Written Answers of 26 October 1994

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff are employed by his Department; and what proportion of them are employed in each of the standard regions.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of staff in the employment of the Lord Chancellor's Department and the proportion of them who are employed in the standard regions is set out in the table.

  Total numbers of staff in the Lord Chancellor Department as at 18 October 1994.

  The total number of staff currently employed in Lord Chancellor's Department is 12,439.

  The proportion of staff employed in the standard regions

  Region

  Total number of staff

  Scotland

  2

  Northern

  502

  York and Humberside

  1,041

  East Midlands

  635

  North West

  1,415

  West Midlands

  1,031

  Wales

  537

  East Anglia

  303

  South East

  6,183

  South West

  790

  These figures include part time staff who have been shown as whole numbers.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has 11 advisory committees on justices of the peace and four on general commissioners of income tax in these areas. The main function of these committees is to recommend suitable people to the Lord Chancellor for judicial appointment. The normal period of appointment is six years, so arranged that approximately half the members of a committee retire every three years. Neither chairmen or members of advisory committees receive any remuneration. If the hon. Member would like more detailed information about the membership of any particular committee or committees I should be happy to provide it if he writes to me. This answer does not include appointments which exercise judicial functions.
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  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department has not organised any such receptions. However, in support of the Lord Chancellor's commitment to encourage applications for judicial appointment from suitably qualified women lawyers, the first of what is hoped will be a series of events for women lawyers was held in July at the Bar Council. The purpose of the event, arranged jointly by the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Bar Council and the Association of Women Barristers, was to provide information to women barristers on the opportunities available for appointments to part-time posts within the judiciary. There were no separately identifiable costs to the Department beyond those associated with the manpower involved.

  Legal Costs Payments
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many individuals have received payments of over £100,000 to their legal costs in each of the last four years and in 1994–95.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The table gives the information requested. For civil legal aid, the figures represent the number of individual legal aid certificates where gross payments, including VAT, have exceeded £100,000. For criminal legal aid, the figures show the numbers of cases where gross payments, including VAT, in excess of £100,000 have been made since it is not always possible to disaggregate payments relating to individuals in cases involving more than one defendant.

  Year

  Civil

  Criminal

  Total cases

  1990–91

  4

  90

  94

  1991–92

  22

  66

  88

  1992–93

  36

  119

  155

  1993–94

  54

  172

  226

  1994 to date

  41

  112

  153

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the total amount spent on official hospitality by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies for each year since 1990.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The total amounts spent on official hospitality in the Lord Chancellor's Department each year since 1990, are given in the table. Until 1994–95, the Department had no agencies which were not separate Government Departments. The Public Trust Office, established as an agency on 1 July 1994, has no hospitality budget.

  Year

  Total£

  1990–91

  19,022·93

  1991–92

  20,894·90

  1992–93

  20,697·44

  1993–94

  20,476·67

  1994–95 (to the end of September)

  5,975·38

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date he expects the team conducting the fundamental review of his Department's expenditure to make its final report to the Lord Chancellor.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The review is an internal process and there are no plans to publish any of the documents produced. Any policy changes resulting from the review will be announced in the usual way and any major changes will be the subject of public consultation. However, there is no firm timetable for this at present.

ENVIRONMENT

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994 (to date)

  LDDC

  Appointments

  —

  6

  2

  2

  2

  Re-appointments

  —

  2

  4

  —

  5

  LPFA

  Appointments

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Re-appointments

  0

  0

  8

  0

  0

  LRAP

  Appointments

  2

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Re-appointments

  28

  26

  26

  25

  29

  LRB

  Appointments

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Re-appointments

  —

  —

  1

  2

  1

  SHAT

  Appointments

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  Re-appointments

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  THHAT

  Appointments

  —

  —

  —

  10

  —

  Re-appointments

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  WFHAT

  Appointments

  —

  11

  —

  —

  —

  Re-appointments

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the de minimis figure of £100,000 for compulsory competitive tendering will be reviewed, following the proposal of a de minimis figure of £300,000 in respect of compulsory competitive tendering for legal services.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The two figures referred to by my hon. Friend are different in nature and purpose. The £100,000 de minimis relates to manual services, and represents the level of expenditure on a service below which the administrative cost of compulsory competitive tendering may outweigh the prospective savings. The other figure relates to the proposals to extend CCT to local
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  budget for each body, and the number of appointments made or renewed for each body in each of the past five years.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State makes appointments to the following non-departmental public bodies whose activities relate solely to the Greater London area. It excludes those bodies, based in London, whose activities are national.

  Body

  Total Annual Budget (1994–95)approx. £ million

  London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC)

  116·2

  London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA)

  1248·5

  London Rent Assessment Panel (LRAP)

  2·6

  London Residuary Body (LRB)

  22·3

  Stonebridge Housing Action Trust (SHAT)

  1·0

  Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust (THHAT)

  6·9

  Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust (WFHAT)

  35

  1 None of this budget is directly financed by DOE. Most of the expenditure represents the cost of pensions paid to former GLC and ILEA employees.

  2 None of this budget is directly financed by DOE.

  The number of appointments and re-appointments for each of these bodies for the last five years is as follows:

  authorities' legal services. The exemption from CCT of 55 per cent. of local authorities' legal work, or £300,000 by value, whichever is the greater, is designed to ensure that all authorities can maintain the necessary in-house legal expertise for advising on policy and strategic matters.

  All CCT de minimis provisions are kept under review, but there are no immediate plans to change the present figures.

  Marsham Tower
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current quantity of floor space in the Marsham tower Government building; how many
  605
  persons are currently employed there; how much office space is envisaged in the outline redevelopment proposals currently before Westminster city council; and approximately how many office personnel could then be accommodated.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The current building at 2 Marsham street has a gross floor area of 890,000 sq ft above ground and accommodates approximately 3,000 civil servants from the Departments of Environment and of Transport. The outline application for the site before Westminster city council proposes 690,00 sq ft of offices above ground as well as residential and retail uses and open space. It is too early to say how many people will be accommodated in this new space. This will depend on the design of the new buildings on the site and the requirements of the eventual occupiers.

  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the likely timetable for the demolition of the Marsham street Government buildings and redevelopment of the 5 acre site; and what provision he is making for proper public consultation, including hon. Members, about the plans for the future of the site both as regards alternative usage and intensity of development and building design.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The 2 Marsham street building will be vacated by the end of 1997. Demolition will then commence and is likely to take a minimum of 18 months. Redevelopment of the site could start in 2000 with the first building becoming available for occupation in 2002. A public exhibition of the outline proposals for the site was held following the submission of the outline planning application on 18 July 1994. It is envisaged that there will be a further opportunity for the public to view the proposals after a presentation to the Royal Fine Art Commission later this year. This is an outline application and therefore proposes uses and scale of development but not building design.

  Land Searches
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his conclusions on the consultation exercise on a statutory scheme for local authority land searches.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Responses to the consultation carried out earlier this year demonstrated wide-ranging support for a 10 working days timescale for local authority responses to homebuyers' standard search inquiries. The proposals set out in the consultation document are being considered further in the light of responses, and a further announcement will be made in due course.

  Water Saving
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to issuing building regulations guidelines about water saving devices for new and refurbished buildings, including sprinkler taps and showers.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The consultation document, "Using Water Wisely" issued in July 1992 outlined various ways of saving water. The Government have considered the responses to that document and propose to issue an action plan shortly. A separate consultation paper will also be issued soon on replacements for the water 606
  byelaws which expire in England in 1997. This paper will consider the scope for addressing this issue through building regulations as well as in alternative ways.

  Local Government Act 1974
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will institute a public inquiry into the operation of section 26(9) of the Local Government Act 1974;

  (2) what considerations underlay the Government' s refusal to invoke the provisions of section 26(9) of the Local Government Act 1974 to close the loophole in the investigation of alleged breaches of the national code of local government conduct raised in the correspondence he and his predecessors have had with the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe in the case of Mr. Arthur Hodgkinson.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Personnel matters are specifically excluded from the local government ombudsman's jurisdiction by schedule 5 of the Local Government Act 1974. It is not the ombudsman's responsibility to investigate breaches of the national code of local government conduct other than to include them in an investigation where there is an allegation of maladministration involving personal injustice. There is no loophole to close and my right hon. Friend will not be instituting a public inquiry into the operation of section 26(9) of the Local Government Act 1974.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the conformity with the national code of local government conduct of the action of Wigan metropolitan borough council in the case of Mr. Arthur Hodgkinson.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  None. The Secretary of State has no role in assessing the compliance of individual councillors with the code.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department has not organised any receptions of this kind.

  Yorkshire and Humberside Projects
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what payments have been made by his Department during the last five years to individuals or companies in Yorkshire and Humberside in support of projects which it was assumed would create employment; and how many jobs have been created in each case.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Until April of this year, my Department awarded city grant to private developers in support of projects designed to create employment. On 1 April, responsibility for city grant was assumed by English Partnerships.

  In the five years to April 1994, £43·75 million of city grant was awarded in Yorkshire and Humberside in support of 41 schemes, which were expected to create 6,318 new jobs.

  Dearne Valley City Challenge Scheme
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure has so far been incurred in support of the Dearne Valley city challenge scheme; and how many permanent jobs have so far been created.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Dearne valley will receive £37·5 million in city challenge funding over five years from 1992–93, subject to satisfactory performance. Up to the end of September, Dearne valley city challenge has spent £15·252 million implementing its action plan. A total of 777 jobs has been created.

  London (1991)

  Percentage of total emissions

  Carbon dioxide (as carbon)

  Sulphur dioxide

  Black smoke

  Carbon monoxide

  Nitrogen oxides

  Volatile organic compounds

  Road transport

  33

  22

  96

  99

  76

  97

  Other transport

  3

  1

  2

  1

  4

  1

  Electricity supply industry

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Other industry

  13

  43

  1

  0

  5

  1

  Domestic

  30

  1

  0

  0

  6

  1

  Other

  19

  32

  2

  0

  8

  0

  Total (thousand tonnes)

  8,508

  26

  19

  648

  137

  116

  London as a percentage of United Kingdom total emissions

  5·3

  0·7

  4·2

  6·7

  5·0

  4·8

  The term volatile organic compounds does not include methane. The evaporation of petrol from production, storage and distribution is included under other industry. Evaporation from petrol tanks and carburettors of motor vehicles is included under road transport.

  Sources of volatile organic compounds given in the United Kingdom section of this table include emissions from non-energy related sources, such as industrial processes and solvents. These account for 50 per cent. of the total emissions. The sources included in the London section of the table are related only to the use of energy. Percentages do not add to 100 due to rounding.

  The Government are committed to securing, throughout the United Kingdom, good air quality based on a framework of exacting standard which takes full account of health and environmental effects. They will announce later this year proposals for meetings standards efficiently and cost-effectively.

  Environmental Information
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies have established policies to implement the Environmental Information Regulations 1992; and what procedures are in place to monitor the production and operation of these policies.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies that have public

  Air Pollution, London
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information available on traffic-related air pollution in London; and what policy objectives he has for improving air quality.

  Mr. Atkins
  The London energy study carried out by the London research centre was published 15 September 1993, it was funded by the European Commission, London Electricity plc and the Department of the Environment. One of the principal outputs of the study was a very detailed inventory of energy use, and the resultant emissions of pollutants to the London atmosphere covering almost 2,000 sq km in and around London. The table illustrates the sources for each pollutant as well as the total for London and as a percentage of United Kingdom total emissions for 1991.

  responsibilities in relation to the environment are under a duty to implement the environmental information regulations.

  The Department of the Environment does not continuously monitor the implementation of these regulations, but in 1997 will give the European Commission a report on the experience gained in operating directive 90/313 — which required the regulations to be made — and will then ask bodies for information relating to the practical implementation of the directive.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the total expenditure to date and (b) expenditure in legal fees by each executive agency and non-departmental public body on the implementation of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today. The Department of the Environment does not keep centrally information of this kind.

  Hadrian's Wall
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, when he will announce his decision on the proposed Hadrian's Wall path national trail.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Secretary of State has today decided to approve the Countryside Commission's report in
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  respect of the Hadrian's Wall path national trail, with a modification to the route as submitted by the Commission.

  In reaching this decision, careful consideration has been given to all the views expressed, including from those directly affected by the route and those concerned at its impact on the archaeology of the wall. The Secretary of State is satisfied that the Commission, in conjunction with English Heritage, has taken full account of the implications of establishing the path alongside this world heritage site.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Docklands light railway.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government are to privatise the Docklands light railway in line with their 1992 manifesto commitment. The first step will be taken in 1996, when DLR operations will be franchised to the private sector for a period of about seven years. The second step will be taken at the end of the franchise period, when the aim will be to transfer the railway as a whole into the private sector.

  In parallel, as part of the private finance initiative, the private sector will take responsibility for building an extension of the DLR to Lewisham, as announced by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer last year. Detailed planning for the Lewisham extension is now complete and I have today given DLR Ltd. my consent to start the competition to select a private concession company.

  DLR PRIVATISATION

  Through privatisation, the Government aim to ensure that the DLR will continue to develop as a highly efficient, customer-oriented and market-driven passenger service for Docklands, with reduced dependence on public subsidy.

  The DLR's operational performance has improved markedly over the last two years. Moreover, existing programmes to improve DLR's signalling and train control system are well advanced and will be complete in 1995, providing the capacity for more flexible service patterns and operating practices. The railway should return to full seven day services across the network during the first half of 1995. The franchising of DLR operations in 1996 will therefore allow private sector disciplines to be applied to consolidate the substantial improvements already made in efficiency, reliability and quality of service.

  I have asked Sir Anthony Gill, chairman of the DLR, to put in hand the preparatory work required to enable franchise to be let in 1996. The private sector operator will be expected to take responsibility for marketing services, maintaining trains, stations and track, and for all DLR's operations, including train services on the new extension to Lewisham when it opens, for a period of about seven years. The franchisee will have to have a statutorily approved railway safety case in place before starting to operate train services.

  DLR will be consulting its work force on the planned franchise. We expect any franchise to amount to a transfer for the purposes of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations and, if this is the
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  case, the franchisee will assume responsibility for DLR employees.

  Neither the letting of the franchise nor any subsequent sale of DLR will require legislation.

  DLR LEWISHAM EXTENSION

  In his Budget statement on 30 November 1993, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the private sector was to be invited to finance, build and maintain a 4·2 km extension of the DLR to Lewisham. Following the completion of detailed planning, I have today given my consent for the DLR to start the competition to select a private concession company to deliver the project. The first phase of market testing, the prequalification of bidders, will take three months. Full tendering is expected to start in February 1995, and DLR Ltd. should be in a position to award the concession contract before the end of the year. Construction should start in 1996, with the extension opening in 1999.

  A year ago, the provisional indications were that the project could not be financially viable as a private sector concession if it included stations previously planned for Island Gardens and Cutty Sark. At my request, DLR Ltd. and its owners, the London Docklands development corporation, consulted local interests on the option of deleting those two stations from the project. They also appointed financial advisers to validate the financial modelling and to develop a commercial structure for the project. Further, in July 1994, the Lord Chairman of Committees in another place ruled that any decision to omit Island Gardens station would breach an undertaking given to Parliament by the promoters of the London Docklands Railway (Lewisham) Act 1993 in relation to that station.

  In the light of these developments, DLR Ltd. has recommended to me that, on the basis of its latest cost and revenue forecasts, the Lewisham extension project is potentially viable financially with the new station at Island Gardens included. But it has concluded that the financial case for inclusion of a station at Cutty Sark is poor and that unless the cost of providing the station can be met by third party contributions, Cutty Sark should be omitted from the project.

  I am pleased that we are able to proceed with the Lewisham extension with six stations because of the regeneration benefits this will provide both north and south of the Thames. In particular, the inclusion of a new station at Island Gardens on the Lewisham extension, close to the Thames foot tunnel, and one at Greenwich. about 700 m from the Cutty Sark and the historic waterfront, will provide dramatically improved access to the various important tourist destinations in the area.

  Nevertheless, I have received a number of representations arguing for a station next to the Cutty Sark itself. I am willing to allow more time for local interest to finalise a financing package of their own. My decision therefore is that if funding is fully and unconditionally committed by the time DLR has prequalified bidders for the project next January, the project may go ahead to full tendering with Cutty Sark station included. Otherwise it will go out to tender on a six-station basis, excluding the Cutty Sark. Contributors must agree to meet the actual costs of the station, whatever they are shown to be through market testing, the current estimate being £14 million at 1994 prices. Funding pledges must be

  611
  contracted and unconditional, with agreement that the cash will be provided during the construction period. There is no question of the Government's providing grant or subsidy towards a Cutty Sark station.

  This arrangement will allow an extended opportunity to those who support a station at Cutty Sark to come forward with funding, whilst eliminating uncertainty and potential delay for the Lewisham extension project as a whole.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each year since the introduction of housing benefit, and for(a) local authority tenancies, (b) housing association tenancies and (c) private tenancies, the average weekly housing benefit payable and this figure expressed as a percentage of the average income support paid per tenant household.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I have been asked to reply.

  The available information is set out in the tables:

  Tenure Type

  Ave Weekly HB

  HB as percentage of IS

  1990

  Local authority

  22·74

  67

  Housing Assoc

  n/a

  n/a

  Private*

  31·35

  99

  1991

  Local authority

  26·08

  65

  Housing Assoc

  n/a

  n/a

  Private*

  37·35

  98

  1992

  Local authority

  29·88

  63

  Housing Assoc

  35·35

  80

  Private

  46·17

  107

  1993

  Local authority

  32·23

  66

  Housing Assoc

  40·22

  85

  Other Private

  51·67

  112

  * Includes Housing Association tenancies.

  n/a = not available.

  Information for earlier years is not available.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit Management Information Systems annual 1 per cent. samples (with Income Support) May 90, 91, 92 and 93.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Postgraduate Research Training
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what conclusions he has drawn from the public consultation on policies for postgraduate research training announced in the White Paper, "Realising Our Potential: A Strategy For Science, Engineering and Technology"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Office of Science and Technology has consulted widely on those policies. I am most grateful to all who responded to consultation.

  We need research students who are equipped with the skills and knowledge that they need to fulfil their potential in whichever sector they eventually choose to take up employment.

  There was widespread support for the White Paper's objectives of improving the quality of research training in
  612
  the United Kingdom, and making it more relevant to the needs of both students and their future employers.

  I am asking the Director General of the Research Councils, Sir John Cadogan, to write to the research councils with further guidance on how best to work with universities and employers to achieve those objectives. In particular, he will be inviting the councils to support new, one-year master's degrees by research on a pilot basis. We estimate that some 250 students will enrol on the first pilot courses. These new courses will offer a valuable addition to the range of options open to postgraduate research students.

  The way forward must be to test how effective the courses will be as a direct route into employment or as a preparation for the PhD. I welcome the initiative of universities and employers who are keen to lead the way. There will be no requirement for all research students funded by the research councils to complete a master's year. I would expect the councils to continue to fund PhD students for normally no longer than three years.

  I am placing in the Library: a copy of Sir John Cadogan's letter; a list of the respondents to the consultation; the responses from the CVCP and CBI, which I believe give a helpful general summary of the views expressed by higher education and industry; and a press statement which I am also making today. Copies of consultation responses not made in confidence are available on request from the OPSS.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Dunchy of Lancaster whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  No such receptions have been held.

  Official Report(Price)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy to enable differential pricing of the Official Report so as to make it cheaper for public and academic libraries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Differential pricing already exists. Under long-standing arrangements aimed at facilitating public access to Government information, public libraries are entitled to buy all HMSO publications, including the Official Report, at half price.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  In the Departments and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, and other areas which fall to the Cabinet Office vote, the information is as follows:
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  Office of public service and science

  Survey

  Objectives

  Time

  From

  Citizen's Charter Customer Survey

  (a) find out levels of awareness of Charter initiative, individual charters and what they stand for. (b) form a base-line of public opinion about various public services, against which progress in achieving improvements in quality can be measured. (c) establish how people would like service delivery to improve, both generally and by the implementation of good charter practice. (d) gain information which will help Citizen's Charter Unit determine priorities for action.

  March-April 1993

  ICM Research

  Attitudes of University Finalists (additional questions commissioned to form part of survey)

  To enable the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners to market effectively opportunities in the Civil Service

  February-March 1994

  MORI

  Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force Survey on the views of users of public service on how public services handle complaints

  (a)identify the views of public service users on how public services handle complaints (b)to inform the Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force's review of public service complaints systems, and in particular its final report to Ministers in 1995.

  June-November 1994

  MORI

  United Kingdom Technology Foresight Programme: Delphi Questionnaire

  To elicit expert opinion on a range of potential market and technology developments in the next 10–20 years.

  September-December 1994

  A joint consortium of: The Programme for Policy Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (University of Manchester); Business and Market Research plc; and Segal, Quince, Wickstead Ltd

  Department of the Environment

  Researching Building Regulations

  January-March 1994

  Redwood Associates

  Parliamentary Publications

  To gauge the British public's awareness of, and interest in, Parliamentary Proceedings and publications

  May 1994

  MORI

  Department of Trade and Industry QA Register

  Primarily a customer satisfaction survey but addressing a number of side issues such as the need for sub-sets of information and scope for a European directory in paper or CD-ROM format

  August-November 1994

  BMRB International

  Department of Health

  To establish likely need for a CD-ROM of Department of Health Publications

  September-November 1994

  McCulloch Associates

  OFSTED Publications

  Primarily a customer satisfaction survey but addressing a number of side issues such as alternative ways of providing the information (CD-ROM) and extending the OFSTED portfolio

  October 1994-January 1995

  BRMB International

  The costs of the individual surveys are subject to commercial confidentiality.

  Access to Public Information
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give details of the steps he has taken to consult the Council on Tribunals with respect to the preparation of a system of external review over cases where information is withheld from disclosure under the code of practice on access to public information, as indicated at paragraph 6.16, page 48 of the White Paper on open government of July 1993, Cm. 2290.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Independent external review of the code of practice on access to Government information is already provided by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. The proposals on page 48 of the White Paper relate to access rights and not to the code of practice.

  The council's initial comments on the White Paper proposals are included in the volume of consultation responses deposited in the House of Commons Library. They will be consulted further as detailed proposals are developed.

  Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton laboratories will be affected as a result of the planned changes to the research councils.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [pursuant to the reply 11 February 1994, Official Report, c. 492–93]:

  Following an in-depth examination of the need for, management, operation, funding and other aspects of the laboratory, I have decided that, subject to parliamentary approval, the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton laboratories should be established as an independent entity with effect from April 1995, under the terms of the Science and Technology Act 1965. The chief executive of the laboratory will be in the same relationship to the accounting officer and Director General of Research Councils within the Office of Public Service and Science as the chief executive of the six other research councils. I intend in due course to lay before both Houses a draft Order in council, which will be subject to affirmative resolution procedure.

  Daresbury and Rutherford are national assets. They have been thoroughly reviewed, and my conclusion is that they should remain in public ownership. I believe that according them independent status is the right way to proceed, but with strong emphasis on operating in a commercial manner, and particularly meeting the needs of the customers.

  By announcing these new arrangements now, and by aiming to introduce them as quickly as possible, we can ensure the nation gets the best return from these assets.

  I am confident that we are creating the right environment for this major resource of the United Kingdom science and engineering base to flourish, and play a full part in carrying forward our White Paper objectives of wealth creation and improving the quality of life.

TRANSPORT

  Executive Agencies
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by each division in his Department and for each executive agency their running costs budget for this financial year and the budget allocation for the next financial year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested for 1994–95 is as follows:

  Current Budget £ thousands

  Headquarters Directorates in Central Transport Group

  117,407

  Gross Running Costs Agencies

  DVLA

  177,063

  The Highways Agency

  89,173

  Marine Safety Agency

  14,806

  The Coastguard Agency

  24,857

  Net Running Costs Agencies

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  2,629

  Transport Research Laboratory

  17,000

  Trading Fund (off Vote)

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  44,600

  Trading Fund (on Vote)

  Driving Standards Agency

  49,3000

  Budget allocations for 1995–96 have not yet been made.

  British Rail Employees
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Rail freight services employees are being removed from York to Doncaster; and when these posts will leave York.

  Mr. Watts
  This is a commercial matter for British Rail. I am not aware of any such proposal.

  Channel Tunnel Link
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail the timetable for connections from south Wales to Waterloo to join Eurostar trains to Paris and Brussels.

  Mr. Watts
  The timing of the connecting services from south Wales is a matter for British Rail, in consultation with European Passenger Services. It is intended that as the Eurostar frequency builds up in 1995, the three trains from south Wales to Waterloo each weekday will connect with the Eurostar service.

  Live Railtracks (Accidents)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have(a) died and (b) been seriously injured by stepping on live railtracks in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years; and what steps are being taken to prevent such accidents from happening, with particular reference to east Dulwich station.

  Mr. Watts
  Details of electrocutions both fatal and seriously injured, are given in appendices 7 and 8 of the "Annual Report on Railway Safety in Great Britain"
  617
  copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate is discussing with Railtrack whether any reasonably practicable measures can be taken to prevent a recurrence of the type of accident that occurred at east Dulwich on 9 July.

  A249 Iwade Bypass
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his decision on a preferred route for the A249 Iwade bypass to Queenborough improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  I am pleased to announce the preferred route for this scheme. It is the route on which the public were consulted last November.

  This scheme, which includes a second crossing of the Swale on a high level bridge, will greatly assist the development and expansion of industry and commerce and increase competitiveness and employment on the Isle of Sheppey. I am confident that this much-needed improvement of the A249 will be welcomed by all those whose lives are affected daily by the existing, wholly inadequate link with the mainland and the lifting bridge across the Swale.

  In choosing a route we have had the difficult task of balancing the needs of people and the local economy with important environmental considerations. I believe we have struck the right balance. The preferred route will avoid the key areas of ecological importance and make the best use of the existing road corridor.

  Airports
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the differences between the current Civil Aviation Authority and the proposed joint airworthiness authority specifications concerning permissible duty hours by aircraft flight deck and cabin crew; and which specifications will be applied in the United Kingdom if there is any disparity between the joint airworthiness authority specifications and the Civil Aviation Authority specifications currently in force;

  (2) on how many occasions one aircraft bound for a United Kingdom international airport has declared a low fuel emergency when its airport of intended landing has been closed to normal operations; on how many occasions two or more aircraft bound for any United Kingdom international airport have simultaneously declared a low fuel emergency when their respective airports of intended landing have been closed to normal operations; on how many occasions one aircraft bound for Heathrow has declared a low fuel emergency when Heathrow airport has been closed to normal operations; and on how many occasions two or more aircraft bound for Heathrow airport simultaneously have declared a low fuel emergency when Heathrow airport has been closed to normal operations;

  (3) what procedures exist to ensure the safe landing of two or more aircraft which have simultaneously declared a low fuel emergency within any one terminal control area, control zone or control area (a) when all suitable airports are operative and (b) when a designated airport or one or more designated runways has been closed to normal operations;
  618
  (4) on how many occasions over the last five years and for what reasons (a) one of the United Kingdom international airports has been closed to all normal operations, (b) Heathrow airport has been closed to all normal operations and (c) more than one of the United Kingdom international airports have been closed to all normal operations at any one time;

  (5) what consideration he has given to the United Kingdom to the minimum fuel advisory system as practised in the USA; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) on how many occasions during the last five years a low fuel emergency has been declared by (a) one aircraft, bound for a United Kingdom international airport (b) more than one aircraft bound for any United Kingdom international airport at any one time, (c) one aircraft bound for Heathrow airport and (d) more than one aircraft bound for Heathrow airport at any one time.

