was registered as living at the home; and what payments would have been made to that person if he had been living in accommodation with no care staff, during those periods;

  (2) what was the amount of weekly benefit paid to a constituent of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, details of whom have been supplied to him, (a) during 1992 and early 1993 and (b) between late 1993 and February 1994 when he was registered as living at the Lady Mary hospitality home; if he will publish a breakdown of how those payments were made up; and what were the, exact dates he was living at the above home;

  (3) what were the exact dates on which the claims of two constituents of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, details of whom have been supplied to him, made in 1990 while they were registered as living at the Lady Mary hospitality home (a) started and (b) finished; what account was taken of the circumstances of the accommodation provided when meeting those claims; what was the full amount of weekly benefit over that period to each of those constituents; and how those payments differed from the amount payable in comparable circumstances except that no personal care was provided.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  It has not been possible to identify the constituent or constituents to whom the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood refers. However, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, Michael Bichard, will be happy to look into this matter and respond in writing if the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood will provide him with further details of the constituents.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claims were closed down as a result of each raid at the Lady Mary hospitality home since 1989; when the most recent concern was raised about irregular claims being made from the home; and what action was taken;

  (2) how many raids were carried out by the Benefits Agency or others on behalf of his Department at the Lady Mary hospitality home, 13–15 Soho road, Handsworth, Birmingham B19 since 1989; and what were the dates of each raid and the name and grade of the DSS officer conducting each raid;

  (3) how may claims were being made from the Lady Mary hospitality home on each occasion it was raided since 1989; and what was the amount of each claim; and
  430
  in how many of those cases (a) individuals were signing themselves for books or (b) an agent or appointee was being used.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There have been three investigations of the Lady Mary hospitality home conducted by DSS officers since 1989, all by fraud investigators. The records of the first of these investigations, which took place in 1989, have been destroyed in accordance with normal procedures. The second investigation took place in October 1990 and resulted in the closure of six claims. The third investigation in 1992 resulted in the closure of 11 claims to benefit. The most recent concerns arose in March 1994 and the evidence available was thoroughly examined.

  The fraud area manager currently responsible for investigations in this area is Frank Ashford. It is not our policy to divulge the names of individual investigators.

  Sixteen claims were in payment at the time of the second investigation; full details of the amounts of each claim are not available. Twenty-eight claims were in payment at the time of the investigation in 1992. All customers were being paid £181·40 per week, the appropriate residential care rate of income support, except for one resident who was receiving £105·47 per week.

  Information is not available to indicate in how many cases individuals were signing order books themselves or by agent or appointee.

  Age Allowance
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would now be the level of the 25p a week age allowance for retirement pensioners adjusted in line with changes in the RPI since its introduction.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The 25p age addition to state retirement pension, paid to people who are aged over 80, was introduced in 1971. No Government have increased the age addition since its introduction. If the age addition had been increased in line with the movement in the retail prices index1 in each year since its introduction the rate payable from April 1994 would have been £1·552.

  Notes

  1The retail price index (all items) as published by the Central Statistical Office has been used.

  2In each step of the calculation the notional payable rate has been rounded to the nearest 5p in line with the normal convention for the up-rating of social security benefits.

EMPLOYMENT

  Public Information
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much has been spent by his Department in each of the last three years to(a) produce public information in alternative formats for visually impaired people and (b) publicise the availability of accessible information amongst visually impaired people.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Public information material in alternative formats for visually impaired people is produced for, and on behalf of, the Department from a wide variety of sources within its area of responsibility, including the Employment Service, training and enterprise councils, external contractors providing assessment, rehabilitation and training, and the Department itself. When access to work was launched, many organisations
  431
  of and for disabled people were contacted directly with details of the programme, and offered materials in standard text, Braille and audio tape. Cost information for the production of that material is not available centrally.

  Dissemination methods vary according to what is appropriate to the item. For example, ES materials are made available to visually impaired people through jobcentre and placing, assessment and counselling team services, and through periodic disability advertising campaigns. TECs, local enterprise companies and contractors for rehabilitation and training make local arrangements to publicise materials. There is no comprehensive information centrally available on the costs of publicising the availability of accessible information.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the public appointments for which he is responsible(a) in the west midlands region and (b) in Shropshire, indicating in each case the duration of the appointment, the date when a new appointment is due, and the salary.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In the west midlands and Shropshire, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, is responsible for the appointment of:—lay members to the Birmingham regional office of the industrial tribunals, ROITs, which covers the counties of West Midlands, Warwickshire and Hereford and Worcester. There are currently 158 appointments to the Birmingham tribunal. Shropshire is served by the Cardiff ROITs, along with the whole of Wales and part of the county of Cheshire. There are currently 116 appointments of lay members to the Cardiff tribunal;
  —and chairmen and members of the following seven committees for the employment of people with disabilities, CEPDs:

  Birmingham and Solihull

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  Dudley and Sandwell

  Hereford and Worcester

  Shropshire

  Staffordshire

  Wolverhampton and Wallsall.

  Each committee has an independent chairman and up to 14 members.
  Appointments, and re-appointments to industrial tribunals are initially for three years. The next round of appointments will take effect in October 1995.
  The CEPDs are usually reconstituted every three years, when all appointments are considered afresh. The last reconstitution exercise was completed in 1994.
  Lay members of industrial tribunals are paid a fee of £119 for a day's sitting. CEPD chairmen and members are unpaid but may reclaim from the Employment Service travelling and subsistence expenses incurred on approved committee business.

  Labour Statistics (Wirral)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were(a) unemployed and (b) economically inactive in each constituency in the Wirral on average in each year since 1979; and if he will publish a breakdown of rates of (a) unemployment and (b) economic inactivity on average in each year since 1979 in the travel-to-work areas covering the Wirral.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The numbers of unemployed claimants in each parliamentary constituency and unemployment rates for travel-to-work areas are available 432
  monthly from June 1983, on the unadjusted basis. An analysis of economic inactivity by travel-to-work area is available from 1981 census and by parliamentary constituency from the 1981 and 1991 census. All this information can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total amount spent on official hospitality by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies for each year since 1990.

  Miss. Widdecombe
  The total costs of official hospitality in the Department was:

  Year

  £pounds

  1990–91

  26,483

  1991–92

  63,560

  1992–93

  48,702

  1993–94

  33,972

  1994–95

  (to September) 4,952

  The expenditure for the agencies was:

  Year

  £pounds

  1990–91

  29,000

  1991–92

  22,760

  1992–93

  21,140

  1993–94

  35,470

  1994–95

  (to September) 4,220

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total budget of TECs for 1993–94.

  Mr. Paice
  The total budget of training and enterprise councils in England in 1993–94 for activities funded by the Employment Department was £1,891 million, including the allowance payments for training for work participants. A further £30 million was made available to TECs in pit closure areas.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on how TEC courses are supervised and validated.

  Mr. Paice
  Training and enterprise councils are responsible for the quality and performance of all their suppliers. Employment Department quality assessors audit each TEC regularly to ensure that their arrangements meet the Department's published TEC quality assurance: supplier management requirements.

  Temporary Contracts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women in each region were employed on temporary contracts in each of the last 10 years (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of employees in employment.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is available from the labour force survey and can be obtained via the Quantime LFS service available in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Caribbean
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the offshore financial regulatory arrangements in each of the dependent territories in the Caribbean; what plans he has to change them; what arrangements cover the issue of banking licences; and what EC provisions are applicable.

  Mr. Baldry
  All the dependent territory Governments are reviewing arrangements for regulation of their offshore financial sectors. We have encouraged this review and are giving it our full support. Its objective is to raise to internationally accepted standards existing levels of regulation across the range of financial services. The effect will be:(a) to prevent criminals and fraudsters from bringing the dependent territories into disrepute, and (b) to increase the attractiveness of dependent territories to legitimate business investors. New offshore bank licensing guidelines have been, or are in the process of being, introduced by each of the dependent territories. These bring dependent territory licensing practice into line with the Basle committee's recommendations on consolidated home state supervision. European Union provisions do not apply.

  Anti-personnel Mines
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence regarding the military utility of anti-personnel mines for the armed forces.

  Mr. David Davis
  We continue to regard landmines as a legitimate defensive weapon when used responsibly in accordance with the laws of war. We are, however, working with like-minded countries to establish a viable and effective international control regime to ensure the responsible use of anti-personnel landmines. My Department is in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence over this.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Governments of other countries in the European Union regarding the moratorium on the export of anti-personnel mines, in particular regarding the exclusion of self-destruct and self-neutralising mines from the terms of the moratorium introduced by Her Majesty's Government on 27 July.

  Mr. David Davis
  We have regular discussions with our European Union partners with the aim of developing a viable and effective international control regime for anti-personnel landmines.

  China
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by his Department to encourage investment in China.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The British embassy in Peking, the consulate-general in Shanghai and the China trade unit in Hong Kong work closely with the DTI and the China 434
  Britain trade group to provide advice and information to British companies on the Chinese market. When, for example, the largest trade mission ever organised by the China Britain trade group visited China in September, one component specifically studied industrial investment opportunities with the help and support of our posts there.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British industries by turnover are most active in China.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Total United Kingdom exports to China in 1993 increased by 72 per cent. over the previous year. The principal United Kingdom exports by industrial sectors were:

  £ million

  Specialised machinery

  111

  Power generating equipment

  106

  General industrial machinery and equipment

  80

  Other transport equipment

  74

  Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment

  70

  Iron and steel

  42

  Metal working machinery

  38

  Professional, scientific and controlling equipment

  29

  Organic chemicals

  25

  Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances

  25

  Armenia
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now open a legation in Yerevan, Armenia, for the protection of British interests.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are at present no plans to establish a resident British mission in Yerevan. The pattern of our overseas representation is kept under review. Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow is accredited to Armenia. He and his staff visit Yerevan regularly.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which location Armenian citizens requiring visas to enter the United Kingdom apply.

  Mr. Baldry
  Armenian citizens requiring visas to visit the United Kingdom may apply at any post designated to offer a visa service. Those persons wishing to enter the United Kingdom for some other purpose should apply to the British embassy in Moscow. A list of designated posts is available in the Library of the House.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Armenians live in each state of the EU.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not centrally recorded and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the EU have diplomatic representations with Armenia in Yerevan.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Three—France, Germany and Greece.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he assesses
  435
  would be the cost of operating an embassy in Armenia by renting premises in Yerevan.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is not possible to give a reliable estimate. Much would depend on the number of staff to be accommodated, the functions to be performed, and the size and location of the premises.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Armenia in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Armenia for the year 1993 and from January to August 1994 is shown in the table:

  Exports £000s

  Imports £000s

  Crude Balance £000s

  Jan—dec 1993

  5,346

  18

  +5,328

  Jan—aug 1994

  3,332

  21

  +3,311

  Previously, all United Kingdom trade with Armenia was included in records of UK trade with the Soviet Union.

  Embassies
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if United Kingdom interests are safeguarded(a) by embassies and (b) other means in (i) Azerbaijan, (ii) Kazakhstan, (iii) Turkmenistan and (iv) Uzbekistan; and if he will specify the other means used.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are British embassies in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow is also accredited to Turkmenistan. He and his staff visit regularly.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the embassies the United Kingdom in former territories of the USSR which have become independent.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  British embassies in the former Soviet Union and Baltic states are:

  Almaty

  Baku

  Kiev

  Minsk

  Moscow

  Riga

  Tallinn

  Tashkent

  Vilnius.

  Oil, Caspian Sea
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the relationship between the Russian Government and the Azerbaijan Government and the claims to the oil resources of the Caspian sea in so far as it relates to the activities of oil companies operating from Britain.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We understand that discussions on co-operation in the Caspian sea among the five littoral states, including Russia and Azerbaijan, are continuing. We welcomed the signature on 20 September of a production-sharing agreement between the Azerbaijan 436
  state oil company and a consortium including British-based oil companies.

  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent visit to the Caribbean by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

  Mr. Baldry
  I visited the Caribbean from 1–7 October and chaired a meeting of the governors and chief Ministers of the Caribbean dependent territories in Montserrat. I also visited Anguilla, the British Virgin islands and the Turks and Caicos islands. I had constructive meetings in each territory with local Ministers on a wide range of issues of mutual concern.

  I also met the British military short-term training team who are currently based in Puerto Rico training the Commonwealth contingent of the multinational force in preparation for duties in Haiti.

  China
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of(a) British, (b) other EU countries, (c) USA, (d) Australian and (e) Canadian investment in China.

  Mr. Goodlad
  According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation, figures for cumulative investment in China are as follows:

  Investment in China: 1979–1993

  Country

  Projects

  Pledged investment US$ millions

  Utilised investment US$ millions

  United Kingdom

  616

  3,013

  578

  Germany

  569

  1,458

  527

  France

  547

  920

  602

  Italy

  467

  552

  397

  Netherlands

  191

  406

  176

  Spain

  168

  289

  24

  Belgium

  100

  137

  67

  Denmark

  51

  102

  63

  Ireland

  8

  49

  5

  Luxembourg

  13

  16

  2·3

  Portugal

  9

  5

  0·3

  Greece

  2

  0·5

  —

  Total EU

  2,749

  6,947·5

  2,441·6

  United States of America

  12,019

  14,659

  5,237

  Australia

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Canada

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rwanda
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the United Nations Security Council regarding the establishment of an international tribunal for Rwanda.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Following the preliminary report of the United Nations Commission of Experts, the question of an international tribunal for Rwanda is being discussed by the Security Council.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on Sino—British relations of the disagreements about the future of Hong Kong.

  Mr. Goodlad
  It is in the clear interests of Hong Kong, China and Britain to draw a line under recent disagreements and to work for an improvement in Sino—British co-operation across the range of bilateral and international issues. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary took this forward with Chinese Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen during their meeting on 29 September. The governor's annual policy address to Hong Kong's Legislative Council on 5 October underlined our determination to improve co-operation, and set out specific ideas to that end.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will approach the Indonesian Government to demand the release of Muchtar Pakpakan, the head of Indonesia's leading independent trade union.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have made no approach to the Indonesian Government, but European Union heads of mission in Jakarta are monitoring the trial of Mr. Pakpahan. which is still in progress.

  South Africa
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to make European Union markets more open to South African goods.

  Mr. David Davies
  The European Community included South Africa in its generalised system of preferences for the first time from 3 September. This allows a range of South African goods to enter the Community at lower tariffs than before.

  The Community has also recently signed a framework agreement with South Africa which establishes a basis for a future relationship. The agreement commits both sides to stepping up co-operation, with an explicit reference to trade.

  Discussion on how this commitment is to be honoured in detail is still at an early stage.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the meeting in September between IGADD heads of state and the combatants in the Sudanese war; and what new initiatives are now to be taken.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The fourth round of talks ended in stalemate over the issues of self-determination of Sharia law. The IGADD heads of state remain committed to their peace initiative, which we and the European Union will continue to support.

  Indonesia
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 804, what
  438
  evidence he has that, following the consensus statement, Indonesia is now living up to its human rights obligations.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We welcome as a positive step the visit to Indonesia and East Timor in July of the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. We continue to encourage Indonesia to live up to the other commitments made at the last session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

  United Nations Day
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what events are planned in the United Kingdom to mark United Nations day on 24 October; and what steps have been taken to publicise these events.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Normally the only way the Government marks United Nations day is by raising flags in Parliament square. As the Secretary-General is in London on the day this year he has agreed to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph.

  The pool of photographers were informed of the event on 20 October.

  Hospitality Fund
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the members, salaries and occupations of those serving on the Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Members of the Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine receive no salaries, allowances or expenses. The chairman is Sir Ewen Fergusson, formerly ambassador to France and now employed by Coutts bank. The other four members are all wine experts and either serving or retired wine merchants. It is not normally customary to disclose their names so as to prevent undue lobbying by members of the wine trade. However, the details are:-

  l. Major John Surtees, retired wine merchant

  2. Mr. Anthony Hanson, wine consultant

  3. Mr. Mark Savage, wine merchant

  4. Mr. Sebastian Payne, The Wine Society

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the(a) annual budget, (b) annual running costs and (c) annual travel costs of the Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The chairman and members of the Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine receive neither salaries, allowances nor expenses. The answers are(a) nil—actual purchases of wine are funded separately (b) about £1,500 a year (c) nil.

  Visas
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Naveed Ahmed, the husband of Mrs. Shahida Naz, of Bradford, is to be issued by the post in Islamabad with a visa enabling him to join his wife in the United Kingdom following the withdrawal by the Home Office of their application to the immigration appeal tribunal; and if he will make a statement.
  439
  Mr. Baldry
  I have asked the entry clearance officer in Islamabad to let me have a report on the application from Mr. Naveed Ahmed to join his wife Mrs. Shahida Naz in the United Kingdom. I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as possible.

  European Parliament
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of the European Parliament each year since 1989–90; and what amount is included in the draft budget for 1995.

  Mr. David Davis
  The outturn for expenditure by the European Parliament each year form 1989–93 (ecu/£ sterling) was:

  Year

  ecu

  £

  1989

  381,146,291

  256,043,458

  1990

  429,706,145

  306,932,961

  1991

  488,691,650

  342,125,210

  1992

  579,968,058

  425,820,894

  1993

  624,592,678

  486,253,544

  The amount in the 1994 budget (as adopted is 665,910,000 (£502,839,236).
  The amount in the 1995 draft budget is 693,321,000 (£544,549,953).
  Note—conversion rates for years prior to 1994 are:

  1989 £1=1·4886

  1990 £1=1·4000

  1991 £1=1·4284

  1992 £1=1·3620

  1993 £1=1·2845

  The 1994 figures are converted at the rate of £1= 1·3243, which is the rate set for United Kingdom VAT and fourth resource contributions to the 1994 Community budget.

  The 1995 figures are converted at the rate of £l= 1·2732, the rate notified in the Official Journal as prevailing on the last working day of last month (30 September 1994).