  Mr. Norris
  This is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Norris
  No.

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

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In the past year–1 October 1993 to the present—the spouse of one Minister in this Department travelled abroad once to accompany that Minister on public duties. The total cost to public funds of the spouse's travel was £923·66. There were no occasions when such travel was undertaken at own cost.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of press officers currently employed by his Department who are normally based(a) in the Department in London, (b) in the House and (c) at each other location.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 25 October 1994]:
  (a) Thirteen, excluding press officers employed by executive agencies directly accountable to the Department. (b) None. (c) Regional services in England are provided by the Central Office of Information.

  Mineral Oil Excise Duty
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations are being carried out on EC directive 92/82; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have been asked to reply.

  Article 10 of the directive requires that every two years, and for the first time not later than 31 December 1994,

  619
  the Council, acting on the basis of a report and where appropriate, a proposal from the Commission, shall examine the rates of mineral oil excise duty laid down in the directive and, acting unanimously after consulting the European Parliament, shall adopt the necessary measures. No report has yet been produced and no proposal has yet been put forward by the Commission.

  Road Surfaces
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of(a) the current noise comparisons between porous asphalt and whisper concrete; and (b) how they compare with conventional asphalt and concrete as presently used in road construction.

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Richard Page, dated 26 October 1994:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts MP, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning comparisons between porous asphalt, whisper concrete and conventional road surfaces.
  We have in hand trials comparing whisper concrete with conventional asphalt and concrete road surfaces. Also, data is available on the comparative performance of porous asphalt and conventional asphalt and concrete road surfaces. From the trials some early indications are available of the noise performance of whisper concrete. These are that for surfaces with equivalent skidding resistance, overall noise levels for whisper concrete are slightly less than for conventional hot rolled asphalt. They are significantly less than for some of the more heavily textured concrete surfaces provided in the past.
  In the case of porous asphalt as used in the United Kingdom, noise levels are about 5 dB(A) less than for a hot rolled asphalt surface initially, although this difference may reduce to about 3 dB(A) as the pores become clogged. The relative noise performance of porous asphalt compared with concrete surfaces is the same as that given above for hot rolled asphalt where skidding resistance characteristics are similar. However, the texture provided on concrete roads to date has tended to be deeper than the minimum required under the specification with the result that the difference in noise with porous asphalt would be greater in the early life of the road.
  We have not made any direct comparison of the respective noise performance of porous asphalt and whisper concrete. However, from the data available so far, we can infer the likely relative noise performance of these two surfaces. The picture emerging is that traffic noise levels attributable to whisper concrete are higher than those achieved with porous asphalt.

  M3/M27 Link
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the M3/M27 link to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Atkinson, dated 26 October 1994:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the expected completion of the final section of the M3 between Bar End and Compton.
  No firm date has yet been fixed for the completion of the motorway but we expect it to be ready before the end of the year.
  620
  Associated work on local roads, landscaping and restoration of the old A33 Winchester Bypass will continue until early next year.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Tourism
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the role of independent consultants in the formulation of tourism policy since his appointment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My officials are working closely with the British Tourist Authority and the English tourist board on the development of a tourism strategy for the next 10 years. Consultants are assisting with the analysis.

  Specialist Advisers
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what plans he has to appoint specialist advisers to his Department;
  (2) if he has appointed a specialist adviser to his Department.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department has access to specialist advice from a wide range of sources. I have no current plans to recruit a personal special advisor.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department does not organise such receptions.

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

  Mr. Dorrell
  There have been no occasions on which the spouse of a Department of National Heritage Minister has travelled abroad at public expense. Such travel has been undertaken on two occasions at own cost.

PRIME MINISTER

  United States (National Performance Review Team)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what contact his Government have had with Vice-President Gore's national performance review team; and will he make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, met Vice-President Gore and members of his national performance review team. The citizens charter unit has also had discussions
  621
  With the national performance review team, and continues to keep in touch with it.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Prime Minister whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how may people attend.

  The Prime Minister
  No such receptions have been held.

  Departmental Documents
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of all documents, letters, or accounts he has signed which are written in a language he does not understand.

  The Prime Minister
  It is my policy to allow photographic reproductions of my signature to appear on official documents translated into languages other than English. However it is not my normal practice to place such documents in the Library.

  Prevention of Terrorism Acts
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Acts.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden),Official Report, 24 October, column 492.

  Mark Thatcher
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions Ministers in Her Majesty's Government have been informed of payments made to Mr. Mark Thatcher or to companies associated with him in relation to defence contracts.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 October 1994]: As far as I am aware, no credible information of this kind has been submitted to Ministers.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cider Apple Trees
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards planting cider apple trees in set-aside areas.

  Mr. Jack
  The rules of the Community's arable area payments scheme do not permit the growing of food crops on land set aside under the scheme. Cider apple trees are viewed as a food crop. Crops for non-food use, such as biofuels, are allowed to be grown on set-aside land.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.
  622
  Mr. Jack
  No receptions have been organised by this Department for people expressing an interest in public appointment.

  Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of spongiform encephalopathy have been established in(a) kudu, (b) nyala, (c) eland, (d) gemsbok, (e) Arabian oryx, (f) puma and (g) cheetah in each of the last four years, with the age of each animal involved and the suspected cause of transmission.

  Mrs. Browning
  The following numbers of cases have been confirmed in Great Britain in the species listed in each of the last four years.

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Kudu

  (19) 1

  (37,36*) 2

  —

  —

  Nyala

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Eland

  —

  (27,28) 2

  (24) 1

  —

  Gemsbok

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Arabian Oryx

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Puma

  —

  (62) 1

  —

  —

  Cheetah

  —

  —

  (96) 1

  (91) 1

  Classification is by year of death: ages in months at the time of death are shown in brackets. Animals marked with an asterisk showed no clinical signs when they were euthanased. Disease may have spread between kudu by contact or possibly environmental contamination after being introduced in feed and transmission between eland is also possible. The puma and cheetahs were fed parts of bovine carcases, including central nervous tissue, which were deemed unfit for human consumption.

  European Funding
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list in pounds sterling the allocations from PESCA for the United Kingdom and the other eligible member states and the proposed allocations to the regions in the United Kingdom which are highly dependent on fishing;

  (2) what is the basis for proposed allocations of PESCA funding for (a) member states and (b) regions which are highly dependent on fishing.

  Mr. Jack
  The Commission has allocated PESCA funding between member states as follows:

  £ million (converted at £1 = 1·319 ecu)

  Belgium

  1·52

  Denmark

  12·3

  Germany

  17·44

  Greece

  20·55

  Spain

  31·46

  France

  21·15

  Ireland

  2·80

  Italy

  25·55

  Netherlands

  7·73

  Portugal

  19·41

  United Kingdom

  25·70

  This breakdown is based on employment in the fisheries sector as a whole, and on the fleet reductions required by member states' multi-annual guidance programmes.
  623
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actual or previous sums of money have been allocated to the British fishing industry under the Pesca initiative; what proportion of the total EU allocation is allocated to each of the receiving nations, approximately in each European nation; how much will be allocated per person employed in the fishing industry; and what are the funds to be made available in total and per person for Devon.

  Mr. Jack
  The Commission has allocated Pesca funding between member states as follows:

  £ million (converted at £1 = 1·319 ecu)

  Belgium

  1·52

  Denmark

  12·3

  Germany

  17·44

  Greece

  20·55

  Spain

  31·46

  France

  21·15

  Ireland

  2·80

  Italy

  25·55

  Netherlands

  7·73

  Subject

  Objectives

  Organisation

  Period Conducted

  1. Leaflet communication Research

  Response to proposed new leaflet on fridge use and maintenance

  Reflections

  Start: July 1993

  End: December 1993

  2. Foodsense Awareness Research

  Response to awareness leaflet

  RSGB

  Start: July 1993

  End: July 1993

  3. Foodsense strategy Research

  1. Knowledge of food hygiene issues

  Andrew Irving and Associates

  Start: September 1993

  End: October 1993

  2. Existing anxieties regarding food hygiene

  3. Awareness of existing foodsense leaflet

  4. Awareness of alternative sources of information about food hygiene

  5. Perceived area of uncertainty/ignorance

  4. Improved methods of food preference mapping

  Consumer response to foods

  Mobile sensory Testing Services Ltd.

  Start: October 1993

  Expected end: October 1996

  5. MAFF Exhibition Evaluation

  Response to the MAFF Exhibition

  Martin Hamblin

  Start: June 1994

  Expected end: January 1995

  6. Exhibition Research

  Appreciation of Exhibition at the National History Museum in South Kensington

  Diagnostics

  Start: August 1994

  End: October 1994

  7. Valuation of Non-use Benefits

  1. The extent to which the Surveyed population values natural areas.

  University of Portsmouth

  Start: October 1994

  Expected end: October 1996

  2. The populations' willingness to pay for environmental benefits.

  3. The socio-economic background of the population

  4. The cultural and social characteristics of the population

  624

  £ million (converted at £1 = 1·319 ecu)

  Portugal

  19·41

  United Kingdom

  25·70

  This breakdown is based on employment in the fisheries sector as a whole, and on the fleet reductions required by member states' multi-annual guidance programmes.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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.

  Mr. Jack
  Seven surveys seeking public opinion have been commissioned by MAFF and its agencies since 1 October 1992. Details of these surveys are as follows. It is not possible for commercial reasons to give the cost of each survey individually. However, in total these surveys cost £190,000.

  Badgers
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences have been granted for interference with badger setts following the Badgers Act 1991, now the Protection of Badgers Act 1992; and for which purposes listed in section 10 of the 1992 Act such licences were issued.

  Licences issued to interfere with Badger Setts

  Purpose for which interference licence was issued

  Number of licences issued for each period

  February—december 1992

  January—december 1993

  January—september 1994

  Preventing the spread of disease

  —

  —

  —

  Preventing serious damage

  115

  236

  205

  Agricultural or forestry operations

  27

  46

  58

  Maintenance etc of watercourse or drainage work

  9

  20

  28

  Controlling foxes

  —

  —

  —

  Rabbits
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic disease amongst the wild rabbit population and on the availability of vaccines to treat it.

  Mrs. Browning
  Viral haemorrhagic disease has been confirmed as the cause of death of four wild rabbits whose bodies were found near Tenterden in Kent—one—and Exeter in Devon—three. The presence of VHD in our wild rabbit population had been suspected for some time but only recently confirmed. The disease has been notifiable in Great Britain since 1991 and a total of 50 outbreaks in domestic and commercial rabbits have been confirmed up to 24 October this year. There were 10 outbreaks in 1993.

  No vaccines to protect rabbits against VHD, are currently licensed for use in the United Kingdom. Two applications for licenses have however now been received by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and are urgently being assessed under the provisional licence arrangements that came into effect on 8 September 1994.

  VHD is endemic in all rabbits, including wild rabbits, in much of the rest of Europe.

  Research and Development
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest available figure for his Department's total research and development expenditure for 1993–94 in(a) cash and (b) constant terms.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer to the answer given by my predecessor on 20 July 1994,Official Report, column 350–51.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest figures available for the number of personnel employed in his Department's research and development programme for(a) 1993–94 and (b) the latest available date.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The latest available figures are those given by my predecessor on 20 July 1994,Official Report, column 350.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the past
  626
  Mrs. Browning
  Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, this Department is responsible for issuing licences to interfere with badger setts for the purposes specified in sections 10(2) and 10(3).

  The Badgers Act 1991 came into force in October 1991 and the first licences were issued in February 1992. The number issued since then and the purpose for which they were issued are as follows:

  year the spouse of a Minister in his Department has travelled abroad at public expense to accompany a Minister on public duties, and what has been the total cost to public funds; and on how many occasions such travel has been undertaken at own cost.

  Mr. Jack
  Over the last year, there have been no occasions in which public funds have been used to finance the cost of spouses accompanying Ministers on overseas visits, and no occasion on which such travel took place at own cost.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 24 and 25 October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldergrave
  This meeting of the Agriculture Council, at which I represented the United Kingdom, again discussed the question of stronger rules for the protection of animals in transport. Member states' views continue to diverge substantially and no agreement was reached. I made clear the importance I attach to limits on travelling time and proper enforcement.

  The Council also discussed a proposal from the Commission for a reduction in the required rate for set-aside for arable crops to be harvested in 1995. In the absence of an opinion from the European Parliament, no formal decision could be taken. But it was established that a qualified majority of the Council existed in favour of a reduction of three percentage points. I supported this reduction, which the Commission has assured the Council will be budget-neutral, and which will help to keep cereals market prices down and thus benefit the livestock sector.

  The Council considered a discussion document from the Commission on reform of the support system for fruit and vegetables. I regard its ideas as a step in the right direction but hope that more radical changes can be agreed. The Commission intends to present detailed proposals shortly.

  Finally, the Council adopted by unanimity various detailed amendments to the rules for granting aids of a structural nature. Among other things, these make it optional, rather than obligatory, for member states to operate schemes of aid for investment on farms.

  Woodlands
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the ancient woodland inventory undertaken by the Nature Conservancy Council.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to establish a register of ancient woodland in the United Kingdom.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  An inventory of ancient woodland in Great Britain, excluding Northern Ireland, was produced by the Nature Conservancy Council between 1981 and 1991. Copies of this, arranged by county in England and Wales, and by district in Scotland, have been widely distributed to local authorities, the Forestry Commission, to conservation bodies and to landowners' representatives such as the Timber Growers Association.

  Since 1991, responsibility for maintaining and revising the inventories has been passed to English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage. These bodies update the information on particular sites in the light of new survey information, including information provided by the organisations and individuals to whom the inventory has gone. Assessment of and amendments to the inventory are thus a continuous process. Information about individual sites or areas is available on request.

  Average number of school meals taken by day pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in England on the census date in January: 1990 to 1994 (provisional)

  LEA Maintained Primary

  Grant Maintained Primary

  LEA Maintained1Secondary

  Grant Maintained1Secondary

  1990

  96

  —2

  274

  373

  1991

  94

  —2

  286

  363

  1992

  95

  117

  300

  384

  1993

  97

  139

  321

  384

  19943

  100

  123

  331

  422

  1 excludes sixth form colleges which ceased to be classified as schools from 1 April 1993

  2 There were no grant-maintained primary schools in 1990 or 1991

  3 provisional

  Cultural and Linguistic Exchanges
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what resources the DFE devotes to assist cultural and linguistic exchanges in(a) the primary sector and (b) the secondary sector;

  (2) how many language or cultural exchange arrangements exist within the state sector of education.

  Mr. Boswell
  DFE grant to the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges in 1994–95 is £4·2 million. Of this, some £860,000 is targeted at the primary sector and some £1·8 million is targeted at the secondary sector. The rest is targeted at the further and higher education sectors.

  The services offered include school linking, foreign language assistants, international in-service training for teachers and participation in multi-lateral—including EU—programmes. It is estimated that some 130,000 state-sector pupils participated in school exchanges in 1991–92, the latest year for which data are available.

  The DFE also provides funding to the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers. It is estimated that in 1993–94 some £262,000 was spent in support of

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Attorney-General whether his departments organise receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  The Attorney-General
  No such receptions are organised in the departments for which I am responsible.

EDUCATION

  School Meals
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the average number of school meals claimed by(a) local education maintained primary schools, (b) local education authority maintained secondary schools, (c) grant-maintained primary schools and (d) grant-maintained secondary schools in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The available information is as follows:

  primary teacher exchange; and some £230,000 on secondary teacher exchange.

  Higher and Further Education Fees
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average registration fee charged to home students by higher and further education colleges in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Boswell
  Information on the level of registration fees is not collected centrally.

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

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There have been no occasions in the last year when the spouse of a Minister in the Department for Education has travelled abroad to accompany a Minister on public duties.

  PE Teachers
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many physical education teachers were employed by local education authorities for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is only available for 1977, 1984, 1988 and 1992 from the secondary school staffing surveys. The number of full-time teachers in all maintained secondary schools in England who were teaching physical education in each of these years was as follows:

  1977 41·8 thousand

  1984 37·9 thousand

  1988 30·3 thousand

  1992 24·4 thousand

  The same surveys give information on the number of teachers with a post A-level qualification in physical education regardless of whether they were teaching it. The number of full-time teachers in maintained secondary schools with a physical education qualification in each year was:

  1977 33·9 thousand

  1984 36·4 thousand

  1988 31·6 thousand

  1992 30·3 thousand

  In both the above cases the 1992 figures include teachers in grant maintained schools.

  No figures are available giving the number of physical education teachers in primary schools or special schools. However, the 1987 primary school staffing survey showed that 12·8,000 teachers in maintained primary schools had a qualification in physical education.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether her Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department for Education does not organise receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments.

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the number of school playing fields by local education authority for(a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987, (d) 1992 and (e) the latest available date.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No information is available for years before 1993. The latest available data will take a little time to assemble. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the capital receipts from the sale of school playing fields for each of the last six years by education authority.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected centrally.

TREASURY

  Foster Carers
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if allowances paid to local authority foster carers are non-taxable and are not regarded as income.

  Sir George Young
  To the extent that payments made to a foster carer do no more than meet the actual costs of caring for someone, no tax is payable. But if a profit arises on payments made to reward the foster carer's services in providing care, this profit is taxable.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if foster carers in receipt of boarding-out allowances and who do not receive an additional fee are not classified as self-employed.

  Sir George Young
  It will depend on whether or not an individual is self-employed, in particular the way in which the caring is organised. Whether a foster carer is self employed or not, to the extent that payments received do no more than meet the actual costs of caring, no tax will be payable. If a profit arises on payments made to reward the foster carer's services in providing care, this profit is taxable.

  Where basic boarding allowances paid to foster carers do no more than re-imburse actual costs, no taxable profit arises.

  This is reflected in National Foster Care Association guidelines, published in its leaflet NFC 2008, which has been agreed with the Inland Revenue.

  Tobacco and Alcohol
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what extra measures have been taken to prevent the illegal importation of tobacco and alcohol since the opening of the single market; how much they have cost; and what is the value of the illegally imported tobacco and alcohol that has been seized and destroyed.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs and Excise has allocated some 240 staff to single market excise work most of whom are specially trained excise verification officers—EVOs—whose remit is to detect and prosecute anyone attempting to defraud the Revenue in this way. The annual cost of an EVO is about £30,000. In the 20 months to August 1994 the revenue value of seized tobacco and alcohol was over £4 million. These goods either have been, or will be, destroyed.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the volume of alcohol and tobacco which has been illegally imported since the opening of the single market; and what volume has been destroyed.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is by definition difficult to form a reliable estimate of the total volume of smuggled goods. In the 20—month period to August 1994 Customs seized 4,298,927 cigarettes, 22,912 cigars, 25,517 kg of other tobacco and 1,188,449 litres of alcoholic drinks. All the goods sized either have been, or will, be destroyed subject to condemnation proceedings.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss to the Exchequer of the illegal importation of tobacco and alcohol from the continent in each year since the opening of the single market.
  631
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is notoriously difficult to calculate the true extent of smuggling. An assumed detection rate of one in 20, in the calendar year 1993 would suggest a revenue loss of the order of £35 million. The revenue value of seizures during the eight months of 1994 was £2·4 million.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions there have been, since the opening of the single market, for the illegal importation of alcohol and tobacco; and how many have been successful.

  Spirits

  Table Wine

  Beer

  £ per hl pure alcohol

  VAT rate per cent.

  £ per hl at 11 per cent. aby

  VAT rate per cent.

  £ per hl at 5 per cent.

  VAT rate per cent.

  Belgium

  1,289.60

  20·5

  29.87

  20·5

  14.98

  20·5

  Denmark

  3,070.90

  25

  69.31

  25

  34.05

  25

  France

  1,106.23

  18·6

  2.69

  18·6

  7.63

  18·6

  Germany

  1,066.95

  15

  —

  15

  8.05

  15

  Greece

  400.12

  18

  —

  18

  8.28

  18

  Ireland

  2,161.39

  21

  212.88

  21

  77.48

  21

  Italy

  420.37

  19

  —

  13

  13.93

  19

  Luxembourg

  852.97

  15

  —

  12

  8.12

  15

  Netherlands

  1,236.94

  17·5

  40.11

  17·50

  17.5

  17·5

  Portugal

  549.76

  16

  —

  5

  10.81

  16

  Spain

  425.47

  15

  —

  15

  6.37

  15

  United Kingdom

  1,981.00

  17·5

  134.77

  17·5

  52.25

  17·5

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Departments organise receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Nelson
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's departments do not organise receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time.

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Cash) of 20 October,Official Report, column 417, if he will make a statement on the emergency ECOFIN meetings attended on 21 October with special

  Collection

  Number of detections

  30 June 1993

  30 September 1993

  31 December 1993

  31 March 1994

  30 June 1994

  30 September 1994

  Total

  Belfast

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Birmingham

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  3

  Dover

  26

  26

  5

  1

  22

  30

  110

  East Anglia

  3

  2

  5

  5

  5

  23

  43

  East Midlands

  —

  2

  1

  1

  3

  —

  7

  Edinburgh

  2

  —

  6

  11

  —

  7

  26

  Glasgow

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  4

  Leeds

  2

  —

  —

  6

  2

  9

  19

  Liverpool

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  16

  London Airports

  1

  74

  4

  46

  16

  19

  160

  London Central

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  London North and West

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London Port

  2

  8

  12

  —

  27

  17

  66

  London South

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Manchester

  —

  1

  —

  —

  6

  9

  16

  Northhampton

  2

  1

  1

  4

  6

  —

  14

  632
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To 31 August 1994 Customs and Excise prosecuted 289 individuals for the illegal importation of alcohol and tobacco from other EU countries. The courts acquitted in two cases although one of these is the subject of an appeal by Customs.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of excise duty, VAT or other tax on(a) wine, (b) spirits and (c) beer in each EU country; and what is the difference in each case for United Kingdom levels.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The rates of excise duty and VAT on wine, spirits and beer in each EU country are shown in the following table.

  reference to the United Kingdom's case against the EC Commission in the European Court of Justice regarding the proposal in respect of Italian milk quotas.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 25 October.

  Firearms
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the total seizures of illegal firearms for each port of entry for each month since January 1992.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs do not hold central statistics for seizures of weapons that can be broken down in this way. Such figures could be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, the table sets out the number of detections of illegal weapons by Customs and Excise per collection—regional command—for each quarter since 1 April 1993.
  633

  Collection

  Number of detections

  30 June 1993

  30 September 1993

  31 December 1993

  31 March 1994

  30 June 1994

  30 September 1994

  Total

  Northern England

  4

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  7

  Southhampton

  10

  16

  —

  11

  26

  13

  76

  South Wales and Borders

  7

  1

  6

  7

  1

  —

  22

  South West England

  2

  2

  2

  2

  3

  10

  21

  Thames Valley

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  2

  6

  Total detections

  70

  135

  43

  98

  123

  150

  619

  Total firearms seized1

  2,214

  3,045

  1,734

  170

  220

  2,190

  9,573

  1Firearms includes: handguns, rifles, shotguns, gas canisters and stun guns.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of press officers currently employed by his Departments who are normally based(a) in the Department in London (b) in the House and (c) at each other location.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 25 October 1994]The number of press officers currently employed by the Departments responsible to the Chancellor of the Exchequer is shown in the table.

  Number

  HM Treasury

  7

  HM Customs & Excise

  4

  Board of Inland Revenue

  7

  Department for National Savings

  2

  Registry of Friendly Societies

  1

  Crown Estate Office

  2

  Table A Persons sentenced at magistrates' courts for all offences by month, type of offence and type of sentence England and Wales 1993* Indictable Offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-Custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  20,810

  100

  709

  3

  20,101

  97

  February

  19,578

  100

  909

  5

  18,669

  95

  March

  22,451

  100

  1,155

  5

  21,296

  95

  April

  19,876

  100

  1,044

  5

  18,832

  95

  May

  19,077

  100

  983

  5

  18,094

  95

  June

  20,698

  100

  1,135

  5

  19,563

  95

  July

  20,683

  100

  1,159

  6

  19,524

  94

  August

  18,934

  100

  1,287

  7

  17,674

  93

  September

  20,163

  100

  1,465

  7

  18,698

  93

  October

  18,995

  100

  1,435

  8

  17,560

  92

  November

  20,479

  100

  1,409

  7

  19,070

  93

  December

  16,497

  100

  1,208

  7

  15,289

  93

  Total

  238,241

  100

  13,898

  6

  224,343

  94

  Summary non-motoring Offences

  Total Sentenced

  Custodial Sentences

  Non-custodial Sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  37,341

  100

  170

  0

  37,171

  100

  February

  34,623

  100

  213

  1

  34,410

  99

  March

  42,220

  100

  283

  1

  41,937

  99

  April

  35,866

  100

  237

  1

  35,629

  99

  May

  34,889

  100

  229

  1

  34,660

  99

  June

  40,034

  100

  224

  1

  39,810

  99

  July

  38,790

  100

  266

  1

  38,524

  99

  August

  36,659

  100

  309

  1

  36,350

  99

  September

  39,463

  100

  299

  1

  39,164

  99

  October

  37,181

  100

  331

  1

  36,850

  99

  November

  39,024

  100

  323

  1

  38,701

  99

  December

  31,405

  100

  334

  1

  31,071

  99

  Total

  447,495

  100

  3,218

  1

  444,277

  99

  634
  All of these staff are based in London. None are normally based in the House. Agencies which are accountable to the Chancellor and which employ press officers are not included in the table.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Court Sentences
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of people sentenced in the courts received(a) a custodial sentence and (b) a non-custodial sentence in each month of 1993.

  Mr. Maclean
  The 1993 information, which is provisional, on sentencing at both the magistrates' court and the Crown court is given in the tables A to C. Data provided by the Lord Chancellor's Department for committals for trial at the Crown court is given in table D.
  635

  Summary Motoring Offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  58,887

  100

  424

  1

  58,463

  99

  February

  54,406

  100

  498

  1

  53,908

  99

  March

  61,334

  100

  600

  1

  60,734

  99

  April

  54,268

  100

  572

  1

  53,696

  99

  May

  49,279

  100

  541

  1

  48,738

  99

  June

  55,780

  100

  637

  1

  55,143

  99

  July

  54,416

  100

  668

  1

  53,748

  99

  August

  52,369

  100

  664

  1

  51,705

  99

  September

  57,974

  100

  854

  1

  57,120

  99

  October

  53,598

  100

  855

  2

  52,743

  98

  November

  57,075

  100

  873

  2

  56,202

  98

  December

  45,870

  100

  714

  2

  45,156

  98

  Total

  655,256

  100

  7,900

  1

  647,356

  99

  All Offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  117,038

  100

  1,303

  1

  115,735

  99

  February

  108,607

  100

  1,620

  1

  106,987

  99

  March

  126,005

  100

  2,038

  2

  123,967

  98

  April

  110,010

  100

  1,853

  2

  108,157

  98

  May

  103,245

  100

  1,753

  2

  101,492

  98

  June

  116,512

  100

  1,996

  2

  114,516

  98

  July

  113,889

  100

  2,093

  2

  111,796

  98

  August

  107,962

  100

  2,260

  2

  105,702

  98

  September

  117,600

  100

  2,618

  2

  114,982

  98

  October

  109,774

  100

  2,621

  2

  107,153

  98

  November

  116,578

  100

  2,605

  2

  113,973

  98

  December

  93,772

  100

  2,256

  2

  91,516

  98

  Total

  1,340,992

  100

  25,016

  2

  1,315,976

  98

  Table B - Persons sentenced at the crown court for all offences by month, type of offence and type of sentence England and Wales 1993* Indictable offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-Custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  5,831

  100

  2,375

  41

  3,456

  59

  February

  6,111

  100

  2,728

  45

  3,383

  55

  March

  6,942

  100

  3,237

  47

  3,705

  53

  April

  5,677

  100

  2,743

  48

  2,934

  52

  May

  5,369

  100

  2,639

  49

  2,730

  51

  June

  5,251

  100

  2,600

  50

  2,651

  50

  July

  6,266

  100

  3,186

  51

  3,080

  49

  August

  4,567

  100

  2,382

  52

  2,185

  48

  September

  5,265

  100

  2,741

  52

  2,524

  48

  October

  5,481

  100

  2,823

  52

  2,658

  48

  November

  5,521

  100

  2,755

  50

  2,766

  50

  December

  4,699

  100

  2,526

  54

  2,173

  46

  Total

  66,980

  100

  32,735

  49

  34,245

  51

  Summary non-motoring offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-Custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  213

  100

  26

  12

  187

  88

  February

  189

  100

  38

  20

  151

  80

  March

  208

  100

  33

  16

  175

  84

  April

  162

  100

  34

  21

  128

  79

  May

  174

  100

  32

  18

  142

  82

  June

  126

  100

  20

  16

  106

  84

  July

  159

  100

  30

  19

  129

  81

  August

  120

  100

  23

  19

  97

  81

  September

  137

  100

  33

  24

  104

  76

  October

  130

  100

  32

  25

  98

  75

  November

  141

  100

  38

  27

  103

  73

  December

  107

  100

  18

  17

  89

  83

  Total

  1,866

  100

  357

  19

  1,509

  81

  636 637

  Summary motoring offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-Custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  118

  100

  28

  24

  90

  76

  February

  122

  100

  28

  23

  94

  77

  March

  91

  100

  33

  36

  58

  64

  April

  88

  100

  27

  31

  61

  69

  May

  84

  100

  24

  29

  60

  71

  June

  73

  100

  23

  32

  50

  68

  July

  93

  100

  24

  26

  69

  74

  August

  74

  100

  21

  28

  53

  72

  September

  80

  100

  21

  26

  59

  74

  October

  68

  100

  20

  29

  48

  71

  November

  88

  100

  23

  26

  65

  74

  December

  73

  100

  19

  26

  54

  74

  Total

  1,052

  100

  291

  28

  761

  72

  All offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-Custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  6,162

  100

  2,429

  39

  3,733

  61

  February

  6,422

  100

  2,794

  44

  3,628

  56

  March

  7,241

  100

  3,303

  46

  3,938

  54

  April

  5,927

  100

  2,804

  47

  3,123

  53

  May

  5,627

  100

  2,695

  48

  2,932

  52

  June

  5,450

  100

  2,643

  48

  2,807

  52

  July

  6,518

  100

  3,240

  50

  3,278

  50

  August

  4,761

  100

  2,426

  51

  2,335

  49

  September

  5,482

  100

  2,795

  51

  2,687

  49

  October

  5,679

  100

  2,875

  51

  2,804

  49

  November

  5,750

  100

  2,816

  49

  2,934

  51

  December

  4,879

  100

  2,563

  53

  2,316

  47

  Total

  69,898

  100

  33,383

  48

  36,515

  52

  Table C—persons sentenced at all courts for all offences by month, types of offence and type of sentence, England and Wales 1993* Indictable offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-Custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  26,647

  100

  3,084

  12

  23,557

  88

  February

  25,689

  100

  3,637

  14

  22,052

  86

  March

  29,393

  100

  4,392

  15

  25,001

  85

  April

  25,553

  100

  3,787

  15

  21,766

  85

  May

  24,446

  100

  3,622

  15

  20,824

  85

  June

  25,949

  100

  3,735

  14

  22,214

  86

  July

  26,949

  100

  4,345

  16

  22,604

  84

  August

  23,501

  100

  3,669

  16

  19,832

  84

  September

  25,428

  100

  4,206

  17

  21,222

  83

  October

  24,476

  100

  4,258

  17

  20,210

  83

  November

  26,000

  100

  4,164

  16

  21,836

  84

  December

  21,196

  100

  3,734

  16

  17,462

  82

  Total

  305,221

  100

  46,633

  15

  258,588

  85

  Summary non-motoring offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-Custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  37,554

  100

  196

  1

  37,358

  99

  February

  34,812

  100

  251

  1

  34,561

  99

  March

  42,428

  100

  316

  1

  42,112

  99

  April

  36,028

  100

  271

  1

  35,757

  99

  May

  35,063

  100

  261

  1

  34,802

  99

  June

  40,160

  100

  244

  1

  39,916

  99

  July

  38,949

  100

  296

  1

  38,653

  99

  August

  36,779

  100

  332

  1

  36,447

  99

  September

  39,600

  100

  332

  1

  39,268

  99

  October

  37,311

  100

  363

  1

  36,948

  99

  November

  39,165

  100

  361

  1

  38,804

  99

  December

  31,512

  100

  352

  1

  31,160

  99

  Total

  44,9361

  100

  3,575

  1

  445,786

  99

  638 639

  Summary motoring offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-Custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  59,005

  100

  452

  1

  58,553

  99

  February

  54,528

  100

  526

  1

  54,002

  99

  March

  61,425

  100

  633

  1

  50,792

  99

  April

  54,356

  100

  599

  1

  53,757

  99

  May

  49,363

  100

  565

  1

  48,798

  99

  June

  55,853

  100

  660

  1

  55,193

  99

  July

  54,509

  100

  692

  1

  53,817

  99

  August

  52,443

  100

  685

  1

  51,758

  99

  September

  58,054

  100

  875

  2

  57,179

  98

  October

  53,666

  100

  875

  2

  52,791

  98

  November

  57,163

  100

  896

  2

  56,267

  98

  December

  45,943

  100

  733

  2

  45,210

  98

  Total

  656,308

  100

  8791

  1

  648,117

  99

  All offences

  Total sentenced

  Custodial sentences

  Non-Custodial sentences

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January

  123,200

  100

  3,732

  3

  119,468

  97

  February

  115,029

  100

  4,414

  4

  110,615

  96

  March

  133,246

  100

  5,341

  4

  127,905

  96

  April

  115,937

  100

  4,657

  4

  111,280

  96

  May

  108,872

  100

  4,448

  4

  104,424

  96

  June

  121,962

  100

  4,639

  4

  117,323

  96

  July

  120,407

  100

  5,333

  4

  115,074

  96

  August

  112,723

  100

  4,686

  4

  108,037

  96

  September

  123,082

  100

  5,413

  4

  117,669

  96

  October

  115,453

  100

  5,486

  5

  109,957

  95

  November

  122,328

  100

  5,421

  4

  116,907

  96

  December

  98,651

  100

  4,819

  5

  93,832

  95

  Total

  1,410,890

  100

  58,399

  4

  1,352,491

  96

  Table D Proportionate use of immediate custody for defendants sentenced at the Crown Court following committal for trial. England and Wales 1992–1994

  Month

  1992

  1993

  1994

  January

  48

  42

  52

  February

  48

  46

  54

  March

  49

  47

  52

  April

  50

  49

  54

  May

  49

  50

  54

  June

  49

  51

  53

  July

  48

  52

  53

  August

  48

  54

  53

  September

  48

  54

  —

  October

  42

  52

  —

  November

  42

  52

  —

  December

  43

  54

  —

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

  Mr. Howard
  The following is the information about expenditure on official hospitality by my Department.

  Year

  Department (excluding agencies) £

  Agencies £

  1990–1991

  30,080

  Nil

  1991–1992

  28,094

  Nil

  1992–1993

  21,651

  234,000

  640

  Year

  Department (excluding agencies) £

  Agencies £

  1993–1994

  15,233

  333,784

  1994–19951

  7,863

  411,297

  1To 30 September.

  2Expenditure by the Fire Service college trading fund.

  3Includes £29,771 by the Fire Service college trading fund, £307 by the Prison Service agency, £1,706 by the United Kingdom Passport agency and £2,000 by the Forensic Science Service agency.

  4Includes £10,596 by the Fire Service college trading fund, £76 by the Prison Service agency, £225 by the United Kingdom Passport agency and £400 by the Forensic Science Service agency.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about incidents of domestic violence in each of the regions of England and Wales.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information available has been provided by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and is in the table; 1993 was the first year that HMIC collected information on incidents of domestic violence recorded by the police in England and Wales. The HMIC is in the process of collecting more reliable data.
  641

  Domestic violence incidents recorded by the Police in England and Wales in 1993

  Forces

  Year 1993

  Avon and Somerset

  Not available

  Bedfordshire

  Not available

  Cambridgeshire

  2,253

  Cheshire

  17,918

  City of London

  —

  Cleveland

  3,448

  Cumbria

  654

  Derbyshire

  7,606

  Devon and Cornwall

  Not available

  Dorset

  5,624

  Durham

  3,277

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,223

  Essex

  1,724

  Gloucestershire

  2,401

  Greater Manchester

  33,988

  Gwent

  135

  Hampshire

  Not available

  Hertfordshire

  3,367

  Humberside

  8,401

  Kent

  5,875

  Lancashire

  6,090

  Leicestershire

  4,075

  Lincolnshire

  373

  Merseyside

  8,850

  Norfolk

  881

  North Wales

  287

  North Yorkshire

  15,841

  Northamptonshire

  2,104

  Northumbria

  2,071

  Nottinghamshire

  1,990

  South Wales

  3,451

  South Yorkshire

  482

  Staffordshire

  Not available

  Suffolk

  1,396

  Surrey

  3,155

  Sussex

  1,157

  Thames Valley

  9,167

  Warwickshire

  Not available

  West Mercia

  916

  West Midlands

  12,151

  West Yorkshire

  11,315

  Wiltshire

  1,517

  Provincial Total

  185,163

  Metropolitan Police

  11,420

  England and Wales Total

  196,583

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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.

  Mr. Howard
  The surveys carried out by the Home Department since 1 October 1992 which have included questions on public opinion are as listed. Not all the surveys were primarily focused on public opinion. The fee paid to successful contractors is not shown as this is regarded by the Central Statistical Office as a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Subject:–1994 BRITISH CRIME SURVEY

  Objectives:—To examine the extent of criminal victimisation amongst householders. The survey includes some opinion questions.
  642
  Period:—January-May 1994 (fieldwork)

  Organisation:—Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (fieldwork)

  Subject:–1994 COMMERCIAL CRIME SURVEY

  Objectives:—A telephone survey to examine the extent of criminal victimisation against retail and manufacturing business premises. The survey includes some opinion questions.

  Period:—April-May 1994 (fieldwork)

  Organisation:—British Market Research Bureau (fieldwork)

  Subject:—EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIRE SERVICE

  Objectives:—To examine the image of the fire service as a potential employer amongst women and ethnic minorities

  Period:—May-August 1993

  Organisation:—Harris Research

  Subject:—PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE POLICE

  Objectives:—One of a series of surveys conducted in recent years to assess the impact of the police Quality of Service Programme.

  Period:—October 1993 (fieldwork)

  Organisation:—Office of Population Censuses and Survey (Omnibus Survey) (fieldwork)

  Subject:—PASSPORT AGENCY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEYS

  Objectives:—Monthly surveys to establish the age profile and renewal habits of passport holders together with their expectations and opinions of the service provided by the Agency.

  Period:—May 1992-October 1994

  Organisation:—Passport Agency and Eurodata Ltd (data processing)

  Subject:—PARTNERS AGAINST CRIME CAMPAIGN

  Objectives:—To assess level of support for local community crime prevention and Neighbourhood Watch.

  Period:—September-October 1994

  Organisation:—NOP on behalf of Public Relations Branch, Home Office

  Subject:—WITNESS INTIMIDATION: STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION

  Objectives:—The aim of this postal survey was to assess the extent to which witnesses of crime were harassed and intimidated and to find out if witnesses were satisfied with the police response. Two public surveys were carried out: one by internal staff, the other by an external contractor. Both surveys were more concerned with obtained peoples' experience of intimidation than their opinions.

  Period:—November-December 1993

  Organisation:—Internal survey: Police Research Group, Home Office, External survey: Research Surveys of Great Britain (RSGB)

  Subject:—ASSESSING THE EXPANDABLE SIDE HANDLED BATON.
  643
  Objectives:—The aim of this project was to assess the merits expandable side handled baton as an alternative to the standard issue truncheon. Part of this project involved carrying out a small face-to-face survey to assess the attitudes of the public towards the acceptability of the new baton.

  Period:–6 and 7 May 1994

  Organisation:—NOP (on behalf of Touch Ross)

  Subject:—CRIME PROFILING FOR RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

  Objectives:—The aim of this project is to determine the most cost-effective procedures for investigating residential burglaries. Part of this involved carrying out face-to-face interviews with victims to assess their perceptions of the level of service they received from the police so that this information could be related to the method and outcome of the investigation.

  Period:—April—october 1994

  Organisation:—Operational Research Group, Birmingham University

  Subject:—NORWICH CRIME LINE STUDY

  Objectives:—To examine satisfaction among victims with service provided by the Norwich Crime Reporting/Advice Line (for reporting minor crime over the phone).

  Period:—February—march 1993

  Organisation:—Police Research Group, Home Office

  Subject:—CRIME SCREENING STUDY (VICTIMS OF BURGLARY AND AUTOCRIME IN THREE POLICE FORCES.)

  Objectives:—A telephone survey to obtain victims' opinions on the police's performance, and the public's priorities for investigation.

  Period:—August—september 1994

  Organisation:—Centre for Study of Public Order, Leicestershire University

  Overstayers
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of the Russian Federation have overstayed on their visas in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The information requested is not available.

  Interception of Communications
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been made to the interception of communications tribunal challenging his Department's authorisation to intercept the communications of individuals and organisations during the period to date from 1985; how many of these applications have resulted in quashing of the relevant authorisation, destruction of copies of materials intercepted under the authorisations concerned and payment of financial compensation; on average, how long it has taken for the tribunal to consider and reach an outcome on individual applications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The number of applications received by the tribunal in each year is as follows:644

  Year

  Number of applications received

  1986/871

  41

  1987

  32

  1988

  30

  1989

  49

  1990

  59

  1991

  58

  1992

  45

  1993

  41

  1April 1986 to April 1987.

  On no occasion has the tribunal concluded that there has been a contravention of sections 2 to 5 of the Interception of Communication Act 1985.

  In 1993 the average time taken to complete a tribunal investigation was eight weeks.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Howard
  No such receptions are organised.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to publish his conclusions on the consultation paper on wheel clamping on private land.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are considering what action to take in respect of wheel clamping on private land. The consultation paper referred to produced much useful information from interested parties. It did not, however produce any consensus on how to ensure that any measure introduced to prevent or deter irresponsible and heavy-handed wheel clamping on private land does not prevent sensible measures from being taken to control genuine parking problems. We will make our conclusions known as soon as possible.

  Merseyside Police Authority
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the proposed changes in funding for policing for the Merseyside police authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have listened very carefully to the many concerns which have been expressed from Merseyside and elsewhere about the version of the new police funding formula which was exemplified in September. We are now revising the formula to ensure the capacity of police authorities to maintain existing levels of service.

  Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill (Demonstration)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning the events on 9 October during and after the march and rally against the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill.
  645
  Mr. Maclean
  The Commissioner has provided my right hon. and learned Friend with details of the disorder which occurred.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Islington, North of 10 October requesting an inquiry into the events of 9 October after the march and rally against the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend will be replying to the hon. Member's letter shortly.

  Firearms
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are(a) the total number of firearms certificates current in London, (b) the number issued in the past year in London and (c) the number of prosecutions made in the past year in London for illegal possession of firearms.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested at(a) and (b) is published in Home Office statistical bulletin 'Firearm Certificate Statistics, England and Wales 1993' (issue 22/94), table 2, a copy of which can be found in the Library.

  One hundred and eight persons were proceeded against in the area covered by the Metropolitan and City of London police forces for the offence of possessing firearms or ammunition without a licence in 1993.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the licensing of replica guns; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Any imitation firearm which can be readily converted to fire live ammunition is subject to stringent licensing control. But licensing other imitation firearms would be neither feasible nor effective in combatting misuse.

  The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994 has made it an offence to possess an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence. The possession of an imitation firearm in the commission of an indicatable offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

  Charities Act 1992
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make any order or regulations under(a) section 38 and (b) section 39 of the Charities Act 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The deregulation task force on charities and voluntary organisations recommended, among many proposed changes to the law and regulations affecting charities, that the powers in sections 70 and 71 of the Charities Act 1993—formerly sections 38 and 39 of the 1992 Act—be used to amend the investment powers of charity trustees. The position remains, as indicated in the task force's report, that this is under review: first priority is being given to bringing into force new provisions in part II of the 1992 Act—control of fund-raising—and part VI of the 1993 Act—charity accounts, reports and returns.

  Gerry Adams
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to lift the exclusion 646
  order in respect of Gerry Adams made under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts.

  Mr. Howard
  The exclusion order against Mr. Adams was revoked on 21 October.

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

  Mr. Howard
  Since 28 October 1993, there have been two occasions when the spouse of a Home Office Minister has accompanied the Minister on public duties overseas. The total cost to public funds was £8,317.

  On both occasions the necessary approval was sought in advance of the visit and full official programmes drawn up by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, concentrating on charity work relating to Home Office interests, particularly drugs, were followed.

  There was one occasion when a spouse accompanied a Home Office Minister at own cost.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of full-time equivalent section 11 posts held for each education authority in England and Wales for the current financial year.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The table lists all education authorities in England and Wales with projects approved for funding under section 11, including those which, since 1 April 1994, have received such finding from the Department of the Environment's single regeneration budget.

  Authority

  Number of approved posts (FTE)

  Avon

  43·6

  Barking and Dagenham

  16·6

  Barnet

  59·31

  Bedfordshire

  223·9

  Berkshire

  81·0

  Bexley

  7·41

  Birmingham

  456·89

  Bolton

  63·4

  Bradford

  411·36

  Brent

  292·4

  Buckinghamshire

  91·84

  Bury

  35·65

  Calderdale

  74·54

  Cambridgeshire

  80·0

  Camden

  89·0

  Cheshire

  7·0

  Cleveland

  46·6

  Coventry

  133·0

  Croydon

  81·7

  Derbyshire

  85·5

  Devon

  21·00

  Doncaster

  10·95

  Dudley

  70·6

  Durham

  11·0

  Ealing

  188·1

  East Sussex

  11·6

  Enfield

  69·5

  647

  Authority

  Number of approved posts (FTE)

  Essex

  2·0

  Gateshead

  2·0

  Gloucestershire

  16·7

  Greenwich

  104·3

  Gwent

  21·0

  Hackney

  228·5

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  44·4

  Hampshire

  22·9

  Haringey

  192·28

  Harrow

  37·0

  Havering

  3·0

  Hereford and Worcester

  24·0

  Hertfordshire

  130·4

  Hillingdon

  23·35

  Hounslow

  184·4

  Humberside

  23·4

  Islington

  93·0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  45·0

  Kent

  88·51

  Kingston

  7·88

  Kirklees

  215·42

  Lambeth

  261·2

  Lancashire

  330·94

  Leeds

  129·5

  Leicestershire

  216·87

  Lewisham

  111·45

  Lincolnshire

  4·5

  Liverpool

  216·7

  Manchester

  1164·28

  Merton

  34·28

  Newcastle

  17·5

  Newham

  141·8

  Norfolk

  5·65

  Northamptonshire

  50·91

  North Tyneside

  9·7

  North Yorks

  4·0

  Nottinghamshire

  99·9

  Oldham

  117·3

  Oxfordshire

  258·4

  Redbridge

  59·57

  Richmond

  4·5

  Rochdale

  75·7

  Rotherham

  32·9

  St Helens

  1·35

  Salford

  6·5

  Sandwell

  97·5

  Sheffield

  137·5

  Shropshire

  7·0

  South Glamorgan

  39·9

  Southwark

  197·1

  Staffordshire

  59·75

  Stockport

  6·52

  Suffolk

  22·96

  Sunderland

  9·29

  Surrey

  24·5

  Sutton

  3·5

  Tameside

  35·49

  Tower Hamlets

  1379·5

  Trafford

  20·5

  Wakefield

  22·0

  Walsall

  78·7

  Waltham Forest

  138·0

  Wandsworth

  86·7

  Warwickshire

  67·42

  Westminster

  96·4

  West Sussex

  16·89

  Wigan

  23·5

  Wiltshire

  10·2

  Wirral

  6·0

  Wolverhampton

  138·5

  Notes:

  The number of posts shown is as at 24 October 1994 except
  648
  1 to be finally confirmed with the authority.

  2 number of posts eligible for grant funding as at 1 April 1994; awaiting information from the authority about possible changes in the light of the announced reduction in funding from 1994–95.

  Financial Times (Injunction)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the cost of the recent injunction obtained by him on the Financial Times was borne on public funds.

  Mr. Howard
  No

  Open Government
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the review of the blanket retention of civil and home defence records announced in the White Paper on open government has been completed.

  Mr. Howard
  The review of the blanket retention of civil and home defence records has been completed. I am pleased to announce that with the approval of the Lord Chancellor, it has been decided not to renew the blanket provision. This is in line with the open government initiatives introduced by the Government where the emphasis is on release rather than retention of records.

  Government Departments which hold records relating to civil and home defence will now review them individually on the basis of guidance provided jointly by my Department and the Cabinet Office, with a view to releasing those which are no longer regarded as sensitive.

  Prison Assaults
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the number of assaults(a) by prisoners on prisoners, (b) by prisoners on staff and (c) other assaults which took place in each prison in England and Wales each month of 1992 and 1993;

  (2) if he will list the number of assaults (a) by prisoners on prisoners and (b) by prisoners on staff, in each prison in England and Wales for each month of 1994 to the latest available date.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 26 October 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your two recent Questions asking for the number of assaults by prisoners on other prisoners and on staff and others in each prison in England and Wales for each month of 1992, 1993 and of 1994 to the latest available date.
  The enclosed tables give the numbers of assaults proved at adjudication under the prison discipline system for January 1992 to September 1994. In view of their bulk, I have arranged for them to be placed in the Library of the House rather than printed in the Official Report. Information on the small number of assaults other than on staff or prisoners is included with assaults on staff in the tables; it is published separately on an annual basis by establishment in "Statistics of offences against prison discipline and punishments, England and Wales" (Cm 2411 for 1992 and Cm 2664 for 1993), copies of which are in the Library of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Cuba
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the recent visit of the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Technology to Cuba.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I visited Cuba between 12 arid 14 September 1994, as the guest of the Cuban Minister for Foreign Trade, Senor Ricardo Cabrisas. It was the first visit to Cuba by a British Minister since 1975. I was accompanied by a 15-strong team of business men and women and by the chairman and director of the Department's Caribbean trade advisory group—CARITAG. We were warmly received and had productive meetings with key Cuban Ministers and with President Castro.

  Following the ending of preferential trade arrangements with the former Soviet Union, Cuba has begun to reform its economy along more market-oriented lines. The Cuban Government described this process as irreversible and the intention is to take it forward.

  On this basis, United Kingdom industry can respond more positively to Cuba's welcome of trade, investment and advice from Britain. It recognises its outstanding debt as an impediment to trade on normal commercial terms. The business group and I identified opportunities for British business in the provision of advice on the management of a market economy and in longer-term joint ventures. Commercial negotiations during our visit were advanced in transport, agri-business, construction, tourism and financial services.

  On 14 September, I initialled a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement which will give further confidence to investors. Cuba is moving towards a more open trading relationship with developed market economies and this should encourage domestic reform. Subject to this process being continued and developed, I have asked CARITAG to make proposals for a private-sector-led group to co-ordinate discussion and to progress the many specific commercial and related issues raised during my visit.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are his criteria for proscribing trade on the basis of a country's human rights record; and if he will make a statement on their application to Indonesia.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government subscribe to the common criteria for arms transfers agreed with EU partners at Luxembourg in 1991 and at Lisbon in 1992, and the principles governing arms transfers agreed by the forum for security co-operation of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe in November 1993. These include consideration of human rights.

  No prohibition on trade has been introduced in respect of Indonesia. Export licences are required for some goods and applications are considered on a case by case basis taking into account the above criteria as appropriate.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about recent exports of British armaments to Indonesia.
  650
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  It is not normal practice to divulge details of export licences, unless the requirements of confidentiality are outweighed by public interest considerations.

  In this case, such considerations justify disclosing that to date in 1994 we have issued 26 export licences for goods in schedule 1, group 1 part III of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994—the military list. The total value of these goods licensed for export is £14·69 million. Licences are valid for two years.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that the human rights record of the Indonesian Government are taken into account when deciding whether to grant an export licence for the export of tanks to Indonesia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The human rights record of a recipient country is one of a number of factors taken into account during the consideration of an application for an export licence for military and paramilitary equipment.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff are employed by his Department; and what proportion of them are employed in each of the standard regions.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The total number of permanent staff employed by my Department on 1 October was 10,594— part-time staff are counted as half. The proportion employed in each standard region is shown in the following table:

  Proportion by standard region

  Percentage of total

  Northern Ireland

  0·05

  Scotland

  4·05

  Wales

  17·62

  North

  2·19

  North West

  3·29

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2·49

  East Midlands

  2·10

  West Midlands

  4·06

  South West

  2·23

  South East

  160·70

  East Anglia

  1·22

  1 of which London—Inner–46·06 per cent., Outer–11·94 per cent.

  Rest of South East–2·7 per cent.

  Fuel Cell Advisory Panel
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the fuel cell advisory panel in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The fuel cell advisory panel was established in April 1992 and has met on a total of eight occasions, with three meetings in 1992–93 and four in 1993–94. Secretarial support is provided by the energy technology support unit—ETSU—which manages my Department's advanced fuel cell research and development programme, on which the panel advises. This advice, which includes the assessment of individual proposals for funding, is given through discussion at the panel's meetings, the minutes of which are not published
  651
  for reasons of commercial confidentiality. As an advisory body the panel does not disburse funds itself and membership is unpaid.

  The administrative costs of the panel are met from the programme management budget and published each year in a report prepared by the Cabinet Office. A copy of the latest edition, "Public Bodies 1993", is available in the Library of the House. DTI expenditure on projects within the programme amounted to £0·36 million in 1992–93 and £0·83 million in 1993–94. The budget for 1994–95 is £1 million.

  The total value of projects supported by the programme to date is £14·7 million, for a DTI contribution, including future commitments, of £2·6 million. Two technical strategies, for solid polymer and solid oxide fuel cells, prepared by ETSU and endorsed by the panel, were published by ETSU this summer and I have placed copies in the Library of the House. A wide range of information on projects within the programme is also published by ETSU.