  South Africa
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa regarding allegations of sales of arms by British companies to the former South African Government in breach of the UN arms embargo; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  No such discussions have taken place. Britain conscientiously enforced the UN arms embargo and related European and Commonwealth restrictions. At no time did we knowingly authorise any company to export defence equipment to South Africa, and any reports of British companies breaching the embargo were rigorously investigated by the appropriate authorities.

TREASURY

  Ministers (Severance Payments)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total amount spent on severance payments to those who have resigned, retired or been dismissed from ministerial office for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Prime Minister explained on 7 December 1993 Official Report, columns 142–43 in his reply to an earlier question from the hon. Member that no composite list then existed of severance payments made under the Parliamentary Pensions Act 1984 and the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

  The Treasury instituted a composite record of such payments with effect from 1 January 1994 on the basis of written confirmation from individual Departments. Since that date, the record shows that the total amount expended on severance payments in accordance with the terms of the relevant Act has been £131,776·75.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the latest estimate of the outturn of general Government expenditure for 1994–95 analysed by function as in table 1·2 of Cm. 2519.

  Mr. Aitken
  Following the usual practice, estimates of general Government expenditure for 1994–95 in total and a breakdown of the control total by Department will be published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report on 29 November 1994. A full functional breakdown of general Government expenditure as in table 1·2 of Cm. 2519 will be published in the statistical supplement in February 1995. The most recent published estimate of total general Government expenditure for 1994–95 was £291·6 billion, in the Treasury summer economic forecast published on 28 June 1994.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the construction industry.

  Mr. Nelson
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer met the export group for the constructional industries on 21 September this year.

  European Union (Membership Cost)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now publish a calculation of the cost to the average family per week of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The calculation of the budgetary cost to the average family of United Kingdom membership of the European Union is as follows:

  Weekly net contributions per family1

  Year

  Number

  1992

  2·63

  1993

  2·79

  1994

  1·75

  Those calculations relate to the net direct budgetary cost of United Kingdom membership. They do not reflect the wider benefits and

  441
  costs of United Kingdom membership. They do not reflect the wider benefits and costs of United Kingdom membership of the European Union.
  1 Based on an average 2-parent family size of 3.9.
  Source:
  Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys 1992 General Household Survey.

  Negative Equity
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of house purchasers with negative equity on their homes.

  Mr. Nelson
  House prices have clearly increased since their trough in the first half of 1993, reducing negative equity. The latest estimate from the Bank of England is that in the third quarter of 1994, 1,096,000 households had negative equity. This represents a fall of 678,000 households, or over 38 per cent. compared with the first quarter of 1993.

  Maintenance Payments
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue staff have received specific training on the effects of the changes to the tax treatment of maintenance payments, introduced in the Finance Act 1988, and the option to elect to stay with the previous regime.

  Sir George Young
  Statistics are not available centrally. However, the Inland Revenue provides appropriate information and training for all staff who deal with the tax treatment of maintenance payments.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are subject to the special transitional rules for the tax treatment of maintenance payments, introduced by the Finance Act 1988.

  Sir George Young
  It is estimated that about 210,000 people paying maintenance are subject to the special transitional rules.

  VAT
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement regarding the continuation of the exemption of the United Kingdom from the European Union's sixth VAT directive (77/3881 EEC) after 31 December 1996.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The sixth VAT directive lays down the common system for VAT throughout the European Union and has been adopted by all member states, including the United Kingdom. With effect from 1 January 1993, the directive was amended to allow a transitional system for VAT to be introduced for the single market. That system will continue until the end of 1996, when it is planned to introduce a definitive VAT regime. Failing unanimous agreement among member states on what this regime should be, the present arrangements will continue.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will continue to make it his policy that a trader should receive a visit from Customs and Excise within the first three years of registering for VAT.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs and Excise is committed to ensuring that businesses new to VAT are given an opportunity to learn about the tax and their responsibilities in the three years following VAT 442
  registration. They will continue to keep the best means cif ensuring this under review.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the meeting of the IMF on 16 September relating to the continued membership of Sudan and its judgment about the economic policy being pursued by Sudan.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The IMF's executive board decided on 16 September that it would not recommend a vote of governors of the IMF on the compulsory withdrawal of Sudan from the IMF. It decided to consider further the issue, and Sudan's programme, by 15 January 1995 or at the time it considers Sudan's 1994 article IV consultation, whichever is the earlier.

  Severance Payments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish details of each of the list of severance payments deemed to be illegal or outside appropriate limits as described in the memorandum dated 10 August from the NHS executive to the Treasury showing what action is now being taken in each case.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the written reply that my hon. Friend the Minister for Health gave him earlier today.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the financing rules on capital programmes within the NHS.

  Mr. Jonathan Aitken
  [holding answer 21 October 1994]: The financial framework within which the NHS is required to operate is set out in "Government Accounting". Detailed guidance, such as the NHS trusts finance manual, on the rules governing the financing of capital projects in the health service is supplied by the NHS executive. Copies of "Government Accounting" and the NHS trusts finance manual are available in the Library.

HEALTH

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 October, what costs have been incurred in consultancy work related to the study of OPCS market testing; and what assumptions have been made regarding on-going security costs in the event of the contract being awarded to the private sector.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is market testing its computer mainframe service. Consultancy costs of £1,000 have been incurred to date. The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency is providing OPCS with procurement assistance at an estimated cost of up to £50,000. The in-house bid team will require consultancy help estimated at £35,000.

  When issued, the statement of service requirement for this market test, will contain a mandatory requirement to provide security at a level to maintain OPCS's reputation for careful guardianship of data in its care. All potential

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  contractors will have to take this factor into account when submitting tenders, with a full breakdown of costs.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the public appointments for which she is responsible(a) in the west midlands region and (b) in Shropshire, indicating in each case the duration of the appointment, the date when a new appointment is due, and the salary.

  Mr. Malone
  A full answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health makes the following appointments to national health service bodies in the west midlands area:

  Body

  Appointments made by Secretary of State

  Annual rates of remuneration for chairmen

  Regional health authorities

  Chairman and 5 non-executives per board

  £20,925

  District health authorities

  Chairman

  From £15,125 to £19,285

  Family health services authorities

  Chairman

  From £10,845 to £12,605

  NHS trusts

  Chairman and up to 3 non-executives per board

  From £15,125 to £19,285

  Special trustees

  Up to 6 special trustees per body

  Not applicable

  The annual rate of remuneration for all non-executives is £5,000. Each appointment is for a period of up to four years.

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a current list of the chairmen and non-executive directors of each NHS trust.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide an up-to-date list of all the(a) chairs and (b) non-executive directors of each trust board indicating the gender and occupation of each individual.

  Mr. Malone
  Many chairmen and non-executive directors of national health service trusts are currently being considered for reappointment. This process will be finished by the end of November. An up-to-date list of appointees will be placed in the Library as soon as possible thereafter.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what expenditure has been incurred on NHS trust chairs, non-executive directors, committee members and sub-committee members for(a) travelling allowances, (b) overnight absence allowances and (c) day subsistence allowances in each year since 1990–91;

  (2) what expenditure has been incurred in each region on NHS trust chairs, non-executive directors, committee members and sub-committee members for (a) travelling allowances, (b) overnight absence allowances and (c) day subsistence allowances in each year since 1990–91.
  444
  Mr. Malone
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many company secretaries have been appointed by NHS trusts.

  Mr. Malone
  It is a matter for each individual trust to decide how they ensure proper corporate control of financial and other business. The number of company secretaries appointed to national health service trusts is not available centrally.

  Child Care Staff
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest available figures for changes in the number of appropriately qualified staff working in residential care since the publication of the Utting report on children in public care.

  Mr. Kirwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the number of appropriately qualified staff working in residential child care since the publication of the Utting report.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Utting report found that 21 per cent. of all officers in charge of residential children's homes had no relevant qualification. We introduced the residential child care initiative in 1992 to assist authorities to achieve the Utting recommendation that all officers in charge should be professionally qualified by 1995. Under this initiative, the Department is funding 465 places on special DipSW programmes. In addition, the training support programme is available to support the costs of training all social services staff, including those in residential children's homes.

  Local authorities social services departments are responsible for ensuring that all heads of residential homes for children are qualified and appropriately trained. Their policies and practice on staff recruitment and retention have a considerable influence on this objective.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to ensure a significant expansion of training for residential child care staff.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health is she will list the fresh initiatives she proposes to take to assure a major expansion of training for residential child care staff; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government attach great importance to the training of all social services staff who work with children, particularly those in the residential sector. This year the Department is providing £15.4 million under the training support programme for the training of staff working in the child care field. This includes £4 million specifically earmarked for the residential child care initiative, for the professional training of officers in charge of residential children's homes. New occupational standards covering staff in residential child care settings will be available from next spring.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps(a) she has taken and (b) proposes to take to implement the recommendations of the Utting and Warner reports.

  Mr. Bowis
  Progress on the implementation of recommendations in the Utting and Warner reports is reported annually in the Children Act reports, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Consultants
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to publish her document on the merit award system for consultants.

  Mr. Malone
  Very shortly.

  Social Work Students
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made as to the adequacy of the daily placement fee budget available to CCETSW and its implications for voluntary and independent sector social work student placements.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department gives the Central Council for the Education and Training of Social WorkCCETSW—a budget to support practice learning. The amount assigned to the daily placement fees budget is one element of this, the size of which is for CCETSW to determine within the total allocated for practice learning. The Department continues to work with CCETSW on the provision of student placements in all sectors. Moreover, the Department has set aside £700,000 of the training support grant to local authorities to make additional practice placements available in 1994–95. This has been warmly welcomed by them.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will arrange for an inquiry to be conducted into the use of pituitary derived hormones and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in line with the one being conducted by the Federal Government of Australia; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease—CJD—is a rare but fatal disease. The Government acted promptly in 1985 when evidence of an association between the pituitary derived hormone programmes and CJD first became available. All treatment programmes were brought to an end. As many patients as possible have been traced. Expert counselling and information are available to them, and many patients have used these services. The treatment programme is currently the subject of litigation. We have no plans to set up an inquiry.

  Hospitals (Video Surveillance)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce regulations concerning the use in hospitals of covert video surveillance in child protection.

  Mr. Sackville
  The particular security measures which are appropriate to individual hospitals are the responsibility of local management.

  Blood
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on the regional and local availability of blood from blood banks under the control of the National Blood Authority;

  (2) what assessment she has made of the proposed revision of distribution arrangements by the National Blood Authority; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Blood Authority is responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the National 446
  Blood Service in order to meet the demand from hospitals for blood, both nationally and locally. The authority has made proposals for reorganisation of the National Blood Service and these are out for consultation. The National Blood Authority plans to have a network of stockholding units around the country so that it can maintain supply at its present level and improve it wherever possible. The results of the consultation will be carefully considered before decisions are made.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many places blood donor sessions were held in each year since 1987; in how many places sessions are expected to take place in 1995 and 1996; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Under the National Blood Authority's proposals to improve the national blood service, blood collection will continue, as at present, to be easily accessible to donors. Collection teams would be larger and locally based, rather than all operating from the transfusion centres as at present. All major population areas would be covered. In 1992 there were 19,000 blood donor sessions. The number of blood donor session locations is not available centrally.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide the figures for the number of patients who were registered with dental practices in Devon and Cornwall in(a) July 1992 and (b) July 1994.

  Mr. Malone
  This information is shown in the table.

  Number of patients registered with dentists on the dental list of Devon and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Family Health Services Authorities at 31 July 1992 and 31 July 1994.

  Family Health Services Authority

  Date

  Patients

  Devon

  Cornwall and Date Isles of Scilly

  31 July 1992

  All

  681,468

  301,719

  31 July 1994

  All

  650,645

  286,816

  Source:

  Dental Practice Board

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices are currently operating in Devon; and how many are currently accepting NHS patients.

  Mr. Malone
  This information is shown in the table.

  Number of dentists1 on the dental list of Devon family health services authority at 30 June.

  Year

  Number of dentists

  1992

  373

  1993

  376

  1994

  384

  Source:

  Dental Practice Board. At 30 June 1994, 384 dentists were registered to treat National Health Service patients.

  1 Includes principals, assistants and vocational trainees. Some dentists may also be on the dental lists of other family health services authorities.

  Trained Children's Nurses Survey
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answers of 11 May,Official Report,

  447
  column 160, 19 May, Official Report, column 559, and 21 April, Official Report, column 160, when she expects to announce the publication of the results of the survey of trained children's nurses conducted by the NHS Executive.

  Mr. Malone
  We hope to respond to all the recommendations in the Allitt inquiry report shortly.

  Severance Payments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of each of the list of severance payments deemed to be illegal or outside appropriate limits as described in the memorandum dated 10 August 1994 from the NHS Executive to the Treasury, indicating what action is now being taken in each case.

  Mr. Malone
  The National Health Service Executive is, with the Treasury, examining each payment. It would not be appropriate to publish details while this examination is in progress.

  Hospice beds by regional health authority

  Regional health authority

  1985

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Northern

  57

  71

  80

  80

  98

  101

  96

  102

  105

  Yorkshire

  127

  179

  180

  180

  224

  243

  263

  220

  221

  Trent

  66

  91

  91

  105

  125

  135

  147

  153

  161

  East Anglian

  50

  57

  57

  57

  71

  73

  118

  114

  125

  North West Thames

  151

  126

  118

  142

  142

  157

  163

  185

  177

  North East Thames

  75

  169

  169

  169

  180

  182

  201

  195

  214

  South East Thames

  183

  192

  187

  187

  187

  186

  192

  216

  237

  South West Thames

  144

  199

  201

  201

  187

  184

  182

  177

  193

  Wessex

  75

  91

  91

  91

  92

  98

  107

  137

  161

  Oxford

  90

  103

  98

  98

  110

  102

  108

  130

  141

  South Western

  118

  143

  141

  141

  144

  144

  149

  166

  179

  West Midlands

  188

  187

  186

  196

  218

  205

  205

  201

  197

  Mersey

  78

  88

  104

  104

  110

  149

  161

  156

  146

  North Western

  114

  186

  186

  186

  205

  212

  229

  257

  264

  Total

  1,516

  1,882

  1,889

  1,937

  2,093

  2,171

  2,321

  2,409

  2,521

  Source:

  Hospice Information Service, St. Christopher's Hospice.

  Note:

  Figures are as at January of each year, except for 1985 (April), for 1987 (December) and for 1988 (July). No figures are available for 1986.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Hinchcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which(a) GP fundholders and (b) non-fundholding GPs make use of emergency hospital admissions.

  Mr. Malone
  As part of our plans for developing national health service purchasing, we shall be reviewing contracting for emergency admissions in a number of sites, including the use general practitioners make of these services.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been removed from(a) general practitioners' fundholding practice registers and (b) non-general practitioners' fundholding practices in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Malone
  All general practitioners are bound by the requirements of their terms of service when removing patients from their list. Data collected by family health services authorities on patient movement between general

  Residential Care Homes (Deaths)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many death by misadventure verdicts have been recorded in respect of residents of residential care and nursing homes during the last five years.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department does not hold this information.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which patients of(a) GP fundholders and (b) non-fundholders make use of private medical insurance.

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Hospices
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospice beds there have been in each health authority area in each of the last 10 years.

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

  practioners does not separately identify the fundholding status of the doctor.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce a statutory obligation on fundholders to publish their accounts.

  Mr. Malone
  General practitioner fundholders are already required under section 98(2B)(c) of the National Health Service Act 1977, as amended by Section 20(2)(b) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, to produce annual accounts to the relevant family health services authority. These accounts are public documents and are available on request.

  Staff Cars
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 25 May,Official Report, column 215, if she is now able to list for 1993–94 the expenditure on staff cars for (a) regions, (b) districts and (c) trusts.

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  Mr. Sackville
  Data for 1993–94 will not be available until the end of November when health authorities and trusts' annual accounts will have been received and summarised. I will write to the hon. Member with this information when it is available.

  Pinderfields Hospital Trust
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require a report from the Pinderfields hospital trust as to the reasons for the inability to provide the service of an anaesthetist in certain circumstances within their obstetric care.

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a local matter for Pinderfields Hospitals national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Roy Cusworth, the chairman of the trust.

  Salary Costs
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 11 July,Official Report, column 421, what was the total salary costs per regional health authority for (a) managerial staff, (b) clerical and administrative staff and (c) nursing and midwifery staff for 1993–94.

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested will not be available before June 1995.

  Staff Statistics
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) senior and general managerial staff, (b) administrative and clerical staff and (c) nursing and midwifery staff were employed by region in 1993.

  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table.

  Numbers of general and senior managers, administrative and clerical and nursing and midwifery staff by region—England 30 September 1993—whole-time equivalents.

  General and Senior Managers

  Administration and Clerical

  Nursing and Midwifery

  Northern

  830

  7,030

  24,580

  Yorkshire

  1,920

  9,140

  27,140

  Trent

  1,210

  10,980

  35,580

  East Anglian

  810

  4,660

  14,810

  North West Thames

  840

  8,590

  21,550

  North East Thames

  1,900

  10,420

  28,280

  South East Thames

  1,310

  9,760

  24,250

  South West Thames

  910

  7,070

  21,350

  Wessex

  1,180

  6,800

  23,000

  Oxford

  970

  6,040

  16,850

  South Western

  1,180

  7,880

  26,000

  West Midlands

  1,970

  13,020

  39,210

  Mersey

  970

  5,970

  18,170

  North Western

  1,390

  11,060

  33,830

  SHAs and Others

  2,630

  14,230

  6,840

  England Total

  20,010

  132,650

  361,460

  Notes:

  1Figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents.

  2 "Nursing and Midwifery" excludes agency staff and Project 2000 students.

  3 "SHAs and Others" includes staff in special health authorities, other statutory authorities and family health service authorities.

  4 Some totals may not equal the sum of components due to rounding.

  5 The number of general and senior managers in September 1993 are not directly comparable with numbers given in the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) gave
  450
  him on 4 November 1993 at columns 458-459, which have since been updated. A change in data collection procedures in September 1993 have since been updated. A change in data collection procedures in September 1993 resulted in the recategorisation as managers of many staff who would have been coded as "others" in the 1991 and 1992 censuses.