  Committees
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the Advisory Committee for Arbitration Law in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The departmental advisory committee on arbitration law has met in full once a year in each of the last three years. The Committee has no dedicated secretarial or advisory staff nor does it have an allocated budget or expenditure functions. Secretarial support is provided by staff in my Department. My Department in co-operation with the committee published a consultation document on a draft Arbitration Bill in February 1994. No other submissions have been published in the last three years.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the Aviation committee in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Aviation committee will meet four times this year and met three times in each of the past two years. Secretarial and administration functions are provided by the Department and cost approximately £30,000 per annum. There is no separate budget. The advisory arrangements are that the committee may communicate its advice during meetings to officials, who attend throughout, or in writing or by making presentations to Ministers. The subjects of such advice were as follows:1992: The Control Technology Programme
  The National Strategic Technology Acquisition Plan (NSTAP)
  1993: NSTAP: Report to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry Science, Technology and Engineering White Paper: relationship with NSTAP
  652
  1994: Technology Co-ordinators: Implementation of NSTAP
  An Industry Strategy
  The Hercules Replacement

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The secretariat of the Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property is provided by the Intellectual Property Policy Directorate—IPPD—of the Patent Office. Expenditure on this task is not budgeted separately from IPPD's other policy work. The committee's advice is sought by correspondence and at meetings. The meetings held in the last three years are as follows:

  Financial Year

  Number of Meetings

  1991–92

  3

  1992–93

  3

  1993–94

  4

  Cable TV
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what sanctions can be taken against cable operators who fail to adhere to the proposed guidelines designed to minimise damage to tree roots; and what body is to be responsible for administering such sanctions.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The guidelines on minimising damage to street trees now agreed by the national joint utilities group, the arboricultural industry and the Cable Communications Association, are voluntary. Like other operators of underground services, the cable industry is committed to ensuring that its contractors follow best practice, including the need to hand-dig around the roots of trees. The effectiveness of the guidelines will be reviewed after they have been in operation for six months. We welcome the increased efforts of the Cable Communications Association to meet public concerns about safety of trees.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Surveys commissioned by my Department which included questions concerning public opinion since October 1992 are given in the table. No such surveys were conducted by DTI agencies during this period. Information on the fee paid cannot be disclosed due to commercial confidentiality considerations.
  653

  DTI Surveys Including Questions About Public Opinion Since 1 October 1992

  Survey

  Objective

  Period in which conducted

  Organisation from which commissioned

  Mountain Bike Study

  Establish proportion of cyclists in population; types of bike they use; and accidents suffered

  March 1994

  Nottingham University Institute for Occupational Ergonomics

  Metrication Survey

  Assess public attitudes before implementation of EC Directive on Metric food Pricing

  April 1994

  RSGB Ltd

  Child Usage of Gas and Electrical Consumer Products

  Assess the extent of children's everyday use of such appliances

  November 1993

  Children's Research Unit

  Renewable Energy Awareness

  Assess extent of public awareness of renewable energy

  September 1993

  RSGB Ltd

  Post Office
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Crown post offices have been closed in the last 15 years; which have been transferred from one premises to another; and what proposals the Post Office has for further closures or relocations.

  Mr. Eggar
  I understand from the Post Office that between March 1979 and March 1994 the number of Crown post offices has been reduced from 1,580 to 800. This is not primarily the result of office closures; of this reduction, 675 have been converted to franchise or agency offices either in the same premises or in suitable premises nearby. Such converted offices continue to offer the full range of services available at Crown offices, and in many cases offer longer opening hours and improved access. Of the remaining 105, a number have not involved closure but the merger of two neighbouring Crown offices, again continuing to provide the full range of services.

  The Post Office has no plans at present to close or merge any further Crown offices. It does, however, intend to continue the Crown conversion programme, though decisions on such conversions are taken at regional management level. Where a Crown office is considered for conversion, a consultation process is undertaken with the local Member of Parliament and representative local bodies.

  The records of individual Crown office closures and mergers since 1979 are not held centrally by the Post Office and collecting this information would entail disproportionate cost.

  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 19 October,Official Report, column 239, what percentage of responses were in favour of (a) granting the Post Office freedoms within the public sector, (b) a 100 per cent. share sale and (c)
  654
  joint ownership by Government, public and employees with the Government selling 51 per cent. of shares.

  Mr. Eggar
  As I indicated in my answer of 19 October,Official Report, column 239, we will make public the
  results of the consultation at the appropriate point.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of staff and their total salary cost employed at the Post Office headquarters for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Eggar
  I understand from the Post Office that the information requested is available only from 1990–91 and is as follows:

  Year

  Headquarters Staff Numbers

  Labour Costs (inc NI Contributions) £ million

  1990–91

  379

  8·9

  1991–92

  388

  9·9

  1992–93

  359

  9·3

  1993–94

  354

  9·9

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people were employed as consultants to the Post Office; and what was their total cost in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Eggar
  The employment of consultants is an operational matter for the Post Office.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much corporation tax was paid by the Post Office for each year since 1979 at current prices.

  Mr. Eggar
  Corporation tax paid by the Post Office in each year since 1979, expressed in September 1994 prices was as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1979–80

  1

  1980–81

  nil

  1981–82

  nil

  1982–83

  nil

  1983–84

  2

  1984–85

  3

  1985–86

  2

  1986–87

  3

  1987–88

  59

  1988–89

  40

  1989–90

  32

  1990–91

  78

  1991–92

  72

  1992–93

  87

  1993–94

  83

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many submissions he received on his Green Paper, "The Future of Postal Services", and if he will list those who responded.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]At the end of the consultation period we had received some 13,400 responses to the Green Paper. It is for respondents to make public the views they expressed if they choose to do so.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many of the submissions he received on his Green Paper, "The Future of Postal Services", were in favour of
  655
  the Government's favoured option; and how many were against;

  (2) how many members of the public responded to his Green Paper, "The Future of Postal Services", and how many of them were in favour of breaking up and privatising the Post Office.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]A wide variety of views were expressed. We will make public the results of the consultation at the appropriate point.

  Electricity
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contribution his Department is making to the International Atomic Energy Agency's DECADES project on the comparative assessment of the environmental aspects, economic competitiveness and technical reliability of different electricity generating systems.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The DECADES project, part of the global response to energy and environmental concerns that arose in the 1990s, is being carried out by the IAEA and eight other organisations and works on databases and methodologies for comparative assessment of different energy sources for electricity.

  Results are scheduled for presentation in September 1995 at an international symposium in Vienna on electricity, health and the environment.

  The International Atomic Energy Agency share of the project is mainly funded from the regular budget to which the United kingdom contributes its share in full, as we do also with the other organisations involved in the project. It would be uneconomic to enumerate the exact contribution attributable to the Uuited Kingdom amongst the nine organisations involved. The DTI has also co-ordinated the attendance of experts from industry and government from the United Kingdom at meetings being held in the framework of the project.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the capacity of each of the coal-fired power stations privatised under National Power and PowerGen.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The capacity of each of National Power's and PowerGen's coal-fired stations at privatisation is set out on pages 96 and 168 of the prospectus, published on 22 February 1991, setting out the Government's offer for sale of National Power and PowerGen shares. I am arranging for a copy of the prospectus to be made available in the Library of the House.

  Taiwan
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what efforts his Department is making to improve Britain's trade with Taiwan.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My Department attaches importance to commercial links between the United Kingdom and Taiwan. The Taiwanese market is now treated in the same way as our other target markets. Taiwan has a dedicated market team in my Department supported by export promoters seconded from industry. Their work is being supported by additional resources allocated to the British trade and cultural office in Taipei.

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

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Financial Year

  Area

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1.DTI (excluding net controlled agencies & trading funds) see note i)

  268,416

  399,720

  407,965

  519,037

  2.DTI agencies Accounts Services Agency

  300

  300

  300

  300

  Companies House (see not ii)

  n/a

  5,600

  11,187

  11,542

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  10·625

  17,685

  19,519

  27,122

  National Engineering Laboratory

  49,000

  36,000

  20,000

  10,000

  National Physical Laboratory

  35,300

  45,881

  48,408

  70,221

  Patent Office

  4,000

  8,000

  13,000

  18,000

  Radiocommunications Agency

  23,900

  21,993

  27,592

  33,575

  Total Agencies

  123,125

  135,459

  140,006

  170,760

  Total DTI

  391,541

  535,179

  547,971

  689,797

  Notes

  i) - Relevant expenditure for the Insolvency Service and National Weights & Measures Laboratory is included in 1 above. They are controlled gross against the DTI's main voted provision.

  ii) - Figures are not readily available for the six month period prior to attaining trading fund status in October 1991.

  Company Returns
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answers of 20 October,Official Report, column 287, on how many occasions staff of the Registrar of Companies have notified his office in relation to companies in default on their annual returns during the past 12 months or other statistically convenient period.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 25 October 1994]Records are not kept in a way which permits a definite answer, but four such cases have been identified since 1 January 1994 involving defaults on annual accounts, annual returns, or a combination of both.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of Export Credits Guarantee Department
  657
  credits related to defence exports in 1993–94; and what was their value.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]The ECGD supported guarantees worth £1.96 billion in 1993–94 in respect of defence contracts. This amounted to 48 per cent. of the ECGD's support for capital goods and projects in 1993–94.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the total Export Credits Guarantee Department credit budget was used in relation to defence contracts for(a) Bangladesh, (b) Ecuador, (c) India, (d) Indonesia, (e) Jordan, (f) Malaysia, (g) Nigeria, (h) Oman, (i) Pakistan and (j) Thailand in 1993–94; and what was (i) the value for each year and (ii) the subject matter of the contracts.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]The percentage of the ECGD's total support for capital goods and projects in 1993–94 which related to contracts in respect of defence equipment in the named markets and the respective values were as follows:

  Percentage

  Value £ million

  Bangladesh

  —

  —

  Ecuador

  —

  —

  India

  —

  —

  Indonesia

  0·15

  6·2

  Jordan

  —

  —

  Malaysia

  0·46

  18·7

  Nigeria

  —

  —

  Oman

  8·42

  343·9

  Pakistan

  —

  —

  Thailand

  —

  —

  The subject matter of individual contracts is confidential to the contracting parties.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the total Export Credits Guarantee Department credit budget was used in relation to defence contracts for Saudi Arabia in each year since 1980; and what was(a) the value for each year and (b) the subject matter of the contracts.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]The percentage of total ECGD support for capital goods and projects since 1980 which related to defence contracts in Saudi Arabia and the related values were as follows:

  Percentage

  Value £ Million

  1982–83

  0·28

  23·85

  1985–86

  0·39

  5·97

  1988–89

  21·77

  450·00

  1992–93

  5·92

  225·00

  1993–94

  18·36

  750·00

  In all other years the percentage and value were zero.

  The subject matter of individual contracts is confidential to the contracting parties.

  Official Receiver
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what legal advice he has received on the contracting out of the official receiver's work, in respect of the Insolvency Service's investigative functions; and if he will make a statement;
  658
  (2) what legal advice he has received on the contracting out of the official receiver's work in respect of Insolvency Service practitioners and the rights of assistance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]Any contracting out of functions of official receivers would be dependent on the passage of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill and on the procedures set out in it including consultation with official receivers as statutory office holders and obtaining an affirmative order of both Houses.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many cases were referred by Insolvency Service practitioners to the official receiver for investigation in each of the last three financial years.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]The number of cases so referred to official receivers in the last three financial years were:

  1992–93: —

  1993–94: 36

  1994–95: 42 (to date)

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for consultation with the users of the Insolvency Service about the future of the service, following the Stoy Hayward report.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]: The Insolvency Service has commissioned a survey of its users which it expects to complete by the end of 1994.

WALES

  A465
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the transport directorate of the European Commission concerning the proposed addition of the A465 to the Trans-European road network.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have asked officials to pursue this. Revised proposals from the Commission show the A465 on the trans-European road network.

  A55
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the consultants' study into the ecological and environmental enhancement of the A55 will be completed.

  Mr. Redwood
  The consultants, final report on the A55 ecological and environmental study is due to be submitted to the Welsh Office at the end of January 1995.

  Health Service Pay
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give figures based on current performance for the number of health service staff he expects will see earnings(a) fall and (b) rise as a result of the introduction of relating pay to performances.

  Mr. Richards
  The proposals made to staff sides and the professions who represent groups covered by NHS review bodies and included in the pay offer to staff sides of non-review body groups would strengthen the links between rewards and performance of their local
  659
  organisation. Such schemes would be locally determined and depend on the achievement of local objectives for the delivery of high quality services. I would expect average pay to continue to rise.

  A470
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the statutory requirements in connection with the improvement of the A470 Dolwyddel to Blaenau Ffestiniog road will be complete; when it is expected that works will commence; if the work will be in stages; how long the whole project will take; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The programming of the major schemes for the improvement of the A470 in the Lledr valley between Betws-y-Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog is set out in "Roads in Wales–1994 Review". The first of these schemes, that for the section between Cancoed to Minffordd, has recently been the subject of a local public inquiry. Depending on the outcome of that inquiry, work is expected to start on the scheme in 1995, subject to the availability of finance, and will take approximately 18 months.

  Housing Grants
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to allow Housing for Wales equivalent power to implement a scheme of GRO—grants for rent and ownership—grants for individual housing projects as currently operated and administered by Scottish Homes.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There are at present no plans to introduce GRO grants in Wales. I continue to keep under review the Scottish experience in this field.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is as follows. In addition to the items listed, the Welsh Office consults interested groups and individuals from time to time on a wide range of issues. Executive NDPBs in Wales have not been included in the data provided. The total cost of these surveys was approximately £56,000. The cost of individual contracts is confidential.

  WELSH OFFICE
  1. Research into bus-back advertising
  To establish the effectiveness of bus-back advertising, both in general and in response to Drink-Drive advertising campaign.
  Date: February—march 1994.
  Conducted by: Beaufort Research Ltd, Cardiff.

  2. Energy Efficiency Promotion in Wales
  To evaluate the effectiveness of energy efficiency promotions in Wales during 1991–92.
  Date: January—november 1993.
  Conducted by: William Battle and Associates, Swansea.

  3. Revised Patient's Charter in Wales
  To test public awareness of the Patient's Charter, and to elicit views on which standards should be included in a revised Charter.
  Date: February 1993.
  Conducted by: Durdle Davies Business Research.
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  CADW: WELSH HISTORIC MONUMENTS EXECUTIVE AGENCY
  1. Visitor Survey of 10 Monuments in State Care
  To provide information on visitor origins, characteristics and economic status; and to assess levels of satisfaction.
  Date: 1991–94.
  Conducted by: Beaufort research.

  2. Visitor Survey at 10 Monuments in State Care
  To provide up to date visitor profiles; to establish awareness of CADW; to monitor satisfaction levels.
  Date: 1994.
  Conducted by: Hall, Harrison and Cowley.

  Wildlife and Countryside Act
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of appeals under paragraph 4 of schedule 14 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 determined in 1992 and 1993 for which the time taken from receipt of the appeal by his Department to its determination was(a) not more than six months, (b) more than six months but not more than 12 months, (c) more than 12 months but not more than 18 months, (d) more than 18 months but not more than 24 months or (e) more than 24 months.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Eleven appeals have been determined during the period. Details are as follows:

  More than six months but not more than 12 months–2.

  More than 12 months but not more than 18 months–6.

  Morse than 18 months but not more than 24 months–3.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the budget agreed with each TEC in Wales for every financial year since its inception; broken down by programme area.

  Mr. Redwood
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employers in each TEC area in Wales have been given the investors in people award; how many have made a commitment to meeting the standard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Richards
  The number of businesses in each Welsh TEC area making commitments to investors in people and those which have already received the award is as follows:

  Commitments

  Awards

  Gwent

  48

  10

  Mid Glamorgan

  63

  18

  North East Wales

  25

  5

  North West Wales

  33

  6

  South Glamorgan

  47

  10

  West Wales

  85

  17

  Powys

  13

  3

  Wales

  314

  69

  The Welsh Office is committed to improving the competitiveness of businesses in Wales. Training and development plays a key part in this process by ensuring the availability of the skills and expertise necessary to achieve business objectives. Investors in people aims to encourage and recognise effective training. The Welsh Office promotes the commitment to, and achievement of,

  661
  the IIP award through the seven Welsh training and enterprise councils.

  Tir Cymen Pilot Schemes
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many applicants were successful under the Tir Cymen pilot schemes in Wales in 1993–94; and how many were unsuccessful;

  (2) how many entrants into the Tir Cymen pilot schemes there were in 1992–93; and how many applied unsuccessfully;

  (3) what was the budget allocated for the Tir Cymen pilot schemes in 1992–93 and 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is as follows:

  Tir Cymen Entrants

  1992–93 201 (Unsuccessful–11)

  1993–94 187 (Unsuccessful–14)

  Budget (Grant in Aid)

  1992–93 £0·5 million

  1993–94 £2·1 million.

  Juvenile Drug Prevention
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what budget was allocated by the Welsh Office for juvenile drug prevention education in 1992–93;

  (2) what is the budget allocated by the Welsh Office for juvenile drug use education in the current year.

  Mr. Richards
  Drug prevention work is undertaken by a number of agencies from both the statutory and voluntary sectors, which receive funds from various sources. In 1992–93 the Welsh Office made available some £200,000 to help fund activities concerned with the prevention of drug misuse. The budget for 1994–95 is over £350,000. Funding is also available to local education authorities for health education, including drugs, under the grants for education support and training programme.

  Long-stay
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people with learning disabilities are resident in long-stay hospitals; and if he will list the long-stay learning disability hospitals still operating.

  Mr. Richards
  In June 1994 information from district health authorities indicated that around 750 persons with learning disabilities were resident in long-stay hospitals in Wales.

  The long-stay learning disability hospitals in Wales are listed as follows:

  Bryn-y-Neuadd

  Gwynedd

  Brynhyfryd

  Powys

  Llys Maldwyn

  Powys

  Bronllys

  Powys

  Pater Close

  Dyfed

  Llys Myddfai

  Dyfed

  Llanfrechfa Grange

  Gwent

  Ely

  South Glamorgan

  Hensol

  Mid Glamorgan

  Ystrad Mynach Bungalows

  Mid Glamorgan

  Gorseinon Bungalows

  West Glamorgan

  Juvenile Drug Prevention
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives the Welsh Office is pursuing to combat juvenile drug abuse in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Richards
  The Welsh Office was fully involved with the organisation and funding of European drug prevention week in Wales. The initiative, which lasted from 15 to 22 October, targeted young people. A variety of local events and a national sixth form conference were supported by the Welsh Office.

  During the week my right hon. Friend announced the setting up of a new unit to tackle drug and alcohol misuse. The development of effective prevention programmes aimed at young people will be one of the main tasks of the unit.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of school playing fields by local education authority for(a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987, (d) 1992 and (e) the latest available date.

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  PE Teachers
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many physical education teachers were employed by local education authorities in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is available for 1984 and 1989 only. In 1984, 2,400 secondary school teachers in Wales were qualified in physical education. The corresponding figure in 1989 was 1,900.

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to control the number of sheep scab cases in Wales; and what plans he now has to make sheep scab a fully notifiable disease.

  Mr. Redwood
  Sheep scab is a disease which can be controlled by individual farmers, who are aware of the preventive measures and procedures needed to deal with it. The Government have no plans to re-introduce sheep scab controls.

  We are aware of the concerns within the industry about the number of sheep affected by scab. A comprehensive publicity campaign is being carried out this autumn aimed at all sheep farmers, encouraging treatment where scab is suspected. It will help owners recognise the disease and emphasise to farmers their welfare responsibilities. We are also stepping up our efforts to ensure that unfit animals are not presented for sale by increasing the official veterinary presence at markets. Animals suffering from scab will be removed from sale at markets and owners will face the possibility of prosecution.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first
  663
  time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Departmental Documents
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library copies of all documents, letters, or accounts he has signed which are written in a language he does not understand.

  Mr. Redwood
  I know of none which I have personally signed.

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

  Mr. Redwood
  None. There have been no official overseas visits by any wife of a Minister in the Welsh Office, either at public expense or her own expense.

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Wales how many farmers in Wales have not yet received payment of their advance payments with respect to the 1994 sheep annual premium scheme.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 25 October 1994]Of the 16,816 eligible claims received, around 13·8 per cent. remain to be paid. The majority of these involve queries or quota problems which will have to be resolved before payments are made.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 October,Official Report, column 251, whether the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency discussed with the board members of the agency his intentions to take up a directorship of Development Securities plc; and if the discussion was minuted as recommended in paragraph 35 of the Caines report mentioned in his statement of 19 October 1993, Official Report, column 147.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 25 October 1994]My understanding is that the chairman declared his interest at a WDA board meeting and this was minuted.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 October,Official Report, column 251, and with reference to the recommendations contained in paragraph 35 of the Caines report of October 1993, what proposals he has to strengthen the guidelines for directors of the Welsh Development Agency regarding the proposed directorships of property companies with property interests in Wales and other companies with possible conflict of interest implications with the work of the agency.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 25 October 1994]The rules on conflict of interest are already clear. The code of best practice for board members of public bodies, prepared by HM Treasury was issued to the agency in July of this year by my Department.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Royal Society of Arts and City and Guilds in relation to preparation of courses and examination leading to general national vocational qualifications through the medium of Welsh; and when he expects to conclude these discussions.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 25 October 1994]The position is as stated in my hon. Friend's letter to the hon. Member on 20 September 1994. Following negotiations between my officials and the GNVQ awarding bodies, the RSA and City and Guilds of London Institute have now agreed to provide GNVQ unit tests through the medium of Welsh to meet demand from schools and colleges in Wales during the 1994–95 academic year. The two awarding bodies will carry out pilots to test the systems and the quality of the qualifications.

  Officials expect to be in a position to finalise contracts with the two awarding bodies within the next few weeks.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of chief executives of national health service trusts in each of the last four years have been paid on a performance-related pay basis.

  Mr. Moss
  The pay of NHS trusts chief executive is a matter for individual trusts to determine. Details are not held centrally but should be published in trusts' annual reports. Guidance on that will be issued shortly.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. Moss
  Implementation of local pay arrangements is for health and social services trusts to determine taking into account the individual health care objectives contained in their agreed business plans. The assessment of the cost and efficiency of schemes is also for local determination.

  Parades, South Down
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many parades were held in the constituency of South Down from 1 April to 30 September inclusive; and what were the locations.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Some 241 parades were held in the constituency of South Down during the period 1 April to 30 September 1994. This figure can be broken down as follows:

  Location

  Loyalist Parades

  Republican Parades

  Killyleagh

  13

  Ballynahinch

  17

  Ardglass

  2

  1

  Crossgar

  5

  Downpatrick

  7

  1

  Saintfield

  9

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  Location

  Loyalist Parades

  Republican Parades

  Ballygawley, Downpatrick

  5

  Saul

  1

  Raffery

  3

  Hollymount, Downpatrick

  1

  Toyre, Killyleagh

  4

  Inch, Downpatrick

  3

  Kilmore

  2

  Ballyculter, Strangford

  5

  Ballykilbeg, Downpatrick

  1

  Woodgrange, Downpatrick

  2

  Bells Hill

  1

  Newcastle

  2

  1

  Kilkeel

  21

  7

  Castlewellan

  2

  1

  Clough

  4

  Seaforde

  2

  Annalong

  10

  Moneyslane

  1

  Ballymartin

  3

  1

  Benraw, Castlewellan

  2

  Closkelt, Ballyward

  2

  Dundrum

  1

  Legananny, Castlewellan

  1

  Attical, Kilkeel

  1

  Banbridge

  23

  Dromore

  18

  Rathfriland

  26

  Waringsford, Dromore

  3

  Corbet, Banbridge

  3

  Tanvally, Banbridge

  1

  Blackbridge, Poyntzpass

  1

  Finnis

  1

  Katesbridge

  1

  Ballyroney, Rathfriland

  3

  Garvaghy, Dromore

  1

  Glascar, Banbridge

  1

  Seapatrick, Banbridge

  1

  Hilltown

  Skeagh, Dromore

  1

  Drumavaddy, Banbridge

  1

  Donaghmore

  4

  Warrenpoint

  4

  1

  Rostrevor

  1

  Totals

  225

  16

  Parade Statistics are recorded by RUC sub-divisional areas, which do not generally coincide with constituency boundaries. Whilst every effort has been made to correlate information from the relevant boundary maps, it is possible that some 'borderline' cases may have been wrongly included or omitted.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the estimated cost of policing parades in the constituency of South Down from 1 April to 30 September.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  IRA Ceasefire
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks on individuals have taken place in Northern Ireland since the start of the IRA ceasefire which have been classified as punishment attacks by a paramilitary organisation.
  666
  Sir John Wheeler
  The available information is for a period 1 September to 23 October 1994 and is as follows:

  Punishment Attacks

  Number of Casualties

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Total

  Punishment Assaults

  3

  11

  14

  Punishment

  Shootings

  14

  —

  14

  228

  Note:

  These punishment attacks have not necessarily been claimed by a paramilitary organisation. Attribution has been decided based mainly on knowledge.

  2With the exception of one punishment shooting, all of these attacks took place prior to the loyalist ceasefire.

  Learning Disability Hospitals
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people with learning disabilities are resident in long-stay hospitals; and if he will list the long-stay learning disability hospitals still operating.

  Mr. Moss
  The number of people with a mental handicap resident in long-stay hospitals in Northern Ireland was 839 at 17 February 1994, including 64 patients in long-stay psychiatric hospitals.

  The long-stay mental handicap hospitals which are currently operating are listed below:

  Muckamore Abbey

  Longstone

  Tower Hill

  Stradreagh

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the capital receipts from the sale of school playing fields for each of the last six years by education authority.

  Mr. Ancram
  There has been one such sale within the last six years. In 1991, £57,000 was received by the Belfast education and library board in respect of the sale of 8 acres of surplus school playing fields. The land was sold to a private rugby club and continues to be used as playing fields.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of school playing fields by local education authority for(a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987, (d) 1992 and (e) the latest available date.

  Mr. Ancram
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, information compiled in 1989, shows that at that time there were 611 grass pitches and 950 artificial games areas for all schools in Northern Ireland.

  PE Teachers
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many physical education teachers were employed by local education authorities in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Ancram
  Information is available only for 1989, when there were an estimated 860 physical education teachers in secondary schools in Northern Ireland.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Sir John Wheeler
  To date, no Northern Ireland Department has organised a reception for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time. However, Baroness Denton, as Minister with responsibility for women's issues in Northern Ireland, recently held a reception to encourage women in public appointment. My right hon. and learned Friend and I were in attendance and those present included both women who hold public appointments and those who did not but might be encouraged to consider putting themselves forward. Senior departmental officials involved in the public appointments process were also present. Some 97 people attended and the cost of the reception was £920.

  Public Information
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments have spent the following amounts of money in each of the last three years to produce public information in alternative format for visually impaired people:

  1991–92– £2,742

  1992–93– —

  1993–94–£2,969

  As the Royal National Institute for the Blind produces and provides the available information free of charge, the amount spent in each of the last three years on publicising the availability of accessible information amongst visually impaired people has been negligible.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments currently have the following publications available in:

  (a) Braille

  Water Quality Register Leaflet

  Water Quality Standards Leaflets

  Emergencies and Complaints on Water Quality Leaflet Leaflets and publications relating to the marketing and promotion of training and employment services.