  Health Service Administration
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 12 May,Official Report, column 220, if she is now able to publish a table showing the total amount spent on administration by (a) regional health authorities, (b) district health authorities, (c) special health authorities, (d) family health service authorities, (e) trusts, and (f) the Department of Health/NHS executive in 1993–94 in each case breaking the figure down to show expenditure on (i) salaries and wages and (ii) establishment expenses.

  Mr. Malone
  Expenditure on Department of Health administration, including national health service executive administration in 1993–94, was £251 million, of which £117 million was on salaries and wages. Information on the 1993–94 expenditure of NHS bodies will not be available until December 1994.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 12 May,Official Report, column 219, if she will list the number of managers and administrative staff that have been employed by each regional health authority in 1993–94.

  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table.

  Administrative and Clerical Staff and General and Senior Managers with Regional Health Authority Headquarters at 30 September 1993 in Whole-Time Equivalents.

  Administrative and Clerical

  General and Senior Managers

  Northern RHA

  1,130

  150

  Yorkshire RHA

  890

  380

  Trent RHA

  300

  90

  East Anglian RHA

  480

  70

  North West Thames RHA

  380

  —

  North East Thames RHA

  320

  170

  South East Thames RHA

  310

  110

  South West Thames RHA

  410

  110

  Wessex RHA

  260

  120

  Oxford RHA

  500

  150

  South Western RHA

  800

  180

  West Midlands RHA

  340

  70

  Mersey RHA

  300

  60

  North Western RHA

  650

  130

  Total

  7,070

  1,790

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  2. '-'denotes no staff.

  3. The figures given are those employed within Regional Health Authority Headquarters or Headquarters units, or are on their payroll system.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 19 May,Official Report, column 561, if she will publish a table listing what percentages of ambulances in each service in England responded within (a) eight minutes and (b) 14 to 20

  451
  minutes to emergency calls in 1993–94 and the first two quarters of 1994–95.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected quarterly. Information for 1993–94 was published in June 1994–"Patient Transport Services–1993–94—Summary Information from Form KA34—England copies of which are available in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Vacant Land
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who owns the vacant ground to the rear of the footway at the northern junction of High street with Harbour road, Ballyhalbert; and if he will make a statement about this vacant plot.

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of the Environment does not own the land or have any record of who does and, therefore, I have no comment to make.

  Road Widening
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are to widen the Harbour road, Ballyhalbert from the High street junction in the northern direction; what consultations there will be with the local community; when the scheme will commence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moss
  There are no proposals to widen that section of road. A scheme to provide a footway on the inland side of the road is planned for the current financial year. The proposal has been discussed with the Ballyhalbert community association and further discussions will be held when the detailed design of the scheme has been finalised.

  Livestock Marketing
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total expenditure in each of the past two years by the Northern Ireland Livestock Marketing Commission; and how much in each of those two years was expended by the Commission in promoting the marketing of red meat(a) outside Northern Ireland and (b) to the internal Northern Ireland market.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Livestock Marketing Commission, now the Livestock and Meat Commission, incurred expenditure of £1,139,002 in 1992–93, of which £81,378 was spent on promoting the marketing of red meat—£14,421 outside Northern Ireland and £66,957 within Northern Ireland. The corresponding figures for 1993–94 are expenditure of £1,036,007 of which £107,304 was spent on promotion—£61,766 outside Northern Ireland and £45,538 within Northern Ireland.

  Further information on the commission's income and expenditure is available in the commission's annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Structural Funds Assistance
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place a copy of the single programming document for the spending of European Union structural funds assistance in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
  452
  Sir John Wheeler
  The single programming document is being published by the European Commission and is expected to be available shortly. I shall make arrangements for a copy to be placed in the Library as soon as possible thereafter.

  Bill of Rights
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received concerning the issue of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir. Patrick Mayhew
  No further representations have been received since I answered a similar question from the hon. Member on 26 May 1994,Official Report, column 294.

  Opsahl Report
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the recommendations contained in the Opsahl report he has accepted; if it is his intention to issue a formal response to the report; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The Government recognise the value of the submissions made to the commission by a large number of individuals and organisations. The recommendations made by the commission are wide ranging and are addressed to various groups and bodies, not just to the Government. Accordingly, we have no plans to make a formal response to the report. The commission's main political recommendation is based on the assumption that the talks process has failed. The Government do not accept this premise and remain firmly committed to the political talks process which we believe provides the best opportunity of achieving a widely acceptable political accommodation addressing all the relevant relationships.

  Hualon Corporation
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which firm of consultants was commissioned to prepare a confidential report on the implications of the application of the Hualon Corporation for a grant of £61 million for the opening of new facilities in Northern Ireland; when that report was received by his Department; whether, upon what date, and upon what authority sections of the report have been quoted by officials to representatives of the press, and how any such quoted sections were selected; and if he will now make available copies of that report both to the Library and to the Committee of Public Accounts.

  Mr. Ancram
  The consultants commissioned were Kurt Salmon Associates Ltd. Three separate reports were received—technical review, October 1992, preliminary market report, April 1993, and market assessment report, December 1993.

  There have been no quotes by officials to representatives of the press. However, relevant extracts from those reports were quoted by my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) in the Financial Times of 3 June 1994 in response to that newspapers's coverage of the project on 31 May 1994.

  Those reports contain commercially confidential information and will not therefore be made available in the Library. Should the Public Accounts Committee

  453
  decide to examine the project and call for the information, then a decision will be made as to the availability of the reports at that time.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inquiries he has made of the Taiwanese authorities about charges recently reported as having been filed against individuals associated with member companies of the Hualon group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  From the information available, confirmed by a press statement issued by the Hualon Corporation on 11 October, none of those arrested for alleged violation of the Taiwan stock exchange regulations is employed by the corporation, which is a totally separate entity to the suspended brokerage houses.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland upon which date, and in what sum, the first payment is expected to be made to the Hualon Corporation in connection with the proposed grant to the corporation for the development of new textile facilities in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The timing and amount of the first grant payment cannot be determined at this stage. It will depend, inter alia, on a number of prepayment conditions being satisfied by the company, the factory construction period and the delivery of the equipment for the first phase.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the textile companies, trade unions or textile employers' organisations which have to date welcomed the proposed grant to the Hualon Corporation in connection with the development of new textile facilities in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The General and Municipal Boilermakers Union in Northern Ireland has publicly said it is "very very pleased" to see jobs on the projected scale and the technology coming to Northern Ireland. There has also been a widespread welcome for the project and the prospect of 1,800 jobs not only from the people of north and west Belfast but across the political spectrum.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has concerning the type of looms which the Hualon Corporation is intending to purchase for use in the facilities in Northern Ireland for which it has been awarded a £61 million grant; what steps he has taken to check with the manufacturers of those looms Hualon's assertion that they will be running at 20 per cent. more than the normal speed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  For reasons of commercial confidentiality it is not possible to disclose details of the type of equipment to be purchased. However, during the course of the expert consultant's examination it was confirmed that Hualon was already running looms at up to 20 per cent. above the norm with no apparent increase in down time.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Payment-by-results
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has to introduce a payment-by-results scheme for hon. Members.

  Mr. Newton
  Substantial structural changes have in the past normally been made only following a report from the Senior Salaries Review Body or its predecessors, and I have no plans to ask them to examine a system of the kind the hon. Member seems to have in mind.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what responsibilities he has in relation to methods of payment-by-results for hon. Members.

  Mr. Newton
  Motions concerning the pay of hon. Members are brought before the House in my name. However, substantial structural changes have in the past normally been made only following a report from the Senior Salaries Review Body or its predecessors, and I have no plans to ask it to examine a system of the kind that the hon. Member seems to have in mind.

  Parliamentary Recesses
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what representations he has received in the past four months concerning the length of parliamentary recesses.

  Mr. Newton
  In the past four months I have received one oral and one written representation from the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East concerning the length of parliamentary recess.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when he will send a substantive response to the letter from the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East, sent on 29 July and acknowledged on 3 August, concerning parliamentary recesses.

  Mr. Newton
  I replied to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East on 18 October. I regret the delay in doing so.

  Westminster Hall
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the chairman of the Finances Westminster Hall and Services Committee, what financial provision is being made for greater use of Westminster Hall by the public.

  Mr. Channon
  Following approval by the House of the Catering Committee's report on refreshment provision for Line of Route visitors, plans for a temporary souvenir kiosk in Westminster Hall are being developed and have been agreed by the authorities which control the Hall. Financial provision will depend on a detailed feasibility study which has yet to be considered by my Committee.

  Television Link
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the right hon. member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission what financial resources have been earmarked for this and the next financial year to enable hon. Members whose offices are in the Palace of Westminster to enjoy the same television facility linking them with annunciator messages and the House of
  455
  Commons Chamber in the same way as those hon. Members in newly equipped offices.

  Mr. Beith
  Cabling of the Palace itself for the "clean feed" is being undertaken as part of the installation of the parliamentary data and video network, for which provision of some £100,000 and £1 million have been allocated in the current and next financial years.

  Ibbs Report
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commissioner will review the working of the recommendations of the Ibbs report.

  Mr. Beith
  The Commission has no plans to carry out an overall review as proposed by the hon. Member, but individual areas of the House's services are studied as appropriate by the Finance and Services Committee and individual domestic committees.

SCOTLAND

  Sheep
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the population of sheep in Scotland(a) at the latest available date, (b) 10 years ago and (c) 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Information in the form requested is not held centrally.

  Forestry
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy that the Forestry Commission make money available for the buying back of leasehold forestry land.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Government are providing almost £1 million per annum to allow the Forestry Commission to buy the freeholds of its leased woodlands where this would offer significant access and recreation benefits.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his policy that the Forestry Commission will pay the legal costs for local authorities seeking access agreements on privately owned forestry land.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Forestry Commission will be prepared to meet the reasonable legal costs incurred by local authorities in making access agreements for commission woodlands which are to be sold into private ownership.

  St. Andrew's Day
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will request Her Majesty the Queen to proclaim St. Andrew's day a bank holiday under section 1(3) of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have no proposals for making St Andrew's Day a bank holiday.

  Fishing Guidelines
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his guidelines for fishermen 456
  on how to deal with (a) reptiles and (b) endangered species of turtles in Scottish waters.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Scottish Natural Heritage is considering the possibility of measures which could contribute to the safe passage of turtles in our national waters. A recent study conducted for SNH by Herpetofauna Consultants International considered reports of turtles in Scottish waters from biological record centres, local museums, fishermen and other sources. The results suggest that turtles are more common around the coast than was previously thought. It is considered that they may have strayed from their migration paths or followed prey along oceanic currents.

  SNH, in a news release on 4 October, announced these findings and called for further information from anybody who has sighted turtles. SNH proposes to design appropriate measures once as full a picture as possible has been drawn. My right hon. Friend will be happy to consider any recommendations for turtles and other reptiles.

  All marine turtles are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Barlinnie Prison
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proposals he has concerning the modification of the rules governing the operation of the special unit at HM prison, Barlinnie; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what formal training is undertaken by prison officers in relation to service in the special unit, HM prison, Barlinnie; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how many prisoners have spent part of their sentences in the special unit, HM prison, Barlinnie over the past 15 years; what was the average length of time served in the unit; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what is the average length of service a prison officer serves in the special unit, HM prison, Barlinnie; and what proposals he has to modify such service;

  (5) how many prison governors have been placed in charge of the special unit, HM prison, Barlinnie, in the past 15 years; what was the average length of service of such personnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subjects of these questions relate to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E.W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman dated 24 October 1994:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Questions about the Barlinnie Special Unit. These concerned the rules governing the operation of the Unit, the training of staff, the average length of time served by prisoners in the Unit, the average length of time prison officers serve in the Unit, and the number of governors in charge of the Unit in the past 15 years
  Following the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, which was published in March this year, an internal Scottish Prison Service Working Party was set up to review the operation of the Barlinnie Special Unit. Its remit was subsequently extended to address recommendations made by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector in respect of the Shotts Unit.
  The Working Party has recently completed its work and its findings will require very careful consideration. I hope, however, that it will be possible to take decisions about the Units shortly.
  So far as training is concerned, there is at present no formal Unit-specific training programme for staff, but staff are required to

  457
  apply for Unit posts, and there is a rigorous selection process to ensure that suitable personnel are posted. The Scottish Prison Service provides a wide programme of training for staff in general, including Unit staff, and courses in group work, managing aggression, and influencing skills are among the training which has been undertaken by current members of staff. All Barlinnie Unit staff have completed an accredited counselling course. The selection and training of staff are among the issues which the internal Working Party, to which I have already referred, has considered.
  You asked about the number of prisoners who have spent part of their sentences in the Barlinnie Special Unit over the past 15 years and the average length of time served in the Unit. Over the past 15 years a total of 23 prisoners have spent part of their sentence in the Unit, and the average length of time served there is three years seven months.
  So far as officers are concerned the average length of service in the Unit of current staff is approximately three years.
  In the past 15 years the Barlinnie Special Unit has had eight Governors in charge, including the present Governor, who was appointed in late March 1994. Excluding the present Governor the average length of Governor in charge appointment in that 15 year period has been two years and two months.

  Local Authority Ombudsman
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to modify the role, functions and powers of the local authority ombudsman; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The powers of the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland, the local government ombudsman, are kept under review in the light of changing circumstances.

  Specific provision is included in the local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill to extend the commissioner's jurisdiction, for non-contractual activities, to the new Srathclyde passenger transport authority. In addition, powers are being taken in the Bill to extend the Commission's jurisdiction to cover residuary bodies, if required.

  Numbers of registrations of lung cancer (ICD-9 162) by sex, health board of residence at time of diagnosis and year of diagnosis, Scotland 1988–94

  Year of diagnosis

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993*

  1994*

  Males

  Argyll and Clyde

  281

  308

  257

  244

  277

  239

  14

  Ayrshire and Arran

  196

  236

  240

  216

  232

  197

  18

  Borders

  52

  64

  63

  59

  73

  40

  1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  73

  79

  70

  76

  84

  65

  0

  Fife

  181

  159

  180

  191

  184

  144

  2

  Forth Valley

  175

  132

  156

  148

  158

  138

  16

  Grampian

  262

  236

  212

  234

  226

  80

  0

  Greater Glasgow

  728

  760

  707

  766

  729

  589

  35

  Highland

  64

  70

  88

  91

  105

  79

  8

  Lanarkshire

  302

  284

  316

  303

  302

  214

  10

  Lothian

  438

  450

  447

  432

  442

  347

  3

  Orkney

  10

  9

  4

  9

  11

  1

  0

  Shetland

  8

  7

  7

  11

  6

  1

  0

  Tayside

  258

  221

  235

  244

  209

  164

  21

  Western Isles

  12

  14

  7

  19

  18

  7

  0

  Scotland

  3,040

  3,029

  2,989

  3,043

  3,056

  2,305

  128

  Health Care International
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has reached on the viability of Health Care International as a private hospital.

  Mr. Stewart
  It would be inappropriate for my right hon. Friend to speculate publicly on the viability of this or any other private company.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on attempts to attract patients to Health Care International from(a) Spain, (b) Italy, (c) Turkey, (d) Egypt, (e) Morocco and (f) other European, American, North African and middle eastern countries.

  Mr. Stewart
  This information is commercially confidential to the company.

  Health Treatment Abroad
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the current size of the worldwide market in people willing to travel abroad for health treatments; what was the size of the market in 1987; what proportion of that market in 1987 and currently has been won by French healthcare firms; and what assessments he has made of the factors which make French bids more competitive.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend's health responsibilities extend only to Scotland.

  Lung Cancer
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the figures for lung cancer by gender in each of the health board areas in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The table shows the numbers of registrations of cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung by sex, health board of residence at the time of diagnosis and year of diagnosis, for the period 1988–94.
  459

  Numbers of registrations of lung cancer (ICD-9 162) by sex, health board of residence at time of diagnosis and year of diagnosis, Scotland 1988–94

  Year of diagnosis

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993*

  1994*

  Females

  Argyll and Clyde

  159

  140

  158

  143

  171

  140

  7

  Ayrshire and Arran

  114

  110

  125

  121

  126

  107

  13

  Borders

  20

  35

  32

  30

  27

  31

  1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  43

  42

  49

  66

  66

  44

  0

  Fife

  104

  76

  73

  96

  113

  84

  6

  Forth Valley

  64

  74

  88

  83

  90

  72

  14

  Grampian

  126

  104

  107

  135

  152

  63

  0

  Greater Glasgow

  412

  421

  499

  444

  505

  381

  28

  Highland

  29

  25

  45

  44

  42

  43

  7

  Lanarkshire

  151

  152

  148

  157

  148

  131

  4

  Lothian

  228

  247

  258

  265

  259

  217

  5

  Orkney

  2

  1

  4

  4

  5

  1

  0

  Shetland

  5

  2

  4

  2

  3

  1

  0

  Tayside

  118

  124

  135

  128

  116

  110

  14

  Western Isles

  5

  5

  3

  4

  3

  6

  0

  Scotland

  1,580

  1,558

  1,728

  1,722

  1,826

  1,431

  99

  *registrations for 1993 and 1994 are incomplete

  Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his officials will meet representatives of the British Veterinary Association and highland veterinary practices to discuss the highlands and islands veterinary services scheme.

  Sir Hector Monro
  My officials are still considering what changes need to be made to the scheme. Once this has been done, they will meet representatives of the veterinary profession to consider the way forward.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Channel Islands
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to the Governments of Jersey and Guernsey regarding the transfer of funds from Iran to the IRA.

  Mr. Howard
  Any allegations that funds have been transferred to the IRA by foreign states are a matter of grave concern. They are always followed up by the relevant agencies who receive full co-operation from the island authorities whenever they need it. It would not be right for me to go into detail on specific cases, but I have had no need to make representations to the island authorities on the matter to which the hon. Member refers.

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the greatest number of prisoner nights spent in police cells by any prisoner in 1994 to date.

  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.
  460
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the greatest number of prisoner nights spent in police cells by any prisoner in 1994 to date.
  This information is not collected centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of prisoner nights spent by prisoners in police cells in 1994 to date.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average number of prisoner nights spent by prisoners in police cells in 1994 to date.
  This information is not collected centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoner nights have been spent in police cells in each month of 1994 to date.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoner nights spent in police cell in each month of 1994 to date.

  461
  The latest information, up to and including 13 October, is shown below:

  Numbers

  January

  16

  February

  4,439

  March

  12,178

  April

  9,739

  May

  4,795

  June

  2,100

  July

  1,890

  August

  4,512

  September

  4,255

  October (to 13 October)

  1,557

  Total

  45,481

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the

  Numbers of remand and convicted prisoners (expressed as the average number of prisoners per night) held in police cells in Greater Manchester and the rest of the North West (Merseyside and Lancashire) from June to September 1994

  Greater Manchester

  North West England (excluding Greater Manchester)

  Remand

  Convicted

  Remand

  Convicted

  June

  74

  13

  48

  —

  July

  73

  5

  —

  —

  August

  136

  10

  23

  3

  September

  115

  12

  25

  4

  Public Information
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by his Department in each of the last three years to(a) produce public information in alternative formats for visually impaired people and (b) publicise the availability of accessible information among visually impaired people.

  Mr. Howard
  The following is my Department's spend on producing public information for visually impaired people in each of the past three years:

  £

  1991–92

  63,000

  1992–93

  93,000

  1993–94

  165,280

  My Department does not cost the work done by crime prevention officers, fire officers or others to publicise the availability of material. To gather such data would not be cost-effective.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate which departmental publications are currently available(a) in Braille, (b) in large print and (c) on tape; and if he will indicate what efforts have been made by his Department to inform visually impaired people about the availability of publications in alternative formats to normal print.

  Mr. Howard
  My Department publishes the following printed material in large print:
  462
  Home Department how many (a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners were held in police cells in (a) Greater Manchester and (b) the north-west of England in each of the last four 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. Andrew F. Bennett, dated 24 October 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 Greater Manchester and the North West of England in each of the last 4 months.
  The information you require is given below:

  Fire Safety advice for disabled people

  Don't Lose Your Vote

  In doubt? Keep Them Out (warning against bogus callers)

  The following audio tapes are available:

  Make a Difference (about voluntary services)

  Fire Safety in the Home

  Practical Ways to Crack Crime—the Family Guide

  My Department has not produced material in Braille but would consider requests to do so.

  Crime prevention material is ordered and distributed by local police crime prevention officers. Blind or partially sighted people may obtain copies free of charge by contacting their local police. My Department's crime prevention publicity catalogue lists the availability of material for blind and partially sighted people.

  Fire safety material is promoted through all libraries in England and Wales which have large print sections; the RNIB; health authorities; social services; talking newspapers; and citizens advice bureaux. The material is also provided at local level by fire brigades.

  The RNIB has been informed about the availability of "Don't Lose Your Vote" and "Make a Difference".

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed by his Department; and what proportion of them are employed in each of the standard regions.
  463
  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is as follows:

  Staff in Post by Region

  Mandate Region

  Total (Including Industrial staff)

  Percentage

  Total (Excluding Industrial Staff)

  Percentage

  East Anglia

  3,163

  6·18

  2,897

  6·00

  East Midlands

  3,278

  6·40

  2,982

  6·18

  North West

  5,670

  11·10

  5,388

  11·16

  Northern

  2,814

  5·49

  2,636

  5·46

  Northern Ireland

  96

  0·19

  96

  0·20

  Scotland

  298

  0·58

  298

  ·62

  South East

  22,973

  44·85

  22,174

  45·93

  South West

  3,394

  6·63

  3,025

  6·27

  Wales

  1,114

  2·17

  1,039

  2·15

  West midlands

  3,072

  7·23

  3,362

  6·96

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,718

  9·21

  4,379

  9·07

  Grant Total

  51,220

  100·00

  48,276

  100·00

  Salford Prison
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the timetable for the site purchase, planning, building and opening of the proposed new prison in Salford;

  (2) whether the proposed new prison at Salford will be planned, built and run by private sector companies.

  (3) how many prisoners will be held at the proposed new prison at Salford, announced on 18 October.

  (4) whether the proposed new prison in Salford, announced on 18 October, will be one of the six new prisons announced by the Home Secretary in October 1993.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the announcement on 18 October by the Prison Service of plans to build a new category B prison in Greater Manchester.
  Discussions are taking place about the purchase of the site and about the planning implications, but a formal planning notice has not yet been submitted to the relevant planning authority, Salford City Council. Subject to the outcome of these discussions, it is envisaged that tenders could be invited for the prison's construction by the summer of 1995, which would enable the prison to open before the end of the financial year 1998–99.
  Our initial assessment is that the site is large enough to accommodate up to 800 prisoners, but the level of occupancy will be one of the issues for discussion with the planning authority.
  This will be one of the six prisons announced by the Home Secretary on 2 September 1993, for which the design, construction, management and finance will be contracted out to the private sector.

  Criminal Justice
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to introduce a system similar to the three-strikes-and-out rule in criminal justice in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  It has always been our policy that, except in the special case of murder, it should be for the courts to decide the appropriate sentence in individual cases within the maximum sentence set by Parliament.
  464
  We will of course, however, watch developments in penal policy in the United States with interest, and take careful note of any lessons that emerge.

  Crown Courts
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to allow police authorities to charge against Crown court budgets for the use of police officer time in attending Crown courts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. The Government have no plans to introduce such charges.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make more efficient use of police time in attending Crown courts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The police research study group report "Court Attendance by Police Officers" identified a number of good practices which could lead to the more efficient use of officer time at court. These will be taken forward through the pre-trial issues steering group whose members include representatives from the Home Office, police, Crown Prosecution Service and the Lord Chancellor's Department.

  Pre-Trial Hearings
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards making disclosures by the defence match disclosures by the prosecution in all pre-trial hearings.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am not at present in a position to add to what was said on this matter earlier this year in the interim Government response to the report of the Royal Commission on criminal justice. The Government are inclined to think that it will be necessary to introduce a new statutory regime to govern both prosecution and defence disclosure, but I cannot yet announce whether or when proposals for legislation will be introduced.

  Prisoners (Telephone Calls)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current arrangements for prisoners of category B security status or lower, with regard to private telephone calls.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison
  465
  Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the current arrangements for private telephone calls by prisoners of category B status or lower.
  Following the installation of cardphones in all establishments, prisoners may make private telephone calls in accordance with guidance to Governors set out in Circular Instruction 21/92. A copy of this is in the House of Commons Library. All calls are paid for by prisoners through the purchase of phonecards.
  Only in exceptional compassionate circumstances where it is not appropriate to use a cardphone, or where there is an urgent need to contact a legal or consular representative, are prisoners allowed to use official telephones. For foreign nationals only, the Prison Service Operating Standards provide they may be permitted a short call of no more than five minutes duration once a month to their home country using an official telephone, if they have not received a visit from either family or friends in the preceding month.
  Under the guidelines in Circular Instruction 50/88 on the use of official telephones, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library, prisoners are normally expected to pay for calls made on an official telephone. This is except where the amount involved does not justify the effort of collection, or where the Governor is satisfied that the inmate has insufficient funds to meet the cost of the call.

  Prison Job Clubs
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what(a) number and (b) percentage of released prisoners have found jobs as a result of the work of prison job clubs at the latest available date;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of prison job clubs, as compared with job clubs outside prisons.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions on the number and percentage of released prisoners who have found jobs as a result of the work of prison job clubs, and on what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of prison job clubs, as compared with those outside prisons.
  Information on the number and percentage of released prisoners who have found jobs as a result of the work of prison job clubs is not collected centrally at present and there are currently no plans to do so. Figures have, however, been obtained from the Employment Service in respect of the job clubs at Holloway and Pentonville Prisons covering the months of April to August this year. They show that, of the 27 prisoners who used the Holloway job club 12 (45 per cent.) found jobs. At Pentonville 46 prisoners used the job club and 30 (66 per cent.) found jobs. These figures compare with a rate of approximately 45 per cent. for job clubs in the community.
  The Prison Service has made no comparative assessment of the effectiveness of prison job clubs. However, following their establishment in 1991 with assistance from the Employment Service of job clubs in the two London prisons mentioned earlier, the Employment Service carried out its own evaluation. This concluded that prison job clubs can provide effective help in getting jobs for people nearing release from prison. On that basis the Prison Service has, together with the Employment Service and other organisations, continued to develop further jobsearch assistance for prisoners.
  Increasing the number of establishments operating prison job clubs to at least eleven by next April is one of a number of initiatives aimed at this. This is in keeping with the commitment in the Prison Service's "Statement of Purpose, Visions, Goals and Values" to help prisoners prepare for their release into the community.

  Hostels
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the composited report on national conditions in hostels which was undertaken by the central building services unit.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Each hostel in the survey has received its own report and assessment, and a report of general findings will be sent to probation and voluntary managing committees by the end of the year.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what criteria were used by his Department in drawing up the A, B and C lists of hostels derived from the hostel conditions survey;

  (2) if he will publish the A, B and C lists of hostels which have been derived from the hostel conditions survey.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The main criteria for the three lists were the amount of space per resident, the proportion of single rooms, running costs and the likely costs of repairs and refurbishment to bring the hostel to an acceptable standard.

  The three lists are as follows:

  List A

  Hostels assessed as unsuitable for economic refurbishment to a standard which would extend their minimum life as approved hostels to 50 years:

  Name

  Location

  Highfield House

  Accrington

  Carpenter House

  Birmingham

  Cecil Road

  Boscombe

  Walmer Villas

  Bradford

  Hoole House

  Elswick

  North Road

  Kew

  Cardigan House

  Leeds

  Howden House

  Leeds

  Charnwood Lodge

  Leicester

  Channing House

  Liverpool

  Westbourne House North

  London E7

  Shenley Road

  1London SE5

  Bedford Hill

  1London SW12

  St Mungo's

  London SW11

  Southbank

  Middlesborough

  Bridgewood House

  Northampton

  Stone House

  Northants

  Milton Keynes

  Great Holm

  Lawson House

  Plymouth

  Emroch House

  Port Talbot

  The Grange

  Purbrook

  Elizabeth Fry

  Reading

  Lichfield Road

  Stafford

  St Albans

  Watford

  Wellesley House

  Windsor

  Blackburn Hostel

  Blackburn

  1Operates as one hostel

  The following hostels were on list A but have now been closed:

  Name

  Location

  Stoke Green

  Coventry

  Fir Tree Grange

  Durham

  Windyridge

  Essex

  Dover Bail Hostel

  Kent

  Hollywood Manor

  Kent

  St. Vincents

  London SE4

  West Park

  London SE9

  Dudley Centre

  Newton Abbot

  467

  The following hostels were on list A but have now been closed:

  Name

  Location

  Centre 45

  Sheffield

  Bewsey Street

  Warrington

  Marshall House

  Wolverhampton

  List B

  Hostels below standard but capable of economic refurbishment as approved hostels.

  Name

  Location

  Ashley House

  Bristol

  Meneghy House

  Cambourne

  Bowling Green

  Carlisle

  Elm Bank

  Cleckheaton

  Burdett Lodge

  Derby

  Astral House

  Hucknell

  The Cottage

  Ipswich

  Kenilworth Road

  Leamington Spa

  Ripon House

  Leeds

  St. Johns Hostel

  Leeds

  Howard House

  Leicester

  Wordsworth House

  Lincoln

  Southwood Hostel

  Liverpool

  Adelaide House

  Liverpool

  Seafield Lodge

  London NW2

  Corfton Road

  London W5

  St. Edmunds

  London W16

  Tulse Hill

  London SW2

  Napier Road

  Luton

  Wenger House

  Newcastle under Lyme

  John Boag House

  Norwich

  Southwell House

  Nottingham

  Trent House

  Nottingham

  Peterborough

  Peterborough

  St. Leonards

  Reading

  Aldridge

  West Midlands

  Braley House

  Worcester

  Plas-y-Wern

  Wrexham

  List C

  Hostels assessed as broadly Satisfactory

  Name

  Location

  Felmores

  Basildon

  Beckenham Road

  Beckenham

  Crowley House

  Birmingham

  Elliott House

  Birmingham

  Welford House

  Birmingham

  Bridge House

  Bristol

  Brigstocke Road

  Bristol

  St. Josephs

  Eccles

  Dickson House

  Fareham

  Queens Road

  Hull

  Lightfoot House

  Ipswich

  Fleming House

  Maidstone

  manor Lodge

  Old Windsor

  Maudsley House

  oxford

  Katherine Price Hughes

  London N5

  Camden House

  London NW1

  Kelly House

  London SW1

  Withington Road

  Manchester

  Ozanam House

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  St. Christophers House

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  Norfolk Park

  Sheffield

  Weston Hostel

  Weymouth

  Wellington Road

  Wolverhampton

  Ellison House

  Inner London

  468
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources will be given to the police to deal with the enforcement of summonses and warrants issued for the non-compliance of community orders and hostel rules.

  Mr. Maclean
  No specific additional resources will be provided for this work. General police funding covers all operational activities and it is for chief officers to prioritise tasks, taking account of the resources available.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if hostel occupancy figures are determined by beds committed or beds occupied overnight.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Hostel occupancy is measured by beds occupied as a proportion of total approved places.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the hostels on the A list, drawn up from the hostel conditions survey, will be disposed of.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Home Office is discussing the future of List A hostels with the probation committees and voluntary management committees concerned. Although the buildings concerned may not have a long term future, they may be able to operate satisfactorily for some time.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the occupancy rate for the hostels at(a) Cecil road, Boscombe, (b) Walmer villas, Bradford, (c) Cardigan house, Leeds, (d) Howden house, Leeds, (e) Canning house, Liverpool, (f) Westbourne house, London E7, (g) Shenley road, London SE5, (h) Bedford hill, London SW12, (i) The Stone house, Northamptonshire, (j) Lawson house, Plymouth, (k) the Grange, Purbrook, (l) Elizabeth Fry, Reading and (m) Wellesley house, Windsor, at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The occupancy rate of these hostels for the month of August 1994 is set out. Shenley road, London SE5 and Bedford hill, London SW 12, whilst being two separate properties, constitute a single hostel known as Bedford/Shenley probation/bail hostel.

  Per cent

  Cecil Road, Boscombe

  84

  Walmer Villas, Bradford

  81

  Cardigan House, Leeds

  91

  Howden House, Leeds

  84

  Canning House, Liverpool

  61

  Westbourne House, London E7

  72

  Bedford/Shenley, London SE5

  62

  Stone House, Northampton

  85

  Lawson House, Plymouth

  81

  The Grange, Purbrook

  80

  Elizabeth Fry, Reading

  69

  Wellesley House, Windsor

  48

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of places available in bail hostels; and what will be the number in 12 months' time.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  There are at present 2,474 places available. Following the 1993 public expenditure survey, provision was planned for an increase to 2,560 by 31 March next year and 2,680 by 31 March 1996: these plans are subject to review in the current survey.
  469
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources will be made available to hostels on the B list, drawn up from the hostel conditions survey, to assist them with refurbishment.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Home Office plans to finance the refurbishment of these hostels as resources permit. A capital grant budget is maintained for the refurbishment or redevelopment of approved hostels premises or sites: provision in the current financial year is £4 million.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of persons accepted for hostel places are actually remanded into custody.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Figures on this are not held centrally.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice and assistance will be given to hostel managers to increase successful completion rates for hostel residents from 48 to 70 per cent. in 1995.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The framework within which hostels operate is given by the "National Standards for the Supervision of Offenders within the Community". A revised draft is currently subject to consultation. There are plans to issue a hostels handbook giving additional more detailed guidance for all hostel staff in the new year.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will remove the discretion of hostel managers to report minor breaches of hostel rules to the police and the courts in the final version of the national standards.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Draft revised national standards are currently the subject of consultation, and my right hon. and learned Friend will wish to consider any representations before deciding the wording of the final version.

  Asylum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the rules of procedure adopted for the Executive committee of the Dublin convention, relating to the state responsible for determining an asylum application.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The committee provided for in article 18 of the Dublin convention is required to determine its own rules of procedure. Draft rules are in preparation but they cannot be finally decided until the committee comes into existence on entry into force of the convention. I shall place a copy of the rules in the Library then.

  Prison and Court Escort Service
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the award of contracts for the prison and court escort services in(a) East Anglia, (b) Merseyside, (c) north Wales and (d) the north of England; and what is the proposed timetable for their implementation.

  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.
  470
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the announcing of the award of contracts for the prison and court escort services in various areas.
  Tenders for the court escort and custody service in East Anglia (Area 4), the North West and North Wales (Area 6), and the North of England (Area 8) were received on 19 September and are being considered. The Prisons Board should make its decision on contract award by the end of the year.
  All three areas will be phased in. It is currently planned that Area 4 will commence contracted operation in July 1995 and will be fully operational by January 1996; Area 6 will start in August 1995 and be fully operational by February 1996; and Area 8 will commence in September 1995 and be fully operational by March 1996.

  Bail
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be publishing the research into bail procedures which was submitted earlier in the year.

  Mr. Maclean
  The recommendations for best practice in the bail process arising from a report on research which was carried out last year are currently being studied. Once decisions have been taken on those recommendations we expect the report to be published.