  The Northern Ireland Charter for the Child Support Agency "For Parents Who Live Apart" Leaflet

  "Talkback" Leaflet

  The Northern Ireland Civil Service Code of Practice on the Employment of People with Disabilities

  668

  (b) Large Print

  Water Quality Register Leaflet

  Water Quality Standards Leaflet

  Emergencies and Complaints on Water Quality Leaflet Leaflets and publications relating to the marketing and promotion of training and employment services.

  The Northern Ireland Charter for the Child Support Agency "For Parents Who Live Apart" Leaflet

  "Talkback" Leaflet

  A Guide on Social Security benefits

  RUC Charter

  (c) Tape

  Water Quality Register Leaflet

  Water Quality Standards Leaflet

  Emergencies and Complaints on Water Quality Leaflet "Orange Badge" Scheme

  Leaflets and publications relating to the marketing and promotion of training and employment services.

  The Northern Ireland Charter for the Child Support Agency "For Parents Who Live Apart" Leaflet

  "Talkback" Leaflet

  The Northern Ireland Civil Service Code of Practice on the Employment of People with Disabilities

  RUC Charter

  "At Your Service - An A to Z Guide for Older People"

  The equal opportunities officer in the Department of Finance and Personnel is in a position to inform visually impaired staff of the availability of the NICS code of practice on the employment of people with disabilities.

  Departments work closely with the Royal National Institute for the Blind to help promote services and programmes which are available.

  Hualon Corporation
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now make it his policy to suspend, pending the outcome of an investigation by the Public Accounts Committee, the proposed grant to the Hualon Corporation in connection with the development of new textile facilities in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]I am not aware of any such plans by the Public Accounts Committee and in light of the information currently before me I can see no justification in suspending progress of the Hualon project.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Mr. Philip Layton
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the charges laid against Mr. Philip Layton of the Royal Hong Kong police at his trial; what was the outcome of the trial; how much compensation has been paid to Mr. Layton following the trial verdict; what were the surveillance duties of Mr. Layton in relation to arms traffic in Hong Kong; and whether those duties extended to the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Philip Layton was charged with soliciting an advantage from John Edward Picken, and with offering an advantage to Rodney John Starling, a chief inspector of police, in exchange for the future supply of confidential information. He was acquitted of these charges. He did not receive any compensation but,
  669
  following a court order that he be awarded his costs, he was paid HK$3,416,601.

  Mr. Layton did not have any duties in relation to arms traffic in Hong Kong.

  Radioactive Nitric Acid
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the trade or atomic energy counsellor at the British embassy in Washington has given British Nuclear Fuels plc in negotiating with the United States Energy Department for the import of radioactive nitric acid from Hanford to Sellafield.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Contractual negotiations for the proposed import of nitric acid to Sellafield are a matter for the contracting parties, British Nuclear Fuels plc and the United States Department of Energy. In keeping with the Government's normal policy and practice of supporting British companies pursuing commercial opportunities overseas, the British embassy in Washington has provided information, advice and assistance to British Nuclear Fuels plc as necessary.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking, alone and in concert with the European Union, to press for the implementation of the human rights accord signed on 29 March, and for the deployment of the United Nations verification mission mandated by the human rights accord.

  Mr. David Davis
  We and our EU partners have made clear our intention to play a full part in supporting the peace process in Guatemala. We hope that the deployment of the United Nation human rights verification mission will encourage both sides to abide by the conditions of the human rights accord and to sign an overall peace agreement.

  Armenia
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the type of nuclear reactors built for electric power production in Armenia; and when the power station is likely to be commissioned.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Armenia's only nuclear power plant is at Medzamor, 25 km south of Yerevan. The plant consists of two Soviet-built VVER 440 pressurised water eactors. Both reactors were shut down in early 1989 as precaution following the Armenian earthquake but the Armenian Government are aiming, with Russian sistance, to bring unit 2 back into service as soon as ssible, with unit 1 to follow. The Armenian vernment intend to operate Medzamor for proximately seven of its remaining 20 years' design life, and in the meantime to bring alternative generating capacity on stream.

  Hebron
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a670
  statement on the recent exclusion of the British consul from the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Ibrahimi mosque was closed to all after the massacre in February. A representative from the British consulate-general in Jerusalem was among a group of people who were unable to enter the plateau near the mosque on 25 August 1994 because of the security measures.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which nations are represented in the United Nations peacekeeping force in Rwanda; and in what numbers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As at 30 September, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda—UNAMIR—consisted of troops, police and military observers—from Australia, 313; Austria, 16; Bangladesh, 52; Canada, 388; Chad, 130; Congo, 40; Ethiopia, 804; Fiji, one; Ghana, 899; Guinea, 15; Guinea Bissau, 39; Kenya, six; Malawi, 177; Mali, 39; Niger, 43; Nigeria, 271; Poland, three; Russian Federation, 15; Senegal, 241; Slovak Republic, seven; Tunisia, 40; United Kingdom, 595; Uruguay, 27; Zambia, 111; and Zimbabwe, 26.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current British contribution to peacekeeping forces in Rwanda.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The British contingent to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda currently consists of 575 personnel all ranks. It consists of: an equipment support workshop–182; an engineer squadron–144; a field ambulance–156; a signals detachment–29; a guard platoon–44; and 20 support personnel.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Nations forces in Rwanda are now fully assembled and deployed with full logistic support.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda is fully deployed with the exception of one battalion of troops from Zambia and one battalion of troops from India. Logistic support for the mission is currently provided by a number of contingents, including the British. A contract between the United Nations and the Brown and Root company to provide logistic support has not yet been finalised.

  Former Soviet Union
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the presence of Russian forces in Moldova, Georgia and Armenia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our policy is that Russian troops should be stationed in another former Soviet Union country only with the consent of that country's Government, and in accordance with the provisions of the conventional armed forces in Europe treaty.

  We welcome the signature of an agreement between the Moldovan and Russian Governments which establishes a timetable for the withdrawal of the Russian 14th army. The Russian peacekeeping troops in Moldova, which are separate from the 14th Army, are present with the consent of the Moldovan Government.
  671
  In Georgia and Armenia, Russian troops are also present with the consent of the host Government.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the conditions for peacekeeping under the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe auspices in the Caucasus.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Arrangements to consolidate and monitor the ceasefire in Nagorno—karabakh, including the mandate of any peacekeeping force, and move on to negotiations for a peaceful settlement, are being discussed within the CSCE. We attach considerable importance to the principles on peacekeeping agreed by CSCE Foreign Ministers at their meeting in Rome in December 1993.

  Liberia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what hostage taking there has recently been of United Nations personnel in Liberia; what has been the outcome; and what representations there have been about this.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In early September, 43 United Nations military observers were detained by soldiers of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia. The President of the Security Council issued a statement on 13 September condemning the detention of the observers and demanding their release. By 20 September all had been freed.

  Iran
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iran's continued abuses of human rights, and its policy of terrorism and fundamentalism; and what steps Her Majesty's Government will take concerning Iranian activities at home and abroad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We remain deeply concerned at Iran's human rights record and at continuing reports of its support for terrorism. We are determined to maintain pressure on Iran to improve its behaviour in these areas, both bilaterally and through the European Union, the United Nations and the G7.

  Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the CSCE review conference in Budapest.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe—CSCE—Review Conference began on 10 October in Budapest and will end on 2 December. It will be followed by a CSCE summit on 5 to 6 December. It is our objective to develop the CSCE as the European instrument of choice in early warning, conflict prevention and resolution, especially of disputes affecting minorities. We are working for decisions at the summit which will promote security and stability in the CSCE area and strengthen co-operation between all participating states.

  European Union
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a672
  statement on the progress of enlarging the European Union.

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

  Iraq
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Security Council counterparts on the extent to which a further UN resolution would be required to authorise the use of force against Iraqi troops.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had close and regular consultations on Iraq with his French, American and Russian colleagues over the past fortnight. The extent to which a further UN Security Council resolution would be required to authorise the use of force against Iraqi troops would depend on the circumstances at the time.

  Romania
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Romanian authorities about child adoption procedures.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. learned Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised the question of the operation of the Anglo-Romanian adoption agreement with the Romanian authorities in Bucharest in September. The Department of Health, which administers the agreement, is concerned about delays in processing applications under the terms of the agreement. We will continue to press for the proper operation of the agreement and the speedy resolution of cases.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The FCO does not organise receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time.

  Departmental Documents
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the
  673
  Library copies of all documents, letters or accounts he has signed which are written in a language he does not understand.

  Mr. Hurd
  The only documents that fall into this category are treaties, true and exact English language texts of which are always signed at the same time.

  Copies of all treaties entered into by the United Kingdom are published as command papers in the treaty series and laid before both Houses.

  Antartic Treaty
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to be able to announce a decision on the siting of the secretariat for the Antarctic treaty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  Discussions continue among treaty consultative parties about the siting of the Antartic treaty secretariat. The position remains unchanged from that stated in the answer given by the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 27 June 1994,Official Report, column 410.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated number of people who find permanent work as a result of the training enterprise councils.

  Mr. Paice
  Information is not available about the full impact of training and enterprise councils in helping people find permanent work. However, in England and Wales, 52 per cent. of those leaving youth training and 35 per cent. of those leaving training for work between April and December 1993 were in employment six months after finishing training.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were trained by TECs in 1993–94.

  Mr. Paice
  During 1993–94, there were 566,100 starts on youth training and training for work in England and Wales. At the latest date for which information is available, July 1994, there were 357,000 people in training on these programmes.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the outturn expenditure given to each TEC in England in 1992–93 at 1993–94 prices; and what is the budget for each TEC in 1993–94 in total and broken down in the same way as given in the written answer of 18 February 1993,Official Report, column 341.

  Mr. Paice
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which TECs are using adult training credits within their training for work provision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  The following English training and enterprise councils are understood to be using a form of adult training credit within their training for work provision:

  South and East Cheshire TEC;

  674

  Hertfordshire TEC;

  Bedfordshire TEC;

  Milton Keynes TEC;

  Cambridgeshire TEC.

  Earnings
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the increase in earnings in cash and real terms for each socio-economic group since 1987.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The closest available information to that requested is for occupations, which is published in tables 8, 9 and x3 of part A of the "New Earnings Survey" for each of the years.

  The information on the retail prices index—all items—at April, to convert figures to 1994 prices, is published in table 6·4 of the Employment Gazette and in table 26 of the "Annual Supplement Economic Trends" for April of earlier years.

  National Union of Teachers
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of subscriptions paid to the NUT for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand from the certification officer, an independent statutory officer, that the level of full member subscription to the National Union of Teachers is not specified in the latest NUT rule book submitted to him with the union's annual return for the year ended 31 December 1993.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many of the NUT's members currently employed as a teacher are practising the profession;

  (2) If it is possible for members of the NUT to pay lumps sums to cover a number of years' membership.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand from the certification officer, an independent statutory officer, that this information is not available from records held by hint. Nor is any such information held by the Department.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply of 27 June,Official Report, columns 450–51, to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth, how many members of the National Union of Teachers actually paid subscriptions for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand from the certification officer, an independent statutory officer, that the number of contributing members shown on the annual returns for the National Union of Teachers submitted to him during the period in question is shown in the following table:

  Number

  1985

  225,784

  1986

  201,444

  1987

  195,126

  1988

  189,043

  1989

  183,042

  1990

  181,557

  1991

  178,112

  1992

  176,022

  1993

  182,664

  Job Clubs
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employemnt (1) what is the average duration of time that people spent participating in job clubs; and how many people are currently in job clubs; and what analysis he has made of the wage rates and conditions that apply to the jobs obtained by job club leavers; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many people have joined job clubs; how many have left; how many leavers got jobs, and how many entered another positive outcome (a) in each region and (b) in Great Britain as a whole (i) in the year to April 1994 and (ii) since April 1994.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Clare Short, dated 26 October 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about Jobclub performance and the wage rates and conditions for Jobclub leavers.
  The attached table shows for each region and nationally the number of Jobclub entrants, leavers, job entries and other positive

  Jobclub Performance Information

  N

  YH

  EME

  LSE

  SW

  OW

  WM

  NW

  OS

  National

  Entrants

  April 1993 — March 1994

  14,342

  21,567

  21,676

  79,594

  18,743

  13,616

  23,954

  32,362

  23,253

  249,107

  April 1994 — August 1994

  6,602

  9,426

  9,439

  34,214

  7,972

  4,774

  12,026

  13,413

  10,086

  107,952

  Leavers

  April 1993 — March 1994

  14,109

  20,321

  19,953

  72,159

  17,332

  13,168

  21,228

  31,957

  21,098

  231,325

  April 1994 — August 1994

  6,777

  9,498

  9,604

  34,084

  8,217

  4,650

  11,461

  14,324

  9,771

  108,386

  Job Entries

  April 1993 — March 1994

  5,728

  9,346

  9,417

  31,492

  8,323

  7,234

  10,095

  13,903

  10,090

  105,678

  April 1994 — August 1994

  2,859

  4,461

  4,104

  15,115

  3,947

  2,524

  5,347

  5,793

  4,700

  48,850

  Other Positive Outcomes

  April 1993 — March 1994

  1,515

  2,779

  2,616

  9,286

  2,404

  1,875

  3,272

  3,465

  2,780

  29,992

  April 1994 — August 1994

  640

  1,052

  1,073

  3,444

  959

  588

  1,350

  1,141

  1,167

  11,414

  Abbreviations

  N=Northern

  YH=Yorkshire and Humberside

  EME=East Midlands and Eastern

  LSE=London and South East

  SW=South West

  WA=Office for Wales

  WM=West Midlands

  NW=North West

  SC=Office for Scotland

  Publications
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for the last 12 months the titles of papers published by his Department and by the Employment Service.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Command papers issued by the Department in the last 12 months are as follows:Competitiveness 'Helping Britain to Win', Column 2563. Published May 1994, jointly with the Department of Trade and Industry and nine other Government Departments.
  "Jobseeker's Allowance", Column 2687. Published October 1994, jointly with the Department of Social Security.
  676
  outcomes for the whole of 1993–94 and from 1 April to 31 August. Those who are shown as going into other positive outcomes will have moved on to either training, full-time education or self-employment.
  The average length of time people spend in Jobclubs is not routinely recorded. However a sample study in March showed that 58 per cent. of clients leave within 12 weeks and a further 22 per cent. within 21 weeks.
  Records of the number of people in Jobclubs at any one time are not kept. However, the attached table shows that 107,952 people joined the programme in the first five months of the 1994–95 operational year, an average of 5,140 a week.
  The wage rates that apply to jobs found by Jobclub members were last examined in January 1991, based on a postal survey of individuals who joined in Autumn 1989. At that time, 26 per cent. of respondents went into jobs with a wage of up to £80 per week and a further 60 per cent. went into jobs which paid £81 to £160 per week and 15 per cent. received over £160 per week.
  The Employment Service is undertaking a wide ranging evaluation of four of its placing services including Jobclub. This began in the spring and will examine, amongst other things, the wage rates of leavers going into employment. The report should be available next year.
  Jobclubs continue to be both popular with the people who join and an effective way of helping them back to work. We are now able to help more members than at any time before and 45 per cent. of leavers are successful in finding jobs.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Training Leavers
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many respondents to the training for work leavers survey and the youth training leavers survey were early leavers, showing the reasons for early leaving, by total and by percentage of all leavers in the survey, by total and by percentage of all leavers in the survey, for the year 1993–94, or the most recent available period, and for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, shown separately for male, female and in total;

  (2) what number and percentage of those leaving (a) training for work and (b) youth training for 1993–94 for each region and for Great Britain as a whole were, six

  677
  months after leaving, (a) in a full-time job with their work experience employer, (b) in a full-time job with another employer, (c) employed in their own business, (d) in a part-time job, (e) in voluntary work,(f) on another Government training programme, (g) on a full-time education or training course, (h) unemployed and claiming benefit, (i) unemployed and not claiming benefit, (j) in a job club and (k) doing something else;

  (3) for each region and for Great Britain as a whole how many people were participating in (a) training for work—employment training/employment action, (b) community action, (c) learning for work, (d) workstart pilots, (e) north Norfolk action, (f) the business start-up allowance and (g) youth training in each month since March 1994, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  As the information is contained in a number of tables, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Restart Courses
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people have been referred to restart courses by employment service counsellors since April 1994 for each region and for Great Britain as a whole; how many of them were unemployed for over two years; how many attended and completed the course; what were the outcomes of the participants; how many had benefit penalties imposed for not attending or

  All Restart Course Attenders April 1994—September 1994

  Northern

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  East Midlands and Eastern

  London and South East

  South west

  Wales

  West Midlands

  North West

  Scotland

  Total

  1. Referrals to Restart Courses1

  6,936

  12,581

  11,539

  40,210

  8,651

  7,662

  13,263

  19,381

  11,450

  131,673

  2. Total Starters

  4,217

  6,847

  6,064

  21,236

  4,979

  3,330

  7,684

  10,109

  5,785

  70,251

  3. Starters Unemployed 24 months or more

  3,768

  5,896

  5,424

  17,646

  4,399

  2,896

  6,826

  8,786

  5,237

  60,878

  4. Total completers

  3,759

  5,812

  5,333

  19,536

  4,370

  2,868

  6,496

  8,667

  4,978

  61,819

  Completers who agreed to follow up:

  Jobs

  1,384

  2,475

  2,534

  8,831

  2,074

  1,140

  2,483

  3,443

  3,065

  27,429

  Training for Work

  579

  1,235

  1,075

  3,566

  1,119

  583

  1,693

  1,862

  944

  12,656

  Jobclub

  240

  491

  692

  3,028

  566

  406

  1,095

  938

  803

  8,259

  Other employment, training and related opportunities

  2,207

  2,995

  2,953

  11,648

  2,479

  1,725

  3,279

  4,583

  2,339

  34,208

  5. Total number of people with an outcome to follow up2

  3,374

  5,491

  5,090

  17,619

  4,233

  2,767

  6,112

  8,041

  4,492

  57,219

  6. Number of decisions received from the Benefits Agency3

  830

  1,709

  1,322

  3,665

  685

  847

  1,050

  2,916

  1,960

  14,984

  1This figure includes people who fail to attend the course(s) they are booked for who are subsequently rebooked on other events.

  2Some people will be referred to more than one option at the end of the course

  3This figure includes decisions where no reductions have been made (approximately 12 per cent. of decisions). Nationally around 88 per cent. of decisions lead to either a 20 per cent. or 40 per cent. reduction in personal Income Support for a period not exceeding the length of the course.

  Course Referrals
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people have been referred to(a) jobplan workshops and (b) workwise and worklink by Employment Service counsellors for each region and Great Britain as a whole since April 1994; how
  678
  failing to complete their attendance at the restart course; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from M.E.G. Fogden to Ms Clare Short, dared 26 October 1994.
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Restart Courses. I have set out the information you have requested in the attached table.
  It may help if I explain that in April, a new two week Restart Course programme was launched. This new course combines part time attendance with an external training provider and individual jobsearch activities in the afternoon.
  The course, which builds on the success of the shorter one week Restart Course, is designed to boost confidence and job search activity and there is an emphasis on making real applications for jobs and opportunities. A log of applications is kept and used a:3 a basis for review by Employment Service advisers after the course.
  Attending a course is not an alternative to regular job search or other employment or training programmes. Essentially it provides people with the opportunity to explore all the options open to them and give them confidence to take the next step back to work.
  People who have been unemployed for two years or more who refuse or fail to take up a place on an Employment Department employment or training programme at their Restart interview, are asked to attend a Restart Course. Those who fail to attend may, under Income Support regulations lose a proportion of their personal Income Support for a period not exceeding the length of the course.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  many of them were unemployed for over one year; how many attended and completed the workshop or courses.; what were the outcomes of the participants; how many had benefit penalties imposed for not attending or failing to complete their attendance at the Jobplan workshop or

  679
  Workwise/Worklink courses; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from M.E.G. Fogden to Ms Clare Short, dated 26 October 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Jobplan Workshops and Workwise1. I have set out the information you have requested in the attached tables.
  Jobplan Workshops aim to help people who have been unemployed for a year or more to compete successfully for jobs and opportunities. They will be asked to attend a workshop unless they

  Job plan Attenders April 1994—September 1994

  Table 1

  Nothern

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  East Midlands and Eastern

  London and South East

  South West

  Wales

  West Midlands

  North West

  Scotland

  Total

  1. Referrals to Jobplan1

  15,578

  22,747

  22,890

  91,055

  17,095

  12,164

  23,327

  35,790

  25,949

  266,595

  2. Total starters

  8,720

  11,428

  11,621

  43,224

  9,552

  5,770

  11,991

  16,999

  12,676

  131,981

  3. Total completers

  8,188

  10,514

  10,689

  39,884

  8,793

  5,294

  10,968

  15,715

  11,559

  121,604

  Completers who agreed to follow up:

  Jobs

  2,750

  3,308

  4,079

  14,925

  3,312

  2,002

  3,477

  5,500

  3,463

  42,816

  Training for work

  2,437

  3,155

  2,576

  9,914

  2,766

  1,260

  3,467

  4,286

  3,645

  33,506

  Jobclub

  887

  1,400

  1,433

  7,046

  1,490

  972

  2,432

  1,700

  1,680

  19,040

  Other employment, training and related opportunities

  4,398

  5,346

  5,597

  23,222

  4,182

  2,527

  5,673

  8,680

  6,621

  66,246

  4. Total number of people with an outcome to follow up2

  7,665

  9,937

  10,057

  39,309

  8,263

  5,006

  10,523

  14,745

  10,681

  116,186

  5. Number of decisions received from the Benefits Agency3

  1,675

  2,649

  2,483

  9,602

  1,342

  1,116

  1,856

  4,929

  4,071

  29,723

  1This figure includes people who fail to attend the workshop they are booked for and are subsequently rebooked on another event. All people referred to Jobplan have been unemployed over 1 year except a small number (not obtainable) who have been unemployed for a shorter period. These people either ask to attend earlier or are from areas affected by colliery closures where special dispensation exists.

  2 Some people will be referred to more than one option at the end of the workshop.

  3This figure includes decisions where no reductions have been made (approximately 12 per cent. of decisions). Nationally around 88 per cent. of decisions lead to either a 20 per cent. or 40 per cent. reduction in personal Income Support for a period not exceeding the length of the workshop.

  Workwise Attenders April 1994—september 1994

  Table 2

  Northern

  East Midlands and Eastern

  London and south East

  South West

  Scotland

  Total

  1. Referrals to Workwise1

  424

  1,836

  1,617

  1,599

  2,183

  7,659

  2. Starters

  218

  734

  700

  805

  951

  3,408

  3. Total completers

  156

  518

  505

  591

  682

  2,452

  Completers who agreed to follow up:

  Jobs

  91

  365

  294

  351

  255

  1,356

  Training for Work

  44

  198

  150

  225

  209

  826

  Jobclub

  5

  44

  55

  80

  46

  230

  Other employment, training and related opportunities

  72

  195

  289

  235

  262

  1,053

  680
  prefer to take up a place on another Employment Department programme.
  In November 1993, as part of his Budget statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced two pilot initiatives to help people aged 18 to 24 who have been unemployed for a year. One of these is a four week advice, guidance and job search course called Workwise. The pilot, which provides 10,000 places and has run since April in five Employment Service regions, replaces Jobplan Workshops for people in this age group. The course has been designed to give people the knowledge, skills and motivation to decide and carry through an action plan by setting themselves realistic job goals and a route to achieve them. During the course people learn practical job search skills such as producing an up-to-date CV and where to look for job leads. They also receive individual guidance from the course leader about the other training and employment opportunities available to them. Although formal attendance on the course is part-time, participants are encouraged to put what they have learned into practice during the remaining part of the day; this includes making job applications.
  Individuals who fail to attend these programmes may, under Income Support regulations lose a proportion of their personal benefit for a period not exceeding the length of the course.
  I hope that this is helpful.
  681

  Workwise Attenders April 1994—september 1994

  Table 2

  Northern

  East Midlands and Eastern

  London and South East

  South West

  Scotland

  Total

  4. Total number of people with an outcome to follow up2

  122

  550

  535

  588

  556

  2,351

  5. Number of decisions received from the Benefits Agency3

  85

  258

  225

  140

  538

  1,246

  1This figure includes people who fail to attend the workshop they are booked for and are subsequently rebooked on another event. All people referred to Workwise have been unemployed over 1 year.

  2Some people will be referred to more tan one option at the end of the workshop.

  3This figure includes decisions where no reductions have been made (approximately 10 per cent. of decisions). Nationally around 90 per cent. of decisions lead to a 20 per cent. or 40 per cent. reduction in personal Income Support for a period not exceeding the length of the workshop.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what reports have been received by the International Labour Organisation with respect to Indonesia's conformity with the ILO convention of 1956 ensuring the right to associate in free trade unions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government of Indonesia ratified ILO convention No. 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining in 1957. Since then they have frequently reported as requested by the ILO on its application of the convention. Indonesia's most recent report was submitted to the ILO in 1993.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department of Employment does not organise receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time.

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

  Miss Widdecombe
  In the past year, there have been two occasions where a spouse has accompanied a departmental Minister on an official overseas visit. Of those, only one visit involved a cost to public funds amounting to £862·95. That occasion was an informal EC social affairs meeting held in Athens on 10 March 1994 and to which the spouses of all EC Ministers attending had been officially invited by the Greek Government.

HEALTH

  Surgery
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of cold surgical interventions were carried out(a) in private hospitals or clinics by private practitioners, (b) in national health service hospitals by private practitioners and (c) in NHS hospitals by NHS
  682
  practitioners in each regional health authority in 1979–80 and in each year since then.

  Mr. Sackville
  Central returns do not include numbers of operations carried out in private hospitals and clinics. Estimates of the number of elective private operations carried out in national health service hospitals in England for the years 1989–90 to 1991–92 are set out in the table. Comparative information for previous years is not available. Figures for private elective operations by regional health authority are not available.

  Information about numbers of all NHS operations by regional health authority is published annually in the "Hospital Episode Statistics", volumes 1 and 2, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Elective Operations: England

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Private Elective Operations1

  50,062

  49,291

  61,819

  All NHS Elective Operations

  2,402,348

  2,417,252

  2,626,039

  Per cent. Private

  2·1

  2·0

  2·4

  1In NHS Hospitals

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics—based on 25 per cent. sample.

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give figures based on current performance for the number of health service staff she expects will see earnings(a) fall and (b) rise as a result of the introduction of relating pay to performance.

  Mr. Malone
  The proposals made to staff sides and the professions that represent groups covered by national health service review bodies and included in pay offers to staff sides of non-review body groups would strengthen the links between rewards and performance of the local organisations. Such schemes would be locally determined and depend on the achievement of local objectives for the delivery of high-quality services.

  Maternity Services
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made for piloting the draft pregnancy-based clinical data set for maternity with the professions concerned; when the findings of the pilot tests will be available; and if she will place a copy of the draft minimum data set in the Library.
  683
  Mr. Sackville
  Initial draft proposals for a contract minimum data set covering community, maternity and mental health services were produced in October 1993. Priority was given to the further development and piloting of the community component of this data set.