  Woolf Report
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made to date on each of the recommendations of the Woolf report; and what are the timetables for future implementation.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the progress made on the recommendations of the Woolf Report and the timetable for future implementation.
  As you know, the major recommendations in the Woolf Report have been a key priority for the Prison Service. A summary of the progress made is set out below.
  Improve security
  Prison Security Act now in force
  Refurbishment to higher standards (long term programme) Lakes/Hadfield proposals; most of the accepted recommendations have now been implemented.
  Incidents in private sector prisons now managed from Incident Management Suite
  Programme for installing X-ray machines completed in all prisons holding Category A prisoners
  New guidance issued on escorting prisoners
  New standard intelligence—handling system in place in all prison security departments
  Guidance on best practice in tackling bullying issued August 1993; research project is underway
  Visitor recognition schemes being trialed to improve security on visits
  Cognitive skills programmes already running prisons and being piloted in 21 more
  Regime monitoring system extended from April 1992
  Admissions guide on reception and induction arrangements issued November 1992
  Sentence planning implemented for prisoners sentenced to four years or more after October 1992, and all sentenced Category A prisoners

  471
  Sentence planning extended at the end of 1993 to prisoners sentenced to four years or more before October 1992, and to those newly sentenced to one to four years
  A full review of sentence planning—its objectives and supporting systems—is underway
  Work commenced on improving arrangements for management of research
  New guidance for juveniles issued October 1992
  Provide Code of Standards
  Prison Service Operating Standards published April 1994 Improve relationships with prisoners
  Prisoners information pack issued
  Changes in BOV role introduced on schedule
  Prisons Ombudsman appointed April 1994
  Improving standards of diets and food distribution in establishments
  Improved guidance on recording racial incidents issued; major research project underway into how incidents are recorded and dealt with
  Prisoner compacts introduced
  Greater openness over parole and early release decisions
  Provide access to sanitation
  £9 million to be spent on simple sanitation schemes in 1994–95 More than 92 per cent of prison places now have access to night sanitation
  By the end of 1994, 95 per cent. of prison places will have access to night sanitation. It is planned that the remainder will be completed within the 1996 deadline proposed by Lord Justice Woolf
  End overcrowding
  Thirteen new prisons opened since 1991 providing 7,743 places Two new prison starts planned for 1995–96 to provide further 1,200 places by 1997–98
  Buckley Hall to re-open in 1994–95 providing 90 places, rising to 350 places in early 1995–96
  Over 2,000 new houseblock places to be built at existing prisons by 1996–97; most have now started on site
  Four further prisons also planned, sites and timescale yet to be decided
  Trebling eliminated
  Divide large wings into smaller units wherever possible
  Requirement considered as part of all major wing refurbishment schemes.
  Develop community prisons
  Family ties and pre-release initiatives to complement community prisons approach, including increase in frequency and flexibility of duration of visits; further extension of financially assisted visits scheme introduced in 1994; provision of cardphones now extended to all prisons; review of home leave scheme under way
  In September 1993 Prisons Board decided on steps to be taken in the short term for moving towards a community prison system
  Community cluster arrangements introduced in the Kent area during 1993; similar arrangements to be introduced for East Anglia in September 1994; and feasibility study in hand for North East
  Reasons for building community prisons in urban areas vindicated in 1994 at public enquiry into proposals for new prison in Merseyside

  New Prisons
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the timetable for the building and opening of the four new prisons which were announced in October 1993; and what progress has been made in identifying sites and securing planning permission.
  472
  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the timetable for building new prisons, and the progress that has been made on identifying sites for the new prisons to be built.
  In September 1993, the Home Secretary announced that six new prisons are planned to be built, including the two announced in Autumn 1992. The first two of these will be in North East Liverpool and South Wales, and outline planning agreement for these has been obtained. It is anticipated that construction work will commence in 1995 and the prisons will open in 1997–98 providing about 1,400 places.
  Potential sites for the remaining four prisons are still under investigation and it is too early to give a timetable for their building and opening.
  A site has been identified for the third prison in the Salford area of Greater Manchester. Preliminary meetings have been held with the local planning authority as a prelude to seeking formal planning clearance. Several potential sites for the remaining three prisons have been identified and are under consideration.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision about the award of contracts for the proposed new prisons at Bridgend, Glamorgan, and Fazakerley, Merseyside; and what is the timetable for the building and opening of the prisons.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the award of contracts for the proposed new prisons at Bridgend and Fazakerley.
  Invitations to Tender for the provision of prisons at Bridgend and Fazakerley were sent out on 29 July 1994. Tenders are due back on 8 November and we are aiming to sign the contracts by the end of March 1995. We expect construction work to start soon after contract signature. The opening of each prison will depend on the proposals of the two preferred contractors, but we hope that prisoners will be able to be accepted early in the financial year 1997–98.

  Fine Defaulters
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been received into prison for fine defaults in 1994 to the latest available date.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many people have been received into prison for fine defaults in 1994 to the latest available date.
  Provisional information for January to August 1994 shows that 13,619 persons (12,688 males and 931 females) were received into Prison Service establishments for fine default.

  Prisons (Market Testing)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the timetable for the proposed market-testing of prisons, to be chosen from the short-list of 21 prisons announced in August.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the timetable for the proposed market-testing of prisons.
  The list was of twelve prisons. In addition, nine open prisons were asked for submissions to allow the Prisons Board to decide if any should be added to the shortlist. Having considered these submissions, the Board informed the local prisons on 30 September that no open prison would be shortlisted on this occasion.
  The Prisons Board has not yet selected which one or two establishments will be market tested from the list of twelve.
  I would expect the market test to take about nine months to reach the stage of selecting the successful bidder.

  Prisoners
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners are held in establishments where prisoners are unlocked for a total of at least 12 hours on weekdays.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what percentage of prisoners are held in establishments where prisoners are unlocked for a total of at least 12 hours on weekdays.
  At the end of September 1994, 36·4 per cent. of the prison population were held in establishments where prisoners are unlocked for a total of at least twelve hours on weekdays.

  Prisoner Statistics
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current estimate for the number of(a) sentenced prisoners and (b) unsentenced prisoners who are (i) mentally ill, (ii) drug misusers and (iii) alcohol addicted, in England and Wales.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of sentenced and unsentenced prisoners who are mentally ill, drug misusers, or alcohol addicted, in England and Wales.
  This information is not available in the form requested. The most up to date information held centrally is for 27 June 1994. On that day there were 174 mentally disordered prisoners awaiting transfer to NHS psychiatric facilities, 684 being treated in prison health care centres and 1,921 requiring mental health care.
  Information on drug misuse is taken from the study carried out by Professor Gunn et al from the Institute of Psychiatry and
  474
  published in the report "Mentally Disordered Prisoners" in May 1991. This study of 1,751 sentenced male prisoners in England and Wales showed that before entering prison 43 per cent. had used cannabis, nine per cent. had used opiates, nine per cent. had used amphetamines and five per cent. had used cocaine. Within this group of prisoners eleven per cent. of adult male prisoners were classified as drug dependent, six per cent. of male young offenders and 23 per cent. of women prisoners were dependent. The Home Office were notified of 3,764 drug addicts identified within prison during 1993.
  There are currently no central records of the number of alcohol addicted prisoners in England and Wales. There has been little research on alcohol misuse by prisoners but such studies as have been done suggest that alcohol misuse by prisoners before imprisonment is considerably higher than in the general population. However, the Mentally Disordered Prisoners study found a prevalence of alcohol abuse where treatment was indicated in 8·6 per cent. of adult sentenced prisoners, 8·7 per cent. of male sentenced young offenders and 4·4 per cent. of sentenced women.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England and Wales were made subject to hospital orders under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983; and how many were transferred to hospital under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in the year 1993–94.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Reponsibility 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 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners in England and Wales made subject to hospital orders under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983, and the number transferred to hospital under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983, in the year 1993–94.
  In the year 1993–94, 421 prisoners were made subject to hospital orders without restrictions (S37 Mental Health Act 1983) and 45 were made subject to hospital orders with restrictions (S37 and S41 Mental Health Act 1983).
  Transfers of convicted prisoners to hospital under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 are recorded on a calendar year basis. 271 transfers took place during 1993.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the(a) certified normal accommodation, (b) operational capacity and (c) actual population at each prison in England and Wales at the latest available date.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on the certified normal accommodation, operational capacity and actual population at each prison in England and Wales at the latest available date.
  The latest available information is for 30 September and is given in the attached table.

  Certified Normal Accommodation, Operational Capacity and Population in Prisons in England and Wales on 19 October 1994

  National

  CNA in use

  OP cap

  Population

  Acklington

  658

  658

  616

  Albany

  436

  436

  431

  Aldington

  127

  127

  127

  Ashwell

  404

  404

  384

  Askham Grange

  146

  146

  124

  Aylesbury

  229

  232

  225

  475

  Certified Normal Accommodation, Operational Capacity and Population in Prisons in England and Wales on 19 October 1994

  National

  CNA in use

  OP cap

  Population

  Bedford

  303

  329

  320

  Belmarsh

  841

  841

  759

  Birmingham

  567

  850

  762

  Blakenhurst

  649

  649

  642

  Blantyre House

  95

  95

  94

  Blundeston

  408

  408

  389

  Brinsford

  477

  477

  455

  Bristol

  423

  473

  460

  Brixton

  484

  668

  622

  Brockhill

  111

  120

  115

  Bullingdon

  635

  635

  642

  Bullwood Hall

  125

  125

  121

  Camp Hill

  378

  441

  391

  Canterbury

  184

  275

  262

  Cardiff

  334

  450

  420

  Castington

  300

  300

  268

  Channings Wood

  594

  594

  550

  Chelmsford

  251

  416

  349

  Coldingley

  292

  292

  282

  Cookham Wood

  120

  140

  131

  Dartmoor

  538

  538

  501

  Deerbolt

  417

  417

  386

  Doncaster

  771

  773

  767

  Dorchester

  138

  232

  199

  Dover

  316

  316

  301

  Downview

  287

  291

  270

  Drake Hall

  255

  255

  255

  Durham

  399

  577

  628

  East Sutton Park

  94

  94

  85

  Eastwood Park

  0

  0

  0

  Elmley

  637

  637

  619

  Erlestoke

  250

  270

  245

  Everthorpe

  318

  318

  231

  Exeter

  260

  473

  413

  Featherstone

  599

  599

  582

  Feltham

  842

  842

  807

  Finnamore Wood

  0

  0

  0

  Ford

  536

  536

  472

  Frankland

  447

  447

  421

  Full Sutton

  567

  567

  545

  Garth

  512

  512

  495

  Gartree

  277

  277

  265

  Glen Parva

  767

  788

  749

  Gloucester

  202

  262

  240

  Grendon

  190

  186

  185

  Guys Marsh

  240

  240

  203

  Hollesley Bay

  365

  365

  333

  Haslar

  127

  127

  125

  Hatfield

  180

  180

  152

  Haverigg

  394

  394

  341

  Hewell Grange

  156

  179

  168

  High Down

  629

  629

  626

  Highpoint

  679

  679

  572

  Hindley

  280

  319

  285

  Holloway

  517

  532

  499

  Holme House

  649

  649

  618

  Hull

  328

  412

  406

  Huntercombe

  240

  240

  219

  Kingston

  154

  154

  142

  Kirkham

  644

  644

  569

  Kirklevington

  86

  86

  82

  Lancaster Farms

  364

  364

  333

  Lancaster

  260

  246

  220

  Latchmere House

  151

  151

  142

  Leeds

  814

  1,168

  1,003

  Leicester

  192

  348

  346

  Lewes

  282

  377

  349

  Leyhill

  410

  410

  393

  Lincoln

  444

  628

  603

  Lindholme

  567

  567

  524

  Littlehey

  593

  583

  546

  Liverpool

  1,104

  1,305

  1,265

  476

  Certified Normal Accommodation, Operational Capacity and Population in Prisons in England and Wales on 19 October 1994

  National

  CNA in use

  OP cap

  Population

  Long Lartin

  362

  362

  353

  Low Newton

  198

  343

  208

  Maidstone

  485

  485

  424

  Manchester

  827

  969

  896

  Moorland

  635

  635

  299

  Morton Hall

  168

  168

  1170

  New Hall

  169

  181

  175

  North Sea Camp

  201

  201

  1221

  Northallerton

  150

  219

  200

  Norwich

  333

  478

  350

  Nottingham

  222

  222

  206

  Onley

  520

  520

  494

  Oxford

  106

  120

  102

  Parkhurst

  253

  253

  224

  Pentonville

  559

  765

  747

  Portland

  420

  420

  398

  Preston

  342

  536

  501

  Pucklechurch

  56

  81

  61

  Ranby

  347

  347

  346

  Reading

  182

  205

  188

  Risley

  794

  753

  727

  Rochester

  294

  330

  253

  Rudgate

  287

  300

  272

  Send

  113

  113

  115

  Shepton Mallet

  158

  211

  197

  Shrewsbury

  168

  307

  259

  Spring Hill

  210

  210

  207

  Stafford

  358

  530

  521

  Standford Hill

  384

  384

  355

  Stocken

  396

  396

  394

  Stoke Heath

  300

  300

  233

  Styal

  211

  260

  248

  Sudbury

  413

  348

  341

  Sudbury Foston

  96

  96

  91

  Swaleside

  512

  512

  499

  Swansea

  151

  220

  222

  Swinfen Hall

  182

  182

  182

  Thorn Cross

  209

  209

  192

  The Mount

  484

  484

  492

  The Verne

  552

  538

  522

  The Wolds

  320

  368

  289

  Thorp Arch

  166

  166

  159

  Usk

  241

  241

  226

  Wormwood Scrubs

  714

  1,050

  752

  Wakefield

  727

  727

  700

  Wandsworth

  833

  1,056

  965

  Wayland

  580

  580

  550

  Wellingborough

  344

  314

  308

  Werrington

  114

  114

  108

  Wetherby

  160

  160

  151

  Watton

  216

  216

  211

  Whitemoor

  534

  524

  463

  Winchester

  356

  451

  412

  Woodhill

  566

  566

  532

  Wymott

  432

  432

  420

  Total

  49,149

  53,922

  49,797

  1The population of Morton Hall and North Sea Camp appear to be in excess of the operational capacity. This is because the total population includes a number of prisoners temporarily absent from the establishment for home leave or other authorised reasons.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) unsentenced and (b) sentenced prisoners were being held at temporary allocation centres in prisons in England and Wales at the latest available date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison
  477
  Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners being held at temporary allocation centres in prisons in England and Wales.
  Because of the population pressures in the North West, it has been necessary to establish a temporary allocation centre at Risley prison.
  On 18 October, the temporary allocation centre at Risley held 3 unsentenced prisoners and 182 sentenced prisoners.

  Securicor Court Escort Service
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escapes there have been from the Securicor court escort service in the metropolitan area: and how many prisoner movements have been carried out by the service at the latest available date.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of escapes and prisoner movements carried out in the Metropolitan area.
  The contract with Securicor started on 27 June 1994. Up to 15 October there had been 15,469 prisoner movements and one escape.

  Prison Dogs
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dog handlers and dogs are currently working in the prison dogs section; what tasks they undertake; and how many dogs are trained in the detection of(a) explosives and (b) illicit drugs.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about dog handlers and dogs in the Prison Service.
  There are 426 dog handlers and 463 dogs in the Prison Service. Patrol dogs undertake tasks such as patrol duties, escorting prisoners, searching for missing property (eg. escape equipment) searching for and detecting would-be escapers and apprehending them. They can also be used to safeguard the perimeter or for control in prison disturbances.
  72 dogs are trained to detect arms and explosives (no dogs are trained to detect explosives only); 101 dogs are trained to detect illicit drugs.

  Prisons (Overcrowding)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparations he is making to deal with prison overcrowding; and what plans there are to use(a) temporary buildings or portakabins, (b) Army camps, (c) prisons which are not currently in use and (d) prison ships or barges.

  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.
  478
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the preparations being made to deal with prison overcrowding.
  The provision of additional accommodation is already well underway. Work on the 2,000 new accommodation places at existing prisons is at an advanced stage and the new prison at Buckley Hall will be open before the end of this year. Tenders for the first two of the six new prisons announced last year are due in the next month.
  The Prison Service has also developed contingency plans for an accelerated building programme to meet a potentially higher population but will decide whether or not to proceed with them in the light of population developments in the next few weeks.
  There are no plans at present to use temporary buildings, portakabins, prisons ships or barges. Legislative changes however are being made in the Criminal Justice Bill which permit the use of ships/barges in the future. Contingency plans to defer closure of prisons and to convert army camps for use as low security prisons have been prepared to cope with any emergency need for additional accommodation.

  Prisoners (Visits)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners are held in establishments where they have the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlement.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what percentage of prisoners are held in establishments where they have the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlement.
  At the end of September 1994, all establishments were providing prisoners with the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlement.

  Refugees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's definition is of burden sharing with regard to the admission and residence of refugees from third countries.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Burden sharing is not a precise term. In this context it is taken to mean a proportion sharing out of persons displaced by events, such as the conflict in the former Yugoslavia; it is also used more generally to describe the overall response of the international community to such events.

  Custodial Sentences
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of(a) male juveniles and (b) juveniles convicted of an indictable offence received a custodial sentence in 1993–94, and in each of the last 10 years;

  (2) what percentage of (a) men and (b) women convicted of an indictable offence received a custodial sentence in 1993–94, and in each of the last 10 years.
  479
  Mr. Maclean
  Information for 1983 to 1993, which is provisional, is given in the table.