  The results are about to be issued for consultation, and work has resumed on the maternity contract minimum data set. Copies of the consultation document will be placed in the Library when it is available. Arrangements for piloting will follow once the clinical profession have agreed the content of the data set.

  St Bartholomew's Hospital
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the use of charitable funds by St Bartholomew's hospital on services normally funded by the Exchequer.

  Mr. Malone
  Use of charitable funds is a matter for the special trustees who are required to apply the funds in accordance with donors' wishes.

  Junior Doctors
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the planned reduction in the hours of junior doctors will be reached by end of 1994;

  (2) what further plans he has to ensure that the target of 72 hours maximum working week for junior doctors is reached by 1 January 1995.

  Mr. Malone
  It is hoped that reduction targets will be met. I expect reports from regional task forces for the six months to 30 September 1994 to show further good progress in reducing junior doctors' hours.

  I will consider whether any further action is necessary in consultation with my ministerial group on junior doctors' hours which includes representatives of the junior doctors, consultants, the medical royal colleges and national health service management.

  General Practitioners (Gifts)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is sent to general practitioners regarding the value of gifts received from drug companies.

  Mr. Malone
  The General Medical Council is responsible for guidance to general practitioners on gifts received from drug companies.

  Female Deaths
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been(a) the number and (b) the percentage of all female deaths from (i) coronary heart disease, (ii) stroke, (iii) breast cancer, (iv) cervical cancer, (v) lung cancer, (vi) malignant melanoma, (vii) other skin cancers, (viii) accidents and (ix) suicide in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information will be placed in the Library.

  London Ambulance Service
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the extent of her responsibility for the London ambulance service.
  684
  Mr. Sackville
  The South Thames regional health authority is managerially responsible for the London ambulance service. South Thames RHA is accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the full range of its responsibilities, including the management of the London ambulance service.

  Mentally Disordered Offenders
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total cost to the NHS of treating mentally disordered offenders; and how many such offenders have been treated(a) nationally and (b) by each health authority in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on the cost and volume of services provided for mentally disordered offenders is not collected separately.

  Trust Hospital Cars
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has given on the maximum amount to be spent on purchasing and leasing cars for individual senior managers of trust hospitals.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. National health service trusts have the freedom to employ staff on such terms and conditions as they think fit.

  Endometriosis
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of endometriosis in each of the last 10 years by region and nationally.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no precise statistics on the prevalence of endometriosis. Gynaecologists have reported the condition at laparoscopy in between 2 and 18 per cent. of women, many of whom had no symptoms.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her plans for legislation to abolish regional health authorities.

  Mr. Malone
  The Government's intention to abolish regional health authorities was announced on 21 October 1993. Legislation to implement the changes will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

  Local Authority Contracts
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many voluntary sector organisations have contracts with local authorities to provide services; and what is the value of those contracts;

  (2) how many private sector organisations have contracts with local authorities to provide services; and what is the value of those contracts.

  Mr. Bowis
  Such contractual matters are for local negotiation and decision.

  Residential and Nursing Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people receiving public funding towards residential or nursing care also had to contribute towards the cost for each of the last 10 years.
  685
  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by authority the number of private and voluntary residential care and nursing homes that have closed since implementation of the Registered Homes Act 1984; and how many residents have been affected.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information could be provided on nursing homes only at disproportionate cost and is not available on residential care homes.

  Learning Disability Hospitals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of admissions to learning disability hospitals by health authority for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information requested is published in "Ordinary and Day Case Admissions for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Special Transitional Grant
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which authorities failed to spend 85 per cent. of the special transitional grant in the independent sector during the year 1993–94.

  Mr. Bowis
  Audited returns detailing community care spending in the independent sector by health authorities in 1993–94 must be submitted to the Department by 31 December 1994.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the proportion of the total special transitional grant spent by each authority on domiciliary care during the year 1993–94;

  (2) if he will list by authority the proportion of the total special transitional grant spent in the voluntary sector during the year 1993–94.

  Mr. Bowis
  This is a matter for local authorities and information on it is not available centrally.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average private sight test fee currently charged by opticians.

  Mr. Malone
  Information about the charges made for private sight tests is not collected by the Department.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department does not organise such receptions.

  Prozac
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the accuracy of information given to general practitioners in connection with the prescription of the drug Prozac; and if she will make a statement.
  686
  Mr. Sackville
  Prozac is an effective and very widely prescribed anti-depressant. The data sheet for Prozac which contains prescribing information and side-effects, is produced by the manufacturer and is authorised by the licensing authority. It is included in the data sheet compendium which is sent to all doctors. The accuracy of the data sheet is kept under review by the Medicines Control Agency, and where necessary changes are made to reflect evolving knowledge of its use, effectiveness and safety.

  In addition, all general practitioners regularly receive free information on drugs available in the United Kingdom through the "British National Formulary, Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin", "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" and the medicines resource centre. Professional advice is also available from the medical advisers support centre. Copies of the documents are available in the Library.

  Foster Carers
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the number of and (b) the percentage of local authority foster carers who receive a fee for fostering in addition to the basic boarding-out allowance, based on the latest available information.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information requested is not available centrally. However, I understand from the National Foster Care Association that the percentage is very small.

  Food Poisoning
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of food poisoning notifications to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys(a) for each year since 1982 and (b) in 1994 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Food poisoning notifications: England and Wales, 1982–1994

  Number

  1982

  14,253

  1983

  17,735

  1984

  20,702

  1985

  19,242

  1986

  23,948

  1987

  29,331

  1988

  39,713

  1989

  52,557

  1990

  52,145

  1991

  52,543

  1992

  63,347

  19931

  69,955

  19941

  264,959

  1Provisional figures.

  2Notifications to 7 October.

  There is no single explanation for the rising trend in food poisoning. A contributory factor may be a reduction in under-reporting. On 22 October 1993, my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health announced the start of a major study of infectious intestinal diseases in England. The purpose of the study is to establish the incidence, sources, causes and socio-economic costs of infectious intestinal disease. This is the most comprehensive study of its type ever attempted. It will involve more than 70 general practices and more than 20,000 volunteers. The study will be completed in mid-1995.
  687
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest figures available for this year of the total number of laboratory reports of salmonella in foodstuffs to the Public Health Laboratory Service in England and Wales.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Public Health Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens has confirmed that to the end of September, 1,152 food isolates submitted were found positive for salmonella.

  General Practitioners Fundholders
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made as to whether fundholding general practitioners are able to prescribe drugs on the basis of patient benefit rather than cost; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  Fundholding empowers general practitioners to ensure the most appropriate care for their patients whether by prescribing medicines, referring to specialist services or other treatments.

  Thameside NHS Trust (Learning Disabilities Services)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will set up a further committee of inquiry into the disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust to cover the period before 1991; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) if she will place in the Library the report of the Mental Health Act Commission in respect of client A, referred to in appendix I, paragraph 4, of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust;

  (3) where Mr. H, referred to in the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust, is now working;

  (4) what action has been taken in respect of the recommendation set out at paragraph 17, appendix IV of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past" relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust;

  (5) what disciplinary action, warnings or counselling have been initiated in respect of senior managers or consultants referred to in the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust;

  (6) what action she proposes in respect of the findings of the alleged assault against client B, referred to in appendix II of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust; and what measures have been taken by the relevant health authorities since the publications of the report to remedy the "failure to investigate" detailed at paragraph 16 of appendix II;

  (7) if she will initiate a further investigation into the complaints detailed in appendix V of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust in respect of client E;

  (8) if the police were informed of details of all earlier complaints in relation to the care of client C, detailed in
  688
  appendix III of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust, when they investigated the circumstances surrounding the death of client C, which occurred some time between 22 March and 26 August 1991;

  (9) if relatives or representatives of patients and clients were allowed to attend all hearings of the inquiry of Mr. Norman Warner, the findings of which are contained in the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trusts;

  (10) if all managers, consultants or other practitioners referred to in the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust who continue to be employed by Thameside trust or other successors to the former Basildon and Thurrock health authority have been fully exonerated by the findings of the inquiry;

  (11) if Mr. H, referred to in the inquiry report "Learning from the Past" relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust, has had his professional conduct examined by his professional body; and if she will make a statement;

  (12) if the only disciplinary action taken in respect of matters examined by and referred to in the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust, were those detailed in paragraphs 6 and 7 of appendix V;

  (13) if she will further investigate the detailed findings of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust, in respect of client D contained in appendix IV of the report; and if she will set up a seperate inquiry into the finding that he was not recognised as being a patient requiring nursing as a terminally ill patient;

  (14) what action has been taken to remedy the anxiety set out in paragraphs 2·10 and 2·11 of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust;

  (15) what action she proposes in respect of the findings of the assault against client A, referred to in appendix I, paragraphs 11 and 12, of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust, as detailed;

  (16) what prosecution or disciplinary action has been taken against Mr. H, referred to in the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust;

  (17) on what grounds Mr. H, referred to in appendix III of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust, was allowed to resign when confronted with charges of professional misconduct; and what further action the health authority took to ensure that he was not re-employed by another health or local authority in a caring capacity;

  (18) if she will initiate a further investigation into the complaints detailed in appendix VI of the inquiry report "Learning from the Past", relating to aspects of learning disabilities services managed by Thameside NHS trust, in respect of client F.
  689
  Mr. Bowis
  We have been sent a copy of the independent inquiry report and I understand that the local agencies are acting on its 18 recommendations.

  The inquiry was commissioned by South Essex health authority in conjunction with Thameside Community Healthcare national health service trust. The hon. Member should approach those organisations for answers to detailed questions about the conduct of the inquiry and its findings. In particular, it is the health authority's role to ensure that local residents have access to services of the highest quality.

  Royal Northern Hospital
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans exist for the future of the Royal Northern Hospital, Holloway road, London N19 to be retained for health use; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  The future of the Royal Northern hospital is a matter for Camden and Islington health authority.

  Accident and Emergency Services
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the closure of accident and emergency departments at the North Middlesex hospital, Royal Free hospital and the Whittington hospital; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The provision of accident and emergency services is the responsibility of local health authorities, and is determined in the light of local needs, priorities and resources. The hon. Member may wish to contact New River health authority for details of any plans concerning the North Middlesex hospital; and Camden and Islington health authority for details regarding the Royal Free and Whittington hospitals.

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

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Car or Van

  51 per cent.

  53 per cent.

  45 per cent.

  45 per cent.

  Television

  97 per cent.

  97 per cent.

  98 per cent.

  98 per cent.

  Telephone

  74 per cent.

  73 per cent.

  73 per cent.

  72 per cent.

  Video

  60 per cent.

  65 per cent.

  56 per cent.

  57 per cent.

  Notes:

  1. The source data for televisions (Family Expenditure Survey 1992) does not distinguish between black and white/colour sets.

  2. Information for other items is taken from Households Below Average Income 1979–1991/92, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Correspondence
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report, correspondence to the hon. Member for Bristol, East from the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People about households below average income, dated 12 August and 31 August.
  690
  many occasions such travel has been undertaken at own cost.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she next plans to visit Ilford.

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no current plans to do so.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to ensure that company pensioners are represented on the board of trustees of pension funds.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We propose that occupational pension scheme members should have the right to nominate at least one third of their scheme's trustees. It is for members to decide whether they wish to select a pensioner trustee. That is in line with the recommendation of the Pension Law Review Committee. We are still considering the best way to implement our proposals on the selection and appointment of member-nominated trustees in the light of the replies to our consultation document.

  Poor Families
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the worst-off 10 per cent. of families have(a) motor cars, (b) colour television sets, (c) telephones and (d) videos.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is in the table. The households below average income report suggests that the bottom 10 per cent. of the income distribution may not represent the "worst off' 10 per cent. For this reason information is also provided for the bottom 20 per cent.

  Mr. Burt
  The correspondence in relation to the seven questions asked by the hon. Lady is as follows:

  Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People dated 12 August 1994:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking what was the average equivalent income at April 1994 prices for (a) the poorest 10 per cent. and (b) the poorest 20 per cent. from the latest

  691
  households below average income analysis, before and after housing costs in 1979, 1981, 1987, 1988 to 1989, 1990–91 and 1991–92 for (i) a pensioner couple, (ii) a single pensioner, (iii) a couple with children, (iv) a couple without children, (v) a single adult with children and (vi) a single adult without children.
  Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.
  Information for the bottom 20 per cent. is in the tables, which follows table A5 in the latest Households Below Average Income

  Median equivalised household income in £ per week in April 1994 prices for the bottom 20 per cent. of each of the household family types

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Before housing costs

  Pensioner couple

  91

  95

  103

  103

  101

  107

  Single pensioner

  91

  96

  99

  96

  98

  101

  Couple with children

  105

  94

  101

  104

  99

  100

  Couple without children

  131

  132

  123

  134

  141

  133

  Single with children

  89

  92

  97

  97

  97

  99

  Single without children

  114

  111

  112

  111

  106

  103

  After housing costs

  Pensioner couple

  76

  81

  88

  88

  88

  90

  Single Pensioner

  83

  86

  88

  85

  90

  92

  Couple with children

  88

  77

  79

  82

  76

  76

  Couple without children

  112

  111

  98

  110

  115

  105

  Single with children

  72

  76

  79

  74

  75

  76

  Single without children

  98

  91

  86

  83

  80

  75

  Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People, dated 12 August 1994:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking what would have been the effect on the numbers of children in households living on incomes (a) below the 1979 bottom decile median and (b) below 50 per cent. of 1979 average income, by 1991–92, using the methodology of the latest households below average income report, if child benefit had (i) remained at its 1979 level in real terms and (ii) had been increased relative to household income.
  Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.
  I regret that information is not available. Child benefit interacts with other components of household income, such as income-related benefits, and reliable assumptions cannot be made about the net effect on income of hypothetical scenarios. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.

  Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People, dated 12 August 1994:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking for an assessment of the effect of a rise in the survey response rate on the latest edition of Households Below Average Income (HBAI). You also asked for details of any research into the relationship between income and the response to Government surveys on household expenditure and income.
  Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.
  The Family Expenditure Survey (FES) response rate has remained relatively stable over the period covered by HBAI, reaching 72 per cent. in 1992. Any rise or fall in the survey response rate is compensated for by the use of grossing factors, which ensure that household population totals in HBAI continue to reflect the whole

  Numbers of children grossed to 1991–92 levels below fixed income thresholds (000s)

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  1990–91

  1991–92

  (a) Below 1979 Bottom Decile Median

  BHC

  750

  1,110

  590

  730

  900

  770

  AHC

  790

  1,170

  890

  950

  1,210

  1,060

  692
  report. Reliable information on the bottom 10 per cent. of the groups specified is not available.
  All estimates are subject to sampling error which may affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a point in time. Table A4 of HBAI contains an assessment of the extent of this source of uncertainty and should be used for comparisons between 1979 and the latest year. Results for singles and couples will be affected by a discontinuity from 1990 related to cohabiting; please see Appendix 10 in HBAI 1979–1990/91 for details. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
  population of the United Kingdom. Appendix 3 of the latest HBAI report gives further information. We have no reliable information on the income characteristics of survey non-participants to enable the effect of a rise in survey participation to be addressed.
  I understand that a study is being made of the FES sample from January to June 1991 as compared with the 1991 Population Census. However, the Census contains no income information, and the study will not cover this area. The main results of this study are expected to be published in 1995. My Department is aware of extensive research literature on non-response bias and takes this into account in the preparation of HBAI. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.

  Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People, dated 12 August 1994:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking how many children were in households living on incomes (a) below the 1979 bottom decile and (b) below 50 per cent. of 1979 average income, in 1979, 1981, 1987, 1988–89, 1990–91 and 1991–92, following tables 11.1 and 11.5 of the latest households below average income report; and what was the household income in current prices of these two cut off points for each of the years in question.
  Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.
  The information is in the tables.
  Your request for numbers below the 1979 bottom decile has been interpreted as a request for numbers below the 1979 bottom decile median. Household income in current prices for each year in question has been taken to mean current prices in each year rather than today's prices. The real (1994) values of the thresholds specified have been included in the tables but these values will be the same for any of the years shown. This is because the thresholds relate to the income distribution in 1979 rather than to conditions in each year. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
  693

  Numbers of children grossed to 1991–92 levels below fixed income thresholds (000s)

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  1990–91

  1991–92

  (b) Below 50 per cent. of 1979 Average Income

  BHC

  1,130

  1,640

  1,020

  1,070

  1,250

  1,160

  AHC

  1,310

  2,090

  1,680

  1,590

  1,900

  1,850

  Values of thresholds in each year (January prices except where stated)

  1979

  1981

  1987

  1988–89

  1990–91

  1991–92

  April 1994

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  (a) 1979 Bottom Decile Median

  BHC

  32

  43

  61

  67

  78

  83

  88

  AHC

  29

  38

  52

  57

  64

  69

  74

  (b) 50 per cent. 1979 Average Income

  BHC

  35

  47

  67

  74

  86

  91

  97

  AHC

  33

  43

  59

  64

  73

  78

  84

  1. Source: 1979, 1981, 1987 to 1992 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  2. All estimates are subject to sampling error.

  3. Income values denote equivalised household incomes.

  4. Income for combined years is deflated to January of the later year.

  5. Total numbers of children are grossed to 1991–92 levels.

  Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People dated 31 August 1994:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking what was the change in real incomes by decile group, 1979 to 1991–92, including the self-employed, before and after housing costs, following table A1 and appendix 10 of the latest households below average income report; and what was the equivalised and unequivalised income per household in each decile group, for households with children. Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. Reliable estimates of changes in equivalised real incomes are not

  Percentage change in real incomes of quintile medians and the mean of families with children for the period 1979–1991/92 (Percentage change)

  Quintile 1

  Quintile 2

  Quintile 3

  Quintile 4

  Quintile 5

  Mean

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  20-40 per cent.

  40-60 per cent.

  60-80 per cent.

  Top 20 per cent.

  Before Housing Costs

  (–2)

  (7)

  22

  33

  51

  32

  After Housing Costs

  (–12

  (1)

  20

  32

  49

  29

  Estimates in brackets () are particularly uncertain; see Appendix 5 of Households Below Average Income for details of the tests applied to estimates of changes in real incomes.

  Equivalised income of families with children; quintile medians and the mean for 1979 and 1991–92, in April 1994 prices.

  Quintile 1

  Quintile 2

  Quintile 3

  Quintile 4

  Quintile 5

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  20-40 per cent.

  40-60 per cent.

  60-80 per cent.

  Top 20 per cent.

  Mean

  Before Housing Costs

  1979

  103

  138

  165

  198

  261

  180

  1991–92

  100

  148

  202

  263

  394

  238

  After Housing Costs

  1979

  86

  117

  141

  172

  227

  155

  1991–92

  76

  118

  169

  226

  339

  200

  All estimates are subject to sampling error.
  694
  available for decile groups (and so is provided in the attached tables in quintile groups). In addition, it is not possible to give unequivalised incomes for all households with children as these depend on the number and ages of children in these households. The attached tables therefore contain equivalent money values of special examples of families with children. It is important to bear in mind that the results do not track what happens to a particular set of individuals over time and are as likely to be influenced by changes in the mix of groups as changes in income levels within each group. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
  695

  Equivalent Money Values for Quintile Medians and the Overall mean for Different Examples of Family Types with Children Income Before Housing Costs (Equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group Medians

  Quintile 1

  Quintile 2

  Quintile 3

  Quintile 4

  Quintile 5

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  20-40 per cent.

  40-60 per cent.

  60-80 per cent.

  Top 20 per cent.

  Total population (mean)

  1979

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  145

  195

  233

  279

  368

  254

  Couple with child 3, 16 and 17

  202

  272

  325

  390

  515

  355

  Single with child aged 3

  81

  109

  130

  157

  206

  142

  1991–92

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  141

  209

  285

  370

  556

  335

  Couple with child aged 3, 16 and 17

  197

  292

  398

  517

  777

  468

  Single with child aged 3

  79

  117

  160

  208

  311

  188

  All estimates are subject to sampling error.

  Equivalent money values for quintile medians and the overall mean for different examples of family types with children Income after housing costs (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group Medians

  Quintile 1

  Quintile 2

  Quintile 3

  Quintile 4

  Quintile 5

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  20-40 per cent.

  40-60 per cent.

  60-80 per cent.

  Top 20 per cent.

  Total population (mean)

  1979

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  122

  165

  199

  242

  321

  218

  Couple with child aged 3, 16 and 17

  175

  236

  285

  347

  459

  313

  Single with child aged 3

  63

  85

  103

  125

  166

  113

  1991–92

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  107

  166

  238

  319

  478

  282

  Couple with child aged 3, 16 and 17

  153

  238

  341

  458

  685

  405

  Single with child aged 3

  55

  86

  123

  165

  248

  146

  All estimates are subject to sampling error.

  Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People dated 31 August 1994:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking for the mean disposable income of each of the family types, as listed in the latest households below average income report, of the lowest decile group, second lowest decile group, and highest decile group in (a) current and (b) April 1994 prices, as ranked according to this Department's convention of equivalised income in 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92. Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.
  The available estimates are provided in the tables.
  It is important to bear in mind that the results provided cannot be interpreted as indicating that the incomes of these groups have gone up or down over the period. Any income changes will reflect shifts of the number of people in each family type group from one decile group to another. For example, if a family type's income remains unchanged but there was a shift of that particular family type from the bottom decile into the second decile, the median income of the particular family type in the bottom decile in these tables would show a fall. Conversely, if that family type's income again remains the same, but there was a shift of that family type from the second decile into the bottom decile, the median income of that particular family type in the bottom decile in these tables would show a rise. But in both these examples the real incomes amongst that family type did not change. A copy of this letter will be place in the Library.

  Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest deciles and the top decile for each family type, 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 in actual prices1 and in April 1994 prices

  Pensioner Couple (Equivalised £ per week)

  1979

  1988–89

  1991–92

  Actual prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  34

  73

  88

  696

  Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest deciles and the top decile for each family type, 1979,1988–89 and 1991–92 in actual prices1 and in April 1994 prices

  Pensioner Couple (Equivalised £ per week)

  1979

  1988–89

  1991–92

  AHC

  30

  61

  72

  Second

  BHC

  40

  89

  112

  AHC

  36

  71

  86

  Top

  BHC

  128

  416

  544

  AHC

  123

  372

  471

  April 1994 prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  92

  95

  93

  AHC

  78

  79

  77

  Second

  BHC

  108

  116

  119

  AHC

  93

  93

  93

  Top

  BHC

  351

  543

  578

  AHC

  314

  485

  506

  1Actual prices for 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 refer to January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.

  2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a point in time and over time. More information about sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest edition of 'Households Below Average Income', a copy of which is in the library.

  3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below Average Income.

  697

  Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest deciles and the top decile for each family type, 1979,1988–89 and 1991–92 in actual prices1 and in April 1994 prices

  Single Pensioner (Equivalised £ per week)

  1979

  1988–89

  1991–92

  Actual prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  33

  71

  89

  AHC

  31

  54

  61

  Second

  BHC

  40

  90

  111

  AHC

  37

  76

  91

  Top

  BHC

  128

  407

  537

  AHC

  131

  356

  485

  April 1994 prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  91

  93

  95

  AHC

  79

  70

  66

  Second

  BHC

  110

  118

  118

  AHC

  93

  99

  98

  Top

  BHC

  351

  531

  570

  AHC

  333

  465

  521

  1Actual prices for 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 refer to January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.

  2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a point in time and over time. More information about sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest edition of 'Households Below Average Income', a copy of which is in the library.

  3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below Average Income.

  Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest deciles and the top decile for each family type, 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 in actual prices1 and in April 1994 prices

  Couple with children (Equivalised £ per week)

  1979

  1988–89

  1991–92

  Actual prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  31

  67

  81

  AHC

  28

  53

  57

  Second

  BHC

  41

  88

  109

  AHC

  37

  73

  87

  Top

  BHC

  141

  397

  530

  AHC

  135

  359

  489

  April 1994 prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  85

  87

  86

  AHC

  71

  69

  62

  Second

  BHC

  111

  115

  116

  AHC

  95

  95

  93

  Top

  BHC

  385

  518

  563

  AHC

  344

  469

  526

  1Actual prices for 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 refer to January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.

  2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a point in time and over time. More information about sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest edition of 'Households Below Average Income', a copy of which is in the library.

  3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below Average Income.

  698

  Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest deciles and the top decile for each family type 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 in actual prices1 and in April 1994 prices

  Couple without children (Equivalised £ per week)

  1979

  1988–89

  1991–92

  Actual prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  31

  63

  70

  AHC

  28

  48

  47

  Second

  BHC

  41

  88

  112

  AHC

  37

  71

  85

  Top

  BHC

  127

  393

  532

  AHC

  121

  349

  475

  April 1994 prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  84

  83

  75

  AHC

  70

  62

  51

  Second

  BHC

  111

  115

  118

  AHC

  95

  92

  92

  Top

  BHC

  347

  513

  565

  AHC

  309

  456

  511

  1Actual prices for 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 refer to January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.

  2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a point in time and over time. More information about sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest edition of 'Households Below Average Income', a copy of which is in the library.

  3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below Average Income.

  Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest deciles and the top decile for each family type, 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 in actual prices1 and in April 1994 prices

  Single with children (Equivalised £ per week)

  1979

  1988–89

  1991–92

  Actual prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  32

  74

  90

  AHC

  29

  56

  68

  Second

  BHC

  41

  89

  109

  AHC

  37

  73

  87

  Top

  BHC

  132

  390

  534

  AHC

  132

  353

  538

  April 1994 prices (of decile median

  Bottom

  BHC

  89

  96

  96

  AHC

  73

  73

  73

  Second

  BHC

  112

  116

  116

  AHC

  94

  95

  94

  Top

  BHC

  362

  509

  567

  AHC

  338

  461

  579

  1Actual prices for 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 refer to January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.

  2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a point in time and over time. More information about sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest edition of 'Households Below Average Income', a copy of which is in the library.

  3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below Average Income.

  699

  Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest deciles and the top decile for each family type, 1979,1988–89 and 1991–92 in actual prices1 and in April 1994 prices

  Single without children (Equivalised £per week)

  1979

  1988–89

  1991–92

  Actual prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  29

  64

  76

  AHC

  25

  49

  50

  Second

  BHC

  40

  89

  110

  AHC

  37

  73

  87

  Top

  BHC

  129

  393

  518

  AHC

  122

  351

  464

  April 1994 prices (of decile median)

  Bottom

  BHC

  80

  83

  80

  AHC

  65

  64

  54

  Second

  BHC

  110

  117

  117

  AHC

  95

  96

  94

  Top

  BHC

  351

  513

  550

  AHC

  312

  458

  499

  1Actual prices for 1979, 1988–89 and 1991–92 refer to January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.