  Persons sentenced to immediate custody (1) by sex, type of offence and type of court

  Number of persons (thousands) and percentage

  Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody

  Persons sentenced to immediate custody as a percentage of all persons of relevant age group sentenced for indictable offences

  Indictable offences (2)

  Summary offences (2)

  Indictable offences

  Age sex and year

  Total number sentenced to immediate custody

  All courts

  Magistrates' courts

  The Crown court

  Total non motoring

  Total motoring

  All courts

  Magistrates' courts

  The Crown court

  England and Wales

  Aged 14 and under 18

  Males

  1983

  13·9

  13·5

  8·8

  4·7

  0·4

  —

  15·3

  10·9

  61·6

  1984

  12·5

  12·0

  8·7

  3·3

  0·4

  —

  14·4

  11·2

  56·3

  1985

  11·9

  11·5

  8·0

  3·4

  0·4

  —

  14·7

  11·2

  54·4

  1986

  9·2

  8·9

  5·8

  3·1

  0·3

  —

  14·0

  10·1

  53·8

  1987

  8·5

  8·2

  5·1

  3·1

  0·3

  —

  14·0

  9·7

  50·1

  1988

  7·6

  7·3

  4·2

  3·1

  0·3

  —

  13·7

  8·9

  48·4

  1989

  5·6

  4·7

  2·5

  2·2

  0·8

  0·1

  11·7

  7·0

  43·5

  1990

  4·4

  3·6

  1·8

  1·8

  0·6

  0·1

  9·5

  5·4

  37·4

  1991

  4·3

  3·5

  1·9

  1·5

  0·7

  0·2

  9·9

  6·3

  36·6

  1992

  3·9

  3·3

  1·8

  1·5

  0·5

  0·1

  10·4

  6·5

  39·2

  1993*

  3·8

  3·3

  2·5

  0·7

  0·4

  0·2

  11·1

  9·3

  35·8

  Females

  1983

  0·2

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  1·6

  0·7

  22·5

  1984

  0·2

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  2·5

  1·8

  20·4

  1985

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·1

  —

  —

  2·6

  1·8

  21·6

  1986

  0·2

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  2·5

  1·6

  20·4

  1987

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  2·5

  1·6

  18·9

  1988

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  2·6

  1·4

  20·1

  1989

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  0·1

  —

  —

  2·1

  1·1

  16·6

  1990

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  0·1

  —

  —

  1·7

  0·6

  15·7

  1991

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·9

  0·9

  17·8

  1992

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·7

  0·9

  14·8

  1993*

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  2·6

  1·9

  18·5

  Persons

  1983

  14·1

  13·6

  8·8

  4·8

  0·4

  —

  13·9

  9·8

  59·6

  1984

  12·7

  12·2

  8·9

  3·4

  0·4

  —

  13·2

  10·2

  54·4

  1985

  12·2

  11·7

  8·2

  3·5

  0·4

  —

  13·4

  10·2

  52·7

  1986

  9·4

  9·1

  5·9

  3·1

  0·3

  —

  12·9

  9·2

  52·0

  1987

  8·7

  8·4

  5·2

  3·2

  0·3

  —

  12·9

  8·9

  48·5

  1988

  7·8

  7·5

  4·3

  3·2

  0·3

  —

  12·6

  8·2

  46·8

  1989

  5·8

  4·8

  2·5

  2·3

  0·8

  0·1

  10·7

  6·4

  42·0

  1990

  4·5

  3·7

  1·8

  1·9

  0·6

  0·1

  8·6

  4·9

  35·9

  1991

  4·4

  3·5

  2·0

  1·6

  0·7

  0·2

  9·0

  5·6

  35·5

  1992

  4·0

  3·3

  1·8

  1·5

  0·5

  0·1

  9·4

  5·8

  37·8

  1993*

  3·9

  3·4

  2·6

  0·8

  0·4

  0·2

  10·2

  8·5

  34·7

  Aged 18 and under

  21 Males

  1983

  16·6

  15·6

  5·8

  9·8

  0·8

  0·1

  19·1

  9·2

  54·2

  1984

  18·7

  17·7

  7·1

  10·5

  0·9

  0·1

  21·2

  11·0

  56·9

  1985

  19·9

  18·9

  7·3

  11·6

  0·8

  0·2

  22·5

  11·4

  57·6

  1986

  16·9

  16·0

  5·5

  10·6

  0·8

  0·1

  21·9

  10·0

  55·8

  1987

  17·1

  16·4

  5·0

  11·4

  0·6

  0·1

  21·7

  9·1

  54·9

  1988

  15·8

  15·1

  4·2

  10·9

  0·6

  0·1

  20·7

  8·0

  51·7

  1989

  13·0

  11·0

  2·7

  8·4

  1·3

  0·6

  17·4

  5·9

  46·6

  1990

  11·5

  9·7

  2·3

  7·3

  1·2

  0·6

  14·8

  4·8

  42·2

  1991

  12·2

  10·1

  2·7

  7·4

  1·3

  0·8

  15·6

  5·7

  43·1

  1992

  10·8

  9·0

  2·3

  6·8

  1·0

  0·8

  15·3

  5·2

  44·2

  1993*

  11·0

  9·0

  3·0

  6·0

  0·9

  1·1

  17·0

  7·2

  51·3

  480
  Information for 1994 will not be available until the autumn 1995.
  481

  Persons sentenced to immediate custody (1) by sex, type of offence and type of court

  Number of persons (thousands) and percentage

  Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody

  Persons sentenced to immediate custody as a percentage of all persons of relevant age group sentenced for indictable offences

  Indictable offences (2)

  Summary offences (2)

  Indictable offences

  Age sex and year

  Total number sentenced to immediate custody

  All courts

  Magistrates' courts

  The Crown court

  Total non motoring

  Total motoring

  All courts

  Magistrates' courts

  The Crown court

  Females

  1983

  0·6

  0·6

  0·3

  0·3

  —

  —

  5·7

  3·2

  23·7

  1984

  0·6

  0·6

  0·3

  0·3

  —

  —

  5·6

  3·1

  23·7

  1985

  0·7

  0·6

  0·3

  0·3

  —

  —

  5·9

  3·1

  23·9

  1986

  0·6

  0·6

  0·2

  0·3

  —

  —

  6·0

  2·9

  25·9

  1987

  0·5

  0·5

  0·2

  0·3

  —

  —

  5·6

  2·7

  22·8

  1988

  0·5

  0·5

  0·2

  0·3

  —

  —

  5·2

  2·3

  21·1

  1989

  0·4

  0·4

  0·1

  0·2

  —

  —

  4·4

  1·8

  19·1

  1990

  0·3

  0·3

  0·1

  0·2

  —

  —

  3·4

  1·2

  15·6

  1991

  0·3

  0·3

  0·1

  0·2

  —

  —

  3·4

  1·2

  16·0

  1992

  0·3

  0·3

  0·1

  0·2

  —

  —

  3·5

  1·4

  18·1

  1993*

  0·3

  0·3

  0·1

  0·2

  —

  —

  5·0

  2·4

  25·1

  Persons

  1983

  17·2

  16·2

  6·1

  10·1

  0·9

  0·1

  17·5

  8·4

  52·2

  1984

  19·3

  18·3

  7·4

  10·9

  0·9

  0·1

  19·4

  10·0

  54·8

  1985

  20·6

  19·5

  7·6

  11·9

  0·9

  0·2

  20·6

  10·4

  55·3

  1986

  17·5

  16·6

  5·7

  10·9

  0·8

  0·1

  20·1

  9·1

  53·9

  1987

  17·7

  16·9

  5·2

  11·7

  0·7

  0·1

  19·9

  8·3

  53·0

  1988

  16·3

  15·6

  4·3

  11·2

  0·6

  0·1

  19·0

  7·3

  49·8

  1989

  13·3

  11·4

  2·8

  8·6

  1·3

  0·6

  15·9

  5·3

  44·8

  1990

  11·7

  9·9

  2·4

  7·5

  1·2

  0·6

  13·5

  4·3

  40·4

  1991

  12·5

  10·3

  2·8

  7·6

  1·4

  0·8

  14·2

  5·1

  41·4

  1992

  11·1

  9·3

  2·3

  6·9

  1·0

  0·8

  14·0

  4·7

  42·7

  1993*

  11·3

  9·3

  3·1

  6·2

  0·9

  1·1

  15·7

  6·6

  49·8

  Aged 21 and over

  Males

  1983

  44·6

  41·6

  15·3

  26·3

  2·3

  0·8

  19·2

  9·2

  52·3

  1984

  44·3

  41·0

  14·3

  26·7

  2·1

  1·2

  19·5

  9·0

  52·9

  1985

  48·0

  44·4

  14·1

  30·3

  2·2

  1·4

  21·0

  9·0

  54·7

  1986

  43·6

  40·5

  11·4

  29·2

  1·7

  1·4

  21·4

  8·4

  54·1

  1987

  45·5

  42·0

  10·6

  31·5

  1·8

  1·7

  21·2

  7·5

  54·1

  1988

  45·7

  41·9

  9·8

  32·0

  1·8

  2·0

  20·2

  6·8

  51·4

  1989

  42·9

  35·9

  7·3

  28·6

  2·5

  4·5

  19·2

  5·6

  49·8

  1990

  39·5

  32·7

  6·6

  26·1

  2·4

  4·5

  17·3

  5·0

  46·8

  1991

  42·4

  34·3

  7·8

  26·5

  2·8

  5·3

  18·0

  5·8

  48·1

  1992

  40·9

  33·3

  7·1

  26·2

  2·4

  5·2

  17·5

  5·3

  47·2

  1993*

  41·1

  32·1

  7·6

  24·6

  2·2

  6·8

  17·5

  5·6

  51·3

  Females

  1983

  2·3

  2·2

  0·9

  1·3

  0·1

  0·0

  5·3

  2·5

  26·2

  1984

  2·5

  2·4

  1·0

  1·4

  0·1

  0·0

  6·1

  2·8

  27·3

  1985

  2·7

  2·5

  0·9

  1·7

  0·1

  0·0

  6·6

  2·7

  29·3

  1986

  2·4

  2·3

  0·7

  1·6

  0·1

  0·0

  6·8

  2·5

  29·4

  1987

  2·5

  2·5

  0·6

  1·8

  0·1

  0·0

  7·7

  2·4

  32·2

  1988

  2·3

  2·2

  0·6

  1·6

  0·1

  0·0

  7·0

  2·3

  27·3

  1989

  2·1

  2·0

  0·5

  1·5

  0·1

  0·0

  6·8

  2· 1

  25·9

  1990

  1·8

  1·7

  0·4

  1·3

  0·1

  0·0

  5·5

  1·8

  21·6

  1991

  2·0

  1·8

  0·5

  1·3

  0·1

  0·1

  6·2

  2·3

  23·0

  1992

  2·0

  1·8

  0·5

  1·3

  0·1

  0·1

  6·4

  2·2

  24·3

  1993*

  2·1

  1·9

  0·6

  1·2

  0·1

  0·1

  6·8

  2·7

  27·7

  Persons

  1983

  46·9

  43·7

  16·2

  27·6

  2·4

  0·8

  17·0

  8·0

  50·0

  1984

  46·8

  43·4

  15·2

  28·1

  2·2

  1·2

  17·4

  7·9

  50·5

  1985

  50·6

  47·0

  15·0

  31·9

  2·3

  1·4

  18·8

  7·9

  52·4

  1986

  46·0

  42·8

  12·1

  30·7

  1·8

  1·4

  19·2

  7·4

  51·9

  1987

  48·0

  44·5

  11·2

  33·3

  1·9

  1·7

  19·3

  6·7

  52·2

  1988

  48·0

  44·1

  10·4

  33·6

  1·9

  2·0

  18·4

  6·1

  49·4

  1989

  45·0

  37·9

  7·8

  30·1

  2·6

  4·5

  17·5

  5·1

  47·6

  1990

  41·4

  34·4

  7·0

  27·4

  2·5

  4·5

  15·7

  4·5

  44·5

  482 483

  Persons sentenced to immediate custody (1) by sex, type of offence and type of court

  Number of persons (thousands) and percentage

  Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody

  Persons sentenced to immediate custody as a percentage of all persons of relevant age group sentenced for indictable offences

  Indictable offences (2)

  Summary offences (2)

  Indictable offences

  Age sex and year

  Total number sentenced to immediate custody

  All courts

  Magistrates' courts

  The Crown court

  Total non motoring

  Total motoring

  All courts

  Magistrates' courts

  The Crown court

  1991

  44·3

  36·1

  8·3

  27·8

  2·9

  5·3

  16·5

  5·2

  45·8

  1992

  42·9

  35·1

  7·6

  27·5

  2·5

  5·3

  16·1

  4·8

  45·2

  1993*

  43·2

  34·0

  8·2

  25·8

  2·3

  6·9

  16·1

  5·2

  49·3

  Aged 14 and over

  Males

  1983

  75·1

  70·7

  29·9

  40·8

  3·5

  0·9

  18·3

  9·6

  53·7

  1984

  75·4

  70·7

  30·1

  40·6

  3·4

  1·4

  18·8

  10·0

  54·2

  1985

  79·7

  74·8

  29·5

  45·3

  3·4

  1·5

  20·0

  10·1

  55·4

  1986

  69·7

  65·4

  22·6

  42·8

  2·8

  1·5

  20·0

  9·1

  54·5

  1987

  71·1

  66·6

  20·7

  45·9

  2·7

  1·8

  20·0

  8·4

  54·0

  1988

  69·1

  64·3

  18·2

  46·1

  2·7

  2·2

  19·2

  7·5

  51·3

  1989

  61·5

  51·6

  12·4

  39·2

  4·6

  5·2

  17·8

  5·9

  48·7

  1990

  55·4

  46·0

  10·7

  35·3

  4·2

  5·2

  15·7

  5·0

  45·2

  1991

  58·9

  47·8

  12·4

  35·4

  4·8

  6·2

  16·5

  5·8

  46·4

  1992

  55·7

  45·6

  11·2

  34·4

  4·0

  6·1

  16·3

  5·4

  46·2

  1993*

  55·9

  44·4

  13·1

  31·3

  3·4

  8·1

  16·7

  6·4

  50·8

  Females

  1983

  3·1

  2·9

  1·3

  1·7

  0·2

  0·0

  4·8

  2·3

  25·5

  1984

  3·3

  3·2

  1·4

  1·8

  0·1

  0·0

  5·4

  2·7

  26·3

  1985

  3·6

  3·4

  1·3

  2·1

  0·1

  0·0

  5·9

  2·6

  27·9

  1986

  3·2

  3·0

  1·0

  2·0

  0·1

  0·0

  6·1

  2·4

  28·3

  1987

  3·2

  3·1

  0·9

  2·2

  0·1

  0·0

  6·6

  2·4

  29·9

  1988

  2·9

  2·8

  0·8

  2·0

  0·1

  0·0

  6·1

  2·2

  25·8

  1989

  2·6

  2·5

  0·7

  1·8

  0·1

  0·0

  5·8

  1·

  24·3

  1990

  2·2

  2·1

  0·5

  1·5

  0·1

  0·0

  4·7

  1·5

  20·3

  1991

  2·4

  2·2

  0·7

  1·5

  0·1

  0·1

  5·2

  1·9

  21·7

  1992

  2·3

  2·1

  0·6

  1·5

  0·1

  0·1

  5·4

  1·9

  23·1

  1993*

  2·5

  2·3

  0·8

  1·4

  0·1

  0·1

  6·1

  2·6

  27·1

  Persons

  1983

  78·2

  73·6

  31·2

  42·5

  3·7

  1·0

  16·5

  8·5

  51·5

  1984

  78·8

  73·9

  31·5

  42·4

  3·5

  1·4

  17·0

  8·9

  51·9

  1985

  83·3

  78·2

  30·8

  47·4

  3·6

  1·6

  18·1

  9·0

  53·1

  1986

  72·9

  68·4

  23·7

  44·8

  2·9

  1·6

  18·2

  8·1

  52·4

  1987

  74·4

  69·8

  21·6

  48·1

  2·8

  1·8

  18·4

  7·5

  52·1

  1988

  72·1

  67·1

  19·1

  48·0

  2·8

  2·2

  17·7

  6·7

  49·3

  1989

  64·1

  54·1

  13·1

  41·0

  4·8

  5·2

  16·3

  5·3

  46·6

  1990

  57·6

  48·0

  11·3

  36·8

  4·3

  5·3

  14·3

  4·5

  43·1

  1991

  61·2

  50·0

  13·1

  36·9

  5·0

  6·3

  15·1

  5·3

  44·3

  1992

  58·0

  47·7

  11·8

  36·0

  4·1

  6·1

  14·9

  4·9

  44·3

  1993*

  58·4

  46·6

  13·9

  32·7

  3·6

  8·2

  15·4

  5·9

  48·9

  1Immediate custody for persons aged 14 and under 21 comprises borstal training and unsuspended imprisonment (before 24 May 1983) or youth custody (from 24 May 1983) and detention centre orders until 1 October 1988 and detention in a young offender institution after I October 1988; for persons aged 21 and over immediate custody is equivalent to immediate imprisonment, which includes partly suspended sentences up to 30 September 1992.

  2Improvements in the data collection methods used by the Metropolitan Police District have led to an increase in the number recorded as sentenced of about 2 per cent. in 1993 and 1 per cent. in 1992 for indictable offences and 0.5 per cent. in both years for summary non-motoring offences; also, about 5 per cent. for summary motoring offences in 1991.

  * Provisional

  Temporary Allocation Centres
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of temporary allocation centres in prisons in England and Wales.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison 484
  Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about plans to increase the number of temporary allocation centres in prisons in England and Wales.
  Temporary allocation facilities are currently being provided at Risley prison because of population pressure in the North West. We

  485
  have no plans to provide such facilities at any other prisons in England and Wales.

  Security Vetting
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what security vetting prison officers and civilian staff engaged to work in prisons in England and Wales are subject to prior to appointment.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the security vetting of staff engaged to work in prisons in England and Wales.
  All staff engaged to work in prisons in England and Wales are subject to criminal record checks. In addition, governor grades are subject to security vetting, including a counter terrorist check, beforeappointment. All other staff are subject to security vetting before appointment to prisons housing Category A prisoners.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what security vetting prior to appointment prison officers and civilian staff engaged to work with(a) category A and (b) exceptionally high risk prisoners in prisons in England and Wales are subject to.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the security vetting of staff engaged to work with category A and exceptionally high risk prisoners.
  All staff engaged to work in prisons housing Category A prisoners, including exceptionally high risk prisoners, in England and Wales are subject to security vetting before appointment to the establishments concerned.

  Prison Population
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the change in the prison population for each month of 1994.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what has been the change in the prison population for each month of 1994.
  The information requested is shown in the attached table.

  Prison population including those held in police cells, England and Wales, January—September 1994

  Last day of each month

  Total population

  Change on previous month

  1994

  January

  46,902

  —

  February

  47,906

  +1,004

  March

  48,778

  +872

  486

  Prison population including those held in police cells, England and Wales, January—September 1994

  Last day of each month

  Total population

  Change on previous month

  April

  47,943

  -835

  May

  48,675

  +732

  June

  48,929

  +254

  July

  49,169

  +240

  August

  49,392

  +223

  September1

  49,821

  +429

  1Provisional figure.

  Prisoners (Activities)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of hours per week which prisoners spent in purposeful activity, in each month of 1994 to the latest available date.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average number of hours per week which prisoners spend in purposeful activity, in each month of 1994 to the latest available date.

  The latest available information is as follows:

  Weekly average hours per prisoner in purposeful activity

  Month

  Hours

  January 1994

  23·3

  February

  25·5

  March

  26·3

  April

  25·0

  May

  26·7

  June

  26·3

  July

  27·3

  August

  26·9

  September

  26·4

  Drug Prescribing
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at which prisons medical officers are authorised to prescribe opiate substances as part of a drug rehabilitation programme.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking at which prisons medical officers are authorised to prescribe opiate substances as part of drug rehabilitation programmes.
  All prison medical officers are authorised to prescribe opiate substances when its use is clinically indicated.

  Prison Cells
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners since the
  487
  beginning of April have been held three to a cell designed for one; on what dates and at which prisons prisoners have been held three to a cell; and how many prisoners have been held three to a cell on each occasion.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisoners sharing three to a cell designed for one.
  This information is reported by establishments on the last Friday of each month. Since 1 April 1994, no prisoners have been reported as sharing three to a cell designed for one.

  Prisons
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the prison population were(a) remanded and (b) sentenced prisoners in each month from April to the latest available date.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what percentage of the prison population were (a) remanded and (b) sentenced prisoners in each month from April to the latest available date.
  The attached table shows this information for the last day of each month, from April to August 1994.

  Percentage of prison population by type of custody: England and Wales, April—August 19941 2

  Percentage on remand

  Percentage sentenced

  1994

  April

  25

  74

  May

  26

  73

  June

  26

  73

  July

  25

  74

  August

  26

  73

  1Figures relate to last day of month. They include prisoners held in police cells.

  2Non-criminal prisoners account for about 1 per cent. of the total prison population and are excluded from both the remand and sentenced.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in which no drug rehabilitation programmes are available.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on the availability of drug rehabilitation programmes in prisons.
  All Prison Service establishments provide prisoners with access to a range of services including education, treatment and counselling
  488
  for drug misuse via the prison health care centre, the probation service or outside drug agencies.
  As part of the new Prison Service drugs strategy, to be launched in the near future, all prison governors will be required to develop and implement local drug strategies which will form part of their contract with their area manager. These local strategies will include additional provision for education, treatment and throughcare services for prisoners who misuse, have misused or are potential misusers of drugs.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prisoners with access to 24-hour sanitation, at the latest available date.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners with access to 24 hour sanitation.
  At the end of September 1994, 94 per cent. of prison places, or approximately 47,000 prisoners, had access to night sanitation.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prison workshops and (b) farms and gardens enterprises there are in operation at the latest available date; and in which prisons they are.

  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 Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of workshops and farms and gardens enterprises there are in operation in each prison.
  I enclose a list of all prisons in England and Wales having workshops, arranged in alphabetical order and a separate list of Farms and Gardens activities arranged in enterprises. There are 240 workshops in all, at 98 prison establishments. All establishments have a grounds maintenance enterprise; 38 have major agricultural and horticultural enterprises; in addition, approximately 24 establishments have smaller scale horticultural production units.

  Prison Farms and Gardens Enterprises

  Establishment

  Enterprise

  All establishments

  Amenity/sports areas

  Dartmoor

  Quarrying

  Dartmoor

  Beef

  Guys Marsh

  Hatfield

  Onley

  Stocken

  Ford

  Compost

  Camphill

  Dairy—Milk

  Dartmoor

  East Sutton Park

  Everthorpe

  Featherstone

  Hatfield

  Newell Grange

  Hollesley Bay

  Colony

  Kirkham

  Littlehey

  489

  Prison Farms and Gardens Enterprises

  Establishment

  Enterprise

  New Hall

  Rochester

  Stocken

  The Verne

  Usk/Prescoed

  Werrington

  East Sutton Park

  Dairy—Mozzarella Cheese

  Guys Marsh

  Dairy—replacement stock

  Leyhill

  Portland

  Swinfen Hall

  Askham Grange

  Field Scale Vegetables—

  Everthorpe

  Featherstone

  Ford

  Green vegetables, roots and potatoes

  Hatfield

  Haverigg

  Hewell Grange

  Hollesley Bay

  Colony

  Kirkham

  Lindholme

  Morton Hall

  Northallerton

  North Sea Camp

  Portland

  Ranby

  Rudgate

  Stanford Hill

  Swinfen Hall

  The Vern

  Thorn Cross

  Usk/Prescoed

  Whatton

  Wymott

  Albany

  Glasshouses/Polytunnels—

  Ashwell

  Blantyre House

  Blundeston

  Salad items, pot plants and floral decorations

  Bullingdon

  Bullwood Hall

  Camphill

  Channings Wood

  Coldingley

  Drake Hall

  East Sutton Park

  Erlestoke

  Featherstone

  Ford

  Frankland

  Glen Parva

  Grendon/Springhill

  Gury Marsh

  Haslar

  Haverigg

  Hewell Grange

  Highdown

  Highpoint

  Hindley

  Hollesley Bay Colony

  Holme House

  Huntercombe/Finnamore Wood

  Kirkham

  Leyhill

  490

  Prison Farms and Gardens Enterprises

  Establishment

  Enterprise

  Lindholme

  Morton Hall

  New Hall

  Northallerton

  North Sea Camp

  Norwich

  Onley

  Portland

  Pucklechurch

  Ranby

  Rochester

  Rudgate

  Send

  Standford Hill

  Stocken

  Glasshouses/Polytunnels—

  Styal

  Sudbury/Foston

  Salad items, pot plants and floral decorations

  Swinfen Hall

  The Verne

  Thorn Cross

  Wellingborough

  Werrington

  Wetherby

  Whatton

  Hollesley Bay Colony

  Horses—Suffolk Punches

  Highpoint

  Jam factory—Jam and marmalade

  Full Sutton Wayland

  Machinery repairs—Mowers, farm equipment and 4-wheel trucks

  Ford

  Nursery stock—Trees and shrubs

  Blundeston

  Pigs—

  Everthorpe

  Hatfield

  Bacon and pork

  Haverigg

  Hewell Grange

  Hollesley Bay

  Colony

  Kirkham

  New Hall

  North Sea Camp

  Portland

  Rochester

  Standford Hill

  Stocken

  Swinfen Hall

  The Verne

  Usk/Prescoed

  Lindholme

  Poultry—Eggs

  Dartmoor

  Sheep

  Featherstone

  Gartree

  North Sea Camp

  Hollesley Bay Colony

  Vegetable preparation units

  Kirkham

  Leyhill

  491

  Prison Farms and Gardens Enterprises

  Establishment

  Enterprise

  Lindholme Standford Hill

  Hafield Stocken

  Cereal

  East Sutton Park

  Vineyard

  Usk

  Sawmill

  Everthorpe

  Woodland

  Dartmoor

  Fea

  therstone

  Swinfen Hall

  Huntercombe

  Hollesley Bay

  All establishments

  21 enterprises

  Radioactive Materials
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking on illegal trading in radioactive materials, following his meeting in Berlin on 8 September with justice Ministers for central and eastern Europe.

  Mr. Howard
  My officials, together with colleagues in other Departments, are participating in work within the inter-governmental structures of the European Union to review the incidence of illegal trading in radioactive materials and to examine proposals for increased co-operation against it, in furtherance of the declaration of the ministerial conference in Berlin on 8 September. Responsibility for executive action in respect of any attempt illegally to import or export radioactive materials, or to engage in any other criminal activity involving such materials, remains with HM Customs and Excise and with the police respectively.

  Prevention of Terrorism Acts
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now arrange to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Acts.

  Mr. Howard
  I have no plans to do so at the present time.

  Exclusion Orders
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange to revoke all exclusion orders which exclude citizens normally resident in Northern Ireland from entering the rest of the United Kingdom; how many such people are currently subject to such exclusion orders; how frequently such orders require renewal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced last Friday that I had that day revoked the orders excluding Mr. Gerry Adams and Mr. Martin McGuinness from Great Britain, that other exclusion orders would remain in place for the time being, and that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State 492
  for Northern Ireland would keep the need for them under review. It is the Government's hope that the day is approaching when exclusion orders will no longer be needed but we are not prepared to lower our guard prematurely.

  There are currently 72 orders in force, of which 62 have been made by myself and my predecessors and 10 by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. All orders expire after three years unless revoked earlier. Of the 62 Home Office orders, 55 involve exclusion from Great Britain and seven exclusion from the United Kingdom.

  Salford Prison
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the timetable for the site purchase, planning, building and opening of the proposed new prison in Salford;

  (2) whether the proposed new prison at Salford will he planned, built and run by private sector companies;

  (3) how many prisoners will be held at the proposed new prison at Salford, announced on 18 October;

  (4) whether the proposed new prison in Salford, announced on 18 October, will be one of the six new prisons announced by the Home Secretary in October 1993.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the announcement on 18 October by the Prison Service of plans to build a new category B prison in Greater Manchester.
  Discussions are taking place about the purchase of the site and about the planning implications, but a formal planning notice has not yet been submitted to the relevant planning authority, Salford City Council. Subject to the outcome of these discussions, it is envisaged that tenders could be invited for the prison's construction by the summer of 1995, which would enable the prison to open before the end of the financial year 1998–99.
  Our initial assessment is that the site is large enough to accommodate up to 800 prisoners but the level of occupancy will be one of the issues for discussion with the planning authority.
  This will be one of the six prisons announced by the Home Secretary on 2 September 1993, for which the design, construction, management and finance will be contracted out to the private sector.

DEFENCE

  Pregnancy (Dismissals)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women have been dismissed from each of the armed forces on the grounds of pregnancy in each year since August 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Records held centrally show only the total numbers of women who left each of the services on grounds of pregnancy during the period since August 1990. These figures are as follows:
  493

  Female officers1

  Non-commissioned females

  RN

  Army

  RAF

  RN

  Army

  RAF

  August 1990–1 April 19912

  2

  10

  7

  35

  98

  73

  1991–92

  4

  17

  15

  78

  177

  140

  1992–93

  3

  16

  18

  85

  204

  112

  1993–94

  —

  6

  9

  85

  184

  91

  1 April 1994—June 19943

  —

  —

  2

  354

  29

  12

  Notes:

  1Actual figures for the number of female officers who left on pregnancy between 1990–91 and 1992–93 are not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost and effort. The figures provided are therefore estimates based on the percentage of non-commissioned females leaving on pregnancy.

  2Figures represent pro-rata apportionment for 1990–91. Separate figures for period from August are not available.

  1Latest figures available.

  This figure includes women who left on marriage. Separate figures are not available at present.

  Depleted Uranium Shells
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the seabed search for depleted uranium shells fired into the Solway firth conducted on behalf of his Department during the summer; and what has been the cost to his Department to date.

  Mr. Freeman
  Following an underwater video survey by the Fisheries Protection Vessel, Solway Protector, British Telecom Marine, using Ministry of Defence equipment was contracted to attempt the recovery of sample depleted uranium penetrators from the bed of the Solway firth. Sonar, visual and magnetometer surveys were conducted with no result. Water and seabed silt samples showed no increase in background radiation levels. The cost of these activities was some £27,000 for work covering six days overall.

  Equal Treatment Directive
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department conducted an evaluation of the impact of the equal treatment directive on any of their employment policies or practices when it came into force; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  I am not aware of any such evaluation having taken place within my Department. In any case, my Department believed at that time that the directive did not apply to the armed forces.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to obtain a copy of the report published in August by the Washington-based Natural Resources Defence Council on the control over military usable plutonium.

  Mr. Soames
  My Department already holds a copy of the report in question.

  Al-Yamamah Agreement
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent meetings he has had with Saudi Arabian Government officials on the plans of the Saudi Offset committee in regard to the Al-Yamamah agreement.
  494
  Mr. Freeman
  My officials met the Saudi economic offset committee on 17 October to review the progress of the Al-Yamamah offset programme.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has requested from the Sunday Times the original tape recordings and other evidence reported on 9 October alleging the payment of brokerage fees to Mr. Mark Thatcher in regard to the Al-Yamamah defence contracts with Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Freeman
  No.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Defence Export Sales Organisation has held any formal or informal meetings with Mr. Mark Thatcher in regard to the Al-Yamamah defence agreement with Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Freeman
  I know of no evidence that Mr. Thatcher played any part in, or influenced, the British Government's negotiations with the Saudi Arabian Government on the Al-Yamamah contracts.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the Al-Yamamah defence agreements signed with Saudi Arabia on 26 September 1985, 17 February 1986 and 3 July 1988; and what plans there are to update these agreements.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. The understandings referred to are confidential between the British and Saudi Arabian Governments. There are no current plans to update these understandings.

  Army Apprentices College
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department expects to spend in total on refurbishing the army apprentices college, Chepstow; and if he will publish a breakdown of that expenditure.

  Mr. Soames
  The estimated total cost of converting Beachley camp, Chepstow from an apprentices college to
  495
  an infantry battalion barracks is £15,300,000. These costs are broken down as follows:

  £

  Conversion of barracks

  9,300,000

  Provision of additional quarters

  5,000,000

  Design and management

  1,000,000

  All of these figures are inclusive of VAT.

  Air Chief Marshal (Residence)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will describe the procedures leading to the appointment of KPMG Marwick to carry out an investigation into expenditure on the Air Chief Marshal's official residence.

  Mr. Soames
  Wherever possible and appropriate my Department places consultancy work by competitive tender. On this occasion, however, the need to make rapid progress with the investigation made it preferable to engage Ms Masters of KPMG Marwick. Ms Masters was already engaged on other work for the Department and we were confident that she was a suitable choice to conduct the assignment.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the guidance given regarding avoidance procedures to pilots operating in low flying or ultra-low-flying regimes when training over geographically prominent secondary schools.

  Mr. Soames
  No specific guidance on avoidance procedures is given to pilots when training in the vicinity of schools. However, pilots are instructed to avoid flying over major conurbations and towns and to avoid all other populated areas wherever possible, whether they are listed for avoidance or not. In tactical training areas, pilots are instructed, if possible, to avoid all buildings likely to be occupied by people when conducting operational low flying.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if pilots are permitted to use geographically prominent secondary schools as low flying targets during low-level training flights.

  Mr. Soames
  Schools do not feature on lists from which targets for simulated toss and dive attacks must be selected. Aircrews are instructed that targets for simulated level attacks are to be selected with consideration for nearby habitation, thereby ruling out the choice of schools.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of low-flying

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Arrested

  245

  641

  619

  151

  30

  21

  3

  Charged

  175

  108

  88

  11

  6

  5

  —

  Convicted

  87

  35

  49

  5

  4

  3

  —

  Acquitted

  11

  —

  16

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to review military land byelaws at HMS Forest Moor, at Menwith Hill and at 496
  sorties which have passed within a five-mile radius of Berwickshire high school in Duns during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Soames
  The information is not held in the form requested.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria would have to be satisfied in order to secure a permanent low flying exclusion zone around a secondary school in a geographically prominent position in a low flying practice zone.

  Mr. Soames
  Many schools are located in areas such as large towns where low flying is not practised. It is our policy not to grant avoidances for schools in other areas where routine low flying takes place. To do otherwise would concentrate the activity on neighbouring communities and would have an unacceptable impact on our ability to meet essential training needs.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence is he will make an official visit to Berwickshire high school in Duns in order to explain Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding low overflights of secondary schools in prominent positions in low flying practice zones.

  Mr. Soames
  There is no specific policy regarding low flying overflights of secondary schools in prominent positions in low flying practice zones. Our policy on low flying was explained to staff and parents at Berwickshire High School by the RAF regional community relations officer for the Borders when he visited the school on 11 May, and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence responded in his letter of 22 July to further concerns raised by the clerk of the school.

  Military Land Byelaws
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to reply to letters sent to him on 28 August, 5 September and 19 September by Lindis Percy, of Bradford, a constituent of the hon. Member for Bradford, West, concerning military land byelaws and related matters.

  Mr. Soames
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's office replied on the 21st October to the letter of 28 August from Ms Lindis Percy. As to her letters of 5 and 19 September, replies will be sent shortly.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in each of the last 10 years to date have been(a) arrested, (b) charged, (c) convicted and (d) acquitted of offences relating to military land bylaws.

  Mr. Soames
  Before 1988 information of this sort was not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. From 1988 the figures, which relate to the number of reported incidents in England and Wales, are as follows:

  RAF Alconbury; when the review is due to be completed; when he expects to receive the conclusions of the review; and if he will make a statement.
  497
  Mr. Soames
  My Department is currently reviewing all military land byelaws. This will include those at HMS Forest Moor, Menwith Hill and RAF Alconbury. Because this is an extensive and legally complex task, I am unable to say when the review will be completed.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to his Department, in each year since 1984, to date, of legal costs relating to military land byelaws; and in how many court proceedings in each of these years relating to military land byelaws the Ministry has been legally represented.

  Mr. Soames
  It is not possible separately to identify the legal costs relating to military land byelaws from other work carried out by my Department's legal adviser and his staff.

  I will write to the hon. Member concerning the number of court proceedings relating to military land byelaws in which the Ministry has been legally represented.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military land byelaws he regards as being invalid; to which sites such byelaws relate; and what steps he has taken to take down byelaw notices displayed at these sites.

  Mr. Soames
  Court judgments have indicated that there are defects in the military lands byelaws at HMS Forest Moor, Menwith Hill, RAF Alconbury and Greenham Common. Byelaw notices are no longer displayed at these establishments.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to reply to a letter dated 20 August from Lindis Percy of Bradford.