  Money values for the bottom two decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices, including self employed

  (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group medians

  Decile 1

  Decile 2

  Decile 10

  Total population

  Income before Housing Costs

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  10–20 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  (mean)

  1979

  Single adult

  54

  67

  218

  118

  Couple no children

  88

  110

  358

  193

  Couple with child aged 3

  104

  130

  422

  228

  Couple with child aged 16

  119

  150

  487

  263

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  124

  155

  505

  272

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  146

  183

  594

  320

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  173

  217

  705

  380

  1990–91

  Single adult

  53

  71

  345

  159

  Couple no children

  87

  116

  565

  261

  Couple with child aged 3

  102

  137

  667

  308

  Couple with child aged 16

  118

  158

  769

  355

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  122

  164

  797

  368

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  144

  193

  938

  433

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  171

  229

  1,114

  514

  Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices, including self employed

  (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group medians

  Decile 1

  Decile 2

  Decile 10

  Total population

  Income before Housing Costs

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  10–20 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  (mean)

  1991–92

  Single adult

  53

  72

  343

  160

  Couple no children

  88

  117

  563

  262

  Couple with child aged 3

  103

  138

  664

  309

  Couple with child aged 16

  119

  159

  766

  356

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  123

  165

  794

  369

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  145

  195

  934

  435

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  172

  231

  1,109

  516

  All estimates are subject to sampling error.
  700
  2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a point in time and over time. More information about sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest edition of 'Households Below Average Income', a copy of which is in the library.
  3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below Average Income.

  Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People: 31 August 1994
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking for the equivalent monetary value in £ per week at April 1994 prices, following table A2 of the latest households below average income report, in 1979, 1990–91 and 1991–92, before and after housing costs, of the decile means and medians of the two poorest decile groups and the richest decile group, and the total population mean of (a) a single adult, (b) a couple with no children, (c) a couple with one child aged three years, (d) a couple with one child aged 16 years, (e) a couple with two children aged three and eight years, (f) a couple with three children aged three, eight and 11 years and (g) a couple with three children aged 11, 16 and 17 years. Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.
  The information is not available in the precise form requested.
  Reliable estimates of the means of decile groups are not available. The estimates provided therefore follow those in Table A2 of the latest Households Below Average Income report and therefore only show the median of each decile group. It is important to bear in mind that the results do not track what happens to a particular set of individuals and are as likely to be influenced by changes in the mix of groups as changes in income levels within each group. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
  701

  Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices, including self employed

  (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group medians

  Decile 1

  Decile 2

  Decile 10

  Total population

  Income After Housing Costs

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  10-20 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  (mean)

  1979

  Single adult

  41

  52

  173

  92

  Couple no children

  74

  94

  315

  168

  Couple with child aged 3

  87

  111

  371

  198

  Couple with child aged 16

  102

  130

  434

  232

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  104

  133

  444

  237

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  123

  157

  526

  281

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  149

  190

  636

  339

  1990–91

  Single adult

  35

  52

  280

  126

  Couple no children

  64

  94

  509

  228

  Couple with child aged 3

  75

  111

  601

  269

  Couple with child aged 16

  88

  130

  703

  315

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  90

  132

  718

  322

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  106

  157

  851

  381

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  129

  190

  1,029

  461

  Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices including self employed

  (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group medians

  Decile 1

  Decile 2

  Decile 10

  Total population

  Income After Housing Costs

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  10-20 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  (mean)

  1991–92

  Single adult

  34

  52

  281

  126

  Couple no children

  61

  94

  510

  229

  Couple with child aged 3

  72

  111

  602

  270

  Couple with child aged 16

  85

  129

  704

  316

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  86

  132

  719

  323

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  102

  157

  852

  382

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  124

  190

  1,030

  463

  All estimates are subject to sampling error.

  Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices, excluding self employed

  (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group medians

  Income before Housing Costs

  Decile 1 Bottom 10 per cent.

  Decile 2 10–20 per cent.

  Decile 10 Top 10 per cent.

  Total population (mean)

  1979

  Single adult

  54

  67

  212

  117

  Couple no children

  89

  110

  348

  191

  Couple with child aged 3

  105

  130

  410

  226

  Couple with child aged 16

  120

  150

  473

  260

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  125

  156

  490

  270

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  147

  183

  577

  318

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  175

  218

  685

  377

  1990–91

  Single adult

  54

  71

  332

  156

  Couple no children

  89

  117

  544

  256

  Couple with child aged 3

  105

  138

  642

  302

  Couple with child aged 16

  121

  159

  740

  348

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  126

  165

  767

  361

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  148

  194

  903

  425

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  176

  230

  1,072

  505

  702 703

  Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices, excluding self employed

  (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group medians

  Income Before Housing Costs

  Decile 1 Bottom 10 per cent.

  Decile 2 10–20 per cent.

  Decile 10 Top 10 per cent.

  Total population (mean)

  1991–92

  Single adult

  55

  72

  333

  157

  Couple no children

  89

  117

  545

  257

  Couple with child aged 3

  106

  139

  644

  303

  Couple with child aged 16

  122

  160

  742

  349

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  126

  166

  769

  362

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  149

  195

  905

  426

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  176

  231

  1,074

  506

  Note:

  All estimates are subject to sampling error.

  Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices, excluding self employed

  (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group medians

  Income After Housing Costs

  Decile 1 Bottom 10 per cent.

  Decile 2 10–20 per cent.

  Decile 10 Top 10 per cent.

  Total population (mean)

  1979

  Single adult

  41

  52

  168

  92

  Couple no children

  74

  94

  306

  167

  Couple with child aged 3

  88

  111

  361

  197

  Couple with child aged 16

  102

  130

  422

  230

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  105

  133

  431

  235

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  124

  158

  511

  278

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  150

  191

  618

  337

  1990–91

  Single adult

  38

  52

  271

  124

  Couple no children

  70

  95

  493

  225

  Couple with child aged 3

  83

  112

  581

  265

  Couple with child aged 16

  97

  131

  680

  310

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  99

  134

  695

  317

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  117

  159

  823

  375

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  141

  192

  995

  454

  Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices, excluding self employed

  (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)

  Group medians

  Income after Housing Costs

  Decile 1 Bottom 10 per cent.

  Decile 10–20 per cent

  Decile 10 Top 10 per cent

  Top population (mean)

  1990–91

  Single adult

  37

  52

  273

  1,248

  Couple no children

  67

  95

  496

  225

  Couple with child aged 3

  80

  112

  586

  266

  Couple with child aged 16

  93

  131

  685

  311

  Couple with child aged 3 and 8

  95

  133

  700

  317

  Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11

  113

  158

  829

  376

  Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17

  136

  191

  1,003

  455

  All estimates are subject to sampling error.

  Sickness Benefit
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the cost of each medical examination carried out by his Department's medical officers on customers claiming sickness benefit for the first time and the cost of each subsequent medical examination of customers in receipt of sickness benefit in(a) the north Tyne area and (b) the south Tyne area for the year ending 31 March; and how many (i) first-time and (ii) other claimants' claims for sickness benefit was
  704
  rejected on the basis of the examining medical officer's report in each area in that year.

  Mr. Hague
  The administration of sickness benefit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Clelland, dated 25 October 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Sickness Benefit (SB)

  705
  recipients in the north and south Tyne areas and the cost of medical examinations.
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because Benefits Agency boundaries do not correspond with county or borough boundaries. SB recipients in the north Tyne area are dealt with by the Newcastle and north Tyneside district offices; SB recipients in the south Tyne area are dealt with by the south Tyneside district office.
  For the year ending 31 March the number of customers disallowed SB following a Benefits Agency Medical Services report that they were capable of some work was as follows:

  (i) first time claim (where a customer claimed SB for the first time)–5 in the Newcastle and north Tyneside Districts and 5 in the south Tyneside district.

  (ii) other claimants' claims (where a customer has claimed SB in the past)–14 in the Newcastle and north Tyneside districts and 18 in the south Tyneside district.

  Information on the overall cost of Benefits Agency examinations for SB is not available. However, I am able to tell you that the cost in terms of payments to doctors and nurses for each examination is approximately £22.00. The costs of the administrative overheads for SB examinations is not recorded separately from those of other benefits and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Occupational Pension Schemes
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women are currently members of an occupational pension scheme; and how many men aged 65 to 69 years and women aged 60 to 64 years are currently in receipt of an occupational pension.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The most recent figures available1 show that in 1991 there were 6·8 million male and 3·9 million female active occupational scheme members2. In the same year there were 0·92 million men aged 65 to 69 years and 0·39 million women aged 60 to 64 years in receipt of an occupational pension.

  Notes:

  1Occupational Pension Schemes 1991. Ninth survey by the Government Actuary.

  2 A member of an occupational pension scheme who is at present accruing benefits under that scheme in respect of current service.

  Automatic Benefit Payments
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the project brief for automatic benefit payments accounting systems at post offices allows for the introduction of transaction charges for(a) Post Office operators and (b) benefit claimants.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The system of charges to be paid by the Department of Social Security to Post Office Counters Ltd. for encashments under the automated system will be a matter for negotiation. The system for remunerating individual sub-post offices is a commercial agreement between Post Office Counters Ltd. and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.

  There is no intention to introduce a transaction charge for benefit claimants.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide information on the level of bank charges paid to date by the Child Support Agency 706
  and the extent to which they have been absorbed by clients' funds temporarily held by the agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Clive Betts dated 25 October 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the level of bank charges paid by the Child Support Agency to date and the extent to which they have been absorbed by client's funds held by the Agency.
  To 31 July 1994, the Agency has paid £173,400 in bank charges. The greater proportion of the Agency's expenditure on bank charges occurs when absent parents use Transcash to make cash payments of maintenance via Girobank. Charges are also made for the use of computer tapes to transfer money to the Client Funds Account. In addition, between April 1993 and March 1994, charges were also incurred in respect of the processing of computer tapes, direct debits, standing orders and the use of the Agency's bank's Head Office collection account for clearing cheques. Invoices for bank charges are received from the Agency's bankers and are paid from the Department of Social Security Administration and Miscellaneous Services Class XIV, Vote 4 account.
  No bank charges have been paid from clients' funds temporarily held by the Agency.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to review the workings of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The workings of the Child Support Agency are under constant review.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the first report of the chief child support officer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The report is being published today. The report's findings on the standard of adjudication in the Child Support Agency are disappointing. However, the chief child support officer, Mr. Ernie Hazlewood, recognises the exceptional pressures faced by the agency in its first year and the extremely high level of outside attention focused on staff, many of whom were new to the work. In addition, the deliberate non-co-operation of some absent parents has made the task faced by the agency a very difficult one.

  The Child Support Agency is committed to raising standards of adjudication and many of the difficulties identified in the report were recognised by the agency in its annual report, published in July. The CCSO acknowledges the plans already made by managers to effect improvement. To supplement and reinforce the work already begun, he recommends extra emphasis be given to the key areas of adjudication training, recording of decisions, periodic checks and some specific parts of the formula. The agency clearly has a long way to go to reach an acceptable standard of decision making and considerable difficulties to overcome, but recent monitoring exercises indicate that improvement has already occurred.

  Both the CCSO and I look forward to continuing progress in future years.

  VAT Allowances
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what interdepartmental arrangements he has made to ensure that the moneys paid to pensioners and families as compensation for VAT
  707
  increases are not eroded by being taken into account when other benefits are calculated; and if he will make a statement on how the Government are protecting them against the erosion of their benefits;

  (2) how much money the Government have saved as a result of taking into account the allowance for VAT when other benefits are calculated.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In April 1994, income-related benefits were increased to provide help with VAT on domestic fuel. In April 1995, they will be increased again. Claimants with other benefits that are taken into account in assessing entitlement to an income-related benefit therefore still receive help with the levy. The total package involves expenditure of £2·5 billion over three years.

  Child Maintenance
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce legislation that will take account of absent parents who set themselves up as self-employed in order to avoid maintenance payments.

  Mr. Burt
  None. The formula for assessing liability for child support maintenance applies equally to employed and self-employed parents.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of women who are experiencing difficulties with the Child Support Agency regarding payment of maintenance moneys.

  Mr. Burt
  The information about complaints, difficulties and queries is not collated in the form requested. Some 9,542 complaints and queries relating to the Child Support Agency were recorded between 1 April and 31 August 1994. This figure represents less than 5 per cent. of the cases taken on to that date.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the

  Hospitality Expenditure by Defence Support and Executive Agencies Since Vesting

  Name of Agency

  Date of Vesting

  Financial Year 1990–91 £

  Financial Year 1991–92 £

  Financial Year 1992–93 £

  Financial year 1993–94 £

  Army Base Repair Organisation

  01.04.93

  —

  —

  —

  5,984

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment

  02.04.91

  —

  8,000

  12,000

  10,000

  Defence Accounts Agency

  02.04.91

  —

  670

  717

  452

  Defence Analytical Services Agency

  01.07.92

  —

  —

  1,970

  410

  Defence Animal Centre

  01.07.93

  —

  —

  161

  245

  Defence Operational Analysis Centre

  01.07.92

  —

  —

  2,832

  2,098

  Defence Postal and Courier Service

  01.07.92

  —

  —

  933

  1,004

  Defence Research Agency

  02.04.91

  —

  10,147

  4,749

  4,000

  Disposal Sales Agency

  03.10.94

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Duke of York's Royal Military School

  01.04.92

  —

  —

  1,915

  1,953

  Hydrographic Office

  06.04.90

  810

  1,602

  2,876

  2,914

  Metreological Office

  02.04.90

  20,712

  25,734

  16,465

  25,206

  Military Survey

  02.04.91

  —

  0

  384

  4,655

  Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation

  01.04.92

  —

  —

  7,000

  3,000

  Queen Victoria School

  01.04.92

  —

  —

  335

  2,395

  RAF Maintenance Group

  02.04.92

  —

  —

  0

  0

  RAF Training Group

  01.04.94

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Service Children School North West Europe

  02.04.91

  —

  0

  77

  308

  Total

  21,522

  46,153

  52,414

  64,624

  708
  first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Hague
  No such receptions are held.

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

  Mr. Hague
  On one occasion, at a cost of £538·48. Such travel has not been undertaken at a Minister's own cost.

DEFENCE

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

  Mr. Soames
  The amounts spent by my Department on official entertainment, refreshments and protocol entertainment for each year since 1990 are:

  1990–91—£3,900,000

  1991–92—£4,100,000

  1992–93—£4,950,000

  1993–94—£4,580,000

  These figures include expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence headquarters, by formations and establishments of the armed forces at home and abroad, and by individual officers occupying command and international appointments for which entertainment allowances are payable.

  Expenditure on official hospitality by agencies is the repsonsibility of individual chief executives under the terms of their framework documents. The figures are as follows:

  Nerve Gas
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of nerve gas stocks have been disposed of; what locations were used for this dumping; and what monitoring has been done subsequently of these sites.

  Mr. Soames
  The United Kingdom has undertaken the disposal of sizeable quantities of nerve agents on three occasions since 1946. In 1946, British forces disposed of some 3,000 tons of captured German WWII munitions containing nerve agent in hulks scuttled in the Skagerrak. An additional 17,000 tons of captured German munitions were similarly dumped at sea in the north Atlantic in 1955–56. No subsequent monitoring of the Atlantic dump sites was undertaken in view of their depth—over 2,000 m—and because, on exposure to sea water, nerve agents rapidly decompose to non-toxic compounds through dilution and hydrolysis. Monitoring of the Skagerrak sites by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment in 1990 and the Swedish Maritime Department in. 1992 showed no evidence of nerve agents or their decomposition products.

  Finally, some 20 tons of nerve agent produced prior to 1956 was destroyed by chemical hydrolysis and dilution at the former Chemical Defence Establishment, Nancekuke, Cornwall in 1968. Following tests to ensure the hydrolysed material was harmless to the marine environment, it was discharged into the sea. Additionally, from time to time, small quantities of agents are destroyed routinely by chemical methods and incineration at CBDE, Porton Down.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department, or the Chemical and Biological Defence Agency, gave the producers of the "Network First" programme, "The Secrets of Porton Down", broadcast on 11 October.

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. I have asked the chief executive of the CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 26 October 1994:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what assistance his Department, or the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, gave the producers of the Network First programme on the "Secrets of Potion Down", broadcast on 11 October has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The producers of the Network First programme broadcast on 11 October 1994 first approached this Establishment on 6 December 1993 to say that they had been commissioned by the ITV Network to make a one hour documentary programme looking at the history of chemical and biological warfare research in Britain for transmission in 1994. This was followed by a meeting with the Director and Associate Producer of the programme in the Ministry of Defence with the Head of News and myself. We were provided with an outline of the programme which said, that it would look at the history of British research into chemical and biological warfare and defence and assess its current status. They made it clear that they felt that CBDE Porton Down had made a very significant contribution to chemical and biological defence and wished to examine the direction of such defence now that the East-West situation had relaxed and the Chemical Weapons Convention had been opened signature and steps were being taken to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention.
  3. This was followed by a reconnaissance visit by the Director and Associate Producer to CBDE Porton Down on Friday 14
  710
  January 1994. This led to a request dated 20 January 1994 which stated that this was an appropriate moment to take stock of the history and development of chemical and biological warfare and defence, a history in which Porton Down had played a leading role for almost 80 years. Requests were made for filming facilities at CBDE Porton Down together with an interview with myself. Such filming and the interview which lasted for about three hours took place on 3 and 10 February 1994. In addition, CBDE provided on loan to the producers five CBDE films and four video tapes.
  4. Our practice over the past decade has been to respond positively to requests from media for facilities at CBDE Porton Down and these have generally succeeded in giving a far wider public perception of the role of CBDE which is to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons might be used against them. This improved public perception has also been aided by CBDE being a Defence Agency since April 1991 resulting in the publication of Annual Reports and Accounts. In addition, in July 1994, we launched a new brochure "Protecting Through Scientific Understanding" together with an accompanying video.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men or women have died as a result of experiments undertaken on them with chemical or biological warfare agents at Porton Down Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 26 October, 1994:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many Service personnel have died as a result of experiments undertaken on them with chemical or biological warfare agents at Potion Down CBDE has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use service volunteers to:

  a. assess the ability of service personnel to function to function with new equipment and procedures,

  b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and

  c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.
  3. Since the start of the Service volunteer programme in the 1920s, there has been a single fatality in 1953 as reported in the Official Report (9 June 1953, Volume 516, Column 7–8 and 22 June 1953, Volume 516, Column 105) when Leading Aircraftsman Ronald Maddison died from the effects of asphyxia after taking part in a trial at the then Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment at Porton Down. A detailed inquiry was then held into the circumstances and following this inquiry which was carried out by eminent independent scientists, new guidelines were laid down to ensure the safety of Service volunteers. In the subsequent 40 years, there has been no fatality nor has there been any evidence that any Service volunteers have suffered deterioration in their health as a result of participating in studies at Porton Down.

  Upholder Submarines
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the Government's intentions for the Upholder submarines.

  Mr. Freeman
  In the light of the changes in the strategic environment, the Upholder class is being withdrawn from service. HMS Unicorn, the last of the four boats, will pay off next month. We are currently examining options for their sale, lease or storage, bearing in mind the investment which they represent. No decisions have yet been taken.

  Ammunition Contracts
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the financial effect on the British defence manufacturing industry of the placing of ammunition contracts with foreign manufacturers by the Ministry of Defence under the advice of Mr. Gordon Foxley.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is not possible to say with any certainty what impact Foxley's corrupt activities in the field of fuse manufacture had on British defence manufacturing industry.

  Contracts
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all contracts tendered for, and handled in any way on behalf of, Saudi Arabia by his Department acting as agents for the Saudi Arabian Government; which firms tendered for, or were awarded, those contracts; and which business agents were appointed in connection with these contracts.

  Mr. Freeman
  Equipment supplied under the Al-Yamamah programme includes Tornado and Hawk aircraft and naval minesweepers along with associated equipment, support and infrastructure. Further orders for Tornado and training aircraft have been announced since January 1993. Details of the contracts are confidential between the British and Saudi Arabian Governments. The British Government have not employed business agents in connection with these contracts.

  Catering
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the difference in the allowances per service man for catering purposes per day in(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force; if he will set out each allowance; and what factors underlie the differences between the amounts.

  Mr. Soames
  The allowances per day for catering purposes are based on a ration scale costed at current prices and known as the daily messing rate. The ration scale is the same for personnel of all three services.

  The scale is costed according to the supply source of food items. Where the source of supply is more expensive due to local conditions the daily messing rate is higher to take account of extra costs. For ships and submarines a slightly different scale is used to take account of their special circumstances.

  A general overseas ration scale exists for overseas bases and attachments. This scale has a higher calorific value to take account of conditions such as heat, cold and humidity. The rate applicable to units abroad will also
  712
  depend on prices in the local economy for food stuffs which are bought locally.

  Examples of daily messing rates for October 1994 are:

  £

  Army, RAF and RN Shore establishments (including Germany and Hong Kong)

  1·75

  RN ships and submarines

  1·86

  Falklands

  2·03

  Cyprus

  1·93

  Gibraltar

  2·07

  Where personnel are in special circumstances or performing duties which require extra energy—such as divers or members of mountain rescue teams—they are entitled to supplementary allowances.

  Royal Marines
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the investment appraisals in respect of the 16 Deal-based options referred to in paragraph 8 of the consultative document dated 17 October 1994 entitled "Future Location of Royal Marines Training".

  Mr. Soames
  I have written to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter is being placed in the Library of the House.

  RAF Finningley
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what alternative defence uses are being considered for RAF Finningley.

  Mr. Soames
  No alternative defence uses have yet been identified for RAF Finningley. In accordance with departmental procedures, however, a full inter-service trawl will be undertaken in parallel with the consultation period to identify any possible alternative defence uses, in the event that a decision to close RAF Finningley is taken after formal consultation.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures will be followed if the MOD decides to dispose of the RAF Finningley site.

  Mr. Soames
  If it is decided to dispose of RAF Finningley, standard departmental procedures would be followed. This would include discussions with the local authority on future use and the appointment of consultants to advise on a disposal strategy and optimum method of sale.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with Doncaster metropolitan borough council and the local regeneration partnership on how RAF Finningley could become a joint military and civilian airfield.

  Mr. Soames
  The proposal to close RAF Finningley will be subject to full consultation with trade unions and other interested parties. I would be happy to receive details of any substantive proposals regarding future use the site that Doncaster metropolitan borough council may wish to put forward as part of the consultation process.

  Appropriation Accounts
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff were involved in the movements in the
  713
  public interest which led to the expenditure recorded in the notes to class I, vote 1 of the Appropriation Accounts 1993–94.

  Mr. Soames
  Seven staff received special payments following a move in the public interest.

  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many countries are covered by the £20,315,000 in forgone receipts referred to in the other notes to class I, vote 1 of the Appropriation Accounts 1993–94.

  Mr. Soames
  Thirty-six countries are covered by the £20,315,000 in forgone receipts referred to in the other notes to class 1 vote 1 of the appropriation accounts 1993–94.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he proposes to take to make low flying avoidance areas public.

  Mr. Soames
  There are no plans to alter my Department's policy of not releasing specific details of flying restrictions in individual areas.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made to introduce flight simulators as a substitute for low flying sorties.

  Mr. Soames
  The use of flight simulators is an integral part of our training programme. However, the performance characteristics of current simulator technology do not provide an acceptable substitute for low flying training. We do, however, continue to monitor closely developments in this area of technology.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make all non-United Kingdom air crews included in low flying over the United Kingdom subject to the jurisdiction of the RAF police.

  Mr. Soames
  All foreign military aircrews operating within the United Kingdom low flying system are subject to the same flying regulations as apply to United Kingdom aircrews. The RAF police are responsible for investigating alleged breaches of the regulations, whether United Kingdom or foreign aircrews were involved. In the event that a breach of regulations is confirmed, jurisdiction, in terms of disciplinary action, rests initially with the commanding officer of the aircrew concerned or, in the case of foreign aircrew, with their relevant national authorities, not with the RAF police.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which NATO countries allow low flying training below 250 ft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member as this information is not readily available.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce an independent system of investigation of public complaints about alleged breaches of low flying regulations by low-flying aircraft over the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Soames
  No. We are satisfied that the existing system is impartial, effective and best placed to investigate public complaints about alleged breaches of low flying regulations, and therefore see no reason to introduce such a system.

  Bird-strike Incidents
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of observed birds or intensity of bird activity specified in the bird warning movement message for the Aberlady bay area on the morning of 30 September.

  Mr. Soames
  There was no bird hazard warning issued for the Aberlady bay area on the morning in question.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the date, location, aircraft type, altitude and damage category for all bird-strike incidents involving military aircraft in the Forth estuary area since 1990.

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice is given to military aircrew concerning the minimum altitude at which aircraft should cross coastlines in order to reduce the risk of bird-strike.

  Mr. Soames
  Aircrew are advised that, wherever possible, coastlines should be crossed at a minimum height of 500 ft, but preferably 1,000 ft.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Soames
  It is not my Department's practice to organise such events. Those who express an interest in public appointments without specifying a particular body are referred to the public appointments unit of the Cabinet Office who have their own arrangements for publishing the requirements and opportunities of such appointments.

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

  Mr. Soames
  Since the beginning of 1994, Ministers in my Department have been accompanied by their spouses on public duties overseas on five occasions. On each of those occasions the extra cost to the Department would have been either negligible or nil, as the spouses in question travelled on RAF aircraft which were already assigned to the visit, and on four occasions were accommodated in official residences.

  On one occasion a Minister and his spouse were accommodated in a hotel but in a room that the Minister would have occupied if he had not been accompanied.

  Procedures outlined in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" were followed in all cases.

  Japan (Plutonium)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the proliferation risks associated with the transport of plutonium from Europe to Japan were
  715
  discussed at the NATO-Japan third security conference in Brussels held on 19 to 20 October.

  Mr. Goodlad
  I have been asked to reply.

  During its recent meeting the third NATO-Japan security conference took careful note of the requirement for maintaining the highest standards of protection for all fissile material.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Rwanda
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European counterparts regarding the provision of European Union aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Rwanda.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the outcome of the recent EU troika visit to Rwanda with his European colleagues at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 4 October. There was broad agreement on the need for continuing humanitarian aid, for short-term rehabilitation programmes to encourage the return of refugees and for longer-term resumption of development co-operation.

  Aid Programme
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy regarding aid funding for economically unsound projects.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is our policy to finance projects only after rigorous appraisal against economic, financial, technical, social and environmental criteria.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what test of economic efficiency is applied to projects seeking financial assistance under the aid programme.

  Mr. Baldry
  Projects should at least match the economic rate of return appropriate to the recipient country. Where no rate of return is calculated, cost-effectiveness is tested by comparing alternative ways of achieving project objectives. The methodology used in economic appraisal is set out in the ODA's publication"Appraisal of Projects in Developing Countries—a Guide for Economists", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requirement for economic efficiency in individual aid projects is included in the Overseas Development Administration's priority objective of promoting economic reform.

  Mr. Baldry
  Most aid for internationally agreed economic reform programmes has been in the form of balance of payments support. Project aid in support of reform is largely in the form of technical assistance. That is not usually susceptible to appraisal for economic efficiency, but is carefully assessed for cost-effectiveness.

  Belize
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all Overseas Development Administration projects in Belize with the costs involved.
  716
  Mr. Baldry
  A list of current Overseas Development Administration projects in Belize which are costed in excess of £50,000 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. In addition to those projects, the British high commission in Belize has an allocation of £100,000 to finance small projects of a developmental, social or welfare nature.

  Project Title

  Commitment(£)

  Airport Terminal (Construction)

  2,800,000

  Big Falls Bridge

  1,334,116

  Northern Highway Project

  563,604

  Stann Creek Valley Road

  7,096,000

  Police Radios Project

  565,094

  Toledo Agricultural Research and Development Appraisal

  80,000

  Plant Protection Project

  787,000

  Tropical Forestry Action Plan

  120,000

  Mountain Pine Ridge Inventory

  55,485

  Forest Management Project

  3,732,000

  Land Survey; North Belize

  325,527

  Rural Physical Planner

  117,500

  Civil Aviation Authority Chief Fire Officer

  120,000

  Architectural Advice

  150,000

  Education Support In-service Project

  90,000

  World Bank Education Project

  1,000,000

  Drug Demand Reduction

  134,000

  Total

  19,070,326

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the 1992 review of the aid and trade provision.

  Mr. Baldry
  The new arrangements for the administration of the aid and trade provision referred to in the reply which my hon. Friend the Member for Morecombe and Lunesdale (Sir M. Lennox-Boyd) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Ottaway) on 17 June 1993,Official Report, column 675-76, took effect on that date.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is providing for the elections in Mozambique.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have contributed about £2·2 million to the United Nations Development Programme's electoral assistance project, including our share of the EC's contribution. We have also contributed £500,000 to the UN Trust Fund for the Implementation of the Peace Process in Mozambique to help RENAMO transform itself into a political party.

  We are providing 30 British observers for the UN and EU international election observers teams. Several United Kingdom parliamentarians are also attending under other auspices.

  Iraq
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take to maintain humanitarian assistance to the Kurdish
  717
  population of northern Iraq, following recent events in the Gulf region.

  Mr. Baldry
  Saddam's threatening actions near the Kuwaiti border have not affected our plans for aid for northern Iraq. We have committed some £4·7 million this year for medical assistance and village rehabilitation. We shall continue to keep in touch with the Kurdish administration, UN agencies, NGOs and others involved in northern Iraq.

  Haiti
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what economic or other aid he plans for the United Kingdom to give to President Aristide of Haiti.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are ready to consider assistance for police training once security conditions have allowed the UN mission in Haiti to deploy. We have also agreed in principle to the resumption of EU aid. Haiti's national indicative programme for the period 1990–95 will be 120 mecu—£94 million—of which the United Kingdom share will be £15 million. This will be implemented as soon as the EU and Haiti agree priority sectors.

  Third World Department
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning third world debt.

  Mr. Baldry
  By long-standing convention, discussions of this nature between Departments are confidential.

  Albania
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total amount of bilateral aid given by the United Kingdom to Albania in each of the last three years; and if he will list the main projects to have benefited from this aid.

  Mr. Baldry
  Total United Kingdom bilateral aid to Albania for the last three financial years was:

  £

  1991–92

  615,000

  1992–93

  417,000

  1993–94

  1921,000

  1Provisional figure

  A large proportion of this was emergency aid, mostly food and medicines: £615,000 in 1991–92; £371,000 in 1992–93; and £501,000 in 1993–94. The remainder, £46,000 in 1992–93 and £420,000 in 1993–94, consists of funds disbursed under the know-how fund, Britain's programme of technical assistance for the countries of central and eastern Europe. The KHF was extended to
  718
  Albania in June 1992. The main projects completed or under way are:
  a one year placement for a British agricultural consultant to assist the National Agency for State Farms with the process of privatisation (completed);
  a two year project to assist the development of private farmers associations (ongoing);
  funding of volunteers from East European Partnership (EEP) to work on a major EU PHARE business advice and training project for regional business centres (ongoing);
  a two year training programme for local government finance officers to help implement new local government legislation (ongoing);
  placement of a haematologist to assist the Director of the Tirana Blood Bank with the transition to a voluntary system of blood donation (ongoing);
  a grant for EEP volunteers to provide training and consultancy advice at the home for Mentally Handicapped Children in Berat (ongoing);
  a project to improve the quality and supply of water by Korca water company. The project will also produce a manual of good practice to be used elsewhere in Albania (ongoing);
  a project to train Albanian geoscientists in coastal zone management and to help establish a Coastal Geology Unit in Albania (ongoing);
  a programme of consultancy and training for the Albanian prison service, provided by Her Majesty's Prison Service (ongoing);
  a series of visits to and from Albania by members of the Devon Fire Service and Albanian fire officers, culminating in a training course for 14 Albanians in Devon in November 1994 (ongoing);
  a publishing seminar organised by International Book Development (IBD) Training as part of a larger World Bank programme designed to develop an approach to textbook provision appropriate to Albania (completed).

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of multilateral aid packages given to Albania in which the United Kingdom or the European Union has contributed.

  Mr. Baldry
  Several multilateral agencies to which Britain makes a regular contribution are active in Albania.

  The EU's PHARE programme was extended to Albania in 1992. In 1992 and 1993 a total of 53 mecu—£42 million—was disbursed on a number of projects in agriculture, private sector development, health, transport, environment, public administration and higher education. Britain contributes approximately 16 per cent. of the total PHARE budget, which, in 1994, represents about £7 million for Albania.

  The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in which the British Government have an 8·5 per cent. shareholding, has approved loans totalling 34 mecu—£26·5 million—for investment projects in Albania. It has also committed 4·7 mecu—£3·6 million—to technical co-operation projects in telecommunications, finance, energy, the environment and tourism.

  Since it began lending to Albania, the International Development Association has approved a total of US$138 million in development credits, of which $87 million remained undisbursed on 30 June 1994. During the IDA 1993–94 financial year, it approved credits for housing, labour market development, social safety net development, water rehabilitation and school rehabilitation. The UK contributed 6·15 per cent. to the latest IDA replenishment—IDA–10—in July 1993.

  Three UN agencies, UNICEF, the UNDP and WHO, are active in Albania. UNICEF, which received $8·5 million from Britain this financial year, has a $6 million

  719
  programme for Albania covering the years 1993–95. WHO has a $50,000 programme in albania for 1994–95 and the UNDP a $6 million budget for the same period. The UK contributes approximately 5 per cent. of the annual global budget of both agencies.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet Scottish Enterprise officials to discuss future financial allocations and priorities.

  Mr. Stewart
  As my right hon. Friend said in his earlier reply to the hon. Member for Motherwell, North, (Dr. Reid) he plans to meet the chairman and chief executive of Scottish Enterprise next month.

  Assured Tenants
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many assured tenants there are in Scottish Housing Association dwellings.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As at 31 March 1994, there were over 40,000 assured tenancies representing 60 per cent. of the total housing association stock.

  Commercial Property Market
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the workings of the commercial property market in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations about the workings of the commercial property market in Scotland.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has in respect of homelessness in Scotland.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received relating to the statutory duty on local authorities to provide permanent accommodation for homeless; and what percentage of these representations favoured retention of this statutory duty.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have received nearly 160 responses to our consultation paper. Ninety-seven per cent. of the consultees expressed strong support for the retention of local housing authorities' duty to provide permanent accommodation for unintentionally homeless people in priority need. We are now considering the responses to all of the questions posed and we shall announce our decisions in due course.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Scottish Council of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss its manufacturing industry study.

  Mr. Lang
  I and my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry maintain regular contact with the Scottish Council of the CBI on a wide range of issues.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet his European colleagues to discuss the entry qualification for higher education.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I plan to attend the next meeting of EC Education Ministers on 5 December in Brussels. Entry qualifications to higher education are not on the agenda on that occasion. The Scottish Office Education Department is represented at a Council of Europe conference beginning today on recognition of higher education qualifications.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss youth unemployment.

  Mr. Lang
  I have no plans to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss youth unemployment, although we correspond regularly about a range of issues.

  General Practitioner Fundholding
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general practitioner fundholding practices there are now in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  According to the latest information provided by health boards there are currently 107 operational fundholders in Scotland.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current estimate of the costs of local government reform in Strathclyde and Lothian region.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Government's estimate of the costs and savings that will result from its proposals to reorganise local government in Scotland has been calculated on a Scotland-wide basis, and has not been disaggregated to individual local authority level.

  Forestry Commission
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the future of the Forestry Commission.

  Sir Hector Munro
  I have nothing to add at this stage to the statement to the House by my right hon. Friend on 19 July 1994 and the command paper "Our Forests—The Way Ahead" published in August, which explained the Government's proposals in greater detail. We have invited views on our proposals. These should be submitted by 18 November.

  Economy
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Scottish economy.

  Mr. Stewart
  The Scottish economy is advancing on a broad front. Output is increasing across a range of sectors and exports are at a record level. Unemployment has been falling and the September level was the lowest for three years. The latest business survey evidence points to continued confidence in virtually all sectors and to
  721
  increasing investment expectations on the part of manufacturers. Business forecasts predict continuing steady growth this year and next. These positive trends are greatly to be welcomed and amply demonstrate the success of the Government's policies for the economy.

  Hardwood Trees
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what acreage of hardwood trees is felled on average each year; and what is the rate of re-planting.

  Sir Hector Monro
  No record is kept of the area of broadleaved woodlands which is felled each year. Nevertheless, the felling of woodland in Britain is controlled through felling licences and the woodland grant scheme. These ensure that practically all felled woodland is replanted, and that broadleaved woodland is replanted with broadleaved trees.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about water charges.

  Mr. Stewart
  Water charges have risen in recent years and will continue to do so to finance the new investment of some £5 billion needed for water and sewerage over the next 15 years or so. The new structure for Scottish water and sewerage services proposed in the Local Government etc (Scotland) Bill is designed to keep increases as low as possible. The three new public authorities will be expected to secure economies of scale and maximise operational efficiency.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the number of hospital beds in Glasgow will be sufficient for future needs.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is for Greater Glasgow health board in consultation with the NHS trusts in its area to assess the volume of service for the Glasgow population in consideration of a needs assessment of the current and future needs of the local population.

  "Higher Still: Opportunity for All"
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made with regard to the implementation of the proposals contained in his document, "Higher Still: Opportunity for All".

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Good progress is being made. The committee structure which will deliver the new system of courses and awards for upper secondary education in Scotland is now in place and has commenced its work. In addition, a development unit has been established to co-ordinate development activities.

  Housing
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of tenants groups to discuss housing in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet tenants' organisations to discuss housing in Scotland but I often meet tenants in the course 722
  of my housing visits to local authorities throughout Scotland.

  Unemployment
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the change in the number of unemployed in Scotland since December 1992.

  Mr. Stewart
  Between December 1992 and September 1994, the seasonally adjusted level of unemployment in Scotland fell by 24,000.

  Rivers
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on measures to combat acidification of rivers in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Munro
  The main source of acidification of rivers in Scotland is acid rain caused by atmospheric pollution. The Government are a signatory to the recent European sulphur protocol which binds all European countries to reduce emissions of sulphur, a significant contributor to acid rain, during the next 15 to 20 years.

  Our primary vehicle for achieving reductions in emissions of acid gases from major industrial sources is the United Kingdom national plan to meet the requirements of the EC large combustion plants directive. Under this plan, Scotland is separately responsible for delivering its own reductions in emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen within specified overall UK limits.

  Public Sector Jobs
  Mr. Harry Greenaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish jobs are in the public sector; what is their cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  In 1993, public sector employment in Scotland is estimated to have been as follows: civil service 53,000; NHS 139,000; local government 304,000; HM armed forces 19,000; and national industries approximately 30,000.

  The above total of 545,000 excludes employment in other central Government occupations and other public corporations. The NHS figure includes those employed in NHS trusts, but excludes medical and dental practitioners, who are treated as self-employed. The local government figures exclude those employed in further education.

  An estimate of the total cost is not available

  Approximately one in four workers in Scotland are in the public sector, a slightly higher proportion than in the UK as a whole. This includes part-time as well as full-time workers.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss local government reorganisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend and I are scheduled to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 11 November as part of the normal consultation on local government finance matters. It is likely that issues relating to local government reorganisation will be discussed at that meeting.

  Ports Assistance
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outcome of his representations to the European Commission on the eligibility of the ports of Cairnryan and Stranraer for assistance under various EC initiatives.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  I expect that projects to develop facilities and access at the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan will be eligible to compete for a share of the 47 million ecu to be made available to Dumfries and Galloway under objective 5b of the structural funds over the period 1994 to 1999. This follows the Government's success in securing objective 5b status for the region. The Commission have decided that the two ports will not be eligible to receive assistance under the INTERREG community initiative.

  New Town Development Corporations
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current position on the winding up of the new town development corporations.

  Mr. Stewart
  The annual report of each new town development corporation for the year ending 31 March 1994 sets out progress with winding-up. Copies of the reports are available from the Library of the House. We remain committed to achieving the wind-up of East Kilbride and Glenrothes by 31 December 1995, and the other three towns by 31 December 1996, and plans to do this are in place.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Water Services Association and the DOE Northern Ireland in respect of the review of the EC drinking water directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The water industry has made my right hon. Friend aware of its views, supported by COSLA, on the review of the EC drinking water directive. The Government will take these views into account when negotiating the revision of the directive.

  Forth Bridge
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation he has carried out in respect of the environmental effects of the proposal to build a second road bridge across the River Forth.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The "Setting Forth" feasibility studies considered the environmental effects of a wide range of transport proposals, including a new bridge across the Forth. Full reports of the studies have been passed to Scottish Natural Heritage, local authorities and other bodies, and we look forward to receiving their detailed comments.

  Traffic Regulation Orders
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the temporary traffic regulation orders for which he has authorised an extension under section 15(5) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991,724
  stating in each case (a) the name of the authority making the order, (b) the public rights of way stopped up by the order, (c) the duration of the extension and (d) why he granted the extension.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Secretary of State for Scotland has authorised an extension under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as amended by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991 to one temporary traffic regulation order made by Highland regional council, which temporarily closed the U87 Wick to Noss Head road for a length of approximately 480 m for a six month period from 9 February to 9 August 1994 to allow time for him to determine the permanent Highland Regional Council (Wick Airport Road) (U87) (Stopping-up) Order 1993.

  Glaucoma
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new patients with glaucoma were referred to out-patient departments for each year from 1985 until the last for which current figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not centrally available.

  Health Care International
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he was first informed that Health Care International in Clydebank had financial difficulties; and what action he has taken to alleviate these difficulties.

  Mr. Stewart
  Officials of Locate in Scotland and Scottish Enterprise have been involved in discussions about this company's financial position over the last two months, and my right hon. Friend has been kept informed of developments.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what Government assistance has been given to Health Care International in Clydebank; and what has been its total value.

  Mr. Stewart
  Total assistance offered to this project amounted to some £30 million, the largest single element of which was an offer of £22 million in regional selective assistance. This relates to total investment in the project of £180 million.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie of 4 August about Health Care International in Clydebank.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Minister of State replied to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie on 21 October. I hope that he has now received that reply.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what dates in the past two years his representatives have met with, or had other contact with, representatives of Health Care International from Clydebank.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend's officials have had regular contact with the company over this period.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what way the Government's loan to Health Care International was secured.

  Mr. Stewart
  An unsecured loan was advanced to the company, by Scottish Enterprise, under the terms of its
  725
  leg-up scheme. There has been no other loan from the Government or its agencies.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if all the intended regional selective assistance has now been paid to Health Care International in Clydebank; and what is the cash value of this assistance.

  Mr. Stewart
  An offer of £22 million in regional selective assistance was made to the company, not all of which has been paid.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who owns the site on which Health Care International's hospital in Clydebank is situated.

  Mr. Stewart
  The site is owned by the company.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Health Care International has fully paid for its hospital in Clydebank.

  Mr. Stewart
  This is a matter for the company.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what undertakings Health Care International have given to him about its relationship with the national health service.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  HCI has consistently stated that its objective is to complement and not compete with the NHS.

  The authorisation of the construction of the Clydebank hospital given in 1987 by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) the then Secretary of State for Scotland, contained conditions about staffing, reimbursement of nurse training costs and supply of blood and blood products. A copy of the authorisation is in the Library.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to send work to(a) Health Care International and (b) other private hospitals.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]None. Individual health boards are free to purchase health care from HCI where the hospital can offer specific medical techniques not readily available elsewhere or where the NHS sees a need for waiting lists to be reduced more quickly than the service itself is in a position to achieve. This position applies equally for all independent providers.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the study ordered by Health Care International from Ernst and Whinney into the size of the market for an American hospital; what conclusions he drew from its report; and when he investigated Health Care International's forecasts as to when it would achieve its capacity.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]The study was undertaken in 1987 and formed part of the information on which decisions were taken concerning the hospital.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to safeguard jobs and beds at NHS hospitals in Greater Glasgow and Health Care International in Clydebank.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Greater Glasgow health board is currently preparing its strategy for acute and maternity services in Glasgow. This will outline the future level of NHS provision of services and will be subject to full public consultation. Officials of Locate in Scotland are currently engaged in unrelated discussions 726
  about the financial restructuring of HCI with a view to securing its future.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what occasions he has met the founders of Health Care International or their representatives.

  Mr. Stewart
  My right hon. Friend met the founders of the company or its representatives on four occasions between October 1987 and June of this year.

  Investors in People Award
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many employers in each TEC area have been given the investors in people award; how many have made a commitment to meeting the standard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The operation in Scotland of Investors in People is the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chairmen of these bodies to write to the hon. Member.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.

  Mr. Lang
  No receptions are organised for people expressing interest in public appointments.

  PE Teachers
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many physical education teachers were employed by local education authorities in each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The available information for years in which data were collected is set out in the table.

  Number (full-time equivalents) of physical education teachers in Scottish education authority secondary schools

  Year (at September)

  Number

  1979

  2,008

  1980

  1,998

  1981

  1,934

  1982

  1,896

  1983

  11,862

  1984

  11,792

  1985

  not available

  1986

  not available

  1987

  1,698

  1988

  1,614

  1989

  not available

  1990

  1,610

  1991

  not available

  1992

  1,611

  1993

  not available

  1estimated

  Planning (Public Inquiries)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to announce his decision in the public local inquiry held under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 into the provision of a supermarket in Anstruther.
  727
  Mr. Stewart
  The reporter who heard evidence at the public local inquiry into the proposed supermarket in Anstruther will shortly submit a report, with recommendations, to my right hon. Friend. Every effort will be made to issue a decision by the end of the year.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public local inquiries under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 have been held in each of the last 10 years for which information is available.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Year

  Number

  1984

  150

  1985

  147

  1986

  163

  1987

  123

  1988

  125

  1989

  132

  1990

  171

  1991

  129

  1992

  111

  1993

  215

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current establishment of the planning inquiry reporting unit of the Scottish Development Department; and what vacancies there are.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Chief Reporter

  Deputy Chief Reporter

  Principal Reporters–2

  Reporters–10

  Administrative Supportive Staff–25

  Secretarial and typing staff–4

  These figures include the two additional reporter posts which were created and filled earlier this year.

  The current complement of the panel of part-time reporters is 16 including four part-time reporters who were recruited recently. There are no vacancies at present in the Unit.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many public local inquiries held under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 in 1993 he has yet to announce a decision.

  Mr. Stewart
  There are at the present time four cases awaiting determination.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the dates and subjects of the public local inquiries in north-east Fife held under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 in which he has yet to announce a decision.

  Mr. Stewart
  The information requested is as follows:

  Inquiry Dates

  Subjects

  16 and 22–31 March 1993

  Proposed retail developments at Crawmill farm, Crail road, part of the holiday camp site and St. Andrews road, Anstruther.

  31 August 1994

  Proposed timeshare chalet, development at Brownhills Cottage, by St. Andrews.

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the capital receipts from the sale of school playing fields for each of the last six years by education authority;

  (2) if he will list the number of school playing fields by local education authority for (a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987, (d) 1992 and (e) the latest available date.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not held centrally within the Scottish Office.

  Food Poisoning
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of reported cases of salmonellosis in Scotland in each year since 1979; and what is the latest available figure for this year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The total numbers of cases of salmonella infection reported by laboratories to the Scottish centre for infection and environmental health are as follows. These figures do not necessarily reflect the total incidence of the infection in the community, since doctors do not routinely send specimens from every case for laboratory confirmation.

  Year

  Number of Notifications

  1979

  1,483

  1980

  1,577

  1981

  2,526

  1982

  2,621

  1983

  2,288

  1984

  2,221

  1985

  1,690

  1986

  2,015

  1987

  2,286

  1988

  2,580

  1989

  2,578

  1990

  2,441

  1991

  2,330

  1992

  2,992

  1993

  2,919

  19941

  2,401

  1as at 14 October

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest figure for the number of cases of food poisoning reported in Scotland in 1994.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A total of 3,380 cases of food poisoning were reported in Scotland during the period 1 January to 14 October 1994.

  Medical Appointments (Aberdeen)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the number of patients from(a) Orkney and (b) Shetland who have travelled to Aberdeen for medical appointments at the Aberdeen Royal Hospitals trust or the Grampian Health Care trust, and have been returned home without the appointment having taken place, in each year since 1 April 1992, and from 1 April 1994 to 30 September 1994.

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not held centrally. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, I suggest he takes it up direct with the relevant health board.

  Schools
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools within each education authority area in Scotland currently have school boards; and how many (i) primary

  Primary Schools

  Secondary Schools

  Schools

  With Boards

  Schools

  With Boards

  Borders

  73

  45

  9

  9

  Central

  116

  86

  18

  17

  Dumfries and Galloway

  116

  84

  16

  16

  Fife

  145

  100

  19

  16

  Grampian

  274

  175

  38

  33

  Highland

  199

  137

  27

  23

  Lothian

  240

  156

  46

  43

  Strathclyde

  887

  736

  172

  160

  Tayside

  187

  114

  32

  30

  Orkney

  24

  13

  6

  6

  Shetland

  35

  20

  9

  9

  Western Isles

  45

  25

  16

  14

  SCOTLAND TOTAL

  2,341

  1,691

  408

  376

  Note:

  1. Schools as at September 1993.

  2. Schools with Boards in existence at 31 May 1994.

  NHS Helpline
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many calls have been made to the NHS helpline for each month since its establishment; and how much the Scottish Office has spent in establishing, publicising and administering the helpline.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The cost of setting up the NHS helpline was £72,401. Since it became operational in October 1992, expenditure on administration of the service totals £303,585 and expenditure on publicity totals £108,241. The total number of calls, both interactive and non-interactive, received each month by the NHS helpline since it came into operation is as follows:

  Date

  Number

  29 October–20 November 1992

  759

  21 November–19 December 1992

  710

  19 December–15 January 1993

  674

  16 January–12 February 1993

  1,303

  13 February–12 March 1993

  1,140

  13 March–9 April 1993

  1,214

  10 April–7 May 1993

  834

  8 May–4 June 1993

  975

  5 June–2 July 1993

  1,128

  3 July—30 July 1993

  1,236

  31 July–27 August 1993

  861

  28 August–24 September 1993

  801

  25 September–22 October 1993

  1,059

  23 October–19 November 1993

  765

  20 November–17 December 1993

  644

  18 December 1993–14 January 1994

  561

  15 January–11 February 1994

  956

  12 February–11 March 1994

  1,039

  12 March–8 April 1994

  790

  9 April–6 May 1994

  1,165

  7 May—3 June 1994

  824

  4 June–1 July 1994

  1,280

  2 July–29 July 1994

  1,204

  30 July–26 August 1994

  1,056

  730
  schools and (ii) secondary schools there are in each education authority area in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information reflecting the outcome of the 1993–94 round of biennial parental elections, is as follows:

  Date

  Number

  27 August–23 September 1994

  1,218

  24 September–25 October

  4,007

  TOTAL

  28,203

  Water and Sewerage Boards
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures the Scottish Office has taken to recruit the chairmen and senior management of the proposed water and sewerage boards.

  Mr. Stewart
  Normal procedures for appointments to public bodies are being followed. Executive search consultants have been contracted to assist in the recruitment of chief executives. Additionally, invitations have been issued to Confederation of British Industry, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, National Farmers Union of Scotland, Scottish Consumer Council, Scottish Landowners Federation, and Scottish Trades Union Congress to offer suggestions for appointments to the membership of the new authorities. Suggestions from these organisations, and others, are now being considered.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which private companies the Scottish Office has engaged to advise or assist in the recruitment of the chairmen and senior management of the proposed water and sewerage boards.

  Mr. Stewart
  Andrew Rait Ltd. executive search consultants, has been appointed to assist in the search for the chief executives of the three water authorities.

  Residential Care Homes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines have been issued to health boards concerning the monitoring of standards within nursing homes.
  731
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office issued four sets of model guidelines between October 1989 and December 1993 covering the needs of specific client groups. The model guidelines and date of publication, are listed and copies have been placed in the Library of the House:Model Guidelines for the Registration and Inspection of Nursing Homes for the Elderly (October 1989)
  Model Guidelines for the Registration and Inspection of Independent Hospitals and Nursing Homes Providing Acute Services (March 1992)
  Model Guidelines for the Registration and Inspection of Nursing Homes Providing Care and Treatment for People With a Learning Disability (December 1993)
  Model Guidelines for the Registration and Inspection of Nursing Homes Providing Continuing Care and Treatment for People with Dementia (December 1993).

  In addition to the above sets of model guidelines, a document setting out national standards for the registration and inspection of nursing homes in Scotland is currently being produced for publication next year.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) nursing homes and (b) residents of nursing homes there are in each health board in Scotland.
  732
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information on private nursing homes as at 31 March 1994, is as follows:

  Health Board

  1Homes

  Beds

  2Residents/Patients

  Scotland

  Argyll and Clyde

  32

  1,150

  1,044

  Ayrshire and Arran

  58

  2,142

  1,997

  Borders

  17

  723

  530

  Dumfries and Galloway

  13

  508

  360

  Fife

  17

  795

  666

  Forth Valley

  21

  884

  712

  Grampian

  44

  1,761

  1,648

  Greater Glasgow

  54

  2,471

  2,068

  Highland

  26

  1,009

  956

  Lanarkshire

  47

  2,181

  2,029

  Lothian

  69

  2,322

  2,095

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  37

  1,635

  1,509

  Western Isles

  2

  65

  62

  Total

  437

  17,646

  15,676

  Notes:

  1Establishments registered by Health Boards under the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 (as amended).

  2All categories.

  CIS COUNTRIES: UNITED KINGDOM ENTRY VISA ARRANGEMENTS
  CIS COUNTRIES: UNITED KINGDOM ENTRY VISA ARRANGEMENTS
  UZBEKISTAN: UNITED KINGDOM ENTRY VISA SERVICE
  UZBEKISTAN: UNITED KINGDOM ENTRY VISA SERVICE
  TORTURE: RATIFICATION OF EUROPEAN CONVENTION
  TORTURE: RATIFICATION OF EUROPEAN CONVENTION
  CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS, DETECTION
  CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS, DETECTION
  VACCINES SIMULTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION
  VACCINES SIMULTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION
  PLAGUE VACCINE: USE DURING GULF WAR
  PLAGUE VACCINE: USE DURING GULF WAR
  UK INTERNAL SECURITY AND EC LAW
  UK INTERNAL SECURITY AND EC LAW
  CIVIL AND HOME DEFENCE RECORDS: RELEASE
  CIVIL AND HOME DEFENCE RECORDS: RELEASE
  HADRIANS WALL PATH NATIONAL TRAIL
  HADRIANS WALL PATH NATIONAL TRAIL
  DOCKLANDS
  DOCKLANDS
  NHS (PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES) REGULATIONS 1992
  NHS (PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES) REGULATIONS 1992
  NHS PRESCRIPTIONS: PHARMACISTS' DISPENSING APPLICATIONS
  NHS PRESCRIPTIONS: PHARMACISTS' DISPENSING APPLICATIONS