  Mr. Soames
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's office replied to the letter of Ms Lindis Percy on 21 October.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current status of military land byelaws at RAF Molesworth, Lakenheath, Fylingdales, Brawdy, Burghfield and Aldermaston.

  Mr. Soames
  The military byelaws at those sites remain extant.

  £

  £

  Tornado GR1

  (a) Germany

  6,617

  (b) United Kingdom

  6,642

  Harrier GR5

  (b) Germany

  3,720

  (b) United Kingdom

  3,715

  These figures exclude apportionment of stationed fixed costs.

  Aircraft Accidents
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy on the replacement of aircraft lost through accidents.

  Mr. Soames
  Operational aircraft fleets generally include a reserve for peacetime attrition from which aircraft can be taken to replace those lost through accidents.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tornado aircraft have crashed or crash landed in the past three years; what where the causes of these accidents; and if he will make a statement.
  498
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will issue instructions for all military land byelaw notices, concerning byelaws deemed by the courts as being unsafe, to be taken down from public display; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Military land byelaw notices are no longer displayed at those sites where the courts have declared that the byelaws are defective. When new byelaws are promulgated, appropriate notices will be erected.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which military lands byelaws are currently regarded by him as being operational and in force; in how many such cases such byelaws are being used and observed; and how many have been deemed by the courts to be defective on their face.

  Mr. Soames
  Military land byelaws operate at any site to which they apply unless they have been declared defective by the courts. Byelaws for HMS Forest Moor, Menwith Hill, RAF Alconbury and Greenham Common have been so declared.

  RAF Chicksands
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when RAF Chicksands is due to close; and when activities conducted there will be transferred to the National Security Agency of America base at Edzell.

  Mr. Soames
  The US Air Force will leave RAF Chicksands by the end of September 1995. RAF Chicksands is a US Department of Defense communications centre managed by the United States Air Force. It is not our policy to comment further on operational matters.

  Flight Costs
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the comparative cost of Tornado and Harrier flights of similar duration in the United Kingdom and Germany.

  Mr. Soames
  The average current cost of a flight lasting one hour by Tornado and Harrier aircraft based in Germany and the United Kingdom is:

  Mr. Soames
  Since October 1991, seven RAF Tornados have crashed or crash landed. Six accidents are still under investigation by RAF boards of inquiry; summaries of the findings of the respective boards will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they become available. The remaining accident occurred on 21 October 1993 as a result of the ignition of a fuel leak. A summary of the findings of the board of inquiry into this accident has already been placed in the Library of the House.

  HIV
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in the armed forces have
  499
  contracted HIV; and if he will make a statement on policy towards those with the virus.

  Mr. Soames
  Twenty-eight service personnel are known to have contracted HIV. Personnel who consider themselves to be at risk of HIV infection are encouraged to undergo counselling and voluntary testing. Service personnel who are infected are given counselling and receive advice and treatment appropriate to their medical condition. The services continue to employ HIV carriers until their health deteriorates to a point at which it is appropriate to terminate their employment on medical grounds.

  Royal Marines Reserve
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a decision has been made on the future of the Royal Marines Reserve; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  No decisions on the future size and shape of the Royal Marines Reserve have yet been taken. Should any proposals be made, they will be subject to formal consultation.

  Benefit Claimants
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many families in the armed services claim income support or housing benefit.

  Mr. Soames
  The claiming of benefits is a private matter between the individual and the appropriate authority; if members of the armed forces were for any reason entitled to receive such a benefit, it would be claimed through the Benefits Agency or the local council, as appropriate.

  European Security Policy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the creation of a common European security policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The treaty on European Union provides for a common foreign and security policy that will include the eventual framing of a common European defence policy; and that this and other matters having defence implications are dealt with by the Western European Union. At its meeting in Luxembourg on 9 May this year, the WEU Council of Ministers tasked the Permanent Council to begin work on the formulation of a common European defence policy, with the aim of presenting preliminary conclusions to the Council of Ministers' next meeting in November. To that end, work is in hand in the Permanent Council on an approach to formulating such a policy.

  Service Hospitals
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of service personnel has been treated at the service hospitals of Haslar and Wroughton in each of the last five years; and what is the estimated travelling time to each hospital from the closest airfield likely to be used in emergencies.

  Mr. Soames
  The proportion of service personnel, expressed as a percentage of the total strength of the armed forces, treated at the Royal Naval hospital Haslar and the Princess Alexandra RAF hospital Wroughton 500
  averaged 7·3 per cent. and 6·4 per cent. respectively in the five years from 1989–90 to 1993–94. The closest airfield to the Princess Alexandra RAF hospital is RAF Lyneham, which is approximately 30 minutes by road. The closest suitable airfield to the Royal Naval hospital Haslar is Eastleigh, which is about 45 minutes away by road. Both hospitals have helicopter landing sites. Depending on the circumstances, Service patients requiring emergency treatment will continue to be taken to the most convenient civilian or military hospital; one of the primary purposes for a military hospital is to train defence medical services personnel.

  Frigate Sales
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the last refit took place for each frigate that was sold to Pakistan; and how much each of these refits cost.

  Mr. Freeman
  Refit details for five frigates that were sold to Pakistan between 1940 and 1951 are no longer held. Additionally, the cost of refits undertaken before the dockyards passed into commercial management in April 1987 is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Details of the refit dates of frigates sold to Pakistan since 1951 and the approximate costs, where available, are as follows.

  Ship

  Date last refit completed

  Total cost

  HMS Diomede

  August 1984

  Not available

  HMS Amazon

  September 1984

  Not available

  HMS Apollo

  May 1985

  Not available

  HMS Ambuscade

  December 1985

  Not available

  HMS Active

  August 1986

  Not available

  HMS Avenger

  April 1988

  £17 million

  HMS Alacrity

  November 1987

  £20 million

  HMS Arrow

  July 1989

  £23 million

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what study of the effects of fluorine have been made in the context of Gulf war syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Fluorine was neither identified nor encountered as a specific hazard to service personnel of the alliance forces during the Gulf conflict. No evidence of any of the effects of fluorine has since been found in any of the medical investigations conducted on United Kingdom Gulf war veterans.

  Overseas Deployment
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Armilla patrol costs Britain per year before UN reimbursement; and how much the deployment of aircraft to patrol the no-fly zones in Iraq is costing per year.

  Mr. Soames
  It is not possible to separate the costs of individual fleet tasks, such as the Armilla patrol from the
  501
  costs of operating the fleet as a whole. The additional costs to the defence budget arising from the no-fly zones in the Gulf region are estimated to be:

  £

  1991–92

  2,600,000

  1992–93

  8,900,000

  1993–94

  16,100,000

  1994–95

  9,400,000

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft were used to deploy British forces to Rwanda and Zaire.

  Mr. Soames
  The British contingent in the United Nations assistance mission for Rwanda were deployed using a combination of British and American aircraft. The first elements travelled in Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft. The remainder deployed in US Air Force C5s and C141s operating on behalf of the United Nations.

  English Language Training
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people will attend the English language training course in the United Kingdom; and what will be the estimated cost per attendee and for the course as a whole.

  Mr. Soames
  We currently offer a number of English language training courses to students of various nationalities. With the exception of core courses, the number of courses and type of training offered depends on the requirements of overseas services.

  Course costs depend on duration, syllabus and number of students. The average cost per student per week is currently £470.

  Each course is allocated a maximum student capacity between six and 16, although where specific training is requested, this may vary.

  Bosnia
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Ministry's estimate of the Bosnian army's weaponry, and its estimates on the type and quantity of illegal arms that have reached the Bosnian army since 1992.

  Mr. Soames
  The Bosnian army is assessed to have about 20 tanks, 300 artillery pieces and mortars, and five helicopters. We believe that the arms embargo has prevented deliveries of heavy weaponry to the Bosnian Government, but that supplies of small arms, light anti-tank weapons and ammunition have reached them, from a number of sources.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Harrier shot down over Bosnia will be replaced.

  Mr. Soames
  A replacement Sea Harrier joined HMS Ark Royal within a day of the loss of the Sea Harrier over Gorazde on 16 April. There are no plans to buy a new aircraft specifically to replace the one lost, as the purchase of attrition aircraft was designed with such eventualities in mind.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many violations of the Bosnian no-fly zone have taken place this year.
  502
  Mr. Soames
  As at 30 September there had been 985 reported violations of the Bosnian no-fly zone; 98 per cent. of these were attributed to helicopters.

  Trident
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the possibility of using Trident in a sub-strategic role; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced to the House on 18 October 1993,Official Report, column 34, that we plan that Trident will provide the United Kingdom's sub-strategic nuclear capability in the longer term.

  Test Ban Negotiations
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the comprehensive test ban negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Good progress has been made in the negotiations towards a comprehensive test ban treaty, which have been the main focus of the work in the conference on disarmament this year. A rolling text has been produced which covers all the main issues in treaty form, and is based on the work of the two working groups on verification and legal and institutional issues. The United Kingdom has been playing an active and constructive part in the negotiations and the contribution of the United Kingdom friend of the chair verification has been particularly recognised and appreciated.

  Equipment Co-operation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the, Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on how the United Kingdom has encouraged equipment co-operation between east European countries and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Ministry of Defence has been involved in a number of initiatives designed to provide central and eastern European countries with an understanding of United Kingdom defence procurement policy and practices. These initiatives have comprised the exchange of expert working groups from the defence procurement agencies of the United Kingdom and central and eastern European countries and the United Kingdom's involvement in visits to those countries of teams of experts from NATO.

  We have also provided United Kingdom defence industry with information on our approach to equipment procurement from central and eastern Europe to help them make commercial judgments on the possibility of joint ventures with central and eastern European industry.

  Armed Forces in Europe Agreement
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment has been sold or leased abroad as a result of reductions under the conventional armed forces in Europe agreement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No United Kingdom equipment has been sold or leased abroad as a result of reductions under the conventional armed forces in Europe treaty.

  Nuclear Weapons (Ukraine)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the form of assistance that Britain is providing to Ukraine in its dismantling of nuclear weapons; which British engineers are helping; what progress has been made in the dismantling; and for how long this commitment lasts.

  Mr. Soames
  The United Kingdom does not currently provide Ukraine with specific assistance for the dismantling of the nuclear weapons remaining in her territory. Assistance with the safe disposal of hazardous rocket fuels was offered, but declined. However, a number of more general assistance programmes, including ones run under the auspices of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, should help with the drawdown of the former strategic rocket forces in Ukraine, particularly the resettlement and retraining of personnel.

  East European Employees
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals have been agreed for a training course for east European civilians employed in the defence field.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has written to colleagues in central Europe, inviting attendance at a seminar on the roles and responsibilities of civilians in the defence field, to be held in the United Kingdom in November. We shall determine our future programme of assistance, including training, in the light of requirements identified at the seminar.

  Partnership for Peace
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with what countries Britain has begun military co-operation under the partnership for peace; with which countries exercises have been held in 1994; what was the experience gained from these exercises; and what co-operation has already been agreed for the rest of this year and 1995.

  Mr. Soames
  The United Kingdom has undertaken bilateral military co-operation with the majority of signatories to partnership for peace. This bilateral activity is being subsumed into PFP as the partnership work programme is developed.

  During 1994, United Kingdom land forces have conducted bilateral peacekeeping exercises with Poland and Hungary, and United Kingdom naval forces participated in a Norwegian—led exercise in the Barents sea. In addition, the United Kingdom has participated in three PFP exercises:

  Co-operative Bridge in Poland, involving 13 nations;

  Co-operative Spirit in Holland involving 12 nations; and

  Co-operative Venture in the Norwegian sea, involving 14 nations.

  We are continuing to evaluate the military lessons of these exercises but they will provide useful lessons on the planning and conduct of future exercises in the evolving PFP programme. The 1995 programmes of PFP and bilateral work have yet to be finalised.

  Redundancies
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been paid out in redundancy payments to officers of brigadier rank and above in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Soames
  In the past five financial years, the following payments have been made to brigadiers or their equivalents in other services:

  Year

  £

  1989–90

  26,908

  1990–91

  24,185

  1991–92

  80,460

  1992–93

  257,352

  1993–94

  866,836

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers of brigadier rank and above have chosen redundancy in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Soames
  In the past five financial years, the following numbers of officers of brigadier rank and above and their equivalents in other services, have chosen redundancy:

  Year

  Number

  1989–90

  —

  1990–91

  —

  1991–92

  —

  1992–93

  12

  1993–94

  34

  Hercules Aircraft
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Hercules, of which types, were advertised for sale in September;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the state of the Hercules aircraft being offered for sale.

  Mr. Freeman
  No RAF Hercules aircraft has been offered for sale. An advertisement was placed by my Department in September to assess the potential market for RAF Hercules, should they become available for sale.

  Rowallan Company
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applicants for officer training have been referred to(a) Rowallan Company and (b) another extra training scheme, in each of the past 10 years; and what proportion in each year has been accepted at Sandhurst after this extra training.

  Mr. Soames
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.

  Helicopter Training Centres
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of running each of the three
  505
  rotary wing helicopter training centres; and how many personnel are employed at each centre.

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

  RPS Coulston
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid to RPS Coulston for its study proposals on the Otterburn training area.

  Mr. Soames
  To date, approximately £172,000, excluding value added tax, has been paid under two

  Year

  Royal Navy

  Army

  Royal Air Force

  Applied

  Rejected

  Applied

  Rejected

  Applied

  Rejected

  1985–86

  —

  —

  3,473

  3,569

  4,723

  3,843

  1986–87

  —

  —

  3,311

  2,396

  4,743

  3,755

  1987–88

  —

  —

  2,894

  2,080

  4,327

  3,386

  1988–89

  2,464

  1,613

  2,577

  1,698

  3,976

  3,211

  1989–90

  2,347

  1,414

  2,629

  1,806

  4,322

  3,511

  1990–91

  2,714

  1,894

  2,529

  1,656

  4,316

  3,591

  1991–92

  2,283

  1,293

  2,374

  1,675

  3,737

  3,252

  1992–93

  2,020

  1,290

  2,012

  1,430

  1,644

  1,390

  1993–94

  1,536

  918

  1,607

  1,001

  1,314

  1,232

  1994–95

  1,238

  956

  925

  575

  1,253

  1,055

  (to 30 September 1994)

  Notes:

  1. Officer applicants to the Royal Navy are interviewed by the Admiralty Interview Board, to the Army by the Regular Commissions Board, and to the Royal Air Force by the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre.

  2. Number for the Royal Navy for Financial Year 1985–86 to 1987–88 are not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate ost.

  3. Royal Naval and Royal Air Force figures include those for serving personnel seeking commissions.

  4. Army figures do not include those for doctors, dentists, nurses, veterinary surgeons and lawyers as their applications are dealt with by the appropriate Corps/Service.

  Helicopter Pilots
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rotary wing helicopter pilots have been trained at each of the three training centres in each of the last five years.

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

  Cruise Missiles
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the proposal to buy cruise missiles from the USA; what the estimated costs will be; and when they could become operational.

  Mr. Freeman
  Initial feasibility studies into the UK's acquisition of Tomahawk land attack missiles have just begun. The results of these studies will be available next year and will provide us with the means of assessing the contribution that TLAM could make to the UK's defence capability and what the cost and operational implications would be.
  506
  separate contracts to RPS Coulston for its study proposals on the Otterburn training area.

  Officer Training
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for officer training there have been in each of the last 10 years; and how many were rejected by the Royal Commissions Board in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Soames
  The number of applications to the armed forces for officer training and the number rejected in the last 10 years, either by selection boards or beforehand, are as follows:

  Tornado Jets
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if liability over the damage done to the Tornado F-3s at RAF St. Athans by Airwork has been decided; how much the repairs will cost; and when the last Tornado will again be in service.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department intends to claim against the Bricom Group, the former owners of Airwork Ltd, for the cost of repairing the damage done to the Tornado F3 aircraft and for other consequential costs. In view of the pending claim, it would be inappropriate to comment on the cost of repair. A schedule for recovering the aircraft has been identified which will ensure that the RAF's operational capability is not affected.

  Otterburn Training Area
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid to RPS Coulston for its study proposals on the Otterburn training area.

  Mr. Soams
  To date approximately £172,000 excluding value added tax, has been paid under two separate contracts to RPS Coulston for its study proposals on the Otterburn training area.

  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: UK MEMBERS AND GOVERNMENT POLICY
  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: UK MEMBERS AND GOVERNMENT POLICY
  EUROPEAN UNION: UK PERMANENT REPRESENTATION
  EUROPEAN UNION: UK PERMANENT REPRESENTATION
  EUROPEAN LEGISLATION: REPEAL AND AMENDMENT
  EUROPEAN LEGISLATION: REPEAL AND AMENDMENT
  EUROPEAN LAW: EVASION OF PENALTIES
  EUROPEAN LAW: EVASION OF PENALTIES
  LANDMINES
  LANDMINES
  RED MERCURY
  RED MERCURY
  NAGORNO KARABAKH AND ARMENIA
  NAGORNO KARABAKH AND ARMENIA
  GENERAL MLADIC
  GENERAL MLADIC
  BOSNIA
  BOSNIA
  MIGRANT WORKERS: EUROPEAN CONVENTION
  MIGRANT WORKERS: EUROPEAN CONVENTION
  MR. GERALD RONSON AND MR. ANTHONY PARNES
  MR. GERALD RONSON AND MR. ANTHONY PARNES
  TAX CUTS AND INCREASES
  TAX CUTS AND INCREASES
  ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT: EC POWERS
  ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT: EC POWERS
  MEDICAL RESEARCH ON HUMAN BEINGS: COUNCIL OF EUROPE RECOMMENDATIONS
  MEDICAL RESEARCH ON HUMAN BEINGS: COUNCIL OF EUROPE RECOMMENDATIONS
  AIDS: PARIS SUMMIT
  AIDS: PARIS SUMMIT